JP2002052769A - Method and apparatus for transferring sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and an apparatus for transferring sheets whereby the presence/absence of sheets on a sheet transfer path and/or clogging sheets is checked by checking an operation state of each driving means set to the sheet transfer path, sheets remaining on the sheet transfer path are automatically discharged, and sheets to be processed are smoothly transferred. SOLUTION: In a sheet transfer path method provided with a transfer means for sequentially transferring sheets to a preliminarily set predetermined place, one or more driving means for driving the transfer means, and a detecting means set to an appropriate point of the transfer means, the method includes a step (a) in which the driving means is stopped and sheets remaining on the transfer means are detected by the detecting means, and a step (b) in which the sheets remaining on the transfer means are transferred to one or more sheet catch means set to appropriate places of the transfer means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet conveying method and a sheet conveying apparatus, and more particularly to a method for checking the presence or absence of a sheet remaining on a sheet conveying path and / or a jammed sheet, and checking the presence or absence of a sheet remaining on the sheet conveying path. The purpose of the present invention is to automatically process processed sheets and to convey the sheets to be processed smoothly.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The needs of operators or users are diversifying. To give some specific examples, one is to reduce the size of the entire apparatus and make the apparatus compact. One is to increase the speed of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer in order to increase the amount of sheet processing. As a result of meeting these needs, in the former, the density inside the apparatus tends to increase, and in the latter, it is necessary to sequentially transport a set number of sheets to the apparatus within a certain time.

[0003]

In addition to the above needs, there is a need for an image forming apparatus for copying or recording an image on both sides of a sheet. Such an apparatus conveys several hundreds or more sheets at a high speed of 500 mm / sec or more within a certain time so as to sequentially pass through one or more image forming units. In addition, the sheet conveying device used in this image forming apparatus has a complicated structure, the conveying path is divided into several paths, and the conveying path is relatively long. When a sheet is jammed in the above-described apparatus, the sheet remains in the conveyance path, and it is difficult to specify the location. In addition, it takes time to remove the jammed sheet by hand. Furthermore, after this operation, it is difficult to reliably check whether there is a sheet remaining in the transport path.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and detects a sheet remaining on a sheet conveying path by a detecting means provided in the sheet conveying path, and automatically detects the sheet. It is an object of the present invention to convey to a position where a user can easily take it. Further, in addition to this, by detecting the normal operation of each drive unit provided with the sheet conveying path, it is checked whether there is a sheet on the sheet conveying path and / or a jammed sheet, and the processing should be performed smoothly. It is an object to provide a sheet conveying method and a sheet conveying apparatus for conveying a sheet.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, a conveying means for sequentially conveying a sheet to a predetermined place, a driving means having one or more and driving the conveying means, (A) stopping the driving means, and detecting the sheet remaining on the conveying means by the detecting means, (b) in the sheet conveying path method, comprising: a detecting means provided at an appropriate position of the conveying means. And transporting the sheet remaining on the transport path to a take-out unit provided at an appropriate location of the transport unit and having at least one sheet.

[0006] Conveying means having at least one path, for sequentially conveying the sheet to a predetermined location,
In a sheet conveying path method having at least one or more driving means for driving the conveying means, and detecting means provided at an appropriate position of the conveying means, (a) operating the driving means, Detecting the operation state of each driving means, (b) monitoring the detection of the detection means by the judgment means, and judging the operation state of each transport means based on the result; Stopping, detecting the sheet remaining on the conveying means by the detecting means, and (d) transferring the sheet remaining on the conveying path to an unloading section provided at an appropriate place of the conveying means having at least one sheet. Transporting.

A conveying means having at least one path and sequentially conveying the sheet to a predetermined place, a driving means having at least one driving means for driving the conveying means, In a sheet conveying path method having detection means provided at appropriate places, (a) actuating the driving means, detecting the operating state of each driving means by the detection means, and (b) detecting by the determining means Monitoring the detection of the means and determining the operation state of each conveying means based on the result; (c) stopping the driving means and detecting the sheet remaining on the conveying means by the detecting means; (D) actuating the driving means to convey the sheet remaining on the conveyance path to a take-out section having at least one sheet and provided at an appropriate place of the conveyance means; and (e) conveying the sheet to the take-out section. During the detection hand And (f) monitoring the detection of the detecting means by the determining means and determining the operating state of each transport means based on the result. Features.

