JP2703833B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to control of jam data necessary for maintenance and inspection of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional copying machine, for example, a jam detection sensor is provided in a paper conveyance path in the body of the copying machine. When a jam occurs, the jam detection sensor detects the jam and outputs a signal from the jam detection sensor. Based on the information, a jam occurrence location is displayed and the copying machine is stopped.

[0003] However, the above-mentioned conventional one is intended to allow the user to know the location of the jam when the jam has occurred and to easily remove the jammed paper.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the above prior art,
Unless the user remembers how much jam has occurred in the copier, he / she cannot know the status of the jam occurrence. There was a drawback that inspection could not be requested.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and has the following features.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of jam detection sensors for detecting a jam in a paper conveyance path, and a jam for determining whether a jam has occurred based on a signal from the jam detection sensor. In an image forming apparatus including a determination unit and a jam cause determination unit configured to determine a cause of a jam based on a signal from the jam determination unit, the image forming apparatus may be configured to determine a jam cause based on a signal from the jam determination unit based on a current number of copies. A jam data calculation counting means for calculating the number of jams occurring up to a predetermined number of times before and counting the jam data; and a jam for comparing the data of the jam data calculation counting means with a preset reference value. Data comparing and judging means, and a warning means for giving a warning according to the judgment result by the jam data comparing and judging means. And it features.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of jam detection sensors for detecting a jam in a paper conveyance path, and a jam determining whether or not a jam has occurred based on a signal from the jam detection sensor. An image forming apparatus comprising: a determination unit; and a jam cause determination unit that determines a jam cause based on a signal from the jam determination unit. Jam data calculation counting means for calculating the number of times of the jam and counting the jam data;
Jam data comparison / judgment means for comparing the data of the jam data calculation counting means with a preset reference value; and warning means for giving a warning in accordance with the judgment result by the jam data comparison / judgment means. It is characterized by.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of jam detection sensors for detecting a jam in a paper conveyance path, and a jam for determining whether a jam has occurred based on a signal from the jam detection sensor. In an image forming apparatus including a determination unit and a cause determination unit configured to determine a cause of a jam based on a signal from the jam determination unit, the image forming apparatus may be configured to determine a cause of the jam based on a signal from the jam determination unit based on a current copy number. Jam data operation counting means for calculating the number of jams occurring up to a predetermined number of times and counting the jam data, and jam occurrence rate operation for calculating the jam occurrence rate from the data counted by the jam data operation counting means Means for comparing the data calculated by the jam occurrence rate calculating means with a preset reference value. And jam occurrence rate comparison determination means, characterized in that and a warning means for warning in accordance with the determination result by the jam occurrence rate comparison determination unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of jam detection sensors for detecting a jam in the paper transport path, and a jam for determining whether a jam has occurred based on a signal from the jam detection sensor. An image forming apparatus comprising: a determination unit; and a jam cause determination unit that determines a jam cause based on a signal from the jam determination unit. Jam data calculation counting means for calculating the number of times of the jam and counting the jam data;
A jam occurrence rate calculating means for calculating a jam occurrence rate from the data counted by the jam data calculation counting means, and a jam occurrence for comparing the data calculated by the jam occurrence rate calculating means with a preset reference value. And a warning means for giving a warning in accordance with a result of the determination by the jam occurrence rate comparing and determining means.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a warning can be issued in accordance with the number of jams that have occurred between the current number of copies and a predetermined number of times before.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a warning can be issued in accordance with the number of jams that have occurred within a certain period in the past from the present.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to give a warning according to the jam occurrence rate from a current plurality of times to a predetermined number of times before.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a warning can be issued according to the jam occurrence rate within a certain period in the past from the present.

Therefore, according to the first to fourth aspects, it is possible to prompt the user to perform maintenance and inspection by a service person.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, taking a copying machine as an example. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a main part configuration diagram of the operation panel unit of the copying machine according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a control flowchart of the copying machine according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the copying machine according to the present invention.

