JP2020086059A - Determination device, image forming apparatus, determination method, and determination program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a determination device, an image forming apparatus, a determination method, and a determination program that can determine whether processing for paper jam is completed.SOLUTION: A determination device 200 is a device that determines whether processing for paper jam is completed, the paper jam occurring in a sheet conveyance path in an image forming apparatus that forms an image on the sheet. The determination device has an image reading unit 180 that reads a sheet on which the paper jam processing is performed as image data for determination, and a determination unit 118 that determines whether the paper jam processing is completed based on the image data for determination read by the image reading unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a discriminating apparatus, an image forming apparatus, a discriminating method, and a discriminating program.

When a jam occurs in the sheet conveyance path of the image forming apparatus, it is necessary for the user to perform a jam process such as removing the sheet remaining in the apparatus. In order to reduce the burden of jam processing on the user, for example, in Patent Document 1 below, an image is provided in which a sensor detects a portion where the sheet remains in the apparatus, and provides the user with the range where the sheet remains based on the detection result. A forming apparatus is disclosed.

JP, 2000-335782, A

However, in the image forming apparatus as described in Patent Document 1, since the sensors are arranged at a predetermined interval, it is not possible to detect the sheet remaining in the portion where the sensor is not arranged. In particular, it is highly possible that a bent sheet when a jam occurs or a piece of a sheet that is torn during the jam processing cannot be detected by the sensor and remain in the apparatus. As a result, after the user performs the jam processing, even though the paper remains in the apparatus, the sensor cannot detect the remaining paper and determines that the jam processing is completed and the printing is continued. There are cases. If printing is performed with paper fragments or the like remaining in the apparatus, various problems such as poor conveyance of the paper, defective image formation, and generation of a strange odor due to charring of the remaining paper may occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a discriminating apparatus, an image forming apparatus, a discriminating method, and a discriminating program capable of discriminating whether or not a jam process is completed.

The above object is achieved by the following means.

(1) A discriminating device that discriminates whether or not a jam occurred in a sheet conveyance path of an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet is completed, and an image in which the jammed sheet is read as discrimination image data A discriminating device comprising: a reading unit; and a discriminating unit that discriminates whether or not a jam process is completed based on the discrimination image data read by the image reading unit.

(2) The discriminating unit calculates the area of the jammed paper from the discrimination image data read by the image reading unit, and the area of the jammed paper is set as the area of the paper fed to the transport path. The determination device according to (1) above, which determines whether or not the jam processing is completed by comparing.

(3) The determination unit calculates the shape of the sheet remaining in the image forming apparatus from the shape of the sheet of the determination image data read by the image reading unit, and determines whether the jam processing is completed. The discriminating apparatus according to (1) or (2), which discriminates.

(4) The determination device according to (3), further including a display unit that displays the shape of the sheet remaining in the image forming apparatus.

(5) The determination unit determines whether or not the jam processing is completed only when the paper jam occurs in the fixing unit of the image forming apparatus that heats and pressurizes the paper to fix the image on the paper. The discriminating apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4) above.

(6) One of the above (1) to (5), wherein the discriminating unit discriminates whether or not the jam processing is completed based on the plurality of discrimination image data read by the image reading unit a plurality of times. Discrimination device described in one.

(7) When the jam occurs in a plurality of ranges of the conveyance path, the image reading unit reads the determination image data of the jam-processed sheet for each range, and the determination unit performs the determination for each range. The determination device according to any one of (1) to (6) above, which determines whether or not the jam processing is completed.

(8) The discrimination device according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the image reading unit reads only a torn piece of paper as the discrimination image data.

(9) An operation accepting unit that accepts an ending operation for forcibly ending the jam processing is further provided, and even when the determining unit determines that the jam processing is not completed, when the ending operation is accepted, The determination device according to any one of (1) to (8) above, which determines that the jam processing has been completed.

(10) When the determination unit determines that the jam processing is completed, the determination unit automatically executes the return processing for returning the operating state of the image forming apparatus from the stopped state to the printable state. The discriminating device according to any one of (9).

(11) The determination device according to any one of (1) to (10), further including a notification unit that notifies a warning when the determination unit determines that the jam processing is not completed.

(12) The image reading unit has a paper pressing surface for pressing the paper against the reading surface, and the paper pressing surface has at least one of a color and a pattern different from the color of the paper. ) The discriminating device according to any one of.

(13) The determination device according to any one of (1) to (12), in which the image reading unit is communicably connected to the image forming apparatus.

(14) An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet of paper, and the determination device described in any one of (1) to (13) above.

(15) A determination method for determining whether or not the processing for a jam that has occurred in the sheet conveyance path of an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet has been completed, and that caused a jam that occurred in the conveyance path. A discrimination method of reading a sheet as discrimination image data and discriminating whether or not the jam processing is completed based on the discrimination image data.

(16) A discriminating program for controlling a discriminating device for discriminating whether or not the processing for a jam generated in a sheet conveying path of an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet is completed,
A step (a) of reading the sheet causing the jam generated in the transport path as the discrimination image data, and a step (b) of discriminating whether or not the jam processing is completed based on the discrimination image data. And a discriminating program for causing the discriminating apparatus to execute.

According to the discriminating apparatus, the image forming apparatus, the discriminating method, and the discriminating program of the present invention, whether or not all the sheets in the image forming apparatus are taken out from the discriminating image data of the jam-processed sheet and the jam processing is completed is determined. Can be accurately determined. As a result, the user can reliably remove the paper inside the image forming apparatus, so that it is possible to prevent the occurrence of problems due to the remaining paper.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a sheet pressing surface of the image reading unit shown in FIG. 1. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing executed when a jam occurs in the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen displayed on an operation panel in the process of step S107 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen displayed on an operation panel in the process of step S108 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen displayed on an operation panel in the process of step S109 of FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a method in which the control unit determines whether or not the jam processing is completed based on the area of the determination image data. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a method in which the control unit determines whether or not the jam processing is completed based on the shape of the determination image data. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen displayed on the operation panel in step S111 and step S112 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen displayed on the operation panel in step S111 and step S112 of FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing executed when a jam occurs in a plurality of ranges of the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen displayed on an operation panel in the process of step S107 of FIG. 12 after the 2nd time. 9 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus and an image reading unit according to Modification Example 1. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus and a discriminating apparatus according to a modified example 2. FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference symbols, without redundant description. Also, the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of explanation, and may differ from the actual ratios.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is an apparatus that forms an image on a sheet as a recording material used for printing. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a sheet conveying unit 110, a sheet sensor 120, an image forming unit 130, a fixing unit 140, a communication unit 150, an operation panel 160, a storage unit 170, and an image reading unit 180. And a control unit 190, which are mutually connected via a bus for exchanging signals.

