JP2009288542A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which enables a user to easily eliminate paper jamming. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: a paper jamming detection means for detecting paper jamming; and a reporting means for reporting a portion required to be operated for eliminating the paper jamming when the paper jamming detection means detects the paper jamming. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

In general, an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral is equipped with a function for displaying a location where a paper jam occurs on a display unit such as a touch panel when a paper jam occurs on a manuscript paper and a printing paper. Encourage the user to remove the jammed paper. Then, when the user removes the jammed paper based on the display on the display unit, the image forming apparatus can return to a normal state. As an image forming apparatus that displays the location where a paper jam has occurred on the display unit in this way, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151688 detects a paper jam on the transfer drum when a paper jam is detected in a paper feed path or a paper discharge path. An image forming apparatus that displays this on a display unit is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a paper feed path, a paper discharge path, a paper feed system paper jam detection unit, a paper discharge system paper jam detection unit, and a transfer drum section paper jam detection unit. The paper-based paper jam detection means detects a paper jam in the paper feed path, the paper discharge-type paper jam detection means detects a paper jam in the paper discharge path, and the transfer drum section paper jam detection means detects a paper jam in the paper feed system. A process for detecting a paper jam on the transfer drum is executed based on the detection results of the means and the paper discharge system paper jam detection means, and when the paper jam is detected, the display unit displays that the paper jam has occurred.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-3189

  By the way, in the said prior art, although the location where paper jammed on the display part of the touch panel is alert | reported to a user by screen display, it is difficult for a user to pinpoint a paper jam location only by the information of a display part. For example, when paper jams are scattered at a plurality of locations in the interior and are mechanically separate, but the paper jam locations are very close, the touch panel should display the jam locations individually. Since each mechanism in the image forming apparatus has a complicated configuration, it is difficult to individually display a jammed portion. As a result, the user cannot easily determine the paper jam location, and therefore cannot easily clear the paper jam.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a user can easily eliminate a paper jam.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, as a first solution means for an image forming apparatus, a paper jam detecting means for detecting a paper jam, and when the paper jam detecting means detects a paper jam, the paper jam is eliminated. For this purpose, a means for notifying a part that needs to be operated is provided.

  In the present invention, as the second solving means relating to the image forming apparatus, in the first solving means, when the notification means needs to operate a plurality of parts in order to eliminate paper jam, A means of notifying a part that needs to be operated next time is operated.

  In the present invention, as a third solving means relating to the image forming apparatus, in the first or the second solving means, the notifying means notifies the opening / closing cover of the housing that needs to be opened for eliminating the paper jam. Adopt the means to do.

  In the present invention, as a fourth solving means related to the image forming apparatus, in any one of the first to third solving means, when the notifying part is operated, the notifying part is not operated. A means of notifying that the operation has been performed is employed.

  In the present invention, as a fifth solving means relating to the image forming apparatus, in any one of the first to fourth solving means, the notifying means includes a light emitting portion disposed in the vicinity of each part, and is operated. A means of notifying by notifying a part that needs to be operated by causing the light emitting unit disposed in the vicinity of the part that needs to be operated to emit light is adopted.

  In the present invention, as a sixth solving means relating to the image forming apparatus, in the fifth solving means, the notification means employs a means for causing the light emitting section to blink at a predetermined cycle.

  In the present invention, as a seventh solving means relating to the image forming apparatus, in the sixth solving means, the notifying means causes the light emitting unit to blink so as to avoid a period in which an operator may develop epilepsy. Adopt the means.

  According to the present invention, the image forming apparatus detects a paper jam detection unit that detects a paper jam, and a notification that notifies a portion that needs to be operated to clear the paper jam when the paper jam detection unit detects a paper jam. By providing the means, the user can easily recognize the part that needs to be operated for eliminating the paper jam, and therefore can easily eliminate the paper jam.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention relates to a multifunction peripheral having a copying function and a printing function, which is one of the image forming apparatuses of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction peripheral A according to this embodiment. The multi-function device A includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 2, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 3, various sensor groups 4, a paper transport unit 5, an image reading unit 6, an image data storage unit 7, An image forming unit 8, a communication I / F unit 9, an operation display unit 10, and a light emitting unit 11 are provided.

