JP2007054962A - Method for controlling image forming apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for controlling an image forming apparatus capable of accurately detecting jamming in the case where the image forming apparatus is equipped with a paper intermittent feeding means. <P>SOLUTION: There is disclosed the method for controlling the image forming apparatus equipped with the intermittent paper feeding means in synchronism with a carriage mechanism that reciprocally moves a print head in a main scanning direction. During a time period while the paper conveyance means intermittently conveys the paper sheet, counting of a paper jamming detection timer is started from a through-up starting time point of a drive motor for the paper conveyance means and is stopped at a through-down starting time point of the drive motor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a control method and an image forming apparatus for an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet conveying unit that intermittently drives a sheet in synchronization with a carriage mechanism that reciprocally moves a print head in a main scanning direction.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus equipped with a sheet conveying unit that intermittently drives a sheet in synchronization with a carriage mechanism that reciprocates a print head in the main scanning direction, for example, an ink jet printer, a recording sheet is conveyed. , “Transfer → Stop” is repeated, and intermittent driving is performed.

  On the other hand, in such an image forming apparatus, as a control for detecting a jam, a time from when a paper sensor for detecting paper is turned on to when it is turned off is determined based on the in-machine layout and the paper length, and the recording paper is conveyed. The paper jam detection timer that counts the elapsed time of conveyance is updated when the recording paper is stopped, and when the recording paper is stopped, the paper jam detection timer is stopped, and the time value of the paper jam detection timer is When the set time is exceeded, a jam is detected.

  At this time, if the control is such that the timer update is started when the motor driving is started and the timer update is stopped when the motor is stopped, the through-up and through-down of the motor that is the driving source of the paper conveying means is performed. In the period, an error of a portion where the conveyance speed is slow is accumulated. This error increases as the number of intermittent drives increases, and as a result, highly accurate jam detection becomes impossible.

Inkjet printing apparatuses include those disclosed in Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3 as jams.
JP 2005-96409 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-7820 JP 2004-155111 A

  However, the purpose of those disclosed in Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3 is to suppress the occurrence of jamming and facilitate the removal of the recording paper after the jamming occurs. Not.

  Therefore, it is difficult to detect a jam with high accuracy when the paper conveying means for intermittent conveyance is provided.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a control method for an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can accurately detect a jam when a paper transport unit that intermittently transports the paper is provided. And

  The present invention relates to a control method of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet conveying unit that intermittently conveys and drives a sheet in synchronization with a carriage mechanism that reciprocates a print head in the main scanning direction. During the transport driving period, the paper jam detection timer starts counting from the start of the through-up of the drive motor of the paper transport means, and stops counting of the paper jam detection timer when the through-down of the drive motor starts. It is a thing.

  Further, in the control method of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet conveying unit that intermittently conveys and drives a sheet in synchronization with a carriage mechanism that reciprocates the print head in the main scanning direction, the sheet conveying unit drives the sheet intermittently. In this period, the paper jam detection timer starts counting when a first predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the through-up of the drive motor of the paper transport means, and the second predetermined from the start of the through-down of the drive motor. The count of the paper jam detection timer is stopped when the time has elapsed.

  Further, in the control method of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet conveying unit that intermittently conveys and drives a sheet in synchronization with a carriage mechanism that reciprocates the print head in the main scanning direction, the sheet conveying unit drives the sheet intermittently. In this period, the paper jam detection timer starts counting when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of through-up of the drive motor of the paper transport means, and the paper jam detection timer of the paper transport detection timer starts at the start of through-down of the drive motor. The count is stopped.

  Further, in the control method of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet conveying unit that intermittently conveys and drives a sheet in synchronization with a carriage mechanism that reciprocates the print head in the main scanning direction, the sheet conveying unit drives the sheet intermittently. In this period, the paper jam detection timer starts counting at the time when the drive motor of the paper conveying means starts to be slewed up, and when the predetermined time elapses after the drive motor starts to slew down, The count is stopped.

