JP3950885B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming equipment for forming an image on a recording medium such as a recording sheet.

In general, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or an electrophotographic printer is configured to be able to feed paper from a plurality of paper feed ports. In such an apparatus, as described in Patent Document 1, an operation having a plurality of paper sensors for detecting the passage of a recording sheet, which is a transfer paper, on a conveyance path, and a display unit capable of displaying various types of information graphically. When a jam of the recording sheet is detected by the paper sensor, the position where the jam occurs is displayed on the display unit. Furthermore, by displaying the processing method for eliminating the recording sheet causing the jam at the jam occurrence position designated by the operator among the displayed occurrence positions of the jam, on the display unit by graphic display, Some of them present a jam handling method to the operator.
JP-A-8-262932

  However, as printing processing speeds up and paper handling is enhanced, a multi-stage paper feed cassette (paper feed option) and a large-capacity paper feed deck can be connected to the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the paper feed configuration There are also devices that can be customized. When a plurality of paper feeding devices are connected as described above, when a jam occurs when a recording sheet is fed from each of the paper feeding devices, the jam release point is the paper feeding device where the jam has occurred.

  When releasing the jam, there is no problem if the paper feeding cassette can be pulled out in the recording sheet conveyance direction, but when the paper feeding cassette is pulled out in the direction perpendicular to the recording sheet conveyance direction, a jam has occurred. In this state, it is difficult to pull out the paper feed cassette, and another jam release mechanism is required. In that case, the conveyance path for the paper feed and the upstream side (the lower part farther from the recording part if there is a recording part in the upper stage and a plurality of paper feeding apparatuses are installed in the lower stage). Are often configured separately. The reason is that in a recording sheet having elasticity against bending such as cardboard, the jam release mechanism is pushed out when a jam occurs. For this reason, a special lock mechanism for fixing the jam release mechanism against such an elastic force is required.

  In such a configuration, as in the prior art, when a paper feeding device in which a jam has occurred is designated as a jam release point for a jam detected by a paper sensor that detects the passage of a recording sheet in the conveyance path, the designated jam is detected. Even when the release point is accessed, it may happen that the recording sheet causing the jam cannot be found. In such a case, the user cannot recognize where the jam has occurred.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the present invention is characterized in that when a jam of a recording sheet is detected, an optimum access point that can remove the recording sheet on which the jam has occurred is determined and presented. It is to provide the equipment.

An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
A storage portion for storing recording sheets, a first conveying path for conveying accept recording sheet that will be conveyed from the sheet feeding unit that will be placed on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the recording sheet and feeding the recording sheet from the receiving portion a second transport path for transporting Te, and a sheet sensor for detecting the recording sheet conveying path provided downstream in the transport direction of the recording sheet from the point at which the first conveying path and the second conveyance path are joined An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording sheet transported from each of the paper feeding units.
The paper feeding unit has an opening / closing member for accessing the first conveyance path when a jam related to conveyance of a recording sheet occurs,
A timing means for measuring time from the time when feeding of the recording sheet is started or the time when the recording sensor is detected by the sheet sensor ;
When the first time is counted by the time measuring unit after the recording sheet is fed from the sheet feeding unit and before the recording sheet is detected by the sheet sensor, the inside of the sheet feeding unit is removed. The recording sheet is detected by the sheet sensor before the first time is measured by the timing unit after the recording unit outputs the position and starts feeding the recording sheet from the sheet feeding unit. If the state where the recording sensor is detected by the sheet sensor continues even if the second time is measured by the timing unit after the recording sheet is detected by the sheet sensor, the recording is performed on the paper feeding unit. Jam removal position output means for outputting that the opening / closing member of the paper feed unit arranged at the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction is a jam removal position ,
It is characterized by having.

According to the present invention, when a jam of a recording sheet is detected , an optimum access point that can remove the recording sheet in which the jam has occurred can be determined and presented.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, a recording sheet 230 fed from a paper feed option 200 is poorly transported (jammed) on a transport path 120b. It shows how it is in a state. In this embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus is a laser printer will be described. This laser printer is configured to include two stages of a paper feed unit provided in the main body and an optional paper feed unit (paper feed option). However, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is not limited to such a laser printer. For example, a printer such as an ink jet printer, a thermal printer, a liquid crystal printer, a discharge printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine. It can also be applied.

