JP2021110762A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To continue an image forming operation regardless of predetermined productivity.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 1 comprises: an apparatus main body 2 having an image forming unit 10 that forms an image on a sheet; and a paper feeding device 20 (conveying device) that is communicably connected with the apparatus main body 2 and conveys the sheet to the apparatus main body 2 in accordance with a paper feeding request (conveyance request) received from the apparatus main body 2. A main control unit 5 of the apparatus main body 2 sets in advance, for processing per one sheet, communication time for establishing the paper feeding request between the apparatus main body 2 and the paper feeding device 20, and when the paper feeding request is not established within the communication time, extends the communication time to extend processing time per one sheet.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a conveying device such as a paper feeding device for conveying paper.

An image forming apparatus such as a multifunction device or a printer includes an image forming unit that forms an image on paper. The image forming apparatus includes a control device, and the control device controls each unit by communicating with each unit such as, for example, an image forming unit.

For example, the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 1 enables communication between a printing engine unit that forms a toner image, a high-voltage power supply unit that applies a voltage to a member used for forming a toner image, and a bus for communication. It is connected and retries, and one of the plurality is a device that counts the number of retries made within a predetermined time, and when the number of retries within a predetermined time becomes more than a predetermined number of times, frequency data is input. It includes a backup memory that stores non-volatile data and an output unit that outputs the contents of frequency data stored in the backup memory to the outside. This image forming apparatus provides devices in each part provided inside the main body of the apparatus, and when a communication error occurs with the device, it performs a communication retry and stores communication retry frequency data.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-144624

Further, some image forming devices have a transfer device attached to the outside of the device body so as to transfer paper to and from the device body, and the control device is communicably connected to the transfer device. For example, the transport device is composed of a paper feed device that feeds paper to the device body and a post-processing device that executes post-processing on the paper transported from the device body.

By the way, since the image forming apparatus is configured to satisfy a predetermined productivity (processing time per sheet of paper), the transport device is set to a predetermined time after the control device transmits a paper transport request to the transport device. It is necessary to transport the paper inside. Therefore, the communication time for establishing a transport request between the control device and the transport device is set in advance, but if a communication failure occurs between the control device and the transport device, communication retries occur frequently and the transport request occurs. Communication time may elapse without establishing. For example, due to poor power supply conditions in which the image forming apparatus is installed, a problem such as a voltage drop may occur in the power supply of the transfer device, and a problem may occur in communication between the control device and the transfer device.

At this time, the transfer device cannot transfer the paper so as to satisfy the productivity, and for example, the transfer device as the paper feed device cannot feed the paper to the image forming unit at the timing required by the control device. .. Therefore, the image forming apparatus determines that a jam has occurred in the paper transport, and the image forming operation such as printing or copying is stopped. By the way, the user may desire to continue the image forming operation even if the productivity is lowered, but in the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, the image forming operation cannot be continued unless the operation for eliminating the jam is performed.

Therefore, in consideration of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to continue the image forming operation regardless of the predetermined productivity.

In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is communicably connected to an apparatus main body having an image forming portion for forming an image on paper and the apparatus main body, and is conveyed received from the apparatus main body. A transport device for transporting paper to and from the device main body in response to a request is provided, and the device main body makes the transport request between the device main body and the transfer device in processing per sheet of the paper. The communication time to be established is set in advance, and when the transport request is not established within the communication time, the processing time per sheet of the paper is extended by extending the communication time.

According to the present invention, the image forming operation can be continued regardless of the predetermined productivity.

It is sectional drawing which shows the multifunction device of the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence chart which shows the operation of the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the front side of the paper surface in FIG. 1 is referred to as the front side of the image forming apparatus 1. Arrows L, R, U, and Lo appropriately attached to each figure indicate the left side, the right side, the upper side, and the lower side of the image forming apparatus 1, respectively.

