JP2000095389A - Paper conveyance control device and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent mutual collision of sheets on respective conveying passages from causing jam when remaining sheets in a machine are automatically discharged, by controlling a driving motor for each conveying passage so as to be driven with time difference, in a device having a plurality of the paper conveying passages merging in the downstream. SOLUTION: A copying machine has a conveying passage used for single-sided copy and double-sided copy, a conveying passage used for the double-sided copy, and a conveying passage used for leading-in. Suitable places are provided with a plurality of motors such as a dram motor 201, a main motor 202, a feed motor 203, and an invert motor 206. When remaining sheets in a machine are automatically discharged, the motors for respective conveying passages corresponding to at lest two paper conveying passages having a merging point are driven sequentially with time difference. This time difference is set as a time interval when a plurality of sheets that are assumed to remain on the paper conveying passages does not cause any collision at the merging point.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a sheet conveyance control device and a sheet conveyance control method in a copying machine or the like. In particular, a paper conveyance control device and a paper conveyance control method for executing automatic paper ejection control for remaining paper in the machine to prevent paper jams occurring in a device having a paper conveyance mechanism such as a copying machine, that is, a paper conveyance error due to so-called JAM (jam). About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The functions of copiers, such as double-sided copying and sorting, are becoming more and more complicated. As the functions of copiers have become more sophisticated, the paper transport path has also become more complicated. Such complication of the transport path diversifies the form of paper jam (jam) of the paper, and makes the recovery operation difficult. In some cases, a plurality of sheets following the sheet that caused the paper jam due to a sheet jam of one sheet, or a plurality of preceding sheets remain in the sheet conveyance path in the apparatus.

[0003] In a conventional apparatus, when a jam occurs, it is common for an operator to check the paper staying in the paper transport path and remove it manually. However, it has become difficult for an operator to remove all sheets as the transport path becomes complicated.
In order to simplify the removing operation, some recent copiers are provided with an in-machine remaining paper automatic discharge control mechanism for automatically discharging the paper remaining in the machine after a jam occurs. This is a mechanism for automatically detecting and discharging the remaining sheet remaining on the sheet conveyance path after the occurrence of a jam. This mechanism reduces the work of the operator.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 9-301482 discloses a copying machine provided with such an automatic remaining paper discharge control mechanism. In the copier disclosed in this publication, if any of a plurality of paper detection sensors provided at each point of a paper transport path in the machine does not detect paper within a predetermined time, paper remaining in the machine is Is determined not to exist, and the automatic paper discharge control is terminated. Here, the predetermined time is set to a time required for the paper to move normally between the longest sensors in the paper transport path. During the automatic paper ejection control period, the drive motor for paper conveyance is operating for paper ejection,
This is based on the theory that if the paper remains, the paper should be detected by the sensor.

[0005] However, such a mechanism for automatically discharging remaining paper in the apparatus has a new problem. This problem will be described with reference to the paper transport path diagram shown in FIG. FIG. 1 shows various paper transport paths in each copy mode of one-sided copy and two-sided copy in a copying machine capable of two-sided copying. Multiple trays (Tray1
Sheets of the respective sizes are stored in .about.4). At the start of copying, the sheets are taken out from the selected tray and a copy operation is executed, and the sheets are ejected from the exit unit Exit in the upper right portion of FIG.

A transport path A shown in FIG. 1 is a sheet transport path for one-sided copying. The sheet selected from each tray is guided upward along the path A in FIG. 1 and is discharged from the Exit unit.

In the case of double-sided copying, first, paper is conveyed from a tray along a conveyance path A, and a fuser exit sensor (Fusew) provided in front of the Exit.
When the sheet passes through the Exit SNR (106), the sheet is drawn into the transport path C. When the paper is drawn into the transport path C, the inverted paper is fed to the inverting motor (Inveh) after a lapse of a predetermined time from the detection of the trailing end of the paper by the fuser exit sensor (Fuse Exit SNR) 106.
(rt Moyor) 206 stops once, and then the inverting motor 206 starts reverse rotation, and the sheet is sent to the transport path B. The sheet sent to transport path B is transport path B
The sheet passes through the junction from above and is sent out to the transport path A again. Thereafter, the paper proceeds along the transport path A and is discharged from the Exit.

