JP2001302021A - Paper jam detecting device, paper jam detecting method, and image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper jam detecting device capable of preventing to be soiled or damaged by stopping recording operation speedy when paper jam is occurred. SOLUTION: This device is provided with an audio detecting means for detecting paper jam sound and converting the paper jam sound to an electronic signal, and an amplifying means for amplifying the electronic signal. The paper jam is detected by frequency components contained in the electronic signal amplified by the amplifying means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper jam detecting apparatus for detecting a paper jam in a recording medium conveying system in an image recording apparatus or the like for recording an image or the like on a recording medium while conveying the recording medium such as paper. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image recording apparatus which records an image or the like on a recording medium while conveying the recording medium such as paper has been widely used. Some image recording apparatuses form an image by receiving image data sent from another information processing terminal, and others have an image reading function installed in the same housing and are used as a so-called copy machine. .

In such an image recording apparatus, it is necessary to convey a recording medium when recording. In such a conveyance, a recording medium may be sent for horizontal scanning or vertical scanning, or a recording medium may be supplied or discharged in a recording process.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a recording medium conveyance system by belt conveyance. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 91 denotes a paper transport belt for transporting a recording medium, which is an endless belt. Reference numeral 921 denotes a driving roller driven by a motor (not shown), and reference numerals 922 and 923 denote driven rollers which rotate following the driving roller 921. The paper transport belt 91 is stretched over rollers 921, 922, and 923.

[0005] 93 is a paper feed tray, 94 is a paper discharge tray, 9
Reference numeral 5 denotes an ink jet recording head, and reference numeral 96 denotes a recording medium such as paper.

In FIG. 5, when the driving roller 921 is rotated counterclockwise by a motor (not shown), the paper transport belt 91 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

The paper transport belt 91 is provided with electrodes (not shown). The electrodes are configured to generate a strong electric field. Electricity is applied to only the portion of the paper transport belt 91 between the driving roller 921 and the driven roller 922 by a mechanism (not shown) for the electrodes. The other parts are not energized.

When electricity is supplied to the electrodes, a suction force is generated on the paper transport belt 91. The recording medium can be stably conveyed by the suction force.

The recording medium 96 is fed from a paper feed tray 93 in the direction of a paper transport belt 91. Then, the recording medium 96 is held and transported by the suction force of the paper transport belt 91. The transported recording medium 96 is fed to the paper transport belt 9.
By discharging ink from the recording head 95 at a timing synchronized with one rotation, an image is formed on the recording medium 96. The recording medium 96 on which recording has been completed is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 94.

[0010]

However, the conventional image recording apparatus has the following problems.
Although the above-mentioned transport system is designed to transport the recording medium stably, the recording medium with a special paper quality or a recording medium with a hole is transported, or the recording medium is jammed due to other causes. Occasionally, a paper jam occurs. If the recording operation is continued in such a state, the components of the transport system may be damaged. Further, since the recording operation is continued even though the recording medium is not properly conveyed, ink is ejected onto a paper conveyance belt having no recording medium, which causes stains, malfunctions, and failures. That is, the situation becomes very serious for the image recording apparatus, and it is necessary to quickly stop the recording operation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper jam detecting device that stops a recording operation promptly when a paper jam occurs, and does not contaminate the device or cause a failure.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a sound detecting means for detecting a paper jam sound and converting it into an electric signal, and an amplifying means for amplifying the electric signal, A paper jam is detected based on a frequency component included in the electric signal amplified by the amplification unit.

[0013] Further, a sound detecting means for detecting a paper jam sound and converting it into an electric signal, an amplifying means for amplifying the electric signal, and an A / D converter for A / D converting the electric signal amplified by the amplifying means into a digital signal. / D conversion means for detecting a paper jam based on a frequency component included in the A / D converted digital signal.

Also, a sound detecting means for detecting a paper jam sound and converting it into an electric signal, an amplifying means for amplifying the electric signal, and a filter for transmitting only a specific frequency component of the electric signal amplified by the amplifying means Means for detecting a paper jam based on the transmitted frequency component.

According to the above arrangement, it is possible to provide a paper jam detecting apparatus which stops a recording operation promptly when a paper jam occurs, thereby preventing the apparatus from being contaminated or broken.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a structural diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 11
Is a microphone serving as a voice detection means, and its output is connected to an amplifier (amplifier) 12. The output of the amplifier 12 is
The signal is input to the A / D converter 13. The output of the A / D converter 13 is input to a judgment circuit 14 as a judgment unit. Judgment circuit 1
4 informs the CPU 15 of the judgment result. A /
The D converter 13, the judgment circuit 14 and the CPU 15 form the judgment means 16.

