JP2019081651A - Image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

To solve such the problem that a user hardly notices existence of a returned sheet once the sheet is returned to a different discharge tray from a discharge tray that has been set as a tray to be discharged even if it is an image formation device that includes lighting means for notifying a user of existence of a sheet on the discharge tray.SOLUTION: When it is set by setting means so that a sheet is discharged to a first discharge tray, an image formation device lights second lighting means when detection means detects a sheet on a second discharge tray after the sheet is discharged to the first discharge tray.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet.

  For example, in an image forming apparatus provided with a copying or facsimile function, a user may forget to remove a sheet from the output tray. In order to prevent the sheet from being left behind, a lighting means for illuminating the discharged sheet is known (see Patent Document 1).

Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 1-294155

  In an image forming apparatus used by a plurality of users, the sheet removed from the discharge tray may not be the one from which the sheet was removed. In this case, the user returns the taken out sheet to the discharge tray. Here, if a plurality of discharge trays are arranged in the image forming apparatus, it is also conceivable that the sheet is returned to a discharge tray other than the discharge tray which has been the discharge destination. In the configuration of Patent Document 1, the illumination is turned off when the user takes out the sheet. Therefore, there is a problem that the user who should receive the sheet does not notice the presence of the sheet.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, a first discharge tray to which a sheet on which an image is formed is discharged, a second discharge tray to which a sheet on which an image is formed is discharged, the first discharge tray, and the second discharge Setting means for setting to which of the plurality of discharge trays including the tray the sheet is to be discharged; detection means for detecting whether or not each of the first discharge tray and the second discharge tray has a sheet; A first lighting unit that lights to indicate that a sheet is present in the first discharge tray; and a second lighting unit that is lit to indicate that a sheet is present in the second discharge tray; When the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray set by the setting unit of the first discharge tray and the second discharge tray, the first and second lights of the first lighting unit and the second lighting are discharged. Of the means The lighting unit corresponding to the discharge tray set by the setting unit is turned on, and the setting unit is set to discharge the sheet to the first discharge tray, and the sheet is set to the first discharge tray. When the detection means detects that there is a sheet in the second discharge tray after discharging the second light source, the second lighting means is turned on.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to indicate the presence of a sheet even if the sheet taken out of the discharge tray is placed on another discharge tray.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a control unit block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is the flow chart which showed control concerning lighting of the 1st LED and the 2nd LED. It is the flow chart which showed control concerning lighting of the 1st LED and the 2nd LED.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  In the image forming apparatus, a cassette 111 for storing paper, OHT or the like as a sheet S on which an image is formed is disposed. The cassette 111 is provided so as to be extractable in the front direction of FIG.

  An image reading unit 150 provided with a reading sensor 179 for reading an image of a document is disposed on the top of the image forming apparatus. A document is set in the image reading unit 150 by the user. The image data of the document read by the image reading unit 150 is processed by the controller unit 300 (see FIG. 2).

  A laser beam is emitted from the laser scanner unit 142 by the signal based on the image data of the read original and the received image data of the facsimile, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 141. The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 141 is developed by the developing device 143, and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 141. The toner image on the photosensitive drum 141 is given a predetermined pressure and an electrostatic load bias by the primary transfer device 144, and the toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 145. In the case of FIG. 1, the image forming unit 140 described above includes four sets of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black Bk.

  Next, the intermediate transfer belt 145 will be described. The intermediate transfer belt 145 supported by the plurality of rollers including the support roller 131 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow A in FIG. The intermediate transfer belt 145 is processed in parallel by the above-described Y, M, C, and Bk image forming units. The image forming process for each color is performed at the timing when it is superimposed on the upstream toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 145. As a result, a full-color toner image is finally formed on the intermediate transfer belt 145, and the toner image is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion 130 which is a nip portion between the transfer roller 132 and the intermediate transfer belt 145.

  The sheets S stored in the state of being stacked on the cassette 111 are separated one by one by the feeding unit 110 and fed. The fed sheet S is delivered to the first conveyance roller pair 120, and conveyed toward the sheet skew correction device 10 disposed downstream in the sheet conveyance direction. The sheet skew correction device 10 corrects the skew of the sheet S. Thereafter, the sheet S is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 130 by the second conveyance roller pair 30 that constitutes the sheet skew correction device 10.

  The full color toner image is secondarily transferred onto the sheet S in the secondary transfer unit 130 by the conveyance process of the sheet S and the image forming process described above.

  The sheet S on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 155. The fixing device 155 melts and fixes the toner on the sheet S by adding a predetermined pressing force by substantially opposing rollers or belts and a heating effect generally by a heat source such as a heater.