  Further, when the transport unit includes a plurality of motors, the count start timing and the count stop timing of the paper jam detection timer are set based on the through-up characteristic or the through-down characteristic of the motor. is there.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus provided with a sheet conveying unit that intermittently drives the sheet in synchronization with a carriage mechanism that reciprocates the print head in the main scanning direction, the sheet conveying unit drives the sheet intermittently. During the period, the paper jam detection timer starts counting from the start of the through-up of the drive motor of the paper transport unit, and the control unit stops the counting of the paper jam detection timer at the start of the drive motor through-down It is.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus provided with a sheet conveying unit that intermittently drives the sheet in synchronization with a carriage mechanism that reciprocates the print head in the main scanning direction, the sheet conveying unit drives the sheet intermittently. In the period, the paper jam detection timer starts counting when the first predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the through-up of the drive motor of the paper transport means, and the second predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the through-down of the drive motor. And a control unit for stopping the counting of the paper jam detection timer at the time when the paper jam is detected.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus provided with a sheet conveying unit that intermittently drives the sheet in synchronization with a carriage mechanism that reciprocates the print head in the main scanning direction, the sheet conveying unit drives the sheet intermittently. During the period, the paper jam detection timer starts counting when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of through-up of the drive motor of the paper transport means, and stops counting of the paper jam detection timer at the start of through-down of the drive motor The control means to perform is provided.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus provided with a sheet conveying unit that intermittently drives the sheet in synchronization with a carriage mechanism that reciprocates the print head in the main scanning direction, the sheet conveying unit drives the sheet intermittently. During the period, the paper jam detection timer starts counting at the start of the through-up of the drive motor of the paper transport means, and stops counting at the time when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of through-down of the drive motor. The control means to perform is provided.

  Further, when the transport unit includes a plurality of motors, the count start timing and the count stop timing of the paper jam detection timer of the control unit are set based on the through-up characteristic or the through-down characteristic of the motor. It is what is done.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the error between the actual conveyance time and the count time of the paper jam detection timer, which is caused by the through-up characteristic or the through-down characteristic of the motor. It can be carried out.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of an ink jet printer apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, a system control unit 1 performs various operation controls such as control of the overall operation of the printer apparatus, and an image processing unit 2 performs various image processes performed by the printer apparatus. The clock signal generator 3 is for generating various clock signals necessary for the operation of the printer apparatus.

  The external communication interface circuit 4 is for connecting to a host device (for example, a personal computer device), and the communication control unit 5 is connected to the host device connected via the external communication interface circuit 4. It is for performing a predetermined communication operation and exchanging print data and the like.

  The print head 6 is formed by arranging a plurality of ink ejection openings arranged in the sub-scanning direction in the main scanning direction for each chromaticity for color printing. This is for controlling the printing operation of the head 6.

  The head carriage 8 is mounted with the print head 6 and reciprocates the print head 6 in the main scanning direction of the paper. The head carriage drive unit 9 is for driving the head carriage 8.

  The recording paper conveyance roller 10 is for conveying recording paper (not shown), and is driven by a recording paper conveyance motor 11. The recording paper transport unit 12 is for driving the recording paper transport motor 11.

  The recording paper sensor 13 is for detecting the recording paper on the recording paper conveyance path.

  In such a printer device, the page data is divided into a plurality of strip regions (hereinafter referred to as bands) in the main scanning direction and printed by a writing operation when the print head 6 is moved once in the main scanning direction. For this reason, the recording paper is transported intermittently, which is repeatedly transported and stopped. At the time of driving, for example, as shown in FIG. 2A, the recording paper transport motor 11 is driven by a control of “through up → steady speed → through down”.

  Then, the system determines the time from when the paper sensor 13 is turned on to when it is turned off based on the in-machine layout and the paper length as control for detecting the jam. The paper jam detection timer is counted, and when the recording paper is stopped, the paper jam detection timer is stopped.When the time value of the paper jam detection timer exceeds the set time, the jam is detected. The occurrence is detected.

  Here, in the case of a laser type printing apparatus, since the number of times of stopping the recording paper is small in the middle, the slowness of the linear speed at the time of motor through-up and through-down is slightly smaller than the margin for jam detection. It only has an effect.

  On the other hand, in the ink jet printer as in the present embodiment, intermittent driving occurs during the printing operation, so that the slowness of the linear speed at the time of through-up and through-down is accumulated, and finally jam detection is performed. Will affect the accuracy of.

