JP4784122B2 - Image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention includes an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording surface of a recording sheet based on input image information, and a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as stapling, punching, and offsetting on the recording sheet. It relates to a forming system.

  Conventionally, a post-processing device that performs post-processing such as stapling, punching, offset, and simple bookbinding on a recording sheet downstream of an image forming apparatus that forms an image on the recording surface of the recording sheet based on input image information By using these in combination, various forms of document creation can be provided.

  In this type of post-processing apparatus, if a roller for transporting the recording paper is worn or a jam occurs, the recording paper cannot be discharged satisfactorily.

  Conventionally, as proposed in Patent Document 1, a predetermined amount of state is detected and held, and when the state amount becomes an abnormal value or when an abnormality is detected, the state amount is stored in a nonvolatile memory. There is a method of analyzing the abnormality that has occurred based on the data.

In addition, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, as a method for expanding the information stored as in Patent Document 1, it is transmitted to the service center and collectively managed as proposed in Patent Document 2, and transmitted from the service center to the service person at the maintenance base. There is a way to do it.
JP 2001-096873 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-200909

  However, according to the techniques described in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, there is a problem that the occurrence of abnormality cannot be predicted.

  In addition, when the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is applied to a post-processing device, it is necessary to separately provide a non-volatile memory or the like for retaining data, which increases costs.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides an image forming system capable of predicting the occurrence of post-processing abnormality by monitoring the conveyance state of recording paper on which image formation has been completed. With the goal.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus executes image recording on the recording paper based on the image information, and the interval and the rotation speed are adjusted with respect to the recording paper on which the image is recorded. An image forming system for performing post-processing by a post-processing apparatus having a transport path in which a plurality of possible transport roller pairs are arranged, and detecting a passing time of the recording paper passing through the transport path in the post-processing apparatus Detecting means for detecting, an abnormality determining means for determining that an abnormality in post-processing has occurred when the passage time detected by the detecting means exceeds a predetermined allowable range, and the detection means detected by the detecting means A sign determining means for determining that a post-processing abnormality may occur when the passing time exceeds a predetermined ideal range and does not exceed the allowable range; and the abnormality determining means The passage time detected by the detection unit and the post-processing device classified into a case where it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, and a case where it is determined that there is a possibility of occurrence of abnormality by the sign determination unit Based on the holding means for holding the history of the control parameters for controlling the interval and the rotational speed of the internal conveying roller pair, and the history held in the holding means, there is a possibility that an abnormality or abnormality may occur. Analyzing the cause , if the post-processing time is long and there is no abnormality in the operating state of each part, it is determined that the conveyance roller pair may be worn, and the post-processing time If it is short, the analysis means for determining that a conveyance jam has occurred, and if it is determined that the conveyance roller pair may be worn according to the analysis result of the analysis means, the conveyance is performed. Low And the interval between pairs becomes narrower, the so when the paper jam is judged to have occurred adjusts the curl amount control of the recording paper, spacing of the conveying rollers based on the control parameters set And a setting means for setting the control parameter in the control unit for controlling the rotation speed.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the operation state of each part in the post-processing apparatus is detected by the detection means, and the presence or absence of abnormality in the post-processing is determined by the abnormality determination means based on the detected operation state.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the sign determination means determines whether or not there is a possibility of post-processing abnormality based on the operating state detected by the detection means, and the abnormality determination means The operation state detected by the detection means and the control parameters inside the post-processing device are classified into a case where it is determined that there is a possibility of occurrence of abnormality by the sign determination means Each of these histories is held in the holding means.

  In other words, in addition to whether or not an abnormality has occurred, it is also determined that there is a possibility that an abnormality will occur. In addition to the operating state and control parameters when an abnormality occurs, there is a possibility that an abnormality will occur. Since the history of the operation state and the control parameter in a certain case is held in the holding means, it is possible to predict the occurrence of post-processing abnormality based on this history data.

  Examples of the operation state include a conveyance time of recording paper, a driving time of various motors, and the like. In addition, by detecting these and comparing with a preset threshold value based on the control parameter, it is determined whether the operating state is abnormal and whether there is a possibility that the operating state may be abnormal. can do.

