JP3394359B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a plurality of sheet discharge destinations for discharging image-formed sheets and a plurality of display means for displaying the presence / absence of discharged sheets at the respective sheet discharge destinations. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a multifunctional machine having a copying function for copying a document, a facsimile function for transmitting / receiving a FAX, and a printing function for printing input data,
Image forming apparatuses such as digital copying machines are known. In such a multifunction machine, three types of paper are ejected onto a paper placement table (paper ejection tray) as a paper ejection destination: copy paper in the copy mode, received paper in the FAX mode, and print paper in the print mode. The paper will be placed. This paper discharge tray is usually provided in a plurality of stages, and is used properly according to the paper size, sort mode at the time of copying, and the like.

Further, as a conventional copying machine having a plurality of copy sheet discharge bins and a plurality of document discharge bins as sheet discharge destinations, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-277855, copy sheets are used. In some cases, the presence / absence of copy paper and the presence / absence of a document in the discharge bin and the document discharge bin are clearly displayed in correspondence with each other.

[0004]

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus having the composite function as described above, there are various operation states (operation modes) and use states depending on the copy function, the FAX function, and the print function. Further, in response to this, various states also occur in the discharge states of the above-described various discharge sheets on the respective discharge trays. For example, in the print mode, it is often shared with an external host device, and the print paper as the discharge paper is discharged irregularly. Even in the FAX mode, the received paper as the discharged paper is discharged irregularly. When the discharged paper is discharged irregularly in this way, the operator is usually away from the apparatus, so that it may not be noticed that the print paper or the received paper is discharged onto the discharge tray.

Further, even in the copy mode, when making a large number of copies, the operator may once leave the apparatus until the copy is completed, and in that case, it may not be noticed that the copy is completed. Further, there are cases where the discharged paper is forgotten or left out from the paper discharge tray.

[0006] In order to inform the operator of various states such as the above-mentioned operation state, use state, and state of discharged paper on each tray, if all of them are displayed by using another LED or other indicator, the number of them is large. In addition to making it difficult for the operator to recognize the situation, it also increases the cost.
Furthermore, if a paper jam, a supply of toner, paper, etc. are displayed, the number of display devices will increase, recognition errors will increase, and the appearance of the display unit will deteriorate.

On the other hand, the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned publication is
It only clarifies the correspondence between the original output bin and the copy paper output bin, and does not show anything about the difference in handling of various output papers in the multifunction machine, nor does it disclose any indication of the operating status of the device. It does not solve the above problems. The present invention has been made in view of such a situation as described above, and uses a small number of display means (displays such as LEDs) to quickly detect the discharge status according to the operation mode of the image forming apparatus or the discharge destination of the paper. And the purpose is to be able to recognize clearly.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention detects a plurality of sheet discharge destinations for discharging image-formed sheets and the presence / absence of discharged sheets at the respective sheet discharge destinations. A plurality of detecting means, a plurality of discharge detecting means for detecting the discharge operation of the paper to the respective paper discharge destinations, and the discharged paper for each paper discharge destination according to the detection results of the detecting means and the discharge detecting means. A plurality of display means provided to display the presence / absence, and a copy mode,
An image forming apparatus capable of forming an image in a plurality of different operation modes such as a FAX mode and a print mode, wherein display control means for changing the display operation mode of the display means according to the operation mode is provided.

An image forming apparatus similar to the above (however,
It is not essential that images can be formed in a plurality of different operation modes as described above), and the display operation mode of the display means is determined according to the discharge destination of the paper and the discharge paper detection state of the plurality of detection means. Also provided is one provided with a display control means for changing.

[0010]

In any of the above-mentioned image forming apparatuses, when the number of images to be formed becomes one less than the set number , the display control means changes the display operation mode of the display means. The display operation mode is changed to a display operation mode different from any other display operation mode.

