JP2003063669A - Paper feeder and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper feeder capable of effectively preventing the paper feeding error on the basis of judgment by a user. SOLUTION: In this paper feeder for rotating a paper feeding roller on the basis of a specific driving pattern to retract the paper inside through the paper feeding roller, the paper feeding roller is rotated on the basis of a stable driving pattern wherein the operation is divided into two stages, instead of a normal driving pattern to minimize the paper feeding error.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device for drawing a sheet into an inkjet printer, for example, and a computer program for controlling the sheet feeding device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, an ink jet printer is equipped with a paper feed roller for pulling sheets of paper stacked in a paper setting section into the interior one by one, and a stepping motor for transmitting a rotational force to the paper feed roller. It has been incorporated. Further, a paper sensor is provided in the middle of the paper feed path from the paper feed roller to just below the print head. If the paper sensor does not detect the paper even if the paper feed roller rotates to some extent, a paper feed error is detected. For example, if a paper feed error is detected even if the paper feed roller is rotated based on the normal drive pattern, the rotation speed and operation sequence of the paper feed roller are automatically adjusted to avoid the paper feed error. It has been modified and devised to avoid paper feed errors as much as possible. Further, there is also one in which the rotation speed and operation sequence of the paper feed roller are changed according to the type and size of the paper.

[0003]

By the way, even when the kind and size of the paper are exactly the same, sometimes the paper having the curved tip is used. In such a case, if the paper feed roller is rotated based on the normally defined drive pattern, a paper feed error is likely to occur. However, the current inkjet printers do not have a mechanism for manually changing the rotation speed and operation sequence of the paper feed roller, and thus paper feed errors cannot be effectively avoided at the user's own discretion.

Further, if the paper feed roller becomes depressed due to aging or the like, the paper feed error is more likely to occur than in the beginning. Even in such a case, however, the paper feed roller is always fed based on the normal drive pattern. Since the paper roller is rotated, a paper feed error cannot be avoided in advance according to the number of times of use.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above points, and it is possible to effectively avoid a paper feed error at the discretion of the user, or the paper feed error is determined according to the number of times of use. An object of the present invention is to provide a paper feeding device that can be avoided in advance, and a computer program for realizing the operation of such a paper feeding device.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the paper feeding apparatus of the invention described in claim 1 defines the paper feeding roller so as to draw the paper inside through the paper feeding roller. A sheet feeding device that rotates based on a drive pattern, and when a switching operation is performed by a user, the sheet feeding device replaces the prescribed drive pattern with a stable drive pattern that can avoid a sheet feed error as much as possible. It is characterized by having a paper feed control means for rotating the paper roller.

According to such a sheet feeding device, for example, when a user performs a switching operation to use a sheet having a curved front end, a sheet feeding error is less likely to occur than a prescribed driving pattern. Since the paper roller is rotated, it is possible to effectively avoid a paper feed error at the user's discretion.

Further, the sheet feeding device of the invention described in claim 2 is a sheet feeding device which rotates the sheet feeding roller based on a prescribed drive pattern in order to draw the sheet inside through the sheet feeding roller. A sheet feeding error detecting means for detecting a sheet feeding error when the sheet is drawn in via the sheet feeding roller, and the cumulative number of sheet feeding errors detected by the sheet feeding error detecting means from the start of use of the apparatus or When the occurrence rate is equal to or higher than a predetermined upper limit value, thereafter, the paper feed roller is rotated based on a stable drive pattern that can avoid a paper feed error as much as possible instead of the specified drive pattern. And a paper control means.

According to such a sheet feeding device, after the cumulative number or the rate of occurrence of the sheet feeding error from the start of use of the device becomes equal to or more than the predetermined upper limit value, the sheet feeding error is detected more than the prescribed drive pattern. Since the paper feed roller is rotated based on a stable drive pattern that is unlikely to occur, if there is a high possibility that a paper feed error will occur due to aging, etc. It can be avoided in advance depending on the situation.