The image forming apparatus 100 is a multi-function printer (MFP) in which the printer function of the image forming unit 130 and the scanner function of the image reading unit 180 are integrated. The operation panel 160, the storage unit 170, the image reading unit 180, and the control unit 190, when a jam occurs in the sheet conveyance path 111 of the image forming apparatus 100, determine whether or not the jam processing is completed. Make up 200. In this embodiment, the control unit 190 has a function as a determination unit that determines whether or not the jam processing is completed.

Hereinafter, each component of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described in detail.

(Paper transport unit 110)
As shown in FIG. 1, the paper transport unit 110 includes a plurality of transport rollers that transport the paper along the transport path 111. The sheets are accommodated in the sheet feeding tray 101, and are conveyed one by one to the image forming unit 130 along the conveying path 111 by the sheet feeding mechanism provided in the sheet feeding tray 101. Note that the image forming apparatus 100 is not limited to the configuration in which the sheet feeding tray 101 is built-in, and for example, a sheet feeding device having a sheet feeding tray is connected upstream of the conveyance path 111 of the image forming apparatus 100, and the sheet feeding device is connected. You may supply paper from.

(Paper sensor 120)
The paper sensor 120 detects the presence/absence and position of paper in the transport path 111. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of paper sensors 120 are arranged on the downstream side of each pair of transport rollers in the transport path 111 or at a predetermined location near the branch path. The paper sensor 120 is composed of, for example, a photo interrupter. The paper sensor 120 detects the passage of paper and the presence/absence of paper at each position in the transport path 111, and notifies the control unit 190 of the detection result. Note that the arrangement of the paper sensor 120 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 1, and may be partially omitted or may be arranged at a place other than the place shown in FIG.

(Image forming unit 130, fixing unit 140)
The image forming unit 130 and the fixing unit 140 use a well-known image forming process such as an electrophotographic process including the steps of charging, exposing, developing, transferring, and fixing to form a toner image as an image on a toner image based on various data. Form on top.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 130 includes an exposure unit 131, a photosensitive drum 132, a developing unit 133, an intermediate transfer belt 134 as an intermediate transfer member, and a transfer roller 135. The exposure unit 131, the photoconductor drum 132, and the development unit 133 are provided with configurations corresponding to respective basic colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). The exposure unit 131 exposes the charged photosensitive drum 132 with a laser beam based on the image data to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 132. The developing unit 133 supplies toner of a predetermined color (yellow, magenta, cyan, or black) by the developing roller that is charged on the exposed photoconductor drum 132, and the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 132 is supplied. Develop the image. The intermediate transfer belt 134 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 to receive the toner from the photosensitive drum 132. The transfer roller 135 transfers the toner on the intermediate transfer belt 134 onto the paper fed from the paper feed tray 101.

The fixing unit 140 performs a fixing process of heating and pressing the toner transferred onto the paper by the image forming unit 130 to fix the toner on the paper. The fixing unit 140 includes a fixing roller 141, a heating roller 142, a fixing belt 143, and a pressure roller 144. The heating roller 142 heats the fixing belt 143. The fixing roller 141 and the pressure roller 144 sandwich the sheet through the fixing belt 143 and convey the sheet while heating and pressing the sheet.

(Communication unit 150)
The communication unit 150 is an interface for communicating with other devices via a network. The communication unit 150 transmits/receives various setting values, various information necessary for operation timing control, data such as a print job, paper detection information by the paper sensor 120, and information indicating occurrence of a jam to/from other devices. I do.

(Operation panel 160)
The operation panel 160 includes, for example, a touch panel, a numeric keypad, a start button, a stop button, and the like, and functions as a display unit that displays various types of information and an operation reception unit that receives various types of user operations. The operation panel 160 may display, for example, an operation screen as a display unit, and may receive a user operation on the operation screen as an operation reception unit. The display unit and the operation receiving unit may be configured separately.

The operation panel 160 also has a function as a notification unit that displays a warning on the display screen when a jam occurs and notifies the user of the warning signal. The operation panel 160 may be provided with a speaker that generates a sound, and may generate a warning sound to notify the user of the warning signal.

(Storage unit 170)
The storage unit 170 stores a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which various programs and various data are stored in advance, a RAM (Random Access Memory) in which programs and data are temporarily stored as a work range, and various programs and various data are stored. It consists of a hard disk. The various programs include a determination program for the control unit 190 to perform control to determine whether or not the processing for the jam generated in the sheet conveyance path 111 has been completed.

(Image reading unit 180)
The image reading unit 180 performs a scan process of generating image data of a sheet. Here, the image data of the paper includes print image data in which an image to be printed on the paper is read, and image data for determination in which the outer shape of the paper after the jam processing is read. The determination image data is used by the control unit 190 to determine whether or not the jam processing is completed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading unit 180 includes a light source 181, an optical system 182, an image sensor 183, a reading surface 184, and a paper pressing surface 185. The light source 181 irradiates the paper sandwiched between the reading surface 184 and the paper pressing surface 185 with light, and the reflected light passes through the optical system 182 and is coupled to the image sensor 183 that has moved to the reading position. To be imaged. The image sensor 183 is composed of, for example, a line image sensor and generates an electric signal (photoelectric conversion) according to the intensity of reflected light. Among the image data obtained by image-processing the generated electric signal, the printing image data is input to the image forming unit 130. On the other hand, the discrimination image data is stored in the storage unit 170 and used for the processing of the discrimination program of the control unit 190. The image processing includes A/D conversion, shading correction, filter processing, image compression processing and the like.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the sheet pressing surface 185 of the image reading unit 180. The paper pressing surface 185 has a printing paper pressing surface 185a used when acquiring the printing image data and discrimination paper pressing surfaces 185b and 185c used when acquiring the discrimination image data. The printing paper pressing surface 185a and the discrimination paper pressing surfaces 185b and 185c are configured to be replaceable by the user.