First, the configuration of a copying machine according to the present invention will be described. Reference numeral 11 denotes a main body of the copying machine. A document cover 12 is provided on an upper surface of the body, and a photoconductor 13 is provided at a substantially central portion below the document cover. Around the photoconductor 13, a main charger 14, an exposure device 15, a developing device 16, a transfer charger 17, a cleaning device 18, and a discharge lamp 19 are sequentially provided from the upstream side in the rotation direction. Reference numeral 20 denotes a paper transport path, and the copying machine main body 11
For example, it is provided so as to be separable up and down with respect to 0, for example, about a pivot provided on the fixing and discharging side. On the paper feed side of the paper transport path 20, a paper feed tray 21, a paper feed roller 22, and the like are provided.

The paper feed tray 21 and the transfer charger 17
And a paper feed detection sensor 1 that detects a paper jam in the paper feed unit.
a and the paper stop roller 23, from the transfer charger 17 to the paper discharge side, a peel detection sensor 1b for detecting a jam at a peeling portion, a fixing device 24, a paper output detection sensor 1c for detecting a jam at a fixing paper output portion, Trays 25 are sequentially provided.
The operation panel 26 is provided with various keys such as a display unit 4 for displaying copy conditions, jam data, and the like, and a jam cause key 3.

Here, the copying process of the copying machine will be described. First, the surface of the photoconductor 13 is uniformly charged by the negative corona discharge of the main charger 14,
Subsequently, the light image of the original is conveyed to the photosensitive member 13 by the converging light transmitting member 15b using the copy lamp 15a of the exposure device 15 as a light source.
An image is formed thereon to reduce the resistance value of a portion exposed to light, thereby removing negative charges. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 13. Next, the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 13 is visualized by the developing device 1b. The visualized image on the photoconductor 13 is transferred to the paper conveyed from the paper feed tray 21 through the paper conveyance path 20 by the discharge of the transfer charger 17 in accordance with the copy timing. The sheet after the transfer is conveyed to the fixing device 24 and is heated and pressurized and fixed, and then is discharged to a discharge tray 25.

On the other hand, the toner remaining on the photoconductor 13 is removed from the photoconductor 13 after the transfer by the cleaning device 18, and then the residual charge on the photoconductor 13 is removed by the charge removing lamp 19. Thereafter, the above-described transfer cycle is repeated for each transfer.

Next, the jam detection will be described. Jam detection sensors 1a, 1 provided at three places on the paper transport path
The detection signals from b and 1c are transmitted to the control unit 2, and the jam determination unit 2a in the control unit 2 determines whether a jam has occurred. For example, when a paper jam occurs in the paper feeding unit, the paper feeding roller 22
If the paper feed detection sensor 1a is not turned on within a predetermined time after feeding the uppermost one of the sheets stored in the printer, it is determined that a jam has occurred.

In the case of a jam in the peeling section, it is determined that a jam has occurred unless the peeling detection sensor 1b is turned on within a predetermined time after the paper stop roller 23 is turned on.

If the paper ejection detection sensor 1c is not turned on within a predetermined time after the peeling detection sensor is turned on, it is determined that a paper jam has occurred in the paper ejection portion.

Next, the control flow will be described with reference to FIGS. First, in step n1, a jam determination is performed by the jam determination unit 2a. As a result of the jam determination, when it is determined that a jam has occurred, the process proceeds to step n2, where the jam has occurred from the current number of times of copying to a number of times before the predetermined number of times of copying, for example, 1000 times before. The number of times is calculated, and the jam data calculation counting means 2b is counted up. The jam data operation counting means 2b is incremented every time a jam occurs regardless of the cause of the jam. If it is determined in step n1 that no jam has occurred, the process proceeds to step n12.

