JP2016118590A - Image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that performs image formation on a recording sheet and can suppress the occurrence of an error, such as paper jam due to the recording sheet remaining inside an apparatus body as much as possible, and an image forming method using the image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises a storage part that stores errors for each of causes, and at the occurrence of an error during image formation on a recording sheet, when determining that the error is an error not causing an adverse effect on conveyance of the recording sheet on the basis of the details stored in the storage part, continues the image formation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording sheet, and an image forming method using the image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that makes an emergency stop of a full load operation for safety is widely used when an error is detected during an image forming operation.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, an error detection unit that detects an error, a storage unit that stores the number of error detections based on a detection signal from the error detection unit, and a load blocking unit that blocks the load of the own apparatus using the error detection signal And an image forming apparatus that makes it impossible to cancel the error when the error detection count reaches a predetermined number.

JP-A-8-137338

  However, the conventional image forming apparatus as described above urgently stops the full load operation for safety, so that the recording sheet remains in the main body, which causes a jam.

  In actual operations, when an error occurs in the image forming apparatus, the user often turns the image forming apparatus on and off and restarts the operation in order to eliminate the error. In such a case, there has been a problem that the above-described jam removal processing is a burden on the user. However, the image forming apparatus according to Patent Document 1 described above cannot solve such a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording sheet, and includes a storage unit that stores an error for each cause. If an error occurs during formation, based on the stored contents of the storage unit, for example, if such an error is an error that does not interfere with recording paper conveyance, it is determined that such image formation is continued. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of suppressing the occurrence of the above-mentioned problems caused by recording paper remaining in the apparatus main body by continuing the image formation.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores an error for each cause in an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording sheet, and a storage unit that stores an error when an error occurs during image formation. The image processing apparatus includes: a determination unit that determines whether to continue the image formation based on the contents; and an image formation unit that forms an image based on a determination result of the determination unit.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a detecting unit that detects a remaining recording sheet remaining in a recording sheet conveyance path when an error occurs during image formation, and the determining unit detects the detecting unit. The decision is made based on the result.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention further includes a canceling unit that stops the image formation after the image formation on the remaining recording paper when the determination unit determines to continue the image formation.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a charging device that performs charging according to image formation. When the determination unit determines to continue image formation, calculation for calculating charging based on the storage content of the storage unit Means.

  When an error occurs, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a determination unit that determines whether the error affects the image quality of the image based on the storage content of the storage unit, and the calculation unit includes: The billing is calculated based on the determination result of the determination means.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a specific determination unit that determines whether a specific error is stored in advance in the storage unit when the determination unit determines to continue image formation, and the specific error is In this case, the image forming unit is configured to perform the image formation until a job related to the image formation is completed.

  An image forming method according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores an error for each cause, and an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording sheet. A determination step for determining whether or not to continue the image formation based on the storage contents of the storage unit when an error occurs, and a step for performing image formation based on the determination result in the determination step It is characterized by including.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress as much as possible the occurrence of the above-described problems due to recording paper remaining in the apparatus main body by emergency stop of the full load operation for safety.

1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a multifunction machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating an image forming unit of the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a control unit in the multifunction machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart for explaining image forming processing when an error occurs in the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart for explaining image forming processing when an error occurs in the multi-function peripheral according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the multifunctional device which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. 14 is a flowchart for explaining image forming processing when an error occurs in the multi-function peripheral according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, an example in which the image forming apparatus and the image forming method according to the embodiment of the present invention are applied to a so-called multifunction device will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a main configuration of a multifunction machine 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The multi-function device 100 includes an image reading unit 2, an image forming unit 4 (image forming unit), a control unit 10, a storage unit 20, a display unit 8, an operation panel 9, and an I / F unit 30. Yes.

  FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining the image forming unit 4 of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The MFP 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention performs printing (image formation) on a recording sheet based on, for example, image data stored in the storage unit 20 or image data of a document received via a LAN. Has the function to perform. The multi-function device 100 further includes a document feeder (ADF) 3, a paper feed cassette 5, a paper discharge tray 7, and the like.