The conveying means includes a paper feeding unit having one or more paper feeding devices for supplying sheets, a main body having one or more image forming units, and discharging sheets processed by the image forming units. And a discharging unit having at least one discharging unit, wherein the steps (a) to (d) are performed in the order of the discharging unit, the main unit, and the paper feeding unit.

In a sheet conveying apparatus having one or more paths and conveying means for sequentially conveying a sheet to a predetermined place, a sheet extracting means provided at an appropriate position of the conveying means is provided. , A driving unit for driving the conveying unit, a detecting unit provided at an appropriate position of the conveying unit and detecting a sheet remaining on the conveying unit, and monitoring each detecting unit to detect the detection. And determining means for driving the sheet remaining on the conveying means to the sheet take-out means by the driving means based on the result.

[0010] It is characterized by comprising detecting means for detecting the operating state of the driving means, wherein the judging means monitors the detecting means and judges the operating state of each transport means based on the detection result. Specifically, the conveying unit includes a sheet feeding unit having one or more sheet feeding devices and supplying a sheet, a main unit including one or more image forming units, and a sheet processed by the image forming unit. It has a discharge part which has one or more which discharges. Further, the image forming section is constituted by an electrophotographic method having a developing section, a transfer section and a fixing section. Also,
A sheet extracting means is provided between the developing unit and the fixing unit.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are schematic diagrams of an image forming apparatus to which the sheet conveying device of the present invention is applied. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a paper feed unit 200, a main body 300, and a discharge unit 400.

A paper feeding unit 200 includes a stacker 210 on which sheets are stacked, and a conveyor belt including a suction unit for picking up one of the uppermost sheets from the stacker 210.
(Not shown). The sheet is conveyed to the main body 300 sequentially by rotating the conveyance belt once by a pickup clutch (not shown). One or more stackers 210 are provided. In each stacker 210, a sheet cut to a desired size is stacked. Note that sheets of the same size may be stacked on each stacker 210. In this embodiment, the sheet is separated by the suction means, but may be separated by a friction method such as a scraper method.

The main unit 300 includes two or more image forming units 310.
(311 and 312). The image forming unit 310 (311,
312) includes a developing unit 340 (341, 342), a transfer unit 350 (351, 352), and a fixing unit 320 (321, 312).
22). In this embodiment, in order to copy or record an image on both sides of a sheet, an image forming unit 31 is used.
0 (311, 312) has two. Image forming unit 310 (3
11, 312) output an electrostatic latent image read by a reading device such as a scanner or the like and processed by appropriate image processing by an LED or the like, and an image carrier 330 according to the image data.
(331, 332), an exposure section (not shown) for forming an electrostatic latent image, an image carrier 330 (331, 332) on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by the exposure section, and an electrostatic latent image. The developing unit 340 (341, 342) for developing and the developing unit 340 (34)
1, 342), the image carrier 330 (331, 332).
A transfer unit 350 (351, 352) that develops a toner image on the surface and transfers the toner image to a sheet, a cleaning device (not shown) such as a blade that removes residual toner after transfer, and an image carrier 330 ( 331, 332) for removing charges from the surface.

In this embodiment, the developing method of the image forming section 310 (311, 312) of the image forming apparatus is disclosed as being applied to a one-component or two-component developing method. The present invention can also be applied to a magnetic one-component developing method. Further, the image forming unit 310 (311,
312) discloses an electrophotographic system, but may be applied to a configuration of an ink jet system and a thermal system. Furthermore, the transfer unit 350 (351, 352) is of a belt type, but may be of a roller type or a corona type.

The fixing section 320 (321, 322) fixes the toner image to the sheet after the toner image is transferred to the sheet in the image forming section 310 (311, 312). The sheet on which the toner image has been fixed is conveyed to the discharge unit 400. The discharging unit 400 includes a fixing unit 320
(321, 322) have a plurality of discharge trays 410 (411, 412) for stacking the sheets.

Further, a conveying means 500 is provided for sequentially conveying the sheet to the sheet feeding section 200, the main body section 300, and the discharge section 400. The transport unit 500 is divided into several transport paths. Specifically, it is as follows.
The paper feed unit 200 extends from each stacker 210 and is
It is divided into a first transport section P1 that joins before the path of 00.
The main body unit 300 includes a second conveyance unit P2 between a start point of a path of the main body unit 300 and immediately before the first fixing unit 321 and a second conveyance unit P2 immediately after the first fixing unit 321 and immediately before the second fixing unit 322. And a fourth conveying unit P4 between immediately after the second fixing unit 322 and the end point of the path of the main body unit 300. The discharge unit 400 is divided into a fifth transport unit P5 having a branch and a junction.

