JP5117149B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that executes only necessary jam detection.

  In recent image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers, for example, when a sheet is poorly conveyed on the conveyance path, that is, when a jam occurs, the main power supply of the image forming apparatus is turned off due to an abnormal situation such as a power failure or a user error. When the main power is turned on again after being turned off, the jam detection of all the jam detection sensors provided on the conveyance path is executed to notify the user of the occurrence of the jam.

  For example, if the image forming apparatus does not detect the occurrence of a jam, the image forming apparatus quickly transitions to the standby state, and the user can immediately perform work for image forming processing (for example, work for inputting output conditions). . In the standby state, a predetermined heat is applied to the fixing device of the image forming apparatus, a predetermined voltage is applied to the transfer device, an operation such as density correction is performed, and printing on a recording medium can be performed at any time. Say.

  On the other hand, when the image forming apparatus detects at least one of the plurality of jam detection sensors, an error message indicating the occurrence of a jam is displayed on the touch panel attached to the image forming apparatus without transitioning to the standby state. Become. When the next user notices the display of the error and removes the sheet that causes the jam, the image forming apparatus transits to the standby state for the first time.

  In this way, even if the main switch of the image forming apparatus is turned off while a jam has occurred, the image forming apparatus prompts the next user to clear the jam.

Further, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-66352 (Patent Document 1), when a copying machine is turned on, a jam determination unit for determining whether or not a transfer member is in a jam state by checking a detection state of a transfer member by a detection unit. And an electrophotographic copying machine comprising a control means for executing a jam warning operation when a jam is judged by the jam judging means. With the above configuration, if there is a transfer member in the transport path when the power is turned on, a jam warning is issued, so that the next sheet transport is prevented and normal transport can be performed without jamming. In addition, the stagnant paper at the fixing unit eliminates the risk of smoke or fire.
Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 4-66352

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, if there is a jam that has not been resolved in the past when the power is turned on, only an error display relating to the jam is performed, and the transition to the standby state is always prevented, and the user can smoothly In addition, there is a problem that work for image forming processing cannot be started. Especially for users who use only functions that the recording medium does not need to convey (scanner function, facsimile transmission function, e-mail transmission function, PC transmission function, etc.), the above jam is irrelevant to its own work. There is a problem that the jam clearing operation is troublesome.

  In addition, the transition to the standby state is made only after the jam is resolved, but a slight waiting time is required until the transition to the standby state, and there is a problem that the user's work is delayed due to the waiting time. is there.

  Furthermore, jam detection at power-on is performed for all the jam detection sensors that are installed regardless of the transport path that the user uses next, so that jam detection is performed unnecessarily. There is a problem that. In particular, if a jam is detected on a conveyance path that is not used by the user, the transition to the standby state is hindered and extra work is added to the user, which is very severe for the user.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and provides an image forming apparatus that performs only necessary jam detection.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of jam detection sensors provided on each of the conveyance paths and having a plurality of conveyance paths. Receiving means for receiving input of information related to the transport path transported by the recording medium, storage means for storing information related to the transport path and information for identifying the jam detection sensor in association as a jam detection execution determination table; and information related to the conveyance path which is the input, on the basis of the above jam detection execution determination table, determining means and jam which is the determined upon depression of the start key to determine the jam detection sensors associated with the conveying path Jam detection control means for performing jam detection only by the detection sensor is provided.

  Further, among the jam detection sensors, the jam detection sensor provided in the image printing unit is removed, and the jam detection control unit executes jam detection only by the jam detection sensor provided in the image printing unit when the power is turned on. It is characterized by doing.

  The information related to the transport path includes at least one of a paper source, a discharge destination, presence / absence of double-sided printing, and presence / absence of reversal of the recording medium.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the user presses the start key, the jam detection is performed only by the jam detection sensor provided in the input conveyance path.

  As a result, jam detection is not performed when the power is turned on, and the image forming apparatus can be used promptly without jamming unrelated to the user currently using the power when the power is turned on without preventing the transition to the standby state. It becomes possible, and the user can immediately start work for image forming processing. In particular, since the scanner function and the like can be used without any problem, work related to the function is quickly processed.