In a copier having a plurality of paper transport paths, such as a model capable of performing double-sided copying, when the automatic discharge control of remaining paper in the apparatus is performed when a jam occurs, the transport paths A and B are When sheets remain in both paths, there is a problem that sheets remaining in both paths A and B collide with each other at the confluence of the conveyance path A and the conveyance path B, and a new jam occurs.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and includes a copying machine having a plurality of paper transport paths and having a configuration in which the plurality of paper transport paths merge. The object of the present invention is to provide a paper transport control device and a paper transport control method that do not cause new paper jams due to the collision of papers in each paper transport path when automatic discharge of remaining paper in the apparatus is performed. .

Further, the paper transport control device and the paper transport control method of the present invention provide a configuration that enables more reliable residual paper discharge by sequentially executing the residual paper discharge for a plurality of transport paths.

Further, according to the paper transport control device and the paper transport control method of the present invention, by detecting the residual paper individually for a plurality of transport paths, the determination processing time in each of the paths without residual paper can be shortened, It is an object of the present invention to provide a configuration for surely performing the remaining paper check for each of the cases.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet transport control apparatus for a copying or printing apparatus having a plurality of sheet transport paths. A plurality of transport path corresponding drive motors capable of independently driving each of the sheet transport paths; and control means for performing drive control of the plurality of transport path corresponding drive motors. Medium, for each transport path corresponding drive motor corresponding to each of at least two or more paper transport paths having a confluence point, sequentially performs a control to start driving with a time difference,
The time difference is a plurality of sheets assumed to remain on at least two or more sheet transport paths having the junction,
The time interval is set as a time interval at which no collision occurs at the junction due to the movement based on the drive of the drive motor corresponding to the transport path.

Further, in the paper transport control device according to the present invention, the time difference may be determined by controlling the driving motor ahead of the transport motor corresponding to each of at least two or more paper transport routes having a merging point. The maximum time required for discharging the residual paper assumed to be present in the paper transport path A where the paper can be transported by the drive motor Ma to be started is set to Ta1 or more, and the control unit starts driving the drive motor Ma. After the elapse of the time: Ta1, a control is executed to start driving of the transport path corresponding drive motor Mb corresponding to another sheet transport path B sharing the merging point.

Further, in the paper transport control device of the present invention, each of the plurality of paper transport paths has a paper detection sensor, and the control means starts the drive of the drive motor Ma to control the paper transport path A. The maximum time until the paper detection by the paper detection sensor is performed by the normal conveyance of the residual paper assumed to remain in the paper: If the paper is not detected within Ta2, the time difference is set to the time Ta2 or more. After a lapse of time Ta2 from the start of driving of the drive motor Ma, control is performed to drive a transport path corresponding drive motor Mb corresponding to another paper transport path B sharing the merge point, and the paper detection sensor is controlled within the time Ta2. Is detected by the drive motor Ma, it is necessary to discharge the remaining paper in the paper transport path A in which the paper can be transported by the drive motor Ma. The time difference is set to be equal to or longer than the time Ta1, and after the elapse of the time Ta1 from the start of driving of the drive motor Ma, the drive motor Mb for the transfer path corresponding to another sheet transfer path B sharing the confluence point is driven. It is characterized by having the composition which performs control which performs.

Further, the paper transport control method of the present invention provides a paper transport control in a copying or printing apparatus having a plurality of transport path corresponding drive motors capable of independently driving each of the plurality of paper transport paths. In the method, the drive start timing of each transport path corresponding drive motor corresponding to each of at least two or more paper transport paths having a confluence point in the plurality of paper transport paths is set to at least two or more sheets having the confluence point. A plurality of sheets assumed to remain on the transport path are sequentially executed with a time interval that does not cause a collision at the junction by the movement based on the drive of the drive motor corresponding to the transport path.

Further, in the paper transport control method according to the present invention, the time difference is determined such that the drive is started earlier in each transport path corresponding drive motor corresponding to each of at least two or more paper transport paths having a junction. Maximum time required for discharging the residual paper assumed to be in the paper transport path A where the paper can be transported by the drive motor Ma: Ta
Is set to 1 or more, and after the elapse of the time: Ta1 from the start of driving of the drive motor Ma, a transport path corresponding drive motor Mb corresponding to another sheet transport path B sharing the merging point.
The control for starting the driving of is performed.

