JP2013018561A - Image forming apparatus and sheet conveyance apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus and a sheet conveyance apparatus which improve the convenience of a printing job at jamming.SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming part for forming an image on a sheet supplied from a sheet feed tray; an sheet ejection tray for ejecting the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming part; a plurality of conveyance paths for conveying the sheets from the sheet feed tray to the sheet ejection tray; a detection device for detecting sheet jam and a jamming position thereof in the conveyance paths; a determination device for determining whether there is a conveyance path not via the jamming position when the detection device detects the sheet jam; and a conveyance device for conveying the sheet to the sheet ejection tray on the conveyance path even after jam detection when the determination device determines that there is the conveyance path not via the jamming position.

Description

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

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a paper jam (hereinafter simply referred to as a jam) occurs in an image forming apparatus, a purge tray for discharging jammed paper is provided and remains on the paper feed tray side (upstream side) from the jam position. There is known a technique for discharging a sheet on the purge tray and notifying a jam position and the like.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, when a jam occurs, a sheet that is determined to be able to complete image formation among sheets remaining in the apparatus is conveyed to a normal discharge position (discharge tray) after image formation, and image formation is performed. A technique relating to an image forming apparatus that conveys a sheet that has been determined to be incomplete toward one of a plurality of jam processing positions (for example, a purge tray as described above) is disclosed. After the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 completes the conveyance of the paper remaining in the apparatus as described above, the image forming apparatus notifies that a jam has occurred and ends the printing operation.

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when a jam occurs, the print operation is stopped by notifying the jam position or the like as described above. Therefore, even if the paper can be transported to the paper discharge tray without going through the jam position, the printing process cannot be performed unless the jammed paper is removed, and it is desired to improve the convenience of the printing process. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a sheet conveying apparatus that can improve the convenience of print processing when a jam occurs.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention forms an image on a sheet supplied from a paper feed tray, and an image is formed by the image forming unit. A paper discharge tray for discharging the paper, a plurality of transport paths for transporting the paper from the paper feed tray to the paper discharge tray, detection for detecting a paper jam in the transport path and the jam position thereof And means for determining whether or not there is a conveyance path that does not pass through the jam position when the detection means detects the paper jam; and a conveyance path that does not pass through the jam position by the determination means. If it is determined that the sheet is present, a conveyance unit that conveys the sheet to the discharge tray by the conveyance path even after the jam is detected.

  Further, the paper transport device of the present invention includes a plurality of transport paths for transporting the image-formed paper to a paper discharge tray, a paper jam in the transport path and a jam position thereof, and the detection When the means detects the paper jam, it is determined that there is a conveyance path that does not pass through the jam position, and the determination means determines that there is a conveyance path that does not pass through the jam position. In some cases, the apparatus includes a conveying unit that conveys the sheet to the paper discharge tray through the conveyance path even after a jam is detected.

  According to the present invention, when it is determined that there is a transport path that does not pass through the jam position, the sheet is transported to the paper discharge tray by the transport path even after the jam is detected. As a result, when the paper can be conveyed to the paper discharge tray without going through the jam position, the printing process can be continued, and the convenience of the printing process when a jam occurs can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram (side sectional view) of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the sheet conveying operation. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the sheet conveying operation. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the sheet conveying operation. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the sheet conveying operation. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the sheet conveying operation. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a remaining sheet saving process performed by the image forming apparatus. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process performed by the image forming apparatus after the remaining sheet saving process.

  Exemplary embodiments of an image forming apparatus and a sheet conveying apparatus according to the present invention are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following, an example in which the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is applied to a multifunction machine having at least two of a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function will be described. The present invention can be applied to any image forming apparatus such as a scanner apparatus and a facsimile apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram (side sectional view) of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming unit 100, a paper feeding unit 200, post-processing units 301, 302, and 303 (hereinafter, collectively referred to as a post-processing unit 300 unless otherwise specified). ing.

  The image forming unit 100 is configured by, for example, a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus or an ink jet type image forming apparatus, and is a unit for forming an image on a sheet.

  The image forming unit 100 includes an operation unit 19 (see FIG. 2) that accepts various selections such as scanning, copying, and tray selection. The operation unit 19 includes an operation panel provided with various operation keys such as a numeric keypad, a start key, a function key, and a one-touch key, and an operation unit (all not shown) configured by a liquid crystal display or the like. The image forming unit 100 performs an image forming process based on a print job received from an operation unit 19 or an information processing apparatus such as a PC connected via a network.

  A reading window (not shown) is provided in the upper part of the main body of the image forming unit 100, and a scanner for reading an image of a document set on the reading window is provided in the lower part of the main body of the reading window. When the scanner is instructed to start print processing from the operation unit 19 or an information processing apparatus connected via a network, the scanner reads an image of a document set on the reading window.