[0012]

In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the display operation mode by the display means for each paper discharge destination is changed according to the operation mode during the image forming operation. Therefore, the presence or absence of discharged paper at the discharge destination corresponding to the operation mode. It is possible to clearly display such a situation using a small number of display means, thereby preventing the operator from forgetting to take out the discharged paper on which an image is formed, and reducing the downtime of the apparatus. . Moreover, the appearance of the display unit is not damaged.

[0013] is et al., The number of image formation is close to the number that is set also, since the display by changing the display operation mode of the display unit, it is possible to reduce equipment downtime more.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. This image forming apparatus includes a system control unit 1, a display unit 2, an operation unit 3, a FAX unit 4, a controller unit 5, a sequence unit 6, an ADF sheet through unit 7, a scanner unit 8, a duplex unit 9, and image forming input units. It is composed of an output unit (I / O) 10 and a sheet ejection device 11.

The system control unit 1 controls the entire system including the operation mode of the copy function, arbitration between the functions of the copy function, the FAX function, and the print function to prevent the outputs from overlapping each other. The display unit 2 displays the state of discharged paper on each discharge tray of the paper discharge device 11 and the operation state of the device. In this embodiment, three LEDs are provided as display means as described later. .

The operation unit 3 receives key inputs from the operator necessary for the copy function, the FAX function, and the print function, and communicates with the system control unit 1 via the serial interface. The FAX unit 4 uses NCU (network control), CC
It has a basic FAX function such as U (communication control) and communicates with the system control unit 1 via a serial interface. It also includes extended functions of FAX, memory, hard disk drive, and the like.

The controller unit 5 executes bitmap expansion according to data input from an external host device and communicates with the system control unit 1 via a serial interface. The sequence unit 6 has a copy function,
Image data obtained by the FAX function and the print function is received via the system control unit 1, and based on the control information from the system control unit 1, the duplex unit unit 9 and the paper discharge device 11
And the image forming operation is performed.

The scanner unit 8 reads a copy document and a FAX document, controls the ADF (automatic document feeder) sheet through unit 7, and outputs the read image data to the system control unit 1. The paper discharge device 11 has a plurality of paper discharge trays, and discharges each discharged paper such as copy paper, received paper, and print paper to each paper discharge tray. Each of the units 1 to 10 other than the paper discharge device 11 is incorporated in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the paper discharge device 11 is mechanically and electrically connected to the main body of the device.

In the above structure, in the copy mode,
The image data flows from the scanner unit 8 to the system control unit 1 to the sequence unit 6. Further, when the FAX function is received, the image data is displayed in the FAX section 4 → the system control section 1 →
It flows to the sequence unit 6. When sending, the scanner unit 8
→ FAX section 4 → System control section 1 In the print mode, the image data is stored in the controller unit 5.
The flow goes to the system control unit 1 and the sequence unit 6.

FIG. 1 shows the relationship between the paper discharge device 11 and the apparatus main body 12. The paper discharge device 11 has three paper discharge trays 13a, 13 as a paper placement table for the paper discharge destination.
b and 13c are provided. In the apparatus main body 12, in the copy mode, the image data read by the scanner unit 8 is sent to the sequence unit 6. In the FAX mode reception and the print mode, the received or input image data is sent to the sequence unit 6. The sequence unit 6 processes the image data to form an electronic latent image on the photoconductor drum 14.

Further, the paper taken out from the paper feed cassette 15 is sent as shown by the broken line, and the photosensitive drum 1
After the electronic latent image formed on 4 is developed with toner,
After being transferred to the sheet and fixed by the fixing unit 16, the sheet is sent to the sheet discharge device 11 and discharged onto the sheet discharge trays 13a, 13b, 13
It is discharged to one of c.

The paper discharge device 11 includes the paper discharge trays 13
LE as display means corresponding to a, 13b, 13c
D17a, 17b, 17c are provided. Further, each paper discharge tray 13a, 13b, 13c is provided with a detector as a means for detecting the presence or absence of discharged paper.

