SHEET TYPE DISCRIMINATION DEVICE AND SHEET TYPE DISCRIMINATION DEVICE CONTROL PROGRAM

- KONICA MINOLTA, INC.

A sheet type discrimination device includes a holder that holds a sheet, a conveyor that conveys a sheet from the holder along a conveyance path, a measurer that measures a basis weight of the sheet conveyed along the conveyance path, a storage that stores a type discrimination table describing a relationship between the basis weight and a type of a sheet, and a hardware processor that sets the type of the sheet held in the holder on the basis of the basis weight measured by the measurer.

Skip to: Description  ·  Claims  · Patent History  ·  Patent History
Description

The entire disclosure of Japanese patent Application No. 2018-204346, filed on Oct. 30, 2018, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Technological Field

The present invention relates to a sheet type discrimination device and a sheet type discrimination device control program. The present invention more particularly relates to a sheet type discrimination device and a sheet type discrimination device control program capable of suppressing an increase in time taken for printing.

Description of the Related Art

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes: a multi function peripheral (MFP) having a seamier function, a facsimile function, a copying function, a printer function, a data communication function, and a server function; a facsimile machine; a copying machine; and a printer.

When performing printing, the image forming apparatus sets parameters such as the conveyance speed to appropriate values in accordance with the sheet type to enhance image quality and avoid occurrence of problems such as jams. Therefore, in order to enable the image forming apparatus to appropriately execute printing, the type of sheet held in the sheet feed tray needs to be set correctly.

Unfortunately, however, it is difficult for the user to accurately determine the type of sheet, and this, the type of sheet might be erroneously set when the sheet is held in the sheet feed tray, leading to a problem such as jam. To handle this, a conventional image forming apparatus measures the basis weight of the sheet on the basis of the reflected light amount and the transmitted light amount of the sheet, and then uses a sheet type discrimination table preliminarily stored in the storage to determine the sheet type on the basis of the measured basis weight. This type of image forming apparatus performs printing on a sheet while conveying the sheet at a conveyance speed corresponding to the discriminated type. The sheet type discrimination table includes the relationship between the sheet type and the basis weight range.

Techniques related to sheet type discrimination are disclosed in JP 2017-193390 A, JP 2005-062916 A, JP 2001-213032 A, or the like. JP 2017-193390 A discloses a technique of detecting a thickness index value, which is an index value of the thickness of a sheet using a central region located at the center in a width direction of the sheet and a first end region and a second end region located at both outer sides in the width direction of the sheet than the central area, as detection positions.

JP 2005-062916 A discloses a technique of judging whether the sheet type set in the printer is incompatible with the sheet set by a print setting processing part and restricting print data generation by a print data generation processing part or output of the generated print data.

JP 2001-213032 A discloses a technique of acquiring, by a printer driver of a host apparatus, ink characteristic information stored in an ink cartridge from the printer and determining the type of sheet on which printing can be performed by the ink cartridge mounted on the printer from the acquired ink characteristic information. The printer driver sets a sheet selection menu presenting the defined sheet type selectable by the user and displays the sheet selection menu on a setting screen.

In a case, on the conventional sheet type discrimination table, where a first range which is a range of a basis weight of a first type of sheet having a high conveyance speed and a second range which is a range of a basis weight of a second type of sheet having a low conveyance speed are prescribed adjacent to each other and when the measured basis weight is a value within the second range, the sheet is discriminated to be the sheet of the second type having a low conveyance speed.

Meanwhile, high image quality is preferably achieved at the time of printing a photographic image. Accordingly, when printing a high quality image such as a photographic image on a sheet there is a need to decrease the sheet conveyance speed. In contrast, the image quality preferable at the time of printing a document or the like may generally be lower than the image quality required for a photo. Accordingly, when printing a document, it is possible to print an image of sufficient quality even at a high conveyance speed.

The basis weight range prescribed in the conventional sheet type discrimination table has been a range that achieves a conveyance speed that would not cause a problem in the image quality regardless of the required image quality in a case where the sheet having the basis weight within the range is conveyed. Therefore, when the measured basis weight is a value within the second range, being a value near the boundary value between the first range and the second range, the sheet would be conveyed at a slow conveyance speed even when it is possible, in printing a document or the like, to print an image with sufficient quality even at a high conveyance speed, and this has increased time for printing.

SUMMARY

The present invention is made in view of the above problem, and aims to provide a sheet type discrimination device and a sheet type discrimination device control program capable of suppressing an increase in time for printing.

To achieve the abovementioned object according to an aspect of the present invention, a sheet type discrimination device reflecting one aspect of the present invention comprises a holder that holds a sheet, a conveyor that conveys a sheet from the holder along a conveyance path, a measurer that measures a basis weight of the sheet conveyed along the conveyance path, a storage that stores a type discrimination table describing a relationship between the basis weight and a type of a sheet, and a hardware processor that sets the type of the sheet held in the holder on the basis of the basis weight measured by the measurer, wherein the type discrimination table prescribes a unique range being a range of basis weight in which the sheet type is uniquely discriminated, and a selection range being a range of basis weight in which the sheet type is discriminated into either of a first type in which the basis weight is relatively large and a second type in which the basis weight is relatively small, the sheet type discrimination device further comprising a selection screen display that displays a selection screen being a screen that receives operation of selecting the sheet type from the first and second types in a case where the basis weight measured by the measurer is within the selection range, and that receives selection through the selection screen, and in a case where the selection screen is displayed, the hardware processor sets the type of the sheet field in the holder to the type received through the selection screen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features provided by one or more embodiments of the invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the appended drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an external configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view schematically illustrating a sheet feed tray information table stored in a storage in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view schematically illustrating a first setting screen of sheet feed tray information displayed on an operation panel in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view schematically illustrating a second setting screen of the sheet feed tray information displayed on the operation panel in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view schematically illustrating a conventional sheet type discrimination table;

FIG. 8 is a view schematically illustrating an example of a sheet type discrimination table stored in the storage in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a view schematically illustrating a selection screen to be displayed on the operation panel in a case where the basis weigh measured by a basis weigh sensor is a value within a selection range of “85 g/m2 to 94 g/m2” in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a view schematically illustrating another example of a sheet type discrimination table stored in the storage in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a view schematically illustrating a second setting screen in a case where the setting of the sheet type is received through the second setting screen after setting is performed to the sheet type selected on the selection screen in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating operation of the image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a subroutine of selection necessity determination processing (S21) in the first example of the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a view schematically illustrating a conveyance speed discrimination table stored in the storage in the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a view schematically illustrating an image quality-priority sheet type discrimination table stored in the storage in the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a subroutine of selection necessity determination processing (S21) in a second example of the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a subroutine of selection necessity determination processing (S21) in a third example of the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a subroutine of selection necessity determination processing (S21) in a fourth example of the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating setting change processing performed by the image forming apparatus in a first example of a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating setting change processing performed by the image forming apparatus in a second example of the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating setting change processing performed by the image forming apparatus in a third example of the third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating setting change processing performed by the image forming apparatus in a fourth example of the third embodiment of the present invention.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, one or more embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

The following embodiments describe a case where a sheet type discrimination device is mounted on an image forming apparatus. Examples of the image forming apparatus include an MFP, a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile. The sheet type discrimination device may also be mounted on a device such as a sheet storage or a post-processing device other than an image forming apparatus.