  Therefore, for example, when counting the jam detection timer, the count is started from the time t1 when the recording paper conveyance motor 11 starts to slew up, and the count of the jam detection timer is stopped at the time t2 when the recording paper conveyance motor 11 starts to slew down. To do.

  As a result, the slow-down speed of the through-up is canceled by stopping the jam detection timer early.

  By the way, depending on the type of the recording paper transport motor 11, as shown in FIG. 2B, the through-up characteristic is gentle and the through-down characteristic is steep, or as shown in FIG. Some have a sharp through-up characteristic and a gentle through-down characteristic.

  For the recording paper transport motor 11 having different through-up and through-down characteristics in this way, “the count starts from the start of the through-up of the recording paper transport motor 11 and the through-down of the recording paper transport motor 11 starts. When the jam detection timer count operation such as “stops the count of the jam detection timer at” is performed, errors due to the difference between the through-up characteristic and the through-down characteristic are accumulated, and the accurate jam detection operation cannot be performed.

  Therefore, the recording paper transport motor 11 having different through-up characteristics and through-down characteristics as described above is the same as a motor having standard through-up characteristics and through-down characteristics as shown in FIG. The jam detection timer counts at the timing.

  That is, for one intermittent drive operation, the jam detection timer starts counting at time t1 when the through-up starts, and the jam detection timer count is stopped at time t2.

  Accordingly, even when the recording paper transport motor 11 having different through-up characteristics and through-down characteristics is used, the jam detection timer can be appropriately counted, and as a result, accurate jam detection operation can be performed. It becomes possible.

  Further, when the recording paper transport motor 11 has a gentle through-up characteristic and a steep through-down characteristic (see FIG. 3A), for example, as shown in FIG. Then, the time point t11 is set so that the area SA in the characteristic diagram from the start of counting down the jam detection timer to the time point t11 is equal to the area SB in the characteristic diagram from the start of through-down to the stop. As a result, the correspondence between the actual conveyance distance and the count value of the jam detection timer can be made to coincide with each other with high accuracy. In this case, the count operation of the jam detection timer is stopped at time t12 when the through-down is started.

  Further, when the recording paper transport motor 11 has a steep through-up characteristic and a gentle through-down characteristic (see FIG. 4A), for example, as shown in FIG. Then, the time point t22 at which the count operation of the jam detection timer is stopped is set so that the area SC in the characteristic diagram until the steady speed is reached and the area SD (in the characteristic diagram) until the motor stops (equal to the characteristic diagram). As a result, the correspondence between the actual conveyance distance and the count value of the jam detection timer can be made to coincide with each other with high accuracy. In this case, the count operation of the jam detection timer is started at time t21 when the through-up is started.

  Alternatively, in the case of a motor having a standard slew-up characteristic and a slew-down characteristic (see FIG. 5A), as shown in FIG. 5B, the area SK1 of the inclined portion slewing up in the characteristic diagram. Time t1 'when the area SK2 becomes equal to the area SK2 is defined as the count start timing of the jam detection timer, and the time t2' when the area SN1 and the area SN2 of the sloped portion that is through-down in the characteristic diagram becomes equal Even if it is determined as follows, the correspondence relationship between the actual transport distance and the count value of the jam detection timer can be made to coincide with each other with high accuracy.

  In this case, FIG. 6 shows an example of the count operation of the jam detection timer that is repeatedly executed at a predetermined time period during the period in which the recording paper is intermittently conveyed.

  First, the jam detection timer is enabled and can be counted from the time point t1 (, t11, t12, t1 ') to the time point t2 (, t12, t22, t2').

  Therefore, first, the jam detection timer checks whether or not it is suspended (decision 101). If the result of determination 101 is NO in a state where it is enabled and enabled to count, the jam detection timer is incremented (processing). 102) It is checked whether or not the count value of the jam detection timer is larger than a predetermined jam confirmation value (determination 103).

  When the result of determination 103 is YES, the fact that a jam has occurred is detected and notified (process 104), and this process ends.

  When the result of determination 103 is NO, the process at this time is terminated. When the result of determination 101 is YES, the process at this time is terminated.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where one recording paper transport roller 10 is provided in the recording paper transport path has been described. Next, the recording paper transport roller is provided as in a medium to large-sized ink jet printer apparatus. A case where a plurality are provided will be described.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the configuration of an ink jet printer apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this case, a plurality of recording paper transport rollers are provided. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 and corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the figure, a system control unit 1 performs various operation controls such as control of the overall operation of the printer apparatus, and an image processing unit 2 performs various image processes performed by the printer apparatus. The clock signal generator 3 is for generating various clock signals necessary for the operation of the printer apparatus.