Further, the sheet feeding device of the invention described in claim 3 is the sheet feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the cumulative number or occurrence rate of sheet feeding errors is less than a predetermined upper limit value, When the paper feed error detection unit detects a paper feed error, the paper feed control unit repeats the paper feed operation based on the specified drive pattern a predetermined number of times,
If a paper feed error is detected even after repeating the paper feed operation a predetermined number of times, the paper feed roller is rotated based on the stable drive pattern.

According to such a paper feeding device, in addition to the effect of the paper feeding device according to the second aspect, for example, in the case of a paper feeding error in which the cumulative number of paper feeding errors is less than the upper limit value,
The paper feed operation of rotating the paper feed roller based on the specified drive pattern is repeated a predetermined number of times, and if a paper feed error still occurs, the paper feed roller is rotated based on the stable drive pattern. A paper feed error can be effectively avoided.

Further, the sheet feeding device of the invention described in claim 4 is the sheet feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sheet feeding control means is based on the prescribed drive pattern. When the paper feed roller is rotated by rotating the paper feed roller, the rotational speed is changed depending on the type of the paper, while when the paper feed roller is rotated based on the stable drive pattern, the specified drive pattern is temporarily used. The rotation speed is lower than that based on.

According to such a paper feeding device, in addition to the effect of the paper feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, when the paper feeding roller rotates based on a prescribed drive pattern, While the rotation speed is changed to an appropriate speed according to the type of paper, when the paper feed roller rotates based on the stable drive pattern, the rotation speed is temporarily lower than the above-mentioned rotation speed. As for the type, it is possible to stably feed the paper according to the low speed rotation of the paper feed roller.

Further, the computer program according to the fifth aspect of the present invention controls a paper feeding device that rotates the paper feeding roller based on a prescribed drive pattern so as to draw the paper inside through the paper feeding roller. A computer program for rotating the paper feed roller based on a stable drive pattern that can avoid a paper feed error as much as possible, when the switching operation is performed by the user. It is characterized by including a paper feed control program of.

According to such a computer program, the operation of the paper feeding device according to the first aspect can be realized by operating the CPU based on the computer program.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a computer program controls a sheet feeding device that rotates the sheet feeding roller based on a prescribed drive pattern in order to draw the sheet into the sheet through the sheet feeding roller. Based on the paper feed error detection program for detecting a paper feed error when pulling in the paper through the paper feed roller, and the paper feed error detection program from the start of use of the apparatus. When the cumulative number of occurrences or the occurrence rate of the detected paper feed error becomes equal to or more than a predetermined upper limit value, thereafter, instead of the specified drive pattern, a stable drive pattern that can avoid the paper feed error as much as possible is obtained. And a paper feed control program for rotating the paper feed roller based on the above.

According to such a computer program, the operation of the paper feeding device according to the second aspect can be realized by operating the CPU based on the computer program.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a facsimile machine equipped with a paper feeding device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an internal sectional view of the facsimile machine. The facsimile apparatus A is provided with a plurality of functions such as an inkjet printing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “inkjet printer”), an image reading apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “scanner”), and a communication apparatus. . The facsimile apparatus A is also used as a simple ink jet printer or scanner while being connected to a personal computer or the like. Also, by linking the inkjet printer and scanner,
Also used as a copy machine. The paper feeding device is provided to draw the paper inside the inkjet printer. Since the scanner and the communication device are not related to the present invention, the description thereof will be omitted as much as possible, and the inkjet printer related to the present invention will be described below.