  In the present invention, the holding unit may be provided in the image forming apparatus. In this case, it is not necessary to separately provide a non-volatile memory or the like for holding data in the post-processing device, and thus the cost of the post-processing device can be prevented from increasing.

Further, according to the present invention, as described in claim 1 , based on the history held in the holding means, an analysis means for analyzing a cause of occurrence of abnormality or a possibility of occurrence of abnormality, and analysis of the analysis means According to the result, there may be further provided setting means for setting control parameters for controlling at least one part of the image forming apparatus and the post-processing apparatus.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of abnormality by adjusting the control parameter when it is determined that there is a possibility of occurrence of abnormality.

Further, according to the present invention, as described in claim 3 , a communication means for transmitting and receiving information by communication with an external device, and a history held in the holding means in response to an instruction from the external device Communication control means for transmitting to an external device.

  As a result, it is possible to smoothly identify the occurrence state of an abnormality during maintenance and a part that is considered to have an abnormality.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the communication unit and the communication control unit may be provided in the image forming apparatus. Thereby, the increase in the cost of a post-processing apparatus can be prevented.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is an excellent effect that the occurrence of post-processing abnormality can be predicted by monitoring the conveyance state of the recording paper on which image formation has been completed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows a configuration of an image forming system 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 10 includes an image forming apparatus 12 and a finisher 18, and the finisher 18 is connected to the image forming apparatus 12.

  The image forming apparatus 12 includes an image forming unit (hereinafter referred to as “IOT”) 14 that forms an image on the recording surface of the recording paper, a transport unit 16 that transports the recording paper on which the image is formed by the IOT 14, and the like. It is comprised including.

  Here, the IOT 14 includes a charger 3, a recording head 4, a developing device 5, a transfer roller 6, a cleaner 7, an erase lamp (not shown) and the like arranged in this order along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 2. . After the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is uniformly charged by the charger 3, a light beam is irradiated by the recording head 4 to form a latent image, and this latent image is developed with toner by the developing device 5 to be a toner image. It becomes. Further, the recording sheets stacked on the sheet feeding trays T1 and T2 are sucked and held on the conveyance belt 9 one by one and conveyed to the nip portion between the photosensitive drum 2 and the transfer roller 6, so that The toner image on the body drum 2 is transferred onto the recording paper by the transfer roller 6. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 2 after the transfer is removed by the cleaner 7, and the photosensitive drum 2 is discharged by an erase lamp (not shown) and then charged by the charger 3 again. repeat.

  On the other hand, the recording paper onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to a fixing device 8 comprising a pressure roller 8A and a heating roller 8B, and subjected to a fixing process. As a result, the toner image is fixed and a desired image is formed on the recording paper.

  The recording paper on which the image is formed by the IOT 14 in this manner is sent out of the apparatus along the recording paper transport path by the transport unit 16 provided with a plurality of transport rollers 22. The recording paper transport path by the transport roller 22 includes a paper detection sensor 24 provided on the upstream side of the recording paper transport path and a paper detection sensor 25 provided on the most downstream side of the recording paper transport path. I have. The paper detection sensors 24 and 25 detect the presence or absence of recording paper at each detection position and output a detection signal corresponding to the detection result.

  The finisher 18 is provided with a plurality of transport rollers 26 along the transport path of the recording paper in the apparatus. The start end of the transport path by the transport roller 26 is positioned near the end of the transport path by the transport unit 16, and transports the recording paper that has been transported through the transport unit 16.

  The conveyance path of the conveyance roller 26 is branched into three paths, and a top tray 30, a stacker tray 34, and a book tray 38 are provided at the ends of the three paths. The recording paper conveyed from the image forming apparatus 12 is discharged and stacked on the top tray 30 as it is.

  A punching / stapling mechanism 32 is provided on the transport path to the stacker tray 34, and a plurality of recording sheets are stacked to perform punching / stapling. Therefore, the recording paper subjected to the punching / stapling process is discharged to the stacker tray 34.

  A book tray mechanism 36 is provided on the conveyance path to the book tray 38, and a plurality of recording sheets are simply bound. Therefore, the recording paper is simply bound to the book tray 38 and discharged.

