JP2007145469A - Paper feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper feeder superior in paper feeding capacity while preventing the occurrence of a paper feeding error. <P>SOLUTION: A facsimile device A (the paper feeder) performs control for changing a rotating speed of a paper feeding roller 11 imparted in paper feeding operation, so as to reduce an average rotating speed for reducing the paper feeding error when a frequency failing in the paper feeding operation reaches a predetermined value (for example, one time), and to increase the average rotating speed for improving the paper feeding performance when a frequency of performing the paper feeding operation reaches a predetermined value (for example, 100 times) without making the frequency failing in the paper feeding operation reach the predetermined value, on the basis of the content of a counting area 35A of a flash memory 35. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device that performs a sheet feeding operation in which a sheet feeding roller is rotated and a loaded sheet is fed by a frictional force with the sheet feeding roller.

  The printer incorporates a paper feed roller for feeding the paper stacked on the paper set unit one by one into the inside, a stepping motor for rotating the paper feed roller, and the like. A paper sensor is provided in the middle of the paper feed path from the paper feed roller to the printing position. With this configuration, the printer has a function as a paper feeding device.

  The printer takes out the paper from the paper setting unit by rotating the paper feed roller and pressing it against the paper. However, the paper feeding operation may rarely fail because the paper is not taken out well (hereinafter referred to as the paper feeding operation). This is called a paper feed error). It is determined that the paper feed error has occurred when the paper sensor does not detect the paper even if the paper feed roller rotates to some extent by the paper feed operation. Such a paper feeding error is likely to occur day by day due to, for example, a settling of the paper feeding roller due to aging.

  For this reason, when a paper feed error occurs, a function that prevents a paper take-out error (pick miss) by slowing the rotation speed of the paper feed roller to avoid a paper feed error in the subsequent paper feed operation. (Patent Document 1 and the like) have been proposed.

JP 2002-284372 A

  However, if the rotation speed of the paper feed roller is slowed every time a paper feed error occurs, the paper feed operation takes a lot of time to avoid a paper feed error, and the paper feed capability ( There is a problem that the paper feed performance is degraded. In addition, since the possibility that a paper feed error will occur due to the settling due to the secular change of the paper feed roller increases, the paper feed capability will inevitably decrease over time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a paper feeding device having a good paper feeding capability while preventing the occurrence of paper feeding errors.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

In order to solve the above problem, a paper feeding device according to claim 1 is provided.
A sheet feeding device that performs a sheet feeding operation of rotating a sheet feeding roller and feeding a placed sheet by a frictional force with the sheet feeding roller,
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the paper is sent out by a paper feeding operation;
Storage means for storing at least two types of the number of times the paper feeding operation has been performed, the number of successful times, and the number of unsuccessful times;
With regard to the rotation pattern of the paper feed roller applied during the paper feeding operation, the paper feeding operation is performed within the range where the initial rotational speed is lower than the rotational speed of the other stage or the same as the rotational speed of the other stage. When the number of failed times reaches a predetermined value, a change is made to lower the average rotation speed, and the number of times that the paper feeding operation has been performed without reaching the predetermined value has reached a predetermined value. Change means for changing the average rotation speed to increase the case,
It is characterized by providing.

  According to this, the paper feed roller feeds the paper by frictional force, and the faster the rotation speed, the more the frictional force does not transmit well when contacting the paper, and the pick mistake is likely to occur. In the sheet feeding device of the present invention, when the number of failed sheet feeding operations reaches a predetermined value, the rotation speed of the sheet feeding roller applied during the sheet feeding operation is changed to lower the average rotation speed within the range of the above shape. By doing so, pick mistakes are less likely to occur, which in turn reduces paper feed errors. On the other hand, the distance that the paper feed roller should feed the paper is fixed, and the slower the paper feed roller rotation speed, the longer the paper feed time and the paper feed performance decreases. In the sheet feeding device according to the invention, the rotation pattern of the sheet feeding roller given during the sheet feeding operation when the number of times the sheet feeding operation has reached the predetermined value without the number of failed sheet feeding operations reaching the predetermined value is described above. The paper feed performance is improved by changing the average rotation speed within the shape range. In other words, the paper feeding device of the present invention has a function for reducing paper feeding errors and a function for improving paper feeding performance, and realizes good paper feeding performance while preventing paper feeding errors. To do.

