JP3554060B2 - Image forming apparatus and image information sending apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image information transmitting apparatus that perform communication with a controller that performs conversion of image data, and perform printing, paper feed, and conveyance control based on the input data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration of an electrophotographic printer as an example of a conventional image forming apparatus. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 100 denotes a photosensitive drum serving as an electrostatic latent image carrier. Above the photosensitive drum 100, a charging roller 101 for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 100 is in contact with the surface. A light beam 104 is irradiated by a light emitting means on a charged surface on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 100 from the contact position of the charging roller 101. The light emitting means includes a semiconductor laser 105 for emitting a light beam 104, a scanner 106 for scanning the light beam 104 on the surface, and an optical lens 107 for adjusting the light beam 104 to form a spot on the surface. The electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface by adjusting the light beam 104 based on the image data. The electrostatic latent image is developed as a toner image by a developing device 102 disposed so as to contact the photosensitive drum 100 on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 100 from the irradiation position of the light beam 104. You.
[0003]
The toner image is transferred onto a sheet of paper P as a transfer material by a transfer roller 103 disposed below the photosensitive drum 100 so as to face the photosensitive drum 100. The sheets P are stacked in a sheet stacking device 108 in front of the photosensitive drum 100 (right side in FIG. 5). A paper feed roller 109 is disposed at the end of the sheet stacking device 108 on the left side in the conveying direction, and feeds the sheet P in the sheet stacking device to the conveying path. Although there is only one in FIG. 5, there is actually a sheet stacking device for sheets of different sizes. Thereafter, a registration roller 111 for correcting the skew of the sheet P and synchronizing the image formation on the photosensitive drum 100 and the sheet conveyance is provided in the conveyance path up to the transfer roller 103. The sheet P is sent to the transfer position at a predetermined timing. A registration paper presence / absence detection sensor 110 is provided between the registration roller 111 and the paper feed roller 109 so as to detect the presence / absence of the paper P.
[0004]
The sheet P on which the unfixed toner image has been transferred as described above is further conveyed to the fixing device behind the photosensitive drum 100 (left side in FIG. 5). The fixing device includes a fixing roller 112 having a fixing heater (not shown) therein and a pressure roller 113 arranged to be in pressure contact with the fixing roller. Is heated while being pressed by the pressure contact portion between the fixing roller 112 and the pressure roller 113 to fix the unfixed toner image on the sheet P. A discharged paper presence sensor 114 for detecting that the paper P is discharged from the pressure contact portion is provided behind the pressing portion. Further, a paper discharge roller 115 is provided behind the paper discharge sensor 114 to discharge the fixed paper P.
[0005]
Next, a control section of an electrophotographic printer having such a mechanism section will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 200 denotes a host computer provided outside the electrophotographic printer, which sends image code data created by operation of a user or the like to the controller 202 via the communication line 201 as parallel or serial data. . The controller 202 converts the code data into image information to be sent to the printer, sends a command to the printer control unit 203 in the engine 220, and reads internal data from the printer control unit as a status. In this case, a print start request or a pre-feed request is made. The controller 202 also controls a synchronizing signal for synchronizing the image output timing with the paper conveyance in the printer, and may be present in the printer or in the host computer.
[0006]
The controller 202 is connected to an operation panel 204 for the user to operate various mode settings (for example, a margin area of an image) of the printer, and is usually in an offline state (a state in which the communication circuit is disconnected from the host). ). The controller 202 connected to the host computer 200 and the operation panel 204 transmits and receives data to and from the printer control unit 203 as described above. The printer control unit 203 controls the drive / stop timing of each mechanism in FIG. 5 and reads the input information of each sensor, so that the transport system drive unit 205, the high voltage system drive unit 206, the optical system drive unit 207, the fixing heater drive Unit 208 and the sensor input unit 209.
[0007]
First, the transport system drive unit 205 controls the driving / stopping of the various motors 210 and the various rollers 211, and the high-voltage system driving unit 206 controls the driving / stopping of the charger 212, the developing device 213, and the transfer device 214, respectively. This is performed based on an instruction from the unit 204. Further, the optical system drive unit 207 drives / stops the laser 215 and the scanner 216, and the fixing heater control unit 208 drives / stops the fixing heater 217 based on an instruction from the printer control unit 204, respectively. Has become. Then, the sensor input unit 209 reads the information of the registration paper presence / absence sensor 218 and the discharged paper presence / absence sensor 219, and provides the information to the printer control unit 204.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described configuration, all of the data other than the data that is a determining factor of the printer status, particularly the ready status, such as the paper size and the presence or absence of the paper size of the currently unspecified paper feed port, are all covered. It is inefficient for the controller to monitor these statuses at regular intervals in a form, since such situations rarely change under general user usage.
