JP2014121791A - Image formation device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation device capable of suppressing a stain of rear and side surfaces of paper even when borderless printing is performed.SOLUTION: The image formation device includes: reception means for receiving a printing job; a plurality of trays for accommodating a recording medium to be printed; image formation means for forming an image on the recording medium; detection means for detecting information of the tray and recording medium attribute information of the recording medium accommodated in the tray; and determination means for determining whether or not a job of borderless printing exists that forms the image without having a blank space on the recording medium. The image formation device records the image overlapping a recording medium on which the borderless printing is performed with a recording medium conveyed from the tray in which the recording medium is accommodated that has a size equal to or greater than the recording medium on which the borderless printing is performed when performing the borderless printing.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a program.

As a liquid ejecting apparatus having a transport mechanism for transporting a liquid receiving sheet formed larger than the target size in borderless printing to a liquid ejecting position in a state where the liquid receiving sheet is overlapped with the target on the nozzle forming surface side of the liquid ejecting head An ink jet printer is known (Patent Document 1).
A medium for transporting a medium having a first size conveyed from the first medium storage unit on a medium having a second size larger than the medium having a first size conveyed from the second medium storage unit There is also a printing apparatus including a conveyance unit and a printing unit that prints an image larger than the first size medium on the first size medium and the second size medium conveyed by the medium conveyance unit. Known (Patent Document 2).

JP 2007-112097 A JP 2008-83567 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing paper backside stains and paper side stains even when borderless printing is performed.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
Receiving means for receiving a print job;
A plurality of trays containing recording media to be printed;
Image forming means for forming an image on the recording medium;
Detecting means for detecting attribute information of the recording medium accommodated in the tray and information on the tray;
Determination means for determining the presence or absence of borderless printing for forming the image without providing a margin for the recording medium,
An image is formed by superimposing the recording medium conveyed from the tray containing a recording medium larger or the same size as the recording medium on which the marginless printing is performed and the recording medium on which the marginless printing is performed during the marginless printing. Record,
It is characterized by that.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect,
A recording medium reversing and conveying means for reversing the front and back of the recording medium having the image fixed on the first surface;
The recording medium that performs borderless printing and the recording medium that is larger than the recording medium that performs borderless printing are separated, and the recording medium that is larger than the recording medium that performs borderless printing is reversed by the recording medium reversing conveyance unit. The image is recorded by superimposing it on a recording medium for borderless printing.
It is characterized by that.

In order to solve the above problem, a program according to claim 3 is provided.
A receiving function for receiving print jobs;
An image forming function for recording an image on a recording medium;
A detection function for detecting attribute information of the recording medium accommodated in the tray and information on the tray;
A function of determining the presence or absence of borderless printing for forming an image without providing a margin for the recording medium;
A function of recording an image by superimposing a recording medium conveyed from a tray containing a recording medium larger or the same size as a recording medium that performs borderless printing and a recording medium that performs marginless printing at the time of borderless printing; ,
Realizing
It is characterized by that.

According to the first, second, and third aspects of the invention, compared to the case without the present configuration, the image forming apparatus that can suppress the stain on the back side of the paper and the stain on the side surface of the paper even when borderless printing is performed. And can provide programs.

2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. (A) is a diagram for explaining bordered printing, and (b) is a diagram for explaining borderless printing. (A) is the size of the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt during borderless printing, (b) is the size of the paper, and (c) is a diagram showing the relationship between the toner image of borderless printing and the paper. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a relationship among an intermediate transfer belt, toner to be transferred, paper, and a secondary transfer roller in a secondary transfer unit. (A)-(d) is a cross-sectional schematic diagram for demonstrating the operation | movement which superimposes the paper P which performs borderless printing with the registration roller pair 23, and the antifouling paper P0. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process performed when performing borderless printing.

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings with reference to embodiments and specific examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and specific examples.
Also, in the description using the following drawings, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and the ratio of each dimension and the like are different from the actual ones, and are necessary for the description for easy understanding. Illustrations other than the members are omitted as appropriate.

(1) Overall Configuration and Operation of Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment.
Hereinafter, the overall configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control device 10, a paper feeding device 20, a photoreceptor unit 30, a developing device 40, a transfer device 50, a fixing device 60, and a discharge device 70. On the upper surface (Z direction) of the image forming apparatus 1, there is formed a discharge tray 1a for discharging and storing the paper P on which an image is recorded.