The CPU 1 is a personal computer (not shown) via a control program stored in the ROM 2, various detection signals input from the various sensor groups 4, image data stored in the image data storage unit 7, and the communication I / F unit 9. The overall operation of the multifunction device A is controlled based on various signals input from the computer and various operation instructions input from the operation display unit 10. The details of the control process of the CPU 1 will be described below as the operation of the multifunction device A.
The ROM 2 is a non-volatile memory that stores a control program executed by the CPU 1 and other data.
The RAM 3 is a volatile memory used as a working area as a temporary storage destination of data when the CPU 1 executes a control program and performs various operations.

  The various sensor groups 4 are various sensors necessary for the image forming operation such as a paper out detection sensor, a paper jam detection sensor 4a, a paper position detection sensor, a temperature sensor, and an opening / closing cover opening operation detection sensor 4b. The various information detected in step 1 is output to the CPU 1 as detection signals. The paper jam detection sensor 4a is installed in various places on the paper conveyance path of the printing paper in the paper conveyance unit 5, and outputs a paper jam detection signal to the CPU 1 when a paper jam occurs in the paper conveyance path. The open / close cover open operation detection sensor 4b outputs an open operation detection signal to the CPU 1 when detecting an open operation of an open / close cover of a housing (not shown) that opens the paper transport path in the paper transport unit 5 to the outside. The details of the opening / closing cover will be described later.

  The paper transport unit 5 includes a transport roller for transporting printing paper stored in the paper feed cassette to the image forming unit 8, a motor for driving the transport roller, and a paper after image forming processing to a paper discharge tray (not shown). A discharge roller for conveying, a discharge motor for driving the discharge roller, and the like are included. The paper transport unit 5 is also provided with a transport roller and a transport roller driving motor for turning over and transporting the print paper on which the toner image is formed in the double-sided printing process.

The image reading unit 6 includes an automatic document feeder (ADF) and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, and causes the CCD sensor to read images of documents sequentially fed by the ADF and outputs image data based on the document image. To do. The image reading unit 6 outputs the image data to the CPU 1, while the CPU 1 stores the image data of the document in the image data storage unit 7.
The image data storage unit 7 is, for example, a flash memory, and stores image data of a document in response to a request from the CPU 1, while outputting the image data of the document to the CPU 1.

Under the control of the CPU 1, the image forming unit 8 transfers the toner image onto the sheet conveyed from the sheet conveying unit 5 based on the image data stored in the image data storage unit 7, and the toner image fixing process I do.
The communication I / F unit 9 is connected to a personal computer (not shown) via a local area network, and transmits / receives various signals to / from the personal computer.

 The operation display unit 10 includes a start key, a stop key, a power key, a numeric keypad (numerical value input key), a touch panel, a clear key, and other various operation keys, and outputs an operation instruction for each key to the CPU 1. Under the control of the CPU 1, various screens are displayed on the touch panel.

The light emitting unit 11 includes an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and emits light. Under the control of the CPU 1, the light emitting unit 11 emits light from an opening / closing cover of a housing to be opened to remove a jammed paper and a paper jam location in the paper conveyance path when a paper jam occurs in the paper conveyance path. To inform the user.
FIG. 2 is a left side view illustrating the installation position of the light emitting unit 11 in the opening / closing cover provided in the housing of the multifunction peripheral A according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, on the left side of the multi-function peripheral A, a paper discharge path opening / closing cover that opens the paper transport path for paper discharge to the outside, and double-sided printing that opens the transport path for duplex printing to the outside. A path opening / closing cover, a first conveyance path opening / closing cover that opens the sheet conveyance path of the printing paper stored in the first sheet feeding cassette to the outside, and a printing stored in the second sheet feeding cassette A second transport path opening / closing cover that opens the paper transport path of the paper to the outside is provided.

