JP2006003498A - Image forming apparatus and driver program - Google Patents

Abstract

An image forming apparatus capable of easily and efficiently performing good image formation suitable for the type of paper.
An image forming apparatus 2 that forms an image based on received print data includes a developing unit 61 in which a plurality of developing units 611 containing toner of the same color are detachably mounted, and the developing unit 61 Storage means 54 for storing toner type identification information 541 for identifying the toner type of the toner accommodated in each mounted developing unit 611, the type of paper on which the image is formed, and the storage means 54 And a selection unit 51 that selects the developing unit 611 used in the image formation based on the toner type identification information 541.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying machine or the like that forms an image using electrophotographic technology, and in particular, an image that can easily perform image formation optimal for the type of paper on which the image is formed The present invention relates to a forming apparatus and the like.

  In general, in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, or a copying machine that forms an image using electrophotographic technology, an electrostatic latent image is formed according to image data, and a toner as a developer is formed on the electrostatic latent image. Is developed to a toner image, and the toner image is transferred to a transfer target medium to form an image. In such an apparatus, the toner cartridge that accommodates the toner is detachably held. In particular, in an apparatus capable of forming an image in color, a plurality of toner cartridges, for example, four colors ( A plurality of toner cartridges are mounted, such as toner cartridges of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black K).

  In addition, there are a plurality of types of paper such as plain paper, OHP sheets, and thick paper as the paper on which such an image forming apparatus forms an image. Of course, since the properties differ depending on the paper type, each paper is good. In order to perform image formation, it is necessary to perform image formation under conditions corresponding to each paper type. Conventionally, several techniques for performing image formation according to such a paper type have been proposed.

  One of them is an idea of performing image formation using toner suitable for the type of paper. For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a toner suitable for printing on an OHP sheet. Patent Document 2 below proposes a toner suitable for printing on thick paper.

As another method, a method of changing a printing control sequence depending on the paper type has been proposed. Specifically, a technique has been proposed in which the fixing temperature and the sheet conveyance speed when the sheet on which the toner image is transferred are thermally fixed are changed according to the sheet type. For example, Patent Document 3 below describes an apparatus that changes the fixing temperature when printing thick paper. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses changing the paper conveyance speed during OHP sheet printing.
Japanese Patent No. 3368100 JP 2001-249486 A Japanese Patent No. 3166408 Japanese Patent No. 3382331

  However, in the case of the above-described method of using toner suitable for the paper type, the conventional image forming apparatus cannot install a plurality of toner cartridges of the same color, so it is necessary to manually replace the toner cartridge according to the paper type. It was. That is, for example, different types of black toner are prepared depending on the paper type, but since a plurality of black toner cartridges cannot be installed at the same time, the black toner cartridge should be replaced when the paper type changes. It became. Therefore, in order to perform good printing according to the paper type, it is inconvenient with manual work.

  Further, the above-described method for changing the print control has a problem that a complicated control mechanism is required, resulting in an increase in the cost of the apparatus, and a time loss occurs when changing the fixing temperature and the conveyance speed.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and the like that can easily and efficiently perform good image formation suitable for the type of paper.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on received print data includes a plurality of development units that store toner of the same color in a detachable manner. Developing means; storage means for storing toner type identification information for identifying the toner type of toner contained in each developing unit mounted on the developing means; the type of paper on which the image is formed and the storage Selection means for selecting the developing unit used in the image formation based on the toner type identification information stored in the means. Therefore, according to the present invention, since the developing unit used at the time of image formation is automatically selected in consideration of the type of paper, it is possible to easily form a good image suitable for the paper type.

  Further, in the above invention, a preferable aspect thereof is characterized in that the selection unit selects the developing unit that stores toner of a toner type suitable for the type of paper.

  Further, in the above-described invention, a preferable aspect further includes a second storage unit that stores a correspondence relationship between the paper type and a toner type suitable for the paper type.

  In the above invention, a preferable aspect is that when the developing unit does not have a toner of a toner type suitable for the type of paper, the user of the image forming apparatus is notified that there is no toner. Features. Thus, it is possible to prevent the image formation from being performed with toner that is not suitable for the paper type without the user's knowledge.

