JP3382291B2 - 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 an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic printer having a mechanism for connecting a detachable paper feeding unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a general electrophotographic printer is shown in FIG.
It has a mechanism such as 1. That is, in FIG. 11, 101 is a photosensitive drum, which is an electrostatic latent image carrier,
2 is a semiconductor laser as a light source. Reference numeral 103 denotes a rotary polygonal mirror, and 104 denotes a rotary polygonal mirror.
A laser beam scanning over.

Reference numeral 105 is a charging roller for uniformly charging the photosensitive drum 101, and 106 is a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 101 with toner.
Reference numeral 107 denotes a transfer roller that transfers the developed toner image onto a predetermined sheet, and reference numeral 108 denotes a fixing roller that fuses the toner transferred onto the sheet.

Reference numeral 109 denotes a cassette paper feed roller for feeding a paper from a cassette whose paper size can be identified to a conveyance path, and 110.
Is a manual paper feed roller that feeds the paper into the conveyance path from the manual paper feed port whose paper size cannot be identified.

Reference numeral 111 denotes a registration roller that abuts the leading end of the fed sheet to correct skewing and synchronizes image writing to the photosensitive drum 101 and sheet conveyance. 11
Reference numeral 2 denotes a registration sensor for detecting the leading edge of the paper and for measuring the length of the fed paper in the carrying direction.
Is a discharge roller for discharging the sheet after the toner is fixed, and 114 is a discharge sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the sheet after the fixing.

Reference numeral 115 is a second paper feed unit (option cassette) connectable to the electrophotographic printer. 116
Is a paper feed roller that feeds the paper from the optional cassette that can identify the paper size to the conveyance path.

Reference numeral 117 is a first sheet feeding unit dedicated to the envelope and connectable to the electrophotographic printer. A paper feed roller 118 feeds the envelope from the paper feed unit of the envelope whose paper size cannot be detected to the transport path of the electrophotographic printer.

FIG. 1 shows a circuit configuration of a control system for controlling such a mechanical section. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 201 denotes a printer controller which develops image code data from an external device such as a host computer into bit data necessary for printing by the printer and reads internal information of the printer by communication or the like and displays it.

Reference numeral 202 denotes an engine control unit that controls the operation of each unit of the printer engine in accordance with instructions from the printer controller 201 and notifies the printer controller 201 of printer internal information.

Reference numeral 203 denotes a paper conveyance control unit for controlling the driving and stopping of motors, rollers and the like for paper conveyance in accordance with instructions from the engine control unit 202.

Reference numeral 204 is a high voltage control section for controlling output of high voltage for charging, development and transfer in accordance with instructions from the engine control section 202.

An optical system control unit 205 drives / stops the scanner motor and blinks the laser beam in accordance with instructions from the engine control unit 202.

Reference numeral 206 denotes a sensor input unit for transmitting information on the registration sensor and the paper discharge sensor to the engine control unit 202.

Reference numeral 207 indicates the temperature of the fixing device by the engine control unit 2.
This is a temperature control unit for adjusting the temperature designated by 02.

Reference numeral 208 denotes engine presence / absence information of the paper presence / absence information of the first sheet feeding unit (here, envelope feeder) dedicated to the envelope.
02, and controls the envelope paper feed and conveyance according to the instruction from the engine control unit 202.

Reference numeral 209 denotes engine presence / absence information for the paper presence / absence information of the second paper feeding unit (here, an optional cassette).
It is also an option cassette control unit that performs paper feed control from the option cassette according to an instruction from the engine control unit 202.

Reference numeral 210 is a display panel for displaying the state of the engine and the like under the control of the printer controller 201.

Control information between the normal printer and the first and second paper feeding units is performed by serial communication, and serial data is converted into parallel data by an interface circuit in the printer and the paper feeding unit.

FIG. 2 shows communication information between the printer and the first and second paper feeding units. The same applies to communication with any paper feeding unit. FIG. 2A shows communication information from the printer body to the paper feeding unit, which includes a reset signal, a CPU runaway detection signal, and a drive control signal. FIG. 2B shows communication information from the paper feed unit to the printer main body, which includes a CPU runaway detection signal, paper presence / absence information, paper transport speed signal, and the like.

When the paper feeding unit is connected to the printer,
The printer performs a predetermined control sequence to determine whether it is a regular paper feeding unit.