  In FIG. 1, a laser beam 105 from a semiconductor laser 102 is modulated by a modulation signal corresponding to an image to be formed, and this laser beam 105 is rotated by a rotating polygon mirror (polygon mirror) 103 that is rotated by a scanner motor 104. The light is reflected and scanned on the photosensitive drum 101. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image is formed on the photosensitive drum 101 which is an electrostatic carrier. The charging roller 106 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 101 immediately before being exposed by the laser beam 105. The developing device 107 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 101 with toner. The toner image on the photosensitive drum 101 developed in this way by the developing unit 107 is transferred to the recording sheet by the transfer roller 108. The recording sheet on which the toner image is transferred is sent to the fixing roller 109, where the toner image is fused by heat and the image is fixed on the recording sheet.

  The sheet stacking cassette 110 has a function of identifying the size of the recording sheet stored therein, and can set the recording sheet by pulling it toward the front side of the apparatus main body (vertical front direction with respect to FIG. 1). ing. The cassette feed roller 111 picks up a recording sheet from the sheet stacking cassette 110 and sends it out to the conveyance path 120a by one rotation. The conveyance roller 112 is provided in a common conveyance path and conveys the recording sheet fed from the cassettes 110, 210, and 310. The pre-feed sensor 113 detects the leading edge and trailing edge of the recording sheet fed from each cassette. The pre-transfer roller 114 is a roller for feeding the recording sheet conveyed through the conveyance path to the photosensitive drum 101. The top sensor 115 synchronizes image writing to the photosensitive drum 101 and recording sheet conveyance with respect to the recording sheet conveyed by the rotation of the roller 114 and measures the length of the recording sheet in the conveyance direction. Used for. The fixing sensor 116 detects the presence or absence of a recording sheet after being fixed by the fixing roller 109. The paper discharge rollers 117 and 119 discharge the fixed recording sheet to the outside of the apparatus.

  The conveyance path 120a is a conveyance path through which a recording sheet fed from the cassette 110 is conveyed, and the conveyance path 120b is a paper feed option (200, 200) that is attached to and detached from the printer main body 100 and is located on the upstream side. 300) is a conveyance path of the recording sheet conveyed. Reference numeral 121 denotes a jam release door provided for releasing a jam of a recording sheet from the cassette 110.

  The paper feed options 200 and 300 can be attached to and detached from the printer main body 100. Here, these two have the same configuration, and their mounting positions are arbitrary 200 and 300. In the paper feeding option 200, the paper stacking cassette 210 has a function of identifying the size of the recording sheet accommodated, and is set so that the recording sheet is pulled out in the front direction (vertical front direction with respect to FIG. 1). It has become. The cassette paper feeding roller 211 picks up a recording sheet from the paper stacking cassette 210 and sends it out to the conveyance path 220a by one rotation. The conveyance path 220a is a conveyance path through which the recording sheet fed from the cassette 210 is conveyed, and the conveyance path 220b is a conveyance path for the recording sheet conveyed from the sheet feeding option 300 mounted on the lower stage. The sheet conveying roller 202 is provided on the downstream side of the point where the conveying paths 220a and 220b merge, and conveys the recording sheets from the sheet stacking cassettes 210 and 310. The transport path sensor 201 is a paper sensor provided at the transport path exit of the paper feed option 200. Reference numeral 221 denotes a jam release door provided for jam release of the paper feed option 200.

  The paper feed option 300 has the same configuration as the paper feed option 200. That is, 310 is a paper stack cassette, 311 is a cassette paper feed roller, 320a and 320b are transport paths, and the paper transport roller 302 is provided downstream of the point where the transport paths 320a and 320b merge. A recording sheet from 310 and an upstream paper feed option (not shown) is transported and driven. The transport path sensor 301 is a paper sensor provided at the transport path exit of the paper feed option 300.