The image forming apparatus 1 is composed of a multifunction device, a printer, a copying machine, and the like, and includes a substantially box-shaped apparatus main body 2. The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a paper feed cassette 3 for storing paper in the lower part of the apparatus main body 2, and a paper ejection tray 4 for discharging the paper on which the image is formed is provided in the upper part of the apparatus main body 2. A paper feeding port 2a communicating with the outside is provided on the lower surface of the device main body 2, and a paper ejection port 2b communicating with the outside is provided on the upper part of the device main body 2.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes a paper feeding device 20 as an optional device on the lower side of the apparatus main body 2, and a document reading device 30 on the upper side of the apparatus main body 2. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a main control device 5 for controlling each part of the image forming apparatus 1 in the apparatus main body 2.

An operation display unit 6 (see FIG. 2) is attached to the front side of the upper part of the apparatus main body 2. The operation display unit 6 includes, for example, operation keys such as a numeric keypad, a start key, a system menu key, a transmission key, and a copy key, and a display such as a touch panel, and receives operation input from a user.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming unit 10 in the apparatus main body 2 in which a charging unit, a developing unit, a transfer roller, and a cleaning unit are provided around the photoconductor drum to form an image on paper. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an exposure unit 11 for exposing the photoconductor drum of the image forming unit 10 and a toner container 12 for supplying toner to the developing unit of the image forming unit 10 in the apparatus main body 2.

The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a conveying path 13 in the apparatus main body 2 for conveying paper from the paper feed cassette 3 to the paper ejection tray 4. A paper feed unit 14 is provided near the paper cassette 3 at the upstream end of the transport path 13, and a transfer unit 15 composed of a photoconductor drum and a transfer roller is provided at the middle stream portion of the transport path 13. Further, the upstream end of the transport path 13 is branched into a first branch path 13a extending to the paper feed section 14 and a second branch path 13b extending to the paper feed port 2a provided on the lower surface of the apparatus main body 2. .. A resist roller 15a for adjusting the timing of supplying the paper to the transfer unit 15 is provided in the vicinity of the transfer unit 15, and a paper for detecting the timing of supplying the paper to the transfer unit 15 is provided in the vicinity of the resist roller 15a. A sensor 15b is provided, and the paper sensor 15b supplies the detection result to the main control device 5. A fixing portion 16 is provided in the downstream portion of the transport path 13, and a paper discharge portion 17 is provided in the vicinity of the paper discharge port 2b provided in the upper part of the apparatus main body 2 at the downstream end of the transport path 13.

The paper feeding device 20 has the same size as the device main body 2 in the direction orthogonal to the vertical direction, and is attached to the lower surface of the device main body 2. On the upper surface of the paper feeding device 20, a paper ejection port 20a communicating with the outside is provided at a position corresponding to the paper feeding port 2a of the device main body 2.

The paper feed device 20 includes a paper feed tray 21 for storing paper and a paper feed roller 22 for taking out and transporting paper from the paper feed tray 21. The paper feeding device 20 is provided internally with a paper feeding path 23 extending from the paper feeding roller 22 to the paper ejection port 20a. The paper feed device 20 includes a paper feed control device 24 that controls each part of the paper feed device 20.

When the paper feed device 20 is attached to the device main body 2, the second branch path 13b of the transport path 13 and the paper feed path 23 are connected to each other via the paper feed port 2a and the paper discharge port 20a. By driving the paper feed roller 22 and other transport rollers, the paper feed device 20 transports the paper taken out from the paper feed tray 21 along the paper feed path 23, and conveys the paper taken out from the paper feed tray 21 along the paper feed path 23, and the device main body via the paper discharge port 20a. Feed to 2.

The document reading device 30 is attached to the upper surface of the device main body 2. The document reading device 30 includes an image reading unit 31 that reads an image from a document, a document conveying unit 32 that conveys a document to the image reading unit 31, and a reading control device 33 that controls each unit of the document reading device 30.