  For example, the image forming unit 4 generates digital image data based on analog data input from the image reading unit 2, performs processing according to the type of each image, and then outputs image data to be printed. Generate. Further, the image forming unit 4 acquires output data composed of unit image data in units of pages from an external device via the I / F unit 30 and performs image formation based on the image data.

  In the image forming unit 4, four developing devices 12, a photosensitive drum 13, a drum cleaning device 14, and a charger 15 are provided in order to form four types of toner images corresponding to the respective colors, and black, Four image stations Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd are configured in association with cyan, magenta, and yellow.

  In each of the image stations Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd, after the residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 13 is removed and collected by the drum cleaning device 14, the surface of the photosensitive drum 13 is set to a predetermined potential by the charger 15. It is charged uniformly, the surface of the photosensitive drum 13 is exposed by the optical scanning device 11, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface, and the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 13 is developed by the developing device 12, A toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 13. As a result, a toner image of each color is formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 13.

  Subsequently, while the intermediate transfer belt 21 is moved in the direction of the arrow C, the residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 21 is removed and collected by the belt cleaning device 25, and then each color toner image is transferred onto the surface of each photosensitive drum 13. The toner images are sequentially transferred onto the belt 21 and overlapped to form a color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21.

  A nip area is formed between the intermediate transfer belt 21 and the transfer roller 26a of the secondary transfer device 26. The intermediate transfer is performed while the recording paper conveyed through the paper conveyance path R1 is sandwiched and conveyed in the nip area. The color toner image on the surface of the belt 21 is transferred onto the recording paper. Then, the recording paper is sandwiched between the heating roller 31 and the pressure roller 32 of the fixing device 17 and heated and pressed to fix the color toner image on the recording paper.

  On the other hand, the recording sheet is pulled out from the sheet feeding cassette 5 by the pickup roller 33 and is conveyed through the sheet conveying path R 1, via the secondary transfer device 26 and the fixing device 17, and then the sheet discharge tray via the sheet discharge roller 36. It is carried out to 7. In this paper conveyance path R1, after the recording paper is temporarily stopped and the leading edges of the recording paper are aligned, recording is performed in accordance with the transfer timing of the color toner image in the nip area between the intermediate transfer belt 21 and the transfer roller 26a. A registration roller 34 for starting the conveyance of the paper, each conveyance roller 35 for urging the conveyance of the recording paper, a paper discharge roller 36, and the like are arranged.

  When printing not only on the front side of the recording paper but also on the back side, the recording paper is conveyed in the reverse direction from the paper discharge roller 36 to the reverse path Rr, so that the front and back sides of the recording paper are reversed and the recording paper is registered. The image is guided again to the roller 34, and the image is recorded and fixed on the back surface of the recording paper, similarly to the front surface of the recording paper, and the recording paper is carried out to the paper discharge tray 7.

  The image forming unit 4 having such a configuration forms a color image according to a color image using each color of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), or black A black and white image is formed according to the used black and white image.

  The four image stations Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd are activated in the color forming process for forming the color image, and only one image station Pa is in the monochrome forming process for forming the monochrome image. to start.

  The image reading unit 2 includes a light source that irradiates light on a document to be read, an image sensor such as a charge coupled device (CCD), and the like, and optically reads image data of the document. The image reading unit 2 forms a reflected light image from a document placed at a predetermined reading position on the image sensor, and generates RGB (R: Red, G: Green, B: Blue) analog data. Output.

  The storage unit 20 is configured by a nonvolatile storage medium such as flash memory, EEPROM (registered trademark), HDD, MRAM (magnetoresistance memory), FeRAM (ferroelectric memory), or OUM. Further, the storage unit 20 stores image data of a document read by the image reading unit 2, image data acquired from an external device via the I / F unit 30, and the like.

  Furthermore, an error is stored for each cause in the storage unit 20, and a specific error described later is stored in advance. The error for each cause is the fan motor error of the discharge cooling fan trouble, the cartridge discharge error that makes it impossible to control the ejection of the toner cartridge, the discharge lamp error due to the discharge lamp trouble, or the abnormality in the toner motor. This includes a toner motor error, a toner supply error in which toner is not normally supplied from the toner cartridge, and a transfer error in which transfer to a recording medium is not normally performed. The specific error is an error that can continue image formation on a recording sheet to some extent even if an error occurs. Examples of the specific error include the fan motor error.

