JP2017007758A - Sheet transportation device, image formation device, sheet transportation method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet transportation device capable of accurately detecting degradation of sheet feeding performance of a sheet feeding roller.SOLUTION: A sheet delay determination part 204, when transportation of a sheet is started from a sheet feeding cassette by a transportation roller, determines whether or not delay of the sheet has occurred during transportation of the sheet. An occurrence rate calculation part 205, when the delay occurs, calculates an occurrence rate of sheet delay that occurs before a specific number of sheets have been transported after occurrence of delay of the sheet. An occurence rate determination part 206 determines whether or not the calculated sheet delay occurrence rate exceeds a specific threshold rate. A replacement display part 207, when the calculated sheet delay occurrence rate exceeds the threshold rate, displays a screen promoting replacement of the transportation roller.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a sheet conveying method.

  Paper feed rollers of paper transport devices mounted on image processing devices such as printers, copiers, and multifunction devices cause surface wear and deterioration and paper dust adhesion due to repeated transport of paper. descend. This is the cause of the paper feed JAM.

  The paper transport device detects that the performance of the paper feed roller has deteriorated before the occurrence of paper feed JAM, and prompts countermeasures. For example, when a sheet is fed by a sheet feed cassette including a sheet feed roller, the number of sheets is counted, and when the counted value exceeds a specified number indicating the life of the sheet feed roller, A notification is given to prompt the user to replace the paper feed roller. For example, there are techniques described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-278695 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-261237 (Patent Document 2).

JP-A-11-278695 JP 2003-261237 A

  The paper feed performance of the paper feed roller is affected by the external environment and machine-specific variations, and the degree of deterioration over time differs for each paper feed roller. Therefore, when the specified number of sheets is determined uniquely, it is determined that the life of a paper feed roller that has little wear, deterioration, and dirt and has paper feed performance has come to an end, or that has already reached the end of its life. However, it is determined that there is still paper feeding performance. In such a case, unintended JAM may occur frequently. Currently, there is a problem that it is not possible to prompt the user to replace the paper feed roller immediately before the JAM occurs after confirming the state of the paper feed roller.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a sheet conveying apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a sheet conveying method capable of accurately detecting a decrease in sheet feeding performance of a sheet feeding roller. The purpose is to do.

  A paper transport device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a paper delay determination unit, an occurrence rate calculation unit, an occurrence rate determination unit, and an exchange display unit. The paper delay determination unit determines whether or not a delay of the paper has occurred in the transport of the paper when the transport of the paper from the paper feeding cassette is started by the transport roller. When the paper delay occurs, the occurrence rate calculation unit calculates an occurrence rate of the paper delay that has occurred after the paper delay occurs until a specific number of sheets are conveyed. The occurrence rate determining unit determines whether or not the calculated paper delay occurrence rate exceeds a specific threshold rate. The replacement display unit displays a screen prompting replacement of the transport roller when the calculated paper delay occurrence rate exceeds the threshold rate.

  An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a paper delay determination unit, an occurrence rate calculation unit, an occurrence rate determination unit, and an exchange display unit. The paper delay determination unit determines whether or not a delay of the paper has occurred in the transport of the paper when the transport of the paper from the paper feeding cassette is started by the transport roller. When the paper delay occurs, the occurrence rate calculation unit calculates an occurrence rate of the paper delay that has occurred after the paper delay occurs until a specific number of sheets are conveyed. The occurrence rate determining unit determines whether or not the calculated paper delay occurrence rate exceeds a specific threshold rate. The replacement display unit displays a screen prompting replacement of the transport roller when the calculated paper delay occurrence rate exceeds the threshold rate.

