JP2010280097A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of improving a user's convenience by showing alternatives to permit the execution of a job even at the occurrence of an error of job interruption due to jamming or the like of a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: A composite machine 1 serving as the image forming apparatus includes a various sensor group 34 for detecting jamming of printing paper; an operation display part 40 displaying an error notification screen for notifying the user of the occurrence of jamming of the printing paper; and a CPU 31 determining a usable function based on the detected result of the various sensor group 34 when jamming of the printing paper is detected by the various sensor group 34, and displaying a selective screen allowing the user to select the use of the function determined to be usable, together with the error notification screen on the operation display part 40. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine.

  An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multi-function machine includes a conveying device that conveys a recording medium to form an image on a recording medium such as printing paper, a transfer device that transfers an image onto the recording medium, A fixing device for fixing the transferred image on the recording medium is provided. The conveying device sequentially supplies the recording medium to the transfer device and the fixing device, and discharges the recording medium via the fixing device. The transfer device forms, for example, an electrostatic latent image by irradiating a laser beam or the like on a photosensitive drum, and transfers the image onto a recording medium by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image. The fixing device fixes the image on the recording medium by passing the recording medium on which the image is transferred between a pair of fixing rollers and applying a predetermined pressure and heating.

  In such an image forming apparatus, a recording medium conveyed by a conveying apparatus or a recording medium jammed through a transfer apparatus or a fixing apparatus (paper jam: jam) often occurs. When the recording medium is clogged, a display device such as a touch panel is clogged and an error message is displayed prompting the user to remove the recording medium, and the function of forming an image on the recording medium cannot be used. Become. If the user removes the recording medium according to the error display after the error display is made, the error display is canceled and the function of forming an image on the recording medium can be used.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 has already received the image forming job by canceling the image forming job receiving process at the start of the job canceling process (job canceling process) in the image forming apparatus, and changing the host I / F to an error state. A technique for shortening the time from when the job cancel process is started until the image can be formed again by discarding the data is disclosed. Further, in Patent Document 2 below, when a cancel instruction is issued during a printing process, the subsequent data is discarded by searching the transmission / reception buffer and discarding data up to a mark indicating the end of the canceled job. A technique is disclosed in which a print job can be canceled promptly without affecting other print jobs.

  Patent Documents 3 and 4 below disclose techniques that can cancel a print job by a method desired by a user. Specifically, Patent Document 3 below discloses a technique for canceling a print job after printing the number of pages specified by the user when the print job is canceled. Further, in Patent Document 4 below, in the case of copy printing, it is selected whether to cancel immediately when printing is cancelled, or to cancel after printing of the current copy is completed. Techniques that can be used are disclosed.

JP 2002-86863 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-200245 JP 2002-166626 A JP 2006-326841 A

  By the way, as described above, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when a recording medium is clogged during execution of a job, an error is displayed on the display device, and the function relating to the error cannot be used until the error is cleared. . However, in an image forming apparatus including a supply device capable of changing the recording medium supply source, or an image forming apparatus including a discharge device capable of changing a recording medium discharge destination, recording may be performed depending on the state of the recording medium clogging. In some cases, the function relating to the error can be used simply by changing the supply source or discharge destination of the medium. In such a case, it is possible to use the function in which the error has occurred by simply changing the supply source or the discharge destination of the recording medium without the user's work of canceling the error (operation of removing the jammed recording medium). It is considered that the convenience of the user can be dramatically improved.

  In addition, if the use of functions other than this function is possible when the function for forming an image on the recording medium is disabled, all work is suspended until the error is cleared. can do. For example, if the recording medium is clogged in the transfer device or the fixing device, if the document reading function can be used, only the document reading operation is performed in advance without waiting for the error of the image forming apparatus to be released. It can be considered that the convenience can be improved.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even when a job interruption error occurs due to a recording medium jam or the like, an alternative that can execute a job is shown to provide user convenience. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of improving the image quality.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a detection unit that detects clogging of the recording medium, and that the recording medium is clogged in the image forming apparatus that forms an image on the recording medium. Display means for displaying an error notification screen to notify the user, and when the detection means detects the clogging of the recording medium, the usable function is determined based on the detection result of the detection means and can be used. Control means for displaying on the display means together with the error notification screen a selection screen for selecting the use of the determined function by the user.
The image forming apparatus according to the present invention further includes a conveying unit capable of changing at least one of a supply source of the recording medium and a discharge destination of the recording medium, and the control unit uses the detection unit to When clogging is detected, it is determined whether an image forming function for forming an image on the recording medium can be used by changing at least one of a supply source of the recording medium and a discharge destination of the recording medium. It is characterized by.
In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, at least one button of the first button for changing the supply source of the recording medium and the second button for changing the discharge destination of the recording medium is displayed on the selection screen. Is included.
The image forming apparatus according to the present invention further includes a reading unit that reads an image to be formed on the recording medium, and the control unit detects that the recording unit is clogged with the detecting unit. It is characterized by determining whether or not the image can be read by a reading unit.
The image forming apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the selection screen includes a third button for enabling use of the reading unit.
In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the control unit causes the display unit to display the selection screen and the error notification screen so that the selection screen is included in the error display screen. .