  The display unit 8 includes, for example, an LCD or an EL (Electroluminescence) panel, and checks the status of the printing apparatus 1, the status of job processing, the image of the document read by the image reading unit 2 and the operation content of the operation panel 9, etc. Information to be notified to the user is displayed.

  The operation panel 9 includes function buttons for switching functions such as “read”, “copy”, and “print” in the MFP 100, a numeric keypad, a start key, a cancel key, an enter key for confirming the received instruction, and the like. Yes.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a main configuration of the control unit 10 in the multifunction machine 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The control unit 10 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a determination unit 14, a detection unit 15, a cancellation unit 16, a calculation unit 17, a determination unit 18, and a specific determination unit 19.

  The ROM 12 stores in advance fundamentally fixed data among various control programs and calculation parameters, and the RAM 13 temporarily stores the data and reads it regardless of the storage order, storage position, etc. Is possible. The RAM 13 stores, for example, a program read from the ROM 12, various data generated by executing the program, parameters that change as appropriate during the execution, and the like.

  The CPU 11 loads the control program stored in advance in the ROM 12 onto the RAM 13 and executes it, thereby controlling the various hardware described above and operating the entire apparatus as the multifunction peripheral 100 of the present invention.

  For example, when an error occurs when the MFP 100 receives a job related to printing, facsimile reception, copying, or the like and an image is formed on a recording sheet, the determination unit 14 is based on the storage contents of the storage unit 20. Then, it is determined whether or not to continue the image formation.

  For example, when a fan motor error, a cartridge ejection error, a static elimination lamp error, or the like occurs, the determination unit 14 determines to continue the image formation because it does not affect the conveyance of the recording paper. However, when a toner motor, a toner replenishment error, a transfer error, or the like occurs, the determination unit 14 determines to stop the image formation because it affects the conveyance of the recording paper. Based on the determination result of the determination unit 14, the image forming unit 4 performs the image formation.

  Hereinafter, errors that do not affect the recording paper transport such as fan motor error, cartridge ejection error, static elimination lamp error, etc. are referred to as non-stop error, and toner motor error, toner supply error, transfer error, etc. Errors that affect the transport of recording paper are called forced abort errors.

  For example, when the MFP 100 receives a job related to printing, facsimile reception, copying, or the like and an error occurs when image formation is performed on a recording sheet, the detection unit 15 is provided in the sheet conveyance path R1. Based on the detection result of a sensor (not shown), it is detected whether there is a recording sheet (hereinafter referred to as a remaining recording sheet) remaining in the main body of the multi-function peripheral 100, in other words, in the sheet conveyance path R1. I do.

  The determination unit 14 determines whether or not to continue the image formation based on the storage content of the storage unit 20 and the detection result by the detection unit 15.

  The canceling unit 16 is a case where an error has occurred when the MFP 100 receives a job related to printing, facsimile reception, copying, or the like, and image formation is performed on a recording sheet. The determination unit 14 performs the image formation. When it is determined to continue, after the image formation on the remaining recording paper at that time is finished, the subsequent image formation is stopped.

  The calculation unit 17 calculates the amount to be collected through a charging device (not shown). For example, the calculation unit 17 stores a case where an error has occurred during image formation on a recording sheet in a job such as printing, facsimile reception, or copying, and the determination unit 14 determines to continue the image formation. Billing is calculated based on the contents stored in the unit 20.

  For example, when the non-stop error among the errors stored in the storage unit 20 occurs, the calculation unit 17 does not hinder the conveyance of the recording paper, that is, the image can be formed. Calculate the billing amount. On the other hand, when the forcible stop error occurs among the errors stored in the storage unit 20, the calculation unit 17 cannot transfer the recording paper and cannot form an image. Is calculated.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to this, and even if the non-cancellation error occurs, the calculation unit 17 does not hinder the conveyance of the recording paper like the static elimination lamp error, but the image forming image quality is improved. In the case of an error that may cause a problem (referred to as an image quality influence error), a charge amount lower than the normal amount is calculated.