When the jam data calculation counting means 2b counts up, the process proceeds to step n3, where it is determined by the jam cause determining means 2c whether or not the cause of the jam is a preset paper sheet jam (cause 1). . If it is determined that the jam has occurred in the paper feeding unit, the process proceeds to step n4,
The cause-specific jam data calculating and counting means 2d calculates the number of times of jam of the cause 1 of the jam which has occurred between the present number of times of copying and a predetermined number of times before and counts up. Then, the process proceeds to step n5, where the jam occurrence rate of jam cause 1 is calculated by the cause-specific jam occurrence rate calculation means 2e based on the data of the jam data calculation count means 2b and the data of the cause-specific jam data calculation count means 2d. Is done.

In step n3, when it is determined that the cause is not the cause 1, the process proceeds to step n6, and it is determined whether the cause of the jam is a preset jam (cause 2) at the peeling portion. If it is determined that the cause of the jam is cause 2, the process proceeds to step n7, where the cause-specific jam data calculation counting means 2d causes the cause 2 of the jam occurring between the present number of copies and a predetermined number of times before. Is calculated and counted up. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step n8, and the jam occurrence rate of the jam cause 2 is calculated by the cause-specific jam occurrence rate calculating means 2e in the same manner as in the case of the jam cause 1.

If it is determined in step n6 that the cause is not the jam cause 2, the process proceeds to step n9, and it is determined whether or not the jam cause is a jam in the paper output unit (cause 3) set in advance. If it is determined that the cause of the jam is cause 3, the process proceeds to step n10, and the cause-specific jam data calculation counting means 2d causes the cause 3 of the jam occurring between the current number of copies and a predetermined number of times before. Is calculated and counted up. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step n11, and the jam occurrence rate of the jam cause 3 is calculated by the cause-specific jam occurrence rate calculating means 2e as in the case of the jam causes 1 and 2.

If it is determined in step n9 that the cause is not jam 3, the process proceeds to step n12. In step n12, the jam data operation counting means 2b
Is compared with a preset reference value, and it is determined whether or not the data is equal to or greater than the reference value.
If it is determined that the value is equal to or more than the set value, the process proceeds to step n13.
Is issued by the warning means 5. The warning means 5 is not limited to a sounding body such as an alarm, but may be a lamp, a display for displaying a warning comment, or the like.

After the warning, or when it is determined in step n12 that the value is not more than the set value, the process proceeds to step n14. Here, the serviceman turns on the operation key 3 provided on the operation panel 26 or the like at the time of maintenance or inspection, and the process proceeds to step n15 and thereafter.

In step n15, the data of the number of times of the jam that has been counted from the current number of times of copying to the number of times before the preset number of times, which is counted by the jam data operation counting means 2b, is displayed on the display means 4 on the operation panel 26. Is displayed for 2 seconds, for example.

Subsequently, the process proceeds to step n16, where it is determined whether or not the data of the jam cause 1 calculated in step n5 by the cause-specific jam occurrence rate comparing and judging means 2g is equal to or more than a preset reference value (for example, 10%). Is determined. If it is equal to or greater than the reference value, the process proceeds to step n17, and the jam occurrence rate of jam cause 1 is displayed on the display means 4 for, for example, 2 seconds.

Subsequently, in Steps n18 to n21, similarly to the case of the jam cause 1, the data of the jam occurrence rates of the jam cause 2 and the jam cause 3 are compared and determined and displayed.

In the above embodiment, the processing is performed based on the data generated between the current number of times of copying and a predetermined number of times before. The same processing as in the above embodiment may be performed based on data.

In the above embodiment, the data of the jam data operation counting means 2b is compared with the set value in step n12, and a warning is issued based on the result. However, as shown in FIGS. In step n12 ', the jam occurrence rate is calculated by the jam occurrence rate calculation means 2h from the data of the jam data calculation count means 2b.
The data may be compared with a preset reference value, and a warning may be issued in step n13 when the jam occurrence rate is equal to or greater than the reference value. In this case as well, data processed in the same manner as in the above embodiment is data generated between the current number of copies and a predetermined number of times before, or data generated between the present and a certain period before the past. It is processed based on.