  In addition, when the user presses the start key, the minimum necessary jam detection is performed based on the information related to the conveyance path input by the user, so that the user can use it without performing unnecessary jam detection. The image forming process does not stagnate due to a jam that occurs in the conveying path without any paper. Of course, there is no extra jam clearing operation due to the jam.

  Therefore, the user can smoothly proceed from the power-on to the press of the start key.

  Further, the jam detection control means is configured to execute jam detection only by the jam detection sensor provided in the image printing unit when the power is turned on.

  Thereby, since the minimum necessary jam detection for safely transitioning to the standby state is executed, for example, in a state where the sheet is stagnant in the heating roll or transfer device of the fixing device which is the image printing unit, No heat or voltage is applied. Therefore, it is possible to transition to the standby state safely and reliably without generating smoke or heat from the sheet that has been removed before use.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention. In addition, the following embodiment is an example which actualized this invention, Comprising: The thing of the character which limits the technical scope of this invention is not. In addition, the alphabet “S” added in front of the numbers in the flowcharts means steps.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the overall configuration of the inside of the image forming apparatus. Specifically, the image forming apparatus corresponds to a digital copying machine, a printer, a multifunction machine, or the like.

  As an example, the operation of the image forming apparatus when copying a document (image forming process) using a multifunction machine will be briefly described.

  First, when a user performs a copy using the image forming apparatus 100, the document P is placed on the document table 101 provided on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus 100, and the copy function setting is input from the operation unit 102. To do. Further, the user presses a start key provided on the operation unit 102 to cause the image forming apparatus 100 to start a printing process.

  When the printing process is started, the light emitted from the light source 104 is reflected on the document P placed on the document table 101 in the image reading unit 103. The reflected light is guided to the image sensor 108 by the mirrors 105, 106, and 107. The guided light is photoelectrically converted by the image sensor 108, and the image of the original P is read as image data.

  The read image data is sent to the image forming unit 109 and transferred as a toner image. The image forming unit 109 is provided with a photoconductive drum 110, and the photoconductive drum 110 rotates in a predetermined direction at a constant speed. 111, an exposure unit 112, a developing unit 113, a transfer unit 114, a cleaning unit 115, and the like are stacked.

  The charger 111 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 110. The exposure unit 112 irradiates the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 110 with a laser based on the image data to form an electrostatic latent image. The developer 113 forms a toner image by attaching toner to the conveyed electrostatic latent image. The formed toner image is transferred to a recording medium (for example, a sheet) by the transfer device 114. The cleaning unit 115 removes excess toner left on the surface of the photosensitive drum 110. A series of these processes is executed by rotating the photosensitive drum 110.

  The sheets are fed from a plurality of paper feed cassettes provided in the image forming apparatus 100, for example, the upper cassette 116, the lower left cassette 117, and the lower right cassette 118, and each of the plurality of paper feed cassettes has a different paper type. Seats are housed. When the sheet is conveyed, the sheet is pulled out from any one of the sheet feeding cassettes 116, 117, and 118 to the conveyance path A by the pickup roller 119. The paper feed cassettes 116, 117, and 118 from which the sheets are pulled out are determined based on settings input by the user to the operation unit 102.

  The sheet pulled out to the conveyance path A is fed between the photosensitive drum 110 of the image forming unit 103 and the transfer device 114 by the conveyance roller 119 and the registration roller 120. When the sheet is fed, the toner image is transferred to the sheet by the transfer unit 114 and conveyed to the fixing device 124.

  When the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred passes between the heating roller 122 and the pressure roller 123 provided in the fixing device 121, heat and pressure are applied to the toner image, and the visible image is fixed to the sheet. The The heat amount of the heating roller 122 is optimally set according to the paper type, and the fixing is performed appropriately. A driving unit related to the time from the transfer of the toner image to the fixing on the sheet is referred to as an image printing unit.

  The sheet on which the visible image is fixed further moves on the conveyance path B from the fixing device 121 to the in-body tray 124 (inner tray), and is stacked and stored on the in-body tray 124. Further, a side tray 125 is provided on the side surface of the image forming apparatus separately from the in-body tray 124. When the user inputs discharge of the side tray 125 as a sheet output condition, the printed sheet is The paper is discharged via a conveyance path C that continues to the side tray 125.

  When the user inputs double-sided printing or sheet reversal as an output condition, the sheet is conveyed to another conveyance path D for performing processing input from the normal conveyance paths B and C, and duplex printing is performed. Or reverse processing. Here, the reversal of the sheet means that the sheet is turned upside down when the sheet is discharged. Of course, when the processing is completed, the sheet is guided to the transport path B (C) that continues to the in-body tray 124 (side tray 125) and discharged.

  The basic image forming process in the image forming apparatus 100 has been described above. Note that a unit that executes the image forming process is referred to as an image forming unit (described later).

  As shown in FIG. 1, a sheet conveyance path is determined based on an output condition input by a user, and the sheet conveyance path is configured by combining a plurality of conveyance paths A, B, C, and D. Therefore, a predetermined number of jam detection sensors (reflective photosensors) 10a to 10n that detect sheet conveyance failures on the conveyance path are provided at predetermined positions with respect to the plurality of conveyance paths A, B, C, and D. It has been. The predetermined portion is a portion where a sheet conveyance failure occurs with high probability due to a drive member provided in the vicinity of the portion or a spatial restriction.

  Next, the configuration of the control system hardware of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of control system hardware in the image forming apparatus. However, details of each part not directly related to the present invention are omitted.

  The control circuit 201 of the image forming apparatus 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 202, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 203, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 204, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 205, and a driver 206 corresponding to each driving unit. The jam detection sensors 10a to 10n are connected by an internal bus 207. The CPU 202 uses, for example, the RAM 204 as a work area, executes a program stored in the ROM 203, the HDD 205, etc., and exchanges data and instructions with the driver 206 based on the execution result. The operation of each driving unit shown in FIG. Further, each means (shown in FIG. 3) other than the above-described drive unit is realized by the CPU 202 executing a program and exchanging signals from the jam detection sensors 10a to 10n. The ROM 203 and the HDD 205 store programs and data for realizing each means described below.

  Next, a procedure for executing jam detection in the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the touch panel of the operation unit. FIG. 5 shows a jam detection execution determination table stored in the storage means. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for showing the execution procedure of jam detection.

  First, when the user turns on the power of the image forming apparatus, the jam detection control unit 301 includes a plurality of jam detection sensors 10a to 10n (jam detection unit 302) provided at predetermined locations in order to shift to a standby state. Among them, jam detection is performed only on the two jam detection sensors 10f (near the image forming unit 103) and the jam detection sensor 10g (near the fixing device 120) provided in the image printing unit (FIG. 6: S101). At this time, the jam detection sensors 10a to 10e, 10h to 10n other than the jam detection sensors 10f and 10g do not perform jam detection.

  Therefore, the image forming apparatus transitions to the standby state while the sheet is stagnant in the image printing unit, and heat and voltage are applied to the sheet, and the transition to the standby state is performed safely and reliably without causing smoke or heat generation. It will be. In addition, since jam detection other than jam detection related to the image printing unit is not executed, the image forming apparatus can prevent the transition to the standby state from being disturbed by a jam unrelated to the currently used user. The user can immediately use it, and the user can immediately start work for image forming processing.

  Normally, when the image forming apparatus transitions to the standby state, the accepting unit 303 displays an input screen on the touch panel of the operation unit 102 (FIG. 4A, FIG. 6: S102 → S103). Therefore, while viewing the above input screen, the user inputs the output conditions of the sheet he / she desires (for example, the lower right cassette for the paper feed source, the in-cylinder tray for the paper discharge destination, the single side of the print surface, and whether there is no inversion). When the start key is pressed, the determination unit 304 immediately receives the input information on the output condition, and refers to the jam detection execution determination table 500 recorded in the recording unit 305 in advance.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the jam detection execution determination table 500 stores information (output conditions) 501 related to a sheet conveyance path and information 502 for specifying a jam detection sensor in association with each other. In the output condition, information for specifying only the jam detection sensor provided in the conveyance path determined by the output condition is stored. As a result, the determination unit 304 can uniquely determine the minimum required jam detection sensor to detect a jam on the conveyance path determined from the input output condition.

  For example, when the output condition (lower right cassette, in-body tray, single side, no inversion) 503 is input, the information “10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10m, 10n” by which the determination unit 304 identifies the jam detection sensor. The jam detection sensors 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10m, and 10n to be detected are determined (FIG. 6: S104). The jam detection sensors 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10m, and 10n are jam detection sensors installed on a conveyance path for conveying a sheet from the lower right cassette 117 to the in-body tray 124 without being reversed by single-sided printing. It is.

  The information “10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10m, 10n” for specifying the jam detection sensor is transmitted to the jam detection control unit 301, and the jam detection sensors 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10m, 10n (jam detection unit) are transmitted. 302) only jam detection is executed (FIG. 6: S105).

  As a result of the jam detection, if no jam is detected in any of the jam detection sensors 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10m, 10n (jam detection means 302) listed above, jam detection is performed. The control unit 301 transmits a signal to start the image forming process to the image forming unit 306, and the image forming process is started (FIG. 6: S106 YES → S107).

  On the other hand, for example, a sheet that has been removed in the past still remains at a position where the jam detection sensor 10i is attached (a predetermined position on the conveyance path where the sheet is reversed). When a new output condition (lower right cassette, in-body tray, single-sided, with reversal) 504 is input, jam detection sensors that perform jam detection are jam detection sensors 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10h. 10i, 10m, and 10n, and the jam detection sensor 10i detects a sheet conveyance failure.

  Then, the jam detection control unit 301 transmits information “10i” for specifying the jam detection sensor 10i to the display unit 307, and an error screen based on the information “10i” is displayed on the touch panel (FIG. 4B). FIG. 6: S106 NO → S108). This error screen is a screen on which a sheet location 401 in which a conveyance failure is detected and a processing procedure 402 for removing the sheet are displayed. The user who confirms the error screen removes the sheet causing the conveyance failure according to the error screen, and presses the start key again to execute the image forming process.

  As described above, when the user presses the start key, control is performed so that jam detection is performed only by the jam detection sensor related to the input conveyance path.

  As a result, when the power is turned on, the image forming apparatus quickly transitions to the standby state without executing jam detection. When the user presses the start key, the minimum necessary amount is determined based on the output condition input by the user. Since only jam detection is performed, image formation processing does not stagnate due to a jam that occurs in a transport path that is not used by the user without performing unnecessary jam detection. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus, it is possible to smoothly proceed from the power-on to the pressing of the start key.

  Although the reflection type photosensor is used as the jam detection sensor, any sensor that can detect a conveyance failure of the recording medium on the conveyance path may be used. For example, a nail type contact sensor may be employed.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is useful for a copying machine, a multifunction machine, and the like, and is effective as an image forming apparatus that executes only necessary jam detection.

1 is a conceptual diagram in a front view showing an overall configuration inside an image forming apparatus of an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of control system hardware of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen displayed on the touch panel of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the jam detection execution determination table of this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

100 Image forming apparatus 116 Upper cassette 117 Lower left cassette 118 Lower right cassette 124 In-body tray 125 Side trays 10a to 10n Jam detection sensor 301 Jam detection control means 302 Jam detection means 303 Acceptance means 304 Determination means 305 Storage means 306 Image formation means 307 Display means A, B, C, D

Claims (3)

In an image forming apparatus comprising a plurality of jam detection sensors configured on a plurality of conveyance paths and constituting a plurality of conveyance paths,
Accepting means for accepting input of information related to a conveyance path conveyed by the recording medium;
Storage means for associating information relating to the conveyance path with information for identifying the jam detection sensor and storing it as a jam detection execution determination table;
A determination unit that determines a jam detection sensor related to the conveyance path based on the information related to the input conveyance path and the jam detection execution determination table ;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a jam detection control unit configured to detect a jam of only the determined jam detection sensor when a start key is pressed. Further, among the jam detection sensors, the jam detection sensor provided in the image printing unit is removed,
The jam detection control means, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that to perform the jam detection only jam detecting sensor provided in the image print unit when the power is turned on. Information related to the transport path, Paper Source, output tray, whether the duplex printing, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises at least one of the presence or absence of the inversion of the recording medium.

Images