  A paper conveyance method according to one aspect of the present invention includes a paper delay determination step, an occurrence rate calculation step, an occurrence rate determination step, and an exchange display step. The paper delay determination step determines whether or not a delay of the paper has occurred in the transport of the paper when the transport of the paper from the paper feeding cassette is started by the transport roller. In the occurrence rate calculating step, when the sheet delay occurs, the occurrence rate of the sheet delay occurring after the sheet delay occurs until a specific number of sheets are conveyed is calculated. The occurrence rate determining step determines whether or not the calculated paper delay occurrence rate exceeds a specific threshold rate. In the replacement display step, when the calculated paper delay occurrence rate exceeds the threshold rate, a screen for prompting replacement of the transport roller is displayed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately detect a decrease in paper feed performance of the paper feed roller.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus including a sheet conveyance control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus including a sheet conveyance control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart for showing the execution procedure of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A shows an example of a paper delay determination method in the embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 4A), the cumulative number of paper delays relative to the number of paper transports in the embodiment of the present invention, and the number of transported sheets every 50 sheets. FIG. 4B is a diagram (FIG. 4B) showing the relationship between the paper delay occurrence rate required for the above and the number of transported sheets generated by the paper feed JAM. FIG. 5A shows an example of a calculation method of the paper delay occurrence rate in the embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 5A), and the paper delay occurrence rate of sudden paper delay and the occurrence of the paper feed JAM in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating an example of a paper delay occurrence rate of frequent paper delays (FIG. 5B). FIG. 6A is a graph showing an example of a paper delay occurrence rate with respect to the number of paper transports according to the embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 6A), and the paper delay occurrence rate with respect to the number of paper transports acquired by a specific image forming apparatus. It is a figure (Drawing 6B) showing an example of a graph. It is a figure which shows an example of the exchange screen in embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention. In addition, the following embodiment is an example which actualized this invention, Comprising: The thing of the character which limits the technical scope of this invention is not. Moreover, the alphabet S added before the number in a flowchart means a step.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus including a sheet conveyance control unit will be described as an example of an embodiment of the present invention. As the image forming apparatus, for example, a multifunction machine 100 (MFP: Multi Function Peripheral) having functions such as a facsimile, a copy, a scanner, and a printer, a copying machine, a printer, and the like can be employed.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 receives job setting conditions from the user via the operation unit 101. The job includes, for example, a job such as copying, facsimile, scanning, and printing. Upon receiving the job setting condition, the image forming apparatus 100 drives each unit such as the image reading unit 102, the sheet conveyance control unit 103, and the image forming unit 104 to execute the job. The image reading unit 102 reads an image of a document placed on a document table or an automatic document feeding unit. The sheet conveyance control unit 103 drives the pickup roller 103b and the sheet feeding roller 103c provided in the sheet feeding cassette 103a to convey the sheet stored in the sheet feeding cassette 103a to the image forming unit 104. The sheets are separated one by one by a sheet feeding roller 103c and a separating roller 103d that is in contact with the sheet feeding roller 103c. The conveyed sheet passes through the conveyance sensor 103e provided in the conveyance path and is conveyed to the image forming unit 104. The image forming unit 104 transfers a toner image corresponding to the image of the document onto the conveyed paper, fixes it with a fixing roller, executes image formation, and discharges the printed matter to a paper discharge tray. This completes the print job.

  Although not shown, the control circuit of the image forming apparatus 100 and the sheet conveyance control unit 103 is not shown, but a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and an SSD (Solid). State Drive), drivers corresponding to each drive unit are connected by an internal bus.

  The CPU uses, for example, the RAM as a work area, executes a program stored in a ROM, HDD, SSD, etc., and receives data, instructions, signals, instructions, etc. from the driver based on the execution results, It controls the operation of each drive unit related to the execution of the job. Further, for each unit (shown in FIG. 2) to be described later other than the drive unit, the CPU implements each unit by executing each program. The ROM, RAM, HDD, SSD, and the like store programs and data that implement each unit described below.

  Next, the configuration and execution procedure according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. For example, the user places a document on the document table of the image forming apparatus 100 and sets a print job setting condition (for example, a sheet size “A4”, a sheet type “plain paper”, and the like) via the operation unit 101. When input is performed and the start key is selected, the display reception unit 201 of the image forming apparatus 100 receives the input of the print job and notifies the job execution unit 202 of the input. Upon receiving the notification, the job execution unit 202 drives the respective units such as the image reading unit 102 and the image forming unit 104 based on the setting condition, and starts execution of the print job (FIG. 3: S101).

  Here, the job execution unit 202 reads the image of the document placed on the document table with the image reading unit 102. When the job execution unit 202 instructs the paper transport control unit 103 to transport the paper, the cassette selection unit 203 of the paper transport control unit 103 selects the paper feed cassette 103a corresponding to the setting condition. Then, the cassette selection unit 203 starts rotation of the pickup roller 103b and the paper feed roller 103c of the selected paper feed cassette 103a, and starts conveyance of the paper (FIG. 3: S102).

  Here, when the cassette selection unit 203 starts transporting the paper, it notifies the paper delay determination unit 204 to that effect, and the paper delay determination unit 204 that has received the notification notifies the paper delay in the paper transport. Whether or not has occurred is determined.