First Embodiment

<Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus>

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an external configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 1 (example of a sheet type discrimination device) according to the present embodiment includes: a sheet conveyor 10 (example of a conveyor); a toner image former 20 (example of an image former); a fixing device 21; an operation panel 22 (example of a selection screen display, a setting screen display, and another selection screen display); and a basis weight sensor 23 (example of a measurer).

The sheet conveyor 10 conveys a sheet from one of the plurality of sheet feed trays 11 or a manual feed tray 12, along a conveyance path TR. The sheet conveyor 10 includes: the plurality of sheet feed trays 11 (example of a holder); the manual feed tray 12 (example of a holder); sheet feed rollers 13 and 14; a registration roller 15; a sheet discharge roller 16; and a sheet discharge tray 17. The plurality of sheet feed trays 11 each holds sheets on which an image is to be formed. The manual feed tray 12 holds sheets for manual feeding. The sheet feed roller 13 is provided between the sheet feed tray 11 and the conveyance path TR, and feeds sheets held in the sheet feed tray 11 one sheet at a time. The sheet feed roller 14 is provided between the manual feed tray 12 and the conveyance path TR, and feeds sheets held in the manual feed tray 12 one sheet at a time. The registration roller 15 is provided upstream of the conveyance path TR with respect to a transfer position ST by the toner image former 20. The sheet discharge roller 16 is provided at the most downstream portion of the conveyance path TR. The sheet discharge tray 17 is provided at the uppermost portion of an image forming apparatus main body 1a.

The toner image former 20 forms an image on a sheet in accordance with a job received by the image forming apparatus 1. The toner image former 20 combines images of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) by a tandem system to form a toner image on the conveyed sheet at the transfer position ST. The toner image former 20 includes an intermediate transfer belt 20a. The toner image former 20 also includes a photosensitive drum, a charging roller, an exposure device, a developing device, a primary transfer roller, a secondary transfer roller, or the like.

The fixing device 21 grips and conveys the sheet carrying a toner image along the conveyance path TR so as to fix a toner image onto the conveyed sheet.

The operation panel 22 receives various types of operation related to the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 and displays various types of information.

The basis weigh sensor 23 measures the basis weight of the sheet conveyed along the conveyance path TR at a detection position on the upstream side of the conveyance path TR relative to the registration roller 15.

The image forming apparatus 1 feeds sheets held in the sheet feed tray 11 or the manual feed tray 12 one at a time to the conveyance path TR by the sheet feed roller 13 or 14. After temporarily stopping the sheet using the registration roller 15, the image forming apparatus 1 convey s the sheet to the transfer position ST in accordance with the tinting of transfer by the toner image former 20. The image forming apparatus 1 uses the basis weight sensor 23 to measure the basis weight of the sheet temporarily stopped by the registration roller 15. The image forming apparatus 1 may measure the basis weight of the sheet being conveyed.

Meanwhile, the image forming apparatus 1 causes the toner image former 20 to generate a toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 20a of the toner image former 20 by a known electrophotographic method and tandem method, and conveys the toner image toward the transfer position ST by rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 20a. A sheet is fed from the registration roller 15a toner image is conveyed from the toner image former 20 to the transfer position ST. The image forming apparatus 1 transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt 20a to the sheet at the transfer position ST.

The image forming apparatus 1 uses the fixing device 21 to heat and presses the sheet on which the toner image is formed. With this operation, the toner image is fixed onto the sheet. Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 1 discharges the sheet to the sheet discharge tray 17 by the sheet discharge roller 16.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 1 further includes: a system controller 101; a memory 103; an input image processing part 104; an imaging part 105; a storage 106 (example of a storage); an output image processing part 107; a printer engine 108; a sheet type setting part 109 (example of a setting part a clanging part, a first setting changing pan, a second setting changing part, and a third setting changing part); a network interface 110; an authentication part 111; various sensors 112 (example of a change detector); a position information acquisition part 113 (example of a position acquisitor); a necessity discrimination part 114 (example of a necessity discrimination part); and an evaluation part 115 (example of an evaluation part).

The system controller 101 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 102 and controls the entire image forming apparatus 1. The CPU 102 operates in accordance with a control program. The system controller 101 is connected to each of the memory 103, the input image processing part 104, the imaging part 105, the storage 106, the output image processing part 107, the printer engine 108, the sheet type setting part 109, the network interface 110, the authentication part 111, the various sensors 112, the position information acquisition part 113, the necessity discrimination part 114, and the evaluation part 115.

The memory 103 includes: a read only memory (ROM) that stores a control program, a fixed value, or the like; and a random access memory (RAM) that temporarily stores various types of data such as an image.

The input image processing part 104 processes input image data read by the imaging part 105.

The imaging part 105 reads an image.

The storage 106 is an auxiliary storage, and stores various types of data such as a sheet type discrimination table, a conveyance speed discrimination table, and the number of occurrences of jams.

The output image processing part 107 processes image data to create print data.

The primer engine 108 prints the prim data created by the output image processing part 107 on a sheet.

The sheet type setting part 109 sets the type of sheet held in the sheet feed tray 11 or the manual feed tray 12 on the basis of the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23. In addition, the set sheet type is changed as necessary.

The network interlace 110 communicates with devices on the network.

The authentication part 111 authenticates a user who uses the image forming apparatus 1.

Tire various sensors 112 includes: an open/close detection sensor that detects opening and closing of each of the plurality of sheet feed trays 11; a sheet detection sensor that detects a sheet on the manual feed tray 12; a size detection sensor that detects size and direction of tire sheet held in each of the plurality of sheet feed trays 11 and the manual feed tray 12; a load amount sensor that detects the load amount of sheets stored in each of the plurality of sheet feed trays 11 and the manual feed tray 12; a color detection sensor that detects tire color of the sheet being conveyed; and an image density control (IDC) sensor that detects density of the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 20a.

The position information acquisition part 113 acquires position information and entry/exit information of the user of the image forming apparatus 1 from a server of a global positioning system (GPS) or of an entry management system.

The necessity discrimination part 114 discriminates the necessity of display of a selection screen described below.

The evaluation pan 115 evaluates tire quality of the image formed by tire toner image forming part 20.

(Street Feed Tray Information)

FIG. 4 is a view schematically illustrating a sheet feed tray information table stored in the storage 106 in the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the sheet feed tray information table describes information (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as sheet feed tray information) set for sheets stored in sheet feed tray 11 and the manual feed tray 12. Here, the sheet feed tray information table describes the sheet feed tray information regarding each of items of size, direction, type, and discrimination operation setting for the sheet held in each of the four sheet feed trays 11 (trays 1 to 4) and the manual feed tray 12.

The sheet type setting of tire sheet feed tray information may use tire setting input by the user through the setting screen (FIGS. 5 and 6) described below, or tire setting determined on the basis of tire measurement result obtained by the basis weight sensor 23.

Similarly, the setting of sheet size and direction of the sheet feed tray information may use the setting input by the user through the setting screen (FIGS. 5 and 6) described below, or the setting determined on the basis of the detection result obtained by the various sensors 112.