2 and 3 show an embodiment of the detector, FIG. 2 shows a detector 18 using a microswitch, and FIG. 3 shows a detector 18 using a reflective photosensor. There is. In addition to the above, the paper discharge device 11 is provided with discharge detectors on the discharge trays 13a to 13c for detecting the operations of discharging the paper by the paper discharge rollers 19a to 19c.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show examples of the electrical construction and connection between the paper discharge device 11 and the main body 12. The paper discharge device 11 in FIG. 5 is provided with a microcomputer including a CPU, ROM, RAM and the like. In addition, the presence / absence detection information of the discharged paper is input to the discharge trays 13a to 13c from the detectors 18a to 18c, and the discharge detector 20a is also included.
The detection information of the ejection operation is input from 20c. Further, the door opening / closing detection information of the case and the entrance sensor information are input. In addition, switching solenoids 21a, 21b for switching the discharging operation for the respective discharge trays 13a to 13c,
21c and 22 drive signals of the stepping motor are output, and three display LEDs 17a, 17b,
The display signal of 17c is output.

Signals for controlling copying processes such as reading and writing are input to and output from the main body 12 of the apparatus, and predetermined power supply voltages Vcc, Vaa and ground potential GND are supplied to the sheet discharging apparatus 11, and reset information is also provided. send. Also,
It transmits and receives information to and from the paper discharge device 11.

In the example of FIG. 6, the main body 12 of the apparatus is a CPU, R
It has a microcomputer including OM, RAM, etc., and parallel and serial interfaces, and controls the switching solenoids 21a to 21c for the sheet ejection device 11, motor speed control information for the stepping motor 22, and ON / OFF information. , And LEDs 17a to 17c
Display information etc. is sent to. In addition, the paper discharge device 11 sends the presence / absence information of discharged paper, paper discharge information, door opening / closing information, entrance sensor information, and the like. Others are the same as the example of FIG.

Next, the LED 1 is detected by the detectors 18a, 18b, 18c and the discharge detectors 20a, 20b, 20c.
The display operation of 7a, 17b, 17c will be described. In the case of a multi-function peripheral having a copy function, a FAX function, and a print function, the operator's response is generally different. In the present invention, the display is performed according to the operator's correspondence for each function (mode).

In the copy mode, the operator wants to obtain the copy paper as soon as possible after pressing the start key of the image forming operation. Further, in the case of a large number of copies, the operator may leave the apparatus once, so that the copy paper may be left on the tray without noticing that the copy is completed.

Therefore, when displaying with the LED, it is necessary to display first that the image forming operation is in progress and also that there is a copy sheet discharged onto the tray. In that case, if it is detected that the discharged paper is exhausted from the tray, it is considered that the copy paper has surely reached the operator's hand, and therefore it is not necessary to display it from that point.

Therefore, in the copy mode, the display operation shown in the timing chart of FIG. 7 is performed. That is, during the image forming operation, the LED blinks at a predetermined blinking duty ratio (blinking 1). When the copy paper is sequentially ejected onto the tray during this blinking and the last copy paper is ejected and the image forming operation is completed, the LED changes from blinking to lighting and indicates that there is a copy paper on the tray. When all the copy paper is removed from the tray, the LED is turned off.

The operation of changing the LED from blinking to lighting is such that the discharge detectors (20a to 20c) detect that the final copy paper has been discharged, and the detectors (18a to 18a).
18c) is performed by detecting the presence of copy paper. Whether or not it is the final copy sheet is determined by the set value of the number of copies and whether or not the next discharge is performed within a predetermined period.

The above display operation is performed for the LEDs 17a, 17b, 17c corresponding to the trays 13a, 13b, 13c in the sort mode, for example. This is shown in the timing chart of FIG. Here, the presence / absence detections a, b, and c are the detectors 18 of the respective discharge trays.
Discharge sheet presence / absence detection signals by a, 18b, and 18c, and discharge detection a, b, and c are sheet discharge detection signals by the discharge detectors 20a, 20b, and 20c for the respective discharge trays.