[0009]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus and an image information transmitting apparatus which solve the above problems.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus for forming an image in accordance with image information transmitted from a controller, wherein a plurality of detecting means for detecting a plurality of states of the apparatus; And transmitting, to the controller, a state change signal indicating that at least one of the plurality of states of the device has changed, when the plurality of detecting means detects that at least one of the plurality of states of the device has changed. Means, and a control unit that receives a state request signal requesting information representing a plurality of states of the device, transmitted from the controller in response to the state change signal, the control unit including: According to a state request signal, information representing a plurality of states of the device is output to the controller.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the claim, the detection unit includes a unit for detecting a paper size.
[0012]
Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the detecting means includes means for detecting the presence or absence of paper.
Further, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the detecting means includes means for detecting a state of the optional device.
Further, the invention according to claim 5 is an image information transmitting apparatus for transmitting image information to an image forming apparatus, wherein at least one of a plurality of states of the image forming apparatus transmitted from the image forming apparatus is transmitted. Means for confirming a state change signal indicating that one has changed, and means for requesting information representing a plurality of states of the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus when confirming the state change signal; and Means for receiving information indicating a plurality of states of the image forming apparatus, which is output by the forming apparatus in response to the request.
Further, the invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that, in claim 5, the plurality of states of the image forming apparatus include any of a paper size, presence or absence of paper, and a state of an optional device.
[0013]
[Action]
According to the present invention, when detecting that at least one of the plurality of states of the image forming apparatus has been changed by the plurality of detection units, a state change signal indicating that at least one of the plurality of states of the apparatus has changed is provided. Receiving a state request signal transmitted from the controller in response to the state change signal and requesting information representing a plurality of states of the apparatus, and responding to the state request signal, And outputs information representing a plurality of states of the apparatus.
[0014]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
(Example 1)
This embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the mechanism, and the same parts as those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present embodiment, which is characterized in that a status change notification control unit is provided in a printer control unit in a printer. Other configurations are almost the same as those in FIGS. 5 and 6 (however, reference numerals are shown in the 300s in the present embodiment compared to the conventional 200s). That is, 300 is a host computer, 301 is a communication line, 302 is a controller, 303 is a printer control unit, 304 is an operation panel, 305 is a transport system drive unit, 306 is a high-voltage system drive unit, 307 is an optical system drive unit, and 308 is an optical system drive unit. A fixing heater control unit, 309 is a sensor input unit, 310 is various motors, 311 is various rollers, 312 is a charging device, 313 is a developing device, 314 is a transfer device, 315 is a laser, 316 is a scanner, 317 is a fixing heater, and 318 is a fixing heater. Is a registration paper presence / absence sensor, and 319 is a discharge paper presence / absence sensor. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, reference numeral 322 denotes a paper presence / absence sensor, and 323 denotes a paper size sensor, which is provided for each paper stacking device, and detects paper presence / absence and paper size of a paper feed port, respectively. , To the sensor input unit 309. Reference numeral 324 denotes a mounting presence / absence sensor that detects the presence / absence of the installation of the optional feeder and outputs the result to the sensor input unit 309 (not shown in FIG. 7).
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1, the state change notification control unit 321 refers to the detection results of the sensors 322 and 324, and selects any one of the data on the presence or absence of paper at all paper feed ports, the paper size, and the mounting status of the optional feeder. If at least one of them has changed, the "status change bit" in the basic status (a status that is requested from the controller 302 to the printer control unit 303 at regular intervals and returned in response thereto) is set and transmitted to the controller 302. I do. On the other hand, the controller 302 periodically monitors the basic status and, when confirming that this status change bit is TRUE, first transmits the status indicating status data such as paper size, paper presence / absence, and optional feeder mounting information to the printer control unit. 303.