  By the way, in the present embodiment, information indicating the operation state of the finisher 18 is detected, and abnormality in post-processing and the possibility of occurrence of abnormality are detected based on the detected operation state.

  In the present embodiment, paper detection sensors 40, 42, 44, 46, and 48 are provided on the start side and the end side of the finisher 18 on each transport path, respectively, and it is necessary to pass through each transport path. Time (hereinafter referred to as “post-processing time”) can be detected as the operation state.

  In the example shown in the figure, a sheet detection sensor 40 is disposed upstream of the position where the conveyance path branches to the conveyance path to the top tray 30 and the conveyance path to the stacker tray 34, and the paper detection The sensor 40 also serves as a detection sensor on the start end side of each conveyance path.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram relating to the detection of an abnormality and a sign of occurrence of the abnormality according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the image forming apparatus 12 includes a main control unit 50 that controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 12 and the finisher 18, and controls a user interface (UI) (not shown). In addition, a UI unit 52 that acquires instruction information from the user is connected. Further, image information is input to the main control unit 50 from an external device (not shown), and each part is controlled so as to record the image information on a recording sheet in accordance with a user instruction input from the UI unit 52. .

  The image forming apparatus 12 includes an IOT control unit 54 that controls the operation of the IOT 14 and a conveyance control unit 56 that controls the operation of the conveyance unit 16, and is connected to the main control unit 50. In the IOT control unit 54, an instruction signal and an image signal are input from the main control unit 50, and each part is operated to perform image recording on a recording sheet.

  In the conveyance control unit 56, the conveyance roller 22 is driven in accordance with an instruction input from the main control unit 50 to convey the recording paper to the outside of the apparatus. Further, an abnormality detection unit 58 is connected to the conveyance control unit 56, and the conveyance time is measured based on the detection signal of each sheet detection sensor, and the measured time is compared with a preset time. Anomaly detection is performed. When an abnormality is detected, the conveyance time measured via the conveyance control unit 56 is input to the main control unit 50.

  Further, the main control unit 50 is connected with an abnormal data holding unit 60. The main control unit 50 analyzes the cause of the abnormality based on the input transport time and adjusts the control parameters and the like of each part. At the same time, the analysis result is held in the abnormal data holding unit 60 as abnormal data.

  As the control parameter, an arrangement interval, a rotation speed, or the like of the pair of transport rollers 22 that sandwich and transport the recording paper can be applied.

  On the other hand, the finisher 18 includes a post-processing control unit 70 and an abnormality detection unit 74. The post-processing control unit 70 is connected to the main control unit 50 and includes the abnormality detection unit 74. .

  The post-processing control unit 70 receives instruction information related to post-processing from the main control unit 50, controls each part in accordance with the instruction information, and performs processing corresponding to the instruction information on a recording sheet. And discharge to the tray according to the instruction information.

  In addition, the abnormality detection unit 74 is configured to receive the detection state of the recording paper in each of the paper detection sensors 40, 42, 44, 46, and 48, the operation state of each driving unit, and the like according to the instruction information. An abnormality detection process is performed in which a post-processing time is measured based on the detection state of the recording paper in the sensor provided in the conveyance path when the operation is performed, and an abnormality in the post-processing and a sign of occurrence of the abnormality are detected.

  Here, FIG. 3 shows an example of the abnormality detection data 76 stored in the abnormality detection unit 74. As shown in the figure, an ideal range of post-processing time and an allowable range in which post-processing is considered to have been performed normally are stored according to the instruction content and paper type indicated by the instruction information. ing. When the ideal time for post-processing is L, the ideal range is a period M to N including the ideal time L, and the allowable range is a period O to P including the ideal range (O <M <L <N <P ).

  The abnormality detection unit 74 compares the post-processing time measured based on the detection signals from the sensors with the ideal range and the allowable range stored as abnormality detection data, respectively, and whether or not there is a possibility of occurrence of abnormality and abnormality Judging.

  When the abnormality detection unit 74 determines that an abnormality or an abnormality is likely to occur, error information indicating the detected post-processing time, other control parameters, the operating state of each drive unit, and the like is output to the main control unit 50. The main control unit 50 analyzes the cause based on the input error information and adjusts various control parameters, and uses the analysis result as abnormal data or predictive data, and records the history as an abnormal data holding unit 60. Hold on.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of an abnormality detection process executed each time instruction information is input from the image forming apparatus 12. Hereinafter, the abnormality detection process according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. To do.