  When an error occurs when an image is formed on a recording sheet in a job such as printing, facsimile reception, or copying, the determination unit 18 affects the image quality of the image based on the storage contents of the storage unit 20. It is determined whether or not. That is, it is determined whether the error that has occurred affects the image quality of image formation. Such a determination by the determination unit 18 may be determined based on the cause of error occurrence stored in the storage unit 20, or the storage unit 20 may be configured to store the image quality influence error in advance. good.

  When the determination unit 14 determines that an image is to be formed on a recording sheet in a job such as printing, facsimile reception, or copying, and the determination unit 14 determines to continue the image formation, the specific determination unit 19 It is determined whether the error is a specific error stored in the storage unit 20 in advance.

  In the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention having such a configuration, when an error occurs during such image formation, such an error is an error that does not hinder the conveyance of the recording paper. Then, such image formation is continued. This will be described in detail below.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining image forming processing when an error occurs in the multi-function device 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. For convenience of explanation, a case where an instruction for a print job is received will be described as an example.

  For example, the user inserts a USB memory into a USB port (not shown) of the multifunction peripheral 100 and operates the operation panel 9 as appropriate to instruct printing (image formation) of image data in the USB memory.

  At this time, the CPU 11 receives such a print instruction from the user via the operation panel 9, reads the image data from the USB memory, and instructs the image forming unit 4 to form an image based on the image data.

  The image forming unit 4 starts image formation in response to an instruction from the CPU 11. At this time, the CPU 11 determines whether an error has occurred by monitoring each hardware related to the image formation (step S101). When it is determined that no error has occurred (step S101: NO), the CPU 11 repeatedly performs such determination.

  If it is determined that an error has occurred (step S101: YES), the CPU 11 determines whether the job currently being executed is related to image formation on a recording sheet (step S102). If the CPU 11 determines that the job currently being executed is not related to image formation on a recording sheet (step S102: NO), the process proceeds to step S108, and the image formation is stopped.

  On the other hand, when the CPU 11 determines that the job currently being executed is related to image formation on a recording sheet (step S102: YES), the determination unit 14 performs the image formation based on the storage contents of the storage unit 20. It is determined whether or not to continue (step S103). Such determination by the determination unit 14 has already been described, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  When the determination unit 14 determines not to continue the image formation (step S103: NO), the process proceeds to step S108, and the image formation is stopped. If the determination unit 14 determines to continue the image formation (step S103: YES), the CPU 11 sets a stop flag to stop the image formation (step S104).

At this time, the detection unit 15 determines whether there is a recording sheet being processed based on the detection result of the sensor provided in the sheet conveyance path R1, that is, whether there is the remaining recording sheet in the sheet conveyance path R1. Detection is performed (step S105).

  If the detection unit 15 detects that there is no recording sheet being processed (step S105: NO), the process proceeds to step S108, and such image formation is stopped. If the detection unit 15 detects that there is a recording sheet being processed (step S105: YES), the CPU 11 instructs the image forming unit 4 to continue without stopping image formation. In response to the instruction from the CPU 11, the image forming unit 4 does not stop the image formation and continues the image formation on the remaining recording paper at that time (step S106).

  Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not such remaining recording paper has been discharged (step S107). Specifically, the detection unit 15 detects whether there is a remaining recording sheet in the sheet conveyance path R1 based on the detection result of the sensor provided in the sheet conveyance path R1, and determines that there is no remaining recording sheet. In this case, the CPU 11 determines that the remaining recording paper has been discharged.

  When it is determined that such remaining recording paper has not been discharged (step S107: NO), the CPU 11 repeatedly performs such determination.

  On the other hand, when the CPU 11 determines that such remaining recording paper has been discharged (step S107: YES), the cancel unit 16 stops the image formation with reference to the cancel flag (step S108). That is, when the cancel flag is set, the cancel unit 16 cancels the subsequent image formation of the image forming unit 4 after the image formation on the remaining recording paper at that time is completed.

  Thereafter, the display unit 8 displays a message indicating that an error has occurred (step S109), thereby notifying the user of this fact.

  In the above description, the case of a print job has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is applicable to image formation on recording paper such as printing, facsimile reception, copying, and the like. Needless to say.