The control device 10 includes a controller 11 that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 1, an image processing unit 12 that is controlled by the controller 11, a power supply device 13, and the like. The power supply device 13 applies a voltage to a charging roller 32, a developing roller 42, a primary transfer roller 52, a secondary transfer roller 53, and the like which will be described later.
The image processing unit 12 converts print information input from an external information transmission apparatus (for example, a personal computer) into image information for forming a latent image, and outputs a drive signal to the exposure apparatus LH at a preset timing. To do. The exposure apparatus LH of the present embodiment is configured by an LED head in which LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are arranged in a line.

  A paper feeding device 20 is provided at the bottom of the image forming apparatus 1. The paper feeding device 20 includes a plurality of paper feeding trays, and each paper feeding tray includes a paper stacking plate 21, and a plurality of paper P as recording media are stacked on the upper surface of the paper stacking plate 21. The paper P loaded on the paper stacking plate 21 and whose position in the width direction is determined by a regulating plate (not shown) is pulled out one by one from the top by the paper pulling unit 22 (−X direction), and then registered. It is conveyed to the nip portion of the pair 23.

  The photoconductor unit 30 includes a photoconductor drum 31 that is provided in parallel above the paper feeding device 20 (in the Z direction) and serves as an image carrier that is rotationally driven. A charging roller 32, an exposure device LH, a developing device 40, a primary transfer roller 52, and a cleaning blade 34 are arranged along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 31. A cleaning roller 33 for cleaning the surface of the charging roller 32 is disposed opposite to and in contact with the charging roller 32.

The developing device 40 includes a developing housing 41 in which a developer is accommodated. In the developing housing 41, a developing roller 42 disposed to face the photosensitive drum 31, and a pair of augers 44 that stir and convey the developer to the developing roller 42 side obliquely below the back side of the developing roller 42, 45 is arranged. A layer regulating member 46 that regulates the layer thickness of the developer is disposed in proximity to the developing roller 42.
Each of the developing devices 40 is configured in substantially the same manner except for the developer contained in the developing housing 41, and each forms a toner image of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). To do.

  The surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 31 is charged by the charging roller 32, and an electrostatic latent image is formed by the latent image forming light emitted from the exposure device LH. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 31 is developed as a toner image by the developing roller 42.

  The transfer device 50 includes an intermediate transfer belt 51 to which each color toner image formed on the photoconductive drum 31 of each photoconductor unit 30 is transferred, and each color toner image formed on each photoconductor unit 30 to the intermediate transfer belt. A primary transfer roller 52 that sequentially transfers (primary transfer) to 51 is provided. Further, the image forming apparatus includes a secondary transfer roller 53 that collectively transfers (secondary transfer) each color toner image superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 51 onto a sheet P as a recording medium.

Each color toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 31 of each photosensitive unit 30 is sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 51 by the primary transfer roller 52 to which a predetermined transfer voltage is applied from the power supply device 13 or the like controlled by the controller 11. Electrostatic transfer (primary transfer) is performed to form a superimposed toner image in which toners of respective colors are superimposed.
The superimposed toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 51 is conveyed to a region (secondary transfer portion TR) where the secondary transfer roller 53 is disposed as the intermediate transfer belt 51 moves. When the superimposed toner image is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit TR, the paper P is supplied from the paper feeding device 20 to the secondary transfer unit TR in accordance with the timing. A predetermined transfer voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller 53 from the power supply device 13 or the like controlled by the controller 11, and the intermediate transfer belt 51 is fed to the sheet P fed from the registration roller pair 23 and guided by the conveyance guide. The upper multiple toner images are collectively transferred.

  Residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is removed by the cleaning blade 34 and collected in the waste developer container. The surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is recharged by the charging roller 32. Residues that cannot be completely removed by the cleaning blade 34 and adhere to the charging roller 32 are captured and accumulated on the surface of the cleaning roller 33 that rotates in contact with the charging roller 32.