Further, in the paper transport control method according to the present invention, when the driving of the drive motor Ma is started, the residual paper that is assumed to remain in the paper transport path A is normally transported and set in the paper transport path A. Maximum time until paper detection by paper detection sensor: If paper detection is not performed within Ta2, the time difference is set to time T
a2 or more, and after a lapse of time Ta2 from the start of driving of the drive motor Ma, control is performed to drive the transport path corresponding drive motor Mb corresponding to another sheet transport path B sharing the merge point, and the control is performed within the time Ta2. When the sheet is detected by the sheet detection sensor, the maximum time Ta1 required for discharging the remaining sheet in the sheet conveyance path A in which the sheet can be conveyed by the drive motor Ma is set to Ta1 and the time difference is set to the time Ta1 or more. Then, after a lapse of time Ta1 from the start of driving of the drive motor Ma, control is performed to drive a transport path corresponding drive motor Mb corresponding to another sheet transport path B sharing the merge point.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the paper transport control device and the paper transport control method of the present invention will be described below. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a sheet transport path that has been described above and is also applied to the configuration of the present invention.

Each component of the configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail. The paper transport path is classified into three transport paths: a transport path A used for both one-sided copy and two-sided copy, a transport path B used only for the two-sided copy, and a transport path C.

A plurality of sensors for detecting the presence of paper are provided on these transport paths A, B and C. To list these sensors, feed-out sensor 2
(Feed Out SNR2) 101, feedout sensor 3 (Feed Out SNR3) 102,
Pre-registration sensor (Pre Regi SNR) 10
3, cash register sensor (Regi SNR) 104, duplex sensor (Dup SNR) 105, fuser exit sensor (Fuser ExitSN)
R) 106, Invert sensor (Invert SN)
R) 107, machine exit sensor (M / C E)
(xit SNR) 108 and an inverted end SNR (Invert End SNR) 109.

Each of these sensors optically detects the presence or passage of a sheet, for example, and identifies the sheet together with its position information. Further, the paper identification information from these sensors is also used as switching control information for the paper transport motor.

Further, a plurality of motors driven to move the paper on the transport paths A, B, C
It is installed in B and C places. Drum motor (Drum
Motor 201, main motor (Main Mo)
tor) 202, feed motors 1-4 (Feed M)
otor1 to 4) 203, pre-registration motor (Pre r
eg, the original motor 204, the duplex motor 205, and the inverting motor I
nvert Motor) 206. Among the plurality of motors, motors having different names are motors each of which can be independently driven and controlled.

Sheets of respective sizes are stored in a plurality of trays (Trays 1 to 4). When copying is started, sheets are taken out from the selected tray and a copy operation is executed. Is discharged from

The transport path A shown in FIG. 1 is a sheet transport path for one-sided copying. To perform a simplex copy,
The drive motor provided along the transport path A is driven, and the sheet selected from the tray is guided upward along the path A in FIG. 1, executes copying, and is ejected from the Exit unit.

In the case of double-sided copying, first, paper is conveyed from the tray along the conveyance path A, and a fuser exit sensor (Fusew) provided in front of the Exit.
When the sheet passes through the Exit SNR (106), the sheet is drawn into the transport path C. When the fuser exit sensor (Fuse Exit SNR) 106 detects the trailing edge of the sheet, an elapse of a predetermined time from the detection, the invert motor (Invert Motor) 206
Is temporarily stopped, and then the inverting motor 206 starts reverse rotation. By this reverse rotation, the sheet is sent to the transport path B. The sheet sent to the conveyance path B stops on the conveyance path B again, and is sent out again to the conveyance path A at a timing at which it does not collide with a succeeding sheet passing the junction. Thereafter, the paper proceeds along the transport path A and is discharged from the Exit.

These sheet conveyance controls are executed under the control of the CPU as shown in FIG. When receiving an instruction for a one-sided copy or a two-sided copy operation, the ROM or RAM
According to the program, setting parameters, etc. recorded in
A driving motor is selected and the selected motor is driven in a predetermined direction so that a predetermined copying operation can be performed. Furthermore, by signal input such as paper passage from each sensor,
Instructions such as driving, stopping and reversing the necessary motors are issued by the CPU.
Is output to each motor, and each motor executes an operation necessary for the copy operation. The CPU further executes automatic paper discharge control when a paper jam occurs.