The image reading unit 31 is provided at the lower part of the document reading device 30, and is attached to the upper side of the device main body 2. The image reading unit 31 is provided with a platen glass serving as a document base and a reading slit on the upper surface, and is provided with an optical scanning unit and an imaging unit below the platen glass and the reading slit. The image reading unit 31 is in the main scanning direction (front-back direction) and the sub-scanning direction (horizontal direction) with respect to the document placed on the platen glass or the document conveyed from the document conveying unit 32 and passing through the scanning slit. Scan to read the image of the original and acquire the image data. The image reading unit 31 transmits the acquired image data to the main control device 5.

The document transport unit 32 is provided on the upper part of the document reading device 30, and is attached to the document stand of the image reading unit 31 so as to be openable and closable. The document transporting unit 32 has a function of covering the document base of the image reading unit 31 in addition to the function of transporting the document. The document transport unit 32 is configured to transport the document placed on the document tray via the reading slit of the image reading unit 31 and then eject the paper.

Next, in the image forming apparatus 1, an image forming operation using the paper stored in the paper feeding device 20 will be described. The image forming apparatus 1 starts the image forming operation when the image data is input from the image reading unit 31 or an external computer and is instructed to start copying or printing. First, in the image forming unit 10, the surface of the photoconductor drum is charged by the charged unit and then exposed by the laser beam from the exposed unit 11 according to the image data, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum. It is formed. The electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image by the developing unit using toner.

On the other hand, when the image forming operation is started, the device main body 2 transmits a paper feed request to the paper feed device 20, and when the paper feed request is established, the paper feed device 20 performs the paper feed operation. The paper stored in the paper feed device 20 is taken out by the paper feed roller 22 and conveyed on the paper feed path 23, and is conveyed through the output port 20a and the paper feed port 2a to the second branch path 13b of the transfer path 13. Will be transported to. The details of the paper feeding operation will be described later. After that, the paper is conveyed on the transfer path 13 and supplied to the transfer unit 15 at a predetermined timing, and the toner image on the photoconductor drum is transferred to the paper by the transfer unit 15. The paper on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 16, and the toner image is fixed on the paper by heating and pressurizing by the fixing unit 16. The paper on which the toner image is fixed is discharged from the paper ejection unit 17 to the output tray 4.

Next, the electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 includes the main control device 5 in the apparatus main body 2, the paper feed control device 24 in the paper feed device 20, and the reading control device 33 in the document reading device 30.

The main control device 5 includes a control unit 5a including a CPU and the like, and a storage unit 5b including a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The control unit 5a is connected to the storage unit 5b, and the image forming apparatus 1 connected to the control unit 5a by executing arithmetic processing based on the control program and control data stored in the storage unit 5b. Control each component. The main control device 5 has, for example, a function of transmitting a paper feed request to the paper feed control device 24 in order for the paper feed device 20 to perform a paper feed operation to the device main body 2.

The paper feed control device 24 includes a control unit 24a including a CPU and the like, and a storage unit 24b including a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The control unit 24a is connected to the storage unit 24b, and the paper feeding device 20 connected to the control unit 24a by executing arithmetic processing based on the control program and control data stored in the storage unit 24b. Control each component. The paper feed control device 24 has a function of transmitting a response in response to a paper feed request of the main control device 5 in order for the device main body 2 to accept the paper fed by the paper feed device 20. The paper feed request is established when the main control device 5 receives a response from the paper feed control device 24.

The read control device 33 includes a control unit 33a including a CPU and the like, and a storage unit 33b including a ROM, RAM and the like. The control unit 33a is connected to the storage unit 33b, and the document reading device 30 connected to the control unit 33a by executing arithmetic processing based on the control program and control data stored in the storage unit 33b. Control each component.

Further, the apparatus main body 2 includes a communication unit 7, the paper feeding device 20 includes a communication unit 25, and the document reading device 30 includes a communication unit 34. The communication unit 7 is communicably connected to the communication unit 25 and the communication unit 34 by wire or wirelessly. Further, the communication unit 7 may be communicably connected to a management device 40 such as a server that manages the image forming device 1 or a computer of the administrator via a LAN, the Internet, or the like.

