JP2008065178A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system capable of efficiently performing jammed paper removing disposal in a sheet post-processing device. <P>SOLUTION: The CPU 540 of the sheet post-processing device 500 judges the propriety of jammed paper removing disposal of its own, and informs the CPU 201 of an image forming apparatus 100 that the jammed paper removing disposal is finished. The CPU 201 of the image forming apparatus 100 instructs the sheet post-processing device 500 to cancel the jammed paper removing disposal based on jammed paper removing disposal finishing information informed from the sheet post-processing device 500. When the jammed paper removing disposal need not be performed, the sheet post-processing device 500 informs the image forming apparatus 100 that the jammed paper removing disposal is finished without performing anything. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a sheet post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as sorting and stapling on sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a sheet post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as sorting and stapling, when an abnormality such as a paper jam (jam) occurs, the sheet post-processing apparatus itself determines the state of the apparatus, and this is determined as an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus manages the state of the entire image forming system.

Further, when clearing a paper jam, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the sheet post-processing apparatus detects its jam by clearing its own sensor information and cover open / close detection. The image forming apparatus has been notified. Then, the image forming apparatus determines the paper jam release information from the sheet post-processing device and the paper jam release of the entire image forming system from its own state.
JP 2000-153955 A

  In recent years, as the image forming apparatus has been reduced in size, a sheet post-processing apparatus that has been conventionally connected only to a relatively large image forming apparatus has also been connected to a relatively small image forming apparatus such as a desktop printer. ing.

  When a small and low-cost sheet post-processing apparatus connected to a small image forming apparatus is commercialized, it is possible to consider a configuration in which an operator does not have a cover for accessing the inside because the sheet conveyance path is short. .

  However, when a paper jam occurs in the sheet post-processing apparatus having no cover as described above, it cannot be determined that the paper jam has been released by opening and closing the cover.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system capable of efficiently performing a paper jam removing process in a sheet post-processing apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the image forming system according to claim 1 is an image forming system in which an image forming apparatus and a sheet post-processing apparatus are connected, and the sheet post-processing apparatus detects a conveyed sheet. When a paper jam is detected on the basis of the output of the first sheet detection means and the first sheet detection means, the state of the sheet post-processing device is set to a paper jam state, and the image forming apparatus is notified of the paper jam. First control means for notifying the occurrence of the sheet and notifying the image forming apparatus of the removal of the sheet based on the output of the first sheet detecting means after occurrence of a paper jam; and the image forming apparatus detects the sheet. When the second sheet detecting unit detects a sheet after receiving the occurrence of a paper jam from the sheet post-processing device and the second sheet detecting unit, the second sheet detecting unit And second control means for notifying the sheet post-processing apparatus of the release of the paper jam of the sheet post-processing apparatus after the detection of the sheet is stopped. The first control means includes the second control means. The state of the sheet post-processing apparatus is set to a state in which the paper jam is released in response to receiving the paper jam release from the control means.

  According to the present invention, the sheet post-processing apparatus includes the first sheet detection unit that detects the conveyed sheet, and the first control unit.

  When the first control unit detects a paper jam on the sheet based on the output of the first sheet detection unit, the first control unit sets the state of the sheet post-processing apparatus to a paper jam state. Then, the occurrence of a paper jam is notified to the image forming apparatus, and after the occurrence of the paper jam, the removal of the sheet is notified to the image forming apparatus based on the output of the first sheet detecting means.

  The image forming apparatus includes a second sheet detection unit that detects a sheet, and a second control unit.

  When the second control unit detects the sheet after the occurrence of the paper jam from the sheet post-processing device, the second control unit detects that the sheet is not detected by the second sheet detection unit. Then, the sheet post-processing device is notified of the release of the paper jam of the sheet post-processing device. The first control unit sets the state of the sheet post-processing apparatus to a state in which the paper jam is released in response to receiving the release of the paper jam state from the second control unit.

  That is, if the paper post-processing apparatus does not need to perform the paper jam removal process, the sheet post-processing apparatus does nothing and notifies the image forming apparatus that the paper jam removal process has been completed. Therefore, the paper jam removing process in the sheet post-processing apparatus can be performed efficiently.