  FIG. 2 is a view showing the opening / closing directions of the paper stacking cassette and the jam release door of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

  The sheet stacking cassettes 110, 210, and 310 are configured to be drawn out in a direction substantially perpendicular to the recording sheet conveyance direction (arrow A direction). The jam release doors 121, 221 and 321 open and close in the direction indicated by the arrow B in the figure.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the paper feed option of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. Here, the paper feed option 200 is illustrated, but the same applies to the paper feed option 300.

  When the jam release door 221 is opened, the recording sheet conveyance path 220b conveyed from the lower sheet feeding option 300 can be accessed. The recording sheet fed from the cassette 210 of this sheet feeding option can be accessed. On the other hand, it can be seen that the guide (conveyance path 220) is formed and cannot be accessed.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram mainly showing a functional configuration related to the conveyance control of the recording sheet of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, and the same parts as those in FIG.

  The control unit 400 includes a CPU 410, a ROM 411 that stores a control program executed by the CPU 410, a RAM 412 that stores various data when controlled by the CPU 410, a timer 413 that measures time according to instructions of the CPU 410, and the like.

  The motor driver 401 controls the rotation of the paper feed motor 402 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 400. The rotation of the paper feed motor 402 is transmitted to one of the cassette paper feed rollers 111, 211, and 311 via the gear 406, and a recording sheet can be picked up from each of the paper stack cassettes 110, 210, and 310. The gear 406 is switched based on an instruction from the control unit 400 in accordance with a recording sheet used for image formation. The console panel 403 includes a display unit 404 such as a liquid crystal and an operation unit 405 including various keys and buttons.

[Embodiment 1]
Based on the above configuration, jam detection control by the conveyance path sensor 201 by the control unit 400 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the jam control process according to the first embodiment. A program for executing this process is stored in the ROM 411, and this program is executed under the control of the CPU 410. In the first embodiment, a case where a jam is detected when the recording sheet 230 is fed from the paper feed option 200 (FIG. 1) will be described.

  First, in step S1, rotation of the sheet feeding roller 211 is started to start sheet feeding from the sheet feeding option 200. (The rotation of the sheet feeding roller 211 switches the gear 406 by turning on / off a normal solenoid or the like. Thus, the rotation of the sheet feeding motor 402 is transmitted and driven to rotate). Next, in step S2, time measurement by the timer 413 is started. In step S3, it is monitored whether the time measured by the timer 413 has reached a predetermined time before the fed recording sheet reaches the position of the conveyance path sensor 201. When a predetermined time elapses in step S3, that is, when the predetermined time is counted before the conveyance path sensor 201 detects the image recording sheet, the process proceeds to step S4, the time measurement by the timer 413 is stopped, a jam occurs, and the sheet is fed. It is determined that a delay has occurred. In step S 5, it is determined that a jam has occurred in the paper feed option 200, and the display unit 404 displays that the jam occurrence position is in the paper feed option 200. When a paper feed delay jam based on this paper feed delay occurs, the paper feed cassette 210 is pulled out in the direction of arrow A to release the jam.

  If it is determined in step S3 that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process advances to step S6 to determine whether the conveyance path sensor 201 has detected the presence of a recording sheet. When it is not detected that there is a recording sheet, the process proceeds to step S3 to determine whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. When the recording sheet is detected by the transport path sensor 201 in step S6, the process proceeds to step S7, and the time count by the timer 413 is reset. Then, the timer 413 starts counting time again. Next, in step S8, it is checked whether the time measured by the timer 413 has reached a predetermined time. The predetermined time in this case may be the same as or different from the time in step S3 described above. When the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process proceeds to step S9, where it is checked whether the recording sheet that has reached the conveyance path sensor 201 is no longer detected by the conveyance path sensor 201, and when no paper is detected, the process returns to step S8. Thus, if the recording sheet is no longer detected by the conveyance path sensor 201 within the predetermined time, the process exits from the loop of steps S9 and S8, assuming that the recording sheet has been normally conveyed.