This is because when the printer detects the connection of the paper feed unit, it sends a motor control signal to the paper feed unit and receives a predetermined paper transport speed signal from the paper feed unit within a predetermined time. Judge as a regular paper feed unit.

Further, when the printer determines that the regular paper feeding unit is connected, it becomes possible to control the operation of the paper feeding unit.

[0023]

There are cases in which there are a plurality of image forming apparatuses having different sheet conveyance speeds, although they have the same mechanical structure. In other words, in order to align the product lineup, and due to changes in product specifications,
Many types of image forming apparatuses coexist. For example, when each image forming apparatus has a different paper feeding speed and can be mounted with any of the optional paper feeding units in terms of shape, there is a risk that the optional paper feeding unit with an inappropriate paper transportation speed may be mounted. The image forming apparatus malfunctions or determines that the optional paper feeding unit is not connected.

Moreover, there is a problem that the user may not recognize that the connected optional sheet feeding unit is inappropriate and may mistakenly recognize it as a failure.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide an image forming apparatus capable of solving various problems associated with erroneous mounting of an optional paper feeding unit without increasing costs. Is.

[0026]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, which can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus. Judgment to determine whether or not the predetermined transport speed matches the sheet transport speed of the image forming apparatus based on a signal relating to the predetermined transport speed sent from the sheet feeding device that feeds the sheet at the transport speed And means for generating information for notifying that the predetermined transport speed does not match the sheet transport speed of the image forming apparatus when the determination means determines that the predetermined transport speed does not match the sheet transport speed of the image forming apparatus. It is characterized by

[0027]

【Example】

<First Embodiment> FIGS. 1 to 4 are views showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the control unit of the printer.

A printer controller 201 expands image code data sent from a host computer or the like into bit information and serially communicates with an engine control unit, which will be described later. Reference numeral 202 denotes serial communication with the printer controller, and
An engine control unit that controls driving and stopping of each mechanical unit inside the printer engine. Here, the serial communication performed between the printer controller and the engine control unit includes command data of 8 bits sent from the printer controller to the engine control unit and 8 command data sent from the engine control unit to the printer controller.
It is composed of status data consisting of bits. The command data includes a status request command for recognizing the internal state of the engine and an execution command for switching the internal state of the engine (e.g., paper feed port, resolution, etc.). The engine control unit returns one status with respect to one command from the printer controller.

Reference numeral 203 denotes a paper conveyance control unit that performs paper feeding from the built-in cassette and subsequent paper conveyance based on an instruction from the engine control unit.

Reference numeral 204 is a high voltage control section for turning on / off each high voltage for charging, developing, and transfer based on an instruction from the engine control section, and 205 is a scanner motor drive / stop laser ON.
ON / OFF and light amount adjustment based on an instruction from the engine control unit, 206 is a sensor input unit for transmitting input information of sensors such as a registration sensor and a paper discharge sensor to the engine control unit, and 207 is temperature adjustment of the fixing device. The fixing device temperature control control unit 208 performs the control based on an instruction from the engine control unit, and 208 controls a detachable feeding device for envelopes (hereinafter referred to as an envelope feeder) based on an instruction from the engine control unit. An envelope feeder control unit 209 for transmitting necessary information to the control unit controls a removable cassette feeding device (hereinafter referred to as an optional cassette) based on an instruction from the engine control unit, and is also required by the engine control unit. It is an optional cassette control unit that transmits information.

The detachable feeding unit and the engine body are connected by a serial communication line described later.

Reference numeral 210 is a display panel for informing the outside of the printer of necessary information according to a command from the printer controller.

Next, the contents of serial communication performed between the engine body and the detachable feeding unit will be described.

FIG. 2 shows an internal bit configuration of serial communication performed between the engine control unit and the option feeding unit.

FIG. 2A shows 8-bit data sent from the engine control unit to the paper feeding unit. bit7
Is a CP that forcibly resets the control unit of the paper feeding unit.
The U reset signal, bit6, is a pulse signal for CPU runaway detection sent from the engine control unit to the paper feeding unit to determine whether the control unit of the paper feeding unit is operating normally.

Bits 5 and 4 are motor control signals for instructing the operation mode of the paper feeding unit by 2-bit code data.

FIG. 2B shows 8-bit data sent from the paper feeding unit to the engine controller. bitφ
Is a sheet presence / absence information inside the sheet feeding unit, and bit1 is a pulse signal sent from the sheet feeding unit in synchronization with the pulse signal sent from the engine control unit.