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

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus in an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus (full-color printer) 100 includes an image forming unit 1Y that forms a yellow image, an image forming unit 1M that forms a magenta image, an image forming unit 1C that forms a cyan image, and An image forming unit 1BK that forms a black image is provided. The four image forming units (image forming units) 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1BK are arranged in a line at regular intervals.

  In each of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1BK, drum-type electrophotographic photosensitive members (hereinafter referred to as photosensitive drums) 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d are installed as image carriers. Around each photosensitive drum 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, there are primary chargers 3a, 3b, 3C, 3d, developing devices 4a, 4b, 4C, 4d, transfer rollers 5a, 5b, 5C, 5d as transfer means, Drum cleaner devices 6a, 6b, 6C and 6d are arranged, respectively. An exposure device 7 is installed below the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1BK.

  The developing devices 4a, 4b, 4C, and 4d store yellow toner, cyan toner, magenta toner, and black toner, respectively.

  Each of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d is a negatively charged OPC photosensitive member having a photoconductive layer on an aluminum drum base, and is predetermined in a clockwise direction in FIG. 1 by a driving device (not shown). It is rotated at a process speed of.

  The primary chargers 3a, 3b, 3C, 3d as primary charging means bring the surface of each photosensitive drum 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d to a predetermined negative potential by a charging bias applied from a charging bias power source (not shown). Charge uniformly.

  The developing devices 4a, 4b, 4C, and 4d contain toner, and are developed as toner images by attaching toners of respective colors to the electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, respectively. Visualization).

  Transfer rollers 5a, 5b, 5C, and 5d as primary transfer means are disposed so as to be in contact with the respective photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d via the intermediate transfer belt 8 in the respective primary transfer portions 9a to 9d. Yes.

  The drum cleaners 6 a, 6 b, 6 C, and 6 d have a cleaning blade or the like for removing, from the photosensitive drum 2, transfer residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 2 during the primary transfer.

  The intermediate transfer belt 8 is disposed on the upper surface side of each of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, and is stretched between the secondary transfer counter roller 10 and the tension roller 11. The secondary transfer counter roller 10 is disposed in the secondary transfer unit 13 so as to be in contact with the secondary transfer roller 12 via the intermediate transfer belt 8. The intermediate transfer belt 8 is made of a dielectric resin such as polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate resin film, polyvinylidene fluoride resin film, or the like.

  In addition, the intermediate transfer belt 8 has a primary transfer surface (lower flat surface 8a) formed on the surface facing the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d inclined with the secondary transfer roller 12 side facing downward. It is.

  That is, the intermediate transfer belt 8 is movably disposed on the upper surfaces of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, and a primary transfer surface formed on the surface facing the photosensitive drum 2, that is, the lower flat surface 8a is The secondary transfer unit 13 is inclined so that the lower side is the lower side. Specifically, this inclination angle is set to about 15 degrees.

  A fixing device 14 having a fixing roller 14a and a pressure roller 14b is installed in a vertical path configuration on the downstream side of the secondary transfer portion 13 in the conveyance direction of the sheet P.

  The exposure device 7 includes laser light emitting means for emitting light corresponding to a time-series electric digital pixel signal of given image information, a polygon lens, a reflection mirror, and the like. By exposing each of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, the surface of each of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d charged by the primary chargers 3a, 3b, 3C, and 3d corresponds to the image information. An electrostatic latent image of each color is formed. The laser light emitting means can change the laser power to 15 levels by switching the output current of the laser. A paper feed cassette 15 is provided at the bottom of the full color printer casing.

  Next, an image forming operation by the image forming apparatus 100 will be described.

  When an image formation start signal is issued, the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1BK that are rotationally driven at a predetermined process speed are respectively connected to primary chargers 3a, 3b, 3C and 3d are uniformly negatively charged. Then, the exposure apparatus 7 irradiates the laser light from the laser light emitting element based on the color-separated image signal input from the outside. The laser light forms an electrostatic latent image of each color on each photosensitive drum 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d via a polygon lens, a reflection mirror, and the like.