As shown in FIG. 3, the printing paper pressing surface 185a has the same color as the paper (white in the present embodiment) and is plain. On the other hand, the discriminating paper pressing surface 185b has a color different from that of the paper (a color other than white in the present embodiment), and the discriminating paper pressing surface 185c has a pattern different from that of the paper such as a lattice shape. Note that the paper pressing surfaces 185b and 185c for discrimination may have both a color and a pattern different from those of the paper.

If the printing paper pressing surface 185a is used for the scanning process for obtaining the discrimination image data, the color of the paper and the printing paper pressing surface 185a become the same, and the paper of the discrimination image data is The outer shape may be unclear. Therefore, when the determination image data is acquired, the outer shape of the sheet can be clearly read by replacing the printing sheet pressing surface 185a with the determination sheet pressing surfaces 185b and 185c. As a result, the control unit 190 can correctly calculate the area and shape of the sheet from the discrimination image data, so that the accuracy of the discrimination process can be improved.

(Control unit 190)
The control unit 190 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and controls various parts described above and executes various arithmetic processes according to a program. Hereinafter, the main operation of the control unit 190 will be described.

The control unit 190 detects a jam that has occurred in the transport path 111 based on the detection result of the sheet by each sheet sensor 120. The control unit 190 determines that a jam has occurred, for example, when the time from the detection of the leading edge of the sheet by each sheet sensor 120 to the detection of the trailing edge of the sheet exceeds a preset threshold value. ..

Further, when a jam is detected in the conveyance path 111, the control unit 190 determines whether the jam occurrence position is in the fixing unit 140. When the position of the jam is within the fixing unit 140 (area D in FIG. 1), the printing operation of the image forming apparatus 100 is stopped. Then, the control unit 190 performs a jam process such as removal of a sheet remaining in the image forming apparatus 100 (hereinafter, also referred to as “remaining sheet”) and a scan process of reading the sheet after the jam process with the image reading unit 180. The operation panel 160 is caused to display a prompt. When a jam occurs in a plurality of ranges (for example, areas A to E in FIG. 1) of the conveyance path 111 including the fixing unit 140, the control unit 190 causes the image reading unit 180 that performs the jam processing for each range to perform a scanning process. Is displayed on the operation panel 160.

In addition, the control unit 190 executes the determination program stored in the storage unit 170 to perform a function as a determination unit that determines whether or not the processing of the jam generated in the sheet conveyance path 111 is completed. To do. The control unit 190 determines whether or not all the sheets remaining in the image forming apparatus 100 are removed and the jam processing is completed, based on the determination image data scanned by the user using the image reading unit 180. .. Specifically, the control unit 190 calculates at least one of the area and the shape from the discrimination image data read by the image reading unit 180, and discriminates whether or not the jam processing is completed based on the calculation result. ..

In addition, when the jam occurs in a plurality of ranges (for example, areas A to E in FIG. 1) of the conveyance path 111, the control unit 190 determines the range based on the plurality of determination image data that is scanned for each range. Each time, it is determined whether or not the jam processing is completed.

(Discrimination device 200)
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the operation panel 160, the storage unit 170, the image reading unit 180, and the control unit 190 configure a determination device 200 that determines whether or not the jam processing is completed. That is, in this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 includes the determination device 200 as a part of the configuration. As described above, when the image forming apparatus 100 includes the discriminating apparatus 200, the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment can be realized by incorporating the discriminating program into the existing image forming apparatus having the image reading unit. Therefore, the cost of developing and manufacturing the hardware of the determination device 200 can be reduced. Further, the user only has to purchase the software of the discrimination program, and it is not necessary to purchase a new discrimination device, so that the cost burden can be reduced.

<Outline of Processing in Image Forming Apparatus 100>
Next, processing in the image forming apparatus 100 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed when a jam occurs in the image forming apparatus 100. The algorithm shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is stored as a determination program in the storage unit 170 of the image forming apparatus 100, and is executed by the control unit 190.

(Step S101)
First, the control unit 190 starts printing paper based on a print job acquired from the user via the communication unit 150.

(Step S102)
After the processing of step S101, control unit 190 determines whether a jam has occurred in image forming apparatus 100. Specifically, the control unit 190 determines whether or not a jam has occurred, based on data such as the presence/absence of a sheet and the position of the sheet in the transport path 111 detected by the sheet sensor 120.

When no jam has occurred (step S102: NO), the control unit 190 proceeds to the process of step S114. When a jam has occurred (step S102: YES), the control unit 190 proceeds to the process of S103.

(Step S103)
The control unit 190 stops the printing process of the image forming apparatus 100 and suspends the printing.

(Step S104)
The control unit 190 determines, based on the detection data detected by the paper sensor 120, whether or not the jam occurrence position is within the fixing unit 140. The control unit 190 does not detect the leading edge of the sheet by the next downstream sheet sensor 120, for example, even when a predetermined time set in advance has passed since the sheet sensor 120 at a certain point detected the leading edge of the sheet. In this case, it is determined that a jam has occurred between the two sheet sensors 120.

If the position where the jam has occurred is other than the fixing unit 140 (step S104: NO), the process proceeds to step S105.