  The image forming unit 100 also includes paper feed trays 41 and 42 for storing paper for transferring images. The paper feed trays 41 and 42 store a relatively small amount of paper. In addition, the image forming unit 100 can purge the invalid paper that exists in the conveyance path (second discharge tray 43) (second discharge) when a jam or multi-feed of paper or out of paper to be fed occurs. Paper tray).

  The image forming unit 54 includes image forming units 54Y, 54M, 54C, and 54B for each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and the image forming units 54Y, 54M, 54C, and 54B for each color each include a photosensitive drum mechanism, It has a charging mechanism (charging unit and charge eliminating unit), a developing mechanism, and a drum cleaning mechanism.

  The image forming unit 54 performs each image forming process of charging, exposure, development, transfer, and cleaning on the photosensitive drum, and forms an image of each color on the photosensitive drum of each color. Then, the image forming unit 54 sequentially superimposes and transfers the images of the respective colors on the respective photosensitive drums onto the intermediate transfer belt 55. The image forming unit 100 transfers the image superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 55 onto the paper conveyed to this position at the position of the secondary transfer roller 56. Then, the image transferred onto the paper is fixed on the paper by the fixing roller and the pressure roller 57.

  The sheet after image fixing (that is, after image formation) is transported along a transport path indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. At least one of the upper side and the lower side of the transport path is provided with a transport belt, a transport roller, and the like (not shown), and some of these are driven to rotate by a drive motor (not shown). As a result, the sheet on the conveyance belt or the conveyance roller is conveyed in the conveyance direction in the conveyance path. Here, the transport direction is the upstream of the paper feed tray (the paper feed trays 41 and 42 of the image forming unit 100 or the paper feed trays 44 to 47 of the paper feed unit 200), and the paper discharge tray 48 of the post-processing unit 300. It is a direction which makes -51 downstream.

  A plurality of sensors 70 (70a, 70b, 70c, see FIG. 2) for detecting the position of the sheet being conveyed and the occurrence of a jam are provided in the conveyance path. In addition, various optical sensors etc. can be used as a sensor.

  In addition, a plurality of switching points for switching the transport destination are provided in the transport path, and the image forming unit 100 can change the transport path of the paper by switching the switch points. As an example, in FIG. 1, a switching point 58 is a switching point that is switched when the sheet transport destination is transported toward the purge tray 43. The switching point 58 is provided with a roller pair that introduces the conveyed sheet into the post-processing unit 301 and a roller pair that introduces the conveyed sheet into the purge tray 43. The image forming unit 100 (a conveyance control unit 15 to be described later) moves one of these roller pairs provided at the switching point 58 to the vicinity of the center of the conveyance path, and thereby conveys the conveyed sheet to the post-processing unit. It can be conveyed toward either 301 or the purge tray 43.

  That is, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided in the image forming apparatus 1 such as a purge tray 43 included in the image forming unit 100, a discharge tray 51 included in the post-processing unit 302, and discharge trays 48, 49, and 50 included in the post-processing unit 303. The paper can be conveyed and discharged to at least one of the plurality of paper discharge trays. Note that the image forming apparatus 1 may be provided with other paper discharge trays. When other units are further used, the paper may be discharged to the paper discharge trays of the units.

  Note that the image forming unit 100 itself is configured to function as a single image forming apparatus, and can perform image forming processing without being connected to the paper feeding unit 200 and the post-processing unit 300. The image forming unit 100 is configured such that a paper discharge tray (not shown) is detachable or foldable. When the post-processing unit 300 is not connected, the paper discharge tray is attached (or pulled out) after printing processing. The paper can be discharged. When the image forming unit 100 is used as a single unit, paper is fed from one of the paper feed trays 41 and 42 to the transport path, and image formation is performed on the paper in the same manner as described above. Then, the paper after the image formation is discharged to the paper discharge tray described above.

  The paper feed unit 200 is a unit that stores paper for transferring an image and supplies the paper to the image forming unit 100. The paper feed unit 200 includes paper feed trays 44, 45, and 46 that can store a relatively large volume of paper, and a tray 47 for performing manual paper feed at the top. The sheet feeding unit 200 can be used next to the image forming unit 100, for example. In response to an instruction from the image forming unit 100, the paper feeding unit 200 supplies paper from at least one of the paper feeding trays 44 to 47 to the transport path based on a print job accepted by the image forming unit 100. A sheet is supplied (conveyed) to the forming unit 100. Although FIG. 1 shows an example in which one paper feed unit 200 is connected to the image forming unit 100, a configuration in which a plurality of paper feed units 200 are connected to the image forming unit 100 in a multistage manner is also possible. Good.

  The post-processing units 300 (301, 302, 303) are units that perform post-processing on the paper transported from the image forming unit 100, respectively.