The fixing device 60 includes an endless fixing belt 61 that rotates in one direction, and a pressure roller 62 that contacts the peripheral surface of the fixing belt 61 and rotates in one direction. A fixing nip portion N (fixing region) is formed by the pressure contact region.
The sheet P on which the toner image is transferred in the transfer device 50 is conveyed to the fixing device 60 via the conveyance guide in a state where the toner image is not fixed. The toner image is fixed on the sheet P conveyed to the fixing device 60 by a pair of fixing belt 61 and pressure roller 62 by the action of pressure bonding and heating.
The sheet P on which the fixed toner image is formed is guided by the conveyance guides 65 a and 65 b and is discharged from the discharge roller pair 69 to the discharge tray 1 a on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus 1.

  When image output is performed on both sides of the paper P, the front and back sides of the paper are reversed by the discharge device 70 and sent again to the secondary transfer unit TR. Then, after the toner image is transferred and the transferred image is fixed, the toner image is discharged to a discharge tray 1a.

(2) Borderless printing operation (2.1) Borderless printing Here, borderless printing will be described.
The image forming apparatus 1 has a margin printing mode in which a margin is provided over the entire circumference of the edge of the paper P to print an image, and a border in which an image is printed up to the edge of the paper P without a margin. Has no print mode.
The presence or absence of the borderless printing mode is determined by the controller 11 that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 1.

FIG. 2A shows bordered printing (hereinafter referred to as normal printing), and FIG. 2B shows borderless printing. During printing with margins, the toner image is entirely contained in the paper P, and there are peripheral margins of the upper margin (mh), lower margin (mb), left margin (ml), and right margin (mr) around the paper P.
On the other hand, in borderless printing, the toner image reaches the end of the paper P, and the peripheral margin is eliminated. In FIG. 2B, a state in which there is no upper margin, lower margin, left margin, or right margin is shown, but if there is no margin at a part of the edges, borderless printing is performed.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating toner image formation during borderless printing. FIG. 3A shows the size of a toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 51, where Iv is vertical and Ih is horizontal. FIG. 3B shows the size of the paper P, where Pv is vertical and Ph is horizontal.

The size relationship between the toner image and the paper P is set so that Pv <Iv and Ph <Ih. In other words, the size of the toner image is formed to be slightly larger than the selected paper size so that no margin is generated in the paper P even if the paper P is fed slightly off the front, back, left and right.
On the intermediate transfer belt 51, a toner image of Iv × Ih size indicated by a broken line is formed. The Iv × Ih size toner image is conveyed toward the secondary transfer portion TR by the intermediate transfer belt 51. On the other hand, the sheet P is timing-controlled by the registration roller pair 23 and is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit TR as the toner image enters the secondary transfer unit TR.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the relationship between the intermediate transfer belt 51 in the secondary transfer portion TR, the toner transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 51 to the paper P, and the paper P and the secondary transfer roller 53. It is.
As shown in FIG. 4A, since the size of the toner image is larger than the size of the paper P, the front and rear ends and the left and right ends of the toner image are transferred onto the secondary transfer roller 53.
That is, in the secondary transfer portion TR, the Iv × Ih size toner image is transferred to the Pv × Ph size paper P, and the toner adhering to the secondary transfer roller 53 is transferred to the back surface of the paper P during the secondary transfer. There is a problem of shifting and smearing the back surface of the paper P.

(2.2) Borderless Printing Operation The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment uses the paper P and the anti-smudge paper P0 having a size larger than or equal to the paper P when performing borderless printing. Borderless printing is performed by selecting from a tray different from the tray in which the image is stored and superimposing them.
When performing borderless printing of a plurality of sheets, the stain preventing paper P0 is separated when the stain preventing paper P0 is fixed and discharged in a superimposed state, and the separated stain preventing paper P0 is discharged from the discharge device 70. Thus, the front and back sides are reversed, the posture is controlled by the registration roller pair 23, and the sheet P is again sent to the secondary transfer unit TR as the anti-smudge paper P0 of the paper P for borderless printing.