  First, yellow toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 2a by the developing device 4a to which a developing bias having the same polarity as the charging polarity (negative polarity) of the photosensitive drum 2a is applied. Visualized as an image.

  This yellow toner image is driven by a transfer roller 5a to which a primary transfer bias (a reverse polarity (positive polarity) to toner) is applied in a primary transfer portion 9a between the photosensitive drum 2a and the transfer roller 5a. Primary transfer is performed on the intermediate transfer belt 8.

  The intermediate transfer belt 8 onto which the yellow toner image has been transferred is moved to the image forming unit 1M side. Also in the image forming unit 1M, the magenta toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 2b is superimposed on the yellow toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 8 in the same manner as described above, and the primary transfer unit 32b. Transcribed.

  At this time, the transfer residual toner remaining on each photosensitive drum 2 is scraped off and collected by a cleaner blade or the like provided in the drum cleaner devices 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d.

  Similarly, cyan and black toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 2c and 2d of the image forming units 1C and 1BK on the yellow and magenta toner images superimposed and transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 8 are respectively primary transferred. A full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 by being sequentially superimposed on the portions 9c and 9d.

  Then, the front end of the full-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is moved to the secondary transfer portion 13 between the secondary transfer counter roller 10 and the secondary transfer roller 12. In accordance with this timing, the sheet (paper) P fed from the paper feed cassette 15 or the manual feed tray 16 through the transport path 17 is transported to the secondary transfer unit 13 by the registration roller 18.

  Full-color toner images are collectively transferred to the sheet P conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 13 by the secondary transfer roller 12 to which a secondary transfer bias (a polarity opposite to that of toner (positive polarity)) is applied. The

  The sheet P on which the full-color toner image is formed is conveyed to the fixing device 14, and the full-color toner image is heated and pressed at the fixing nip portion 19 between the fixing roller 14 a and the pressure roller 14 b, and the sheet P It is heat-fixed on the surface.

  After the thermal fixing, the sheet P is discharged onto the discharge tray 22 on the upper surface of the main body by the discharge roller 20, and the series of image forming operations is completed. The secondary transfer residual toner and the like remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 8 are removed and collected by a belt cleaning device (not shown).

  The above is the image forming operation at the time of single-sided image formation.

  Next, a double-sided image forming operation will be described.

  The rotation of the paper discharge roller 21 is stopped in a state where most of the sheet P is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 22 on the upper surface of the main body by the paper discharge roller 21. At that time, the paper discharge roller 21 stops so that the rear end position of the sheet P reaches the reversible position 23.

  Subsequently, the sheet discharge roller 21 is reverse to the normal rotation in order to send the sheet P, whose conveyance has been stopped by stopping the rotation of the sheet discharge roller 21, to the duplex path 26 having the duplex rollers 24 and 25. It is rotated. By rotating the paper discharge roller 21 in the reverse direction, the sheet P located at the reversible position 23 has its rear end side set as the front end side (switched back) and reaches the double-sided roller 24.

  Thereafter, the sheet P is conveyed to the duplex roller 25 by the duplex roller 24, and the sheet P is sequentially conveyed toward the registration roller 18 by the duplex rollers 24 and 25. In the meantime, an image formation start signal is generated, and the sheet P is moved to the secondary transfer unit 13 by the registration roller 18 at the same timing as in the above-described single-sided image formation.

  In the secondary transfer unit 13, the leading edge of the toner image and the leading edge of the sheet P coincide with each other, and the toner image is transferred. Thereafter, the sheet P passes through the fixing device 14 as in the single-sided image forming operation. The paper is finally discharged onto the paper discharge tray 22, and a series of image forming operations is completed.

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

  2, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a CPU 201, an image memory unit 202, an external I / F processing unit 203, an image forming unit 204, an input / output port 205, and an operation unit 206.

  A CPU 207 that performs overall basic control is connected to a ROM 207 in which a control program is written, a work RAM 208 for performing processing, and an input / output port 205 by an address bus and a data bus.