The post-processing unit 301 supplies sheets such as a cover sheet printed for bookbinding or a partition sheet that does not require image formation from the sheet feed trays 52 and 53, before and after the sheet printed by the image forming unit 100. Or an inserter for insertion.

  The post-processing unit 302 is a unit for performing a folding process on the paper after image formation. The post-processing unit 302 discharges the folded paper to the paper discharge tray 51. Alternatively, the post-processing unit 302 conveys the folded paper to the post-processing unit 303.

  The post-processing unit 303 is a finisher that performs a stapler process or a punch process on a sheet. The post-processing unit 303 includes paper discharge trays 48, 49, and 50 for discharging printed matter. The post-processing unit 303 switches the discharge destination to at least one of the paper discharge trays 48 to 50 in accordance with the type of post-processing instructed from the operation unit 19 or the like, and the post-processed paper is transferred to that tray. Discharge.

  In the stapler process, which is one of the post-processing, staple chips are generated when staples are cut according to the number of sheets of printing paper to be bound. In the punching process, punch scraps are generated when punch holes are made in the printing paper. Therefore, the post-processing unit 303 is provided with a recovery unit (not shown) for recovering residues such as staple scraps and punch scraps.

  The post-processing unit 300 includes a bookbinding machine that performs ring binding and case binding, a multi-function folder for Z-folding, two-folding, three-folding, four-folding, and a stacker for loading a large amount of printed materials. Other units having a function may be used.

  In FIG. 1, a plurality of post-processing units 301, 302, and 303 are connected and arranged in the rear stage of the image forming unit 100. However, only one post-processing unit is connected to the image forming unit 100 and used. It is good.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration in which the sheet forming unit 200 and the post-processing unit 300 are connected to the image forming unit 100 one by one.

  First, the functional configuration of the image forming unit 100 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 100 includes a system control unit 11, serial communication units 12 and 13, a paper feed control unit 14, a conveyance control unit 15, an image processing unit 16, an image forming unit 17, and a post-processing control unit. 18, an operation unit 19, a sensor 70 b, and the like, and these units are connected by a bus. A plurality of sensors 70 b are provided along the conveyance path in the image forming unit 100.

  The system control unit 11 controls the entire operation of the image forming unit 100. Further, the system control unit 11 controls the operations of the paper feed unit 200 and the post-processing unit 300 via the serial communication units 12 and 13. The system control unit 11 includes a processor such as a CPU and a memory such as a ROM and a RAM. When the CPU expands the program stored in the ROM and executes the program, as shown in FIG. It functions as a reception unit 111, a paper detection unit 112, a determination unit 113, and a notification unit 114.

  The job reception unit 111 receives a print job from the operation unit 19 or an information processing apparatus connected via a network.

  The paper detection unit 112 (detection means, residual paper detection means) is based on the output of the sensor 70 (70a, 70b, 70c) provided in the transport path, and the position of the paper in the transport path and the paper in the transport path. Detect the jam and its jam location. A conventional method can be used as a method for detecting the paper jam and the paper position.

  Based on the jam position detected by the paper detection unit 112 and the position of each paper detected by the paper detection unit 112, the determination unit 113 includes a plurality of paper discharge trays (example in FIG. 1) without passing through the jam position. Then, it is determined whether or not the sheet can be conveyed to at least one of the purge tray 43 and the discharge trays 48 to 51).

  When a jam occurs, the notification unit 114 displays an error message or the like on the operation panel of the operation unit 19 to notify the user that a paper jam has occurred. The error message includes, for example, a jam occurrence position, a position of remaining paper, a message prompting to remove jammed paper, countermeasures for removing these paper, and the like.

  The serial communication unit 12 performs serial communication with the post-processing unit 300 via a communication cable. The serial communication unit 13 performs serial communication with the paper feeding unit 200 via a communication cable.

  The paper feed control unit 14 feeds the paper stored in the paper feed trays 41 and 42 of the image forming unit 100 to the transport path based on the print job accepted by the job accepting unit 111. The paper feed control unit 14 instructs the paper feed unit 200 to feed paper via the serial communication unit 13 based on the print job accepted by the job accepting unit 111, and the paper feed tray of the paper feed unit 200. Paper is fed from 44 to 47 to the transport path.

  The conveyance control unit 15 controls a conveyance roller and a conveyance belt provided in the conveyance path, a drive motor (none of which is not shown) that rotates the belt, and the like, and a sheet in the conveyance path provided in the image forming unit 100. Controls the transfer operation. The conveyance control unit 15 controls the conveyance of the paper from the paper supply unit 200 to the image forming unit 100 in cooperation with the conveyance control unit 25 of the paper supply unit 200. Further, the conveyance control unit 15 controls the conveyance of the sheet from the image forming unit 100 to the post-processing unit 300 in cooperation with the conveyance control unit 36 of the post-processing unit 300.