FIGS. 5A to 5D are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining the operation of superimposing the paper P on which borderless printing is performed by the registration roller pair 23 and the anti-smudge paper P0.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5A, for example, the anti-smudge paper P0 selected as the anti-smudge paper P0 and stored in the paper feed tray T2 is moved forward (−X direction) by the paper drawer 22. After being pulled out, it is conveyed to the nip portion of the registration roller pair 23 to form a registration loop.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 5B to 5D, the resist roller pair 23 is a stain-preventing sheet conveyed from the sheet feeding tray T2 on the surface opposite to the printing surface of the sheet P for borderless printing. The paper P and the anti-smudge paper P0 are overlapped so that one main surface of P0 contacts. The superimposed paper P and anti-smudge paper P0 are sent to the secondary transfer portion TR by the registration roller pair 23.
A predetermined bias voltage is applied to the registration roller pair 23, and when the paper P and the anti-smudge paper P0 are overlapped, a charge is applied to the paper P and the anti-smudge paper P0 so that the paper P and the paper P are stained. The prevention paper P0 may be adsorbed to each other.

  When the controller 11 receives the image for borderless printing, the controller 11 calculates the thickness when the paper P and the stain prevention paper P0 are overlapped, and the image forming condition table stored in advance based on the calculated thickness. Refer to The controller 11 reads out the process speed, the secondary transfer voltage, the fixing temperature, and the like corresponding to the calculated thickness, and performs image forming processing.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processing performed when the image forming apparatus 1 performs borderless printing. Hereinafter, a borderless printing operation in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to flowcharts.

  When the print job is input, the controller 11 starts processing the print job and determines whether the image information is image information related to borderless printing (S101). As a result, when it is determined that the print is borderless (S101: Yes), it is determined whether the borderless print is a print of a plurality of sheets (S102). In the case of a plurality of borderless printing (S102: Yes), the counter is decremented by one (S103), and a paper feed tray in which the antifouling paper P0 having a size larger than the paper P used in the borderless printing is accommodated. It is determined whether or not there is (S104).

The paper size is detected by, for example, a plurality of sensors or mechanical switches whose on / off state changes depending on the position of the movable side guide when the movable side guide is moved in accordance with the width of the paper P stored in the paper feed tray. can do.
The anti-smudge paper P0 having a size larger than that of the paper P used in borderless printing is a paper in which both the width and length of the anti-smudge paper P0 are larger than those of the paper P and the image. A tray that accommodates the size of the anti-smudge paper P0 is selected.
If it is determined that the image is not related to borderless printing (S101: No), the image forming apparatus 1 executes normal printing processing (S110).

  When the paper feed tray containing the anti-smudge paper P0 can be selected (S104: Yes), the controller 11 starts feeding the anti-smudge paper P0 from the selected tray, and the anti-smudge paper P0 is fed out of the tray. This is abutted against the nip portion of the registration roller pair 23 to form a registration loop (S105).

  Next, the driving of the registration roller pair 23 is started, the conveyance of the anti-smudge paper P0 is resumed, and after the anti-smudge paper P0 is conveyed for a certain distance, the driving of the registration roller pair 23 is stopped (S106). The distance that the anti-smudge paper P0 is conveyed is changed according to the size of the paper P on which an image is printed. The leading end of the anti-smudge sheet P0 in the sheet conveyance direction is positioned downstream of the registration roller pair 23.

Next, feeding of the paper P on which an image is printed is started, and the leading end of the paper P is abutted against the nip portion of the stopped registration roller pair 23 as shown in FIG. 9 to form a registration loop (S107). ).
Then, the driving of the registration roller pair 23 is started, the printing paper P and the anti-smudge paper P0 are sent to the secondary transfer unit TR (S108), and the borderless image is printed (S109).

  On the other hand, when the paper feed tray containing the anti-smudge paper P0 cannot be selected (S104: No), the controller 11 selects another tray containing paper of the same size as the paper P used for borderless printing. It is determined whether or not there is (S112).

When another tray containing a sheet of the same size as the sheet P used for borderless printing can be selected (S112: Yes), the controller 11 starts feeding the anti-smudge sheet P0 from the selected tray. Then, the anti-smudge sheet P0 is fed out from the tray and abuts against the nip portion of the registration roller pair 23 to form a registration loop (S105).
If no other tray in which paper of the same size as the paper P used for borderless printing is selected (S112: No), there is no paper that can be used as the anti-smudge paper P0 on the display unit. Notification is made (S113).