  Also, changing the average rotation speed within the range of the above-mentioned shape of the rotation pattern of the paper feed roller applied during the paper feeding operation means that the rotation speed at the initial stage and / or the rotation speed at the other stage of the rotation pattern is the above-mentioned shape. To increase or decrease so as not to have a different shape. The reason for changing the average rotation speed within the above-described shape range will be described later.

  Also, since the number of successful paper feeding operations and the number of unsuccessful paper feeds are in conflict with each other (that is, the sum of the number of successful and unsuccessful times is the total number of paper feeding operations). If at least two types of the number of times the operation has been performed, the number of times it has succeeded, and the number of times it has failed are stored in the storage unit, the changing unit is sufficient to perform the above-described operation.

Next, the paper feeding device according to claim 2 is:
When the number of failed feeding operations reaches a predetermined value, the changing means changes the initial rotation speed of the feeding roller rotation pattern to be given during the feeding operation. When the number of paper feeding operations reaches a predetermined value without the number of paper operation failures reaching a predetermined value, it is possible to perform the reverse change.

  According to this, a paper pick mistake is most likely to occur when the paper starts moving from a stationary state, that is, it depends largely on the rotation speed of the initial stage in the rotation of the paper feed roller. When the number of times of failure reaches a predetermined value, a change in lowering the rotation speed in the initial stage is performed to make it difficult to cause a pick mistake and thus reduce paper feeding errors. On the other hand, when the number of times of feeding operation reaches a predetermined value without the number of times of feeding operation failing to reach a predetermined value, the change opposite to that (for example, the lower initial rotation speed) Is changed within a range that does not exceed the rotational speed of other stages), thereby improving the overall rotational speed and improving the paper feeding performance.

Further, the paper feeding device according to claim 3 is:
The changing means selects a rotation pattern whose average rotation speed is larger or smaller than the currently selected rotation pattern from among a plurality of rotation patterns in which the rotation speed at the initial stage changes stepwise. It can be configured to change the rotation speed of the paper feed roller applied during the paper feed operation.

  According to this, when the number of failed feeding operations reaches a predetermined value by configuring the rotation pattern to be selected from a plurality of rotation patterns in which the initial rotation speed changes stepwise The number of times the paper feeding operation was performed without reducing the paper feeding operation by reducing the paper feeding error by selecting a rotation pattern with a lower initial rotational speed. When the value reaches a predetermined value, it is possible to improve the paper feed performance by selecting a rotation pattern with a higher overall rotation speed, and to change the rotation speed of such a paper feed roller. Can be realized easily.

Next, a paper feeder according to claim 4
If the number of failed feeding operations reaches a predetermined value, the changing means changes the initial rotation speed of the feeding roller rotation pattern given during the feeding operation, or The speed of the other stage is changed so that it does not fall below the initial speed, and the number of times that the paper feeding operation has been performed without reaching the predetermined value. When the predetermined value is reached, it can be configured to perform the opposite change.

  According to this, as described above, the paper pick mistake largely depends on the rotation speed in the initial stage of the rotation of the paper feed roller, so when the number of failed paper feed operations reaches a predetermined value, By making a change to reduce the rotational speed of the stage, pick mistakes are less likely to occur, and consequently, paper feed errors are reduced. Also, if the rotational speed of the initial stage is too low, the difference between the rotational speed of the initial stage and the rotational speed of the other stages becomes large, and a paper feed error may occur due to the difference without feeding the paper that has started to move. Therefore, in order to fill the difference, the sheet feeding error is reduced by changing the rotational speed of the other stage within a range not lower than the lowered rotational speed of the initial stage.

  On the other hand, when the number of times of feeding operation reaches the predetermined value without the number of failed feeding operations reaching the predetermined value, the opposite change (for example, changing the rotation speed at other stages) Or, change the initial rotation speed, which has been lowered, within the range that does not exceed the rotation speed of the other stages) to increase the overall rotation speed and improve the paper feed performance. .