The discrimination operation setting includes setting items related to the timing of performing the sheet type discrimination based on the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23. The field of the discrimination operation setting is a field in which one of the “not execute” which is a setting of not performing discrimination, “execute” which is a setting of performing discrimination every time the sheet is conveyed, and “automatic” which is a setting of executing discrimination at a timing determined by the image forming apparatus 1 to be necessary on the basis of the situation.

As an example, tire sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11 named “tray 1” includes tire setting that tire “plain sheet” of “A4” size is “horizontally” held in the sheet feed tray 11 named “tray 1”. The type of sheet in the sheet feed tray 11 is set to be discriminated at the timing when the image forming apparatus 1 determines the necessity of discrimination on the basis of the situation.

In a case where a prim instruction is received from the user through operation panel 22 or the like, the image forming apparatus 1 refers to the sheet feed tray information table to specify information of size, direction, and the type of the sheet held in sheet feed tray 11 or the manual feed tray 12 specified by the prim instruction. The image forming apparatus 1 determines various parameters related to the prim processing such as the conveyance speed and the fixing temperature in accordance with the specified sheet information, and performs priming by the primer engine 108.

The sheet feed tray information may be reset in a case where the various sensors 112 have detected that the sheet feed tray 11 has been opened or closed, or where the change in the presence or absence of the sheets held in the sheet feed tray 11 or the manual feed tray 12 is detected by the various sensors 112, or the like.

(Method for Setting Sheet Feed Tray Information Through Setting Screen)

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views schematically illustrating a setting screen of sheet feed tray information displayed on the operation panel 22 in the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, in a case where predetermined operation has been received through operation panel 22, the image forming apparatus 1 displays a first setting screen illustrated in FIG. 5 on the operation panel 22. The first setting screen includes information set for the sheets held in each of the plurality of sheet feed trays 11 and the manual feed tray 12, a key KY1 for changing the setting, a key KY2 for canceling the display of the setting screen, and a key KY3 for confirming selection.

Referring to FIG. 6, in a case where any of the plurality of sheet feed tray s 11 and the manual feed tray 12 (here, the “tray 1”) is selected on the first setting screen and the key KY3 is pressed, the image forming apparatus 1 display s the second setting screen illustrated in FIG. 6 on the operation panel 22. The second setting screen is a screen that receives operation for setting the sheet feed tray information regarding the selected sheet feed tray 11 or the manual feed tray 12. The second setting screen includes a key KY4 which is a combo box that receives selection of a sheet size, a key KY5 which is a combo box that receives selection of a sheet direction, a key KY6 which is a combo box that receives selection of a sheet type, a key KY7 which is a combo box that receives the selection of the discrimination operation setting, a key KY8 for canceling the selected setting and returning to the first setting screen, and a key KY9 for confirming the selected setting.

In a case where the key KY9 is pressed on the second setting screen, the image forming apparatus 1 updates the sheet feed tray information in the sheet feed tray information table so that the setting received through the second setting screen is to be reflected.

(Method for Setting Sheet Type in Sheet Feed Tray Information Based on Measurement Results Obtained by Basis Weight Sensor)

The following description includes a case of setting the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of any sheet feed tray 11 among the plurality of sheet feed trays 11 and the manual feed tray 12.

The setting of the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information based on the measurement result obtained by the basis weight sensor 23 may be performed at any timing. At the time of setting the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information based on the measurement result obtained by the basis weight sensor 23, the image forming apparatus 1 measures the basis weight of the sheet to be conveyed by the basis weight sensor 23, and uses the sheet type discrimination table (example of the type discrimination table) preliminarily stored in the storage 106 to discriminate the type of sheet from the measured basis weight. The image forming apparatus 1 sets the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11 to the discriminated type.

FIG. 7 is a view schematically illustrating a conventional sheet type discrimination table.

Referring to FIG. 7, the sheet type discrimination table is a table describing a relationship between the basis weight and the sheet type. In the conventional sheet type discrimination table, one sheet type is associated with one basis weight range so that the sheet type can be uniquely discriminated on the basis of the basis weigh.

Specifically, in a case where the measured basis weigh is in the range of “52 g/m2 to 59 g/m2”, the sheet type is uniquely discriminated to be a “thin sheet”. In a case where the measured basis weigh is in the range of “60 g/m2 to 90 g/m2”, the sheet type is uniquely discriminated to be a “plain sheet”. In a case where the measured basis weight is in the range of 91 g/m2 to 120 g/m2, the sheet type is uniquely discriminated to be a “thick sheet 1”. In a case where the measured basis weight is in the range of “121 g/m2 to 157 g/m2”, the sheet type is uniquely discriminated to be a “thick sheet 1+”.

In the conventional sheet type discrimination table illustrated in FIG. 7, the sheet types that achieves a conveyance speed that would cause no problem in the image quality regardless of the required image quality when the sheets within the basis weight range are conveyed are associated with the basis weight.

As an example, in a case where the conventional sheet type discrimination table is used, and when the measured basis weight is “92 g/m2”, the sheet type is discriminated to be the thick sheet regardless of the fact that the basis weight is close to the range of the basis weight of plain sheet (“60 g/m2 to 90 g/m2”). However, for a user who gives priority to printing speed over printing quality, it is more preferable that the sheet is discriminated to be the “plain sheet” with a high conveyance speed than discriminated to be the “thick sheet” with a low conveyance speed.

FIG. 8 is a view schematically illustrating an example of a sheet type discrimination table stored in the storage 106 in the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, the sheet type discrimination table of the present embodiment prescribes a unique range that is a basis weight range in which the type of sheet is uniquely discriminated, and a selection range that is a basis weight range in which discriminated as one of a first type having relatively a large basis w eight and a second type having a relatively small basis weight. Two types of sheet are associated with the selection range.

Specifically, the unique range includes a range of “52 g/m2 to 54 g/m2”, a range of “65 g/m2 to 84 g/m2”, a range of “95 g/m2 to 114 g/m2”, and a range of “125 g/m2 to 157 g/m2”. In a case where the measured basis weight is in the range of “52 g/m2 to 54 g/m2”, the sheet type is uniquely discriminated to be the “thin sheet”. In a case where the measured basis weight is in the range of “65 g/m2 to 84 g/m2”, the sheet type is uniquely discriminated to be the “plain sheet”. In a case where the measured basis weight is in the range of “95 g/m2 to 114 g/m2”, the sheet type is uniquely discriminated to be the “thick sheet 1”. In a case where the measured basis weight is in the range of “125 g/m2 to 157 g/m2”, the sheet type is uniquely discriminated to be the “thick sheet 1+”.