When a jam occurs in such a copying machine having a plurality of paper transport paths, an automatic discharge control of remaining paper in the machine for automatically discharging the remaining paper in the machine is executed. This automatic discharge control of the remaining paper in the apparatus can be automatically executed at the timing when the operator takes out the jammed paper and enters a standby state, or at the timing when copying is started, or can be executed by an instruction of the operator. Hereinafter, the operation flow of the automatic discharge control of the remaining paper in the copying machine in the copying machine of the present invention will be described.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a control flow for automatically discharging remaining paper in the copying machine in the copying machine of the present invention. 3 and 4 show the first half and the second half of a flow showing a series of operations.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG.
And each step shown in the flow of FIG. 4 will be described. First, in step 301, the operation of discharging the paper remaining on the paper transport path of the copying machine is started. This is automatically executed at various timings in addition to the operator's instruction as described above.

Next, at step 302, the main motor 202, the drum motor 201, the pre-registration motor 204
Drives. These motors are driven to convey the paper on the paper conveyance path A as understood from FIG.

When the driving of each motor is started in step 302, the sensor input is determined for a predetermined time: t1 (step 303). The paper detection sensor existing in the transport path A shown in FIG. 1 is a feed-out sensor 2 (F
feed Out SNR2) 101, feed-out
Sensor 3 (Feed Out SNR3) 102, pre-registration sensor (Pre Reg SNR) 103, registration sensor (RegiSNR) 104, fuser exit sensor (Fuser Exit SNR) 10
6. Machine Exit Sensor (M / C Exit
SNR) 108, and the predetermined time: t1 is a feed-out sensor 2 (Feed Out SNR) which is the longest inter-sensor distance among these inter-sensor distances.
2) 101, and a pre-registration sensor (Pre Reg)
i SNR) is set to a time sufficient for the paper to move between 103 and be detected by the sensor.

The input of each paper detection sensor installed in the conveyance path A is monitored until the time t1 has elapsed since the pre-registration motor 104 actually started driving. When there is a paper detection input from the monitoring sensor within the time t1 (step 30)
(3: Yes), it is determined that there is a remaining sheet in the transport path A, and in step 305, a timer starts and waits for a lapse of time: t2.

The time in step 305: t2 is the time required for discharging the sheet from the sensor located at the farthest position, which is the longest distance to Exit which is the sheet discharge port among the sheet detection sensors installed in the sheet transport path A. Is set as As understood from FIG. 1, the feed-out sensor 3 (Feed Out SNR3) 102
Assuming that the sheet is detected by this sensor at the position furthest from xit, and the time at which the sheet at this position normally moves along the paper transport path A and reaches Exit is set as t2.

Accordingly, when there is remaining paper in the paper transport path A, the discharge of the remaining paper is completed by driving the transport path A by each drive motor on the paper transport path during the time t2. The timeout at time t2 is determined in step 306, and if it is determined that the timeout has occurred, the process proceeds to step 307 (FIG. 4).

In step 303, if there is no paper detection input from the sensor provided on the transport path A (step 303: No), the elapse of time t1 is confirmed in step 304 (step 304: Yes). ), The process proceeds to step 307 (FIG. 4).

The flow shown in FIG.
This is a flow mainly executed for detecting and discharging the remaining paper.

Next, the flow after step 307 in FIG. 4 will be described. In step 307, the duplex motor (Dup Motor) 205 is driven. This motor is driven to convey the sheet on the sheet conveying path B as understood from FIG.

When the driving of the motor in step 307 is started, the sheet detection on the sheet transport path B is executed for a predetermined time: t3 (step 308). The sheet detection sensor existing in the transport path B shown in FIG. 1 is a duplex sensor (Dup SNR) 105, and the predetermined time: t3 is the same as the duplex sensor (Dup SNR).
SNR) 105 and a pre-registration sensor (P) serving as a paper detection sensor provided at the junction of the paper transport paths A and B.
The interval is set to a time sufficient for the sheet to move between the re-registration SNR 103 and the sheet detection by the sensor.

Duplex motor (Dup Mo)
Torr) 205 monitors the input of each paper detection sensor installed in the transport path B until the time t3 elapses from the actual start of driving. When there is a paper detection input from the above-mentioned paper detection sensor within the time t3 (determination in step 308:
Yes), it is determined that there is remaining paper in the transport path B,
In step 310, the timer starts and the time:
It waits until t4 elapses.