In the stack mode, when the final copy paper is discharged to the tray 13c, all 17a-1
7c is continuously turned on. Further, in the stack mode and the sort mode, by changing the timing of shifting to the continuous lighting depending on whether or not the copy sheets ejected to the respective trays are the same, the stack mode by the preemption of the copy sheets during the image forming operation The operator may be warned so as not to leave a copy sheet left behind or a page shift in the sort mode.

According to the display operation described above, as long as the LED is lit, the copy paper remains on the tray, so that it is possible to prevent forgetting to remove the copy paper.

The timing chart of FIG. 7 shows another display operation in the copy mode. When the discharge of the copy paper one time before the last discharge is completed, the LED is turned on and off in a blinking duty different from the above blinking 1. It is displayed by blinking 2 according to the ratio. As a result, the operator can be notified that the copy is about to end. Further, in this timing chart, even if the copy paper is placed on the tray again after the LED is turned off and the copy paper is detected, the LE
D remains off.

In the FAX mode and the print mode, the FAX receiving paper is ejected regardless of the intention of the operator. Further, the printer is shared by a plurality of host devices, and in this case also, the print paper is discharged irregularly. FA
During X reception or printing, the operator once picks up the print paper from the tray or picks up all the print papers, extracts only the ones related to himself and puts the remaining received papers or print papers on the discharge tray again. May be placed.

Then, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 8, the final discharge is performed and the LED changes from blinking 1 to lighting, and then all discharged paper is removed from the tray and L
When the discharged paper is placed on the tray again after the ED is turned off, the LED is turned on again. As a result, it is possible to prevent the receiving paper and the printing paper from being left behind. When the reception or the printing is almost completed, it is displayed by blinking 2 as in the above timing chart.

When a jam, which is a paper jam, or a supply of paper, toner, or the like is run out during the image forming operation, it can be displayed by the timing chart of FIG. The timing chart displays the occurrence of a jam, and when the occurrence of a jam is detected during the image forming operation, the LEDs blink 1 to 3
(Blinking duty ratio is different for both blinking 1 and 2)
Changes to. The timing chart displays out-of-supply, and when out-of-supply is detected during the image forming operation, the LED changes from blinking 1 to blinking 4 (blinking duty ratio is different in all of blinking 1 to 3).

When the operator performs a job clearing process such as all clear and mode clear while displaying the blinking 3 and the blinking 4, the presence / absence of discharged paper on each tray at that time is detected. The LEDs 17a to 17c may be turned on or off. In the case of blinking 3 and 4,
Display units other than the LEDs 17a to 17c may be blinked similarly.

In the timing charts described above, the image forming operation, the presence / absence of discharged paper on the tray, the end of the operation, the occurrence of a jam, the supply stop L
The display operation modes of the EDs 17a to 17c such as blinking 1-4, lighting, and extinguishing may be interchanged for each state.

Next, the processing for performing each of the above display operations will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. Each of FIGS. 9 to 10 is a flow of a subroutine that branches from a main routine (not shown), and steps that perform the same processing content are assigned the same step numbers.
Further, in these figures and in the following description, the above-mentioned paper discharge trays 13a, 13b, 13c are respectively trays 1, 2, 3 and LEDs 17a, 17b, 17c are respectively displayed LEDs 1, 2, 3 and a detector. 18a, 18b, 1
The detection result of the presence / absence of paper by 8c is detected as presence / absence detection a, b, c,
The detection results of the paper discharge by the discharge detectors 20a, 20b, 20c are referred to as discharge detection a, b, c, respectively.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart of FIG.
7 is a flowchart of a routine for performing a display operation in the copy mode shown in FIG. In this routine, first, in step 1, it is determined whether or not the copy operation is ready (start is possible), and if it is ready, it is determined in step 2 whether or not the start key is pressed, and when it is pressed, the condition set in step 3 is set. The image forming operation is started and the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, if the copy operation is not ready in step 1 or the start key is not pressed in step 2, it is determined in step 4 whether the image forming operation is being performed, and if the image forming operation is being performed. The set discharge destination tray is searched, and in steps 6, 8 and 10, it is determined which of the trays 1 to 3 is the searched discharge destination tray. If it is tray 1, the display LED is displayed in step 7.
1 is turned on to set the copy mode flag 1 to "1", and for tray 2, the display LED 2 is turned on and off to set the copy mode flag 2 to "1" in step 9, and for tray 3, the display LED 3 is turned on in step 11. The copy mode flag 3 is set to "1" by blinking.