  First, in step 100, a transport path is specified according to the instruction content indicated by the input instruction information, and in the next step 102, the recording paper detection sensor provided on the start end side of the transport path waits for detection of the recording paper. Do.

  In the next step 104, the timing of the post-processing time is started, and then the process proceeds to step 106, where the next paper is detected by the paper detection sensor provided on the end side of the conveyance path, and the next The process proceeds to step 108, where the post-processing time is finished.

  Accordingly, a sheet detection sensor (for example, a sheet detection sensor 44) provided on the end side of the conveyance path from a timing when a recording sheet is detected by a sheet detection sensor (for example, the sheet detection sensor 40) provided on the start end side of the conveyance path. The period until the timing when the recording paper is detected becomes the post-processing time.

  In the next step 110, the abnormality detection data corresponding to the content of the instruction is compared with the measured post-processing time, and the process proceeds to the next step 112 to determine whether or not the post-processing time is within the ideal range. If the determination is affirmative, the post-processing is determined to have ended normally, and the abnormality detection process ends.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 112, the process proceeds to step 114 to determine whether or not the post-processing time is within an allowable range. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 116. , It is determined that there is a possibility that an abnormality will occur, and then the routine proceeds to step 120.

  If the determination in step 114 is negative, the process proceeds to step 118, and it is determined that some abnormality has occurred in post-processing, and the process proceeds to step 120.

  In step 120, the determination contents, the post-processing time counted, the control parameters of each part and the operation state thereof are output to the main control unit 50 of the image forming apparatus 12.

  On the other hand, the main control unit 50 holds the various types of input information as abnormal data or predictive data in the abnormal data holding unit 60, and analyzes the cause of the abnormality or predictor from the history of the stored abnormal data and predictive data. Then, control parameters for subsequent post-processing are adjusted.

  For example, if the post-processing time is long and there is no abnormality in the operation state of each part, it is determined that the transport roller 26 may be worn, and the control parameter of the transport roller 26 is adjusted. To do. For example, when the post-processing time is short, it is determined that a conveyance jam has occurred, and the control parameter is adjusted so as to adjust the curl amount control of the recording paper. The abnormal state can be recovered by adjusting the control parameters in this way.

  As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, the post-processing time is detected by the plurality of paper detection sensors provided in the finisher 18, and the presence / absence of abnormality in the post-processing is determined based on the post-processing time. In addition, it is determined whether there is a possibility of occurrence of an abnormality in post-processing, and the post-processing time is classified into a case where it is determined that there is an abnormality and a case where it is determined that there is a possibility that an abnormality will occur. Since the history of the control parameters of the finisher 18 is retained, the occurrence of post-processing abnormality can be predicted by monitoring the conveyance state of the recording paper on which image formation has been completed.

  In the present embodiment, since the abnormal data holding unit 60 is provided in the image forming apparatus 12, it is not necessary to separately provide a non-volatile memory for holding data in the finisher 18, and the cost of the finisher 18 is increased. Can be prevented.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, based on the history held in the abnormal data holding unit 60, the cause of the occurrence of the abnormality or the possibility of abnormality is analyzed, and the image forming apparatus 12 and the finisher are analyzed according to the analysis result. Since control parameters for controlling each of the 18 parts are set, the occurrence of an abnormality can be prevented by adjusting the control parameter when it is determined that the abnormality may occur. Can do.

  Further, in the present embodiment, information can be transmitted and received by communication with an external device, and the history held in the abnormal data holding unit 60 is transmitted to the external device in response to an instruction from the external device. As a result, it is possible to smoothly identify the occurrence state of an abnormality during maintenance and a part that is considered to have an abnormality.