The transport means 500 of each section is provided with a transport means 600. In this embodiment, the conveying means 600 is a motor, specifically a DC motor, and the conveying means 600 on the path 510 of the sheet feeding section is replaced with the conveying means 6 on the path 520 of the sheet feeding section and the conveying section 6 on the path 520 of the main body.
00 is the main motor unit 620, and the conveying unit 600 on the path 530 of the discharge unit is the discharge motor unit 630. in addition,
The main body motor section 620 requires two transporting means 600 to copy or record an image on both sides of a sheet, and requires a first main body motor section 621 and a second main body motor section 622.
Divided into

The transporting means 600 includes a detecting means 700 (7
10, 720 (721, 722), 730) are provided. Detecting means 700 (710, 720 (721, 7
22) and 730) detect the number of rotations of the motor by the encoder. Examples of sensors used for the encoder include a micro switch, a photo interrupter, and a reflection type sensor.

The first transport section P1 to the fifth transport section P5
Are provided at appropriate places in the detection means 800 (810, 820, 8).
30) is provided. This detecting means 800 (81
0, 820, 830) are for detecting whether or not sheets remain on the path from the first transport section P1 to the fifth transport section P5, and are microswitches, photo-interrupters or reflection sensors. Detecting means 700 (71
0, 720 (721, 722), and 730) are connected to the determination means 900 described later.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 11, the locations where the detecting means 800 (810, 820, 830) are provided are as follows. First transport unit P1
Are before (810a, 810b, 810c) the transport path of each stacker 210 joins the common transport path, and after 810
d. The second transport unit P2 includes the main body unit 300
820 from the start point of the path to before the first image forming unit 311
a and 820 h between the rear of the first image forming unit 311 and the front of the first fixing unit 321. Third transport unit P3
Are the front 820b and the rear 820e of the curved transport path,
It is provided 820 j before the second image forming unit 312 and 820 k between the rear of the second image forming unit 312 and the front of the second fixing unit 322. The fourth transport unit P4 includes 820c from the second fixing unit 322 to the front of the curved transport path, 820f behind the curved transport path, and front of the curved transport path toward the fifth transport unit P5. 820i, 820d and rear 820g. Finally, the fifth transport unit P5 is provided with the discharge unit 400
830a before the conveyance path branches from the start point of the path of
Each of the branched transport paths (830b, 830c, 830g, 8
30h), 830d after the respective conveyance paths have joined, and between the discharge unit 400 and the discharge tray 410 (411, 412).
20e and 820f. Detecting means 800
(810, 820, 830) are also detected by the detecting means 700 (71
0, 720, and 730), as will be described later.
00 is connected. In this embodiment, “before and after” refers to the direction of sheet conveyance.

Further, at an appropriate place of the conveying means 500,
Sheet take-out means A (A1, A2, A3) is provided. As shown in FIG. 14, this sheet take-out means A (A
1, A2, A3) are transport means 500 (510, 52).
0, 530), the remaining sheets are conveyed to a specific place and collected, and the sheets are taken out at once.
The sheet take-out means A (A1, A2, A3) is provided immediately before a place where sheet clogging is likely to occur or at a position where sheets can be easily taken out. In this embodiment, the sheet take-out means A (A1, A2, A3) includes: It is provided before the first fixing unit 321, before the second fixing unit 322, and on the discharge tray 410 side. Also, a certain sheet take-out means A (A1, A2,
Where A3) is provided, the detecting means 820h, 82
0k, and the detection means 800 (810, 820, 83
No. 0) checks whether there is a sheet remaining in the conveying path of the conveying unit 500, and checks the sheet extracting unit A (A1, A2, A
The detection of removal of the sheets collected in 3) is also performed.