  The input / output port 205 is connected to various loads (not shown) such as a motor and a clutch, a sensor for detecting the position of the sheet, and the like. The CPU 201 sequentially performs input / output control via the input / output port 205 in accordance with the contents of the ROM 207 to execute an image forming operation.

  The CPU 201 is connected to an image memory unit 202 that performs image expansion processing and temporary storage processing, and an external I / F processing unit 203 that transmits and receives image data and processing data from an external device such as a PC. Further, the CPU 201 is connected to an image forming unit 204 that performs processing for exposing the line image data transferred from the image memory unit 202 to the exposure device 7.

  An operation unit 206 is connected to the CPU 201, and the CPU 201 controls a display (display unit) and operation keys (key input unit) of the operation unit 206. The operator instructs the CPU 201 to switch the image forming operation mode and display through the key input means, and the CPU 201 displays the state of the image forming apparatus 100 and the operation mode setting by key input.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a control block of the image memory unit 202 in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the image memory unit 202 includes a page memory 301, a memory controller 302, and a compressed data expansion processing unit 303.

  The image memory unit 202 writes image data received from the external I / F processing unit 203 via the memory controller 302 to a page memory 301 configured by a memory such as a DRAM, and reads an image such as an image read to the image forming unit 204. I / O access.

  The memory controller 302 determines whether the image data from the external device received from the external I / F processing unit 203 is compressed data. If it is determined that the image data is compressed data, the compressed data expansion processing unit 303 To perform decompression processing. Thereafter, the memory controller 302 performs processing for writing the decompressed image data into the page memory 301.

  The memory controller 302 generates a DRAM refresh signal for the page memory 301 and arbitrates access to the page memory 301 for writing from the image I / F processing unit 203 and reading to the image forming unit 204. Further, in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 201, a write address to the page memory 301, a read address from the page memory 301, a read direction, and the like are controlled.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a control block of the external I / F processing unit 203 in FIG.

  4, the external I / F processing unit 203 includes a USB I / F unit 401, a Centro I / F unit 402, a network I / F unit 403, and a serial I / F unit 404.

  The external I / F processing unit 203 receives image data and print command data transmitted from the external device 410 via any of the USB I / F unit 401, the Centro I / F unit 402, and the network I / F unit 403. . Also, the external I / F processing unit 203 transmits the status information of the image forming apparatus 100 determined by the CPU 201 to the external device 410 via either the Centro I / F unit 402 or the network I / F unit 403. Send. Here, the external device 410 is a computer, a workstation, or the like.

  Print command data received from the external device 410 via any of the USB I / F unit 401, the Centro I / F unit 402, and the network I / F unit 403 is processed by the CPU 201. Then, the CPU 201 generates settings and timing for executing the printing operation.

  Image data received from the external device 410 via any of the USB I / F unit 401, the Centro I / F unit 402, and the network I / F unit 403 is transmitted to the image memory unit 202 according to the timing based on the print command data. Is done. Then, the image forming unit 204 processes to form an image.

  The external I / F processing unit 203 and the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 are connected by a serial I / F unit 404. The external I / F processing unit 203 receives information such as the state of the apparatus and sensor values from the sheet post-processing apparatus 500, and controls information such as sheet discharge timing and sheet type to the sheet post-processing apparatus 500. Notification of.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the sheet post-processing apparatus in FIG.

  5, the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 includes conveyance rollers 501 and 502, a processing tray 503, a stopper 504, an alignment plate 505, a stapler 506, a stacking tray 507, and a conveyance sensor 508. The sheet post-processing apparatus 500 is installed on the sheet discharge tray 22 of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. The sheet post-processing apparatus 500 is configured not to be provided with an openable / closable cover for an operator to access the inside.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  6, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 is schematically shown only in the vicinity of the fixing device 14 and the paper discharge roller 21 of the image forming apparatus 100 of FIG.