The ink jet printer is roughly divided into a mechanism for conveying a sheet (not shown) and a mechanism for performing printing. The paper transport mechanism includes a paper setting unit 10, a paper feed roller 11, a paper separating piece 12, a paper sensor 13, a main roller 14, a paper ejection roller 15, and a paper ejection unit 16 arranged along the paper conveyance path. , Each roller 1
It is configured by a stepping motor or the like (not shown) for driving 1, 14, and 15. Among these, the paper feeding device is mainly configured by the paper setting unit 10, the paper feeding roller 11, the paper separating piece 12, the paper sensor 13, the stepping motor, and the like. The printing mechanism includes a carriage 20 that reciprocates substantially orthogonal to the paper transport direction, a print head 21 provided under the carriage 20, a slide shaft 22 that supports the carriage 20, a guide frame 23, and the carriage 2.
In addition to a linear encoder 24 and an encoder slit 25 for detecting the moving position of 0, a DC motor for moving the carriage 20 back and forth, an ink tank mounted on the carriage 20, and the like, which are not particularly shown, are configured. In the following, among the inkjet printers, only matters relating to the sheet feeding device will be described.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the main parts of the paper feeding device. As shown in this figure, a large number of sheets P are stacked on the sheet setting unit 10, and the paper feed standby state is established with the leading edge of each sheet P abutting the surface 12a of the sheet separating piece 12. It The surface 12a of the sheet separating piece 12 is formed to have an uneven shape with a surface roughness suitable for separating sheets. Therefore, while the paper feed roller 11 is stopped, the large number of sheets P do not fall off with their leading ends in contact with the surface 12 a of the sheet separating piece 12. When the paper feed roller 11 rotates clockwise, the paper feed roller 11
A sheet of paper P in contact with is separated from the surface 12a of the paper separating piece 12 by being flipped, and is gradually fed into the inside. Then, the leading edge of the paper P will soon reach the paper sensor 1.
The position of the paper P is detected by contacting the sheet 3. When the leading edge of the paper P is not detected by the paper sensor 13 even when the paper feed roller 11 rotates by a predetermined amount, it is determined that a paper feed error occurs due to a paper jam or the like. When the paper P is fed by a predetermined amount without any paper feeding error, the leading end of the paper P reaches the main roller 14, and when it further advances, the paper P is sandwiched between the main roller 14 and the paper discharge roller 15. Then, the paper feeding operation is completed.

In short, in the initial stage of the normal paper feeding operation, the stepping motor is controlled on the basis of a predetermined drive pattern, so that the paper feeding roller 1
1 rotates to separate one sheet P from the sheet separating piece 12. Here, the operation of separating the single sheet P from the sheet separating piece 12 and pulling it in is more stable as the rotation speed of the sheet feeding roller 11 is lower. Further, the larger the thickness of the paper P, the more the load is applied to the paper feed roller 11. Therefore, when the paper P having a relatively large thickness is pulled in, the paper feed roller 11
It is desirable to rotate at low speed. In consideration of these points, in the present embodiment, for example, when the paper type is set to the plain paper or the like on the printer driver, the stepping motor is controlled at a pulse frequency of about 2100 pps as a drive pattern, and the paper feed roller 11 is controlled. Is the rotation speed according to the pulse frequency. On the other hand, when the type of paper is set to a relatively thick envelope or the like, the stepping motor is controlled at a pulse frequency of about 1500 pps, which is lower than the pulse frequency described above. It is supposed to rotate at a lower speed than. That is, in the initial stage of the normal paper feeding operation, the rotation speed of the paper feeding roller 11 differs depending on the type of paper.