  Furthermore, in the above invention, a preferable aspect is that the developing unit includes a memory storing toner type information related to a toner type of toner contained in the developing unit, and the toner type identification information stored in the storage unit is The image forming apparatus is set based on toner type information stored in the memory when the image forming apparatus is turned on or when the developing unit is attached to the developing unit. As a result, the toner type identification information is automatically set, so that the user's trouble can be saved.

  In the above invention, the preferable aspect further includes an operation unit for operating the image forming apparatus, and the toner type identification information stored in the storage unit is set based on an operation in the operation unit. It is characterized by being.

  Furthermore, in the above invention, a preferable aspect is that an operation by a user of the image forming apparatus using a driver program in which the toner type identification information stored in the storage unit is stored in a host apparatus that transmits the print data. It is set based on.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a driver program that causes a host device that issues a print request to a printing apparatus to execute generation processing of print data to be transmitted to the printing apparatus. When the apparatus is capable of mounting a plurality of developing units that store toner of the same color, information for identifying the toner type of the toner stored in each developing unit mounted on the printing apparatus is displayed on the printing apparatus. Is to cause the host device to execute the process of transmitting to the host. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to set information for selecting an appropriate developing unit in the printing apparatus from the host apparatus side.

  Further objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments of the invention described below.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, such an embodiment does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals or reference symbols.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of a printer which is an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. A printer 2 shown in FIG. 1 is an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and is an apparatus that forms an image on a predetermined print medium (paper) based on a print request from the host computer 1. The printer 2 has a configuration in which a plurality of different types of toner cartridges 611 (development units) of the same color can be mounted, and an appropriate toner cartridge 611 is selected from those according to the type of paper on which printing is performed. Printing is executed, and good printing is easily performed on each paper type.

  A host computer 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a host device that makes a print request to the printer 2 and transmits print data including image data and control commands to the printer 2 based on a user operation or the like. The host computer 1 can be configured by a so-called personal computer. The printer driver 3 in the host computer 1 is a part that receives data from an application (not shown) in the host computer 1 and generates the print data to be transmitted to the printer 2. The printer driver 3 according to the present embodiment sets the toner type (type) of the toner cartridge 611 installed at each cartridge position of the printer 2, as will be described in detail later, in addition to the functions of a general printer driver. It has a function. The printer driver 3 is a program that causes the host computer 1 to execute processing related to the above functions, and the above functions are achieved by a control device (not shown) of the host computer 1 executing the processing according to the programs. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 2 includes a controller unit 4, an engine control unit 5, an engine 6, and an operation unit 7. The controller unit 4 receives print data transmitted from the host computer 1, interprets a control command included in the data, performs predetermined processing on the image data included in the data, and performs engine 6 side. Generate data to provide to Although not shown, the controller unit 4 includes a CPU, a memory, and the like, and the generated data is stored in the memory. Further, the controller unit 4 transmits information indicating that development is started to the engine control unit 5 when a predetermined amount of data is generated in the memory.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the engine control unit 5 includes a CPU 51 (selection unit), a ROM 52, a RAM 53, a main body side memory 54 (storage unit), an I / F 55, and the like. The CPU 51 is a part that controls each part of the engine 6, and executes a process of determining (selecting) a toner cartridge (position) used at the time of image formation based on the type of paper to be printed. The CPU 51 also executes a process of acquiring information on the toner type at each toner cartridge position and storing (setting) it in a main body side memory 54 described later. The determination process of the toner cartridge 611 and the toner type setting process are the features of the CPU 51, and specific contents will be described later.

  The ROM 52 stores various programs for controlling the engine 6, and the RAM 53 temporarily stores various information regarding the engine 6. Next, the main body side memory 54 is data storage means for storing information on each toner cartridge 611 of the developing device 61 described later. Specifically, the presence / absence information of the toner cartridge 611 in the developing device 61, toner color information written in a toner cartridge side memory 612, which will be described later, consumption amount information, and the like are stored. Stores a toner type table 541 (toner type identification information) in which the position (for example, A, B, C, D) of the toner cartridge 611 in the developing device 61 is associated with the toner type of the toner cartridge 611 attached to the position. is doing. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating such a toner type table 541.