The selection range includes a range of “55 g/m2 to 64 g/m2”, a range of “85 g/m2 to 94 g/m2”, and a range of “115 g/m2 to 124 g/m2”. The range of “55 g/m2 to 64 g/m2” is a range between the range of “52 g/m2 to 54 g/m2” which is uniquely discriminated to be the thin sheet, and the range of “65 g/m2 to 84 g/m2” which is uniquely discriminated to be the plain sheet. Accordingly, in a case where the measured basis weight is in the range of “55 g/m2 to 64 g/m2”, the sheet type is discriminated to be “thin sheet or plain sheet”. The range of “85 g/m2 to 94 g/m2” is a range between the range of “65 g/m2 to 84 g/m2” which is uniquely discriminated to be the plain sheet, and the range of “95 g/m2 to 114 g/m2” which is uniquely discriminated to be the thick sheet 1. Accordingly, in a case where the measured basis weight is in the range of “85 g/m2 to 94 g/m2”, the sheet type is discriminated to be “plain sheet or thick sheet 1”. The range of “115 g/m2 to 124 g/m2” is a range between the range of “95 g/m2 to 114 g/m2” which is uniquely discriminated to be the thick sheet 1, and the range of “125 g/m2 to 157 g/m2” which is uniquely discriminated to be the thick sheet 1+. Accordingly, in a case where the measured basis weight is in the range of “115 g/m2 to 124 g/m2”, the sheet type is discriminated to be “thick sheet 1 or thick sheet 1+”.

In a case where the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23 is a value within the unique range, the image forming apparatus 1 uses the sheet type setting part 109 to set the sheet in the sheet feed tray information of the target sheet feed tray 11 to the sheet type associated with that unique range.

In a case where the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23 is a value within the selection range, the image forming apparatus 1 uses the operation panel 22 to display a selection screen and receives the selection of the sheet type through the selection screen. The selection screen is a screen that receives operation of selecting the sheet type from among the types corresponding to two individual unique ranges each having a basis weight range adjacent to the selection range. In the case of displaying the selection screen, the image forming apparatus 1 uses the sheet type setting part 109 to set the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the target sheet feed tray 11 to the type received through the selection screen.

FIG. 9 is a view schematically illustrating a selection screen displayed on the operation panel 22 in a case where the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23 is a value within the selection range of “85 g/m2 to 94 g/m2” in the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, in a case, as an example, where the basis weight measured by basis weight sensor 23 is in the selection range “85 g/m2 to 94 g/m2” (selection range in which the sheet type is discriminated to be “plain sheet or thick sheet 1”), a pop-up PP1 is displayed on the operation screen displayed during printing. The pop-up PP1 includes a key KY10 that receives the selection of “plain sheet” and a key KY11 that receives the selection of “thick sheet 1”.

FIG. 10 is a view schematically illustrating another example of a sheet type discrimination table stored in the storage 106 in the first embodiment of the present invention. Note that, for the convenience of description. FIG. also illustrates the conveyance speeds corresponding to the sheet types.

Referring to FIG. 10, in a case where the conveyance speed set by the sheet type corresponding to each of the two unique ranges having the range of basis weight adjacent to the selection range is the same, the conveyance speed cannot be increased regardless of which sheet type is set. For this reason, a selection range may be provided between the two unique ranges in a specific case where the conveyance speeds set for the sheet types corresponding to each of the two unique ranges are different from each other.

Specifically, the sheet type discrimination table includes a selection range that receives selection of sheet type from among the “thin sheet and plain sheet” set between the range of “52 g/m2 to 54 g/m2” uniquely discriminated to be a thin sheet and for which the conveyance speed of “30 sheets/minute” is set and the range of “65 g/m2 to 84 g/m2” uniquely discriminated to be a plain sheet and for which the conveyance speed of “36 sheets/minute” is set. In addition, a selection range that receives selection of sheet type from among the “plain sheet and thick sheet 1” is set between the range of “65 g/m2 to 84 g/m2” uniquely discriminated to be the plain sheet and for which the conveyance speed of “36 sheets/minute” is set and the range of “95 g/m2 to 120 g/m2” uniquely discriminated to be the thick sheet 1 and for which the conveyance speed of “30 sheets/minute” is set. Meanwhile, the conveyance speed set for the thick sheet 1 and the conveyance speed set for the thick sheet 1+ are both “30 sheets/minute”. Therefore, there is no selection range provided between the range of “95 g/m2 to 120 g/m2” uniquely discriminated to be the thick sheet 1 and for which the conveyance speed of “30 sheets/minute” is set and the range of “121 g/m2 to 157 g/m2” uniquely discriminated to be the thick sheet 1+ and for which the conveyance speed of “30 sheets/minute” is set.

(Operation in the Case of Receiving Sheet Type Setting Through Second Setting Screen after Setting to Sheet Type Selected Through Selection Screen)

FIG. 11 is a view schematically illustrating a second setting screen in a case where the setting of the sheet type is received through the second setting screen after setting is performed to the sheet type selected through the selection screen in the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, in a case where the second setting screen (example of the setting screen) is to be displayed on the operation panel 22 after the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the target sheet feed tray 11 is set to the sleet type selected on the selection screen, the image forming apparatus 1 may display the second setting screen that receives operation to set the sheet type from among the types corresponding to each of the two unique ranges being options on the selection screen.

Here is an assumed case where the options for the “plain sheet” or the “thick sheet 1” are displayed on the selection screen, and the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the target sheet feed tray 11 is set to the sheet type selected on the selection screen. The second setting screen displayed after setting in this case includes options limited to the plain sheet or the thick sheet 1. That is, the second setting screen includes a key KY12 that receives the selection of “plain sheet” and a key KY13 that receives the selection of “thick sheet 1” instead of the key KY6 (FIG. 6) which is the combo box that receives the selection of the sheet type.

In this case, the image forming apparatus 1 uses the sheet type setting part 109 to change the sheet type setting in the sheet feed tray information of the target sheet feed tray 11 to the type received on the second setting screen illustrated in FIG. 11.

In a case where the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23 is a value within the unique range, there is no need for the image forming apparatus 1 to receive operation to set the sheet type through the setting screen after completion of setting the sheet type in sheet feed tray information for the target sheet feed tray 11.

(Flowchart)

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating operation of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 12, the CPU 102 measures the basis weight of the sheet passing the measurement position of the basis weight sensor 23 at an arbitrary timing using the basis weight sensor 23 (S1). Next, the CPU 102 uses the sheet type discrimination table to discriminate whether the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23 is a value within a unique range (S3).

In a case where it is discriminated in step S3 that the basis w eight measured by the basis weight sensor 23 is a value within a unique range (YES in S3), the CPU 102 sets the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11 that has fed the sheet to the sheet type discriminated from the measured basis weight (S5), and proceeds to processing of step S7.

In a case where it is discriminated in step S3 that the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23 is not a value within the unique range (NO in S3), the CPU 102 displays a selection screen (S11). The CPU 102 sets the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11 that has supplied the sheet to the type selected through the selection screen (S13), and proceeds to processing of step S7.

In step S7, the CPU 102 sets various parameters such as the conveyance speed in accordance with the set sheet type (S7), performs printing (S9), and finishes the processing.

According to the present embodiment, the selection of the sheet type is received from the selection screen in a case where the selection range is provided as the basis weight range on the sheet type discrimination table, and where the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23 is a value within the selection range. This configuration enables a user who does not require high-quality printing to select the sheet type having a high conveyance speed, leading to suppression of an increase in the time required for printing.

Second Embodiment

In a case where the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23 is a value within the selection range, it might be annoying for the user to always select the sheet type from the selection screen. To handle this, the present embodiment will describe an exemplary case where the necessity discrimination part 114 is used to perform selection necessity determination processing to discriminate whether there is a need to display the selection screen, and the selection screen is not to be displayed when it is discriminated that there is no need to display the selection screen in a case where the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23 is a value within the selection range.

