Image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: an image generating unit configured to generate an image to be printed onto recording paper; a paper type specifying unit for a user to specify that a type of the recording paper is directly identified or that a type of the recording paper is automatically identified; a paper type identifier device having a recessed portion on an outer face of the image forming apparatus, the identifier device being operable to identify a type of the recording paper from a paper bundle made of a plurality of recording paper, inserted into the recessed portion by the user when automatically identifying a type of the recording paper is specified by the paper type specifying unit; and a printing unit configured to print the image generated by the image generating unit according to a type of the recording paper identified by the paper type identifier device.

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an image generating unit configured to generate an image to be printed onto recording paper;   a paper type specifying unit for a user to specify that a type of the recording paper is directly identified or that a type of the recording paper is automatically identified;   a paper type identifier device having a recessed portion on an outer face of the image forming apparatus, the identifier device being operable to identify a type of the recording paper from a paper bundle made of a plurality of recording paper inserted into the recessed portion by the user when automatically identifying a type of the recording paper is specified by the paper type specifying unit; and   a printing unit configured to print on the recording paper the image generated by the image generating unit according to a type of the recording paper identified by the paper type identifier device.   
     
     
         2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the paper type identifier device further comprises:
 a light irradiating unit configured to irradiate light to a plane of a paper bundle inserted into the recessed portion;   a leak light detecting unit configured to receive the irradiated light transmitting the paper bundle and leaking from among the recording paper at an end face of the paper bundle; and   a paper type identifying unit configured to identify a type of paper of the inserted paper bundle from an electrical signal obtained from light intensity of the leak light.   
     
     
         3 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the leak light detecting unit receives leak light in a thickness direction of a paper bundle irradiated by the light irradiating unit and converts the light to an electrical signal to obtain a leak light curve. 
     
     
         4 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the paper type identifying unit identifies a paper type from the leak light curve obtained at the leak light detecting unit. 
     
     
         5 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the paper type identifying unit measures an inter-peak distance of the leak light curve, senses thickness of the recording paper, and identifies a paper type. 
     
     
         6 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the paper type identifying unit integrates a signal that corresponds to leak light in a direction substantially perpendicular to the thickness direction of the paper bundle to obtain an integral leak light curve in the thickness direction of the paper bundle. 
     
     
         7 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the paper type identifying unit identifies a paper type from the leak light curve obtained at the leak light detecting unit. 
     
     
         8 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the paper type identifying unit measures an inter-peak distance of the leak light integral curve, senses thickness of the recording paper, and identifies a paper type. 
     
     
         9 . An image forming apparatus comprising the paper type identifier device according to  claim 1 , the device further comprising:
 a paper bundle insertion sensing unit configured to sense insertion of the paper bundle inserted into the recessed portion;   a light irradiating unit configured to irradiate light onto one face of the paper bundle when insertion of the paper bundle is sensed by the paper bundle insertion sensing unit;   a leak light detecting unit configured to detect light intensity leaking from among the recording paper in a thickness direction of the paper bundle, of light irradiated to one face of the paper bundle by the light irradiating unit, and converting the detected light to an electrical signal to obtain a leak light curve;   an integrating unit configured to integrate the electrical signal obtained by the leak light detecting unit in a direction substantially perpendicular to the thickness direction of the paper bundle to obtain an integral light curve;   an inter-peak distance detecting unit configured to measure an inter-peak distance between adjacent local maximum values or local minimum values, from the integral leak light curve obtained by the integrating unit; and   a paper type identifying unit configured to identify a paper type of the paper bundle from the inter-peak distance obtained by the inter-peak distance detecting unit.   
     
     
         10 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the leakage light detecting unit is a two-dimensional image sensor configured to receive the leak light. 
     
     
         11 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the paper bundle insertion sensing unit includes a sensing light source and a light receiving device configured to receive light emitted from the sensing light source which are provided in opposite in the recessed portion, and senses insertion of the paper bundle by interrupting light emitted from the sensing light source and received by the light receiving device. 
     
     
         12 . An image forming apparatus comprising the paper type identifier device according to  claim 1 , the device further comprising:
 a paper bundle insertion sensing unit configured to sense insertion of the paper bundle inserted into the recessed portion;   a light irradiating unit configured to irradiate light onto one face of the paper bundle when insertion of the paper bundle is sensed by the paper bundle insertion sensing unit;   a leak light detecting unit configured to detect light intensity leaking from among the recording paper in a thickness direction of the paper bundle, of light irradiated to one face of the paper bundle by the light irradiating unit, and converting the detected light to an electrical signal to obtain a leak light curve;   an optical lens that is provided on a light receiving face of the leak light detecting unit and that focuses leak light in a direction substantially perpendicular to thickness of the paper bundle;   an inter-peak distance detection unit configured to measure an inter-peak distance between adjacent local maximum values or local minimum values from a curve obtained by integrating the leak light obtained by the optical lens; and   a paper type identifying unit configured to identify a paper type of the paper bundle from the inter-peak distance obtained by the inter-peak distance detecting unit.   
     