Bits 2 and 3 are code data of 3 bits, and the type of the paper feeding unit is indicated by the 3 bits.

The types referred to here are that the transport speed of the printer is 4 ppm, 8 ppm, 12 ppm, 16 ppm,
If there are multiple machines, such as 24 ppm, and there is a corresponding paper feed unit for each printer, and they have the same hardware I / F, the above-mentioned 3 bit
The code indicates the paper transport speed.

FIG. 2 (3) shows these code tables.

In this way, by sending the transportation speed information from the paper feeding unit to the engine control unit,
The engine control unit can determine whether or not the sheet feeding unit matching the main body conveying speed is connected.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are flowcharts showing the abnormal processing when an unmatched paper feeding unit in the engine control unit is connected, and FIG. 5 is a control method of the printer controller based on the abnormal processing of the engine control unit. .

In FIG. 3, first, the engine control section confirms the CPU runaway detection signal from the paper feeding unit by a predetermined time. When it is determined that this signal is normal within the predetermined time, the paper transport speed information is read next.

As a result, when the transport speed of the connected paper feed unit does not match the main body speed, the printer controller is notified. In the method of informing, first, the RDY signal indicating the ready state inside the engine is set to "false", and a bit indicating that an improper sheet feeding unit of status N shown in FIG. 5 is connected is set.

FIG. 4 shows the abnormality processing of the printer controller.

First, when the RDY signal becomes "false", it is recognized that some abnormality has occurred in the engine. Then, the status information (STATUS) inside the engine is checked to confirm the reason for the abnormality. When it is determined that a paper feeding unit that is not compatible with the engine (different in conveyance speed) is connected, the display panel unit displays, for example,
Instruct to display such as "The paper feeding unit is wrong". In this way, the user is notified.

Even if a paper feeding unit that is inconsistent with the engine is connected, no problem occurs unless the printing operation is actually performed. Therefore, as a modified example of the present embodiment, when the printer controller designates the sheet feeding port in the optional sheet feeding unit, the above-mentioned RD is not performed for the first time.
The Y signal "false" and the status may be set.

<Second Embodiment> With respect to the mechanical diagram and the configuration diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention, the serial communication control with the detachable paper feeding unit in the conventional example has been described in the embodiment, so that it will be described here. Omit it.

FIG. 6 shows a detection means when a failed paper feeding unit is connected and when the paper feeding unit fails when the power is turned on, and FIG. 7 shows a printer controller control method based on the failure information from the engine controller. It is shown by a flow chart.

In FIG. 6, the engine control unit detects that the paper feeding unit is connected and, after a predetermined time has passed,
Read the paper transport speed information from the paper feed unit.

As a result, when the conveyance speed of the connected paper feed unit does not match the printer main body speed, the same processing as in the first embodiment is performed.

When the speed of the printer matches the speed of the printer main body, a runaway detection pulse is detected, and if it is not operating normally, it is confirmed that the paper feeding unit is properly mounted, and the paper feeding unit is properly mounted. In this case, it is determined that some failure has occurred in the paper feeding unit and the printer controller is notified. As a means for informing, first, the RDY signal "false" indicating the ready state inside the engine is set, and at the same time, the bit indicating that the paper feeding unit in the fault state of status N shown in FIG. 8 is connected is set.

FIG. 7 shows the control means of the printer controller. When the RDY signal becomes "false", it recognizes that some abnormality has occurred in the engine. Then, check the engine status information to see the reason for the error. After that, when it is determined that the cause of the RDY signal becoming “false” is that the faulty paper feeding unit is connected, the display panel unit is instructed to display “Faulty paper feeding unit” or the like, and the user To inform.

Further, as a modification of the present embodiment, the same control may be carried out even when a paper feeding unit having inconsistency fails.

<Third Embodiment> In the first and second embodiments described above, the case where the matching of the conveying speeds is not suitable and the case where the matching is satisfied but there is a failure will be described.

In this embodiment, the same I / I in terms of hardware is used.
The case where there are options with different functions that can be connected with F is shown.

Here, a case is shown in which a double-sided option having a double-sided function can be connected with the same serial I / F as the lower stage option cassette shown in the above-mentioned conventional example.

FIG. 9 shows the mechanical section when the double-sided option is connected. 101 to 114 are the same as those described in the conventional example.

