JP2000327176A - Sheet material feeding device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet material feeding device capable of judging whether printing can be performed to the end when stating printing by previously and accurately measuring the sheet material remaining amount, and an image forming device having the sheet material feeding device. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a thickness detecting means for detecting the thickness of one sheet material according to the detected result of a remaining amount height detecting means and a feeding number detecting means, a remaining amount detecting means for detecting the number of remaining sheet materials on a cassette 2 (a loading part) according to the detected result of the remaining amount height detecting means and the thickness detecting means, and a control means for controlling the lift-up amount (the moving amount of the loading part) by a lift-up motor 11 (a moving means) according to the remaining amount of the sheet materials on the cassette 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, etc., and more particularly to a sheet feeding apparatus for accurately detecting the remaining amount of a sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a sheet material feeding device provided in an image forming apparatus, the detection of the remaining amount of the sheet material is performed by 100
%, 75%, 50%, 25%, and 0%.

[0003]

However, in the case of the above-described prior art, the remaining amount of the sheet material is displayed as 25% even when the number of remaining sheets becomes about several. At the time when the printing process is started, the operator cannot recognize whether or not sufficient sheet material remains for the printing process.

[0004] Therefore, after the printing process is started, there is a case where the sheet material runs out and the sheet material needs to be replenished. Therefore, there is a problem that the operation becomes complicated.

When the lift-up amount is large,
There is a problem that the prediction accuracy of the remaining number of sheet materials is greatly reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. It is an object of the present invention to accurately measure the remaining amount of a sheet material in advance and to start the printing process at the time of starting the printing process. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet material feeding device capable of determining whether or not the printing process can be executed to the end, and an image forming apparatus provided with the sheet material feeding device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a loading means having a loading portion on which a sheet material is loaded, and a sheet material on the loading portion is transported to a transport path. Feeding means for feeding, remaining height detecting means for detecting the height of the remaining amount of sheet material on the placement section, and sheet material on the placement section capable of being fed by the feeding means Moving means for moving the mounting portion to take a proper position, and a feeding number detecting means for detecting the number of sheets fed by the feeding means, the sheet material feeding device, According to the detection result of the remaining height detecting means and the number of fed sheets detecting means,
Thickness detecting means for detecting the thickness per sheet of the sheet material, and detecting the remaining number of sheet materials on the placing portion according to the detection results of the remaining height detecting means and the thickness detecting means. It is characterized by comprising a remaining number of sheets detecting means, and a moving amount control means for controlling a moving amount of the placing section by the moving means according to a remaining amount of the sheet material on the placing section.

It is also preferable that the movement amount control means controls the movement amount of the placement unit by the movement means to decrease as the remaining amount of the sheet material on the placement unit decreases. .

[0009] Further, there is provided a setting means for setting the actual remaining amount when the remaining amount detecting means detects that there is no remaining amount of sheet material on the placing portion as the detection accuracy, and setting the detection accuracy as an expected value. It is also preferable that the movement amount control means performs control such that the smaller the detection accuracy set by the setting means, the smaller the movement amount of the placement unit by the movement means.

[0010] Also, the number of times of movement that can be detected by the moving means until the sheet material runs out is detected based on the detection result of the remaining height detecting means and the amount of movement of the placement unit by the moving means. Means, the movement amount control means comprising: a number of sheets having a detection accuracy set by the setting means; a number of times of movement detected by the number of times of movement detection means; The amount of movement of the placement unit is controlled such that the relationship with the number of sheet materials is such that (the number of sheet materials based on one movement amount of the placement unit) ≦ (the number of detection accuracy) × (the number of times of movement). It is also suitable.

The apparatus further comprises instruction means for instructing the feeding of the sheet material, and feeding control means for controlling the feeding means, wherein the feeding control means determines the number of sheets fed by the instruction means. The remaining number of sheets on the placement unit detected by the remaining number detecting unit is compared, and if the instructed number of sheets is larger than the remaining number of sheets, the sheet is not fed. It is also preferable to perform such control.

It is also preferable that the feeding control means includes a display means for displaying an insufficient number of remaining sheets when the feeding control means controls not to feed the sheet material.

An image forming apparatus is provided with the sheet material feeding device described above, and image forming means for forming an image on a sheet material conveyed by the sheet material feeding device.

[0014] It is also preferred that the apparatus further comprises an operation panel provided on the main body of the apparatus, wherein the setting means and information display means for displaying information relating to the remaining amount of sheet material in the sheet material feeding apparatus are provided.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment should be appropriately changed depending on the configuration of the apparatus to which the invention is applied and various conditions. It is not intended to limit the scope to the following embodiments.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a drawing that best illustrates the features of the present invention.

1 is an image forming apparatus main body, 2 is a cassette as stacking means for stacking and holding a sheet material on a mounting portion, 3 is a sheet material, and 4 is a pickup roller as a feeding means for ejecting the sheet material. 5, a paper surface sensor as a remaining height detecting means for detecting the height of the stacked sheet material 3;
Reference numeral 6 denotes a lift-up shaft as moving means for increasing the feeding angle, and 12, 13, 14, and 15 denote remaining height detecting means for detecting a lift-up amount which is a moving amount of the sheet material placing portion. , A reference numeral 8 denotes an image forming means for executing image formation, 9 denotes a fixing device, and 10 denotes a control board. Reference numeral 11 denotes a lift-up motor as a moving means.