  The transport destination of the sheet S having the fixed image obtained in this manner is switched by the swinging guide 182 moved by the discharge solenoid 181. That is, the sheet is discharged onto the first discharge tray 170 by the first discharge roller 160 or discharged onto the second discharge tray 171 by the second discharge roller 161. Whether the sheet is discharged to the first discharge tray 170 or the second discharge tray 171 is determined based on the setting made on the operation unit 200 by the operator. In the case of forming an image on both sides of the sheet, the sheet is conveyed to the reverse conveyance device 180 by rotating the first discharge roller 160 in the reverse direction. Then, the sheet is conveyed to the first conveyance roller pair 120 by the reverse conveyance device 180.

  In the first discharge tray 170, a first tray sensor 172 for detecting the presence or absence of the sheet S on the first discharge tray 170 and a first LED 174 are disposed. The first LED 174 as the first lighting means is arranged to indicate to the user that the sheet S on the first discharge tray 170 is present by lighting.

  In the second discharge tray 171, a second tray sensor 173 for detecting the presence or absence of the sheet S on the second discharge tray 171 and a second LED 175 are disposed. The second LED 175 as the second lighting means is arranged to indicate to the user that the sheet S is present on the second discharge tray 171 by lighting.

  FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a control unit of the image forming apparatus. The controller unit 300 plays a role of exchanging data with the user interface, and is connected to the operation unit 200 for performing detailed setting regarding formation of an image and setting regarding transmission and reception of a facsimile.

  The facsimile data received by the facsimile reception unit 290 is sent to the controller unit 300. The image data of the document read by the image reading unit 150 is sent to the controller unit 300. The controller unit 300 processes the received facsimile data and image data of a document.

  The controller unit 300 is connected to the CPU 201 a of the control unit 250 that performs control related to the image forming operation. The CPU 201a executes various sequences related to a predetermined image forming sequence according to a program stored in the ROM 201c mounted on the control unit 250. The control unit 250 also incorporates a RAM 201 b to store rewritable data that needs to be temporarily or permanently stored when executing a sequence. The RAM 201b stores, for example, a high voltage setting value for the high voltage control unit 205, various data to be described later, image formation command information from the operation unit 200, and the like.

  In the image forming apparatus, DC loads such as a motor and a solenoid and sensors 214 such as a photo interrupter and a micro switch are disposed at various places in the apparatus. That is, in the image forming apparatus, the intermediate transfer belt 145 and each unit are driven by appropriately driving the motor and driving each DC load, and the sensors 214 monitor the operation thereof.

  The CPU 201 a of the control unit 250 causes the motor control unit 207 to control each motor 212 based on the signal sent from the sensors 214 via the sensor IF 209. The CPU 201 a of the control unit 250 causes the DC load control unit 208 to operate the discharge solenoid 181. The sheet S is selectively discharged onto the first discharge tray 170 or the second discharge tray 171 by the ON / OFF control of the discharge solenoid 181.

  Based on the signals from the first tray sensor 172 and the second tray sensor 173, the control unit 250 detects whether there is a sheet on each tray (whether the sheet S has been removed by the user). Based on signals from the first tray sensor 172 and the second tray sensor 173, the CPU 201a of the control unit 250 controls lighting of the first LED 174 and the second LED 175 by the LED control unit 240. The control of lighting of the first LED 174 and the second LED 175 will be described in detail later.

  The CPU 201 a sends various high voltage control signals from the high voltage control unit 205 to the high voltage unit 206. The high voltage unit 206 applies an appropriate high voltage to the primary charger or the like. The fixing roller provided in the fixing device 155 incorporates a fixing heater 211 for heating the roller. The fixing heater 211 is on / off controlled by the AC driver 210. Further, each fixing roller is provided with a thermistor 204 for measuring its temperature. The resistance value change of the thermistor 204 according to the temperature change of each fixing roller is converted into a voltage value by the A / D 203, and then input to the CPU 201a as a digital value. The CPU 201a of the control unit 250 controls the aforementioned AC driver 210 based on the temperature data.

  The CPU 201 a controls the image forming unit 140 by the image control unit 149.

  Next, control of lighting of the first LED 174 and the second LED 175 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. The control shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is executed by the CPU 201a in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 201c.

  The image data received by the facsimile receiving unit 290 is sent to the image control unit 149 through the controller unit 300 (S101). The CPU 201a controls the discharge solenoid 181 so as to discharge the sheet to the discharge tray set as the discharge destination by the operation unit 200 (S102). In the description herein, the discharge tray set as the discharge destination among the plurality of discharge trays will be described as the first discharge tray 170.

  When the CPU 201a detects a sheet by the first tray sensor 172 disposed on the first discharge tray 170 (sheet detection ON indicating sheet presence as an output of the sensor), the process proceeds to step S103. In S103, the CPU 201a causes the LED control unit 240 to turn on the first LED 174 (S103). Hereinafter, the sheet detection ON indicating the presence of a sheet as an output of the tray sensor is simply referred to as ON.