[0034]

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the jam
When a jam occurs, the jam occurs retrospectively from the current jam occurrence
Is determined, and a warning is issued based on the determination result.
Error caused by deterioration with time of the paper transport means, etc.
It is possible to make early the awareness that the jam is growing
Request for maintenance and inspection to the serviceman promptly.
Repairs are impossible due to delays in maintenance work.
Can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a main part configuration diagram of an operation panel unit of the copying machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a control flowchart according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1 Jam detection sensor 2a Jam determination means 2b Jam counter 2c Jam cause determination means 2d Jam data calculation / counting means for each cause 2e Jam occurrence rate calculation means for each cause 2f Jam data comparison and determination means 2g Jam occurrence rate for each cause Comparison judgment means 4 Display means 5 Warning means

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-56-164358 (JP, A) JP-A-2-259966 (JP, A) JP-A-3-219265 (JP, A) JP-A-4-174452 (JP) JP-A-1-92766 (JP, A) JP-A-4-66452 (JP, A) JP-A-4-179654 (JP, A) JP-A-4-93958 (JP, A) 1-92764 (JP, A) Full-fledged 1986-193943 (JP, U)

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of jam detection sensors for detecting a jam in a sheet conveying path; a jam determination unit configured to determine whether a jam has occurred based on a signal from the jam detection sensor; An image forming apparatus comprising: a jam cause determining unit that determines a jam cause based on a signal from the determining unit. Jam data calculation counting means for calculating the number of jams generated during the time and counting the jam data, jam data comparison determination means for comparing data of the jam data calculation count means with a preset reference value, Warning means for giving a warning in accordance with the judgment result by the jam data comparison judgment means, Equipment. 2. A plurality of jam detection sensors for detecting a jam in a paper conveyance path; a jam determination unit that determines whether a jam has occurred based on a signal from the jam detection sensor; An image forming apparatus comprising: a jam cause determining unit that determines a cause of a jam based on a signal from a determining unit. The image forming apparatus calculates the number of times of a jam that has occurred within a certain past period from now based on a signal from the jam determining unit. Jam data calculation counting means for counting the jam data, jam data comparison determination means for comparing the data of the jam data calculation counting means with a preset reference value, and determination results by the jam data comparison determination means An image forming apparatus, comprising: a warning unit that issues a warning according to the following. 3. A plurality of jam detection sensors for detecting a jam in a sheet conveyance path; a jam determination unit configured to determine whether a jam has occurred based on a signal from the jam detection sensor; An image forming apparatus comprising: a jam cause determining unit that determines a jam cause based on a signal from the determining unit. Jam data calculation counting means for calculating the number of times the jam has occurred and counting the jam data; jam occurrence rate calculation means for calculating the jam occurrence rate from the data counted by the jam data calculation counting means; A jam occurrence ratio for judging and comparing data calculated by the ratio calculating means with a preset reference value. An image forming apparatus comprising: a comparison determination unit; and a warning unit that issues a warning according to a determination result by the jam occurrence ratio comparison determination unit. 4. A plurality of jam detection sensors for detecting a jam in a paper conveyance path; a jam determination unit configured to determine whether a jam has occurred based on a signal from the jam detection sensor; An image forming apparatus comprising: a jam cause determining unit that determines a cause of a jam based on a signal from a determining unit. The image forming apparatus calculates the number of times of a jam that has occurred within a certain past period from now based on a signal from the jam determining unit. Jam data operation counting means for counting the jam data, jam occurrence rate operation means for calculating the jam occurrence rate from the data counted by the jam data operation count means, and data calculated by the jam occurrence rate operation means. And a jam occurrence rate comparison / judgment means for judging the jam and a preset reference value. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a warning unit that issues a warning according to a determination result by a liveness ratio comparison determination unit.