[0018]
The contents of control of the state change notification control unit 321 will be described with reference to FIG. The paper size, paper presence / absence, and the optional feeder mounting state (presence / absence of each option) at each paper feed port are sequentially monitored (S11, S12, S13). If any one of these has changed to a state different from the previous state, the controller informs the controller. The status change bit in the basic status to be transmitted is set (S21, S22, S23).
[0019]
(Example 2)
This embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The mechanism schematic diagram is the same as FIG.
[0020]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the present embodiment. The printer control unit 403 in the printer is provided with a state change notification control unit 421 as in the first embodiment, and further provided with a state change sending unit 425. Other than this, it is almost the same as the conventional one (however, the 400s of the second embodiment corresponds to the 300s of the first embodiment).
[0021]
The control sequence of the state change notification control unit 421 is exactly the same as in the first embodiment. The difference is that, in the first embodiment, the status change bit of the basic status is turned on as an output of this processing, whereas in the present embodiment, the contents are transmitted from the engine 420 to the controller 402 in hardware. By providing the state change sending unit 425 as a means, the processing efficiency of the controller is further increased, and the operation can be performed even when there is no room for status assignment.
[0022]
(Example 3)
This embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The schematic diagram of the mechanism is the same as that described in FIG.
[0023]
The block diagram showing the configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 1).
[0024]
The control sequence of the state change notification control unit is exactly the same as in the first embodiment. However, in the first embodiment, the status change bit of the basic status is turned on as an output of this processing, whereas in the present embodiment, the engine side informs the controller side of the combination of statuses used for another purpose. By doing so, the processing efficiency of the controller can be increased without increasing the cost, and it can be implemented even when there is no extra bit in the basic status.
[0025]
FIG. 4 shows a sequence for recognizing this data on the controller side. The / PPRDY signal is a signal indicating that after the power is conventionally supplied to the printer, the initialization processing of the printer is completed, and serial communication with the controller is enabled, and the / RDY signal is This signal notifies the controller that the above-mentioned / PPRDY and other printing conditions are all satisfied. Therefore, when / PPRDY is FALSE, / RDY must also be FALSE. Therefore, using these two signals, when / PDY is FALSE (NO in S31) and / RDY becomes TRUE (YES in S32), it is assumed that one of the printing conditions has changed. When the controller first recognizes this state, it requests a status indicating the state of the engine, and confirms the changed contents (S33).
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a state change signal indicating that at least one of the plurality of states of the image forming apparatus has changed is confirmed, and information indicating the plurality of states of the image forming apparatus is requested. This makes it possible to efficiently recognize a change in the state of the device without monitoring all of the statuses representing a plurality of states of the engine, for example, while performing main processing such as image data development of the normal controller. It becomes possible. Therefore, for example, image data development can be executed efficiently, that is, at high speed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a conventional mechanism.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional example.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the mechanism of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
300 Host computer 301 Communication line 302 Controller 303 Printer control unit 304 Operation panel 305 Transport system drive unit 306 High voltage system drive unit 307 Optical system drive unit 308 Fixing heater control unit 309 Sensor input unit 310 Various motors 311 Various rollers 312 Charger 313 Development 314 Transfer unit 315 Laser 316 Scanner 317 Fixing heater 318 Resist paper presence sensor 319 Discharge paper presence sensor

Claims (6)

In an image forming apparatus that forms an image according to image information transmitted from a controller,
A plurality of detection means for detecting a plurality of states of the device,
When at least one of the plurality of states of the device has been changed by the plurality of detecting means, a state change signal indicating that at least one of the plurality of states of the device has changed is transmitted to the controller. Means of communication;
A control unit that receives a state request signal requesting information representing a plurality of states of the device, transmitted from the controller in response to the state change signal,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the control unit outputs information representing a plurality of states of the apparatus to the controller in response to the state request signal. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit includes a unit that detects a paper size. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit includes a unit that detects presence or absence of a sheet. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit includes a unit that detects a state of the optional device. An image information transmitting device for transmitting image information to an image forming device,
Means for confirming a state change signal transmitted from the image forming apparatus and indicating that at least one of a plurality of states of the image forming apparatus has changed;
Means for requesting the image forming apparatus for information indicating a plurality of states of the image forming apparatus when the state change signal is confirmed,
Means for receiving information indicating a plurality of states of the image forming apparatus, the information being output by the image forming apparatus in response to the request. 6. The image information transmitting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of states of the image forming apparatus include any of a paper size, presence / absence of paper, and a state of an optional device.

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