  The conveyance control unit 15 evacuates the paper remaining in the conveyance path based on the determination result of the determination unit 113 when a jam occurs. In this way, the operation of transporting the paper being transported to the vicinity of the jam occurrence position or to any tray and retracting (removing) the paper remaining in the transport path is referred to as a residual paper retracting process or a retracting process. And

  Further, the conveyance control unit 15 controls the sheet conveyance in the printing process after the residual sheet saving process based on the print job received by the job reception unit 111 and the determination result of the determination unit 113. That is, the conveyance control unit 15 conveys the paper to at least one of the plurality of paper discharge trays by a conveyance path that does not pass through the jam position.

  The image processing unit 16 performs image processing on image data read by the scanner or image data transmitted from another information processing apparatus based on a print job received by the job receiving unit 111. For example, the image processing unit 16 performs various types of image processing such as monochrome conversion, enlargement / reduction, and multipage on the image data.

  Based on the image data processed by the image processing unit 16, the image forming unit 17 controls the image forming unit 54, the intermediate transfer belt 55, the secondary transfer roller 56 (both see FIG. 1), etc. An image is formed on a sheet conveyed by a conveyance belt (not shown).

  The post-processing control unit 18 controls the operation of the post-processing unit 300 via the serial communication unit 12. Further, the post-processing control unit 18 manages the state transition of the power mode of the post-processing unit 300 via the serial communication unit 12, and saves the post-processing unit 300 when the print job is not received for a predetermined time. Switch to mode.

  Next, a functional configuration of the paper feeding unit 200 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the paper feed unit 200 includes a system control unit 21, serial communication units 22, 23, a paper feed control unit 24, a transport control unit 25, a sensor 70c, and the like, and these units are connected by a bus. Has been. A plurality of sensors 70 c are provided along the transport path in the paper feed unit 200.

  The system control unit 21 includes a processor such as a CPU, and controls each unit of the paper feeding unit 200 to control the paper feeding operation.

  The serial communication unit 22 performs serial communication with the image forming unit 100 via a communication cable. The serial communication unit 23 performs serial communication between the paper feed units 200 when a plurality of paper feed units 200 are connected and used by communication cables.

  The paper feed control unit 24 feeds the paper stored or set in the paper feed trays 44 to 47 (see FIG. 1) to the transport path. The transport control unit 25 transports the paper fed to the transport path by the paper feed control unit 24 toward the image forming unit 100.

  Next, the functional configuration of the post-processing unit 300 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the post-processing unit 300 includes a system control unit 31, serial communication units 32 and 33, a stapler processing unit 34, a punch processing unit 35, a conveyance control unit 36, a sensor 70a, and the like. Are connected by a bus. A plurality of sensors 70 a are provided along the transport path in the post-processing unit 300.

  The system control unit 31 includes a processor such as a CPU, and controls each unit of the post-processing unit 300 to control stapling processing, punching processing, and paper discharge processing.

  The serial communication unit 32 performs serial communication with the image forming unit 100 via a communication cable. In addition, when the image forming apparatus 1 includes a plurality of post-processing units 300 (the post-processing units 301, 302, and 303 in the example of FIG. 1), and these are connected to the image forming unit 100 via a communication cable, The serial communication unit 33 performs serial communication between the units via the communication cable.

  The stapler processing unit 34 performs a stapler process on the paper conveyed from the image forming unit 100. The punch processing unit 35 performs punch processing on the paper conveyed from the image forming unit 100. The punching process may have a configuration in which punched holes are made by bundling sheets, or a punched hole may be formed in each sheet.

  The conveyance control unit 36 conveys the sheet conveyed from the image forming unit 100 to a position where post-processing such as stapler processing or punching processing is performed based on the print job received by the job reception unit 111. The conveyance control unit 36 conveys the post-processed paper to at least one of the paper discharge trays 48 to 51 and discharges the paper. If the print job does not include post-processing, the transport control unit 36 transports the paper transported from the image forming unit 100 to at least one of the paper discharge trays 48 to 51 without performing post-processing. Eject paper.

  In the above description, the form in which the image forming unit 100, the paper feeding unit 200, and the post-processing unit 300 are connected in a daisy chain has been described. However, the connection method is not limited to this. As another example, these units may be connected by a bus, and the image forming unit 100 may control the paper feed unit 200 and the post-processing unit 300.

  Next, the paper transport operation will be described. 3 to 7 are schematic views (side cross-sectional views) for explaining the sheet conveying operation in the image forming apparatus 1. Here, an example will be described in which image formation is performed on five sheets P1 to P5 fed from the sheet feed tray 42 as a print job, and the sheets after image formation are discharged to the sheet discharge tray 49. 3 to 7, the image forming apparatus 1 in which the paper feeding unit 200 is omitted is shown in each drawing in order to describe the case where the paper fed from the paper feeding tray 42 is conveyed.