The judgment circuit 14 and the motor drive circuit 17
It is controlled by the CPU 15 and operates based on a command from the CPU 15. The motor drive circuit 17 is connected to the transport motor 18. When a recording medium is conveyed to form an image, the CPU 15 issues an instruction to the motor drive circuit 17 to rotate the conveyance motor 18. The recording medium is conveyed by combining this with mechanical parts (not shown).

The CPU 15 is connected to a head drive circuit 19, and sends an instruction to the head drive circuit 19 to control the recording head 25.
Drive.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a recording medium conveyance system by belt conveyance according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a transport belt for transporting a recording medium, which is an endless belt. 221 is a drive roller driven by a motor (not shown), and 222 and 223 are driven rollers that rotate following the drive roller 221. The transport belt 21 is stretched over rollers 221, 222, and 223.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a paper feed tray; 24, a paper discharge tray;
Reference numeral 5 denotes an ink jet recording head, and reference numeral 26 denotes a recording medium such as paper. Further, a microphone 11 serving as a sound detecting means is installed near the recording medium transport path, and is connected to the amplifier 12 of FIG. 1 via a microphone signal line 27.

In FIG. 2, when the drive roller 221 is rotated counterclockwise by a motor (not shown), the paper transport belt 21 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Paper transport belt 21
Are provided with electrodes (not shown). The electrodes are configured to generate a strong electric field. The drive belt 22 of the paper transport belt 21 is driven by a mechanism (not shown) with respect to the electrodes.
1 and the driven belt 222 are energized only. The other parts are not energized. When the electrodes are energized, a suction force is generated on the conveyor belt 21. The recording medium can be stably conveyed by the suction force.

The recording medium 26 is fed from the paper feed tray 23 toward the paper transport belt 21. Then, the recording medium 26 is held and transported by the suction force of the transport belt 21.
An image is formed on the recording medium 26 by ejecting ink from the recording head 25 to the transported recording medium 26 at a timing synchronized with the rotation of the transport belt 21. The recording medium 26 on which recording has been completed is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 24.

Here, it is assumed that the recording medium 26 is jammed for some reason and a paper jam occurs. Then, even if the transport system is continuously driven, the jammed recording medium 26 is not transported smoothly. When the recording medium 26 is clogged, the transport system emits some sounds. The sound may be a rubbing sound of the recording media, a squeaking sound of a gear of the transport system, or a sound of the recording medium coming into contact with something. The first embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a sound generated when a recording medium is jammed is picked up by a microphone 11 and the sound is converted into an electric signal.

The sound when the recording medium is clogged by the microphone 11 is picked up and input to the amplifier 12 of FIG. 1 via the microphone signal line 27. The amplifier 12 amplifies the sound picked up by the microphone 11 to a voltage suitable for conversion by the A / D converter 13. This results in a practical voltage suitable for processing.

The electric signal which has become a practical voltage is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 13. If the analog signal remains unchanged, it is difficult to perform processing in a processing system including the CPU 15, and thus such conversion is performed. The data obtained by the A / D converter 13 is sent to the decision circuit 14.
There are various determination methods in the determination circuit 14, but here, the frequency component is calculated based on digital data.

Various paper jam experiments were carried out in advance, and the sound generated at the time of paper jam was measured by the microphone 11.
And obtains data via the amplifier 12 and the A / D converter 13 and performs an arithmetic analysis on how much amplitude intensity is present for each frequency component. When the calculation analysis is completed, the analysis data is stored in advance in a storage unit (not shown) of the determination circuit 14 as paper jam reference data. Among them, the frequency component having particularly large amplitude intensity is stored in the determination circuit 14 as the characteristic frequency at the time of paper jam.

In the actual paper jam detection, the microphone 11 picks up the paper jam sound, amplifies it with the amplifier 12, and outputs the A / D converter 1.
For the signal converted in step 3, the CPU 15
And the decision circuit 14 polls the signal at regular intervals. At the time of the polling, the decision circuit 14 samples some output signals from the A / D converter 13 at a fixed timing rate. By taking this sampling data, the amplitude intensity for each frequency component is calculated and analyzed.

The analysis data is compared with the paper jam reference data for the paper jam characteristic frequency. When it is determined by this comparison that the analysis data and the paper jam reference data are the same or approximate in most frequency components, the determination circuit 14 determines that the state at that time is a paper jam state.

When it is determined that a paper jam has occurred, the determination circuit 14 generates an interrupt to the CPU 15. As a result, the paper jam is detected from the viewpoint of the CPU 15.

When a paper jam is detected by the above operation,
The CPU 15 instructs the motor drive circuit 17 to stop the motor, and stops the transport motor 18. Further, the CPU 15 issues an instruction to stop the ink ejection to the head drive circuit 19, and stops the ink ejection of the recording head 25. As described above, the transport operation of the recording medium,
The ink discharge of the recording head is stopped, and the recording operation is stopped.

According to the above-described configuration, it is possible to provide a paper jam detecting device that stops a recording operation promptly when a paper jam occurs and does not contaminate the apparatus or break down.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a structural diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, 11
Is a microphone which is a voice detecting means, and its output is an amplifier 1
2 is connected. The output of the amplifier 12 is input to the analog filter 43. The output of the analog filter 43 is input to the comparison circuit 44. The comparison circuit 44 is a CPU
15 is informed of the comparison result. The analog filter 43, the comparison circuit 44, and the CPU 15 form a determination unit 46.
To form

The comparison circuit 44 and the motor drive circuit 17
It is controlled by the CPU 15 and operates based on a command from the CPU 15. The motor drive circuit 17 is connected to the transport motor 18. When a recording medium is conveyed to form an image, the CPU 15 issues an instruction to the motor drive circuit 17 to rotate the conveyance motor 18. The recording medium is conveyed by combining this with mechanical parts (not shown).

The CPU 15 is connected to a head drive circuit 19, and sends an instruction to the head drive circuit 19 to control the recording head 25.
Drive.

In FIG. 2, the sound when the recording medium is clogged by the microphone 11 is picked up and input to the amplifier 12 via the microphone signal line 27. In the amplifier 12, the microphone 1
The sound picked up in step 1 is amplified to a voltage suitable for use in the subsequent steps. This results in a practical voltage suitable for processing.

From the electric signal which has become a practical voltage, only an analog signal of a specific frequency band is selected by the analog filter 43. The signal filtered by the analog filter 43 is sent to a comparison circuit 44. As a method of determination in the comparison circuit 44, a configuration is employed in which a digital signal is output when a threshold value described below is exceeded using a comparator or the like.

Various paper jam experiments were conducted in advance, and the sound generated when paper jam occurred was measured by the microphone 11.
By analyzing the signal at the time of paper jam and acquiring the data of the signal through the amplifier 12 and acquiring the data of the frequency spectrum with respect to the frequency by a measuring device (not shown), the amplitude of the paper jam is analyzed. I do. As a result of the analysis, a frequency component having particularly large amplitude intensity can be recognized, and the frequency component is set as a characteristic frequency at the time of paper jam. Then, the analog filter 43 is configured by selecting a parameter (electric constant) that allows an analog signal of only a frequency that matches the paper jam characteristic frequency to pass. As a result, the analog filter 43 becomes a band-pass filter that allows only the electric signal relating to the characteristic frequency during paper jam.

Further, the amplifier 1 for the set characteristic frequency at the time of paper jam related to the sound generated at the time of paper jam.
2 recognizes the amplitude intensity of the output data and outputs a voltage substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the voltage related to the amplitude intensity to the comparison circuit 4.
4 is a reference voltage of the comparator according to FIG.

FIG. 4 shows a setting method of the comparator. A comparator is set by dividing a certain power supply Vcc by the resistors R1 and R2 and generating a voltage substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the voltage related to the amplitude intensity.

In the actual paper jam detection, the microphone 11 picks up the paper jam sound, amplifies it with the amplifier 12, and inputs the signal that has passed through the analog filter 43 to the comparator relating to the comparison circuit 44. The comparator returns logic when the signal passing through the analog filter 43 exceeds the reference voltage. This logic is monitored by the CPU 15, and if the logic continues for a certain period of time, it can be determined that a paper jam has occurred. As a result, the paper jam is detected from the viewpoint of the CPU 15. Note that at some paper jam characteristic frequencies,
By performing this operation, the accuracy of paper jam detection can be further increased.

When a paper jam is detected by the above operation,
The CPU 15 instructs the motor drive circuit 17 to stop the motor, and stops the transport motor 18. Further, the CPU 15 issues an instruction to stop the ink ejection to the head drive circuit 19, and stops the ink ejection of the recording head 25. As described above, the transport operation of the recording medium,
The ink discharge of the recording head is stopped, and the recording operation is stopped.

According to the above-described configuration, it is possible to provide a paper jam detecting device that stops a recording operation promptly when a paper jam occurs, thereby preventing the device from being contaminated or malfunctioning.

<Others> It should be noted that the present invention includes a means (for example, an electrothermal converter, a laser beam, or the like) for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink, particularly in an ink jet recording system. An excellent effect is obtained in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a type in which the state of ink is changed by the thermal energy. This is because according to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical structure and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
Although it can be applied to any of the continuous type, particularly, in the case of the on-demand type, the electric heat disposed corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path holding the liquid (ink or processing liquid) is used. By applying to the transducer at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the nucleate boiling, the electrothermal transducer generates heat energy and is applied to the heat acting surface of the recording head. This is effective because film boiling can be caused, and as a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink or processing liquid) corresponding to this drive signal one-to-one can be formed. A liquid (ink or processing liquid) is ejected through an ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubbles are immediately and appropriately performed, and therefore, the ejection of a liquid (ink or processing liquid) having particularly excellent responsiveness is more preferable. Examples of the drive signal in the form of a pulse include those described in U.S. Pat.
Suitable are those described in US Pat. No. 45,262. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electrothermal converter (linear liquid flow path or right-angle liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,558,333 and 44,596 which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
The configuration using the specification of No. 00 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure liquid of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration is based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge unit. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium on which a recording apparatus can record. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or a configuration as one integrally formed recording head.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as described above, a recording head fixed to the apparatus main body or an electric connection with the apparatus main body or ink from the apparatus main body by being attached to the apparatus main body. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself is used.

Further, it is preferable to add ejection recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like as the configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. To be specific, these are pre-heating by using a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressurizing or suctioning unit, an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof for the recording head. Means and preliminary ejection means for performing ejection other than recording.

The type and number of recording heads to be mounted are, for example, different from those provided with only one corresponding to a single color ink, and those corresponding to a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. A plurality may be provided. That is, for example, the printing mode of the printing apparatus is not limited to a printing mode of only a mainstream color such as black, but may be any of integrally forming a printing head or a combination of a plurality of printing heads. The present invention is also very effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of the full-color recording modes using mixed colors.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid.
An ink that solidifies at room temperature or below and softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used, or the ink jet method controls the viscosity of the ink by adjusting the temperature of the ink itself within the range of 30 ° C to 70 ° C. Is generally controlled so as to be within the stable ejection range, so that the ink may be in a liquid state when the use recording signal is applied. In addition, in order to positively prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or to prevent evaporation of the ink, the ink is solidified in a standing state and heated. May be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by the application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start to solidify when reaching the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, the ink is disclosed in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60
As described in JP-A-71260, a configuration may be adopted in which a liquid or solid substance is held in a concave portion or through hole of a porous sheet and opposed to an electrothermal converter. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

Further, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the one used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function. It may take a form.

[0053]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention constructed as described above, the sound detecting means for detecting the paper jam sound and converting it into an electric signal, and the amplifying means for amplifying the electric signal. The paper jam is detected by the frequency component included in the electric signal amplified by the amplifying means, so that when the paper jam occurs, the recording operation is quickly stopped to contaminate the apparatus or cause a malfunction. It is possible to provide a paper jam detection device that does not need to be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a transport system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a setting method of a comparator according to the second embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional transport system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Microphone 12 Amplifier 13 A / D converter 14 Judgment circuit 15 CPU 16 Judgment means 17 Motor drive circuit 18 Convey motor 19 Head drive circuit 20 Recording head 21 Conveyor belt 221 Drive roller 222, 223 Follower roller 23 Paper tray 24 Paper discharge Tray 25 Recording head 26 Recording medium 27 Microphone signal line 43 Analog filter 44 Comparison circuit

Claims (8)

[Claims] An amplifying means for amplifying the electric signal, wherein the detecting means detects a paper jam sound and converts the sound into an electric signal; and a frequency component included in the electric signal amplified by the amplifying means. A paper jam detection device for detecting a paper jam. 2. A sound detecting means for detecting a paper jam sound and converting the same into an electric signal; an amplifying means for amplifying the electric signal; and an A / D converter for converting the electric signal amplified by the amplifying means into a digital signal. And a D / D conversion unit, wherein the paper jam detection device detects a paper jam based on a frequency component included in the A / D converted digital signal. 3. A sound detecting means for detecting a paper jam sound and converting it into an electric signal; an amplifying means for amplifying the electric signal; and a filter for transmitting only a specific frequency component of the electric signal amplified by the amplifying means. And a means for detecting a paper jam based on the transmitted frequency component. 4. A sound detecting step of detecting a paper jam sound and converting the same into an electric signal, and an amplifying step of amplifying the electric signal, wherein a frequency component included in the electric signal amplified by the amplifying step includes: A paper jam detection method for detecting a paper jam. 5. An image recording apparatus for performing recording on a recording medium by a recording unit, comprising a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium, wherein the paper jam detecting device according to claim 1. When the paper jam is detected, the conveyance of the recording medium and the recording operation of the recording unit are stopped. 6. An image recording apparatus for performing recording on a recording medium by a recording unit, comprising: a conveying unit configured to convey the recording medium, wherein when a paper jam is detected by the paper jam detection method according to claim 4, An image recording apparatus, wherein the conveyance of the recording medium and the recording operation of the recording unit are stopped. 7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recording unit includes an ink jet recording head that records an image by discharging ink. 8. The image recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the ink jet recording head records the image using ink droplets formed by thermal energy.