Regardless of the type of the paper P, for example, for a paper P having a curved front end, due to the degree of engagement between the front end of the paper P and the paper separating piece 12, the paper feeding roller is operated similarly to the normal paper feeding operation. There is a high possibility that a paper feed error will occur if only 11 is rotated. Therefore, a point to be noted in the present embodiment is that when the user performs an operation of switching the sheet feeding operation in response to setting the sheet P having a curved tip in the sheet setting unit 10, the drive pattern described above is used. The stepping motor is controlled on the basis of a stable drive pattern that is less likely to cause a paper feed error than the paper feed error, and the paper feed roller 11 is rotated at a stable rotation speed and operation sequence. In the following description, the sheet feeding operation based on such a stable driving pattern is called a stable sheet feeding mode.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart for comparing and explaining the normal drive pattern and the stable drive pattern. As shown in this figure, when the plain paper or the thick paper is fed based on the normal drive pattern, the rotation speed varies depending on the pulse frequency such as 2100 pps or 1500 pps, but the feed roller 11 is constantly rotated. . On the other hand, when feeding in stable paper feed mode,
Whether the paper is plain paper or thick paper, the paper feeding operation is performed separately in the front stage and the rear stage based on the stable drive pattern.
That is, in the preceding sheet feeding operation until the leading edge of the sheet P comes off the sheet separating piece 12, the sheet feeding roller 11 rotates at a rotational speed corresponding to a pulse frequency of 900 pps, for example, in order to gently feed the sheet P, and to some extent. When it rotates, it shifts to the paper feeding operation in the latter stage, and in order to promptly send the paper P to the position where it is nipped by the main roller 14 (the position where it is registered), the pulse frequency is raised to, for example, 1500 pps, and the paper feeding roller is rotated at a speed corresponding thereto. 11 rotates. As a result, even if the leading edge of the sheet P is curved, the sheet P is gradually fed in such a movement as to minimize a paper feed error. Incidentally, in the actual paper feeding operation, an operation of reversely feeding the stepping motor and the like are also carried out, but such reverse feeding operation and the like will not be illustrated.

Further, if the paper feed roller 11 is depressed due to aging or the like, the paper feed error is more likely to occur than at the beginning of using the apparatus. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the cumulative number of sheet feeding errors from the start of using the apparatus is, for example, 1000 times or more, after that, a stable driving pattern slightly different from the above corresponding to the cumulative number of sheet feeding errors. Based on the above, the paper feed roller 11 is configured to rotate at a stable rotation speed and operation sequence.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart for comparing and explaining a normal drive pattern and a stable drive pattern corresponding to the number of paper feed errors. The normal drive pattern shown in FIG. 5 is the same as the drive pattern shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, when the sheet is fed in the stable sheet feeding mode corresponding to the cumulative number of sheet feeding errors, the sheet feeding operation is performed separately in the front stage and the rear stage similarly to the stable drive pattern described above. A wait time t (for example, 0.3 seconds) having an extremely short time interval is set between the operations of the front stage and the rear stage so as to temporarily suspend the operation. Therefore, in the preceding sheet feeding operation, the sheet feeding roller 11 rotates at a rotation speed corresponding to a pulse frequency of 900 pps, for example, in order to gently feed the sheet P, but thereafter, after a wait time t, the subsequent sheet feeding operation starts. To be taken. In the latter-stage sheet feeding operation, for example, 1500 sheets are supplied in order to promptly deliver the sheet P.
The pulse frequency is raised to pps, and the paper feed roller 11 rotates at a rotation speed corresponding to the pulse frequency. That is, the separation can be reliably performed by rotationally driving the paper feed roller 11 at a low speed until the front end of the paper P comes off the paper separation piece 12, and in particular, the front end of the paper P is curved. Therefore, the sheet separating piece 12 does not easily come off, and the momentum (vibration) when it comes off causes the sheet feeding roller 11 to move.
Even when the sheet P is lifted from the sheet P, the sheet P is temporarily stopped at the position separated from the sheet separating piece 12, so that the sheet feeding roller 11 can surely return to the normal state in the meantime. You can Therefore, in the paper feeding operation period of the subsequent stage, the leading edge of the paper P has already been disengaged from the paper separating piece 12, so that the paper P can be conveyed at a higher speed than the paper feeding operation period of the preceding stage, and the paper sheet P is fed. As the roller 11 rotates, it can be quickly and reliably transported to a position where it nips with the main roller 14 (a position where the resist is performed). Also by this, the paper P is gradually fed in such a movement as to cause a paper feed error as little as possible. Even in such a sheet feeding operation, an operation of reversely feeding the stepping motor is actually performed, but the reverse feeding operation and the like are not illustrated.