  As the toner type, there are a type such as a toner having a low or high melting temperature as an index, and a type having or not having a transparency as an index. In general, those having a low melting temperature are intended for cardboard, and those having transparency are intended for OHP sheets. Also, standard toners have a high melting temperature and are not transparent. In the example shown in FIG. 3, a toner cartridge 611 containing standard toner is mounted at the mounting positions A and B, that is, a toner cartridge 611 having a toner type of “standard” is mounted. D represents that the toner cartridge 611 having the toner type “transparency” and “low melting temperature” is mounted.

  The main body side memory 54 stores a correspondence table 542 in which paper types are associated with appropriate toner types. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating such a correspondence table 542. As described above, “optimum toner type” is set for each paper type (“paper type”) on which printing processing is performed, and the printer 2 uses this at the time of printing based on this correspondence. The toner type is determined. For example, when printing on an “OHP sheet”, the “transparent” toner is set to be selected. Note that paper types include OHP sheets and cardboard, as well as coated paper and envelopes, and these may be the correspondence table 542 in which the optimum toner type is set.

  One of the features of the printer 2 is that the toner type table 541 and the correspondence table 542 are provided.

  The I / F 55 is an interface between the CPU 51 and the toner cartridge side memory 612, and is used when the CPU 51 reads the information written in the toner cartridge side memory 612 and writes it in the main body side memory 54.

  Next, the engine 6 includes a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing device, a transfer unit, and the like. In FIG. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram centering on the mechanism of the engine 6 portion of the printer 2.

  The photosensitive drum 621 has a cylindrical conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, is rotatable about a central axis, and rotates clockwise as indicated by an arrow. The charging unit 622 charges the photosensitive drum 621, and the exposure unit 623 irradiates the charged photosensitive drum 621 with a beam from a light source such as a built-in laser or LED array to form a latent image due to static electricity. Beam irradiation of the exposure unit 623 is controlled by a drive signal modulated based on image information input from the host computer 1.

  The developing device 61 is a developing rotary that has mounting portions 614A to 614D to which toner cartridges 611A to 611D that store toner that is a developer are detachably mounted, and is rotatable with respect to the central shaft 613. The developing device 61 is rotated so that necessary toner cartridges 611A to 611D are brought close to the photosensitive drum 621, and the developer is supplied to the photosensitive drum 621 on which the latent image is formed. Developed.

  It should be noted that toners 611A to 611D that contain black K, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y developer materials are mounted on the mounting portions 614A to 614D of the developing device 61, for example, in combination with various color toners. In this embodiment, it is assumed that black toner is contained in all the toner cartridges 611A to 611D that are mounted. Further, the black toners stored in the toner cartridges 611A to 611D are not all the same toner type. For example, as shown in the toner type table 541 illustrated in FIG. There are toners such as “low temperature”. At the time of image formation, a toner cartridge 611 containing toner of an appropriate toner type is selected, and the toner cartridge 611 is brought close to the photosensitive drum 621. A to D attached to the toner cartridges 611A to 611D are symbols for identifying the mounting positions of the toner cartridge 611 in the developing device 61.

  The primary transfer unit 626 transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductor 621 to the intermediate transfer body 627. The intermediate transfer member 627 is an endless belt in which an aluminum vapor deposition layer is formed on the surface of a PET film and a semiconductive paint is formed on the surface, for example, and is driven to rotate at the same peripheral speed as that of the photosensitive drum 621. Then, the secondary transfer unit 628 transfers the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer body 627 to a printing medium such as paper, and the fixing unit 629 welds the toner image transferred onto the printing medium to the medium and becomes permanent. The print medium is discharged out of the printer 2.

  The cleaning unit 624 is provided between the primary transfer unit 626 and the charging unit 622 and has a cleaning blade 625 that comes into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 621 and remains on the photosensitive drum 621 after the primary transfer. The developing material (toner) to be removed is removed by the cleaning blade 625.