Time at step 310: t4 is the time when the duplex sensor (Dup S
NR) 105 is set as the time required until the sheet at the position of 105 is conveyed to the sheet conveyance path A.

Therefore, when there is remaining paper in the paper transport path B, the discharge of the remaining paper from the paper transport path B is completed by the paper transport by the drive motor on the paper transport path B during the time t4. The remaining paper transported from the paper transport path B to the paper transport path A is driven by the drive motor for moving the paper on the paper transport path A.
And exit to the Exit. At this time, since the discharge of the remaining paper in the paper transport path A has already been completed,
At the confluence of the paper transport paths A and B, no collision of the remaining paper transported from each transport path occurs.

The timeout at time t4 is performed in step 311.
And the process proceeds to step 312 by timeout. In step 308, if there is no paper detection input from the sensor (step 308: No),
In step 309, it is confirmed that the time t3 has elapsed (step 309: Yes), it is determined that there is no remaining sheet in the transport path B, and the process proceeds to step 312.

In step 312, a duplex motor (Dup M
(inverter motor) 205 is stopped, and an invert motor (Invert Motor),
r) 206 is driven to the retraction side to drop the remaining paper in the transport path C downward in FIG. 1 (step 312),
Complete discharge of remaining paper in the machine.

The other paper detection sensors on the paper transport path C except the invert end sensor (invert end SNR) 109 monitor the occurrence of a new jam even during the remaining paper automatic discharge control period shown in FIGS. Execute

The determination of the occurrence of a new jam in the remaining sheet automatic discharge control period is, for example, that the remaining sheet detected by any of the sensors does not normally move along the sheet transport path by the drive motor, and the sensor detects the sheet. It is estimated that a new jam has occurred in these cases if the error has occurred continuously for a certain period of time, or if the movement of the remaining paper that should be checked by sensors arranged continuously in the paper movement direction is not confirmed. it can. As a process for confirming the occurrence of such a new jam, a step for confirming the activated state of the jam detection timer shown in step 313 is provided.

The jam detection timer starts the timer when any of the sensors detects a sheet, and when the sheet is normally moved on the conveyance path and the sensor near the sheet discharge port confirms that the end of the sheet has passed. The timer may be cleared, or the jam detection timer may be started when the driving motor of the paper transport starts to discharge the remaining paper, and the sensor near the paper discharge port may pass the end of the paper. It is also possible to configure so that the jam detection timer is cleared at the time of confirmation. Step 313
Is to determine whether or not the paper is being activated without clearing the jam detection timer even after a predetermined time to complete the transfer operation.If the paper is being activated, a new jam is detected. It is determined that an error has occurred (step 315). If it is determined in step 313 that the jam detection timer has been cleared, the automatic discharge ends in step 314.

As described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the paper transport control device and the paper transport control method of the present invention detect the residual paper and eject the paper independently through a plurality of different paper transport paths. Is executed, it is possible to surely execute the sheet confirmation for each transport path, and it is possible to prevent the collision of the remaining sheets of the different transport paths at the junction.

In the above description of the embodiment, the discharging operation is executed with a time difference provided for all of the transport paths A, B, and C. The transport path may be configured to execute the sheet discharging operation in parallel, and only the transport path having the merging point may be driven with a time difference.

[0049]

As described above, according to the paper transport control apparatus and the paper transport control method of the present invention, a copying machine having a plurality of paper transport paths and having a configuration in which the plurality of paper transport paths merge. And the like, it is possible to reliably discharge the remaining paper in the apparatus.

Further, according to the paper transport control device and the paper transport control method of the present invention, by individually detecting the remaining paper on a plurality of transport paths, the time required for the determination of the individual paper path without remaining paper can be shortened. It is possible to reliably execute the check of the remaining paper every time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a sheet transport path in a copying machine.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a sheet transport control device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating a remaining sheet discharging process in the sheet transport control device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating a remaining sheet discharging process in the sheet transport control device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 feed-out sensor 2 102 feed-out sensor 3 103 pre-register sensor 104 register sensor 105 duplex sensor 106 fuser-exit sensor 107 invert sensor 108 machine-exit sensor 109 invert-end sensor 201 drum motor 202 Main motor 203 Feed motors 1-4 4 Pre-registration motor 205 Duplex motor 206 Invert motor