(Steps S105 and S106)
In step S105, the user performs normal jam processing, and in step S106, the control unit 190 determines whether or not normal jam processing is completed. When the normal jam processing is not completed in step S106 (step S106: NO), the processing of step S105 is repeated until the normal jam processing is completed. After the normal jam processing is completed (step S106: YES), the process proceeds to step S113. Here, the “normal jam process” is a process in which the user removes the sheet remaining in the image forming apparatus 100. Further, the “determination of completion of normal jam processing” is, for example, a determination made based on only the detection data of the paper sensor 120 whether the paper remains in the transport path 111.

In addition, in the normal jam processing, the control unit 190 may perform the purge processing on the papers remaining on the transport path 111 other than the papers that cause the jam. Here, the purging process is a process of discharging the sheet remaining in the transport path 111 to a nearby discharge tray or the like, or transporting the sheet to a position where the user can easily take it out.

When the position where the jam has occurred is inside the fixing unit 140 (step S104: YES), the control unit 190 proceeds to the process of step S107.

When printing is performed with paper fragments or the like remaining in the fixing unit 140, the remaining paper is burnt in the fixing unit 140 to cause an unpleasant odor, or the remaining paper blocks the temperature detection sensor in the fixing unit 140 and the fixing unit 140 There is a problem in that the temperature of 140 excessively rises or the fixing belt 143 is rubbed against the remaining paper and the fixing belt 143 is damaged, causing a defect in image formation. For this reason, in the present embodiment, a method capable of reliably performing the jam processing in steps S107 to S110 described later is adopted. On the other hand, when a jam occurs at a position other than the fixing unit 140, the jam processing is simply performed by performing the normal jam processing and the determination of the completion of the normal jam processing, and the jam processing time and the user's time You can save time.

(Step S107)
After stopping the printing process, the control unit 190 displays a message on the operation panel 160 to notify the user that the jam process is necessary. For example, the control unit 190 displays a screen as shown in FIG. 5 and notifies the user that the jam processing is necessary in a predetermined range including the fixing unit 140 (area D in the example shown in FIG. 5). .. Further, the control unit 190 may cause the speaker of the operation panel 160 to generate a warning sound.

(Step S108)
The control unit 190 causes the operation panel 160 to display a screen as shown in FIG. 6, for example, and receives the number of sheets for which the jam processing has been completed from the user who receives the notification. If there is no sheet for which the jam processing is completed, an input to that effect is received from the user. Here, the “paper for which the jam processing has been completed” means a paper that can be removed from the image forming apparatus 100 without being torn, and does not include a paper that is torn and partially missing.

(Step S109)
Next, the control unit 190 causes the operation panel 160 to display a screen as shown in FIG. 7, for example, and accepts the scan processing from the user who has received the notification. Specifically, the user uses the image reading unit 180 to determine only the sheets that have been removed from the image forming apparatus 100 by the jam processing and have not been counted in the number of sheets for which the jam processing has been completed in step S108. Scan processing for generating the image data for use is performed. That is, the user scans only the torn piece of paper. The discrimination image data read by the image reading unit 180 is stored in the storage unit 170.

As described above, by accepting the number of sheets for which the jam processing has been completed in step S108, the number of sheets to be scanned by the user in step S109 can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to reduce the user's time and effort required for the scanning process.

In step S109, the user may perform the scanning process only once, or may perform the scanning process in plural times. When the scan processing is performed in a plurality of times, the control unit 190 causes the operation panel 160 to display a screen as shown in FIG. 7, for example, and receives the selection of continuation or completion of the scan processing from the user. To continue the scanning process, the user presses the "continue" button on the screen of FIG. To complete the scanning process, the user presses the "completion" button on the screen of FIG. With this, the user can additionally perform the scan processing when the paper is removed from other places after performing the scan processing once. Further, when the user scans a plurality of paper pieces at once, the plurality of paper pieces may overlap with each other and the shape and area may not be accurately grasped. The area and shape of each piece of paper can be accurately grasped by performing the scanning process on the piece of paper one by one in a plurality of times.

Note that the user may omit the process of step S108 and scan all the jam-processed papers including the papers that can be removed without tearing in step S109.

(Step S110)
Next, the control unit 190 determines whether or not the jam processing is completed based on the determination image data stored in the storage unit 170. When the control unit 190 determines that the jam processing is not completed (step S110: NO), the control unit 190 proceeds to the processing of step S111. On the other hand, when the control unit 190 determines that the jam process is completed (step S110: YES), the control unit 190 proceeds to the process of step S113. As a method of determining whether or not the jam processing is completed, for example, a method of determining from the area or a method of determining from the shape can be used.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the “method of discriminating from the area”. In the method of discriminating based on the area, the control unit 190 calculates the total area of the jammed paper pieces P1, P2, and P3 from the discrimination image data, and sets the area of the jammed paper pieces P1, P2, and P3 in the conveyance path 111. By comparing with the area of the fed paper P0, it is determined whether or not the jam processing is completed.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 190 calculates the areas S1, S2, and S3 of the jammed three paper sheets P1, P2, and P3 from the discrimination image data. Further, the control unit 190 calculates the area S of the original paper P0 from the information on the standard size (for example, A3) of the paper fed to the transport path 111. The area information of each standard size may be stored in the storage unit 170 in advance.

If the total area (S1+S2+S3) of the paper pieces P1, P2, and P3 of the jam-processed paper and the area S of the paper P0 fed to the transport path 111 are substantially the same, the control unit 190 completes the jam processing, It is determined that no piece of paper remains in the image forming apparatus 100 (step S110: YES). On the other hand, if the areas do not substantially match, it is determined that a piece of paper remains in the image forming apparatus 100 and the jam processing is not completed (step S110: NO).

Here, the area “substantially equal” means that the total area (S1+S2+S3) of the jammed sheets P1, P2, and P3 with respect to the area S of the fed sheet P0 and the area S of the fed sheet. Means that the difference ((S−(S1+S2+S3))/S) is within the allowable range. The allowable range is set according to the area of the remaining paper which is judged not to cause a problem even if it remains in the fixing unit 140, and is preferably 0% or more and 5% or less, more preferably 0% or more and 3% or less, It is particularly preferably 0% or more and 1% or less.