(Flowchart)

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating operation of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 13, in a case where it is discriminated, in step S3 of the flowchart of FIG. 12, that the sheet type cannot be uniquely discriminated from the measured basis weight (NO in S3), the CPU 102 performs the selection necessity determination processing described below (S21) and discriminates whether there is a need to display the selection screen (S23).

In a case where it is discriminated in step S23 tint there is a need to display the selection screen (YES in S23), the CPU 102 performs the processing of step S11 and subsequent steps in the flowchart of FIG. 12.

In step S23, when it is discriminated that there is no need to display the selection screen (NO in S23), the CPU 102 does not display the selection screen, and sets the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11 that has supplied the sheet to the sheet type determined under the other conditions (S25), and performs the processing of step S7 and subsequent steps in the flowchart of FIG. 12.

(First Example of Selection Necessity Determination Processing)

In a case, as a first example of the selection necessity determination processing, where the change of the type of the sheet held in the sheet feed tray 11 has not been detected by various sensors 112 in a state where the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11 is set, it is allowable to determine that there is no need to display the selection screen.

In addition, in a case where it is determined that there is no need to display the selection screen, the setting of the sheet type of the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11 does not have to be changed.

The case where the change of the sheet held in the sheet feed tray 11 has been detected is a case where the opening and closing of the sheet feed tray 11 has been detected by the various sensors 112, and thereafter a change in attributes of the sheet other than the type (sheet size, sheet color, or the load amount of sheets on the sheet feed tray 11, or the like) has been detected by the various sensors 112.

The case where the change of the sheet held in the sheet feed tray 11 has been detected may be a case where the change of the load amount of sheets held in the sheet feed tray 11 has been detected by the various sensors 112.

The case where the change of the sheet held in the sheet feed tray 11 has been detected may be a case where the change of the size of the sheet stored in the sheet feed tray 11 has been detected by the various sensors 112.

The case where the change of the sheet held in the sheet feed tray 11 has been detected may be a case where the change of the color of the sheet conveyed from the sheet feed tray 11 has been detected by the various sensors 112.

FIG. 14 is a subroutine of selection necessity determination processing (S21) in the first example of the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 14, the CPU 102 discriminates (S31) in the selection necessity determination processing (S21) whether the sheet of sheet feed tray 11 has been changed on the basis of the detection results obtained by the various sensors 112.

In a case where it is discriminated in step S31 that the sheet of the sheet feed tray 11 has been changed (YES in S31), the CPU 102 determines that there is a need to display the selection screen (S33), and then control is returned.

In a case where it is discriminated in step S31 that the sheet of the sheet feed tray 11 has not been changed (NO in S31), the CPU 102 determines that there is no need to display the selection screen (S35), and then control is returned.

(Second Example of Selection Necessity Determination Processing)

As a second example of the selection necessity determination processing, it is allowable to determine that there is no need to display the selection screen in a case where the type of job received by the image forming apparatus 1 is a specific type (in a case, in particular, where the job is a print job for management of the image forming apparatus 1). In a case where it is determined tint there is no need to display the selection screen, the types of sheets held in the target sheet feed tray 11 may be set by the method described in the following items (1) to (4).

(1) In a case where the image forming apparatus 1 executes a print job (example of a specific type of job) for management of the image forming apparatus 1, the quality necessary for an image (image containing information for management of the image forming apparatus 1, such as setting values and status of the image forming apparatus 1) formed on a sheet is a low level image that is satisfactory as long as it can be read.

Therefore, in a case where the type of job received by the image forming apparatus 1 is a print job for management of the image forming apparatus 1, or the like, it is allowable to determine that there is no need to display the selection screen and suppress displaying the selection screen. This configuration would make it possible to reduce the work time of the service person or administrator of the image forming apparatus 1, leading to reduction of the service cost and the management. The type of job may also be determined on the basis of information such as whether the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is in the setup state or whether the image to be printed includes a report on maintenance of the image forming apparatus 1.

In a case where it is determined that there is no need to display the selection screen, the type of two sheets associated with the selection range including the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23 is specified, and the conveyance speed of each of the two types of sheets may be discriminated on the basis of the conveyance speed discrimination table illustrated in FIG. 15 (example of the conveyance speed discrimination table), and it is allowable to set the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the target sheet feed tray 11 to the type having the higher conveyance speed out of the two types.

FIG. 15 is a view schematically illustrating a conveyance speed discrimination table stored in the storage 106 in the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 15, the conveyance speed discrimination table is a table describing the relationship between the sheet type and the conveyance speed. According to the conveyance speed discrimination table, it can be observed that the conveyance speed of thin sheet is “30 sheets/minute”, the conveyance speed of plain sheet is “36 sheets/minute”, the conveyance speed of thick sheet 1 is “30 sheets/minute” and the conveyance speed of thick sleet 1+ is “30 sheets/minute”.

In a case, as an example, where “thin sheet and plain street” is associated with the selection range including the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23, the conveyance speed of the thin sheet (30 sheets/minute) and tire conveyance speed of the plain sheet (36 sheets/minute) are discriminated on the basis of the conveyance speed discrimination table, and then, tire sheet type in tire sheet feed tray information of the target sheet feed tray 11 is set to the plain sheet, which is tire type with the higher conveyance speed.

(2) In a case where the job mode is monochrome mode, high quality is not required for the image formed on the sheet and therefore, it is possible to increase the street conveyance speed. In contrast in a case where tire mode of the job is color mode, high quality is required for the image formed on the sheet.

Accordingly, when the job mode is a first mode (here, monochrome mode), it is allowable to determine that there is no need to display tire selection screen and there it is allowable to use the conveyance speed discrimination table illustrated in FIG. 15 to set the type of sheet held in the target street feed tray 11 on tire basis of tire basis weight measured by tire basis weight sensor 23. Moreover, when tire job mode is a second mode (here, color mode), it is allowable to determine that there is no need to display the selection screen and then, it is allowable to use the image quality-priority sheet type discrimination table (example of another type discrimination table) illustrated in FIG. 16 to set the type of sheet in the sheet feed tray information of the target sheet feed tray 11 on the basis of the basis weight measured by the basis weigh sensor 23.

FIG. 16 is a view schematically illustrating an image quality-priority sheet type discrimination table stored in a storage 106 in the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 16, the image quality-priority sheet type discrimination table, one sheet type is associated with one basis weight range so that the sheet type can be uniquely discriminated on the basis of the basis weight.

Specifically, in a case where the measured basis weight is in the range of “52 g/m2 to 59 g/m2”, tire sheet type is uniquely discriminated to be a “thin sheet”. In a case where the measured basis weight is in the range of “60 g/m2 to 90 g/m2”, the sheet type is uniquely discriminated to be a “plain sheet”. In a case where the measured basis weight is in the range of 91 g/m2 to 120 g/m2, the sheet type is uniquely discriminated to be a “thick sheet 1”.

In a case where the measured basis weight is in the range of “121 g/m2 to 157 g/m2”, the sheet type is uniquely discriminated to be a “thick sheet 1+”.

In the image quality-priority sheet type discrimination table, the sheet types that achieves the conveyance speed that would cause no problem in the image quality regardless of the required image quality when the sheets within the basis weight range are conveyed are associated with the basis weight.