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A paper transport control device for a copying or printing apparatus having a plurality of paper transport paths, wherein a plurality of transport path corresponding drive motors capable of independently driving each of the plurality of paper transport paths. And a control unit for performing drive control of the plurality of transport path corresponding drive motors, wherein the control unit is configured to control each of at least two or more sheet transport paths having a junction in the plurality of sheet transport paths. For each corresponding transport path corresponding drive motor, a control for sequentially starting the drive is performed with a time difference, and the time difference is assumed to remain on at least two or more paper transport paths having the merging point. The time interval is set so that a collision does not occur at the junction due to movement based on the drive of the drive motor corresponding to the transport path. Paper transport control device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The driving device according to claim 2, wherein the time difference is determined by a driving motor Ma which starts driving by the control means in advance among driving motors corresponding to at least two or more sheet conveying paths having the merging point. The maximum time required for discharging the residual paper assumed to be present in the paper transport path A where the paper can be transported is set to Ta1 or more.
The time: after the elapse of Ta1, a transport path corresponding drive motor M corresponding to another paper transport path B sharing the merging point
2. The sheet transport control device according to claim 1, wherein control for starting the driving of b is executed. 3. A paper detection sensor is provided in each of the plurality of paper transport paths, and the control means is assumed to remain in the paper transport path A when the drive motor Ma starts driving. Time until the paper detection by the paper detection sensor is performed by the normal conveyance of the remaining paper, if the paper detection is not performed within Ta2, the time difference is set to the time Ta2 or more, and the time difference of the drive motor Ma is set. Time T from driving start
After the elapse of a2, control is performed to drive the transport path corresponding drive motor Mb corresponding to the other paper transport path B sharing the merge point. If the paper detection by the paper detection sensor is performed within the time Ta2, The maximum time Ta1 required for discharging the remaining paper in the paper transport path A in which the paper can be transported by the drive motor Ma is set as the maximum time Ta1, and the time difference is set to the time Ta1 or more, and after a lapse of time Ta1 from the start of the drive of the drive motor Ma. 2. The sheet conveyance control device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveyance control device is configured to execute control for driving a conveyance path corresponding drive motor Mb corresponding to another sheet conveyance path B sharing the junction point. 3. 4. A paper transport control method in a copying or printing apparatus having a plurality of transport path corresponding drive motors capable of independently driving each paper transport path of a plurality of paper transport paths. It is assumed that the drive start timing of each transport path corresponding drive motor corresponding to each of the at least two or more paper transport paths having the junction remains on at least the two or more paper transport paths having the junction. A sheet conveyance control method, wherein a plurality of sheets are sequentially executed at a time interval that does not cause a collision at the merge point by a movement based on driving of the conveyance path corresponding drive motor. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the time difference is determined such that the sheet is conveyed by a driving motor Ma that starts driving first among driving motors corresponding to each of at least two or more sheet conveying paths having the merging point. The maximum time required for discharging the residual paper assumed to be present in the paper transport path A is set to Ta1 or more, and the time: Ta1 from the start of driving of the drive motor Ma.
After the passage, another paper transport path B sharing the merge point
5. The sheet transport control method according to claim 4, wherein the control for starting the drive of the transport path corresponding drive motor Mb corresponding to the step (c) is executed. 6. A sheet detection by a sheet detection sensor installed in the sheet transport path A by normal driving of the residual sheet assumed to remain in the sheet transport path A by the start of driving of the drive motor Ma. Time until the operation is performed: If the sheet is not detected within Ta2, the time difference is set to be equal to or longer than the time Ta2, and the merging point is shared after the elapse of the time Ta2 from the start of driving of the drive motor Ma. A control for driving the transport path corresponding drive motor Mb corresponding to the paper transport path B is executed, and if the paper detection is performed by the paper detection sensor within the time Ta2, the paper that can be transported by the drive motor Ma The time difference is set to be equal to or longer than the time Ta1, and the time difference is set to be equal to or greater than the time Ta1 required for discharging the residual sheet in the transport path A. Sheet conveyance control method according to claim 4, wherein the executing a control to drive the conveyance path corresponding driving motor Mb corresponding to another paper conveyance path B that share the merging point after a time Ta1 elapses from moving start.