Next, at step 12, discharge detection a, b,
If any of c detects the ejection, the counter of the number of ejected sheets is counted up in step 13, and step 14
When the number of discharged sheets (count number) matches the set number, the image forming operation is stopped and the JOB end flag is set to "1".
And return to the main routine.

If the image forming operation is not in progress in step 4,
In step 17, it is determined whether or not the JOB end flag is "1". If it is not "1", the process proceeds to step 26 of A. However, if it is "1", the tray of the discharge destination is searched in step 18. In step 19 to 24, the presence / absence detection (a
(Corresponding ones to c) are checked, and if there is paper in the discharge destination tray, the corresponding LED (one of 1 to 3) is turned on, and in step 25, the JOB end flag is set to “0”, Return to the main routine.

When it is determined in step 17 that the JOB end flag is "0" and the process proceeds to step 26, it is determined in steps 26 to 34 which copy mode flag is "1". Then, the presence / absence detection a to c of the tray set to “1” is used to determine the presence / absence of discharged paper, and when there is no discharged paper (taken out), the LED corresponding to the tray (one of ) Is turned off, the copy mode flag is set to "0", and the process returns to the main routine.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of a routine for performing another display operation in the copy mode shown in the timing chart of FIG. 7, and steps 1-34 (steps 26-34 are the same as FIG. 9 and are omitted). Performs the same judgment and processing as each step of FIG. LED1 here
Step 1 to display "blink 2" by ~ 3
Only steps 35 and 36 are added between 3 and 14.

That is, after counting up the counter for the number of ejected sheets in step 13, it is determined in step 35 whether the number of ejected sheets, which is the count number of the counter, is one less than the set number. If it is determined that the condition is satisfied, the LED display state is changed from "flashing 1" to "flashing 2" in step 36. And step 1
When the number of discharged sheets (count number) matches the number of set sheets in 4, the image forming operation is ended in step 15. The following operation is the same as in the case of FIG.

FIG. 11 shows the FAX mode among the FAX mode and the print mode shown in the timing chart of FIG.
It is a flow chart of a routine which performs a display operation at the time of reception in mode. In this case, it is assumed that the tray to which the sheet on which the image received by FAX is formed is discharged is fixed to a predetermined tray.

In this routine, first, at step 37, it is judged whether or not the tray of the paper discharge destination is the FAX receiving paper designated tray, and if No, the routine directly returns to the main routine. If Yes, the routine proceeds to step 38, where it is judged whether or not the image forming operation is in progress, and if so, it is judged at step 39 whether it is the FAX reception mode. Then, in the FAX reception mode, in step 40, the LED corresponding to the designated tray blinks (“blinking 1”),
To return.

If the image forming operation is not being performed in step 38 or the FAX receiving mode is not in step 39, it is detected in step 41 that there is a received sheet by the presence / absence detection in the designated tray, and in step 42. L
The ED is turned on (continuously turned on), and if the received paper is not detected, the LED is turned off in step 43. The determination in step 41 is continued even after the light is turned off. When the receiving paper is placed on the tray again, the LED is turned on again in step 42.

In the print mode, step 37 determines whether or not the tray is the print paper designated tray, and step 39
Similar display can be performed by simply replacing the item with the printer mode. In that case, as in the case of the example of FIG. 10, a counter for counting the number of discharged sheets is provided, and when the counted number is one less than the print setting number, the LED display state is changed from “blinking 1”. It can be changed to "blink 2".