(3) In a case where the job mode is low resolution print mode, high quality is not required for the image formed on the sheet, and therefore, it is possible to increase the sheet conveyance speed. In contrast, in a case where the mode of the job is a high resolution print mode, high quality is required for an image formed on a sheet.

Accordingly, when the job mode is a first mode (here, low resolution print mode), it is allowable to determine that there is no need to display the selection screen and then, it is allowable to use the conveyance speed discrimination table illustrated in FIG. 15 to set the type of sheet held in the target sheet feed tray 11 on the basis of the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23. Furthermore, in a case where it is determined that there is no need to display the selection screen and when the mode of the job is the second mode (here, a prim mode with high resolution), it is allowable to determine that there is no need to display the selection screen, and then, it is allowable to use the image quality-priority sheet type discrimination table illustrated in FIG. 16 to set the type of sheet held in the target sheet feed tray 11 on the basis of the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23.

(4) In a case where the job mode is a print inode with document image quality of text or duplicated photograph, high quality is not required for the image formed on the sheet, and therefore, it is possible to increase the sheet conveyance speed. In contrast, in a case where the mode of the job is a print mode with the document image quality of a photo or a map, high quality is required for the image formed on the sheet.

Therefore, when the job mode is the first mode (here, the prim mode with the document image quality of the text or duplicated photograph), it is allowable to determine that there is no need to display the selection screen and the sheet type held in the target sheet feed tray 11 may be set using the conveyance speed discrimination table illustrated in FIG. 15 on the basis of the basis weigh measured by the basis weigh sensor 23. Moreover, when the job mode is a second mode (here, a print mode with document image quality of photograph or map), it is allowable to determine that there is no need to display the selection screen and then, it is allowable to use the image quality-priority sheet type dissemination table illustrated in FIG. 16 to set the type of sheet held in the target sheet feed tray 11 on the basis of the basis weight measured by the basis weigh sensor 23.

FIG. 17 is a subroutine of selection necessity determination processing (S21) in a second example of the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 17, the CPU 102 discriminates in the selection necessity determination processing (S21) whether the job received by image forming apparatus 1 is a job of a predetermined type (S41).

In step S41, in a case where it is discriminated that the job received by the image forming apparatus 1 is a job of a predetermined type (YES in S41), the CPU 102 determines that there is no need to display the selection screen (S43), and uses either the conveyance speed discrimination table or the image quality-priority sheet type discrimination table to set the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11 (S45), and then control is returned.

In step S41, when it is discriminated that the job received by the image forming apparatus 1 is not a job of a predetermined type (NO in S41), the CPU 102 determines that there is a need to display the selection screen (S47), and then control is returned.

(Third Example of Selection Necessity Determination Processing)

In a case where the user is away from the image forming apparatus 1, the user cannot operate the selection screen, and this causes stoppage of printing while the selection screen is being displayed. In order to avoid such a situation, it is allowable, as a third example of the selection necessity determination processing, to determine that there is no need to display the selection screen in a case where the position of the user is away from the position of the image forming apparatus 1 by a distance more than a predetermined distance. The position of the user may be specified on the basis of the user's position information and entry/exit information acquired by the position information acquisition pan 113.

FIG. 18 is a subroutine of selection necessity determination processing (S21) in the third example of the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 18, the CPU 102 acquires, in the selection necessity determination processing (S21), user's position information or entry/exit information by the position information acquisition part 113 (S51), and discriminates whether the user is in the vicinity of the image forming apparatus 1 (S53).

In a case where it is discriminated in step S53 that the user is in the vicinity of the image forming apparatus 1 (YES in S53), the CPU 102 discriminates that there is a need to display the selection screen (S55), and then control is returned.

In a case where it is discriminated in step S53 that the user is not in the vicinity of the image forming apparatus 1 (NO in S53), the CPU 102 discriminates that there is no need to display the selection screen (S57), and then control is returned.

(Fourth Example of Selection Necessity Determination Processing)

When performing post-processing such as stapling, the necessity of setting of post-processing such as the number of sheets that can be stapled, whether or not to punch, and the number of folds is determined by the basis weight of the sheet. In a case where post-processing is performed by treating a sheet type having a large actual basis weight as a sheet type having a small basis weight the thickness of the sheets might be larger than the thickness that can be processed by the post-processing device, leading to a concern of a failure in the post-processing device.

Therefore, in a case, as a fourth example of tire selection necessity determination processing, where predetermined post-processing is set for the job, it is allowable to determine that there is no need to display the selection screen and set the sheet of the street held in the sheet feed tray to the type having tire larger basis weight (first type) out of the two types of sheets associated with the selection ranges including the basis weight measured by tire basis weight sensor 23.

FIG. 19 is a subroutine of selection necessity determination processing (S21) in the fourth example of the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 19, the CPU 102 discriminates in the selection necessity determination processing (S21) whether the setting of post-processing has been added to the job (S61).

In a case where it is discriminated in step S61 that the post-processing setting has been added to the job (YES in S61), the CPU 102 discriminates that there is no need to display the selection screen (S63). Next, the CPU 102 sets tire sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of tire sheet feed tray 11 to tire type having a larger basis weight out of the two sheet types associated with tire selection ranges including the basis weight measured by tire basis weight sensor 23 (S65), and then control is returned.

In a case where it is discriminates in step S61 that the post-processing setting is not added to the job (NO in S61), the CPU 102 discriminates that there is a need to display the selection screen (S67), and then control is returned.

Note that the configuration of the image forming apparatus in the present embodiment and the operation other than those described above are similar to those in the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof will not be repeated.

Third Embodiment

In a case where the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11 is set by the method described in the first and second embodiments, there is an occasion where the sheet type is found out to be inappropriate alter setting. Therefore, the present embodiment will describe an example of performing setting change processing in a predetermined case and changing the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11.

(First Example of Setting Change Processing)

As a first example of the setting change processing, when it is determined that there is no need to display the selection screen and the quality of the evaluated image is lower than a predetermined value, the selection screen for change may be displayed, and the sheet type setting pan 109 may be used to change the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11 to the type for which the selection has been received through the selection screen for the change. The selection screen for the change may be any screen that receives operation to select the sheet type from the first and second types, and may be the same screen as the selection screen illustrated in FIG. 9.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating setting change processing performed by the image forming apparatus 1 in the first example of the third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 20, after setting the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of sheet feed tray 11, the CPU 102 discriminates whether it is determined that there is no need to display the selection screen (S71) in the selection necessity determination processing (S21) at the time of setting the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11.

In a case where it is discriminated in step S71 that the determination is that there is no need to display the selection screen (YES in S71), the CPU 102 detects the density of the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 20a by the various sensors 112 (IDC sensor) and evaluates the quality of an image on the basis of a detection result (S73). Subsequently, the CPU 102 disseminates whether the quality of the image is a predetermined value or less (S75).

In a case where it is discriminated in step S71 that the determination is that there is a need to display the selection screen (NO in S71), or it is discriminated in step S75 that the quality of the image is not less than the predetermined value (NO in S75), the CPU 102 finishes the processing.

In a case where it is discriminated in step S75 that the quality of the image is a predetermined value or less (YES in S75), the CPU 102 displays the selection screen for the change having two sheet types associated with the selection range including the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23 as an option (S77). The CPU 102 changes the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11 to the selected sheet type (S79), and finishes the processing.