By the way, when the cumulative number of sheet feeding errors is less than 1000 times and a sheet feeding error actually occurs, the sheet feeding operation based on the normal drive pattern is repeated a predetermined number of times. Moreover, if a paper feed error occurs even after repeating the paper feed operation based on the normal drive pattern a predetermined number of times, the paper is fed in the stable paper feed mode corresponding to the cumulative number of paper feed errors. According to this, if a paper feed error occurs even after repeating the normal paper feed operation, the paper feed operation can be switched to a more stable paper feed operation, and thus the paper feed error that actually occurred can be effectively avoided. Of.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the facsimile apparatus A. As shown in this figure, the facsimile machine A includes a CPU 30, an NCU 31, and a RAM 3.
2, modem 33, ROM 34, NVRAM (non-volatile R
AM: Non-Volatile RAM) 35, gate array 36, codec 37, DMAC 38, reading unit 41, printing unit 4
2, the operation unit 43, the display unit 44, and the like are included in the configuration. CPU30, NCU31, RAM3
2, the modem 33, the ROM 34, the NVRAM 35, the gate array 36, the codec 37, and the DMAC 38,
They are connected to each other by a bus line 47. The bus line 47 includes an address bus, a data bus, and a control signal line. The gate array 36 includes a reading unit 41 and a printing unit 4.
2, the operation unit 43, and the display unit 44 are connected.
A public telephone line 48 is connected to the NCU 31.

The CPU 30 controls the operation of the entire facsimile apparatus A. The NCU 31 is connected to the public telephone line 48 and controls the network. The RAM 32 provides a work area for the CPU 30, a buffer area for print data, and the like.
The modem 33 performs modulation and demodulation of facsimile data. The ROM 34 stores programs and the like that the CPU 30 should execute. The NVRAM 35 stores data and various kinds of information. The gate array 36 is the CPU 30.
And functions as an interface with each unit 41 to 44. The codec 37 performs encoding and decoding of facsimile data and the like. The DMAC 38 mainly writes and reads data to and from the RAM 32.

The reading unit 41 is composed of a scanner,
An image is read from a document or the like under the control of the CPU 30. The printing unit 42 is configured by an inkjet printer, and performs the various operations described above under the control of the CPU 30. The printing unit 42 also includes the sheet sensor 13, a stepping motor, and the like, which are components of the sheet feeding device, which are not particularly illustrated. The operation unit 43 includes a numeric keypad and various operation keys, and receives an input signal from the user as a CP.
Tell U30. The operation unit 43 also includes function keys (not shown) for switching the paper feeding operation. The display unit 44 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays various kinds of information.

To briefly describe the main points, the CPU 30
Realizes a paper feed control unit that rotates a paper feed roller based on a stable drive pattern that can avoid a paper feed error as much as possible when a switching operation is performed by a user, instead of a prescribed drive pattern. .

Further, the CPU 30 detects the paper feed error when the paper is pulled in through the paper feed roller, and the paper feed error detected by the paper feed error detection means from the start of using the apparatus. When the cumulative number of times or the occurrence rate is equal to or more than a predetermined upper limit value, thereafter, the paper feed roller is rotated based on a stable drive pattern that can avoid a paper feed error as much as possible instead of the prescribed drive pattern. And paper feed control means.

On the other hand, the program stored in the ROM 34 is a computer program for controlling a paper feeding device that rotates the paper feeding roller based on a prescribed drive pattern so as to draw the paper inside through the paper feeding roller. Therefore, when a switching operation is performed by the user, a paper feed control program for rotating the paper feed roller based on a stable drive pattern that can avoid a paper feed error as much as possible is included instead of the prescribed drive pattern. A computer program is realized.

Further, the programs stored in the ROM 34 include a paper feed error detection program for detecting a paper feed error when the paper is pulled in through the paper feed roller and a paper feed error detection program from the start of using the apparatus. When the cumulative number of paper feed errors or the occurrence ratio of paper feed errors detected on the basis of a predetermined upper limit value or more, a stable drive pattern that can avoid the paper feed error as much as possible instead of the prescribed drive pattern thereafter. A computer program including a paper feed control program for rotating the paper feed roller based on the above.

Next, the operation will be described.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the flow of paper feeding processing. First, when starting paper feeding, the CPU 30
For example, it is determined whether the cumulative number of paper feed errors is 1000 or more (S1). The cumulative number of such paper feeding errors is written in the NVRAM 35 as "0" at the time of starting the use of the apparatus, but thereafter, 1 is added every time a paper feeding error is detected.

When the cumulative number of paper feed errors is less than 1000 (S1: NO), the CPU 30 further determines whether or not the stable paper feed mode is selected by the user's switching operation (S2).

When the stable paper feed mode is not selected (S2: NO), the CPU 30 controls the stepping motor based on the normal drive pattern (S3). As a result, the paper feed roller 11 starts to rotate steadily, and one sheet of paper P in the paper setting unit 10 is drawn inside. It should be noted that the rotation speed of the paper feed roller 11 is different even in the case of the normal drive pattern when the type of paper is set to plain paper and when it is set to thick paper.

When the paper feed roller 11 rotates by a predetermined amount as described above, the CPU 30 detects the presence or absence of a paper feed error depending on whether or not the leading edge of the paper P is in contact with the paper sensor 13 (S4). ).

Even if the paper feed roller 11 rotates by a predetermined amount, the paper P
If the paper feed error is detected without the tip of the sheet contacting the sheet sensor 13 (S4: YES), the CPU 30
1 is added to the cumulative number of paper feed errors stored in the NVRAM 35 (S5).

Thereafter, the CPU 30 determines whether or not a paper feed error has occurred a predetermined number of times in succession when feeding one sheet of paper P (S6).

When the paper feed error continues for a predetermined number of times (S
6: YES), the CPU 30 switches the normal drive pattern, and controls the stepping motor based on the stable drive pattern corresponding to the cumulative number of paper feed errors (S).
7). As a result, the paper feed roller 11 starts to rotate so that the rotation speed changes between the front stage and the rear stage, and one sheet of paper P in the paper setting unit 10 is reliably drawn inside. After that, the CPU 30 finishes the paper feed process and executes the next print process and the like.

In S6, when the paper feed error has not continued for the predetermined number of times (S6: NO), the CPU 30 returns to S3 and repeats the paper feed operation based on the normal drive pattern until the paper feed error continues for the predetermined number of times. Let

If a paper feed error is not detected in S4 (S4: NO), the CPU 30 finishes the paper feed process and executes the next print process and the like.

When the stable paper feed mode is selected in S2 (S2: YES), the CPU 30 controls the stepping motor based on the stable drive pattern (S).
8). As a result, the paper feed roller 11 starts to rotate so that the rotation speed changes between the front stage and the rear stage, and one sheet of paper P in the paper setting unit 10 is reliably drawn inside. After that, the CPU 30 finishes the paper feed process and executes the next print process and the like.

In S1, the cumulative number of paper feed errors is 1
In the case of 000 times or more (S1: YES), the CPU 30
The stepping motor is controlled based on the stable drive pattern corresponding to the cumulative number of sheet feeding errors (S9). Also by this, the paper feed roller 11 starts to rotate so that the rotation speed changes between the front stage and the rear stage, and one sheet P in the sheet setting unit 10 is reliably drawn into the inside. Then CP
U30 finishes the paper feed process and executes the next print process and the like.

Therefore, according to the facsimile apparatus A having the above-described paper feeding device, for example, the paper P having a curved front end is used.
Therefore, when the user performs a switching operation for the paper feeding operation, the paper feeding roller 11 is set based on a stable driving pattern that is less likely to cause a paper feeding error than a normal driving pattern.
Since the paper is rotated, it is possible to effectively avoid a paper feed error at the user's discretion.

Further, as an example, after the cumulative number of paper feed errors from the start of use of the apparatus reaches 1000 or more,
Since the paper feed roller 11 is rotated based on a stable drive pattern in which a paper feed error is less likely to occur than a normal drive pattern, the paper feed roller 11 may be changed due to, for example, aging.
In a situation where there is a high possibility that a paper feeding error occurs and a paper feeding error occurs, the paper feeding error can be avoided in advance according to the number of times of use and the like.

As a modification of the stable drive pattern shown in FIG. 4, the pattern of modification 1 or the pattern of modification 2 shown in FIG. 8 may be used. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the normal plain paper drive pattern and the thick paper drive pattern are also configured such that the paper feeding operation is performed separately in the front stage and the rear stage, and stable drive is performed depending on the plain paper and the thick paper. The pattern as shown in the modification 3 may be used so that the patterns are different.

As a modified example of the stable drive pattern corresponding to the cumulative number of paper feed errors shown in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 10, modified examples 4 to 9 are used with respect to the normal plain paper drive pattern. A stable drive pattern as shown may be used. Of course, the simple stable drive pattern and the stable drive pattern corresponding to the cumulative number of sheet feeding errors may be exactly the same.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

The ink jet printer according to the present invention is
Although it is incorporated in the facsimile apparatus A, it may be an inkjet printer as a single unit.

The paper feeding device is provided for paper feeding in an ink jet printer, but may be provided for paper feeding such as a scanner.

After the stable paper feed mode is selected in S2 of FIG. 7, if the paper P in the paper setting section 10 is exhausted, the mode for carrying out the normal paper feed operation may be restored. .

The process may proceed to S7 only if the paper feed error is detected once in S4.

When the paper feed roller 11 is replaced for maintenance, the cumulative number of paper feed errors may be reset.

Instead of the cumulative number of paper feed errors, the occurrence ratio of paper feed errors from the start of device utilization to the present time,
The paper feed method may be changed according to the occurrence ratio of paper feed errors within a fixed time.

In the above-described embodiment, the function of switching the sheet feeding method according to the user operation and the function of switching the sheet feeding method according to the cumulative number of sheet feeding errors are provided. However, only one of the functions is provided. It may be provided.

[0059]

As described above, according to the paper feeding device of the invention described in claim 1, when the user performs the switching operation to use the paper having the curved front end, for example, the driving pattern is more than the prescribed drive pattern. Since the paper feed roller is rotated based on the stable drive pattern in which a paper feed error is unlikely to occur, the paper feed error can be effectively avoided by the user's own judgment.

Further, according to the sheet feeding device of the invention described in claim 2, after the cumulative number or the rate of occurrence of the sheet feeding error from the start of using the device becomes a predetermined upper limit value or more,
Since the paper feed roller is rotated based on a stable drive pattern that is less likely to cause a paper feed error than the specified drive pattern, the paper feed roller may become settled due to aging, etc. In a high situation, a paper feed error can be avoided in advance according to the number of times of use.

Further, according to the sheet feeding device of the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the effect of the sheet feeding device of claim 2, for example, the cumulative number of sheet feeding errors is less than the upper limit value. When an error occurs, the paper feed operation of rotating the paper feed roller based on the specified drive pattern is repeated a predetermined number of times,
If a paper feed error still occurs, the paper feed roller is rotated based on the stable drive pattern, so that the paper feed error that actually occurred can be effectively avoided.

According to the paper feeding device of the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the effect of the paper feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the paper feeding roller is based on a prescribed drive pattern. When the paper feed roller is rotated based on the stable drive pattern, the rotation speed is changed to an appropriate rotation speed according to the type of paper. Therefore, regardless of the type of paper, it is possible to stably feed the paper according to the low speed rotation of the paper feed roller.

Further, according to the computer program of the invention described in claim 5, the operation of the sheet feeding device according to claim 1 can be realized by operating the CPU based on the computer program.

According to the computer program of the invention described in claim 6, it is possible to realize the operation of the sheet feeding device described in claim 2 by operating the CPU based on the computer program.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a facsimile apparatus including a paper feeding device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an internal cross-sectional view of a facsimile device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of a paper feeding device.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart for comparing and explaining a normal drive pattern and a stable drive pattern.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart for comparing and explaining a normal drive pattern and a stable drive pattern corresponding to the number of paper feed errors.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a facsimile device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of paper feeding processing.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart for explaining a modified example corresponding to FIG.

9 is a timing chart for explaining a modified example corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a timing chart for explaining a modified example corresponding to FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Paper setting section 11 Paper feed roller 12 Paper separation pieces 13 Paper sensor 14 Main roller 15 Paper ejection roller 16 Paper output section 20 carriage 21 print head 22 Slide axis 23 Guide frame 24 linear encoder 25 encoder slit 26 Adjustment lever 30 CPU 31 NCU 32 RAM 33 modem 34 ROM 35 NVRAM 36 gate array 37 Codec 38 DMAC 41 Reader 42 Printing Department 43 Operation part 44 Display A facsimile machine P paper

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A sheet feeding device that rotates a sheet feeding roller based on a prescribed drive pattern so as to draw a sheet into the sheet via the sheet feeding roller, wherein the regulation is performed when a switching operation is performed by a user. A sheet feeding device having a sheet feeding control unit for rotating the sheet feeding roller based on a stable driving pattern capable of avoiding a sheet feeding error as much as possible instead of the driving pattern. 2. A sheet feeding device that rotates the sheet feeding roller based on a prescribed drive pattern so as to pull the sheet inside through the sheet feeding roller, and pulls the sheet through the sheet feeding roller. At this time, when the paper feed error detecting means for detecting a paper feed error and the cumulative number or occurrence ratio of the paper feed errors detected by the paper feed error detection means from the start of using the apparatus is equal to or more than a predetermined upper limit value. , And thereafter, a sheet feeding control unit that rotates the sheet feeding roller based on a stable driving pattern that can avoid a sheet feeding error as much as possible, instead of the prescribed driving pattern. apparatus. 3. When the cumulative number of paper feed errors or the occurrence ratio is less than a predetermined upper limit value and the paper feed error detection means detects a paper feed error, the paper feed control means drives the prescribed drive. While the paper feeding operation based on the pattern is repeated a predetermined number of times, and when the paper feeding error is detected even after repeating the paper feeding operation a predetermined number of times, the paper feeding roller is rotated based on the stable drive pattern. The paper feeding device according to claim 2. 4. The paper feed control means, when rotating the paper feed roller based on the prescribed drive pattern, changes the rotational speed according to the type of the paper,
4. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein when the paper feeding roller is rotated based on the stable drive pattern, the rotational speed is temporarily lower than the rotational speed based on the prescribed drive pattern. 5. A computer program for controlling a paper feeding device that rotates the paper feeding roller based on a prescribed drive pattern so as to draw the paper inside through the paper feeding roller, and a switching operation by a user. In the case where the sheet feeding control is performed, a sheet feeding control program for rotating the sheet feeding roller based on a stable driving pattern that can avoid a sheet feeding error as much as possible is included in place of the prescribed driving pattern. Computer program. 6. A computer program for controlling a paper feeding device that rotates the paper feeding roller based on a prescribed drive pattern so as to draw the paper inside through the paper feeding roller. A paper feed error detection program for detecting a paper feed error when pulling in the paper via the paper, and the cumulative number or occurrence ratio of paper feed errors detected based on the paper feed error detection program from the start of device utilization. However, when the value becomes equal to or larger than the predetermined upper limit value, the sheet feeding roller for rotating the sheet feeding roller based on a stable driving pattern that can avoid a sheet feeding error as much as possible instead of the specified driving pattern. A computer program including a paper control program.