Further, the paper feeder of claim 5 is
The changing means has an average rotation speed larger than the currently selected rotation pattern from among a plurality of rotation patterns in which the rotation speed at the initial stage and the rotation speed at the other stage are alternately changed stepwise. Alternatively, by selecting a small rotation pattern, it is possible to change the rotation speed of the paper feed roller applied during the paper feed operation.

  According to this, by configuring the rotation pattern to be selected from a plurality of rotation patterns in which the rotation speed of the initial stage and the rotation speed of the other stages are alternately changed in stages, the rotation of the initial stage When the number of failed feeding operations reaches a predetermined value while preventing the difference between the rotational speed and the rotational speed at the other stage from increasing, a rotational pattern with a lower overall rotational speed is displayed. If the number of paper feeding operations reaches a predetermined value without the number of failed feeding operations reaching a predetermined value, the overall rotation speed is reduced. By selecting a rotation pattern with a rising angle, it is possible to improve sheet feeding performance, and it is possible to easily realize such a change in the rotation speed of the sheet feeding roller.

  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 A in which a paper feeder according to the present invention is incorporated. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the facsimile machine A. The facsimile machine A is provided with a composite of a printing device (inkjet system), an image reading device, a communication device, and the like. The facsimile apparatus A is connected to a personal computer or the like, functions as a so-called printer by a printing apparatus, and functions as a so-called scanner by an image reading apparatus. Also, it functions as a so-called copying machine by interlocking the printing apparatus and the image reading apparatus.

  The paper feeding device according to the present invention is incorporated in the printing device and is provided for supplying paper into the printing device. Hereinafter, the printing apparatus of the facsimile apparatus A will be described. Note that the image reading device and the communication device of the facsimile apparatus A are not related to the present invention, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  Printing apparatuses are roughly classified into a printing mechanism for performing printing and a paper transport mechanism for transporting paper. The printing mechanism detects a carriage 20 that reciprocates substantially orthogonally to the paper conveyance direction, a print head 21 provided at the lower part of the carriage 20, a slide shaft 22 that supports the carriage 20, a guide frame 23, and a movement position of the carriage 20. In addition to the linear encoder 24 and the encoder slit 25, a DC motor (not shown) for reciprocating the carriage 20 and an ink tank mounted on the carriage 20 are configured.

  The paper transport mechanism includes a paper set unit 10, a paper feed roller 11, a paper separation piece 12, a paper sensor 13, a main roller 14, a paper discharge roller 15, and a paper discharge unit 16 arranged along the paper transport path. A stepping motor (not shown) for rotating each of the rollers 11, 14, and 15 and a motor driver for driving the stepping motor are configured. Among these, the paper feeding device mainly includes the paper setting unit 10, the paper feeding roller 11, the paper separating piece 12, the paper sensor 13, and the stepping motor.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of the sheet feeding device. As shown in the figure, a plurality of sheets P are stacked on the sheet setting unit 10, and each sheet P is in a state of waiting for sheet feeding with a posture in which the leading end contacts the surface 12 a of the sheet separating piece 12. The The surface 12a of the paper separating piece 12 has surface roughness irregularities suitable for paper separation. As a result, while the paper feed roller 11 is stopped, the plurality of sheets P do not slip down because the leading ends thereof are in contact with the surface 12 a of the sheet separating piece 12.

  When the paper feed roller 11 rotates in the clockwise direction, one sheet P in contact with the paper feed roller 11 is separated so as to be bounced from the surface 12a of the paper separating piece 12, and sent out to the inside. Then, the leading edge of the fed paper P comes into contact with the paper sensor 13 to detect the paper P. The paper sensor 13 can be constituted by an optical sensor, for example, and inputs a detection signal to the CPU 30 described later. That is, the paper sensor 13 functions as a detection unit of the present invention.