  The paper discharge path opening / closing cover, the duplex printing path opening / closing cover, the first transport path opening / closing cover, and the second transport path opening / closing cover are each provided with an opening / closing lever for opening and closing each opening / closing cover. ing. As shown in FIG. 2, the light emitting unit 11 is provided above and in the vicinity of the open / close lever of each open / close cover.

Next, the operation of the MFP A according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the multifunction peripheral A according to this embodiment.
First, the user places a document on the ADF document tray of the image reading unit 6 in the multifunction peripheral A, and instructs the start of copying by pressing the start key of the operation display unit 10.
Then, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the operation display unit 10 has received a copy instruction by pressing the start key (step S1). If it is determined “NO” in step S1, that is, the operation display unit 10 issues a copy instruction. If not received, the operation display unit 10 waits until a copy instruction is received. If “YES” is determined in step S1, that is, if the operation display unit 10 receives a copy instruction, image reading is performed. The unit 6 is caused to execute reading of a document (step S2).

  When the CPU 1 finishes reading the document in step S2, the CPU 1 causes the paper transport unit 5 to start transporting the print paper stored in the first paper feed cassette or the second paper feed cassette according to the paper size in the copying conditions. (Step S3), it is determined whether or not a paper jam detection signal is input from the paper jam detection sensor 4a by the conveyance of the printing paper (Step S4).

  If the CPU 1 determines “YES” in step S4, that is, if a paper jam detection signal is input from the paper jam detection sensor 4a, the occurrence of a paper jam in the paper transport path based on the paper jam detection signal. Detecting the detected position, and opening / closing cover for paper discharge path, double-sided printing path open / close cover, first transport path open / close cover, and second transport path open / close cover that need to be opened according to the paper jam location The light emitting unit 11 provided on any one of the covers is blinked (step S5). For example, when a paper jam occurs in the paper transport path for paper discharge in the paper transport section 5, the CPU 1 uses the light emitting section 11 provided above the open / close lever of the paper path open / close cover shown in FIG. It blinks in step S5. In consideration of the user who has epilepsy, in step S5, the light emitting unit 11 is caused to perform blinking to avoid the vicinity of the frequency causing epilepsy (3 kHz or less and 60 or more are recommended). In the following, the operation will be described assuming that the paper jam occurs at the paper transport path for paper discharge.

  After step S5, the CPU 1 determines whether or not an opening operation detection signal is input from the opening / closing cover opening operation detection sensor 4b of the sheet discharge path opening / closing cover (step S6), and determines “NO” in step S6. In this case, that is, when the paper discharge path opening / closing cover is not opened, the light emitting unit 11 of the paper discharge path opening / closing cover is continuously blinked and waits until an opening operation detection signal is input, If “YES” is determined in S6, if the paper discharge path opening / closing cover is opened, that is, the light emission section 11 of the paper discharge path opening / closing cover stops blinking and the paper discharge path in the paper transport path is discharged. The light emitting unit 11 adjacent to the location where the paper jam occurs is caused to blink (step S7).

After step S7, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the paper jam detection signal is no longer input from the paper jam detection sensor 4a due to the fact that the user has cleared the paper jam in the paper transport path (step S8). If “NO” is determined in the step S8, that is, if the paper jam in the paper transport path for discharging the paper is not cleared, the process waits until the paper jam is cleared, and “YES” is determined in the step S8. In this case, that is, when the paper jam in the paper transport path for paper discharge is resolved, the flashing of the light emitting unit 11 executed in step S7 is stopped, and the image forming unit 8 performs image formation on the printing paper. (Step S9).
If the CPU 1 determines “NO” in step S4, that is, if a paper jam detection signal is not input, it proceeds to step S9.