  Thereafter, the CPU 201a keeps lighting the first LED 174 until the sheet is removed by the user. If the CPU 201a determines that the first tray sensor 172 detects that there is no sheet (sheet detection indicating that there is no sheet as an output of the sensor) (S104), the process proceeds to S105. In S105, the CPU 201a causes the LED control unit 240 to turn off the first LED 174. In addition, below, sheet detection OFF which shows that there is no sheet as output of a tray sensor is also only called OFF.

  The CPU 201a determines whether the first tray sensor 172 detects that there is no sheet (OFF) for a fixed time that can be changed by the operation unit 200 (S106). If YES in S106, the CPU 201a determines whether a sheet is present (ON) by the second tray sensor 173 of the other second discharge tray 171 (a discharge tray not set as a discharge destination) (S107). Here, if the second tray sensor 173 is ON and the sheet is detected, the user confirms that the sheet on the first discharge tray 170 is picked up, but the document is not addressed to oneself, so the second discharge tray 171 It is assumed that the user placed in Therefore, the CPU 201a causes the LED control unit 240 to turn on the second LED 175 (S108). In this embodiment, when the sheet picked up by the user is returned to the discharge tray (in this case, the second discharge tray 171) which has not been set as the discharge destination, the presence of the sheet is notified by turning on the second LED 175. Things are possible.

  Thereafter, the CPU 201a keeps lighting the second LED 175 until the sheet is removed by the user. When the CPU 201a detects that the second tray sensor 173 is OFF and there is no sheet (S109), the CPU 201a causes the LED control unit 240 to turn off the second LED 175 (S110).

  After turning off the first LED 174 in S105, the CPU 201a determines whether the first tray sensor 172 is off for a predetermined time or more (S106). Here, if the first tray sensor 172 detects the presence of a sheet within a predetermined time (NO in the determination of S106), it is assumed that the user returns the sheet to the same first discharge tray 170 because it is not a document addressed to itself. Be done. Therefore, the CPU 201a turns on the first LED 174 (S103).

  If the first tray sensor 172 is off for a predetermined time or more and the second tray sensor 173 is also off at S106 (NO at S107), the CPU 201a determines that the user has taken out the sheet, and the process ends.

  Next, control regarding lighting of the first LED 174 and the second LED 175 when discharging a plurality of sheets will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 4.

  The image data received by the facsimile receiving unit 290 is sent to the image control unit 149 through the controller unit 300 (S201). The CPU 201a controls the discharge solenoid 181 to discharge a plurality of sheets to the discharge tray set as the discharge destination by the operation unit 200 (S202). In the description herein, the discharge tray set as the discharge destination among the plurality of discharge trays will be described as the first discharge tray 170.

  If it is determined based on the first tray sensor 172 that there is a sheet on the first discharge tray 170, the CPU 201a causes the LED control unit 240 to turn on the first LED 174 (S203). In the state where the sheet of the first discharge tray 170 is detected by the first tray sensor 172 (YES in S204), the CPU 201a determines the state of the signal of the second tray sensor 173 (S205). Here, if the second tray sensor 173 is ON and there is a sheet on the second discharge tray 171 (YES in S205), it is assumed that the following condition is satisfied. That is, it is assumed that the user takes a part of the sheet in the first discharge tray 170 and checks it, but it is not a document addressed to the user, so that the taken out sheet is placed in the second discharge tray 171. Then, if the second tray sensor 173 is ON (YES in S205), the CPU 201a turns on the second LED 175 (S206).

  Thereafter, the CPU 201a keeps lighting the second LED 175 until the sheet on the second discharge tray 171 is removed by the user. When the second tray sensor 173 is off and it is detected that there is no sheet (YES in S207), the CPU 201a causes the LED control unit 240 to turn off the second LED 175 (S208). The CPU 201a keeps the first LED 174 lighting up in the LED control unit 240 until the sheet on the first discharge tray 170 is removed by the user. In other words, when the first tray sensor 172 is off and it is detected that there is no sheet (YES in S209), the CPU 201a causes the LED control unit 240 to turn off the first LED 174 (S210).

  By the way, if the second tray sensor 173 remains OFF (no sheet) in S205, it is assumed that the user does not place a sheet on the second discharge tray 171. Therefore, if it is determined that the second tray sensor 173 is OFF (NO in S205) in S205 in S205, the CPU 201a proceeds to S209.

  If the result of S204 is NO, that is, all the sheets on the first discharge tray 170 have been taken by the user, the CPU 201a causes the LED control section 240 to turn off the first LED 174 (S211). Then, the CPU 201a determines whether the first tray sensor 172 detects the absence of a sheet (OFF) for a certain period of time that can be changed by the user using the operation unit 200 (S212).