FIG. 3 shows a processing unit 910 for controlling the sheet conveying device serving as the determination unit 900. The processing unit 910 includes a CPU 920 (central processing unit) serving as a determination unit 900, a storage unit 930, and a timer 940. The CPU 920 is connected to each unit of the storage unit 930, the timer 940, and the sheet conveying device via a bus such as a data bus. The storage unit 930 stores a program for checking a sheet conveyance path, which will be described later, in the ROM 9.
31 (read only memory) and an R for temporarily storing data necessary for checking the sheet conveying path.
AM 932 (random access memory).
The timer 940 measures time, and particularly measures the operation time of the transport unit 600. Detecting means 700 (710, 720, 730) and detecting means 8
00 (810, 820, 830) are connected to the processing unit 910 via the input interface unit 960.
Note that the result of the check of the sheet conveying path is output to the output unit 95.
Output by 0.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a method for checking a sheet conveying path according to the present invention. First, as an initial stage, a state is set in which a check operation of the transport path can be performed. In this initial stage, the safety of the user is further secured than before, and the check of the sheet conveyance path is completed, and
This is to prevent a problem from occurring when the device is operated. If the sheet cannot be conveyed for some reason before proceeding to the initial stage, for example, if the sheet is jammed in the conveyance path, it is desirable to perform the process for the cause.

The initial stage has three steps. First, it is confirmed whether to check the transport path. For this, the processing unit 910 determines whether or not the reset switch has been pressed (step 1). Next, when it is determined that the reset switch has been pressed, it is determined whether all the doors of the apparatus are closed (step 2). Further, when it is determined that all the doors of the apparatus are closed, it is determined whether the temperature of the fixing unit 320 (321, 322) is equal to or higher than the temperature at which the toner does not offset (step 3). This is, for example, the fixing unit 320
(321, 322) to the fixing roller (323, 324)
And the pressure roller (325, 326), when the power supply of the apparatus is turned off, the fixing roller (323,
The heater of 324) is also turned off.

As a result, the fixing rollers (323, 324)
Is lower than the temperature at which the toner can be fixed on the sheet. Thereafter, the power of the apparatus is turned on, and the fixing roller (3
When the surface temperature of the sheet 23, 324) is equal to or lower than the temperature at which the toner can be fixed on the sheet, the process proceeds to a conveyance check routine described later, and the fixing unit 320 (321, 322) is driven. In this state, when a sheet immediately before the fixing unit 320 (321 or 322) or a sheet sandwiched between the fixing units 320 (321 and 322) is conveyed, the toner is not fixed on the sheet surface, and the fixing unit 320 (321) is not fixed. , 322).

As a result, the unfixed toner is
20 (321, 322), the power of the apparatus is turned on, the apparatus operates normally, the sheets are sequentially conveyed, and the fixing units 320 (321, 32)
After passing through 2), the sheet is output from the apparatus in a dirty state. Therefore, the fixing unit 320 (321, 32
The above problem can be solved by setting the temperature of 2) to be equal to or higher than the temperature at which the toner is not offset, as a condition for the operation of checking the transport path. If the conditions of Steps 1 to 3 are not satisfied, it is determined that the sheet conveyance path cannot be checked, and this is output to the output unit 95.
0, and the check of the sheet conveying path ends.

After the initial stage is satisfied, the routine proceeds to a transport check routine (step 4). FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the transport check routine. The transport check routine is
Check the path 530 of the discharge section and the path 520 of the main body.
And the check of the path 510 of the sheet feeding unit, and the process is mainly divided into three blocks.

As shown in FIG. 6, first, the CPU 920 checks the path 530 of the discharge section by first discharging the sheet from the fifth transfer section P5 to the sheet take-out means A3 for a predetermined time in order to collect the sheets. The unit 630 is operated (step 4-1). The state (operating state) of the discharge motor section 630 is detected by the detecting means 700 (730) (step 4-2). The CPU 920 monitors the detection result of the detection unit 730 to determine the state of the transport unit 600 of the discharge unit 400.

Specifically, the detecting operation of the detecting means 730 is as follows.
It is to check whether it is operating normally, or in other words, to actually detect whether or not the discharge motor unit 630 is stopped, that is, to detect a synchronization shift of the discharge motor unit 630. This is because if the sheet is jammed on the path 530 of the discharge unit while the sheet is being conveyed, or if the sheet is conveyed in a multiply fed state (abnormal in the fifth conveyance unit P5), the discharge motor Since the overload is applied to the unit 630, and as a result, the discharge motor unit 630 stops or enters a state of out-of-sync, the detection of this out-of-sync is utilized.