  According to the present invention, when the detection unit that detects the jam of the recording medium detects the jam of the recording medium, the control unit determines the usable function based on the detection result of the detection unit, and determines that it can be used. Since the selection screen for selecting the use of the selected function by the user is displayed on the display unit together with the error notification screen, the job can be executed even when a job interruption error occurs due to a recording medium jam or the like. There is an effect that the convenience of the user can be improved.

1 is a front view showing an outline of an appearance of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an error notification screen displayed on an operation display unit 40. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a paper source change button, a paper discharge destination change button, and a job reservation button displayed on an error notification screen.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a multi-function machine, which is a type of image forming apparatus, will be described as an example. FIG. 1 is a front view showing an outline of the appearance of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The MFP 1 as an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment has a copy function, a print function, and a facsimile transmission / reception function, and copies a document, prints out various data created by using a computer, and the like. Facsimile transmission / reception is possible.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 1 includes a main body 10 that performs image formation on a printing paper (recording medium) and a finisher 20 (conveying means) that discharges the printing paper on which an image is formed. The main body 10 includes a scanner 11 that reads image data of a document, paper cassettes 12a to 12c (recording medium supply sources) that store standard printing paper, and insertion of standard printing paper and non-standard printing paper. A manual feed tray (not shown) is provided. The finisher 20 includes a plurality of paper discharge trays 21 (recording medium discharge destinations).

  The main body 10 receives image data read by the scanner 11, image data transmitted from a personal computer (not shown), or facsimile reception for printing paper supplied from any of the paper cassettes 12a to 12c and the manual feed tray. The image is formed according to the image data received by the function. The main body 10 also stores and facsimile-transmits image data read by the scanner 11 or image data transmitted from a personal computer (not shown). The finisher 20 has a sorting function and a stapling function. The finisher 20 rearranges and binds printing sheets on which images are formed in the main body unit 10 according to a user's instruction, and sends it to any one of a plurality of discharge trays 21. Discharge. Note that the printing paper supply source and the printing paper discharge destination are set according to a user instruction.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the main body unit 10 included in the MFP 1 that is the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31 (control means), a ROM (Read Only Memory) 32, and a RAM (Random Access Memory). ) 33, various sensor groups 34 (detection means), paper conveyance section 35 (conveyance means), image reading section 36, image data storage section 37, image forming section 38, communication I / F section 39, and operation display section 40 ( Display means).

  The CPU 31 refers to various detection signals output from the various sensor groups 34 based on a control program stored in the ROM 32, and via an operation instruction input from the operation display unit 40 or the communication I / F unit 39. The operations of the main body 10 and the finisher 20 are controlled in accordance with various instructions input from a client computer (not shown). For example, reading control of image data by the image reading unit 36 or printing control and transmission control of various image data such as document image data, print image data, and facsimile image data stored in the image data storage unit 37 is performed.

  Further, the CPU 31 performs control to display an error notification screen on the operation display unit 40 for notifying the user that a paper jam has occurred when a jam (paper jam) of the printing paper is detected by the various sensor groups 34. Do. At this time, the CPU 31 determines a usable function among the functions of the multi-function peripheral 1 based on the detection results of the various sensor groups 34, and selects a selection screen that allows the user to select the use of the function determined to be usable. Control to display on the operation display unit 40 together with the error notification screen is performed. Details of such processing will be described later.