  For example, the paper delay determination unit 204 measures the elapsed time from the start of the paper conveyance using a timer provided in advance (FIG. 3: S103). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, the paper delay determination unit 204 measures the elapsed time T1 from the time t1 when the pickup roller 103b and the paper feed roller 103c start to rotate with the timer. To do. Next, the paper delay determination unit 204 activates the transport sensor 103e provided in the paper transport path, and starts detection of the paper P by the transport sensor 103e. Then, when the transport sensor 103e detects the paper P (FIG. 3: S104) and transmits a detection signal (ON signal), the paper delay determination unit 204 at time t2 when the paper P is detected, Stops counting the elapsed time T1 (t2-t1) by the timer, and obtains the threshold time T0 corresponding to the selected paper feed cassette 103a from the threshold time for paper delay determination provided in advance in a specific memory. To do. The threshold time T0 is calculated from, for example, the rotational speed of the pickup roller 103b or the paper feed roller 103c and the distance from the entrance of the transport path of the paper feed cassette 103a to the transport sensor 103e. It means the theoretical time required to reach the conveyance sensor 103e from the entrance of the conveyance path. Then, the paper delay determining unit 204 determines whether or not the measured elapsed time T1 exceeds the threshold time T0 (FIG. 3: S105).

  As a result of the determination, when the elapsed time T1 does not exceed the threshold time T0 (when the elapsed time T1 is within the threshold time T0) (FIG. 3: S105 NO), the paper delay determination unit 204 It is determined that no delay has occurred, and the process ends. In this case, since the sheet is conveyed to the image forming unit 104 as usual, the job execution unit 202 executes a print job using the image forming unit 104.

  On the other hand, if the elapsed time T1 exceeds the threshold time T0 as a result of the determination in S105 (FIG. 3: S105 YES), the paper delay determination unit 204 determines that the paper delay has occurred, and accordingly. To the occurrence rate calculation unit 205. Receiving the notification, the occurrence rate calculation unit 205 calculates the occurrence rate of the paper delay that has occurred since the paper delay occurred until the specific number of sheets are conveyed (FIG. 3: S106).

  For example, FIG. 4B shows the number of accumulated paper delays with respect to the number of sheets conveyed (number of printed sheets), the sheet delay occurrence rate required for every 50 sheets conveyed, and the number of sheets conveyed with paper feed JAM. It is a figure which shows a relationship. As shown in FIG. 4B, when the number of conveyed sheets increases, a paper delay 40 occurs suddenly at a specific number of conveyed sheets. Then, the occurrence of the sudden paper delay 40 stops, and the paper delay does not occur for a while. Thereafter, immediately before the paper feed JAM occurs, the paper delay 41 occurs collectively, and the paper delay occurrence rate increases rapidly. Yes. When the paper delay occurrence rate suddenly increases, paper feed JAM occurs thereafter. The paper delay 41 frequently occurring immediately before the occurrence of the paper feed JAM is considered to be sporadic as a result of the transport rollers (pickup roller 103b, paper feed roller 103c) being worn and deteriorated and losing the transport force. For this reason, even if only the occurrence of a paper delay is monitored, the sudden paper delay 40 is not related to the paper feed JAM. Therefore, the sudden paper delay 40 and the frequent paper delay 41 must be separated. For example, it is impossible to properly grasp the state of the transport roller and predict the occurrence of paper feed JAM.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5A, the occurrence rate calculation unit 205 conveys a specific number of sheets (for example, 50 sheets, 100 sheets, etc.) from the number of sheets conveyed with a paper delay (for example, 50 sheets or 100 sheets) The number of papers with paper delay (corresponding to the number of paper delays) is counted and the counted number of paper delays is divided by the specified number of papers. The incidence (%) of is calculated. For example, the specific number of sheets is 100, and as shown in FIG. 5A, three paper delays occurred after the first paper delay occurred until the specific number of sheets were conveyed. In this case, the paper delay occurrence rate is 3/100 × 100 = 3%.

  Further, the occurrence rate calculation unit 205 calculates a paper delay occurrence rate corresponding to the occurrence of the paper delay every time a paper delay occurs. For example, in FIG. 5A, when three paper delays occur continuously, the occurrence rate calculation unit 205 causes the second paper delay to occur separately from the calculation of the first paper delay occurrence rate. From this, a paper delay occurrence rate (%) when a specific number of sheets are conveyed is calculated. Since the second paper delay has occurred between the specific number of sheets after the second paper delay has occurred, the paper delay occurrence rate corresponding to the second paper delay is 2/100 × 100 = 2. %. The third paper delay occurrence rate is 1/100 × 100 = 1%.