Even if the number of torn sheets is unknown, the control unit 190 can estimate and calculate the number of torn sheets from the total area of the pieces of paper. For example, the control unit 190 estimates that the number of the torn paper is one and feeds the fed paper when the total area of the pieces of the torn paper subjected to the scan processing is less than or equal to the area of the fed paper. The area of one sheet is compared with the total area of the scanned paper pieces. In addition, the control unit 190 estimates that the number of the torn sheets is two when the total area of the pieces of the torn sheet subjected to the scan processing is larger than the area of the fed sheets and equal to or less than two sheets, The area of two sheets of fed paper is compared with the total area of the scanned paper pieces. As described above, even when the number of torn sheets is unknown, it is possible to determine whether or not the jam process is completed by scanning only the torn sheet pieces. In particular, since there is a high possibility that the number of remaining sheets at the location causing the jam is one sheet or at most two sheets, the method of discriminating from the area can be applied relatively easily.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the “method for discriminating from the shape”. In the method of determining the shape, the control unit 190 calculates the shape of the sheet remaining in the image forming apparatus 100 from the shape of the sheet of the determination image data, and determines whether the jam processing is completed.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 190 extracts the contours of the jammed paper sheets P1, P2, and P3 from the scan-processed image data for determination, and matches them with the shape of the original paper sheet P0 supplied. The original sheets P0 are restored by joining the pieces of paper so that the shapes of the contours match. At that time, in consideration of the fact that the paper pieces P1, P2, and P3 are scanned backward, not only the contour shape of the discrimination image data but also the contour shape which is line-symmetrically inverted is used. Further, by causing the control unit 190 to execute a discrimination program for recognizing the straight line portion of the contour shape as the contour portion of the fed sheet and the right angle portion as the corner portion of the fed sheet, the analysis time can be shortened. it can.

The control unit 190 calculates the shape of the piece of paper remaining in the image forming apparatus 100 from the restored data obtained from the discrimination image data. If the restored data of the jammed sheets P1, P2, and P3 of the jammed sheet and the shape of the sheet P0 fed to the transport path 111 match, the jamming process is completed, and the control unit 190 sets the inside of the image forming apparatus 100. It is determined that no piece of paper remains (step S110: YES). On the other hand, when the shapes do not match, the control unit 190 determines that a sheet piece remains in the image forming apparatus 100 and the jam processing is not completed (step S110: NO).

In the process of step S110, the control unit 190 may make a determination by combining the method of determining from the area and the method of determining from the shape. By combining the two methods, the control unit 190 can more accurately determine whether the jam processing is completed. Further, since the user can obtain information on both the area and the shape of the paper piece remaining in the image forming apparatus 100, it becomes easy to find the remaining paper during the jam processing.

(Step S111)
The control unit 190 causes the operation panel 160 to display a screen as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, for example, and displays the remaining sheet information of the sheet remaining in the image forming apparatus 100 (particularly, the torn sheet of paper) to the user. Notify to. In step S110, if the control unit 190 using a method to determine from the area, for example, the control unit 190, as shown in FIG. 10, an area with insufficient and "paper Not enough after ○ 〇_Mm ^2" The information is displayed on the screen of the operation panel 160. When the method in which the control unit 190 discriminates from the shape is used in step S110, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the control unit 190 displays information about the shape and the number of paper pieces remaining in the image forming apparatus 100. It is displayed on the screen of the operation panel 160. Further, when the control unit 190 makes a determination by combining the method of determining from the area and the method of determining from the shape, the control unit 190 displays information about the area, shape, and the number of the sheet pieces remaining in the image forming apparatus 100. It can be displayed on the operation panel 160. As a result, the user can know the remaining sheet information such as the size, shape, and number of sheets remaining in the image forming apparatus 100, which is a better guideline for jam processing. As a result, the user can reliably remove the paper inside the image forming apparatus 100.

(Step S112)
The control unit 190 determines whether the operation panel 160 has received an end operation for forcibly ending the jam processing from the user. For example, the control unit 190 causes the operation panel 160 to display a screen on which the user can select forced termination, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The user presses the “YES” button on the screens of FIGS. 10 and 11 to force the termination, and presses the “NO” button on the screens of FIGS. 10 and 11 to force the termination.

For example, if the toner on the image surface of the paper removed by the user becomes an adhesive and the paper is adhered in a folded state, and it is impossible to scan the accurate area of the jammed paper, The "jamming completed?" in S110 continues to be NO, and the jamming operation loops endlessly. In such a case, an infinite loop can be avoided by providing a means for the user to select forced termination and to shift to a normal operation in which printing can be forcibly performed.

When the operation panel 160 receives the end operation (step S112: YES), the control unit 190 proceeds to the process of S113.

When the operation panel 160 has not received the ending operation (step S112: NO), the control unit 190 returns to the processing of step S107 and repeats the processing of steps S107 to S112 until the jam processing is completed (step S110: YES). ..

(Step S113)
The control unit 190 restarts the interrupted print. Specifically, the control unit 190 automatically executes a return process for returning the operating state of the image forming apparatus 100 from the stopped state in which the print job is interrupted to the printable state.

(Step S114)
The control unit 190 determines whether all pages of the print job have been printed. When the print job is not completed (step S114: NO), the control unit 190 returns to the process of step S101 and repeats the processes of steps S101 to S113 until the print job is completed. When the printing of all the pages of the print job is completed (step S114: YES), the control unit 190 ends the operation.

(Procedure for processing when jam occurs in multiple ranges)
For example, when a jam occurs while printing a plurality of sheets continuously, a plurality of sheets may remain in a plurality of ranges in the image forming apparatus 100. In this case, when the user removes the sheets from the plurality of areas in the image forming apparatus 100 and then performs the scanning process of step S109 at once, the control unit 190 determines whether the jam processing is completed from the determination image data. However, it is not possible to determine in what range of the image forming apparatus 100 the paper remains. For this reason, the user needs to search for the paper from a plurality of ranges, which increases the user's time and effort for the jam processing.

Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, when a jam occurs in a plurality of ranges (areas A to E in FIG. 1) of the conveyance path 111, the image reading unit 180 scans the jammed paper for each range. A display prompting the user to perform the processing is displayed on the operation panel 160. The control unit 190 determines whether or not the jam processing has been completed for each range based on the determination-use image data scanned for each range.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed when a jam occurs in a plurality of ranges. In the form shown in FIG. 4, the process of determining whether or not the jam processing is completed only when the paper jam occurs in the fixing unit 140 has been described. The embodiment shown in FIG. 12 is different in that, even when a paper jam occurs in a portion other than the fixing unit 140, the jam processing of steps S107 to S109 of FIG. 4 is applied to determine whether or not the jam processing is completed. .. As a result, it is possible to reliably eliminate a defect such as a conveyance failure caused by the paper remaining on the conveyance path other than the fixing unit 140. Further, in the form shown in FIG. 12, the processes of steps S104 to S106 of FIG. 4 are omitted. Note that steps that perform the same processing as in FIG. 4 described above will be assigned the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

With reference to FIG. 12, the control unit 190 first displays a screen as shown in FIG. 5 in step S107, and the jam processing is performed on the user within a predetermined range (area D in the example shown in FIG. 5). Notify you that you need it. After that, the control unit 190 proceeds to step S210 through steps S108 and S109. In step S210, the control unit 190 determines whether or not the jam processing is completed in the area D using the same method as in step S110 described above. When it is determined that there is no remaining paper in the area D, it is determined that the jam processing is completed (step S210: YES), and the control unit 190 proceeds to the processing of step S211. When there is a remaining sheet in the area D, it is determined that the jam processing is not completed (step S210: NO), the control unit 190 displays the remaining sheet information (step S111), and accepts the forced termination operation (step S112). I do. After that, in the area D, the processing of steps S107 to S109, S210, S111, and S112 is repeated until the jam processing is completed (step S210: YES) or the forced termination operation is accepted (step S112: YES).

In step S211, it is determined whether the jam processing is completed in the area other than the area D. When the jam processing is not completed in the area other than the area D, it is determined that the jam processing is not completed (step S211: NO). In this case, step S111 is omitted and the process proceeds to step S112. If the end operation is not accepted from the user in step S112, the process returns to step S107, and the control unit 190 displays, for example, a screen as shown in FIG. In the illustrated example, the fact that the jam processing is necessary is notified in the area B). After that, the processing of steps S107 to S109, S111, and S112 is repeated until the jam processing is completed in the entire range. When the control unit 190 determines that the jam processing is completed in the entire range (step S110: YES), the control unit 190 proceeds to the processing of step S114 via step S113.

The order of performing the jam processing is not limited to the above, and the jam processing may be performed from any of a plurality of ranges, but the jam processing is preferably performed from the area D including the fixing unit 140. The torn sheet is likely to be the sheet of the fixing unit 140 that caused the jam. This is because when a jam occurs, the jam occurs around the constituent members of the fixing unit 140 that cause the jam inside the image forming apparatus 100. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the paper can be removed from the portion other than the fixing unit 140 without being torn. Therefore, as described above, the jam processing can be efficiently performed by performing the jam processing on the area D including the fixing unit 140 before the areas other than the area D.

As described above, in the discrimination device 200 of the present embodiment, whether the jam processing is completed based on the image reading unit 180 that reads the jam-processed paper as image data and the discrimination image data read by the image reading unit 180. And a control unit 190 having a function as a determination unit that determines whether or not. The image forming apparatus 100 also includes an image forming unit 130 that forms an image on a sheet, and the determination device 200.

Further, the determination method according to the present embodiment is a determination method for determining whether or not the processing for the jam generated on the sheet conveyance path 111 of the image forming apparatus 100 has been completed. According to the determination method, the sheet that causes the jam that has occurred in the transport path 111 is read as the determination image data, and it is determined whether the jam processing is completed based on the determination image data.

Further, the determination program according to the present embodiment is for controlling the determination device 200 that determines whether or not the processing for the jam that has occurred in the sheet conveyance path 111 of the image forming apparatus 100 that forms an image on a sheet is completed. It is a program. The determination program is a step (a) of reading the sheet that causes the jam generated in the transport path 111 as the determination image data, and a step of determining whether or not the jam processing is completed based on the determination image data. (B) is a program for causing the discriminating apparatus 200 to execute.

According to the discriminating apparatus 200, the image forming apparatus 100, the discriminating method, and the discriminating program according to this embodiment, all the sheets in the image forming apparatus 100 are taken out from the discriminating image data of the jam-processed sheets, and the jam processing is completed. Whether or not it can be accurately determined. As a result, the user can reliably remove the paper inside the image forming apparatus 100, and thus it is possible to prevent the occurrence of problems due to the remaining paper.

Since the paper sensor 120 is arranged at a predetermined interval, the paper remaining in a portion where the paper sensor 120 is not arranged cannot be detected. Further, when a jam occurs, a sheet may be jammed in the conveying path 111 and bent in a complicated manner, or the sheet may be caught by a component member of the image forming apparatus 100. At this time, if the user forcibly pulls out the paper and attempts to remove the jam, the paper may be torn. Since the size of the bent or torn paper piece is smaller than that of the original paper, it is particularly difficult to detect the paper sensor 120.

In addition, when a jam occurs, for example, the paper may be transported to the constituent members of the fixing unit 140 and enter into a portion other than the transport path 111. Since the paper sensor 120 is usually not arranged except the paper transport path 111, it is difficult to detect the paper in this case as well. In addition, it is enormous to dispose a large number of paper sensors 120 in all places where paper may enter in order to detect bent paper, pieces of torn paper, and paper that has entered other than the transport path 111. It is difficult because it requires cost.

According to the discriminating apparatus 200, the image forming apparatus 100, the discriminating method, and the discriminating program according to the present embodiment, it is possible to accurately discriminate whether or not the jam processing is completed without increasing the number of the sheet sensors 120. It is possible to suppress an increase in the manufacturing cost of the discrimination device 200 and the image forming device 100.