  Further, the multifunction peripheral 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is not limited to the above configuration. For example, the process of step S105 may be performed between step S102 and step S103. That is, the determination unit 14 may be configured to determine whether or not to continue the image formation based on the storage content of the storage unit 20 and the detection result of the detection unit 15.

  As described above, the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention uniformly forms an image when an error occurs during image formation on a recording sheet in a job such as printing, facsimile reception, or copying. If the recording paper is not interrupted without interruption, the image formation on the remaining recording paper at that time is completed and the process is performed until the paper is discharged.

  Accordingly, the recording paper remains in the apparatus, and the user's work of removing the recording paper can be omitted. Further, when the user restarts the apparatus without knowing the remaining recording paper, the recording paper can be prevented from causing a jam.

  In addition, when the remaining recording paper is discharged, image formation is normally performed, so that useless operation of the apparatus can be suppressed.

(Embodiment 2)
In the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment, when an error occurs during image formation on a recording sheet in a job such as printing, facsimile reception, or copying, the cancel unit 16 forms an image on the remaining recording sheet at that time. After finishing the above, it has been described that the subsequent image formation is stopped. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  In the MFP 100 according to the second embodiment, when an error occurs when an image is formed on a recording sheet in a job such as printing, facsimile reception, or copying, the cancel unit 16 completes the job related to the image formation. Thereafter, the subsequent image formation is stopped.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining image forming processing when an error occurs in the multi-function device 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. For convenience of explanation, a case where an instruction for a print job relating to page 10 is received will be described as an example.

  The processing from step S201 to step S204 in FIG. 5 is the same as the processing from step S101 to step S104 in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  After step S204, the specific determination unit 19 determines whether the generated error is a specific error stored in advance in the storage unit 20 (step S205). The determination by the specific determination unit 19 has already been described, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  For example, when the generated error is a fan motor error, the specific determination unit 19 determines that the generated error is a specific error (step S205: YES). At this time, the CPU 11 instructs the image forming unit 4 to continue without stopping image formation, and in response to such instruction, the image forming unit 4 continues image formation without stopping image formation (step S211).

  Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the accepted job is completed (step S212). In this embodiment, as described above, a print job for 10 pages is accepted. Based on so-called metadata relating to the print job, the CPU 11 counts the number of sheets for which image formation has been completed. It can be determined whether or not the accepted job is completed.

  If the CPU 11 determines that the accepted job is not completed (step S212: NO), the process returns to step S211. On the other hand, if the CPU 11 determines that the received job is completed (step S212: YES), the process proceeds to step S209, and the cancel unit 16 forms an image after the already received job with reference to the cancel flag. The image formation of the section 4 is stopped (step S209).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S205 that the specific determination unit 19 has determined that the error is not a specific error (step S205: NO), the process proceeds to step S206.

  Henceforth, the process from step S206 to step S210 is the same as the process from step S105 to step S109 of FIG. 4 in Embodiment 1, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As described above, the multi-function device 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is suitable even when an error occurs when an image is formed on a recording sheet in a job such as printing, facsimile reception, or copying. When the error is the specific error, the image formation is performed until the accepted job is completed, and the subsequent image formation is stopped after the completion of the job.

  Accordingly, it is possible to omit the user's work of removing the recording sheet from the recording sheet remaining in the apparatus, and preventing the recording sheet from causing a jam in advance.

  Furthermore, since the image formation is continued until the completion of the already accepted job, the user is not allowed to wait.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing the main configuration of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. A charging device 200 is connected to the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, the I / F unit 30 of the multifunction peripheral 100 is connected to the charging device 200 via the LAN. In other words, in the third embodiment, the multifunction peripheral 100 and the billing apparatus 200 form an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  The billing apparatus 200 includes a control unit 210, a receipt printing unit 220, a coin vendor 230, and an I / F unit 240.

  The receipt printing unit 220 includes, for example, a recording paper storage unit (not shown) and a printing unit (not shown) having a so-called thermal head. A heat-sensitive receipt paper wound in a roll is put into the recording paper storage unit, and a breakdown of the receipt or the receipt is printed on the receipt paper sent out from the recording paper storage unit.