  In FIG. 6, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a conveyance sensor 30 that detects a sheet at a position between the fixing device 14 and the paper discharge roller 21 (before the paper discharge roller 21). The sheet post-processing apparatus 500 is attached to the paper discharge port of the image forming apparatus 100, and the sheet on which image formation has been completed is transferred from the paper discharge roller 21 of the image forming apparatus 100 to the conveyance rollers 501 and 502 of the sheet post-processing apparatus 500. It is configured to be.

  When the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the conveyance roller, the sheet falls onto the processing tray 503. The processing tray 503 serving as a sheet stacking unit has a slight inclination angle (for example, 15 degrees), and moves to the right in FIG. 6 due to the weight of the sheet, and the sheet conveyance direction end (rear end) is at the stopper 504. bump into.

  Thereafter, the sheet is also aligned in the front and back directions by being sandwiched between the front and back directions in the drawing (the sheet width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction) by an alignment plate 505 as alignment means. Subsequently, the next sheet is similarly stacked on the processing tray 503 and then aligned with the previously stacked sheet by the alignment plate 505.

  In this way, a predetermined number of sheets are aligned on the processing tray 503 to generate a sheet bundle. The stapler 506 selectively performs predetermined processing such as stapling on the sheet bundle according to the setting. The processed sheet bundle is discharged onto the stacking tray 507 by a transport mechanism (not shown) such as a belt provided on the processing tray 503.

  A conveyance sensor 508 is a sensor that detects a sheet. Based on the output of the conveyance sensor 508, the movement of the sheet passing through the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 is monitored. When the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 100 is not detected by the conveyance sensor 508 even after a predetermined time has elapsed, or after the sheet is detected by the conveyance sensor 508, the conveyance sensor 508 detects the sheet even after the predetermined time has elapsed. It is determined that a paper jam (retention jam) has occurred.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a control block of the image forming system of FIG.

  In FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus 100 and the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 constituting the image forming system are controlled by independent CPUs 201 and 540, respectively. Each CPU 201 and CPU 540 controls the sensor 210, sensor 510, transport roller 220, transport roller 520, communication unit 230, communication unit 530, and the like in the apparatus.

  The sensor 210 corresponds to the conveyance sensor 30 in FIG. 6, the sensor 510 corresponds to the conveyance sensor 508 in FIGS. 5 and 6, and the conveyance roller 520 corresponds to the conveyance rollers 501 and 502 in FIGS. Correspondingly, the communication unit 230 corresponds to the serial I / F unit 404 of FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 100 and the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 are connected via the communication units 203 and 530, and transmit information such as the state of the apparatus and sensor values from the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 to the image forming apparatus 100. .

  Also, the image forming apparatus 100 notifies the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 of sheet discharge timing, control information such as sheet type, and notification of timing for removing paper jams.

  FIGS. 8 to 10 are diagrams schematically showing a paper jam in the image forming system of FIG. Each drawing shows a simplified configuration of the sheet post-processing apparatus 500.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure of paper jam processing executed by the sheet post-processing apparatus in FIG. 7, and FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a procedure of paper jam processing executed by the image forming apparatus in FIG. The flow of FIG. 11 is executed by the CPU 540, and the flow of FIG.

  Hereinafter, a paper jam handling operation in the image forming system of the present invention will be described with reference to these drawings.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a situation where a paper jam has occurred in the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 during image formation. In this case, since the presence of the sheet P is detected even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the conveyance sensor 508 detects the presence of the sheet P, the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 cannot convey the sheet P, that is, the paper Judge that clogging has occurred.

  Further, in this case, the sheet has already been removed from the image forming apparatus 100, so that no paper jam has occurred in the image forming apparatus 100 itself. The paper jam processing in that case will be described.

  The paper jam handling operation of the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 11, first, the CPU 540 determines whether a paper jam has occurred in the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 based on the output of the sensor 510 (step S101) (first sheet detecting means). If it is determined that a paper jam has occurred, the image forming apparatus 100 is notified of the occurrence of the paper jam, and the state of the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 is shifted to the paper jam state (step S102) (first control means). The transition to the paper jam state is performed by the CPU 540 setting a flag indicating the paper jam state in an internal register. In this paper jam state, post-processing of the sheet is prohibited.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the sheet needs to be removed, that is, whether or not the sheet is in the post-processing apparatus (step S103). In this case, since there is a remaining sheet in the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 (YES in step S103), the process waits for the remaining sheet to be removed (step S104). Note that the upper portion of the processing tray 503 of the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 is configured to be opened, and the operator pulls out the sheet sandwiched between the conveying rollers 22 from the opening. When the remaining sheet in the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 is removed, the image forming apparatus 100 is notified that the remaining sheet has been removed (step S105).