  If the paper P is not detected by the paper sensor 13 even if the paper feed roller 11 rotates for a predetermined time or a predetermined amount, it is determined that a paper feed error due to a pick mistake or a paper jam has occurred. The possibility of a paper feed error occurring is not constant and changes every moment because the ambient temperature, humidity, and the like affect the rubber state of the paper feed roller 11. In particular, if the rubber of the paper feed roller 11 becomes sticky due to aging or the like, the possibility of occurrence becomes large.

  On the other hand, when the paper P is detected by the paper sensor 13, the power from the motor rotating the paper feed roller 11 is stopped, and the paper feed roller 11 continues to rotate due to inertia. In the meantime, the paper P reaches the main roller 14, is delivered to the main roller 14 to be transported next, and reaches a predetermined printing position (position of the print head 21). Thus, the paper feeding operation is completed. Note that the distance from the paper setting unit 10 to the paper sensor 13 (and hence the print head position 21) is constant, and the power to the paper feed roller 11 is stopped when the paper sensor 13 detects the paper P. Regarding the rotation of the paper feed roller 11 during the paper operation, the total number of rotations is substantially constant even if the rotation speed changes.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the facsimile apparatus A. FIG. 5 is a detailed view thereof. As shown in the figure, the facsimile machine A includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 30, an NCU (Network Control Unit) 31, a RAM (Random).
(Access Memory) 32, modem 33, ROM (Read Only Memory) 34, flash memory 35, gate array 36, codec 37, DMAC 38, reading unit 41, printing unit 42, operation unit 43, display unit 44, etc. Has been.

  The CPU 30, NCU 31, RAM 32, modem 33, ROM 34, flash memory 35, gate array 36, codec 37, and DMAC 38 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. A public telephone line 48 is connected to the NCU 31. A reading unit 41, a printing unit 42, an operation unit 43, and a display unit 44 are connected to the gate array 36.

  The CPU 30 controls the operation of the entire facsimile apparatus A. The NCU 31 is connected to the public telephone line 48 and performs communication control. 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 a program to be executed by the CPU 30. The flash memory 35 stores data and various information. The gate array 36 functions as an interface between the CPU 30 and the units 41 to 44. The codec 37 encodes and decodes facsimile data and the like. The DMAC 38 mainly writes data to and reads data from the RAM 32.

  The reading unit 41 is included in the image reading device and reads an image image from a document or the like under the control of the CPU 30. The printing unit 42 is included in the printing apparatus, and performs various operations according to the control of the CPU 30. The printing unit 42 includes a paper sensor 13, a stepping motor for rotating the rollers 11, 14, and 15, a motor driver for driving the stepping motor, and the like. The operation unit 43 includes a numeric keypad and various operation keys and transmits an input signal from the user to the CPU 30. The display unit 44 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display and displays various types of information.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the ROM 34 stores an operation program 34P to be executed by the CPU 30 in order to control the operation of the entire facsimile apparatus A. The CPU 30 reads the operation program 34P and reads the work program of the RAM 32. The memory 32W is executed as a work area. Thereby, CPU30 functions as a change means of the present invention. The flash memory 35 functions as a storage unit of the present invention. The storage means of the present invention only needs to be readable and writable. For example, an EPROM or the like can be used instead of the flash memory 35.

  That is, based on the counting area 35A of the flash memory 35, the CPU 30 reduces the average rotation speed to reduce the paper feed error when the number of failed paper feed operations reaches a predetermined value (for example, 1 time). When the number of paper feeding operations reaches a predetermined value (for example, 100 times) without the number of paper operation failures reaching a predetermined value, the average rotation speed is increased to improve the paper feeding performance. Control is performed to change the rotation speed of the paper feed roller 11 applied during the paper operation.

  The flash memory 35 is provided with a counting area 35A for storing the number of times of paper feeding operation (number of times of paper feeding) and the number of times of failure (number of times of failure). The number of paper feeds is counted every time the CPU 30 sends a drive signal to the stepping motor that rotates the paper feed roller 11 to perform the paper feed operation. The number of failures is a signal from the sheet sensor 13 indicating that the sheet has been fed out after the drive signal is sent and before the feed roller 11 rotates by a predetermined amount or until a predetermined time elapses. It is counted when no is entered.