  The coin vendor 230 includes, for example, a coin insertion slot and a coin return slot. The coin vendor 230 accepts coins inserted into the coin insertion slot, and the control unit 210 calculates the remaining amount from the charged amount and the inserted amount according to the executed job. Then, the coin related to the balance is returned to the user through the coin return port.

  The I / F unit 240 connects the charging apparatus 200 to the multi-function device 100 via the LAN.

  The control unit 210 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (not shown), and performs the above-described calculation of the balance according to a job performed by the multifunction machine 100.

  In the MFP 100 according to the third embodiment, when an error occurs when forming an image on a recording sheet in a job such as printing, facsimile reception, and copying, there is no problem in conveying the recording sheet. In the case of an error (image quality influence error) that may cause a problem in image formation image quality, the charge amount is reduced from the normal charge amount.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining image forming processing when an error occurs in the multi-function device 100 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. For convenience of explanation, a case where an instruction for a print job relating to page 10 is received will be described as an example.

  The processing from step S301 to step S304 in FIG. 7 is the same as the processing from step S101 to step S104 in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  After step S304, the specific determination unit 19 determines whether the generated error affects the image quality (step S305). In other words, the specific determination unit 19 determines whether the generated error is the specific error stored in the storage unit 20 in advance.

If the specific determination unit 19 determines that the generated error does not affect the image quality (step S305: NO), the process proceeds to step S307. If the specific determination unit 19 determines that the generated error affects the image quality (step S305: YES), the CPU 11 sets a charging count prohibition flag to prohibit the charging count (step S306). Then, the process proceeds to step S307.

  Henceforth, the process from step S307 to step S310 is the same as the process from step S105 to step S108 of FIG. 4 in Embodiment 1, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In step S310, after the cancel unit 16 cancels such image formation, the display unit 8 displays a message that an error has occurred, and displays a charge amount corresponding to the image formation at this time (step S310). S311), the user is notified.

  That is, since the stop flag is set in step S304, the display unit 8 displays that an error has occurred. In addition, when the charge count prohibition flag according to step S306 is set, in other words, when the image quality influence error has occurred, the calculation unit 17 performs the remaining recording in which an image is formed when the image quality influence error occurs. Calculate the billing amount excluding the billing for the paper. The billing amount calculated in this way is displayed on the display unit 8.

  As described above, the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, when an error occurs when forming an image on a recording sheet, if there is no problem in the conveyance of the recording sheet, the remaining recording sheet at that time Image formation is completed. However, when such an error is the image influence error, the billing amount charged to the user is reduced from the normal amount in response to the deterioration of the image quality of the printed matter.

  The determination unit 14, the detection unit 15, the cancellation unit 16, the calculation unit 17, the determination unit 18, and the specific determination unit 19 described above may be configured by hardware logic, or the CPU 11 executes a predetermined program. Thus, it may be constructed in software.

  The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus 100 that forms an image on a recording sheet, the storage unit 20 that stores an error for each cause, and the storage unit when an error occurs during image formation And a determination unit 14 that determines whether or not to continue the image formation based on the stored content of the image 20 and an image formation unit 4 that performs the image formation based on the determination result of the determination unit 14. And

  According to the present invention, when an error occurs during image formation on a recording sheet, based on the storage content of the storage unit, for example, if the error is an error that does not interfere with recording sheet conveyance, The determination means determines to continue such image formation.

  In the second embodiment of the present invention, when an error occurs during image formation, the image forming apparatus includes a detection unit 15 that detects a remaining recording sheet remaining in the recording sheet conveyance path, and the determination unit 14 includes the detection unit. The determination is made based on 15 detection results.

  According to the present invention, when an error occurs during the image formation on the recording paper, the detection unit detects the remaining recording paper remaining in the recording paper conveyance path, for example, in the recording paper conveyance path. In the case where the remaining recording sheet remains, and the error is an error that does not interfere with the recording sheet conveyance, the determination unit determines to continue the image formation.

  Embodiment 3 of the present invention is characterized by comprising stop means 16 for stopping image formation after image formation on the remaining recording paper when the determination means 14 determines to continue image formation.