  The ROM 32 is a non-volatile memory that stores a control program executed by the CPU 31 and other data. The RAM 33 is a volatile memory used as a working area as a temporary storage destination of data when the CPU 31 executes a control program and performs various operations. The various sensor groups 34 are various sensors necessary for an image forming operation such as a paper out detection sensor, a paper jam detection sensor, a paper position detection sensor, and a temperature sensor, and the CPU 31 uses various information detected by each sensor as detection signals. Output to.

  The paper transport unit 35 includes a transport roller, a motor for driving the transport roller, and the like. The paper transport unit 35 transports the printing paper stored in the paper cassettes 12a to 12c to the image forming unit 38, and the image forming unit 38 forms an image. The printing paper that has been processed is conveyed to the finisher 20. The image reading unit 36 includes an ADF (automatic document feeder), a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, and the like, and causes the CCD sensor to read an image of a document sequentially fed by the ADF, and a document image based on the document image. Output data. The above ADF and CCD are provided in the scanner 11 shown in FIG. The document image data output from the image reading unit 36 is stored in the image data storage unit 37 via the CPU 31.

  The image data storage unit 37 includes a memory such as a flash memory. Under the control of the CPU 31, the document image data, the print image data received by the communication I / F unit 39 from a client computer (not shown), and the communication The I / F unit 39 stores facsimile image data received from a public network (not shown).

  The image forming unit 38 performs image forming processing using the document image data, the print image data, or the facsimile image data stored in the image data storage unit 37 under the control of the CPU 31. Specifically, the image forming image corresponding to the various image data is transferred onto the printing paper conveyed from the paper conveying unit 35 using toner, and the fixing process of the image forming image is performed by the fixing roller. The communication I / F unit 39 is connected to a client computer (not shown) or a public network (not shown), and transmits / receives various signals to / from the client computer or the public network.

  The operation display unit 40 includes a touch panel 40 a and various operation keys. The operation display unit 40 outputs operation contents of the operation keys to the CPU 31 and displays various information on the touch panel 40 a under the control of the CPU 31. For example, the error notification screen and selection screen described above are displayed. The various operation keys provided in the operation display unit 40 include, for example, a copy function switching key, a print function switching key, a scan function switching key, a facsimile function switching key, a start key, a stop / clear key, a power key, and a numeric keypad (numeric input key). Can be mentioned. The copy function switch key, print function switch key, scan function switch key, and facsimile function switch key are keys for switching the multifunction device 1 to the operation mode of each function when the user uses each function. is there.

  Also, by displaying various buttons on the touch panel 40a, it is possible to use soft keys other than the above various keys. Examples of the soft keys used in the present embodiment include a paper source change button, a paper output destination change button, and a job reservation button displayed on the selection screen. The paper supply source change button is a button that allows the user to change the supply source according to a user instruction when image formation is possible if the paper supply source of the printing paper is changed when a paper jam occurs. The paper discharge destination change button is a button that enables the user to change the paper discharge destination when an image can be formed by changing the paper discharge destination when a paper jam occurs. The job reservation button is a button that enables reading of image data of a document using the scanner 11 when a paper jam occurs. Details of these buttons will be described later.

  Further, the finisher 20 provided in the multifunction device 1 is connected to the CPU 31 of the main body unit 10. Under the control of the CPU 31, the finisher 20 rearranges and binds the printing paper on which the image is formed, and also instructs the discharged paper. The printing paper is discharged to the tray 21. The finisher 20 includes a sensor similar to the paper jam detection sensor included in the various sensor groups 34 of the main body 10, and outputs the detection result to the CPU 31 as a detection signal.

  Next, the operation of the multifunction device 1 having the above configuration will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The process shown in FIG. 3 is started when a paper jam occurs during the formation of an image on the printing paper and a detection signal indicating that the paper jam has occurred is output from the various sensor groups 34 to the CPU 31. When the process is started, the CPU 31 first interrupts the job for forming an image on the printing paper that has been performed so far, and displays an error notification screen on the operation display unit 40 to notify the user that a paper jam has occurred. Is performed (step S11).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an error notification screen displayed on the operation display unit 40. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation display unit 40 displays on the error notification screen a display indicating that an error has occurred, an error number, the content of the error, and a countermeasure for canceling the error. In the example shown in FIG. 4, “system error” is displayed as an error has occurred, “0001” is displayed as the error number, and “paper jam has occurred” is displayed as the error content. As a measure for canceling the error, a message “Please remove the paper of unit B” is displayed. By referring to such display contents, the user can easily grasp the cause and countermeasure of the error.