  In addition to the number of paper feeds and the number of failures (or in place of one of them), the count area 35A can store the number of successful paper feed operations (success times). The number of successes is a signal from the paper sensor 13 indicating that the paper has been sent out after the drive signal is sent and before the paper feed roller 11 rotates by a predetermined amount or until a predetermined time elapses. It is counted when it is done. Since the sum of the number of successes and the number of failures corresponds to the number of paper feeds, if any two of these three types are stored, the number of times the paper feed operation has failed and the number of times the paper feed operation has been performed are shown. It is enough to judge.

  In addition to the counting area 35A, the flash memory 35 stores a rotation pattern setting value 35V that is a setting value of a rotation pattern to be given to the sheet feeding roller 11 during a sheet feeding operation. This is because the CPU 30 first reads the rotation pattern setting value 35V (1 to 7) from the flash memory 35 and then corresponds to the setting value when the CPU 30 sends a drive signal for performing the paper feeding operation. The rotation pattern data (first pattern to seventh pattern) is read from a rotation pattern data table (details will be described later) of the ROM 34, and a drive signal is sent based on the read data. The CPU 30 changes the rotation pattern setting value 35V when changing the rotation speed of the paper feed roller 11.

  The ROM 34 stores a rotation pattern data table 34D (rotation pattern storage means). As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of rotation pattern data to be given to the paper feed roller 11 during the paper feed operation is stored. Here, the rotation pattern is a rotation sequence (rotation speed of the paper feed roller 11 at each time) given to the paper feed roller 11 during the paper feed operation as shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, for example. The pattern data is a pulse signal frequency sequence (frequency of the pulse signal at each time) given to the stepping motor that rotates the paper feed roller 11 in order to realize such a rotation pattern. Note that the transmission of the pulse signal ends when the paper sensor 13 detects the paper P as described above.

  The rotation pattern table 34D stores a plurality of rotation pattern data (seven types in the present embodiment: first to seventh pattern data), and the average rotation speeds applied to the paper feed rollers 11 are different from each other. It has become. That is, in the rotation pattern data, the first pattern has the highest average rotation speed, the average rotation speed gradually decreases from the first pattern to the seventh pattern, and the seventh pattern has the lowest average rotation speed. For this reason, a paper feed error tends to occur on the first pattern side, and a paper feed error hardly occurs on the seventh pattern side. The first pattern side has a high paper feed performance, and the seventh pattern side has a low paper feed performance. Hereinafter, an example of the rotation pattern will be described. Each of these rotation patterns has a shape in which the rotation speed at the initial stage is lower than the rotation speed at the other stage or the same as the rotation speed at the other stage.

  A first example of the rotation pattern is shown in FIG. According to this, in the first to seventh patterns, when the rotational speed rises to a predetermined speed, the speed is maintained. Thereafter, when the paper sensor 13 detects the paper P, the transmission of the pulse signal is stopped and the rotation speed is reduced. That is, the first to seventh patterns are trapezoidal sequences. From the first pattern to the seventh pattern, the rotational speed (the rotational speed of the upper side of the trapezoidal shape) gradually decreases, and it becomes possible to further reduce paper feeding errors as the pattern moves toward the seventh pattern side. Yes.

  In addition, since the distance from the paper setting unit 10 to the paper sensor 13 is constant and the paper sensor 13 detects the paper P, the power to the paper feed roller 11 is stopped. The total number of revolutions is substantially constant. Therefore, the rotation time increases from the first pattern to the seventh pattern so as to compensate for the decrease in the rotation speed (that is, the area of the trapezoid is almost constant). For this reason, the sheet feeding performance is reduced as it becomes the seventh pattern side (in other words, the sheet feeding performance can be improved as it becomes the first pattern side).