  In step S109, printing of a borderless image is performed, and the paper P fixed with the antifouling paper P0 superimposed is separated when discharged from the fixing nip portion N of the fixing device 60, and the edge is printed. The paper P on which the no image is formed is discharged to the discharge tray 1a.

When borderless printing is continued (S110: Yes), the anti-smudge paper P0 separated when discharged from the fixing nip N of the fixing device 60 is conveyed by the discharging device 70 with the front and back reversed (S111). ), A registration loop is formed at the nip portion of the registration roller pair 23.
Then, the posture is controlled by the registration roller pair 23 and sent again to the secondary transfer portion TR as the anti-smudge paper P0 of the paper P for the next borderless printing.

(3) Function and Effect When the borderless image is printed, the image forming apparatus 1 prints with the paper P superimposed with the anti-smudge paper P0 having a size larger than the paper P. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 protrudes from the paper P. The toner adheres to the anti-smudge paper P0, and it is possible to prevent each part of the image forming apparatus 1 from being contaminated by the toner protruding from the paper P.
Further, in order to select and use the anti-smudge paper P0 having a size larger than the paper P on which the borderless image is printed from other trays, the anti-smudge paper P0 suitable for the size of the borderless image is selected. Can do.

Even if it is not possible to select the stain prevention paper P0 having a size larger than the paper P on which the borderless image is printed, other trays in which paper of the same size as the paper P used in the borderless printing is stored. The anti-smudge sheet P0 is selected.
As a result, even if the toner that protrudes from the sheet during borderless printing adheres to the secondary transfer roller 53 due to, for example, smearing on the secondary transfer roller 53, it adheres to the back side of the smudge prevention sheet P0. Thus, it is possible to prevent the back surface of the paper P used in borderless printing from being stained.

The anti-smudge paper P0 used by being overlapped with the paper P on which the borderless image is printed is separated when discharged from the nip portion N of the fixing device 60, and is transported with the front and back reversed by the discharge device 70. The paper P for the next borderless printing is sent again to the secondary transfer portion TR and used as the anti-smudge paper P0.
Therefore, the anti-smudge paper P0 is reused and the consumption of paper can be suppressed.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment concerning this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is made within the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim. Is possible.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 is described as a tandem type color printer including the intermediate transfer belt 51, but may be a direct transfer type image forming apparatus including a sheet conveying belt. Further, it may be a copying machine having a document reading function or a monochrome image forming apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 10 ... Control apparatus 11 ... Controller 12 ... Image processing part 13 ... Power supply apparatus 20 ... Paper feed apparatus 30 ... Photoconductor unit 31 ... Photosensitive Body drum 32 ... Charging roller 40 ... Developing device 42 ... Developing roller 50 ... Transfer device 51 ... Intermediate transfer belt 52 ... Primary transfer roller 60 ... Fixing device 70 ... Discharge device P ... paper P0 ... stain prevention paper TR ... secondary transfer portion N ... fixing nip portion

Claims (3)

Receiving means for receiving a print job;
A plurality of trays containing recording media to be printed;
Image forming means for forming an image on the recording medium;
Detecting means for detecting attribute information of the recording medium accommodated in the tray and information on the tray;
Determination means for determining the presence or absence of borderless printing for forming an image without providing a margin for the recording medium,
An image is formed by superimposing the recording medium conveyed from the tray containing a recording medium larger or the same size as the recording medium on which the marginless printing is performed and the recording medium on which the marginless printing is performed during the marginless printing. Record,
An image forming apparatus. A recording medium reversing and conveying means for reversing the front and back of the recording medium having the image fixed on the first surface;
The recording medium that performs borderless printing and the recording medium that is larger than the recording medium that performs borderless printing are separated, and the recording medium that is larger than the recording medium that performs borderless printing is reversed by the recording medium reversing conveyance unit. The image is recorded by superimposing it on a recording medium for borderless printing.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. A receiving function for receiving print jobs;
An image forming function for recording an image on a recording medium;
A detection function for detecting attribute information of the recording medium accommodated in the tray and information on the tray;
A function of determining the presence or absence of borderless printing for forming an image without providing a margin for the recording medium;
A function of recording an image by superimposing a recording medium conveyed from a tray containing a recording medium larger or the same size as a recording medium that performs borderless printing and a recording medium that performs marginless printing at the time of borderless printing; ,
Program to realize.

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