  Next, based on the detection signals output from the various sensor units 34, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the job interrupted due to the change of the paper supply source can be continued (that is, whether or not the print function can be used). (Step S12). Specifically, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the interrupted job can be continued depending on the location where the paper jam has occurred. For example, if a paper jam occurs in the vicinity of the paper cassette 12a to 12c, it is determined that the interrupted job can be continued. If a paper jam occurs in the image forming unit 38, the interrupted job Judge that continuation is impossible.

  If the determination result in step S12 is “YES”, the CPU 31 controls the operation display unit 40 to display a paper feed source change button for changing the paper feed source of the printing paper based on a user instruction in the error notification screen. (Step S13). If the determination result in step S12 is “NO”, or if the processing in step S13 is completed, the CPU 31 interrupts the job interrupted by changing the paper discharge destination based on the detection signals output from the various sensor units. It is determined whether or not it is possible to continue (that is, whether or not the print function can be used) (step S14).

  Specifically, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the interrupted job can be continued according to the location where the paper jam has occurred, as in the determination in step S12. For example, if a paper jam occurs in the vicinity of the paper discharge tray 21 of the finisher 20, it is determined that the interrupted job can be continued. If a paper jam occurs in the image forming unit 38, the interrupted job is continued. Is determined to be impossible.

  If the determination result in step S14 is “YES”, the CPU 31 controls the operation display unit 40 to display a discharge destination change button for changing the discharge destination of the printing paper based on the user instruction in the error notification screen. (Step S15). If the determination result in step S14 is “NO”, or if the process in step S15 ends, can the CPU 31 use the scanner 11 based on the detection signals output from the various sensor units 34? It is determined whether or not (step S16).

  If the determination result in step S16 is “YES”, the CPU 31 controls the operation display unit 40 to perform a new job (a document image data reading job using the scanner 11) performed based on a user instruction. A job reservation button for reserving is displayed on the error notification screen (step S17). FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a paper source change button, a paper discharge destination change button, and a job reservation button displayed on the error notification screen.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the error notification screen displays “system error” indicating that an error has occurred, error number “0001”, and indicates the content of the error “paper jam has occurred.” In addition to the message “Please remove the paper of unit B” which is a display indicating a measure for canceling the error, a paper source change button B1, a paper output destination change button B2, and a job reservation button B3 are displayed. Has been. Since the operation display unit 40 is provided with a touch panel 40a, each button can be operated by pressing the display positions of the paper source change button B1, the paper discharge destination change button B2, and the job reservation button B3. It is.

  FIG. 5 illustrates an example in which all of the paper source change button B1, the paper discharge destination change button B2, and the job reservation button B3 are displayed on the error notification screen for easy understanding. However, depending on the determination results of steps S12, S14, and S16, buttons that are not displayed may be generated, or all buttons may not be displayed. Here, when all the determination results of steps S12, S14, and S16 are “NO”, and all the display of the paper source change button B1, the paper discharge destination change button B2, and the job reservation button B3 is not performed. The process shown in FIG. 3 ends.

  In the above processing, when at least one of the paper source change button B1, the paper discharge destination change button B2, and the job reservation button B3 is displayed on the error display screen and any one of the buttons is operated by the user, The CPU 31 determines the type of the operated button (step S18). When it is determined that the user has operated the paper source change button B1, the CPU 31 controls the operation display unit 40 to display a screen showing a list of paper sources that can be changed. When the paper source is selected by the user operating the screen, control is performed to change the paper source of the printing paper to the paper source selected by the user and continue the interrupted job (step S19). .

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the user has operated the paper discharge destination change button B2, the CPU 31 controls the operation display unit 40 to display a screen showing a list of changeable paper discharge destinations. When the user selects the paper discharge destination by operating the screen, the print paper discharge destination is changed to the paper discharge destination selected by the user, and the interrupted job is continued (step S20). .

  On the other hand, when determining that the job reservation button B3 is operated by the user, the CPU 31 controls the operation display unit 40 to display a screen indicating that the document can be read using the scanner 11. To display. Then, after the user sets a document in the scanner 11 and operates the operation display unit 40 to give a reading start instruction, a new job is started (step S21). The above step S19 is not executed when the paper feed source change button B1 is not displayed, the above step S20 is not executed when the paper discharge destination change button B2 is not displayed, and the above step S21 is a job. If the reservation button B3 is not displayed, it is not executed.