Further, the apparatus main body 2 includes a power supply unit 8, the paper feeding device 20 includes a power supply unit 26, and the document reading device 30 includes a power supply unit 35. The power supply unit 8 is connected to an external AC power source to receive power supply. The power supply unit 26 and the power supply unit 35 may be connected to an external AC power source to receive power supply, or may be connected to the power supply unit 8 and receive power supply via the power supply unit 8.

Next, the paper feeding operation of the paper feeding device 20 in response to the paper feeding request from the main control device 5 will be described with reference to the sequence chart shown in FIG.

Here, an example in which the image forming apparatus 1 is set to satisfy the productivity of 60 ppm and printing of a plurality of sheets (image forming operation) by one job will be described. In this case, the processing time T1 per sheet of paper is 1 sec, and the device main body 2 needs to feed the paper from the paper feed device 20 at a cycle of 1 sec. Therefore, the main control device 5 controls the paper feed at a cycle of 1 sec. A paper feed request is transmitted to the device 24. For example, the time from when the transfer unit 15 of the image forming unit 10 starts printing (transferring) on one sheet of time until the transfer unit 15 of the image forming unit 10 starts printing on the next sheet of paper. The processing time is T1.

The processing time T1 includes at least a communication time T2 as a period for establishing a paper feed request between the main control device 5 of the device main body 2 and the paper feed control device 24 of the paper feed device 20. After the paper feed request is established, the time from when the paper feed device 20 starts paper feeding until the paper is supplied to the transfer unit 15 of the image forming unit 10 and the transfer unit 15 starts printing, that is, the paper is conveyed. Since the drive time T3 for driving the device main body 2 and the paper feed device 20 does not fluctuate, it can be considered as a time within a certain range (for example, 0.6 sec) if measured in advance. Therefore, the communication time T2 can be considered as a time obtained by subtracting the drive time T3 from the processing time T1 (for example, 0.4 sec), and can be set in advance.

For example, when printing the first sheet of paper, the main control device 5 transmits a paper feed request to the paper feed control device 44 when the print start is instructed to start the image forming operation or after a predetermined time has elapsed. (Step S1). Further, when printing the nth sheet (n is an integer of 2 or more), the main control device 5 makes a paper feed request when starting printing of the n-1st sheet or after a predetermined time has elapsed. It is transmitted to the paper feed control device 24 (step S8).

If there is no problem in the communication between the main control device 5 and the paper feed control device 24, the paper feed control device 24 receives the paper feed request transmitted by the main control device 5, and the paper feed control device 24 receives the paper feed request. The main control device 5 receives the response transmitted in response to the paper feed request (step S2).

If the paper feed request transmitted by the main control device 5 is established within the predetermined communication time T2, the device main body 2 and the paper feed device 20 are driven with a drive time T3 within the predetermined processing time T1. .. The paper feeding device 20 drives the paper feeding roller 22 (step S3) to feed the paper to the device main body 2 (step S4). The apparatus main body 2 transports the fed paper along the transport path 13, and when the paper is detected by the paper sensor 15b (step S5), the paper transport is temporarily stopped by the resist roller 15a (step S6). The resist roller 15a supplies the paper to the transfer unit 15 at a predetermined timing. Then, when the image forming unit 10 performs printing (image forming operation) (step S7), printing can be performed within a predetermined processing time T1.

Even if the paper feed request is established within the predetermined communication time T2, the paper sensor 15b has elapsed after a predetermined transport time (for example, 0.4 sec) has elapsed since the paper feed device 20 started feeding the paper. When cannot detect the paper supplied to the resist roller 15a, the main control device 5 executes the jam detection of the paper at various jam detection positions of the transport path 13 and the paper feed path 23. Alternatively, when the main control device 5 cannot detect the paper at the transport path 13 or another transport position of the paper feed path 23 after a lapse of a predetermined time after the paper feed device 20 starts feeding the paper, the main control device 5 of the paper Jam detection may be performed.