In the above configuration, the lift-up motor 1
When the sheet material 3 is driven, the lift-up shaft 6 rotates.
Rises in height. The lift-up amount can be read by the values of the lift-up sensors 12, 13, 14, and 15. When the sheet material 3 rises and reaches a height at which the sheet can be fed, the paper surface sensor 5 is turned on.

Sheet material 3 raised to a height at which it can be fed
Is kicked out by the pickup roller 4 and sent to the image forming means 8.

FIG. 2 shows lift-up sensors 12, 13,
FIG.

By lifting up, the lift-up sensors 12, 13, 14, and 15 change sequentially.

The relationship between the CPU 21 and the input / output elements will be described with reference to FIG.

A print command is transmitted to the CPU 21 from an instruction means (not shown) or an external print processing device through communication.
23 is an interface unit for the signal. CPU
The paper surface sensor 5 and the lift-up sensor 12 are connected to the input port 21. A pickup roller driver 24 and a lift-up motor driver 25 are connected to the output port.

The CPU 21 (remaining height detecting means)
, The lift-up amount is read using 4-bit data of I3. The CPU 21 determines the sheet material 3 based on the I4 data.
Is determined to be at a feedable height. CPU 21
Controls the pickup roller by turning ON / OFF 01. Further, the lift-up motor is controlled by turning ON / OFF 02 (movement amount control means).

FIG. 4 illustrates the initialization operation of the CPU.

(S1) Start. When the power is turned on, first, a sensor (paper surface sensor) 5 is read to adjust the height of the sheet material 3 (S2), and 02 is turned on and lifted up until the sensor 5 is turned on. (S3, S4)

(S5) I0 to I3 are read and the current lift-up amount is stored in Lift-St as an initial value. (S
6) Initialize the feeding number count PickNO to 0. (S
7) The variable keisoku of the measurement section of the thickness of the sheet material 3 (the number of times of measurement and the number of times of movement) is initialized to zero.

(S8) Data of thickness of sheet material 3
Initialize Lift-Page to 0 over all measurement sections.

The remaining lift-up amount at the current lift-up amount, the lift-up amount at the point where the paper runs out, and the thickness data of the sheet material 3 (the previous value, the average value, or the set value set by the type of sheet material) may be used. Is calculated (movable number detecting means).

The lift-up amount is adjusted by adjusting the ON time of the lift-up motor 11 according to the number of sheets (the number of sheets that can be fed) calculated according to the following equation (S9), whereby the CPU 21 (movement amount control means). Is controlled by

(Number of sheets according to the amount of one movement of the mounting portion) ≦ (Number of detection accuracy) × (Number of times of movement)

(S10) The initialization ends here.

Here, the CPU 21 (remaining number detecting means)
Is used as the detection accuracy, and the number of remaining sheets is set to be detected as being out of paper. The accuracy of the detection of the remaining number of sheet materials may be represented by, for example, 10 steps, 1 being accurate and 10 not being concerned with accuracy.

Further, the number of detection accuracy sheets may be set in the apparatus main body, or may be set by an operator from an operation panel. FIG. 6 shows a connection diagram in that case.

FIG. 5 shows a printing process and a method of calculating the remaining number of sheets.

(S11) Start.

(S12) The image forming apparatus main body waits for a print command from the operation panel or an external device. When a print command is received, a print process is executed. (S13) Number of sheets fed (Pi
ckNO) is incremented (S14), and the height adjustment of the sheet material 3 is executed again.

If Senser 5 is OFF, (S
Turn ON 02 only for the lift-up time calculated in 9).
(S16) The value of the lifter in this state is stored in Lift-Now. (S18)

When there is a change in the data of I0 to I3 (S19), the thickness of the sheet material 3 is measured. Increment keisoku for that. (S20)

(Sheet material thickness) = (lift-up distance)
/ (Feed number), it is obtained by the following formula by the CPU 21 (thickness detecting means). (S21) Lift-Page [keisoku] = ((Lift-Now)-(Lift-St)) / (Pick
NO)

A variable is reset for measuring the thickness of the next sheet material 3. The value of Lift-Now is stored in Lift-St (S22). PickNO is initialized to 0 (S23).

If the number of measurements exceeds two (S2
4) Take the average thickness of the sheet material 3.