The detection method is a time sufficient for the rotation of the discharge motor unit 630 to stabilize, and this time is measured by a timer. If the discharge motor unit 630 does not operate during this measurement time, the detection unit 700 (730)
Sends a signal to that effect to the processing unit 910 as a detection result. As a result of the detection, the CPU 920 determines whether the sheet is jammed on the path 530 of the discharge unit, or whether the sheet is multi-fed on the path 530 of the discharge unit.
It is determined whether or not the discharge path 530 is abnormal. In this embodiment, the measurement of this time is specifically 2.5 seconds.

The CPU 920 monitors the detecting operation of the detecting means 730, and when it is determined that the state of the discharge motor unit 630 is abnormal based on the detection result, outputs the above-mentioned state to the output means 950, and conveys the sheet. The road check ends. Further, when it is determined that the state of the discharge motor unit 630 is normal, Step 4-2 is repeated until all the sheets are conveyed from the fifth conveying unit to the sheet extracting unit (Step 4-3).

Next, the detection of the detection means 830 (830a to 830h) provided at an appropriate position on the path 530 of the discharge section is monitored, and based on the detection result, the fifth transport section P
It is determined whether or not a sheet remains in Step 5 (Step 4).
-4). When the sheet remains in the fifth transport unit P5 (the path 530 of the discharge unit), the CPU 920 sets the discharge motor unit 6
It is determined that the discharge motor unit 630 is operating normally in a state where the third motor 30 operates normally and there is an abnormality in the fifth transport unit P5, for example, in a state where a sheet is jammed in the fifth transport unit P5, This state is output to the output unit 950, and the check of the sheet conveyance path ends.

When it is determined that no sheet remains in the fifth transport section P5, the check of the path 530 of the discharge section is completed. Next, the path 520 of the main body is checked. As shown in FIG. 7, the check of the main body unit 300 is performed in the order of the fourth transport unit P4, the third transport unit P3, and the second transport unit P2.

First, the check of the fourth transport section P4 is performed as shown in FIG.
As shown in step 4-1, as in step 4-1, a predetermined time,
The discharge motor section 630 and the second main body motor section 622 are sequentially operated (step 4-5), and the state of the discharge motor section 630 and the second main body motor section 622 is detected by the detecting means 730.
720 (722) (step 4-6).
Through these steps, the sheet in the fourth transport section P4 is transported to the sheet take-out means A3. Step 4-6 is repeated until all the sheets are conveyed from the fifth conveying section P5 to the sheet take-out means (step 4-7). When it is determined that the state of the discharge motor unit 630 and / or the second main body motor unit 622 is abnormal based on the detection result,
This state is output to the output unit 950, and the check of the sheet conveyance path ends.

Detecting means (830a to 830h, 820
c, 820d, 820f, 820g, and 820i), it is detected whether or not any sheet remains in the fifth transport unit P5 and the fourth transport unit P4 (step 4-8). When it is detected that a sheet remains in the fifth transport unit P5 and / or the fourth transport unit P4, these transport units (P4, P4
Assuming that there is an abnormality in 5), the output means 95
0, and the check of the sheet conveying path is completed.

When it is detected that no sheet remains in the fifth transport section P5 and / or the fourth transport section P4, the check of the fourth transport section P4 ends, and then the third transport section P3
Check. First, as shown in FIG. 9, the check of the third transport section P3 is performed by first removing the sheet in the third transport section P3 as in step 4-1.
The second main body motor unit 630 is operated for a predetermined time in order to transport and collect the data (step 4-9). The state (operating state) of the second main body motor unit 622 is detected by the detecting unit 700 (7
30) (Step 4-10).

Based on the detection result, the second main body motor section 622
If it is determined that the state is abnormal, the above-described state is output to the output unit 950, and the check of the sheet conveying path ends. Further, if it is determined that the state of the second main body motor unit 622 is normal, step 4-1 is performed until all the sheets are conveyed from the third conveyance unit P3 to the sheet take-out means.
0 is repeated (step 4-11).

Next, detecting means (820b, 820e,
820h, 820j), it is detected whether or not there is a sheet in the third conveyance path P3 (step 4-12). If there is a sheet, it is determined that there is an abnormality in these transport units, and the fact is output to the output unit 950, and the check of the sheet transport path ends. When it is detected that no sheet remains in the third transport unit P3, the check of the fourth transport unit P3 ends, and then the check of the second transport unit P2 is performed.