  In the present embodiment, since the image forming apparatus 12 communicates with an external device, an increase in the cost of the finisher 18 can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, a description has been given of a mode in which sensors are provided on the start side and the end side. However, the conveyance path is divided into a plurality of sections, and sensors are provided at the start and end of each section. You may make it manage. In this case, the main control unit 50 determines whether the conveyance of the recording paper existing in the finisher 18 is immediately stopped, conveyed to a certain position, or discharged to the discharge tray when an abnormality or a possibility of occurrence of an abnormality occurs. Whether or not to make an error is determined according to the location and content of the abnormality, and each device of the image forming apparatus 12 is controlled, or control parameters for the finisher 18 are changed. For example, when a jam occurs frequently in the vicinity of the discharge tray, the abnormal state can be recovered by setting a control parameter for adjusting the curl amount control.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the description has been given of the form in which the post-processing time is applied as a determination material for abnormality and the possibility of occurrence of abnormality, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the determination material described above is used. The operation state such as the driving time and load (motor speed, etc.) of each part may be used, or a plurality of judgment materials may be used in combination.

  Further, by configuring the image forming apparatus 12 to be able to communicate with an external device, information held in the abnormal data holding unit 60 can be transmitted to an external information terminal or the like at an arbitrary timing. It is possible to analyze the abnormal data with the information terminal and display the analysis result as characters. Thereby, since the analysis result based on the history of abnormal data can be browsed at the time of maintenance etc., work efficiency improves.

1 schematically shows the configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment. The functional block diagram regarding the detection of the abnormality which concerns on embodiment, and the precursor which abnormalities generate | occur | produce is shown. An example of the abnormality detection data stored in the abnormality detection unit is shown. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of abnormality detection processing that is executed each time instruction information is input from the image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

2 Photosensitive drum 3 Charging device 4 Recording head 5 Developing device 6 Transfer roller 7 Cleaner 8 Fixing device 9 Conveying belt 10 Image forming system 12 Image forming device 16 Conveying unit 18 Finisher (post-processing device)
22 transport roller 24 paper detection sensor 25 paper detection sensor 26 transport roller 30 top tray 32 staple processing mechanism 34 stacker tray 36 book tray mechanism 38 book trays 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 paper detection sensor (detection means)
50 Main control unit (analysis means, setting means, communication means, communication control means)
52 UI part 54 IOT control part 56 Transport control part 58 Abnormality detection part 60 Abnormal data holding part (holding means)
70 Post-processing control unit 74 Abnormality detection unit (abnormality determination means, sign determination means)
76 Anomaly detection data

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus performs image recording on a recording sheet based on image information, and includes a conveying path in which a plurality of conveying roller pairs capable of adjusting the interval and the rotation speed are arranged on the recording sheet on which an image is recorded. An image forming system that performs post-processing by a post-processing device,
Detecting means for detecting a passing time of the recording paper passing through the transport path in the post-processing device;
An abnormality determining means for determining that a post-processing abnormality has occurred when the passage time detected by the detecting means exceeds a predetermined allowable range;
A sign determination unit that determines that a post-processing abnormality may occur when the passage time detected by the detection unit exceeds a predetermined ideal range and does not exceed an allowable range;
The passage time detected by the detection means classified into a case where the abnormality determination means determines that an abnormality has occurred and a case where the sign determination means determines that there is a possibility of an abnormality. And holding means for holding a history of control parameters for controlling the interval and rotation speed of the pair of conveying rollers inside the post-processing device, and
Based on the history held in the holding means, analyze the cause of the occurrence of abnormality or abnormality , if the post-processing time is long and there is no abnormality in the operation state of each part Determining that there is a possibility that the pair of transport rollers are worn, and analyzing means for determining that a transport jam has occurred when the post-processing time is short ;
According to the analysis result of the analysis means, when it is determined that there is a possibility that the transport roller pair is worn, the transport jam has occurred so that the interval between the transport roller pair is narrowed. Setting means for setting the control parameter in a control unit for controlling the interval and the rotation speed of the pair of conveying rollers based on the set control parameter so as to adjust the curl amount control of the recording paper when the determination is made. When,
An image forming system comprising:   The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit is provided in an image forming apparatus. A communication means for transmitting and receiving information by communication with an external device;
Communication control means for transmitting the history held in the holding means in response to an instruction from the external device to the external device;
The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising:   4. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit and the communication control unit are provided in the image forming apparatus. 5.

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