  Thus, by calculating the paper delay occurrence rate for a specific number of transported sheets, it is possible to distinguish between the sudden paper delay described above and the paper delay that occurs frequently just before the occurrence of paper feed JAM. That is, as shown in FIG. 5B, although the paper delay occurrence rate corresponding to the sudden paper delay increases locally, it gradually decreases. On the other hand, since the paper delay frequently occurs immediately before the occurrence of the paper feed JAM, the paper delay frequently occurs. Therefore, the calculated paper delay occurrence rate gradually increases and rapidly increases as the number of conveyed sheets increases. In the case of a paper delay that occurs frequently just before the occurrence of the paper feed JAM, the conveyance force is not properly transmitted to the paper due to wear and deterioration of the conveyance roller, and the paper becomes slippery. As a result, paper delay frequently occurs.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, with the increase in the number of sheets transported, the tendency of the first paper delay occurrence rate corresponding to the sudden paper delay is only high at the beginning or high at the beginning. Gradually get smaller. On the other hand, the tendency of the second paper delay occurrence rate corresponding to the paper delay immediately before the occurrence of the paper feed JAM gradually increases. Therefore, in order to clearly distinguish the first and second paper delay occurrence rates, a specific threshold rate (%) is provided in consideration of the above tendency, and the calculated paper delay occurrence rates are distinguished. The threshold rate is set to, for example, a paper delay occurrence rate (for example, 5%, 7%, etc.) that does not exceed the first paper delay occurrence rate but exceeds the second paper delay occurrence rate. When the calculated paper delay occurrence rate exceeds the threshold rate, it is determined that the performance of the transport roller has deteriorated.

  In FIG. 6B, the sheet delay occurrence rate is calculated for each specific number of sheets (100 sheets) in the number of sheets conveyed (printed sheets) in the specific image forming apparatus 100, and is calculated as the number of sheets conveyed. The plotted graph is shown. As shown in FIG. 6B, the paper delay occurrence rate calculated from the 190012th sheet to the 190112th sheet transported is about 7%, and the number of transported sheets on which the paper feed JAM is generated is 194342. It was the first piece. Here, when the threshold rate is set to 5%, it is possible to detect the deterioration of the performance of the transport roller before the paper feed JAM occurs when the paper delay occurrence rate reaches about 7%.

  Note that when the occurrence rate calculation unit 205 calculates the paper delay occurrence rate, the order of the number of past paper transports and the number of paper transports in which the paper delay has occurred (paper delay occurs in the number of paper transports). And a paper delay occurrence rate from when the paper delay occurs until a specific number of sheets are conveyed is calculated.

  When the occurrence rate calculation unit 205 calculates the paper delay occurrence rate, it notifies the occurrence rate determination unit 206 to that effect, and the occurrence rate determination unit 206 that has received the notification notifies that the calculated paper delay occurrence rate is the threshold rate. Is determined (FIG. 3: S107).

  As a result of the determination, when the calculated paper delay occurrence rate does not exceed the threshold rate (FIG. 3: S107 NO), when the calculated paper delay occurrence rate is equal to or less than the threshold rate, the occurrence rate determination unit 206 Then, it is determined that the calculated paper delay occurrence rate is a paper delay occurrence rate based on a sudden paper delay, and the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, in S107, when the calculated paper delay occurrence rate exceeds the threshold rate (FIG. 3: S107 YES), the occurrence rate determination unit 206 determines that the calculated paper delay occurrence rate is the occurrence of paper feed JAM. It is determined that the paper delay occurrence rate is based on the immediately preceding paper delay, and the fact is notified to the exchange display unit 207. Upon receiving the notification, the replacement display unit 207 displays a screen for prompting replacement of the transport roller (FIG. 3: S108).