First, as shown in FIG.
The check of No. 2 is performed in the same manner as in step 4-1. First, the first main body motor unit 621 is moved for a predetermined time in order to convey and collect the sheets in the second conveyance unit P2 to the sheet extracting unit A1.
Is activated (step 4-13). The state (operation state) of the first main body motor section 621 is detected by the detection means (step 4-14).

Based on the detection result, the first main body motor section 621
If it is determined that the state is abnormal, the above-described state is output to the output unit 950, and the check of the sheet conveying path ends. Further, if it is determined that the state of the first main body motor unit 621 is normal, step 4-1 is performed until all the sheets are conveyed from the second conveying unit P2 to the sheet extracting unit.
Step 4 is repeated (step 4-15).

Next, detecting means (820a, 820h)
Is detected whether there is a sheet in the second conveyance path P2 (step 4-16). If there is a sheet, it is determined that there is an abnormality in the second conveyance path P2, and the output means 95
0, and the check of the sheet conveying path is completed. When it is detected that no sheet remains in the second transport unit P2, the check of the path of the main body unit 300 ends.

The check of the second transport section P2 is completed, and then the path 510 (first transport section P1) of the paper feed section is checked. First, as shown in the drawing, the check of the first transport unit P1 is performed sequentially for a predetermined period of time for the first main body motor unit 62.
1. Activate the paper feed motor unit 610 (step 4-1)
7), first main body motor section 621 and paper feed motor section 61
The state of 0 is detected by the detecting means 730 and 722 (step 4-18). By these steps, the sheet in the first transport section P1 is transported to the sheet extracting means A1. Step 4-18 is repeated until all the sheets are conveyed from the first conveyance section P1 to the sheet take-out means (step 4-19).

Based on the detection result, the first main body motor section 621
If it is determined that the state of the sheet feeding motor unit 610 is abnormal, the state of the state is output to the output unit 950, and the check of the sheet conveying path ends. When the time when all the sheets are conveyed from the first conveyance unit P1 to the sheet take-out unit has been reached, the detection unit (810a to 810d) detects the second conveyance unit P2 and the first conveyance unit P.
It is detected whether there is a sheet in No. 1 (step 4-16).

If there is a sheet, it is determined that there is an abnormality in these transport units, and the fact is output to the output unit 950, and the check of the sheet transport path is completed. Second transport section P
If it is detected that no sheet remains in the second conveying section P1 and the first conveying section P1, the check of the path of the sheet feeding section 200 is completed,
The transport path check routine ends. Next, a sheet is taken out from each sheet taking out means A (A1, A2, A3) (step 5), and it is confirmed whether or not a sheet remains in each sheet taking out means (step 6). When the sheet is completely removed, the check of the sheet conveying path is completed.

If the initial stages from step 1 to step 3 are not satisfied, step 4-2, step 4
-4, step 4-6, etc.
Alternatively, while each drive unit (610, 620, 630) is operating normally, each transport unit (P1, P2, P3, P
(4, P5), if there is an abnormality and the process is completed without checking the sheet transport path, the process of removing the factor in each interrupted step is performed, and the process is executed again from step 1.

[0046]

As described above, since the sheet remaining in the conveyance path is automatically collected by the sheet take-out means, if the sheet is jammed in the sheet conveyance path, the sheet can be processed only by removing the jammed sheet. In particular, in the case of a large-sized machine having a long conveying path, the work of the sheet processing by the operator can be reduced. In addition to checking the normal operation of each transport unit provided with the sheet transport path and checking for the presence or absence of a sheet and / or a jammed sheet on the sheet transport path, the sheets can be processed smoothly.
Furthermore, the detection means provided on each drive means is mainly used to check the presence or absence of a jammed sheet, and the detection means for detecting a sheet on the conveyance path is provided corresponding to the sheet size corresponding to the length of the conveyance path. There is no need, and the cost of the apparatus itself can be kept low.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus to which a sheet conveying device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus to which the sheet conveying device of the present invention is applied, illustrating an example of an arrangement of a detection unit.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a schematic block diagram of a determination means.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a method of checking a sheet conveying path according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating a flowchart of a transport check routine.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating details of a flowchart of a transport check routine.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating a flowchart of a conveyance check of a path of a main body.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating details of a flowchart of a transport check routine, which is a continuation of FIG. 6;