  Thereafter, the CPU 540 waits for an instruction to clear the paper jam state from the image forming apparatus 100 (step S106). When the release instruction is received, the CPU 540 releases the sheet jamming state of the sheet post-processing apparatus 500, that is, shifts to a standby state in which the sheet can be post-processed (step S107). The release of the paper jam state is performed by the CPU 540 resetting the flag described above. Then, in accordance with the instruction from the image forming apparatus 100, the sheet post-processing operation is resumed, and this processing ends.

  The paper jam handling operation of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 12, first, when receiving a notification that a paper jam has occurred from the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 (YES in step S201), the CPU 201 shifts the state of the image forming apparatus 100 to a paper jam state (step S202). ).

  Then, the CPU 201 determines whether there is any remaining sheet to be removed in the image forming apparatus 100 (step S203) (second detection unit). In the example of FIG. 8, since there is no residual sheet in the image forming apparatus 100, the process waits for a residual sheet removal report from the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 (step S205). When the CPU 201 receives the residual sheet removal report from the sheet post-processing apparatus 500, the CPU 201 determines that the paper jam has been cleared in the entire image forming system.

  Then, the CPU 201 instructs the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 to release the paper jam state (step S206) (second control unit), and returns the image forming system to the standby state (step S207). Thereafter, the CPU 201 resumes the image forming operation and ends this processing.

  According to this processing, the sheet post-processing apparatus 50 determines whether or not it is necessary to remove the sheet by itself and notifies the image forming apparatus 100 that the sheet has been removed. The image forming apparatus 100 notifies the sheet post-processing device 50 of paper jam release based on the information that the sheet has been removed from the sheet post-processing device.

  That is, even if the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 cannot determine by itself that the paper jam has been released, it can be determined by a notification from the image forming apparatus, and therefore, from a paper jam in a small sheet post-processing apparatus having no cover. Can be efficiently determined.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state where a paper jam has occurred across the image forming apparatus 100 and the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 during image formation.

  The paper jam processing operation of the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 in this case is the same as the processing operation of FIG. 11 described above.

  The paper jam handling operation of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 12, first, when notified that a paper jam has occurred from the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 (YES in step S201), the CPU 201 shifts the state of the image forming apparatus 100 to a paper jam state (step S202).

  Then, the CPU 201 determines whether there is a remaining sheet in the image forming apparatus 100 (step S203). In the example of FIG. 9, since it is determined from the output of the conveyance sensor 30 that there is a remaining sheet in the image forming apparatus 100, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the remaining sheet is removed from the image forming apparatus 100 ( Step S204).

  Thereafter, the CPU 201 waits for a remaining sheet removal report from the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 (step S205). When the CPU 201 receives the residual sheet removal report from the sheet post-processing apparatus 500, the CPU 201 determines that the paper jam has been cleared in the entire image forming system.

  Then, the CPU 201 notifies the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 of the release of the paper jam state (step S206), and returns the state of the image forming system to the state in which the hair jam state has been released, that is, the standby state (step S207). Thereafter, the CPU 201 resumes the image forming operation and ends this processing.

  In the example of FIG. 9, one sheet remains in both the image forming apparatus 100 and the sheet post-processing apparatus 500. By removing this one sheet, both apparatuses have a remaining sheet. It will be judged that it has been removed.

  Therefore, actually, there may be a case where a report of residual sheet removal from the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 is received (step S205) before it is determined that the residual sheet in the image forming apparatus 100 has been removed (step S204).