  FIG. 3 shows a sheet conveying operation at a normal time when no sheet jam has occurred. In this case, the sheets P1 to P5 fed from the sheet feeding tray 42 are ejected to the sheet ejection tray 49 via the transport path RT1 indicated by the bold line in the drawing. When no paper jam has occurred in the transport path RT1, the sheets P1 to P5 are transported along the transport path RT1 and sequentially discharged to the paper discharge tray 49.

  FIG. 4 shows a case where a paper jam (jam) has occurred in the paper P1 at the jam occurrence position 90 on the upstream side of the paper discharge tray 49. In this case, the paper P1 that is jammed paper and the paper P2 remaining in the transport path upstream of the jam occurrence position 90 cannot be discharged to the paper discharge tray 49.

  In this case, the paper detection unit 112 detects that a paper jam has occurred at the jam occurrence position 90. Further, the sheet detection unit 112 detects that the sheet P2 is on the transport path in the post-processing unit 302 as shown in FIG. Further, the paper detection unit 112 is on the upstream side of the switching point 58 where the papers P3, P4, and P5 are on the transport path in the image forming unit 100 and the transport path can be switched to the purge tray 43. Detect that.

  The determination unit 113 compares the jam generation position 90 with the positions of the papers P2, P3, P4, and P5, and passes through the jam generation position 90 and at least one of the purge tray 43 or the paper discharge trays 48 to 51. Next, it is determined whether or not each of the sheets P2 to P5 can be conveyed.

  First, when a sheet jam is detected, the determination unit 113 determines whether the position of each sheet being conveyed is upstream or downstream (discharge tray 49 side) from the switching point 58 described above. To do. As shown in FIG. 4, the determination unit 113 can transport the sheets P <b> 3 to P <b> 5 to the purge tray 43 when the sheets P <b> 3 to P <b> 5 are on the upstream side (the paper feed trays 41 and 42 side) from the switching point 58. Judge that there is. The conveyance control unit 15 switches the switching point 58 and conveys the sheets P3 to P5 to the purge tray 43 as shown in FIG. 5 via a conveyance route RT2 (see FIG. 4) that does not pass through the jam occurrence position 90. .

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the determination unit 113 cannot transfer the paper P2 to the purge tray 43 when the paper P2 is on the downstream side (the discharge tray 49 side) from the switching point 58. It is determined that the paper is to be transported toward the paper discharge tray 49 that is the transport destination. Based on the determination result, the conveyance control unit 15 conveys the paper P2 toward the paper discharge tray 49, and conveys the paper P2 to the jam occurrence position 90 as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 shows the position of each sheet at the time when the above-described saving process is completed. The sheets P1 and P2 are stopped near the jam occurrence position 90, and the sheets P3, P4 and P5 are discharged to the purge tray 43. As shown in FIG. 5, the transport path for transporting from the switching point 59 to the paper discharge tray 49 is in an unusable state, but the other transport paths are in a usable state. That is, in FIG. 5, the conveyance path from the paper feed tray 41 or 42 to the paper discharge trays 48, 50, and 51 can be continuously used without removing the jammed papers P 1 and P 2 (residual paper).

  FIG. 6 shows a transport path RT3 as an example of a transport path that can be used without removing the sheets P1 and P2 at the jam occurrence position 90. FIG. The determination unit 113 selects a transport path that does not pass through the jam generation position 90 and a paper discharge tray as a transport destination according to the jam generation position 90. In the case where the retreating process in which the residual paper P2 is brought into contact with the jammed paper P1 as described above is performed, the jam generation position 90 including the position of the residual paper remaining in the transport path is set as described above. I do.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when a jam has occurred at a position upstream of the paper discharge tray 49 and the paper cannot be discharged to the paper discharge tray 49, the determination unit 113 sets the paper after image formation. It is determined whether or not it can be conveyed to the paper discharge tray 48 which is the closest paper discharge tray of the paper discharge tray 49. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the determination unit 113 determines that the transport route RT3 is usable when there is no jammed paper on the transport route RT3 for discharging the paper to the paper discharge tray 48. Then, the transport control unit 15 switches the switching point 59 and discharges the paper on which the image has been formed to the paper discharge tray 48 through the transport path RT3.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating examples of other usable transport routes. As shown in FIG. 7, the determination unit 113 determines that the conveyance route RT4 can convey a sheet when there is no jammed paper on the conveyance route RT4 for discharging the sheet to the discharge tray 51. To do. The transport control unit 15 switches the switching point 60 and discharges the paper after the image formation to the paper discharge tray 51 through the transport path RT4.

  As described above, since the image forming apparatus 1 secures a usable transport path by the above-described retreating process, it is possible to easily continue the printing process without removing the jammed paper.