(Second Example of Setting Change Processing)

As a second example of the setting change processing, when it is determined that there is no need to display the selection screen and the number of occurrences of jams exceeds a predetermined number, the selection screen for change may be displayed, and the sheet type setting part 109 may be used to change the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11 to the type for which the selection has been received through the selection screen for the change.

Here, the number of occurrences of jams to be counted may be simply jams related to sheet conveyance or printing, or simply jams related to the sheet conveyed from the sheet feed tray 11 in which the sheet type has been set without displaying the selection screen.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating setting change processing performed by the image forming apparatus 1 in the second example of the third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 21, after setting the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of sheet feed tray 11, the CPU 102 discriminates whether it is determined that there is no need to display the selection screen (S81) in the selection necessity determination processing (S21) at the time of setting the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11.

In step S81, in a case where it is discriminated that determination is that there is no need to display the selection screen (YES in S81), the CPU 102 reads the number of occurrences of jams from the storage 106 (S83), and discriminates whether the read number of occurrences of jams exceeds a predetermined value (S85).

In a case where it is discriminated in step S81 that the determination is that there is a need to display the selection screen (NO in S81), or it is discriminated in step S85 that the read number of occurrences of jams does not exceed a predetermined value (NO in S85), the CPU 102 finishes the processing.

In a case where it is discriminated in step S85 that the read number of occurrences of jams has exceeded the predetermined value (YES in S85), the CPU 102 displays the selection screen for the change having two sheet types associated with the selection range including the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23 as an option (S87). The CPU 102 changes the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11 to the selected sheet type (S89), and finishes the processing.

(Third Example of Setting Change Processing)

As a third example of the setting change processing, in a case, after setting the sheet type, where the quality of the image evaluated by the evaluation pan 115 is lower than a predetermined value, and the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23 is within a selection range, and where the type of sheet that has been set and the type of sheet discriminated by using the image quality-priority type discrimination table are different from each other, the sheet type setting part 109 may be used to change the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11 to the sheet type discriminated by using the image quality-priority type discrimination table.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating setting change processing performed by the image forming apparatus 1 in the third example of the third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 22, after setting the sheet type of the sheet feed tray information of sheet feed tray 11, the CPU 102 detects the density of the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 20a using various sensors 112 (IDC sensors) and evaluates the quality of the image on the basis of the detection result (S91). Subsequently, the CPU 102 discriminates whether the quality of the image is a predetermined value or less (S93).

In a case where it is discriminated in step S93 that the quality of the image is the predetermined value or less (YES in S93), the CPU 102 discriminates whether the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23 is a value within a selection range (S95).

In a case where it is discriminated in step S95 that the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23 is a value within the selection range (YES in S95), the CPU 102 discriminates whether the sheet type set as the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11 differs from the sheet type discriminated by image quality-priority table (S97).

The CPU 102 finishes the processing in a case where it is discriminated in step S93 that the quality of the image is not less than the predetermined value (NO in S93), or where it is discriminated in step S95 that the basis weight measured by basis weight sensor 23 is not within the selection range (NO in S95), or where it is discriminated in step S97 that the sheet type set as the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11 does not differ from the sheet type discriminated in the image quality-priority table (NO in S97).

In a case where it is discriminated in step S97 that the sheet type set as the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11 is different from the sheet type discriminated in the image quality-priority table (YES in S97), the CPU 102 changes the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11 from the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23 to the type discriminated using the image quality-priority sheet type discrimination table (S99), and then finishes the processing.

(Fourth Example of Setting Change Processing)

As a fourth example of the setting change processing, in a ease where the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23 is a value within the selection range and the number of occurrences of jams after the sheet type setting exceeds a predetermined number, it is allowable, by using the sheet type setting part 109, to change the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11 to the type of the lower conveyance speed described in the conveyance speed discrimination table out of two types of sheets associated with the selection ranges including the basis weight measured by the basis weight sensor 23. This is because a slower conveyance speed reduces the possibility of jam.

Here, the number of occurrences of jams to be counted may be simply jams related to sheet conveyance or printing, or simply jams attributed to the sheet conveyed from the target sheet feed tray 11.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating setting change processing performed by the image forming apparatus 1 in the fourth example of the third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 23, after setting the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11, the CPU 102 discriminates whether the basis weight measured by the basis weigh sensor 23 is a value within a selection range (S101).

In a case where it is discriminated in step S101 that the basis weigh measured by the basis weigh sensor 23 is a value within a selection range (YES in S101), the CPU 102 reads the number of occurrences of jams from the storage 106 (S103), and discriminates whether the read number of occurrences of jams exceeds a predetermined value (S105).

In a case where it is discriminated in step S101 that the basis weigh measured by the basis weigh sensor 23 is not a value within a selection range (NO in S101), or it is discriminated in step S105 that the read number of occurrences of jams does not exceed a predetermined value (NO in S105), the CPU 102 finishes the processing.

In step S105, when it is discriminated that the read number of occurrences of jams exceeds the predetermined value (YES in S105), the CPU 102 changes the sheet type in the sheet feed tray information of the sheet feed tray 11 to the type of the lower conveyance speed described in the conveyance speed discrimination table out of two types of sheets associated with the selection ranges (S107), and finishes the processing.

Note that the configuration of the image forming apparatus in the present embodiment and the operation other than those described above are similar to those in the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof will not be repealed.

OTHERS

The embodiments described above and the examples in the embodiments can be combined with each other as appropriate.

The processing in the above-described embodiments may be performed by software or may be performed using a hardware circuit. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a program for executing the processing in the above-described embodiments, and the program may be recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, a memory card and supplied to the user. The program is executed by a computer such as a CPU. Furthermore, the program may be downloaded to the apparatus via a communication line such as the Internet.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated in detail, the disclosed embodiments are made for purposes of illustration and example only and not limitation. The scope of the present invention should be interpreted by terms of the appended claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope, which are equivalent to the scope of claims.

Claims

1. A sheet type discrimination device comprising:

a holder that holds a sheet;
a conveyor that conveys a sheet from the holder along a conveyance path;
a measurer that measures a basis weight of the sheet conveyed along the conveyance path;
a storage that stores a type discrimination table describing a relationship between the basis weight and a type of a sheet; and
a hardware processor that sets the type of the sheet field in the holder on the basis of the basis weight measured by the measurer,
wherein the type discrimination table prescribes a unique range being a range of basis weight in which the sheet type is uniquely discriminated, and a selection range being a range of basis weight in which the sheet type is discriminated into either of a first type in which the basis weight is relatively large and a second type in which the basis weight is relatively small,
the sheet type discrimination device further comprising a selection screen display that displays a selection screen being a screen that receives operation of selecting the sheet type from the first and second types in a case where the basis weight measured by the measurer is within the selection range, and that receives selection through the selection screen, and
in a case where the selection screen is displayed, the hardware processor sets the type of the sheet held in the holder to the type received through the selection screen.

2. The sheet type discrimination device according to claim 1,

wherein the unique range includes: a first unique range being a range of basis weight in which the sheet type is uniquely discriminated to be the first type; and a second unique range being a range of basis weight in which the sheet type is uniquely discriminated to be the second type, having a conveyance speed of the first sheet type a conveyance speed of the second sheet type different from each other, and
the selection range is set between the first unique range and the second unique range.