(Average sheet material thickness) = Σ (sheet material thickness) / (measurement count), which is obtained by the following equation. (S
25) Lift-Page-Ave = (ΣLift-Page [I]) / (keisoku)

If the lift-up position at the point where the sheet material 3 is lost is set to Lift-STOP, the remaining number of sheet materials 3 can be calculated by the CPU 21 (remaining number detecting means).
(S26) Remain = ((Lift-STOP)-(Lift-Now)) / (Lift-Page-Av
e)

The number of sheets remaining in the sheet material 3 is notified to an external device or displayed on the operation panel by information display means, and the process returns to the reception of a print command. (S27)

According to this embodiment, when the remaining amount of the sheet material is large, the lift-up amount is increased, and the lift-up amount is reduced as the remaining amount decreases, so that the lift-up amount can be efficiently controlled. . When the remaining amount is small, the moving amount does not increase, and the remaining number of sheets can be accurately detected.

(Embodiment 2) In the second embodiment, the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment is provided with a feeding control means, and has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment. The same reference numerals are given to the parts, and the description thereof will be omitted.

At the time when the printing process is started, the CPU
21 (feed control means) compares the number of sheets required for the printing process instructed by the instructing means with the detected number of remaining sheets 3.

If the remaining number of sheets 3 is not enough, the printing process is stopped, and the operator is prompted to replenish the sheet 3, change the feeding port, and adjust the size of the sheet 3 on the operation panel. A display requesting an operation such as a change is performed. Further, a display indicating the shortage of the remaining number of sheets may be displayed by the display means of the sheet material feeding device.

As described above, since the remaining amount of the sheet material 3 can be detected when the operator starts printing, complicated operations such as replenishment of the sheet material 3 during printing can be eliminated.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to accurately detect the remaining number of sheets loaded on the stacking means by the remaining number detecting means.

Further, by controlling the amount of movement of the mounting portion by the moving means in accordance with the remaining amount of sheet material on the mounting portion,
When the remaining amount of the sheet material is large, the moving amount is increased, and as the remaining amount decreases, the moving amount is reduced.Therefore, when the remaining amount is small, the moving amount does not increase, and the number of remaining sheet materials is reduced. Accurate detection is possible.

Further, since the remaining amount of the sheet material can be detected when the operator starts printing, complicated operations such as replenishment of the sheet material during printing can be eliminated, and the sheet material feeding excellent in operability can be achieved. An apparatus and an image forming apparatus can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lift-up sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a CPU according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
Connection diagram.

FIG. 4 is an initialization flowchart according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a printing operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a CPU according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Connection diagram.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Cassette 3 Sheet material 4 Pickup roller 5 Paper sensor 6 Lift-up shaft 8 Image forming means 9 Fixing device 10 Control board 12, 13, 14, 15 Lift-up sensor 21 CPU 23 Interface unit 24 Driver for pickup roller 25 Lift-up motor driver

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A loading means having a loading portion on which a sheet material is loaded, a feeding means for feeding the sheet material on the loading portion to a transport path, and a remaining sheet material on the loading portion. A remaining height detecting means for detecting the height of the amount, a moving means for moving the mounting portion so that the sheet material on the mounting portion can be fed by the feeding means, A sheet number feeding unit including a sheet number detection unit that detects the number of sheet materials fed by the sheet feeding unit. A thickness detecting means for detecting a thickness per sheet of the sheet material, and a remaining number of sheet materials on the placing portion according to the detection results of the remaining height detecting means and the thickness detecting means. Means for detecting the number of remaining sheets to be detected; Sheet feeding device characterized by and a moving amount control means for controlling the amount of movement of the placing section by. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving amount control unit controls the moving amount of the placing unit by the moving unit to decrease as the remaining amount of the sheet material on the placing unit decreases. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1. 3. A setting means for setting an actual remaining amount as detection accuracy when the remaining number detecting means detects that there is no remaining amount of sheet material on the placing portion, and setting the detection accuracy as an expected value. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving amount control unit controls the moving amount of the placing unit by the moving unit to be smaller as the detection accuracy set by the setting unit is smaller. The sheet material feeding device according to the above. 4. A number-of-movable-times detection for detecting the number of times the moving means can move until the sheet material runs out based on a detection result of the remaining height detecting means and a moving amount of the placement unit by the moving means. The movement amount control means is based on the number of detections set by the setting means, the number of times of movement detected by the number of possible movements detection means, and the amount of one movement of the mounting section. The moving amount of the placing unit is controlled such that the relationship with the number of sheet materials is as follows: (the number of sheet materials based on one moving amount of the placing unit) ≦ (the number of detection accuracy) × (the number of movable times). The sheet feeding device according to claim 3, wherein: 5. Instructing means for instructing sheet material feeding,
A feeding control unit configured to control the feeding unit, wherein the feeding control unit detects the number of sheets fed by the instruction unit and the sheet on the mounting unit detected by the remaining number detection unit; 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: comparing the remaining number of sheets, and if the instructed number of sheets to be fed is larger than the remaining number of sheets, controlling not to feed the sheet material. A sheet material feeding device according to item 1. 6. A sheet material feeding apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a display means for displaying an insufficient number of remaining sheets when the feeding control means controls not to feed the sheet material. Feeder. 7. A sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet fed by the sheet feeding apparatus. Image forming apparatus. 8. An operation panel provided on an apparatus main body,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: an information display unit configured to display information regarding a remaining amount of the sheet material in the sheet material feeding device.