  In such a case, the CPU 201 stores a report of residual sheet removal from the sheet post-processing apparatus 500, and after determining that the residual sheet in the image forming apparatus 100 has been removed in step S204, The processing device 500 is instructed to clear the paper jam state.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state where a paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus 100 during image formation. Even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the conveyance sensor 30 of the image forming apparatus 100 detects the sheet (after the leading edge of the sheet has passed the conveyance sensor 30), the conveyance sensor 508 of the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 detects the presence of the sheet. There is no state.

  The paper jam handling operation of the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, when the CPU 540 determines that a paper jam (delayed jam) has occurred in the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 (YES in step S101), the CPU 540 notifies the image forming apparatus 100 of the occurrence of the paper jam, and the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 The state is shifted to a paper jam state (step S102).

  In this case, since there is no remaining sheet in the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 (NO in step S103), the CPU 540 immediately notifies the image forming apparatus 100 that the remaining sheet has been removed (step S105).

  After that, the CPU 540 waits for an instruction to clear the paper jam state from the image forming apparatus 100 (step S106), and when receiving the clear instruction, the state of the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 is changed to the state in which the hair jam has been released, that is, Transition to the standby state (step S107). Then, in accordance with the instruction from the image forming apparatus 100, the sheet post-processing operation is resumed, and this processing ends.

  The paper jam processing operation of the image forming apparatus 100 in this case is the same as the processing operation of FIG. 12 in the paper jam state shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the description has been given by limiting the number of conveyance sensors in the image forming apparatus 100 and the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 to one, but a configuration having a plurality of conveyance sensors may be used. The present invention can also be applied to abnormal processing other than paper jam processing.

  In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 and the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 are configured to be fixed. However, when the abnormality such as a paper jam is canceled, the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 is removed from the image forming apparatus 100. It is also possible to take a configuration that leaves. At that time, the information on the conveyance sensor of the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 and the information on the attachment / detachment sensor of the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 are combined to determine whether the abnormality is cancelled.

1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus in an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a control block in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows schematically the control block of the image memory part in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a control block of an external I / F processing unit in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows schematically the structure of the sheet | seat post-processing apparatus in FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a control block of the image forming system in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a state where a paper jam has occurred in the image forming system of FIG. 6 (part 1). FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a state where a paper jam has occurred in the image forming system of FIG. 6 (part 2). FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a state where a paper jam has occurred in the image forming system of FIG. 6 (part 3). FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of paper jam processing executed by the sheet post-processing apparatus in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure of paper jam processing executed by the image forming apparatus in FIG. 7. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

100 Image forming apparatus 201 CPU (image forming apparatus)
500 Sheet post-processing device 540 CPU (sheet processing device)

Claims (4)

In an image forming system in which an image forming apparatus and a sheet post-processing apparatus are connected,
The sheet post-processing apparatus includes:
First sheet detecting means for detecting the conveyed sheet;
When a paper jam is detected based on the output of the first sheet detecting means, the state of the sheet post-processing device is set to a paper jam state, the occurrence of the paper jam is notified to the image forming apparatus, and the paper jam is detected. First control means for notifying the image forming apparatus of sheet removal based on the output of the first sheet detection means after generation;
The image forming apparatus includes:
A second sheet detecting means for detecting the sheet;
After the occurrence of a paper jam from the sheet post-processing device, when the second sheet detection unit detects a sheet, the second sheet detection unit stops detecting the sheet and A second control means for notifying the processing device of the release of the paper jam of the sheet post-processing device;
Have
The first control unit sets the state of the sheet post-processing apparatus to a state in which the paper jam is released in response to receiving the release of the paper jam state from the second control unit. Image forming system.   When the first control unit detects a paper jam due to the sheet not reaching the first detection unit at a predetermined timing, the first control unit notifies the image forming apparatus of the removal of the sheet in response to the detection of the paper jam. The image forming system according to claim 1.   When the first control means detects a paper jam by detecting a sheet even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the first detection means detects the sheet, the first detection means detects the sheet. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus notifies the image forming apparatus of the removal of the sheet in response to the fact that the image is not detected.   The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the second sheet detecting unit is provided in front of a sheet discharge roller of the image forming apparatus.