  On the other hand, if a predetermined time has elapsed in step S8, that is, if a recording sheet is detected by the conveyance path sensor 201 even if the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S10, and a staying jam of the fed recording sheet occurs. Judge that In step S <b> 11, it is determined that the access point for releasing the jam of the recording sheet is the jam release door 121. As apparent from FIG. 1, in order to remove the recording sheet 230 in which the jam has occurred, the jam is located on the downstream side of the recording sheet 230 instead of the paper feed option 200 in which the jam has occurred. This is because it is preferably removed from the release door 121. In step S 12, information indicating the jam occurrence state and the jam release point 121 is output from the CPU 410 to the display unit 404 and displayed on the display unit 404. In this way, the occurrence status of the jam is presented to the user on the display unit 404 or is notified to the host or the like. In this way, the user can recognize the occurrence of the jam and know how to deal with it.

  By performing the processing as described above, it is possible to optimally instruct a jam release point. In addition, although the example which displays the jam cancellation | release point after this jam generate | occur | produced on the display part 404 was shown, it is achieved similarly by the method of other than that.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the occurrence of a jam according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Here, the recording sheet 231 is fed in a situation where paper is fed from the paper feed option 300 and straddles the paper feed options 200 and 300. A case where a jam occurs will be described. In FIG. 6, parts common to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same symbols, and description thereof is omitted. The configuration of the apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the jam processing according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. A program for executing this processing is stored in the ROM 411, and this program is executed under the control of the CPU 410. In the second embodiment, a case where a jam occurs when the recording sheet 231 is fed from the paper feed option 300 will be described.

  First, in step S21, the paper feed roller 311 is turned on to start paper feed from the paper feed option 200 in the same manner as in step S1 of FIG. Next, in step S21, time measurement by the timer 413 is started. Next, in step S23, it is checked whether or not the time measured by the timer 413 has reached a predetermined time. If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process proceeds to step S26 to check whether the recording sheet is detected by the conveyance path sensor 301. If not detected, the process returns to step S23. If a recording sheet is detected here, the time measured by the timer 413 is reset and the process proceeds to step S27. On the other hand, when the predetermined time is counted in step S23, the fed recording sheet has not reached the position of the conveyance path sensor 301 even when the predetermined time is counted (the conveyance of the fed recording sheet is delayed). In step S24, it is determined that a paper feed delay jam has occurred in the paper feed option 300. In step S25, the fact that a jam has occurred in the paper feed option 300 is displayed on the display unit 404. To notify the operator. When a paper feed delay jam based on this paper feed delay occurs, the paper feed cassette 310 is pulled out in the direction of arrow A to release the jam.

  In step S27, time measurement by the timer 413 is started again, and the process proceeds to step S28 to check whether or not the time measurement by the timer 413 has reached a predetermined time. The predetermined time in this case may be the same as or different from the predetermined time in step S23. If it is determined in step S28 that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process proceeds to step S31 to check whether the recording sheet is detected by the conveyance path sensor 201. When it is not detected, the process returns to step S28, but when a recording sheet is detected here, the time count by the timer 413 is reset and the process proceeds to step S32. On the other hand, when the predetermined time is counted in step S28, the fed recording sheet has not reached the position of the conveyance path sensor 201 even when the predetermined time is counted (the conveyance of the fed recording sheet is delayed). In step S29, it is determined that a paper feed delay jam has occurred in the paper feed option 200. In step S30, the display unit 404 indicates that a jam has occurred in the paper feed option 200. Display and notify the operator. When a paper feed delay jam based on this paper feed delay occurs, the paper feed cassette 210 is pulled out in the direction of arrow A to release the jam.

  Next, in step S32, time measurement by the timer 413 is started again, the process proceeds to step S33, and it is checked whether or not the time measurement by the timer 413 has reached a predetermined time. The predetermined time in this case may be the same as or different from the aforementioned predetermined time. If it is determined in step S33 that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process proceeds to step S37 to check whether the recording sheet is detected by the conveyance path sensor 301. When it is still detected, the process returns to step S33.