  In the above description, the position of each sheet is compared for one switching point 58. However, the determination unit 113 may perform comparison and determination for each of a plurality of switching points in the transport path. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the sheets P2 to P5 are upstream of the switching point 59, the determination unit 113 can convey the sheets P2 to P5 to at least one of the discharge trays 48 and 50. You may determine that there is. The determination unit 113 may determine that the sheets P3 to P5 can be transported to the paper discharge tray 51 when the sheets P3 to P5 are upstream of the switching point 60. .

  Next, a procedure of the residual sheet saving process performed by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of the remaining sheet saving process performed by the image forming apparatus 1.

  First, the transport control unit 15 selects a paper feed tray and a paper discharge tray for discharging paper after image formation in accordance with an instruction input from the operation unit 19 or the like, and a transport path from the paper feed tray to the paper discharge tray. The conveyance belt, conveyance roller, switching point, and the like inside are controlled to start conveyance of the sheet. Then, the paper detection unit 112 determines whether or not a paper jam has occurred in the transport path set as described above (step S1). If a jam has not occurred (step S1: No), the process returns to step S1. If a jam has occurred (step S1: Yes), the paper detection unit 112 detects the jam occurrence position and proceeds to step S2.

  The determination unit 113 determines whether or not there is a sheet (residual sheet) on the downstream side of the jam occurrence position, that is, on the sheet discharge tray side (step S2). If there is a sheet on the downstream side of the jam occurrence position (step S2: Yes), the conveyance control unit 15 discharges the sheet to the sheet discharge tray via the original conveyance path (step S3). The process proceeds to S4. When there is no paper downstream from the jam occurrence position (step S2: No), the determination unit 113 determines whether there is paper (residual paper) upstream from the jam occurrence position, that is, on the paper feed tray side. Further determination is made (step S4). If there is no sheet upstream from the jam occurrence position (step S4: No), the process proceeds to step S9. If there is a sheet upstream of the jam occurrence position (step S4: Yes), the determination unit 113 determines whether the remaining sheet is upstream of any switching point (step S5). .

  If the remaining sheet is upstream of any switching point (step S5: Yes), the sheet discharge tray (the transfer destination switched from the switching point (for example, the switching point 58) to the transport destination (for example, the switching point 58) For example, it is determined whether or not a paper jam has occurred in the transport path to the purge tray 43) (step S6). If a paper jam has occurred in the transport path from the switching point to the paper discharge tray (step S6: Yes), the paper is transported until the remaining paper hits the jammed paper through the original transport path without switching the switching point. (Step S8), the process proceeds to step S9.

  If the remaining sheet is downstream of any switching point in step S5 (step S5: No), the remaining sheet is transported until it hits the jammed paper through the original transport path without switching the switching point. (Step S8), the process proceeds to Step S9.

  In step S6, if no paper jam has occurred in the transport path from the switching point to the paper discharge tray that is the transport destination after switching (step S6: No), the switching path is switched to change the transport path. Then, the paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray which is the transport destination after switching (step S7), and the process proceeds to step S9.

  When the residual paper evacuation process is completed and the residual paper is conveyed to any one of the paper discharge trays or the jam occurrence position, the notification unit 114 displays information indicating the jam occurrence position, the discharge destination tray of the residual paper, and the like. The information is displayed on the liquid crystal panel of the operation unit 19 to notify the user of the occurrence of a jam (step S9), and the process is terminated.

  In the above description, the remaining paper is transported until it hits the jammed paper in step S8, but the method of retracting the residual paper is not limited to this. As another evacuation method, the remaining sheet may be stopped on the spot. Further, a new retreat location for the remaining paper other than the purge tray 43 may be provided in the image forming unit 100, and the residual paper may be conveyed toward the new retreat location.

  Next, a procedure of a printing process performed by the image forming apparatus 1 when a new print job is received after the remaining sheet saving process will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the printing process performed by the image forming apparatus 1 after the remaining sheet saving process.

  The job reception unit 111 determines whether a print job has been received from the operation unit 19 or an information processing apparatus connected via a network (step S11). If a print job is not accepted (step S11: No), the process returns to step S11 and waits for acceptance. When the print job is received (step S11: Yes), the determination unit 113 determines whether there is jammed paper (residual paper) on the transport path from the paper feed tray to the paper discharge tray specified by the print job. Is determined (step S12). If there is no jammed paper on the transport path (step S12: No), the paper is fed from the designated paper feed tray to the transport path, and the image forming unit 54 forms an image on the paper. Are conveyed toward the paper discharge tray designated by the print job and discharged (step S13).