Reference numeral 120 denotes a transport roller capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions,
When feeding to both sides, the paper sensor 121
When the sheet has passed through, the roller 120 is inverted to feed the sheet to the double-sided option. The sheet is fed to the double-sided option until the leading edge of the sheet reaches the sheet sensor 124. Then, when the print request from the double-sided option is received again, the sheet is fed to the main body by the sheet re-feeding roller 123.

FIG. 10 shows the contents of serial communication between such a double-sided option and the engine control unit.

FIG. 10 (1) shows a control signal sent from the engine control unit to the duplex unit. The setting of the reversing roller in the forward / reverse direction is a bit peculiar to the duplex unit, and is an unknown bit when the option cassette is connected. The signal sent from the duplex unit to the engine control unit is shown in FIG. 10 (2). In the unit determination of bit3, the bit connected to the main body is a bit sent from the option to determine whether it is the option cassette or the duplex unit. When the optional cassette is connected, the reversal sensor information of bit1 is unkno
The sheet refeed sensor information of wn and bitφ is switched to the sheet presence / absence sensor information.

Due to such an I / F specification, even if the engine control unit has the same I / F, it is possible to correctly control the unit to which the optional cassette and the duplex unit are connected.

In the printer having such a connection form, the printer controller is responsive to the user's designation.
There may be a case where the double-sided unit is requested to be transported to the double-sided unit even though the double-sided unit is not connected.

In such a case, the printer controller is notified by setting the duplex unit improper operation bit of the status shown in FIG. 11 and setting the ready signal to "false". The printer controller notices the abnormality by the ready signal = “false”, and further reads the status, thereby recognizing that the double-sided printing is designated even though there is no double-sided unit. As a result, the printer controller notifies the user of the abnormal operation via the display panel.

On the contrary, even when the double-sided unit is connected, the user can be informed by the same method even when the sheet feeding from the option cassette is requested.

[0067]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The sheet is conveyed to the image forming apparatus at a predetermined conveying speed, and the sheet is conveyed to the image forming apparatus at a predetermined conveying speed based on a signal related to the predetermined conveying speed sent from the sheet feeding apparatus. If it is determined whether or not it matches the speed, and if it is determined that the predetermined transport speed does not match the sheet transport speed of the image forming apparatus, the information for notifying the mismatch is generated. It is possible to smoothly inform the user that the optional option paper feeding unit is attached to the image forming apparatus.

As a result, the user can perform the subsequent abnormality canceling process in the optimum procedure.

As described above, it greatly contributes to the improvement of the user interface and the reliability of the printer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a control system of a laser beam printer to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing communication information between a printer and first and second paper feeding units.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of an engine control unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the printer controller according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a status N output from the engine control unit to the printer controller.

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of an engine control unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of the printer controller according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a status N output from the engine control unit to the printer controller.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a laser beam printer to which a third embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing communication information between the printer and the duplex unit of the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a laser beam printer to which the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

201 Printer controller 202 engine control unit 208 Envelope feeder control unit 209 Option cassette controller 210 display panel

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification code FI G03G 15/00 510 G03G 15/00 510 518 518 (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65H 7/02 B41J 13/00 B41J 29/48 B65H 1/26 312 B65H 3/00 310 G03G 15/00 510 G03G 15/00 518

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, wherein the predetermined sheet is fed from a sheet feeding apparatus which is detachable from the image forming apparatus and which feeds the sheet to the image forming apparatus at a predetermined conveying speed. Determination means for determining whether or not the predetermined conveyance speed matches the sheet conveyance speed of the image forming apparatus based on a signal relating to the conveyance speed; and the judgment means determines that the predetermined conveyance speed is the same as that of the image forming apparatus. If it is determined that it does not match the sheet transport speed,
An image forming apparatus comprising: an information generating unit that generates information for notifying that there is a mismatch. 2. The determining means determines a failure of the sheet feeding device based on a failure detection signal sent from the sheet feeding device, and the determining means causes the sheet feeding device to fail. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information generating unit generates information for notifying that the sheet feeding device is out of order when it is determined that the sheet feeding device is in failure. 3. Even if the judgment unit judges that the predetermined conveyance speed matches the sheet conveyance speed of the image forming apparatus, it is judged that the sheet feeding apparatus is out of order. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information generating unit generates information for notifying that the sheet feeding device is out of order.