On the other hand, due to various causes such as a voltage drop or the like occurring in the power supply unit 26 of the paper feed device 20 due to poor power supply conditions in which the image forming device 1 is installed, the main control device 5 and paper feed are performed. Communication with the control device 24 may be defective. At this time, the paper feed control device 24 may not be able to receive the paper feed request transmitted by the main control device 5, or the main control device 5 may not be able to receive the response transmitted by the paper feed control device 24 in response to the paper feed request. (Step S9). If the main control device 5 cannot receive a response from the paper feed control device 24 within a predetermined time (for example, 20 msec) after transmitting the paper feed request, the main control device 5 transmits (retry) the paper feed request again (steps S11 and S12). ).

If the paper feed request retried by the main control device 5 is established within the predetermined communication time T2, the device main body 2 and the paper feed device 20 set the drive time T3 within the predetermined processing time T1 as described above. It can be driven and printed within a predetermined processing time T1. The main control device 5 repeats the retry of the paper feed request unless a response is received from the paper feed control device 24.

On the other hand, if the paper feed request retried by the main control device 5 cannot be established within the predetermined communication time T2, the main control device 5 suspends jam detection, extends the communication time T2, and retries the paper feed request. (Step S12). As a result, the main control device 5 extends the processing time T1 by the amount of the extension of the communication time T2. The extension time may be one feeding request, a predetermined number of times, or a predetermined time. The main control device 5 may maintain the preset processing time T1 and communication time T2, but may reset the extended processing time T1 and the extended communication time T2. The apparatus main body 2 and the paper feed device 20 are driven after establishing a paper feed request by extending the communication time T2, supplying paper to the transfer unit 15 in the same manner as described above, and printing is performed with the extended processing time T1. (Steps S13 to S17).

Unless a response is received from the paper feed control device 24, the main control device 5 repeats the extension of the communication time T2 and retries the paper feed request as described above. However, if the extended communication time T2 exceeds a predetermined upper limit communication time longer than the predetermined communication time T2, in other words, if the paper feed request is not established within the upper limit communication time, the main control device 5 , Notify the user that a communication error has occurred. For example, the main control device 5 may notify a communication error by a display screen displayed on the display of the operation display unit 6 or a voice output by a voice output unit 9 such as a speaker.

Further, when the paper feed request is not established within the upper limit communication time, the main control device 5 notifies the management device 40 such as the server that manages the image forming device 1 or the computer of the administrator of the occurrence of the communication error. good. Alternatively, if the paper feed request is not established within the upper limit communication time for the job received by the image forming apparatus 1 from the user's computer, the main control device 5 notifies the user's computer of the occurrence of a communication error. May be good.

The image forming apparatus 1 displays an operation display of a normal mode in which the communication time T2 is not extended and an extension mode in which the communication time T2 is extended when the paper feed request is not established within the predetermined communication time T2. It may be arbitrarily selected by the user by the operation of the part 6.

According to the present embodiment, as described above, the image forming apparatus 1 is communicably connected to the apparatus main body 2 having the image forming unit 10 for forming an image on paper and the apparatus main body 2 from the apparatus main body 2. A paper feeding device 20 (conveying device) for transporting paper to and from the apparatus main body 2 in response to a received paper feeding request (conveying request) is provided. The main control device 5 of the device main body 2 presets a communication time T2 for establishing a paper feed request between the device main body 2 and the paper feed device 20 in the processing per sheet of paper, and feeds the paper within the communication time T2. If the request is not established, the processing time T1 per sheet is extended by extending the communication time T2.

As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 configured to satisfy a predetermined productivity reduces the productivity when the paper is fed by communicating with the paper feeding device 20 and the communication environment is poor. Therefore, the image forming operation can be continued without causing an error such as jam. In other words, the image forming apparatus 1 monitors the status of communication retries with the paper feeding device 20, and reduces productivity according to the frequency of communication retries. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 is installed in an area where the environmental conditions such as the power supply condition are bad, and a problem such as a voltage drop occurs in the power supply unit 26 of the paper feeding device 20, and the space between the device main body 2 and the paper feeding device 20. Even if a problem occurs in the communication of the above, the image forming operation can be continued regardless of the predetermined productivity.