  When any of the processes in steps S19 to S21 described above is performed, the CPU 31 operates the operation display unit 40 to display the paper source change button B1, the paper discharge destination change button B2, and the job reservation displayed on the error notification screen. The button B3 is erased (step S22). Note that even if the job interrupted in the processes of steps S19 and S20 is continued or a new job is disclosed in the process of step S21, the paper jam is not eliminated, so FIG. The error notification screen shown in (2) remains displayed.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when a paper jam occurs, an error notification screen for notifying the fact is displayed on the operation display unit 40. Based on the detection signals output from the various sensor units 34, it is possible to continue the job that has been interrupted due to the change of the paper feed source or the paper discharge destination, and whether the scanner 11 can be used. In response to the determination result, a paper source change button B1, a paper discharge destination change button B2, and a job reservation button B3 are displayed on the error notification screen.

  For this reason, even if a job interruption error due to a paper jam occurs, the job can be restarted without performing the operation of removing the printing paper depending on the status of the paper jam. Even when a job interruption error occurs due to a paper jam, the original can be read if the scanner 11 can be used. As described above, in the present embodiment, the functions of the multifunction device 1 that can be used even when a paper jam occurs can be used, so that the convenience of the user can be improved.

  The image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be freely changed within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, an example in which the paper source change button B1, the paper discharge destination change button B2, and the job reservation button B3 are displayed on the error notification screen when a paper jam occurs has been described. It is not necessary to display everything. For example, in a multi-function peripheral that does not include the finisher 20, the discharge destination change button B2 is not displayed. Moreover, you may add the button which enables use of functions other than these as needed.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the paper source change button B1, the paper discharge destination change button B2, and the job reservation button B3 are displayed in the error notification screen has been described. However, these buttons are different from the error notification screen. (For example, it may be displayed in a display window provided regardless of the error notification screen. When the touch panel 40a is not provided, the paper source change button B1, the paper discharge destination change button. The functions of B2 and job reservation button B3 may be assigned to various operation keys provided in the operation display unit 40, and descriptions of the functions of the keys may be displayed.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, whether or not the job can be continued by changing the paper feed source (step S12), and whether or not the job can be continued by changing the paper discharge destination (step S14). , And whether or not the scanner 11 can be used (step S16). However, this determination order can be freely changed. In addition, FIG. 3 illustrates an example in which the button is additionally displayed after the error notification screen is displayed. However, before displaying the error notification screen, it is determined whether or not various buttons are displayed. Also good.

  In addition, the effect of guiding the user's operation can be obtained by additionally displaying the button after displaying the error notification screen. In other words, by displaying the button after the error notification screen, the user's point of view referring to the content of the error notification screen can be shifted to the button that is displayed later, so that the user should perform the next operation to be performed Can do. Further, the error notification screen and the button may be displayed at the same time. When displaying simultaneously, the process of step S11 shown in FIG. 3 is performed simultaneously with the process of steps S13, S15, and S17.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Multifunction machine 11 Scanner 12a-12c Paper cassette 20 Finisher 21 Paper discharge tray 31 CPU
34 Various sensor groups 35 Paper transport unit 40 Operation display unit B1 Paper source change button B2 Paper output destination change button B3 Job reservation button

Claims (6)

In an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium,
Detecting means for detecting clogging of the recording medium;
Display means for displaying an error notification screen for notifying the user that the recording medium is jammed;
When the detection unit detects the clogging of the recording medium, the usable screen is determined based on the detection result of the detection unit, and the user selects the use of the function determined to be usable. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to display the display unit together with an error notification screen. It comprises transport means capable of changing at least one of the recording medium supply source and the recording medium discharge destination,
The control unit forms an image on the recording medium by changing at least one of a supply source of the recording medium and a discharge destination of the recording medium when the detection unit detects that the recording medium is clogged. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not the function is usable.     The selection screen includes at least one of a first button for changing a supply source of the recording medium and a second button for changing a discharge destination of the recording medium. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 2. Comprising reading means for reading an image to be formed on the recording medium;
The control unit determines whether or not the image can be read by the reading unit when the detection unit detects the clogging of the recording medium. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the selection screen includes a third button for enabling use of the reading unit.   6. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the selection screen and the error notification screen so that the selection screen is included in the error display screen. The image forming apparatus according to one item.

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