  If there is jammed paper on the transport path (step S12: Yes), the determination unit 113 determines whether there is a transport path that can be transported to any one of the paper discharge trays without going through the jam occurrence position. Determination is made (step S14). When there is a transport path that can be transported (step S14: Yes), the paper is fed from the designated paper feed tray to the transport path, and an image is formed on the paper by the image forming unit 54. The paper is transported toward a transportable paper discharge tray and discharged (step S15). Then, the jam occurrence position and the like are displayed on the operation unit 19 to notify the user that there is jammed paper or residual paper (step S16), and the processing is terminated.

  If there is no transport path that can be transported to any one of the paper discharge trays (step S14: No), each process such as paper feeding, paper transport, and image formation is not performed, and the jam occurrence position and the like are set on the operation unit. 19 is displayed to inform the user that there is jammed paper or residual paper (step S16), and the process is terminated.

  In the above description, the print process can be continued when there is a transport path that can be used after the save process. However, whether or not the print process is performed after the save process may be set by the user. In other words, the system control unit 11 (selection accepting unit) accepts a selection on the operation panel of the operation unit 19 as to whether or not to continue the printing process when a jam is detected, and stores the selection result in a storage area in the system control unit 11. To do. In the printing process after the saving process, the continuation of the printing process is determined based on the selection result. That is, when it is stored that the printing process is continued when a jam is detected, the image forming unit 17 performs the image forming process even when a paper jam is detected, and the conveyance control unit 15 generates the jam. The paper after image formation is transported to at least one of the paper discharge trays by a transport path that does not pass through the position.

  In addition, the system control unit 11 (selection accepting unit) determines whether to continue the printing process on the operation panel of the operation unit 19 when the paper cannot be conveyed to the post-processing unit 300 due to the occurrence of a jam. The acceptance and selection results may be stored in the storage area. In the printing process after the saving process, the continuation of the printing process is determined based on the selection result. That is, when it is stored that the printing process is to be continued, the conveyance control unit 15 conveys up to at least one of the dischargeable trays that can be conveyed without performing post-processing on the sheet after image formation. Then.

  In the above description, the image forming apparatus 1 including a plurality of paper discharge trays has been described. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this. The image forming apparatus 1 (or each of the image forming unit 100, the paper feeding unit 200, and the post-processing unit 300) may include only one paper discharge tray. Further, in this case, the determination unit 113 determines whether or not the paper can be transported to the paper discharge tray by a transport path that does not go through the jam occurrence position. The sheet may be transported to the one paper discharge tray by a transport path.

  In the above description, the determination process performed by the determination unit 113 is not limited to the example described above. As another example, the determination unit 113 may first determine whether or not the sheet can be transported to one discharge tray designated by the print job through a transport path that does not pass through the jam occurrence position. . If it is determined that the paper cannot be transported to the paper discharge tray specified by the print job, the determination unit 113 may further determine whether the paper can be transported to another paper discharge tray. Good.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the conveyance control unit 15 has a conveyance path that does not pass through the jam occurrence position even when the paper detection unit 112 detects a paper jam. The paper is transported to the paper discharge tray via the transport path. As a result, when the paper can be conveyed to the paper discharge tray without going through the jam occurrence position, it is possible to continue the printing process, and it is possible to improve the convenience regarding the printing process when the jam occurs.

  Further, as described above, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment conveys the paper (paper P2 in the example of FIG. 4) that remains in the conveyance path and cannot be discharged to the paper discharge tray to the jam occurrence position. These are summarized as jammed paper (paper P1 in the example of FIG. 5). Accordingly, the sheets that cannot be ejected can be collected in one place without being scattered, so that more usable conveyance paths can be secured without removing jammed paper and residual paper.

  In the above description, the case where a paper jam occurs in the conveyance path downstream of the image forming unit 54 has been described. However, the case where a paper jam occurs in the conveyance path upstream of the image forming unit 54 is also described. It is possible to apply this embodiment. As a result, even when the paper before image formation has jammed, if there is a transport path that does not pass through the jam position, the printing process can be continued.

  Note that the program executed by the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like provided in the system control unit 11, for example. A program executed by the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is a file in an installable format or an executable format, such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or the like. You may comprise so that it may record and provide on a computer-readable recording medium.

  Furthermore, the program executed by the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. Further, the program executed by the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  The program executed by the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has a module configuration including the above-described units (the job reception unit 111, the paper detection unit 112, the determination unit 113, and the notification unit 114). As hardware, a CPU (processor) reads out and executes a program from the ROM, and the above-described units are loaded onto the main storage device. It is generated on the main storage device of the unit 11.

  In the above description, in the image forming apparatus 1, the system control unit 11 of the image forming unit 100 includes the paper detection unit 112, the determination unit 113, and the like, and functions as the image forming device and the paper conveyance device according to the present embodiment. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this. As another example, the system control unit 21 of the paper feed unit 200 or the system control unit 31 of the post-processing unit 300 is configured to include at least the paper detection unit 112 and the determination unit 113 described above. 200 and the post-processing unit 300 may be provided as a sheet conveying apparatus according to the present embodiment.