FIG. 12 is a timing chart of FIG.
5 is a flowchart of a routine for performing a display operation in the copy mode shown in FIG. Also in this routine, each judgment and processing in steps 1 to 34 (steps 26 to 34 are the same as those in FIG. 9 and therefore not shown) are the same as those in the flowchart of FIG.

This routine differs from the case of FIG. 9 in that
After step 1, the process of step 44 is added, and when the print operation is ready in step 1, the jam flag and the supply flag are set to "0". When it is determined in step 4 that the image forming operation is being performed, it is determined in steps 45, 46, and 47 that a paper jam, a paper end (no paper), and a toner end (no toner) occur, and a paper jam occurs. In step 48, the display LEDs 1, 2, 3 are set to blink 3 and the jam flag is set to "1". Then, in step 49, the image forming operation is interrupted and the process returns to the main routine.

When the paper end or toner end is detected, the display LEDs 1, 2, 3 are set to blink 4 in step 50, and the supply flag is set to "1". Then, in step 51, the image forming operation is interrupted and the process returns to the main routine.

[0056]

As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention uses a small number of display means for displaying the status of the apparatus such as the operation mode during the image forming operation and the presence / absence of discharged paper on the discharge tray. It is possible to clearly inform the operator of the state by different display patterns such as lighting, blinking, and extinguishing, it is possible to prevent forgetting to remove the discharged paper, and it is possible to reduce the downtime of the apparatus.

[0057] in is al so also displays that the end of the discharging operation becomes close, it <br/> be reduced equipment downtime.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a detector for detecting the presence or absence of ejected paper in the paper ejection device in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another example of the detector.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection relationship between the apparatus main body, the paper discharge device, and the input / output device thereof.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another example of the electrical connection relationship between the apparatus main body, the paper discharge device, and the input / output device.

7 is a timing chart showing an example of a display operation by the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing another example of the display operation of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a display operation processing routine in the copy mode.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another example of the display operation processing routine.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing routine of a display operation in the FAX mode and the print mode.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing still another example of the processing routine of the display operation in the copy mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: System control unit 2: Display unit 3: Operation part 4: FAX part 5: Controller part 6: Sequence part 8: Scanner section 11: Paper ejection device 12: Device body 13a, 13b, 13c: Paper discharge tray 17a, 17b, 17c: LED 18, 18a, 18b, 18c: Detector 20a, 20b, 20c: Emission detector

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of paper discharge destinations for discharging a paper on which an image is formed, a plurality of detection means for detecting the presence or absence of discharged paper at each paper discharge destination, and a sheet for each paper discharge destination. A plurality of discharge detection means for detecting the discharge operation, respectively, and a plurality of display means provided for displaying the presence or absence of the discharged paper for each of the paper discharge destinations according to the detection results of the detection means and the discharge detection means. And an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image in a plurality of different operation modes such as a copy mode, a FAX mode, and a print mode, the display control unit changing a display operation mode of the display unit according to the operation mode. And the display control means controls the number of images to be formed based on the set number .
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the display operation mode of the display means is changed to a display operation mode different from any other display operation mode when the value becomes one less . 2. A plurality of paper discharge destinations for discharging the image-formed paper, a plurality of detection means for respectively detecting the presence / absence of the discharged paper at each paper discharge destination, and the papers to the respective paper discharge destinations. A plurality of discharge detection means for detecting the discharge operation, respectively, and a plurality of display means provided for displaying the presence or absence of the discharged paper for each of the paper discharge destinations according to the detection results of the detection means and the discharge detection means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a display control unit that changes a display operation mode of the display unit according to a discharge destination of a sheet and a discharge sheet detection state of the plurality of detection units; There, the number of image forming number of sheets has been set
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the display operation mode of the display means is changed to a display operation mode different from any other display operation mode when the value becomes one less .