  As described above, in the MFP A according to the present embodiment, the CPU 1 detects the location where the paper jam occurs in the paper transport unit 5 based on the paper jam detection signal input from the paper jam detection sensor 4a. A paper discharge path opening / closing cover, a duplex printing path opening / closing cover, a first transport path opening / closing cover, and a second transport path that need to be opened in order to eliminate paper jam according to the location where the paper jam has occurred. When one of the light emitting portions 11 of the open / close cover is blinked and the open / close cover is opened, that is, when an open operation detection signal is input from the open / close cover open operation detection sensor 4b, a paper jam occurs next in the paper transport path. By causing the light emitting unit 11 to blink, the user can easily recognize the paper jam location by the blinking of the light emitting unit 11, so that the paper jam can be easily eliminated.

  Further, in the MFP A according to the present embodiment, even if the user who has epilepsy uses the MFP A by blinking around the frequency causing the epilepsy in the light emitting unit 11, the light emitting unit The possibility of causing convulsions or the like to the user by blinking 11 can be reduced.

As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, For example, the following modifications can be considered.
(1) In the above embodiment, the light emitting unit 11 blinks to notify the opening / closing cover that needs to be opened, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, a display unit such as an organic EL (Electronic Luminescent) display may be provided in the vicinity of the open / close lever of the open / close cover, and the user may be notified by this display unit instead of the light emitting unit 11. Moreover, you may make it alert | report to a user by making the light emission part 11 light instead of blinking.

(2) In the above embodiment, the paper discharge path opening / closing cover, the double-sided printing path opening / closing cover, the first transport path opening / closing cover, and the second transport path opening / closing that need to be opened to eliminate paper jams. Although any of the covers and paper jam occurrence locations are reported, the present invention is not limited to this.
If the user mistakenly opens another open / close cover, a warning sound may be generated to alert the user that the open / close cover that does not need to be opened is opened.
(3) In the above embodiment, there is a possibility that a paper discharge path open / close cover, double-sided print path open / close cover, first transport path open / close cover and second transport path open / close cover and paper jam may occur. Although the light emitting unit 11 is provided at the place, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, if it is necessary not only to open the opening / closing cover but also to operate some internal parts in order to eliminate paper jams, each internal part that may need to be operated The light emitting unit 11 may be provided so that the light emitting unit 11 in the vicinity of the internal part that needs to be operated next is blinked each time each internal part is operated.
(4) In the above-described embodiment, the light emitting unit 11 is provided in the vicinity of an opening / closing lever such as a paper discharge path opening / closing cover in order to eliminate paper jams. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, in order to eliminate paper jams of the original paper, the light emitting unit 11 is provided in the vicinity of each part in the ADF of the image reading unit 6, and when paper jams of the original paper are detected, the paper jams of the original paper are eliminated. You may make it blink the light emission part 11 provided in the vicinity of the site | part which needs to be operated.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a left view which shows the installation position of the light emission part 11 in the opening-and-closing cover provided in the housing of the multifunctional machine A concerning one Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  A ... MFP, 1 ... CPU, 2 ... ROM, 3 ... RAM, 4 ... Various sensor groups, 4a ... Paper jam detection sensor, 4b ... Opening / closing cover opening operation detection sensor, 5 ... Paper transport unit, 6 ... Image reading unit , 7: Image data storage unit, 8: Image forming unit, 9: Communication I / F unit, 10: Operation display unit, 11: Light emitting unit

Claims (7)

A paper jam detection means for detecting a paper jam;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an informing means for informing a part that needs to be operated to clear a paper jam when the paper jam detecting means detects a paper jam.   2. The informing means, when it is necessary to operate a plurality of parts in order to eliminate a paper jam, notifies the part that needs to be operated next every time each part is operated. The image forming apparatus described.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit notifies an opening / closing cover of a housing that needs to be opened to eliminate a paper jam.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the part that does not need to be operated is operated, the notification unit notifies the user that the part has been operated as a warning. .   The informing means includes a light emitting unit arranged in the vicinity of each part, and notifies the part that needs to be operated by causing the light emitting part arranged in the vicinity of the part that needs to be operated to emit light. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the notification unit causes the light emitting unit to blink at a predetermined cycle. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the notification unit causes the light emitting unit to blink so as to avoid a period in which an operator may develop epilepsy.

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