JP2003128303A - Image forming device and control method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device equipped with a means for easily preventing jams by grasping the occurrence of jams due to aging without measuring the change of parts due to aging, and a control method for the same. SOLUTION: In the image forming device equipped with a jam sensor detecting the occurrence of a jam to a document or transfer paper, the feeding condition of the document or the transfer paper is changed according to the counted value obtained by counting the jam signal from the jam sensor. Or in the image forming device equipped with a counter for counting the number of documents or transfer paper being fed, the condition of feeding documents or transfer paper is changed according to the counted value by the counter.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a printing machine, etc., and prevents occurrence of a jam due to deterioration of response of a switch or the like due to long-term use. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A lot of parts are used in the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, and these parts have problems such as deterioration over time and deterioration of responsiveness. As a result, the frequency of occurrence of jams on the originals, transfer sheets, and the like in which the parts are used is increased. The frequency of such jams is
In many cases, it is known that when the paper is slow and slow, it drops. It is also known that the frequency of jam greatly depends on the years of use of the image forming apparatus.

Therefore, it is desirable to measure the settling of the components originally provided on the sheet conveying path and change the conveying speed or the like accordingly. However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, it is provided on the conveying path. Since there is no means to measure the fatigue of parts, we could not find a method to prevent the above-mentioned jam due to aging. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus equipped with means capable of easily and preliminarily preventing the occurrence of jams by grasping the occurrence of jams due to aging as described above without measuring the aging of parts. And a method of controlling the same.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus equipped with a jam sensor for detecting the occurrence of a jam on an original or a transfer sheet.
The image forming apparatus is configured to count a jam signal from the jam sensor and change the feeding condition of the document or the transfer sheet according to the count value. As a result, the frequent occurrence of jams can be detected without measuring the fatigue of parts,
Since it is possible to change the feeding condition of the transfer paper or the like to the direction in which the jam does not occur, it becomes possible to prevent the occurrence of the jam in advance. Further, in an image forming apparatus having a number counter for detecting the number of fed originals or transfer sheets, the feeding condition of the originals or transfer sheets may be changed according to the count value of the number counter. A characteristic image forming apparatus is provided.
In this case as well, as in the case of counting jam signals, the cause of frequent jams can be eliminated. As the count value, it is possible to adopt a predetermined statistical value such as variance, jam occurrence rate with respect to the number of used sheets, jam occurrence rate with respect to usage time. This makes it possible to objectively determine the frequency of jams. As an example of the above-mentioned feeding condition, the feeding speed of the original or the transfer paper can be adopted. Since the conveyance speed is the most typical cause of jam, it is possible to prevent jams efficiently by changing the conveyance speed. As another example of the above-mentioned feeding condition, it is also effective to adopt the feeding interval of the document or the transfer sheet. This is because the change in the feed interval has an effect on the response delay of the parts. As another feeding condition, when the image forming apparatus is a double-sided copying machine, it is possible to change the circulating number of transfer sheets in the double-sided unit. As a result, jamming in the double-sided unit where jamming is most likely to occur is efficiently prevented, so that jamming is prevented in the image forming apparatus as a whole. It is also important to count the jam signal from each jam sensor for each sensor. Since the occurrence of jam greatly depends on the location, it is not necessary to say that the data for each sensor provided for each location is important. It is preferable that the number of circulating sheets of transfer paper in the duplex unit is also limited based on the count value of a sensor provided in the duplex unit. Further, when the feeding condition of the original or the transfer sheet is changed according to the count value from the jam sensor, but the count value from the jam sensor further exceeds a predetermined value, an alarm is issued. Therefore, it is effective to give an alarm to call a service person when the jam cannot be eliminated by changing the feeding condition of the original or the transfer sheet. As a control method of the image forming apparatus, in the control method of the image forming apparatus equipped with a jam sensor for detecting the occurrence of a jam on the document or the transfer paper, the jam signal from the jam sensor is counted and the count value is counted. According to the above, there is provided a method for controlling an image forming apparatus, characterized in that it is configured to change the feeding condition of the original or the transfer sheet. Since the effect in this case is the same as that of the present invention, the description thereof is omitted here. Further, in a control method of an image forming apparatus having a number counter for detecting the number of fed originals or transfer sheets, the feeding condition of the originals or transfer sheets is changed according to the count value of the number counter. An image forming apparatus control method characterized by the above can be provided in the same manner.