Further, the control unit (discrimination unit) 190 calculates the area of the jammed paper from the discrimination image data read by the image reading unit 180, and determines the area of the jammed paper of the paper fed to the transport path 111. By comparing with the area, it is determined whether or not the jam processing is completed. Accordingly, the control unit 190 can quantitatively determine whether the sheet remains in the image forming apparatus 100 based on the area of the jam-processed sheet, and thus more accurately determines whether the jam processing is completed. be able to.

Further, the control unit (discrimination unit) 190 calculates the shape of the sheet remaining in the image forming apparatus 100 from the sheet shape of the discrimination image data read by the image reading unit, and determines whether the jam processing is completed. To determine. With this, the control unit 190 can reliably determine whether or not a torn sheet of paper remains in the image forming apparatus 100 based on the shape of the remaining paper, and thus more accurately determines whether or not the jam processing is completed. Can be determined.

Further, the determination device 200 further includes an operation panel 160 that functions as a display unit that displays the shape of the sheet remaining in the image forming apparatus 100. As a result, the user can visually recognize the shape of the sheet remaining in the image forming apparatus 100, which is a better guideline for the jam processing. As a result, the user can reliably remove the paper inside the image forming apparatus 100.

Further, the control unit (determination unit) 190 determines whether the jam processing is completed only when the paper jam occurs in the fixing unit 140 of the image forming apparatus 100 that heats and pressurizes the paper to fix the image on the paper. Determine whether or not. When a piece of paper remains in the fixing unit 140 due to a defective jam process, the determination device 200 can accurately determine whether or not the jam process is completed, and can reliably perform the jam process. On the other hand, when a jam occurs at a position other than the fixing unit 140, the jam process can be easily performed by performing the normal jam process, and the time for the jam process and the user's trouble can be saved.

Further, the control unit (discrimination unit) 190 discriminates whether or not the jam processing is completed based on the plurality of discrimination image data read by the image reading unit 180 a plurality of times. Accordingly, the user can additionally perform the scan processing when the paper is removed from the image forming apparatus 100 and the scan processing is performed, and then the paper is further removed from another portion in the image forming apparatus 100.

In addition, when the jam occurs in a plurality of ranges of the conveyance path 111, the image reading unit 180 reads the image data for discrimination of the jammed paper for each range. The control unit (determination unit) 190 determines for each range whether or not the jam processing is completed. In this way, the control unit 190 can identify the range in which the jam processing is not completed by determining whether or not the jam processing is completed for each range. As a result, when it is determined that the jam processing is not completed, it is possible to save the user the trouble of searching for the remaining sheets from a plurality of ranges.

Further, the image reading unit 180 reads only a torn piece of paper as the identification image data. As a result, the user only needs to perform the scanning process on the torn piece of paper, and thus the user's time and effort for the scanning process can be saved.

The determination device 200 also includes an operation panel 160 that functions as an operation reception unit that receives an operation for forcibly ending the jam process. Even if it is determined that the jam processing is not completed, the control unit (determination unit) 190 determines that the jam processing is completed when the end operation is accepted. As a result, the user can select forced termination and shift to a normal operation in which printing can be forcibly performed, and thus it is possible to avoid an endless loop of the jam processing operation.

Further, when it is determined that the jam process is completed, the control unit (determination unit) 190 executes a recovery process of returning the operating state of the image forming apparatus 100 from the stopped state to the printable state. This allows the image forming apparatus 100 to automatically restart printing after the jam processing is completed.

The determination device 200 also includes an operation panel 160 having a function as a notification unit that notifies a warning when the control unit (determination unit) 190 determines that the jam processing is not completed. As a result, the user can quickly recognize that the jam processing is necessary and deal with it.

The image reading unit 180 also has a paper pressing surface 185 that presses the paper against the reading surface 184. The paper pressing surface 185 has at least one of a color and a pattern different from the color of the paper. As a result, when the image reading unit 180 acquires the discrimination image data, the sheet to be scanned and the sheet pressing surface 185 are not assimilated. Therefore, the control unit 190 can correctly measure the area and shape of the sheet to be scanned, and can improve the accuracy of the discrimination processing.

The image forming apparatus 100 also includes an image forming unit 130 that forms an image on a sheet, and a determination device 200. That is, the image forming apparatus 100 includes the image forming unit 130, the image reading unit 180, and the control unit (discrimination unit) 190. Since the image forming apparatus 100 is a composite printer in which the printer function of the image forming unit 130 and the scanner function of the image reading unit 180 are integrated, the image data for discriminating the scan process is immediately sent to the control unit 190. Will be easier. In addition, the user can save the trouble of connecting a separate scanner device to the image forming apparatus 100.

<Modification 1>
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the hardware configurations of the image forming apparatus 300 and the image reading unit 400 according to the first modification. In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 includes the image reading unit 180 (scanner function), but the image forming apparatus 300 does not include the scanner function as in the first modification shown in FIG. May be

An image reading unit 400 configured separately from the image forming apparatus 300 is connected to the image forming apparatus 300 according to the first modification so as to be communicable with the communication unit 150. The image reading unit 400 has a function of reading the jammed paper as the discrimination image data, as in the image reading unit 180 of the above-described embodiment. As a result, even in the case of the image forming apparatus 300 having no scanner function, the control unit 190 having the function of the determination unit via the communication unit 150 receives the determination image data scanned by the image reading unit 400 prepared separately. Can be sent to. As a result, the control unit 190 of the image forming apparatus 100 can determine whether or not the jam processing is completed by the procedure (see FIG. 4) similar to the above-described embodiment.

<Modification 2>
FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the hardware configurations of the image forming apparatus 500 and the discriminating apparatus 600 according to the second modification. In Modification 1 described above, the configuration in which only the image reading unit is configured separately from the image forming apparatus has been described, but as in Modification 2 shown in FIG. 15, the image reading unit 610 and the determination unit function. The determination device 600 including the control unit 620 may be configured separately from the image forming device 500. In the second modification, the control unit 590 of the image forming apparatus 500 does not function as the determination unit.