3. The sheet type discrimination device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a setting screen display that display s a setting screen that receives operation to set the type of sheet held in the holder and receives setting of the sleet type through the setting screen after setting of the sheet type held in the holder by the hardware processor,
wherein the hardware processor changes the setting of the type of the sheet held in the holder to the type for which setting has been received by the setting screen display, and
the setting screen display displays the setting screen that receives operation of setting a sheet type out of the first type and the second type.

4. The sheet type discrimination device according to claim 3,

wherein, in a case where the basis weight measured by the measurer is a value within the unique range, the setting screen display does not receive operation of setting the sheet type through the setting screen.

5. The sheet type discrimination device according to claim 1,

wherein the hardware processor discriminates whether there is a need to display the selection screen, and
in a case where the basis weight measured by the measurer is a value within the selection range and when the hardware processor determines that there is no need to display the selection screen, the selection screen display does not display the selection screen.

6. The sheet type discrimination device according to claim 5, further comprising

a change detector that detects a change in the type of the sheet field in the holder,
wherein, in a case where the change detector has not detected a change in the type of the sheet field in the holder in a state where the type of the sheet held in the holder is set, the hardware processor determines that there is no need to display the selection screen.

7. The sheet type discrimination device according to claim 6,

wherein, in a case where the change detector has not detected a change in the type of sheet held in the holder in a state where the type of the sheet held in the holder is set, the hardware processor does not change the setting of the type of the sheet held in the holder.

8. The sheet type dissemination device according to claim 5, further comprising

an image former that forms an image in accordance with a received job,
wherein, in a case where the type of the job is a specific type, the hardware processor determines that there is no need to display the selection screen.

9. The sheet type discrimination device according to claim 8, wherein the specific type includes a print job for management of an image forming apparatus.

10. The sheet type discrimination device according to claim 8,

wherein the storage further stores a conveyance speed discrimination table describing a relationship between the type of the sheet and a conveyance speed, and
in a case where the hardware processor has determined that there is no need to display the selection screen, the hardware processor specifies the conveyance speed of each of the first and second types of sheets on the basis of the conveyance speed discrimination table, and sets the type of the sheet field in the holder to the type having the higher conveyance speed among the first and second types.

11. The sheet type discrimination device according to claim 5, further comprising

an image former that forms an image in accordance with the received job,
wherein the storage further stores: a conveyance speed discrimination table describing a relationship between the type of sheet and the conveyance speed; and another type discrimination table describing a relationship between the basis weight and the type of sheet and uniquely prescribing the type of the sheet with respect to the basis weight,
the hardware processor determines that there is no need to display the selection screen in a case where the mode of the job is a specific mode, in a case where it is determined by the hardware processor that there is no need to display the selection screen and where the mode of the job is the first mode, the hardware processor sets the type of the sheet held in the holder using the conveyance speed discrimination table on the basis of the basis weight measured by the measurer, and
in a ease where it is determined by the hardware processor that there is no need to display the selection screen and where the mode of the job is a second mode different from the first mode, the hardware processor sets the type of sheet held in the holder using the other type discrimination table on the basis of the basis weight measured by the measurer.

12. The sheet type discrimination device according to claim 5, further comprising:

an image former that forms an image in accordance with a job received from a user, and
a position acquisitor that acquires information regarding the position of the user,
wherein the hardware processor determines that there is no need to display the selection screen in a case where the position of the user is away from the position of the image forming apparatus more than a predetermined distance.

13. The sheet type discrimination device according to claim 5, further comprising

an image former that forms an image in accordance with a received job,
wherein in a case where predetermined post-processing is set for the job, the hardware processor determines that there is no need to display the selection screen, and the hardware processor sets the type of the sheet held in the holder to the first type.

14. The sheet type discrimination device according to claim 5, further comprising:

another selection screen display that performs, in a predetermined case after the type of the sheet is set by the hardware processor, displaying another selection screen being a screen that receives operation of selecting the type of the sheet from among the first and second types and receiving selection through the other selection screen,
wherein the hardware processor changes, in a case where the other selection screen is displayed, the sheet type set by the hardware processor to the type for which selection has been received by the other selection screen display.

15. The sheet type discrimination device according to claim 14,

wherein the hardware processor evaluates quality of an image formed by the image former after setting of the type of the sheet by the hardware processor, and
in a case where it is determined by the hardware processor that there is no need to display the selection screen, and where the quality evaluated by the hardware processor is lower than a predetermined value, the other selection screen display displays the other display screen, and receives selection through the other selection screen.

16. The sheet type discrimination device according to claim 14,

wherein, in a case where it is determined, by the hardware processor, that there is no need to display the selection screen, and where the number of occurrences of jams exceeds a predetermined number, the other selection screen display displays the other display screen, and receives selection through the other selection screen.

17. The sheet type discrimination device according to claim 1,

wherein the hardware processor changes, in a case where an evaluation value of the quality of the image formed by the image former after the type of the sheet is set by the hardware processor is lower than a predetermined value, where the basis weight measured by the measurer is within the selection range, and where the type of the sheet set by the hardware processor and the type of the sheet discriminated by another type discrimination table describing a relationship between the basis weight and the sheet type and uniquely prescribing the type of sheet with respect to the basis weight are different from each other, the type of sheet set by the hardware processor to the type discriminated by using the other type dissemination table.

18. The sheet type discrimination device according to claim 1,

wherein the hardware processor changes, in a case where the basis weight measured by the measurer is a value within the selection range, and the number of occurrences of jams after setting of the type of the sheet by the hardware processor exceeds a predetermined number, the type of sheet set by the hardware processor to the type having a slower conveyance speed among the first and the second type.

19. A non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable program for controlling a sheet type discrimination device including: a holder that holds a sheet; a conveyor that conveys a sheet from the holder along a conveyance path; a measurer that measures a basis weight of the sheet conveyed along the conveyance path; and a storage that stores a type discrimination table describing a relationship between the basis weight and a type of the sheet,

the program provided for causing a computer to execute setting of the type of the sheet held in the holder on the basis of the basis weight measured by the measurer,
the type discrimination table prescribing a unique range being a range of basis weight in which the sheet type is uniquely discriminated, and selection range being a range of basis weight in which the sheet type is discriminated into either of a first type in which the basis w eight is relatively large and a second type in which the basis weight is relatively small,
the program being provided for causing the computer to execute displaying a selection screen being a screen that receives operation of selecting the sheet type out of the first and second types in a case where the basis weight measured by the measurer is within the selection range, and receiving selection through the selection screen,
wherein, in a case where the selection screen is displayed, the type of the sheet held in the holder is set to the type for which selection has been received through the selection screen.
Patent History
Publication number: 20200130971
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 28, 2019
Publication Date: Apr 30, 2020
Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC. (Tokyo)
Inventors: Mie KAWABATA (Toyokawa-shi), Akira MURAKAWA (Toyonaka-shi), Atsushi KAWAI (Toyokawa-shi)
Application Number: 16/666,284
Classifications
International Classification: B65H 7/02 (20060101); B65H 5/06 (20060101);