  Each toner cartridge 611 has a storage medium for storing color information and remaining amount information of the developer, such as a non-contact type nonvolatile memory, so that the printer 2 can recognize the state of the mounted toner cartridge 611. The toner cartridge side memories 612A to 612D are provided. Then, after the power is turned on or after the toner cartridge 611 is mounted on the developing device 61, information in the toner cartridge side memory 612 is read. Further, the remaining amount information of the toner cartridge side memory 612 of the toner cartridge 611 is updated after development. The toner cartridge side memory 612 may include information on the toner type of the toner stored in the toner cartridge 611.

  The operation unit 7 shown in FIG. 1 is a part for the user to operate the printer 2, and includes a display panel 71 (see FIG. 2), operation buttons, and the like. The operation unit 7 can perform various setting actions such as setting of printing conditions in the printer 2. In particular, the toner type of the mounted toner cartridge 611 is set for each cartridge position of the developing device 61. be able to. In other words, the contents of the toner type table 541 stored in the main body memory 54 can be updated.

  The operation of the printer 2 according to this embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described below. When the toner cartridge 611 is mounted on the developing device 61, the mounted state is recognized by reading the information from the toner cartridge side memory 612 described above, and the printer 2 is ready for printing. Thereafter, at the time of printing, the print data described in a predetermined language is supplied from the host computer 1 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 621, development by the corresponding toner cartridge 611, and intermediate by the primary transfer unit 626. The toner image is transferred onto the transfer body 627. Further, it is transferred to a printing medium such as paper by the secondary transfer unit 628, fixed by the fixing unit 629, and discharged outside the printer 2.

  Although the printer 2 operates mainly with such contents, in the printer 2, the toner type setting process for each cartridge position and the toner cartridge 611 based on the paper type at the time of the printing process in the preparation stage before the printing process. The selection (determination) process is characterized, and these points will be specifically described below.

  First, the toner type setting process can be performed by three methods. The first method is a case where information on the toner type of the toner contained in the toner cartridge 611 is written in the toner cartridge-side memory 612 described above. At the time of mounting, the printer 2 automatically reads out information related to the toner type and performs setting processing. Specifically, when the printer 2 is turned on or the toner cartridge 611 is installed, the CPU 51 reads out information on the toner type from each of the toner cartridge side memories 612A to 612D via the I / F 55 and stores it in the main body side memory 54. The contents of the toner type table 541 thus updated are updated.

  Note that the toner type in the toner type table 541 is not limited to one, and information on a plurality of toner types based on a plurality of indexes may be provided.

  In this embodiment, the toner type table 541 is made to correspond to the mounting position of the toner cartridge 611 and the toner type. However, the identification number (identification information) of each toner cartridge 611 is associated with the toner type. The correspondence relationship between the identification number and the position where the toner cartridge 611 with the identification number is mounted may be held in another table. That is, it is only necessary that the main body side memory 54 stores information that can identify the toner type of the toner cartridge 611 installed at each mounting position at that time.

  Next, the second method is a method in which the user sets the toner type using the operation unit 7. In this method, the user of the printer 2 knows the toner type of the toner cartridge 611 installed in the developing device 61. When the toner cartridge 611 is replaced, the toner cartridge 611 is installed. The information of “toner type” at the position is updated by the user's operation.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display panel of the operation unit 7 operated by the user. The example shown in the drawing is a display example when setting the toner type of the toner cartridge 611 mounted at the first mounting position of the developing device 61. As described above, in this embodiment, since the black K toner cartridge 611 is mounted at all four mounting positions, the toner type of the toner cartridge 611A mounted at the mounting position A is set to “K1 toner”. Hereinafter, similarly, the toner types of the toner cartridges 611B to 611D mounted at the mounting positions B to D are expressed as “K2 toner type” to “K4 toner type”.