  Then, for example, when the third pattern is set as the rotation pattern to be given to the sheet feeding roller 11 (when the rotation pattern setting value 35V is 3), the CPU 30 determines that the number of times the sheet feeding operation has failed is predetermined. When the value reaches a value (for example, once), a fourth pattern that can reduce the paper feeding error is set (the number of the rotation pattern setting value 35V is increased by 1 to 4). On the other hand, the number of times when the paper feeding operation has been performed without reaching the predetermined value has reached a predetermined value (for example, 100 times), and the paper feeding performance can be improved more than that. A pattern is set (the number of the rotation pattern setting value 35V is reduced by 1 to 2). The same applies to the cases of the second example and the third example.

  A second example of the rotation pattern is shown in FIG. According to this, the first pattern has a trapezoidal sequence as described above. Next, in the second to fourth patterns, the initial rotational speed gradually decreases from the trapezoidal sequence in the first pattern. That is, when the rotational speed rises to the first speed, the first speed is maintained for a predetermined time (for the initial stage), then rises to a second speed that is greater than the first speed, Maintain a speed of 2 (remaining steps). Thereafter, when the paper sensor 13 detects the paper P, the transmission of the pulse signal is stopped and the rotation speed is reduced. The first speed gradually decreases from the first to the fourth pattern. By reducing the rotation speed in the initial stage in this way, pick mistakes are less likely to occur, so that it is possible to reduce paper feeding errors as the fourth pattern side is reached. Here, the “initial stage” can be, for example, about 1/5 to 1/2 of the upper side of the trapezoidal sequence of the first pattern.

  Next, in the fifth to seventh patterns, the rotational speeds of the remaining stages except the initial stage are gradually decreased (that is, the second speed is gradually decreased). Here, lowering the rotation speed of the remaining stages is that no further effect can be expected even if the rotation speed of the initial stage is lowered from the state of the fourth pattern, and the rotation speed between the initial stage and the other stages. This is because there is a possibility that a paper feed error is likely to occur due to a large difference between the two. Thus, by lowering the rotational speed at the other stage, it is possible to further reduce paper feeding errors as the pattern moves toward the seventh pattern side.

  Note that such a rotation pattern in which the rotation speed changes stepwise is such that the rotation speed is once reduced between the initial stage and other stages as shown in the modified examples of FIGS. 10A and 10B, for example. It can also be configured as follows. That is, a trapezoidal sequence as an initial stage and a trapezoidal sequence as another stage can be configured to be continuous. With this configuration, it is possible to more reliably carry out the paper mainly in the initial stage and mainly carry the paper in the other stages, and a paper feed error occurs due to a sudden change in the rotational speed. You can eliminate the fear. The same applies to the third example.

  FIG. 9 shows a third example of the rotation pattern. According to this, the first pattern has a trapezoidal sequence as described above. Next, in the second pattern, similarly to the above, the initial rotational speed is lowered from the trapezoidal sequence in the first pattern. Next, in the third pattern, the rotational speeds of the other stages are reduced within a range that does not fall below the initial stage rotational speed that is lowered in the second pattern (up to the same rotational speed as the initial stage in this embodiment). In this way, by changing the rotational speed of the other stage within a range that does not fall below the initial rotational speed, the difference between the rotational speed of the initial stage and the rotational speed of the other stage becomes large. This makes it possible to prevent pick mistakes and reduce paper feeding errors. After the fourth pattern, as in the second and third patterns, first, the rotation speed at the initial stage is first lowered, and then the rotation speed at the other stage is alternately lowered.

  The operation of the facsimile apparatus A will be described. FIGS. 11 and 12 are flowcharts relating to a paper feed process performed by the printing apparatus of the facsimile apparatus A. FIG. The printing apparatus of the facsimile apparatus A starts the paper feeding process when receiving a facsimile, receiving a print command from a connected personal computer, etc., operating the operation unit 43 and receiving a copy command. To do.

  The flowchart of FIG. 11 will be described. When the paper feed process starts, the CPU 30 first performs a paper feed condition setting process S1 (see FIG. 12; details will be described later). Here, the paper feed conditions are set based on the number of failed paper feed operations stored in the flash memory 35 and the number of times the paper feed operation has been performed. Specifically, the CPU 30 sets the paper feed condition by changing or maintaining the rotation pattern setting value 35V of the flash memory 35. Here, the rotation pattern setting value 35V corresponds to any of the rotation pattern data (first to seventh rotation patterns) stored in the rotation pattern table 34D of the ROM 34.