  According to the present invention, when an error occurs during image formation on a recording sheet, and the determination unit determines to continue such image formation, the stop unit applies to the remaining recording sheet at that time. After the image formation, the image formation is stopped.

  In Embodiment 4 of the present invention, a charging device 200 is provided for charging according to image formation, and when the determination unit 14 determines to continue image formation, charging is performed based on the stored contents of the storage unit 20. And a calculating means 17 for calculating.

  According to the present invention, when an error occurs during image formation on a recording sheet, and the determination unit determines to continue such image formation, the calculation unit stores the memory in the storage unit 20. Based on the content, calculate the charge according to the error that occurred

  In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, when an error occurs, the calculation unit includes a determination unit 18 that determines whether the error affects the image quality of the image based on the storage content of the storage unit 20. The means 17 is configured to calculate a charge based on the determination result of the determination means 18.

  According to the present invention, when an error occurs during image formation on a recording sheet, and the determination unit determines to continue such image formation, the storage unit stores the image based on the storage content of the storage unit. Determination means It is determined whether or not the error affects the image quality of the image. For example, when it is determined that such an error affects the image quality of the image, the calculation means calculates a charge amount reduced from the normal amount.

  In Embodiment 6 of the present invention, when the determination unit 14 determines to continue image formation, the determination unit 14 includes a specific determination unit 19 that determines whether a specific error is stored in advance in the storage unit 20. In the case of an error, the image forming unit 4 is configured to perform the image formation until the job related to the image formation is completed.

  According to the present invention, when an error occurs during image formation on a recording sheet, and the determination unit determines to continue such image formation, the specific determination unit determines that the generated error is the specific error. It is determined whether or not there is an error. When it is determined that the specific error is caused by the specific determination unit, the image forming unit performs the image formation until the job related to the image formation is completed.

  In Embodiment 7 of the present invention, in the image forming method for forming an image in the image forming apparatus 100 that includes the storage unit 20 that stores an error for each cause and forms an image on a recording sheet, If an error occurs, a determination step for determining whether or not to continue the image formation based on the storage contents of the storage unit 20 and an image formation based on the determination result at the determination step And a step.

  According to the present invention, if an error occurs during image formation on a recording sheet, based on the stored contents of the storage unit, for example, if the error is an error that does not interfere with recording sheet conveyance Therefore, it is determined that the image formation is continued, and the image formation is continuously performed without being stopped.

4 Image forming unit (image forming means)
11 CPU
14 determining unit 15 detecting unit 16 canceling unit 17 calculating unit
18 determination unit 19 specific determination unit 20 storage unit 100 multifunction peripheral (image forming apparatus)
200 Billing device

Claims (7)

In an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording sheet,
A storage unit storing an error for each cause;
A determination unit configured to determine whether to continue the image formation based on the storage content of the storage unit when an error occurs during image formation;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image based on a determination result of the determining unit. When an error occurs during image formation, a detection unit that detects remaining recording paper remaining in the recording paper conveyance path is provided.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit is configured to perform the determination based on a detection result of the detection unit.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a stop unit that stops the image formation after the image formation on the remaining recording sheet when the determination unit determines to continue the image formation. A charging device is provided for charging according to image formation,
4. The image formation according to claim 1, further comprising: a calculation unit that calculates a charge based on the storage content of the storage unit when the determination unit determines to continue image formation. 5. apparatus. When an error occurs, a determination unit that determines whether the error affects the image quality of the image based on the storage content of the storage unit,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the calculation unit is configured to calculate a charge based on a determination result of the determination unit. When the determination unit determines to continue image formation, the determination unit includes a specific determination unit that determines whether a specific error is stored in advance in the storage unit,
6. The image according to claim 1, wherein, in the case of the specific error, the image forming unit is configured to perform the image formation until a job relating to the image formation is completed. Forming equipment. In an image forming method for forming an image in an image forming apparatus that includes a storage unit that stores an error for each cause and forms an image on a recording sheet.
A determination step of determining whether or not to continue the image formation based on the storage content of the storage unit when an error occurs during image formation;
An image forming method comprising: forming an image based on a determination result in the determining step.

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