  FIG. 5A shows a display when “K1 toner type” is set to “transparency”, and FIG. 5B shows “K1 toner type” as “no transparency”. This is the display when setting. The user operates the predetermined button prepared on the operation unit 7 to switch between the two displays, and instructs the setting with the predetermined button when the toner type to be set is displayed. In response to this operation, the CPU 51 updates predetermined information in the toner type table 541. For example, if the above instruction is given in the state shown in FIG. 5A, the toner type at the mounting position A in the toner type table 541 is set to “Transparent”. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the same display is performed for “K2 toner type” to “K4 toner type” by a predetermined operation by the user, and the toner type at each position is set in the same procedure. be able to.

  Next, the third method is a method of setting using the printer driver 3 on the host computer 1 side. In this case as well, the user of the printer 2 knows the toner type of the toner cartridge 611 installed in the developing device 61. When the toner cartridge 611 is replaced, the toner cartridge 611 is replaced. Information on the “toner type” of the mounted position is updated using a setting screen provided by the printer driver 3.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram exemplifying a toner type setting screen provided by the printer driver 3. The window shown in FIG. 6A is a toner type setting window, and can be displayed on a display device (not shown) such as a display by the user performing a predetermined operation on the host computer 1. it can. In the window, the four toner types can be set on one side, and the toner type to be set for each mounting position can be displayed by selecting a location indicated by a in FIG. For example, if the part C in the figure is selected after the part B in the figure is selected, “no transparency” can be displayed as the “K4 toner type”. When the display of the toner type is completed for all positions, the toner type is set by selecting a “set” button shown in FIG.

  When the above operation is completed, the printer driver 3 transmits information on the toner type set (displayed) by the user to the printer 2 side. Based on the information, the CPU 51 changes the content of the toner type table 541 to the content set by the user. Updated. FIG. 6B shows an example of a setting command which is information transmitted from the printer driver 3 to the printer 2. Such a command is transmitted at the time of the user's setting operation, and the toner type is set. However, the command may be transmitted at the time of a print request performed after the setting operation. In such a case, the command is added to the head of the print data and transmitted to the printer 2.

  As described above, in this printer 2, the information on the toner type at each cartridge position is updated as needed by several methods, and the contents of the toner type table 541 are always kept up-to-date. The information in the toner type table 541 is used for the selection process of the toner cartridge 611 at the time of printing described below. Note that the above three toner type setting methods do not necessarily have to be combined, and any one or more methods may be provided.

  Next, the selection (determination) processing of the toner cartridge 611 based on the paper type at the time of printing processing will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of the selection process for the toner cartridge 611. As described above, when printing is performed, print data is transmitted from the host computer 1 to the printer 2, and data for the engine 6 is generated in the controller unit 4 based on the print data. When the controller unit 4 generates a predetermined amount of the data, the engine control unit 6 is instructed to start printing. In response to this instruction, the engine control unit 6 starts control of each part of the engine 6 to start the printing operation, and the toner cartridge 611 is selected therein.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram exemplifying a screen for the user to set various printing conditions when making a print request to the printer 2 at the host computer 1. When making a print request, the printer driver 3 for the printer 2 displays a window as illustrated in FIG. 8A to the user. In this window, the user can select “paper size” and “print”. Printing conditions such as “direction” can be designated. In the designation of such conditions, as shown in FIG. 8A, the “paper type” used at the time of printing can also be designated (e), and in the example shown in the figure, printing is performed on the “OHP sheet”. Is specified. It is also possible to make a print request without specifying the paper type.

  When such printing conditions are specified (set), the printer driver 3 adds the information of the setting contents as print commands to the print data, and transmits it to the printer 2 side. FIG. 8B exemplifies a command indicating the specified content regarding the paper type, and other print data such as image data follows this command.

  After the print data including the setting information as described above is received by the printer 2 and the processing as described above is executed by the controller unit 4, the engine control unit 5 performs the selection process of the toner cartridge 611 used for the printing. Execute. Returning to FIG. 7, first, the CPU 51 grasps the type of paper to be used in the printing process instructed by the controller unit 4 (step S1). The controller unit 4 determines the paper type to be used in the current print processing based on the paper type information included in the print request from the host computer 1 described above, and uses this information when instructing to start printing. Inform the CPU 51. As a result, the CPU 51 can grasp the paper type. If the paper type is not specified from the host computer 1, the controller unit 4 determines, for example, the paper type that uses plain paper.