The determination device 600 according to the second modification is configured separately from the image forming apparatus 500, and is communicatively connected to the communication unit 150 of the image forming apparatus 500. The image reading unit 610 of the discriminating apparatus 600 has a function of reading the jammed paper as discrimination image data, like the image reading unit 180 of the above-described embodiment. Similar to the control unit 190 of the above-described embodiment, the control unit 620 of the determination device 600 is a determination unit that determines whether or not the jam processing is completed based on the determination image data read by the image reading unit 610. It has the function of. The control unit 620 of the determination device 600 can determine whether or not the jam processing is completed by the same procedure (see FIG. 4) as in the above-described embodiment. The determination result of the control unit 620 of the determination device 600 can be sent to the image forming apparatus 500 via the communication unit 150.

As described above, the discrimination device 600 according to the second modification is a dedicated device for discriminating whether or not the processing for the jam generated in the image forming apparatus 500 has been completed. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 500 does not need to have a special function, and a general-purpose image forming apparatus can be used.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be variously modified within the scope of the claims.

For example, the image forming apparatus may include a configuration other than the configurations described in the above-described embodiments, or may not include some of the configurations described in the above-described embodiments.

Further, in the above embodiment, the control unit, which is the determination unit, calculates at least one of the area and the shape from the determination image data read by the image reading unit, and determines whether the jam processing is completed based on the result. However, the determination method is not limited to this, and for example, the number of corners (square portions) of the scanned paper may be used for the determination.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, each process described as being executed by the control unit of the image forming apparatus may be executed by another device included in the image forming apparatus. Alternatively, it may be executed by a server or controller connected to the image forming apparatus.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the image forming apparatus forms an image using toner by an electrophotographic method has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The image forming apparatus may be one that forms an image using ink by an inkjet method, for example.

Further, each processing of the image forming apparatus described using the flowcharts in the above embodiments may include steps other than the above steps, or may not include some of the above steps. Further, the order of steps is not limited to the above embodiment. Furthermore, each step may be combined with other steps to be executed as one step, may be included in other steps and executed, or may be divided into a plurality of steps and executed.

The means and method for performing various processes in the image forming apparatus and the determining apparatus according to the above-described embodiments can be realized by either a dedicated hardware circuit or a programmed computer. The program may be provided by a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk and a CD-ROM, or may be provided online via a network such as the Internet. In this case, the program recorded in the computer-readable recording medium is usually transferred and stored in a storage unit such as a hard disk. Further, the program may be provided as independent application software, or may be incorporated in the software of the image forming apparatus or the discriminating apparatus as a function of the apparatus.

100 image forming apparatus,
110 paper transport section,
111 transport path,
120 paper sensor,
130 image forming unit,
140 fixing unit,
150 communications department,
160 operation panel (display unit, operation reception unit, notification unit),
170 storage,
180 image reading unit,
184 Reading surface,
185 Paper holding surface,
190 control unit (determination unit),
200 discriminator,
300 image forming apparatus,
400 image reading unit,
500 image forming apparatus,
590 control unit,
600 discriminator,
610 image reading unit,
620 Control unit (determination unit).

Claims (16)

A discriminating device for discriminating whether or not processing for a jam generated in a sheet conveyance path of an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet is completed,
An image reading unit that reads the jam-processed paper as discrimination image data,
A discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not the jam processing is completed based on the discriminating image data read by the image reading unit;
Discriminating device having. The discrimination unit calculates the area of the jammed paper from the discrimination image data read by the image reading unit,
The discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discriminating device discriminates whether or not the jam processing is completed by comparing the area of the paper subjected to the jam processing with the area of the paper fed to the conveyance path. The discriminating unit calculates the shape of the sheet remaining in the image forming apparatus from the sheet shape of the discriminating image data read by the image reading unit, and discriminates whether or not the jam processing is completed. The determination device according to claim 1 or claim 2. The discriminating apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a display unit that displays the shape of the sheet remaining in the image forming apparatus. The determining unit determines whether or not the jam processing is completed only when a paper jam occurs in a fixing unit of the image forming apparatus that heats and pressurizes the paper to fix the image on the paper. The determination device according to any one of 1 to 4. The determination according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not the jam processing is completed based on the plurality of determination image data read by the image reading unit a plurality of times. apparatus. The image reading unit reads the determination image data of the jam-processed sheet for each of the ranges when a jam occurs in a plurality of ranges of the transport path,
The discriminating device according to claim 1, wherein the discriminating unit discriminates whether or not the jam processing is completed for each of the ranges. The discrimination device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the image reading unit reads only a torn piece of paper as the discrimination image data. It further has an operation reception unit that receives an end operation for forcibly ending the jam processing,
The determination according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the determination unit determines that the jam processing is completed when the end operation is accepted even when the determination processing determines that the jam processing is not completed. apparatus. The determination unit executes a return process of returning an operation state of the image forming apparatus from a stopped state to a printable state when it is determined that a jam process is completed. Discrimination device described. The determination device according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies a warning when the determination unit determines that the jam processing is not completed. The image reading unit has a paper pressing surface for pressing the paper against the reading surface,
The discrimination device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the paper pressing surface has at least one of a color and a pattern different from the color of the paper. The discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading unit is communicably connected to the image forming apparatus. An image forming unit that forms an image on paper,
A discriminating device according to any one of claims 1 to 13,
An image forming apparatus including. A determination method for determining whether or not processing for a jam that has occurred in a sheet conveyance path of an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet is completed,
Read the paper that caused the jam that occurred in the transport path as the image data for discrimination,
A determination method for determining whether or not the jam processing is completed based on the determination image data. A discriminating program for controlling a discriminating device for discriminating whether or not processing for a jam occurred in a sheet conveyance path of an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet is completed,
A step (a) of reading a sheet that is the cause of a jam generated in the conveyance path as discrimination image data;
A step (b) of judging whether or not the jam processing is completed based on the judgment image data;
A discriminating program for causing the discriminating apparatus to execute.