     
         13 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the optical lens is a cylindrical lens. 
     
     
         14 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the type of the recording paper is fed back to the image generating unit. 
     
     
         15 . A paper type identifying method of an image forming apparatus which comprises: an image generating unit configured to generate an image to be printed onto recording paper; a paper type specifying unit for a user to specify that a type of the recording paper is directly identified or that a type of the recording paper is automatically identified; a paper type identifier device configured to automatically identify a type of the recording paper when automatically identifying a type of the recording paper is specified by the paper type specifying unit; and a printing unit configured to print on the recording paper the image generated by the image generating unit according to a type of the recording paper identified by the paper type identifier device, the method comprising:
 irradiating light to one face of the paper bundle, receiving light leaking from an end face of the paper bundle, and identifying a type of the recording paper when the paper bundle made of a plurality of the recording paper is inserted into a recessed portion provided on an external face of the image forming apparatus.   
     
     
         16 . A paper type identifying method of an image forming apparatus which comprises: an image generating unit configured to generate an image to be printed onto recording paper; a paper type specifying unit for a user to specify that a type of the recording paper is directly identified or that a type of the recording paper is automatically identified; a paper type identifier device configured to automatically identify a type of the recording paper when automatically identifying a type of the recording paper is specified by the paper type specifying unit; and a printing unit configured to print on the recording paper the image generated by the image generating unit according to a type of the recording paper identified by the paper type identifier device, the method comprising:
 irradiating light to one face of the paper bundle and receiving light leaking from an end face of the paper bundle when the paper bundle made of a plurality of the recording paper is inserted into a recessed portion provided on an external face of the image forming apparatus;   obtaining a leak light curve in a thickness direction of the paper bundle and detecting an inter-peak distance from the curve;   obtaining thickness of the recording paper from the inter-peak distance; and   identifying a type of the recording paper from thickness of the recording paper.   
     
     
         17 . A paper type identifying method of an image forming apparatus which comprises: an image generating unit configured to generate an image to be printed onto recording paper; a paper type specifying unit for a user to specify that a type of the recording paper is directly identified or that a type of the recording paper is automatically identified; a paper type identifier device configured to automatically identify a type of the recording paper when automatically identifying a type of the recording paper is specified by the paper type specifying unit; and a printing unit configured to print on the recording paper the image generated by the image generating unit according to a type of the recording paper identified by the paper type identifier device, the method comprising:
 irradiating light to one face of the paper bundle when insertion of the paper bundle inserted into the recessed portion provided on an external face of the image forming apparatus is sensed;   detecting light intensity leaking from among the recording paper in the thickness direction of the paper bundle, of light irradiated to one face of the paper bundle, and converting the detected light to an electrical signal;   obtaining an integral leak light curve by integrating the converted electrical signal in a direction substantially perpendicular to the thickness direction of the paper bundle;   detecting an inter-peak distance between adjacent local maximum values or local minimum values from the obtained integral leak light curve; and   identifying a paper type of the paper bundle from the detected inter-peak distance.   
     
     
         18 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a latent image generating unit configured to generate a latent image to be printed on recording paper;   a paper type specifying unit configured to for a user to specify that a type of the recording paper is directly identified or that a type of the recording paper is automatically identified; and   a paper type identifier device having a recessed portion on an external face of the image forming apparatus, the identifier device being operable to identify a type of the recording paper from a paper bundle made of a plurality of paper, inserted into the recessed portion by the user when automatically identifying a type of the recording paper is specified by the paper type specifying unit; and   a printing unit configured to print on the printing paper the latent image generated by the latent image generating unit, based on a printing condition according to a type of the recording paper identified by the paper type identifier device.   
     
     
         19 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the printing condition is a developing voltage configured to develop the latent image. 
     
     
         20 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the printing condition is a transfer bias voltage configured to transfer to the recording paper after the latent image is developed. 
     
     
         21 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the printing condition is a fixing temperature at which the transferred image is fixed to the printing paper after the latent image is developed, and the developed image is transferred to the recording paper.