  Next, the CPU 51 accesses the correspondence table 542 described above, and recognizes the optimum toner type for the grasped paper type from the contents set therein (step S2). That is, the toner type to be used in the current printing is grasped. For example, in the case of the correspondence table 542 illustrated in FIG. 4, if the paper type is “OHP sheet”, it is understood that the optimum toner type is “transparency”.

  Next, the CPU 51 accesses the toner type table 541 (step S3), and checks whether there is a toner cartridge 611 containing the toner of the grasped optimum toner type (step S4). That is, it is checked whether or not the toner cartridge 611 of the optimum toner type in the printing process is mounted on the developing device 61.

  If it is determined that there is a toner cartridge 611 of the optimum toner type as a result of this check (Yes in step S4), is there a toner cartridge 611 with toner among the toner cartridges 611 of the optimum toner type? It is checked whether or not (step S5). For example, in the case of the toner type table 541 shown in FIG. 3, if the optimum toner type is “transparency”, the toner cartridge 611 of the toner type is mounted at the cartridge position C. The remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 611 is checked. Specifically, the remaining amount check is performed based on the remaining amount information stored in the toner cartridge side memory 612 or the like.

  As a result of checking, if there is a toner cartridge 611 with toner among the toner cartridges 611 of the optimum toner type (Yes in step S5), the toner cartridge that uses the toner cartridge 611 with the toner in the current printing process. It selects as 611 (step S6). For example, in the case of the toner type table 541 shown in FIG. 3, when the optimum toner type is “transparency” and the toner cartridge 611 mounted at the cartridge position C has toner, this toner cartridge 611. Is selected. If there are a plurality of toner cartridges 611 determined to have toner in the determination in step S5, one toner cartridge 611 is selected from them based on a predetermined index. For example, a method of selecting the oldest manufacturing date or a method of selecting the toner with the largest remaining amount is used.

  On the other hand, when there is no toner cartridge 611 with toner among the toner cartridges 611 of the optimum toner type (No in step S5), a message that there is no toner is displayed on the display panel 71 of the operation unit 7 described above. Display and report to the user (step S7).

  If it is determined in step S4 that there is no toner cartridge 611 of the optimum toner type (No in step S4), the toner cartridge 611 of the optimum toner type is displayed on the display panel 71 of the operation unit 7 or the like. A message indicating that there is no message is displayed and reported to the user (step S8). For example, when there is a request for printing on an OHP sheet, even if it is determined in step S2 that the optimum toner type is “transparency”, if the toner cartridge 611 of that toner type is not mounted, That is reported.

  When the toner cartridge 611 selection process is executed with the contents as described above and the toner cartridge 611 is selected (step S6), the selected toner cartridge 611 is brought close to the photosensitive drum 621 and developed. Is done. The toner cartridge selection process is performed by the CPU 51 executing a process according to a program stored in the ROM 52.

  As described above, in the printer 2 according to the present embodiment, a plurality of toner cartridges 611 of the same color are mounted, and the types of toner stored in them are stored. At the time of printing, the stored toner information is used to select a toner cartridge 611 of the most suitable toner type for the type of paper to be printed. Therefore, the user can perform printing using the optimum toner on a desired sheet by making a print request similar to the conventional one. That is, it is not necessary to always replace the toner cartridge every time the type of paper is changed, and good printing suitable for the paper can be realized easily.

  In addition, when there is no toner suitable for the paper type, the fact is reported to the user, and it is possible to prevent printing with toner that is not suitable for the paper without the user's knowledge. Further, the toner type information is set to the printer 2 automatically by the printer 2 or by a simple user operation on the operation panel or the host computer 1 side. Therefore, the user is not bothered about the setting.

  In the present embodiment, the correspondence table 542 stored in the main body side memory 54 is used to determine the optimum toner type for the paper type. The selection process of the cartridge 611 may be incorporated into a program that causes the CPU 51 to execute the selection process, and the correspondence table 542 itself may not be provided.