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, referring to the attached drawings,
Embodiments embodying the present invention will be described to provide an understanding of the present invention. Here, FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an entire image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a control block diagram thereof, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing its control procedure. The following description will focus on the characteristic features of the image forming apparatus A according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus A is roughly divided into a document reading section 1 including a document conveying path 1a, an image forming section 2 including a transfer sheet conveying path 2a, and the image forming apparatus 2 provided in the image forming section 2. The double-sided unit 3 and the paper discharge unit 4 for discharging the transfer paper after the transfer and fixing processing are provided. On the other hand, the image forming apparatus A is provided with a control device B centering on the control unit 5 shown in FIG. That is, the control unit 5 is the central processing unit CP.
The entire image forming apparatus A is controlled based on a program which is composed of U and is stored in the read-only memory ROM. The input section of the control section 5 has a plurality of jam detection sensors DJS-1, DJS-2, which are provided in the document conveyance path 1a.
.. and a plurality of jam detection sensors TJS-1, TJS-2, TJS- provided on the transfer paper transport path 2a.
The signal from 3 ... Is input. The output unit of the control unit 5 is also connected to the driver 6 of the main motor MM of the image forming unit 2 and the image forming unit 2 via a predetermined interface.
Transfer paper interval control unit 7 including a timer for determining the transfer paper feed timing, a document interval control unit 8 including a timer for determining the document feed timing of the document conveyance path 1a, and the duplex unit 3 A double-sided paper gap control unit 9 is connected to control the number of transfer paper sheets retained inside.
Further, the control unit 5 includes a memory 1 having a storage area corresponding to each of the jam detection sensors and storing the number of times (count value) of the jam detected by each jam detection sensor.
0 is provided. Next, with reference to FIG. 3, a process when a jam of each part is detected by the jam sensor will be described. Here, S1, S2, ... Are numbers of control procedures. When this program starts up, the control unit 5 causes the jam detection sensors DJS-1, DJS-2, ... Or TJS-1,
Wait until one of TJS-2 ... detects a jam (S
1). When a jam is detected by inputting a jam signal from any of the sensors, the controller 5 stops the transport system (S2). Then, the control unit 5 determines which jam sensor the jam signal is from (S3), and adds 1 to the jam count value corresponding to the sensor detecting the jam in the memory (S4). When the addition is completed, the control unit 5 calculates the ratio of the jam count value to the total number of sheets used in the copying machine, which has been accumulated so far (S5). As a result, the objective jam occurrence rate at the portion of the sensor that caused the jam is calculated. Subsequently, the control unit 5 determines whether or not the jam occurrence rate corresponding to the sensor of the jammed portion is equal to or more than a predetermined reference value (S6). If it is below a predetermined reference value, it is judged that the jam occurrence rate is not high, so
The process is returned to the procedure of S1 and waits for the next jam detection.
If it is determined in S6 that the jam occurrence rate is equal to or higher than the predetermined reference value, the predetermined paper feed condition is changed (S7). Various conditions are conceivable as the above-mentioned paper feeding conditions. For example, if a jam has occurred on the transfer paper conveyance path 2a, the timer value of the transfer paper interval control unit 7 is updated to feed the transfer paper. It is conceivable to widen the interval or control the motor driver 6 to reduce the transfer paper conveyance speed by a predetermined amount. This ensures less jams. The transfer speed of the transfer paper can be changed by adjusting the main motor MM. Further, if the jam is detected by the jam sensor TJS-1 provided on the document conveying path 1a, it is conceivable to control the timer value of the document interval control unit 8 to increase the document feeding interval. When the paper feed conditions are changed as described above, the processing is S
Return to 1 and wait until the next jam is detected.

[0006]

[Embodiment] In the above embodiment, the jam signal from the jam sensor is counted and the feeding condition of the original or the transfer paper is changed according to the count value, but this is an example. , For example, the number of sheets (the number of sheets used) fed with the original or transfer paper is measured by a sheet counter,
It is also conceivable to change the feed condition of the original or the transfer paper according to the value of the number counter. As a result, it is possible to substantially prevent the jam that occurs depending on the usage time of the document feeder. Further, the count value may be a mere integrated value, or may be a statistical value such as a jam occurrence rate per number of used sheets as in the above embodiment. Other examples of such statistic values include distribution and jam occurrence rate per usage time. Further, when the image forming apparatus is equipped with a double-sided unit for achieving the double-sided copy function as shown in FIG. 1, the double-sided paper interval control section 9 is controlled as the predetermined feeding condition. Thus, it is possible to change the number of circulating transfer sheets circulated in the double-sided unit. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, when the count value from the jam sensor exceeds the predetermined value, it is indicated that the jam cannot be resolved by changing the feed condition, so that an alarm such as a serviceman call can be issued. desirable.

[0007]

As described above, the present invention counts the jam signals from the jam sensor in the image forming apparatus equipped with the jam sensor for detecting the occurrence of the jam on the document or the transfer paper, and counts the jam signal. The image forming apparatus is configured to change the feeding condition of the original or the transfer sheet according to the value. This makes it possible to measure the fatigue of parts without
By detecting the frequent occurrence of jams, you can change the feeding conditions such as transfer paper to the direction that does not cause jams.
It becomes possible to prevent the occurrence of jams. Further, in an image forming apparatus having a number counter for detecting the number of fed originals or transfer sheets, the feeding condition of the originals or transfer sheets may be changed according to the count value of the number counter. A characteristic image forming apparatus is provided. In this case as well, as in the case of counting jam signals, the cause of frequent jams can be eliminated. As the above count value,
It is also possible to adopt predetermined statistical values such as the variance, the jam occurrence rate with respect to the number of used sheets, and the jam occurrence rate with respect to the use time. This makes it possible to objectively determine the frequency of jams. As an example of the above-mentioned feeding condition, the conveyance speed of the original document or the transfer paper can be adopted. Since the conveyance speed is the most typical cause of jam, it is possible to prevent jams efficiently by changing the conveyance speed. As another example of the above-mentioned feeding condition, it is also effective to adopt the feeding interval of the document or the transfer sheet. This is because the change in the feed interval has an effect on the response delay of the parts. As another feeding condition, when the image forming apparatus is a double-sided copying machine, it is possible to change the circulating number of transfer sheets in the double-sided unit. As a result, jamming in the double-sided unit where jamming is most likely to occur is efficiently prevented, so that jamming is prevented in the image forming apparatus as a whole. It is also important to count the jam signal from each jam sensor for each sensor. Since the occurrence of jam greatly depends on the location, it is not necessary to say that the data for each sensor provided for each location is important. It is preferable that the number of circulating sheets of transfer paper in the duplex unit is also limited based on the count value of a sensor provided in the duplex unit. Further, when the feeding condition of the original or the transfer sheet is changed according to the count value from the jam sensor, but the count value from the jam sensor further exceeds a predetermined value, an alarm is issued. Therefore, it is effective to give an alarm to call a service person when the jam cannot be eliminated by changing the feeding condition of the original or the transfer sheet. As a control method of the image forming apparatus,
In a control method of an image forming apparatus equipped with a jam sensor for detecting a jam on an original or a transfer sheet, a jam signal from the jam sensor is counted and the original or the transfer sheet is fed according to the count value. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus is provided, which is configured to change the condition. Since the effect in this case is the same as that of the present invention, the description thereof is omitted here. Further, in a control method of an image forming apparatus having a number counter for detecting the number of fed originals or transfer sheets, the feeding condition of the originals or transfer sheets is changed according to the count value of the number counter. An image forming apparatus control method characterized by the above can be provided in the same manner.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram showing a control system of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a control procedure of the control system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Original reading section 1a ... Original transport path 2 ... Image forming unit 2a ... Transfer paper transport path 3--sided unit 4 ... Paper output section 5 ... Control unit 6 ... driver 7: Transfer paper interval control unit 8: Document interval control unit 9 ... Double-sided paper gap control unit 10 ... Memory A ... Image forming apparatus B ... Control device

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yoshiki Yoshiki             Kyocera 1-22-28 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi             Within Mita Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 2H027 DA45 DA47 DB07 DC14 DC15                       DC16 DC17 EC10 ED11 ED17                       EE02 EE03 EK01 EK11 FA13                       GA30 GB07                 2H072 AA02 AA16 AA22                 3F048 AA02 AA04 AA05 AB01 AB02                       BA14 BB05 DA06 DB07 DC00                       EB29 EB30

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a jam sensor for detecting the occurrence of a jam on a document or a transfer sheet, counting jam signals from the jam sensor,
An image forming apparatus, characterized in that it is configured so as to change the feeding condition of the original document or the transfer sheet according to the count value. 2. An image forming apparatus having a number counter for detecting the number of fed originals or transfer sheets, wherein the feeding condition of the originals or transfer sheets is changed according to the count value of the number counter. An image forming apparatus characterized by the following. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the count value is a predetermined statistical value. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feeding condition is a conveyance speed of a document or a transfer sheet. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feeding condition is a feeding interval of a document or a transfer sheet. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feeding condition is the number of sheets of circulating transfer paper in a duplex unit. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the counting counts jam signals from individual jam sensors for each sensor. 8. The image according to claim 5, wherein the jam sensor is a jam sensor provided in the duplex unit, and the number of circulating sheets in the duplex unit is changed according to a count value of the jam sensor. Forming equipment. 9. An alarm is issued when the count value from the jam sensor exceeds a predetermined value even though the original or transfer sheet feed condition is changed according to the count value from the jam sensor. Claims 1 to 3
8. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 8. 10. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus having a jam sensor for detecting the occurrence of a jam on a document or a transfer sheet, wherein a jam signal from the jam sensor is counted, and the document is counted according to the count value. Alternatively, the control method of the image forming apparatus is characterized in that the transfer condition of the transfer paper is changed. 11. A method of controlling an image forming apparatus having a number counter for detecting the number of fed originals or transfer sheets, wherein the feeding condition of the originals or transfer sheets is changed according to the count value of the number counter. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus, which is configured.