  The external communication interface circuit 4 is for connecting to a host device (for example, a personal computer device), and the communication control unit 5 is connected to the host device connected via the external communication interface circuit 4. It is for performing a predetermined communication operation and exchanging print data and the like.

  The print head 6 is formed by arranging a plurality of ink ejection openings arranged in the sub-scanning direction in the main scanning direction for each chromaticity for color printing. This is for controlling the printing operation of the head 6.

  The head carriage 8 is mounted with the print head 6 and reciprocates the print head 6 in the main scanning direction of the paper. The head carriage drive unit 9 is for driving the head carriage 8.

  The recording paper transport rollers 10a, 10b, and 10c are for transporting recording paper (not shown), and are driven by recording paper transport motors 11a, 11b, and 11c, respectively. The recording paper transport unit 12 is for driving the recording paper transport motors 11a, 11b, and 11c.

  The recording paper sensor 13 is for detecting the recording paper on the recording paper conveyance path.

  In the case of such an apparatus, when the jam detection timer is applied by driving the recording paper transport motors 11a, 11b, and 11c, the count control operation as described above is performed.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the configuration of an inkjet printer apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In this case, a plurality of recording paper transport rollers are provided. In the figure, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIGS. 1 and 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the figure, a system control unit 1 performs various operation controls such as control of the overall operation of the printer apparatus, and an image processing unit 2 performs various image processes performed by the printer apparatus. The clock signal generator 3 is for generating various clock signals necessary for the operation of the printer apparatus.

  The external communication interface circuit 4 is for connecting to a host device (for example, a personal computer device), and the communication control unit 5 is connected to the host device connected via the external communication interface circuit 4. It is for performing a predetermined communication operation and exchanging print data and the like.

  The print head 6 is formed by arranging a plurality of ink ejection openings arranged in the sub-scanning direction in the main scanning direction for each chromaticity for color printing. This is for controlling the printing operation of the head 6.

  The head carriage 8 is mounted with the print head 6 and reciprocates the print head 6 in the main scanning direction of the paper. The head carriage drive unit 9 is for driving the head carriage 8.

  The recording paper transport rollers 10a, 10b, 10ca, 10cb and 10cc are for transporting recording paper (not shown), and the recording paper transport rollers 10a and 10b are driven by recording paper transport motors 11a and 11b, respectively. The

  The recording paper transport rollers 10ca, 10cb, and 10cc are driven by the recording paper transport motor 11c through the transmission mechanism 15.

  The recording paper transport unit 12 is for driving the recording paper transport motors 11a, 11b, and 11c.

  The recording paper sensor 13 is for detecting the recording paper on the recording paper conveyance path.

  In the case of such an apparatus, when the jam detection timer is applied by driving the recording paper transport motors 11a, 11b, and 11c, the count control operation as described above is performed.

  In the case of a medium to large-sized apparatus in which a plurality of recording papers exist in the machine, if the recording paper being written enters the area of the paper discharge motor, the paper discharge motor It is also necessary to drive intermittently. At this time, if the recording paper that has already been written is being conveyed by the same paper ejection motor, the other motors used to transport the recording paper that is being ejected are also intermittent. It is necessary to drive.

  On the other hand, if the subsequent recording paper is fed and conveyed, and the motor used for control is independent, this conveyance does not drive intermittently. At this point, jam detection is performed according to intermittent driving. Does not control the timer.