  In the present embodiment, the toner type is expressed in two levels, “with / without transparency” and “low / high melting temperature” for one index, but “low / normal / high”. It may be expressed in three or more levels. Further, regarding the paper types, when three or more types of paper having different thicknesses such as thick paper are used and different toners are used for them, one index may be distinguished into three or more types.

  In the above description, the process for selecting the toner cartridge 611 to be used has been described. However, a process for selecting a paper feeding device such as a paper cassette or a paper tray in which the paper to be used is stored may be performed. .

  Furthermore, in the selection process of the toner cartridge 611 described above, when there is no toner suitable for the paper and the toner cartridge 611 to be used is not selected (steps S7 and S8 in FIG. 7), a toner cartridge that stores standard toner. If the standard toner cartridge 611 is available, the standard toner cartridge 611 may be selected and the print control may be changed to match the paper type. For example, when the paper type is an OHP sheet or thick paper, control may be performed to change the paper conveyance speed or fixing temperature after selecting the standard toner.

  In the embodiment, the toner type table 541 and the correspondence table 542 are stored in the engine control unit 5, and the above-described cartridge selection process is performed in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 52 of the engine control unit 5. Although it was executed by the operation of the CPU 51 of the control unit 5, the cartridge selection process may be performed by the controller unit 4. In this case, the main body side memory 54 for storing the toner type table 541, the correspondence table 542, the ROM 52 for storing the program, and the CPU 51 are provided on the controller unit 4 side and selected by the controller unit 4. Information (number) of the toner cartridge 611 decided to be used is transmitted from the controller unit 4 to the engine control unit 5.

  The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but covers the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. 2 is a configuration diagram centering on a mechanism of an engine 6 portion of the printer 2. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a toner type table 541. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence table 542. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display panel of an operation unit 7. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a toner type setting screen provided by a printer driver. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of toner cartridge selection processing. 6 is a diagram illustrating a screen for setting various printing conditions when a print request is made. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host computer, 2 Printer, 3 Printer driver, 4 Controller part, 5 Engine control part, 6 Engine, 7 Operation part (operation means), 51 CPU (selection means), 52 ROM, 53 RAM, 54 Main body side memory (memory) Means), 55 I / F, 61 developing device (developing means), 62 other units, 541 toner type table (toner type identification information), 542 correspondence table (corresponding relationship), 611 toner cartridge (developing unit), 612 toner cartridge Side memory

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus that forms an image based on received print data,
Developing means to which a plurality of developing units containing toner of the same color are detachably mounted;
Storage means for storing toner type identification information for identifying the toner type of toner contained in each developing unit mounted on the developing means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a selecting unit that selects the developing unit to be used in the image formation based on a type of paper on which the image is formed and toner type identification information stored in the storage unit. . In claim 1,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the selection unit selects the developing unit that stores toner of a toner type suitable for the type of the paper. In claim 2, further:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a second storage unit configured to store a correspondence relationship between the paper type and a toner type suitable for the paper type. In any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3,
An image forming apparatus characterized in that, when the developing unit does not have toner of a toner type suitable for the type of paper, the user of the image forming apparatus is notified that there is no toner. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4,
The developing unit includes a memory that stores toner type information related to a toner type of toner contained in the developing unit;
The toner type identification information stored in the storage unit is set based on the toner type information stored in the memory when the image forming apparatus is turned on or when the developing unit is attached to the developing unit. An image forming apparatus. In any one of Claims 1 to 5,
Furthermore, it has an operation means for operating the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the toner type identification information stored in the storage unit is set based on an operation in the operation unit. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 6,
The toner type identification information stored in the storage unit is set based on an operation by a user of the image forming apparatus using a driver program stored in a host apparatus that transmits the print data. Image forming apparatus. A driver program that causes a host device that issues a print request to a printing device to execute processing for generating print data to be transmitted to the printing device,
When the printing apparatus is capable of mounting a plurality of developing units that store toner of the same color, information for identifying the toner type of the toner stored in each developing unit mounted on the printing apparatus, A driver program that causes the host device to execute processing to be transmitted to a printing device.

Images