  When the predetermined time elapses in step S33, it is indicated that the fed recording sheet has not passed the position of the conveyance path sensor 301 even if the predetermined time is counted. It is determined that a paper jam has occurred. In step S35, it is determined that the access point for releasing the jam is the jam release door 121 or 221. As shown in FIG. 6, since the recording sheet has already reached the position of the conveyance path sensor 201 (passed through step S31), and the conveyance path sensor 301 continues to detect the presence of the recording sheet, the conveyance path This is because the jam release doors 121 and 221 accessible to 220b or 120b are considered to be able to remove the recording sheet causing the jam. In step S36, the occurrence state of the jam and the jam release point for coping with this can be displayed on the display unit 404 and presented to the operator.

  On the other hand, when the recording sheet is no longer detected by the conveyance path sensor 301 in step S37, the time count by the timer 413 is reset, the process proceeds to step S38, and the time count by the timer 413 is started again. Next, in step S39, it is checked whether or not the time measured by the timer 413 has reached a predetermined time. The predetermined time in this case may be the same as or different from the aforementioned predetermined time. If it is determined in step S39 that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process proceeds to step S40 to check whether the recording sheet is detected by the conveyance path sensor 201. If it is still detected, the process returns to step S39, but if it is not detected, it is determined to be normal and the process ends.

  On the other hand, when the predetermined time elapses in step S39, it indicates that the fed recording sheet has not passed the position of the conveyance path sensor 201 even if the predetermined time is counted. In 200, it is determined that a jam in which the paper feed stays has occurred. In step S42, it is determined that the access point for releasing the jam is the jam release door 121. As shown in FIG. 6, the recording sheet has already passed through the conveyance path sensor 301, but remains in a state detected by the conveyance path sensor 201, so that a jam release door that can access the conveyance path 120 b is used. This is because it is considered that the recording sheet 231 that causes the jam can be removed. In step S43, the CPU 410 outputs information indicating the occurrence state of the jam and a jam release point for coping with the jam to the display unit 404, and the information can be displayed on the display unit 404 and presented to the operator.

  By performing the processing as described above, it is possible to optimally specify the jam release point of the sheet conveyed from the upstream sheet feeding device.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating opening and closing directions of a sheet stacking cassette and a jam release door of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a paper feed option of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram mainly illustrating a functional configuration related to recording sheet conveyance control of the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating jam control processing by the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a jam occurrence state in an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating jam processing by the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (3)

A storage portion for storing recording sheets, a first conveying path for conveying accept recording sheet that will be conveyed from the sheet feeding unit that will be placed on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the recording sheet and feeding the recording sheet from the receiving portion a second transport path for transporting Te, and a sheet sensor for detecting the recording sheet conveying path provided downstream in the transport direction of the recording sheet from the point at which the first conveying path and the second conveyance path are joined An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording sheet transported from each of the paper feeding units.
The paper feeding unit has an opening / closing member for accessing the first conveyance path when a jam related to conveyance of a recording sheet occurs,
A timing means for measuring time from the time when feeding of the recording sheet is started or the time when the recording sensor is detected by the sheet sensor ;
When the first time is counted by the time measuring unit after the recording sheet is fed from the sheet feeding unit and before the recording sheet is detected by the sheet sensor, the inside of the sheet feeding unit is removed. The recording sheet is detected by the sheet sensor before the first time is measured by the timing unit after the recording unit outputs the position and starts feeding the recording sheet from the sheet feeding unit. If the state where the recording sensor is detected by the sheet sensor continues even if the second time is measured by the timing unit after the recording sheet is detected by the sheet sensor, the recording is performed on the paper feeding unit. Jam removal position output means for outputting that the opening / closing member of the paper feed unit arranged at the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction is a jam removal position ,
An image forming apparatus comprising: The storage unit is detachable from the paper feed unit, and when removing a jam generated in the paper feed unit, the second transport path can be accessed by removing the storage unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: Furthermore, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a display unit for displaying the information output from the jam removal position output means.

Images