In the present embodiment, the processing time T1 includes a communication time T2 and a driving time T3 for driving the apparatus main body 2 and the paper feeding device 20 for transporting the writing paper. When the main control device 5 of the device main body 2 cannot detect paper at a predetermined transfer position of the device main body 2 or the paper feed device 20 after a predetermined transfer time has elapsed from the start of the drive time T3 after the paper feed request is established. , Perform jam detection. As a result, when the communication between the apparatus main body 2 and the paper feeding device 20 is normal, jam detection of the conveyed paper can be performed as usual.

In the present embodiment, the main control device 5 of the device main body 2 notifies the user of the occurrence of a communication error when the paper feed request is not established within a predetermined upper limit communication time longer than the communication time T2. As a result, the user can easily check the communication status between the device main body 2 and the paper feeding device 20 without misidentifying the paper transport error.

In the present embodiment, the main control device 5 of the device main body 2 is communicably connected to the management device 40 that manages the image forming device 1, and a paper feed request is made within a predetermined upper limit communication time longer than the communication time T2. If it is not established, the occurrence of a communication error is transmitted to the management device 40. As a result, the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1 can grasp the image forming apparatus 1 in which the communication error occurs, and thus can grasp the area where the communication error of the image forming apparatus 1 is likely to occur.

In the above-described embodiment, the paper feed device 20 is used as an example of a transfer device that is communicably connected to the device main body 2 and transfers paper to and from the device main body 2 in response to a transfer request received from the device main body 2. As described above, the transport device of the present invention is not limited to the paper feed device 20. For example, in another embodiment, the transport device of the present invention may be a document reading device 30 or a post-processing device 50 that performs post-processing on the paper transported from the device main body 2. By applying the configuration of the transport device of the present invention to the document reading device 30 and the post-processing device 50, when the transport request is not established within the predetermined communication time T2, as in the case of the paper feed device 20 described above. The same effect can be obtained by extending the processing time T1 per sheet by extending the communication time T2.

In the above embodiment, the case where the configuration of the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus 1 composed of a multifunction device, a printer, a copier, etc. has been described, but in other different embodiments, the present invention is applied to another image forming apparatus. The configuration of may be applied.

1 Image forming device 2 Device main body 5 Main control device 6 Operation display unit 7 Communication unit 8 Power supply unit 10 Image forming unit 13 Transport path 15 Transfer unit 15a Resist roller 15b Paper sensor 20 Paper feed device 22 Paper feed roller 23 Paper feed path 24 Paper feed control device 25 Communication unit 26 Power supply unit 30 Document reader 33 Reading control device 34 Communication unit 35 Power supply unit 40 Management device 50 Post-processing device

Claims (6)

The main body of the device having an image forming portion for forming an image on paper,
A transport device that is communicably connected to the device body and that transports paper to and from the device body in response to a transfer request received from the device body is provided.
In the processing per sheet of the paper, the apparatus main body presets a communication time for establishing the conveying request between the apparatus main body and the conveying device.
An image forming apparatus, characterized in that, when the transport request is not established within the communication time, the processing time per sheet of the paper is extended by extending the communication time. The processing time includes the communication time and the driving time for driving the apparatus main body and the conveying device to convey the paper.
The device main body executes jam detection when the paper cannot be detected at the device main body or the predetermined transfer position of the transfer device after a predetermined transfer time has elapsed from the start of the drive time after the transfer request is established. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The device main body according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the transport request is not established within a predetermined upper limit communication time longer than the preset communication time, the device main body notifies the user of the occurrence of a communication error. The image forming apparatus described. The device main body is communicably connected to a management device that manages the image forming device.
Any of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the transport request is not established within a predetermined upper limit communication time longer than the preset communication time, the occurrence of a communication error is transmitted to the management device. The image forming apparatus according to item 1. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the transport device is a paper feeding device that feeds paper to the main body of the device. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the transfer device is a post-processing device that performs post-processing on the paper transported from the device main body.

Images