  For example, the exchange display unit 207 causes the exchange screen 700 to be displayed on the touch panel of the operation unit 101 via the display reception unit 201. In the replacement screen 700, as shown in FIG. 7, a message 701 that the performance of the transport roller of the paper feed cassette is deteriorated, a message 702 that prompts replacement of the transport roller, and a service person are notified. Serviceman call information 703 and an OK key 704 are displayed. Thereby, the user can confirm the performance deterioration of the transport roller immediately before the paper feed JAM occurs, and can replace the transport roller with good timing.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the threshold rate is set in advance, but other configurations may be used. For example, the conveyance roller of the paper feed cassette 103a increases or decreases in diameter due to temperature changes in the external environment. In addition, depending on the type of paper (thick paper, used paper, etc.), the surface of the paper feed roller is easily or hardly attached. The paper delay occurrence rate varies depending on the change in the environmental temperature and the change in the type of paper. Therefore, the occurrence rate determination unit 206 can be configured to change the threshold rate and execute the determination in accordance with the temperature level of the environment detected by the detection sensor. For example, the occurrence rate determination unit 206 lowers the threshold rate when the temperature of the environment is high, and increases the threshold rate when the temperature of the environment is low. Further, the occurrence rate determination unit 206 changes the threshold rate according to the type of paper. For example, the occurrence rate determination unit 206 decreases the threshold rate when the paper type is thick paper, and increases the threshold rate when the paper type is used paper. The occurrence rate determination unit 206 may change the threshold rate by a combination of the environmental temperature and the paper type. As described above, it is possible to appropriately detect the deterioration of the performance of the transport roller according to the use environment that is different for each apparatus, and to prompt the replacement of the transport roller with good timing.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the image forming apparatus 100 includes the sheet conveyance control unit 103. However, the image forming apparatus 100 may include each unit of the sheet conveyance control unit 103.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the sheet conveyance control unit 103 is configured to include each unit. However, a program that realizes each unit may be stored in a storage medium, and the storage medium may be provided. In this configuration, the program is read by the apparatus, and the apparatus realizes the units. In that case, the program itself read from the recording medium exhibits the effects of the present invention. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a method for storing the steps executed by each means in a hard disk.

  As described above, the paper transport device, the image forming apparatus, and the paper transport method according to the present invention are useful for printers, copiers, multifunction devices, and the like, and accurately detect a decrease in paper feed performance of the paper feed roller. This is effective as a paper transport device, an image forming apparatus, and a paper transport method capable of performing the above.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming apparatus 103 Paper conveyance control part 201 Display reception part 202 Job execution part 203 Cassette selection part 204 Paper delay determination part 205 Incidence rate calculation part 206 Incidence rate determination part 207 Exchange display part

Claims (6)

A paper delay determination unit that determines whether or not a delay of the paper has occurred in the transport of the paper when the transport of the paper from the paper cassette is started by the transport roller;
When the paper delay occurs, an occurrence rate calculating unit that calculates the occurrence rate of the paper delay that occurs after the paper delay occurs until a specific number of sheets are conveyed;
An occurrence rate determination unit that determines whether the calculated paper delay occurrence rate exceeds a specific threshold rate; and
When the calculated paper delay occurrence rate exceeds the threshold rate, a replacement display unit that displays a screen to prompt replacement of the transport roller;
A sheet conveying apparatus comprising: The threshold rate does not exceed the first paper delay occurrence rate corresponding to the sudden paper delay, and the paper delay occurrence exceeds the second paper delay occurrence rate corresponding to the paper delay just before the occurrence of the paper feed JAM. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveying apparatus is set to a rate. The paper conveyance device according to claim 1, wherein the occurrence rate determination unit performs the determination by changing the threshold rate in response to a temperature level of an environment detected by a detection sensor. The paper conveyance device according to claim 1, wherein the occurrence rate determination unit changes the threshold rate according to a type of paper and performs the determination. A paper delay determination unit that determines whether or not a delay of the paper has occurred in the transport of the paper when the transport of the paper from the paper cassette is started by the transport roller;
When the paper delay occurs, an occurrence rate calculating unit that calculates the occurrence rate of the paper delay that occurs after the paper delay occurs until a specific number of sheets are conveyed;
An occurrence rate determination unit that determines whether the calculated paper delay occurrence rate exceeds a specific threshold rate; and
When the calculated paper delay occurrence rate exceeds the threshold rate, a replacement display unit that displays a screen to prompt replacement of the transport roller;
An image forming apparatus comprising: A paper delay determination step of determining whether or not a delay of the paper has occurred in the transport of the paper when the transport of the paper from the paper cassette is started by the transport roller;
An occurrence rate calculating step of calculating an occurrence rate of a paper delay that occurs between the occurrence of the paper delay and a specific number of sheets being conveyed when the paper delay occurs;
An occurrence rate determination step for determining whether the calculated paper delay occurrence rate exceeds a specific threshold rate; and
When the calculated paper delay occurrence rate exceeds the threshold rate, an exchange display step for displaying a screen prompting replacement of the transport roller;
A sheet conveying method comprising: