JP4867484B2 - Image forming apparatus and control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that reads an original and forms an image on a recording material.

When copying is performed in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, document setting and document removal are generally performed. However, in this case, there is a problem that the user forgets to remove the document. In particular, a copier installed in a convenience store or the like is used by an unspecified number of users, and there is a problem in that information on a manuscript leaks when a third party obtains a manuscript that has been forgotten.
In order to solve such a problem, there is known a device provided with an opening / closing unit for opening / closing a document cover and a buzzer for emitting an alarm sound when the document cover is not opened within a predetermined time after the copying is completed (for example, a patent) Reference 1). The opening / closing unit or the like makes the user forget to take out the document, thereby preventing the document from being forgotten.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-27493

By the way, when a warning sound is transmitted when the document cover is not opened within a predetermined time after the copying is completed, it is often difficult to set the predetermined time appropriately. If the predetermined time is too long, there is a possibility that the user has already moved away from the copier, and there is a case where transmission of a warning sound or the like does not make sense. On the other hand, if the predetermined time is short, a warning sound is frequently sounded, resulting in poor usability.
In order to solve these problems, a sensor for detecting whether or not there is a user is provided in front of the copying machine. This sensor detects the presence or absence of the user and detects that the user has left the front of the copying machine and at the same time generates a warning sound. It is also possible to perform operations such as emitting.
However, in this case, since it is necessary to add a special sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the user, there is a problem that the cost is increased.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus and a control method that can easily suppress forgetting to remove a document. is there.

  For this purpose, an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied is an image forming apparatus that reads an original and forms an image on a recording material. The image forming apparatus reads the original, and the original read by the reading means A recognizing unit that recognizes the state removed from the reading unit or a state that can be regarded as removed; and an output unit that outputs a recording material after image formation when the state is recognized by the recognizing unit.

  Here, when the state is recognized by the recognition unit, the output unit starts image formation on the recording material or starts discharging the recording material to the outside of the image forming apparatus after image formation. Can be a feature. In addition, the information processing apparatus may further include a notification unit that performs a predetermined notification about a document that has not been removed when the state is not recognized by the recognition unit. Further, the notifying unit performs a predetermined notification when a document different from the document is read by the reading unit before the recording material after image formation is output by the output unit and the state is not recognized by the recognition unit. Can be characterized.

  In addition, a drive source for driving a predetermined mechanism provided in the image forming apparatus is further provided, and when the state is not recognized by the recognition unit, the drive source is driven to promote removal of the unremoved document. Can be characterized. Further, a control unit for driving the drive source is further provided, and the control unit continues the drive source that has been driven based on the document read by the reading unit before the document that has not been removed from the reading unit. It can be characterized by being driven.

From another point of view, an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied is an image forming apparatus that reads an original and forms an image on a recording material. The image forming apparatus reads the original, and the original read by the reading means Output means for outputting the recording material image-formed from the outside to the image forming apparatus, a driving source for driving a predetermined mechanism provided in the image forming apparatus, and a reading means for reading the original read by the reading means The recognition means for recognizing the state removed from the recording medium or the state considered to have been removed, and when the state is not recognized by the recognition means after the recording material is output by the output means, Control means for driving.
Here, the predetermined condition of the control unit can be characterized in that the state is recognized until the state is recognized by the recognition unit or until a predetermined time elapses.

Further, when the present invention is regarded as a control method, it is a control method for forming an image on a recording material inside the apparatus based on reading of an original and discharging the recording material on which the image is formed outside the apparatus. Information relating to the removal of the original is detected, and when it is determined that the original has been removed from the detected information, the recording material on which an image based on the read data of the read original is formed is discharged to the outside of the apparatus.
Here, the apparatus includes a drive source for forming an image on the recording material, and notifies that the document has not been removed when it is determined that the document has not been removed from the detected information. And driving a drive source.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus and a control method that can easily suppress forgetting to remove a document.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically showing an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body 10 that forms an image on a sheet P as a recording material, a document feeding device 50 that sequentially conveys a document from a stacked document bundle, and a reading device 70 that reads an image by scanning. ing.

The apparatus main body 10 includes a photosensitive drum 11 that is rotatably arranged in the arrow direction. Further, the apparatus main body 10 includes an intermediate transfer belt unit as an example of a mechanism unit. This intermediate transfer belt unit is roughly composed of an intermediate transfer belt 17 and a plurality of roll-shaped members.
The intermediate transfer belt 17 is disposed so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and has a function as a transfer material for sequentially transferring (primary transfer) and holding each color component toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11. The plurality of roll-shaped members are arranged on the inner side of the intermediate transfer belt 17 and include a tension roll that stretches the intermediate transfer belt 17 and a drive roll that drives the intermediate transfer belt 17.

The apparatus body 10 includes a motor (not shown) as an example of a drive source that rotates the drive roll that drives the intermediate transfer belt 17. In addition, the apparatus main body 10 generates a warning sound when a document remains in the document feeder 50 or the reading device 70 and notifies the user of a predetermined notification about the document remaining (not removed). A buzzer 21 as an example of the unit is provided.
Further, a secondary transfer portion 19 is formed in the apparatus main body 10. In the secondary transfer unit 19, the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is collectively transferred (secondary transfer) onto a sheet as a recording material.
Further, the apparatus main body 10 includes a fixing unit 20 as an example of a mechanism unit that fixes the second-transferred image on the paper P. The fixing unit 20 includes a fixing roll 20a that is rotationally driven, and a pressure roll 20b that is disposed at a position facing the fixing roll 20a. The apparatus main body 10 includes a motor (not shown) as an example of a drive source that rotationally drives the fixing roll 20a.

  Around the photosensitive drum 11, there are a charger 12 for charging the photosensitive drum 11, an exposure device 13 such as a laser scanning device for writing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 11, and a photosensitive drum 11. There are sequentially provided a rotary developing device 14 rotatably mounted with four developing devices for visualizing the electrostatic latent image with toner. Further, around the photosensitive drum 11, a primary transfer roll 18 that forms a primary transfer portion for transferring each color component toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 to the intermediate transfer belt 17, and the photosensitive drum after transfer. An electrophotographic device such as a drum cleaner 16 that removes residual toner is sequentially disposed on 11. The exposure device 13 writes an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 11 based on the digital image signal input from the image processing unit 15.

  Next, the paper transport system will be described. The paper transport system has a plurality of paper feed units 31 to 32 on which the paper P is stacked. Further, at the upper part of each of the paper feeding units 31 to 32, there is a drawing roll 36 that comes in contact with the stacked paper P and picks up from the upper surface. It has a paper-sheet-spreading portion 37 composed of a paper-rolling roll. A take-away roll 38 is provided on the downstream side of the paper P. The take-away roll 38 resends the paper P at a predetermined timing after it is temporarily stopped.

  In the paper path 41 corresponding to the downstream side of the takeaway roll 38, a pre-registration roll 39 for conveying a document to a further downstream roll and forming a loop, and once stopping and restarting rotation at the same timing, A registration roll (registration roll) 40 for supplying the paper P while performing registration adjustment on the next transfer unit 19 is provided. Further, a transport belt 42 is provided on the downstream side, and the paper P on which the unfixed image is transferred is transported to the fixing unit 20 by the transport belt 42. A paper discharge path 43 is provided on the downstream side of the fixing unit 20. Further, a motor (not shown) as an example of a drive source for driving the various rolls is provided in the apparatus main body 10.

Further, in the apparatus main body 10, in addition to various controls at the time of image formation, a control unit 49 that controls the supply and conveyance of paper P, the supply and conveyance of documents in the document feeder 50, the scanning operation in the reading device 70, and the like. Is provided.
The reading device 70 is provided with a control panel 75 that functions as a user interface for inputting various information and various settings by the user and presenting predetermined information to the user. The control panel 75 also functions as a notification unit that performs a predetermined notification about the remaining document when the document remains in the document feeding device 50 or the reading device 70. Further, the reading device 70 is provided with a start button 72 that starts copying when pressed by the user.

Next, the document feeder 50 and the reading device 70 will be described in detail.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the document feeding device 50 and the reading device 70.
The document feeder 50 includes a document stacking unit 51 that stacks a bundle of documents composed of a plurality of documents, and a paper discharge unit 52 that is provided below the document stacking unit 51 and loads a document that has been read. Further, the document feeder 50 includes a transport roll 53 that takes out and transports the document on the document stacking unit 51. Further, on the downstream side of the conveyance roll 53 in the document conveyance direction, a mechanism 54 for separating sheets one by one by a feed roll and a retard roll is provided. The document feeder 50 also includes a first sensor 81 as a first detection unit that detects the presence or absence of a document in the paper discharge unit 52.

A pre-registration roll 55, a registration roll 56, a platen roll 57, and an out-roll 58 are provided in the conveyance path 61 through which the original is conveyed in order from the upstream side in the original conveyance direction.
The pre-registration roll 55 conveys the originals that are rolled up one by one toward the downstream roll and forms a loop of the originals. The registration roll 56 rotates and temporarily stops, then restarts at the same timing, and supplies the original while performing registration adjustment on the downstream side. The platen roll 57 assists document conveyance during reading by the reading device 70. The out-roll 58 conveys the document read by the reading device 70 further downstream. Further, a discharge roll 59 for guiding the document to the paper discharge unit 52 is disposed downstream of the out roll 58 in the document transport direction.

On the other hand, the reading device 70 includes a device frame 71 that forms a casing, and the device frame 71 supports the document feeding device 50 so as to be openable and closable. The reading device 70 reads an image of a document conveyed by the document feeding device 50.
The reading device 70 includes a first platen glass 72A on which a document is set in a stationary state, and a second platen glass 72B having a light opening for reading the document conveyed by the document feeding device 50. . Further, the reading device 70 includes a second sensor 82 as a second detection unit that detects the presence or absence of a document on the first platen glass 72A.
In addition, what was used conventionally can be used suitably for this 2nd sensor 82 and the 1st sensor 81 mentioned above. As an example of such a sensor, for example, a sensor composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element can be cited. The presence or absence of the document is detected by irradiating light from the issuing element and receiving the reflected light from the irradiated portion by the light receiving element.

Other sensors include, for example, a sensor that mechanically detects the presence or absence of paper and a sensor that detects the presence or absence of a document by scanning using a full-rate carriage 73 described later. It is also possible to detect the presence or absence of a document by providing a detection unit for detecting whether or not the document feeding device 50 is opened and closed, and removing the document when the document feeding device 50 is opened.
Further, the reading device 70 is stationary under the second platen glass 72B or scans the entire first platen glass 72A to read an image, and the light obtained from the full rate carriage 73 is an imaging unit. And a half-rate carriage 74 to be supplied.

Furthermore, the reading device 70 includes an imaging lens 78 and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor 79. The imaging lens 78 optically reduces the obtained optical image. The CCD image sensor 79 photoelectrically converts the optical image formed by the imaging lens 78.
The reading device 70 further includes a control / image processing unit 80. The control / image processing unit 80 performs predetermined processing on the image data of the document input from the CCD image sensor 79.
By the way, there is a possibility that the document may be forgotten after copying by the image forming apparatus. For this reason, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment performs a process that can suppress the forgetting to remove the document. Next, this process will be specifically described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing executed in the control unit 49. This flowchart will be described with reference to FIGS. This flowchart shows a case where a document is set on the first platen glass 72A.
First, when the user places a document on the first platen glass 72A and presses the start button 72, the control unit 49 receives a signal from the start button 72 (step 101). Thereafter, the control unit 49 operates the full rate carriage 73 and the half rate carriage 74 to read the original on the first platen glass 72A (step 102).

  After the document is read, the control unit 49 determines whether or not the document has been removed based on the output signal (information) from the second sensor 82 (step 103). If it is determined that the document has not been removed, it is determined again whether the document has been removed based on the output signal from the second sensor 82 (step 103). When the control unit 49 determines that the document has been removed (when it is recognized that the document has been removed), the control unit 49 executes an output process for discharging the recording material after image formation to the outside of the apparatus main body 10 (step 104). ). Specifically, the control unit 49 starts an image forming process and a discharging process of a recording material (hereinafter referred to as “copy”) on which an image is formed outside the apparatus main body 10. In the present embodiment, the presence / absence of document removal is directly determined based on the output signal from the second sensor 82 as described above, but the presence / absence of document removal may be indirectly determined. it can. That is, the processing in step 104 can also be performed when a state in which it can be considered that the document has been removed is recognized. Examples of the state in which it can be considered that the document has been removed include a state in which the document feeding device 50 is open with respect to the reading device 70.

The operation performed in step 104 can be changed as appropriate.
For example, a copy that has been fixed by the fixing unit 20 is held inside the apparatus main body 10, and when it is determined that the document has been removed, discharge of the copy is started outside the apparatus main body 10. be able to.
Further, for example, read data read by the reading device 70 is stored in a storage unit (not shown), and when it is determined that the document has been removed, the read data is output from the storage unit and the recording material is output. Image formation can be started.
That is, in this step 104, a process for discharging a copy to the outside of the apparatus main body 10 is started from a state in which the copy is not discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body 10.

In the present embodiment, the copy is discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body 10 on the condition that the original is removed from the first platen glass 72A. For this reason, it is possible to effectively suppress forgetting to remove the document.
If the original is not removed even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the reading of the original shown in step 102, the buzzer 21 emits a warning sound or displays that the original remains on the control panel 75. You can also. By the way, even if a warning sound or the like is emitted, if the user is away from the image forming apparatus, it is difficult to effectively recognize the warning sound or the like, and it is not possible to prompt the removal of the document. However, in the present embodiment, as described above, since the copy is not discharged unless the original is removed, it is highly likely that the user stays near the image forming apparatus, and a warning sound or the like is generated. It becomes possible to make a user recognize effectively.

Next, a case where a plurality of documents are read will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed in the control unit 49 when a plurality of (N) documents are read. Note that this flowchart shows the processing when a document is set on the first platen glass 72A, similarly to the flowchart shown in FIG. This flowchart will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, when the user presses the start button 72 after the first document is placed on the first platen glass 72A, the control unit 49 receives a signal from the start button 72 (step 201). Thereafter, the control unit 49 operates the full rate carriage 73 and the half rate carriage 74 to read the original on the first platen glass 72A (step 202).
After the first original is read, the controller 49 determines whether the original has been removed based on the output signal (information) from the second sensor 82 (step 203). If it is determined that the document has not been removed, it is determined again based on the output signal from the second sensor 82 whether the document has been removed (step 203). When the control unit 49 determines that the document has been removed (when it is recognized that the document is in a removed state), the control unit 49 drives the motors of the respective units provided in the apparatus main body 10 to perform image forming processing and the outside of the apparatus main body 10. The process of discharging the copied material is executed (step 204).

The operations from step 201 to step 204 are repeated each time a new document is set. When the Nth original, which is the last original, is set, the following processing is performed.
First, when the Nth original document, which is the last original, is set and a signal from the start button 72 is received (step 205), the control unit 49 reads the Nth original (step 206). Thereafter, the control unit 49 determines whether or not the document has been removed based on the output signal from the second sensor 82 (step 207). If it is determined that the document has been removed, the image forming process and the copy discharge process are executed for the Nth document (step 209), and the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 207 that the document has not been removed, the control unit 49
A predetermined portion (predetermined mechanism unit) of the apparatus main body 10 is maintained in an operating state (step 208). Specifically, even if the operation at a predetermined position where the operation has been performed by the (N−1) th document that was read before the Nth document ends, the control unit 49 continuously operates the predetermined portion. For example, the control unit 49 may be a motor (not shown) that rotates a driving roll for driving the intermediate transfer belt 17, a motor (not shown) for rotating the fixing roll 20 a, and a pull-in roll 36. A motor (not shown) for driving the roll-shaped member is continuously driven.

After the motor is driven, the control unit 49 again determines whether or not the document has been removed based on the output signal from the second sensor 82 (step 207). If it is determined in step 207 that the document has been removed, the image forming process and the discharge process for the Nth sheet are executed (step 209), and the process ends. If it is determined in step 207 that the document has not been removed, the motor is further continuously driven (step 208).
When a plurality of documents are sequentially set on the first platen glass 72A and read, the document set before the document must be removed when the document is set. Never forget to take a manuscript before the manuscript. However, in the case of the last document, since there is no document to be read next, there is a possibility that the document is forgotten.

Further, in this embodiment, the image formation or the like is started by removing the document, and forgetting to remove the document is suppressed. However, even if this configuration is used, the last is caused by the user's misconception. There is a risk that the original N will be forgotten.
For example, when the document reading speed is faster than the copy discharge speed and a plurality of documents are read sequentially, the copy corresponding to the document is immediately discharged when the document is read. It does n’t come. In this case, a copy corresponding to the document that has been read before is discharged.
In such a case, a copy of the original read before the Nth original is discharged without removing the Nth original. More specifically, a copy corresponding to the (N-1) th or earlier document is discharged.
For this reason, even if the copy corresponding to the Nth sheet is not actually discharged, the user looks at the copy corresponding to the (N-1) th document and has already read the Nth document. There is a risk of misrecognizing that all copies have been completed. As a result, even if copying is started on condition that the original is removed, the Nth original may be forgotten.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in step 208 described above, when the control unit 49 determines that the document has not been removed, the predetermined portion such as a motor provided in the apparatus main body 10 remains operating. It is set as the structure maintained at this state. Thus, when a predetermined location is operated, an operation sound (operation sound) is generated. As a result, it is possible to give the user an impression that the image forming operation is still being performed. For this reason, it is possible to keep the user near the image forming apparatus, and it is possible to increase the possibility of the user removing the document. The motors that continue the operation need not be all the motors provided in the apparatus main body 10, and may be the minimum motors that allow the user to recognize that image formation has not been completed. .

Also, if the original is not removed even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the reading of the original shown in step 206, the alarm is generated by the buzzer 21 instead of a continuous operation at a predetermined location of the image forming apparatus, or the control panel It is also possible to display that a document remains on 75. With such a configuration, it is possible to further prompt the user to remove the document.
It is desirable that the warning sound and the display on the control panel 75 be performed in a state where the copy corresponding to the (N-1) th original has not yet been discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body 10. Further, it is desirable that the motors of the respective units are driven in order to form an image corresponding to the (N-1) th original. In these states, it is highly likely that the user is waiting for the document to be ejected by the apparatus, and it is possible to effectively notify the user of the occurrence of a warning sound or a message indicating that the document remains. Because it becomes.

Next, another embodiment will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing executed in the control unit 49. This flowchart will be described with reference to FIGS. This flowchart shows a case where a document is set on the first platen glass 72A.
First, similarly to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 49 receives a signal from the start button 72 (step 301), and reads a document on the first platen glass 72A (step 302).

Thereafter, the control unit 49 drives the motors of the respective units provided in the apparatus main body 10 to start execution of image forming processing and discharge processing of a copy (recording material) to the outside of the apparatus main body 10. A copy is output outside (step 303). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the image forming process and the discharge process are performed on the condition that the document is removed. However, in the present embodiment, these processes are performed even if the document is not removed.
Next, the control unit 49 outputs an output signal (information) from the second sensor 82 after, for example, a copy is output to the outside of the apparatus main body 10 or after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of copying in step 301. Whether or not the original has been removed is determined (step 304). When the control unit 49 determines that the document has been removed (when it is recognized that the document is in a removed state), the control unit 49 ends the process. On the other hand, if the control unit 49 determines that the document has not been removed, the control unit 49 continuously drives the motor that was started in step 303 (step 305). The continuous driving in step 305 can be performed until the original is removed, or can be performed until a predetermined time elapses. Then, after this continuous driving is started, it is determined again whether or not the original has been removed (step 304).

In the present embodiment, when the document is not removed, an operation sound (operating sound) is generated from a predetermined location such as a motor provided in the apparatus main body 10. As a result, it is possible to give the user an impression that the image forming operation is still being performed. For this reason, the user can be kept near the image forming apparatus, and the possibility of the user removing the original can be increased.
When sequentially reading a plurality (N) of documents, the last document may be forgotten as described above. Even when the last document is forgotten to be removed, the processing of steps 301 to 305 is performed, so that removal of the last document can be prompted.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where a document is set on the first platen glass 72A has been described. However, the basic configuration of the present embodiment is, for example, the use of the first sensor 81 in the paper discharge unit 52. This can also be applied to forgetting to take a manuscript. In the above embodiment, when the original is set on the first platen glass 72A, the original is pressed by the original feeding device 50. However, the original has no original feeding function. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the document is pressed by the portion.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically illustrating an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a document feeder and a reading device. It is the flowchart which showed the process performed in a control part. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed in a control unit when a plurality of (N) documents are read. It is the flowchart which showed the process performed in a control part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Buzzer, 49 ... Control part, 50 ... Document feeder, 70 ... Reading apparatus, 75 ... Control panel, 81 ... 1st sensor, 82 ... 2nd sensor

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus that reads an original and forms an image on a recording material,
Reading means for reading an original;
Recognizing means for recognizing a state where the original read by the reading means is removed from the reading means, or a state that can be regarded as removed;
An image forming unit that drives the drive source to form an image based on the read data acquired by the reading unit on the recording material, and stops the drive source after the image is formed;
A discharge unit that discharges the recording material on which an image is formed by the image forming unit to the outside of the image forming apparatus when the recognition unit recognizes the removed state or the state considered to be removed ; ,
The new document read by the reading unit after the read document read by the reading unit is removed from the reading unit is in a state of being removed or regarded as being removed by the recognition unit. Drive means for continuously driving the drive source so as not to stop the drive source that is driven when image formation is performed based on the read data of the read document when it is not recognized;
An image forming apparatus including: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit continuously drives some of the plurality of driving sources. Further comprising notification means for notifying the user to remove the document from the reading means;
The notification means performs notification for prompting removal of the new document before the recording material on which an image based on the read data of the read document is formed is discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. The image forming means is based on read data of the original after the recognition means recognizes that the original read by the reading means has been removed from the reading means or is considered to have been removed. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein image formation is started. An image forming apparatus control method for forming an image based on read data acquired by a reading unit for reading a document on a recording material by driving a drive source and stopping the drive source after the image is formed. ,
Detecting information relating to the removal of a new document read by the reading unit from the reading unit after the read document read by the reading unit is removed from the reading unit;
When it is determined that the new document has not been removed from the detected information, the drive source that is driven when the image is formed based on the read data of the read document is prevented from being stopped. A control method for continuously driving the drive source.

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