  Next, the CPU 30 sends a pulse signal to the stepping motor to perform the paper feeding operation (S2). That is, the rotation pattern setting value 35V is read from the flash memory 35, the corresponding rotation pattern data (any one of the first to seventh rotation patterns) is read from the rotation pattern data table 34D of the ROM 34, and the frequency corresponding to the data is read. Is sent to a stepping motor that rotates the paper feed roller 11.

  Next, the CPU 30 determines whether a paper feed error has occurred (S3). That is, it is determined whether or not a signal for detecting the paper P is input from the paper sensor 13 during a certain period of time after the pulse signal is sent, and if the input is received, the paper is sent out. Therefore, it is assumed that a paper feed error has not occurred (S3: NO). If no input is received, it is assumed that a paper feed error has occurred because the paper has not been sent (S3: YES).

  If no paper feed error has occurred (S3: NO), the CPU 30 adds 1 to the number of paper feeds stored in the counting area 35A of the flash memory 35 in order to count the number of paper feed operations (S4). ). On the other hand, when a paper feed error has occurred (S4: YES), the number of paper feeds and the number of failures stored in the counting area 35A of the flash memory 35 are counted in order to count the number of times of failure along with the number of paper feed operations. Add 1 to each (S5).

  Thus, the paper feed process is completed. When the next paper feed process is started, the number of paper feeds stored in the counting area 35A of the flash memory 35 in the paper feed process (and the number of failures when a paper feed error occurs) is reflected. The paper feed conditions are determined in the form.

  If a paper feed error has occurred (S4: YES), the number of paper feed operations and the number of failures are counted (S5), the process returns to the beginning (→ S1), and the paper feed process is started again. It can also be configured as follows. According to this, when a paper feed error occurs, the paper feed operation can be resumed promptly.

  The flowchart of FIG. 12 will be described. As described above, when the paper feed process is started, the paper feed condition setting process S1 shown in FIG. 12 is started. In the paper feed condition setting process S1, the CPU 30 first determines whether or not the number of failures stored in the counting area 35A of the flash memory 35 exceeds a predetermined value (once in this embodiment) (S11).

  Next, when the number of failures exceeds the predetermined number (S11: YES), the CPU 30 changes the rotation pattern setting value 35V stored in the flash memory 35 (S13). On the other hand, if the number of failures does not exceed the predetermined number (S11: NO), the CPU 30 determines whether the number of paper feeds stored in the counting area 35A of the flash memory 35 exceeds a predetermined value (100 in this embodiment). It is determined whether or not (S15).

  If the number of paper feeds exceeds the predetermined value (S15: YES), the CPU 30 changes the rotation pattern setting value 35V stored in the flash memory 35 (S16). On the other hand, if the number of paper feeds does not exceed the predetermined value (S15: NO), the process returns without changing the rotation pattern setting value 35V. In this way, the rotation pattern of the paper feed roller 11 is regularly optimized.

  More specifically, when the number of failures exceeds a predetermined value (S11: YES), the CPU 30 adds 1 to the rotation pattern setting value 35V stored in the flash memory 35, thereby causing a paper feeding error more. The rotation pattern data (seventh pattern data side) that can be reduced is set to be used for the paper feeding operation (S13). After the rotation pattern setting value 35V is set, the contents of the counting area 35A of the flash memory 35 are initialized (S14), and a new sheet feeding operation is performed in order to obtain the ratio of the succeeding sheet feeding operation in the subsequent sheet feeding processing. Count the number of times and the number of failures.

  On the other hand, when the number of failures does not exceed the predetermined value (S11: NO) and the number of paper feeds exceeds the predetermined value (S15: YES), the CPU 30 is stored in the flash memory 35. 1 is subtracted from the rotation pattern setting value 35V, and rotation pattern data (first pattern data side) with higher paper feed performance is set to be used for the paper feed operation (S16). After setting the rotation pattern setting value 35V, the contents of the counting area 35A of the flash memory 35 are initialized (S17), and a new paper feed is performed in order to obtain the rate at which the paper feed operation succeeded in the subsequent paper feed processing. Count the number of times and the number of failures.