9 is a diagram illustrating details of a flowchart of a transport check routine, which is a continuation of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating details of a flowchart of a transport check routine, which is a continuation of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an image forming apparatus to which the sheet conveying device according to the present invention is applied, showing an example of an arrangement of sheet extracting means.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 image forming apparatus 200 paper feed unit 300 main body unit 400 discharge unit 500 transport unit 600 driving unit 700 detecting unit 800 detecting unit 900 determining unit A sheet taking out unit

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 2C059 AA21 AA49 AA51 AA63 AA64 AB09 AB19 AB20 2H027 DA31 DC14 EC20 ED16 ED19 EE07 EF09 EK10 2H028 BA09 BA12 BA16 BB00 BB04 2H072 AA02 AA12 AA13 A12 AA12 AA12 AA12 AA12 AB01 BA05 BA13 BA14 BA26 BA27 BA28 BA29 BB02 BB05 BC01 BC03 BD01 CB03 CC02 DA04 DA06 DA07 DA08 DA09 DC03 DC12 EA03 EA12 EB21 EB28 EB39 EB40

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A sheet is placed at a predetermined place.
A sheet conveying path method comprising: conveying means for sequentially conveying, driving means for driving the conveying means having at least one, and detecting means provided at an appropriate position of the conveying means. Stopping the driving means, and detecting the sheet remaining on the conveying means by the detecting means; and (b) selecting one or more sheets remaining on the conveying means, Conveying the sheet to a sheet take-out means provided at a place. 2. A transport unit having one or more paths, and sequentially transporting a sheet to a predetermined location, a driving unit having at least one or more and driving the transport unit, A sheet conveying path method comprising: a detecting unit provided at an appropriate position of the conveying unit; (a) activating the driving unit;
Detecting the operating state of each of the driving means; and (b) monitoring the detection of the detecting means by a determining means;
(C) stopping the driving unit and detecting the sheet remaining on the conveying unit by the detecting unit; and (d) determining the operation state of each of the conveying units based on the result. Transporting the sheet remaining on the transporting means to a take-out unit having at least one sheet and provided at an appropriate location of the transporting means. 3. A transport unit having one or more paths, and sequentially transporting the sheet to a predetermined location, a driving unit having at least one or more and driving the transport unit, A sheet conveying path method comprising: a detecting unit provided at an appropriate position of the conveying unit; (a) activating the driving unit;
Detecting the operating state of each of the driving means; and (b) monitoring the detection of the detecting means by a determining means;
(C) stopping the driving unit and detecting the sheet remaining on the conveying unit by the detecting unit; and (d) determining the operation state of each of the conveying units based on the result. Actuating the driving means to convey the sheet remaining on the carrying means to a sheet take-out means having at least one sheet and provided at an appropriate place of the carrying means; Detecting the operating state of each of the driving means by the detection means during conveyance to the sheet take-out means; and (f) monitoring the detection of the detection means by the determination means;
Determining a state of operation of each of the conveying means based on the result. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveying unit includes a sheet feeding unit having one or more sheet feeding devices and supplying a sheet, a main unit including one or more image forming units, and a processing unit configured to process the image forming units. And a discharging unit having at least one discharging unit for discharging the sheet, wherein the steps (a) to (d) are performed in the order of the discharging unit, the main unit, and the sheet feeding unit. The sheet conveying method according to claim 1, 2 or 3. 5. A sheet conveying apparatus having one or more paths and conveying means for sequentially conveying a sheet to a predetermined place, wherein the sheet is provided at an appropriate position of the conveying means. A drive unit having at least one take-out unit and driving the transport unit; a detection unit provided at an appropriate position of the transport unit to detect a sheet remaining on the transport unit; And a judging means for conveying the sheet remaining on the conveying means to the sheet take-out means by the driving means based on the detection result. 6. A detecting means for detecting an operating state of the driving means, wherein the determining means monitors the detecting means and determines an operating state of each transport means based on a result of the detection. The sheet conveying device according to claim 5, wherein 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveying unit includes a sheet feeding unit having one or more sheet feeding devices and supplying a sheet, a main unit including one or more image forming units, 7. The sheet conveying device according to claim 6, further comprising a discharge unit having one or more of the discharged sheets. 8. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image forming unit is configured by an electrophotographic method having a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a fixing unit. 9. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said sheet take-out means is provided between said developing section and said fixing section.