1 Image forming apparatus 41, 42 Paper feed tray 43 Purge tray (discharge tray)
44, 45, 46, 47, 52, 53 Paper feed trays 48, 49, 50, 51 Paper discharge tray 54 (54Y, 54M, 54C, 54K) Image forming section 55 Intermediate transfer belt 56 Secondary transfer roller 57 Pressure roller 58, 59, 60 Switching point 70 (70a, 70b, 70c) Sensor 90 Jam generation position 100 Image forming unit 200 Paper feeding unit 300 (301, 302, 303) Post-processing unit 111 Job receiving unit 112 Paper detecting unit 113 Determination unit 114 Notification unit P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 Paper RT1, RT2, RT3, RT4 Conveyance path

JP 2009-042402 A

Claims (10)

An image forming unit that forms an image on paper supplied from a paper feed tray;
A paper discharge tray for discharging the paper on which the image is formed by the image forming unit;
A plurality of transport paths for transporting the paper from the paper feed tray to the paper discharge tray;
Detecting means for detecting a paper jam in the transport path and the jam position;
A determination unit that determines whether or not there is the conveyance path that does not pass through the jam position when the detection unit detects the paper jam;
A conveyance unit configured to convey the sheet to the paper discharge tray by the conveyance path even after the jam is detected when the determination unit determines that there is a conveyance path that does not pass through the jam position;
An image forming apparatus comprising: When the detection unit detects the paper jam, the paper detection unit further includes a residual paper detection unit that detects a position of the paper remaining in the conveyance path other than the jammed paper,
The transport unit selects the transport path that does not pass through the jam position according to the position of the paper detected by the residual paper detection unit.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. A plurality of the paper discharge trays are provided,
The determination unit determines whether or not the sheet can be conveyed to at least one of the plurality of discharge trays without passing through the jam position when the detection unit detects the sheet jam. And
The transport unit transports the paper to at least one of the plurality of paper discharge trays by a transport path that does not pass through the jam position based on a determination result of the determination unit.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. A post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the paper after image formation and discharges the post-processed paper to the paper discharge tray;
A second paper discharge tray provided between the paper feed tray and the post-processing unit,
The determination means detects the position of the paper detected by the residual paper detection means when a paper jam is detected in the transport path to the post-processing section or a paper output tray of the post-processing section by the detection means. Determining whether or not the sheet can be discharged to the second discharge tray;
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, when it is determined that the transport unit can discharge the sheet to the second sheet discharge tray, the sheet is discharged to the second sheet discharge tray. 5. Selection accepting means for accepting a selection as to whether or not to continue printing processing when a jam is detected;
Storage means for storing the selection result received by the selection receiving means,
The image forming unit performs image formation on the sheet even when a sheet jam is detected by the detecting unit when the storage unit stores that the printing process is continued when the jam is detected. ,
The said conveyance means conveys the said paper after the image formation by the said image formation part to the said paper discharge tray by the said conveyance path | route which does not go through the said jam position. Image forming apparatus.   5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising notification means for notifying the occurrence of a jam when the paper after the image formation is transported to the paper discharge tray by the transporting path not passing through the jam position. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above. Job receiving means for receiving a print job,
The determination unit conveys the sheet from the paper feed tray designated by the print job to the image forming unit without passing through the jam position detected by the detection unit, and further, the image forming unit Determining whether the paper after image formation can be conveyed to any one of the plurality of paper discharge trays;
When the determination unit determines that the sheet can be transported to any one of the discharge trays without passing through the jam position, the image forming unit performs the print job based on the print job. Perform image formation on paper,
The transport unit transports the paper from the paper feed tray to the image forming unit through the transport path that does not pass through the jam position based on the determination result of the determination unit, and further, image formation by the image forming unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the subsequent sheet is conveyed from the image forming unit to any one of the plurality of paper discharge trays. Selection accepting means for accepting a selection as to whether or not to continue the printing process when the paper cannot be conveyed to the post-processing unit due to a jam;
Storage means for storing the selection result received by the selection receiving means,
In the case where the storage means stores that the print processing is continued even if the paper cannot be conveyed to the post-processing unit due to the occurrence of a jam, the conveyance means stores the image after the image formation at the time of jam detection. Transport the paper to the paper discharge tray without going through the post-processing section;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, comprising a plurality of the post-processing units. A plurality of transport paths for transporting the paper after image formation to the paper discharge tray;
Detecting means for detecting a paper jam in the transport path and the jam position;
A determination unit that determines whether or not there is the conveyance path that does not pass through the jam position when the detection unit detects the paper jam;
A conveyance unit configured to convey the sheet to the paper discharge tray by the conveyance path even after the jam is detected when the determination unit determines that there is a conveyance path that does not pass through the jam position;
A sheet conveying apparatus comprising:

Images