  In addition, when there is no room to increase or decrease the rotation pattern setting value 35V, for example, when the rotation pattern setting value 35V reaches 7 in the state of 7 (corresponding to the seventh pattern data), or the rotation pattern setting value 35V is When S1 is reached in the state of 1 (corresponding to the first pattern data), the rotation pattern set value 35V is not changed.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these forms, In the range of the same identity as the invention embodied in these, it can change suitably and can implement.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a facsimile machine in which the paper feeding device according to the present invention is incorporated. Sectional view showing internal structure of facsimile machine 2 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. Block diagram showing circuit configuration of facsimile machine Detailed view of FIG. Illustration of rotation pattern data The figure which shows the 1st example of a rotation pattern The figure which shows the 2nd example of a rotation pattern The figure which shows the 3rd example of a rotation pattern The figure which shows the modification of a rotation pattern Flow chart showing paper feed processing Flow chart showing paper feed condition setting processing

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Paper setting part 11 Paper feed roller 12 Paper separation piece 13 Paper sensor 14 Main roller 21 Print head 30 CPU (change means)
31 NCU
32 RAM
32W Work memory 33 Modem 34 ROM
34P Operation program 34D Rotation pattern data table 35 Flash memory (storage means)
35A Counting area 35V Rotation pattern set value 36 Gate array 37 Codec 38 DMAC
41 Reading unit 42 Printing unit 43 Operation unit 44 Display unit 47 Bus line 48 Public telephone line A Fax machine P Paper

Claims (5)

A sheet feeding device that performs a sheet feeding operation of rotating a sheet feeding roller and feeding a placed sheet by a frictional force with the sheet feeding roller,
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the paper is sent out by the paper feeding operation;
Storage means for storing at least two types of the number of times the paper feeding operation has been performed, the number of times it has succeeded, and the number of times it has failed;
With respect to the rotation pattern of the sheet feeding roller provided during the sheet feeding operation, the initial stage rotational speed is in a shape that is lower than the rotational speed of the other stage or the same range as the rotational speed of the other stage. When the number of failed sheet feeding operations reaches a predetermined value, a change is made to lower the average rotation speed, and the number of times the sheet feeding operation has been performed without reaching the predetermined value for the number of failed sheet feeding operations is predetermined. A change means for changing the average rotation speed when the value is reached;
A sheet feeding device comprising:   When the number of times of failure in the paper feeding operation reaches a predetermined value, the changing means performs a change to reduce an initial rotation speed among rotation patterns of the paper feeding roller to be given during the paper feeding operation, On the other hand, when the number of times of performing the paper feeding operation reaches a predetermined value without the number of times of failure of the paper feeding operation reaching a predetermined value, the reverse of the change is performed. apparatus.   The changing means selects a rotation pattern having an average rotation speed larger or smaller than the currently selected rotation pattern from among a plurality of rotation patterns in which the rotation speed at the initial stage changes stepwise. The sheet feeding device according to claim 2, wherein a rotation speed of the sheet feeding roller applied during the sheet feeding operation is changed.   If the number of times of failure in the paper feeding operation reaches a predetermined value, the changing means performs a change to reduce an initial rotation speed among the rotation patterns of the paper feeding roller provided during the paper feeding operation. Alternatively, a change is made to lower the rotational speed of the other stage within a range that does not fall below the initial rotational speed that has been lowered, while the paper feeding operation is performed without the number of failed feeding operations reaching a predetermined value. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein when the number of times reaches a predetermined value, a change opposite to that is performed. The changing means has an average rotation speed larger than the currently selected rotation pattern from among a plurality of rotation patterns in which the rotation speed at the initial stage and the rotation speed at the other stage are alternately changed in stages. Alternatively, the sheet feeding device according to claim 4, wherein a rotation speed of the sheet feeding roller applied during the sheet feeding operation is changed by selecting a small rotation pattern.

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