  When the first tray sensor 172 detects sheet absence (OFF) for a predetermined time (YES in S212), the CPU 201a determines whether or not the second tray sensor 173 has sheet presence (ON) in S213. If YES in S213, it is assumed that the user has picked up a sheet in the first discharge tray 170 and checked it, but it is not a document addressed to the user, so the user has placed it in the second discharge tray 171. Therefore, if the second tray sensor 173 has a sheet (YES in S213), the CPU 201a causes the LED control unit 240 to turn on the second LED 175 (S214). Thereafter, the CPU 201a causes the LED control unit 240 to keep the second LED 175 lit until the sheet is removed by the user. When the second tray sensor 173 detects no sheet (OFF) (YES in S215), the CPU 201a causes the LED control unit 240 to turn off the second LED 175 (S216).

  If the first tray sensor 172 detects a sheet within a predetermined time in S212 (NO in S212), it is assumed that the user returns the sheet to the same first discharge tray 170 because the document is not a document addressed to the user. . Therefore, if the determination is NO in S212, the CPU 201a causes the LED control unit 240 to turn on the first LED 174 (S203). If the second tray sensor 173 on the second discharge tray 171 remains without sheets (OFF) (NO in S213), it is determined that the user has taken out the sheet, and the process ends.

  In the case of a fax, the user hardly notices the sheet discharged to the first discharge tray 170 or the second discharge tray 171. Therefore, in the above description, the first and second LEDs 174 and 175 are turned on when the sheet on which the image based on the received fax data is formed is discharged. However, the same lighting control of the first and second LEDs 174 and 175 may be performed also in a copying operation in which a sheet on which an image is formed based on an image read by the image reading unit is discharged. Further, since it is less necessary to light the first and second LEDs 174 in the copying operation than in the case of the fax, the first and second LEDs 174 and 175 may not be lighted in the copying operation. Also, the following may be done. In the case of fax, the first and second LEDs 174 and 175 corresponding to the tray in which the sheet is left are kept on, and in the case of copying operation, the first and second LEDs 174 and 175 are turned off after a predetermined time even if the sheet remains. Let

  In the embodiment, the lighting of the first and second LEDs 174 and 175 is started based on the detection of the sheet by the first tray sensor 172 and the second tray sensor 173. However, for example, when starting the operation of forming an image on a sheet, that is, before the first and second tray sensors 172 and 173 detect the discharged sheet, the lighting of the first and second LEDs 174 and 175 is performed. You may make it start.

  In the above description, the form which provided 1st LED174 in the 1st discharge tray 170, and provided 2nd LED175 in the 2nd discharge tray 171 was illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described form because it is sufficient to indicate that the user has a sheet on the discharge tray by lighting up to notice the presence of the sheet. For example, it may be as follows. A first LED 174 is provided above the first discharge tray 170 and below the image reading unit 150 so as to illuminate the sheet on the first discharge tray 170. A second LED 175 is provided above the second discharge tray 171 and below the first discharge tray 170 so as to illuminate the sheet on the second discharge tray 171.

200 operation unit 170 first discharge tray 171 second discharge tray 172 first tray sensor 173 second tray sensor 174 first LED
175 second LED

Claims (5)

A first discharge tray to which a sheet on which an image is formed is discharged;
A second discharge tray from which the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged;
A setting unit configured to set which of the plurality of discharge trays including the first discharge tray and the second discharge tray the sheet is to be discharged;
Detection means for detecting whether or not there is a sheet in each of the first discharge tray and the second discharge tray;
First lighting means that lights up to indicate that there is a sheet in the first discharge tray;
And a second lighting means that lights up to indicate that there is a sheet in the second discharge tray.
When a sheet is discharged to the discharge tray set by the setting unit of the first discharge tray and the second discharge tray, the sheet is set by the setting unit of the first lighting unit and the second lighting unit. The lighting means corresponding to the discharged tray is turned on,
The sheet is set to be discharged to the first discharge tray by the setting unit, and the sheet is stored on the second discharge tray after the sheet is discharged to the first discharge tray. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the second lighting means is turned on when it is detected.   The sheet is set to be discharged to the first discharge tray by the setting unit, and the sheet is not detected on the first discharge tray after the sheet is discharged to the first discharge tray. The first lighting means is turned off and the second lighting means is turned on when the detection means detects that there is a sheet in the second discharge tray. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The sheet is set to be discharged to the second discharge tray by the setting unit, and the sheet is stored on the first discharge tray after the sheet is discharged to the second discharge tray. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first lighting unit is turned on when the detection is detected.   In the case where the setting unit is set to discharge the sheets to the first discharge tray, after the plurality of sheets are discharged to the first discharge tray, the sheets are present on the first discharge tray 4. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first and second lighting means are turned on when the detecting means detects that there is a sheet in the second discharge tray. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The first lighting means is turned on when a sheet on which an image according to a received fax signal is formed is discharged to the first discharge tray. Image forming apparatus as described.

Images