1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an ink jet printer apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The graph for demonstrating the count start timing and count stop timing of a jam detection timer (profile profile figure of a motor). The graph for demonstrating the count start timing and count stop timing of a jam detection timer in the case of a motor with a gentle through-up characteristic and a sharp through-down characteristic. The graph for demonstrating the count start timing and count stop timing of a jam detection timer in case of a motor with a sharp through-up characteristic and a gentle through-down characteristic. The graph for demonstrating the other aspect of the count start timing and count stop timing of a jam detection timer (profile profile figure of a motor). 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a count operation of a jam detection timer that is repeatedly executed at a predetermined time period during a period in which recording paper is intermittently conveyed. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an ink jet printer apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which showed an example of the structure of the printer apparatus of the inkjet system concerning the further another Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 System control part 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10ca, 10cb, 10cc Recording paper conveyance roller 11, 11a, 11b, 11c Recording paper conveyance motor 13 Recording paper sensor 15 Transmission mechanism

Claims (10)

In a control method of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet conveying unit that intermittently drives a sheet in synchronization with a carriage mechanism that reciprocates a print head in the main scanning direction,
During the period in which the paper transport means is intermittently driving the paper, the paper jam detection timer starts counting from the start of through-up of the drive motor of the paper transport means, and when the through-down of the drive motor starts A control method for an image forming apparatus, characterized in that counting of a jam detection timer is stopped. In a control method of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet conveying unit that intermittently drives a sheet in synchronization with a carriage mechanism that reciprocates a print head in the main scanning direction,
During the period in which the paper transporting unit is intermittently driving the paper, the paper jam detection timer starts counting when a first predetermined time has elapsed from the start of through-up of the drive motor of the paper transporting unit, A control method for an image forming apparatus, characterized in that counting of the paper jam detection timer is stopped when a second predetermined time has elapsed from the start of through-down of a drive motor. In a control method of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet conveying unit that intermittently drives a sheet in synchronization with a carriage mechanism that reciprocates a print head in the main scanning direction,
During the period in which the paper conveying means is intermittently driving the paper, the paper jam detection timer starts counting when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the through-up of the drive motor of the paper conveying means. A control method for an image forming apparatus, wherein counting of the paper jam detection timer is stopped at the start of through-down. In a control method of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet conveying unit that intermittently drives a sheet in synchronization with a carriage mechanism that reciprocates a print head in the main scanning direction,
During the period in which the paper transporting unit is intermittently driving the paper, the paper jam detection timer starts counting at the start of the through-up of the drive motor of the paper transporting unit, and a predetermined time from the start of the through-down of the drive motor. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus, wherein the count of the paper jam detection timer is stopped when a period of time elapses.   When the transport unit includes a plurality of motors, the count start timing and the count stop timing of the paper jam detection timer are set based on a through-up characteristic or a through-down characteristic of the motor. The method of controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, or claim 4. In an image forming apparatus including a sheet conveying unit that intermittently drives a sheet in synchronization with a carriage mechanism that reciprocates a print head in the main scanning direction.
During the period in which the paper transport means is intermittently driving the paper, the paper jam detection timer starts counting from the start of through-up of the drive motor of the paper transport means, and when the through-down of the drive motor starts An image forming apparatus comprising control means for stopping counting of a jam detection timer. In an image forming apparatus including a sheet conveying unit that intermittently drives a sheet in synchronization with a carriage mechanism that reciprocates a print head in the main scanning direction.
During the period in which the paper transporting unit is intermittently driving the paper, the paper jam detection timer starts counting when a first predetermined time has elapsed from the start of through-up of the drive motor of the paper transporting unit, An image forming apparatus comprising: control means for stopping counting of the paper jam detection timer when a second predetermined time has elapsed from the start of through-down of the drive motor. In an image forming apparatus including a sheet conveying unit that intermittently drives a sheet in synchronization with a carriage mechanism that reciprocates a print head in the main scanning direction.
During the period in which the paper conveying means is intermittently driving the paper, the paper jam detection timer starts counting when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the through-up of the drive motor of the paper conveying means. An image forming apparatus comprising control means for stopping counting of the paper jam detection timer at the start of through-down. In an image forming apparatus including a sheet conveying unit that intermittently drives a sheet in synchronization with a carriage mechanism that reciprocates a print head in the main scanning direction.
During the period in which the paper transporting unit is intermittently driving the paper, the paper jam detection timer starts counting at the start of the through-up of the drive motor of the paper transporting unit, and a predetermined time from the start of the through-down of the drive motor. An image forming apparatus comprising control means for stopping the count of the paper jam detection timer when the time elapses.   When the transport unit includes a plurality of motors, the count start timing and the count stop timing of the paper jam detection timer of the control unit are set based on the through-up characteristic or the through-down characteristic of the motor. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, claim 7, claim 8, or claim 9.

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