JP5206650B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that determines the necessity / unnecessity of initial setting processing and the necessity / unnecessity of an error or warning notification at the time of restarting operation only with a detection apparatus that is normally used as an essential detection apparatus.

  Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as printers and copiers are widely known. In such an image forming apparatus, many devices are connected to the internal circuit due to the addition of various functions and the complicated contents.

  In addition, a large number of parts such as a consumable kit and a belt unit constituting a recording unit including a toner supply unit, a recording head, a developing unit, and a primary transfer unit are incorporated. The parts such as the consumable kit and the belt unit are regular replacement parts, and the control unit manages the life and information for that purpose in detail and continuously.

  In addition, it is naturally necessary to perform various adjustments automatically in order to improve image quality. Therefore, when turning on the power or opening / closing the maintenance door, the initial process for checking the presence / absence of consumables kits, the measurement of the remaining amount of toner, and the presence / absence of other member abnormalities, automatic concentration / Many processing items, such as registration adjustment, must be performed.

  Previously, there was no means to recognize the attachment / detachment of consumables kits while the power was turned off. All other initial processing had to be carried out.

  Conventionally, even when an error or warning that requires the consumables kit to be securely removed from the main body is being notified, that is, even if an error or warning is occurring, the user can perform error recovery processing with the power off. If the cover is opened / closed, after the power is turned on, the controller once cancels the error, drives all the drive systems, re-measures the presence / absence of the error, and detects the error again when a similar error is detected. I am reporting.

  This not only wastes power, but also shortens the life of consumable kits and regular replacement parts. Even so, to solve this problem, mounting a mechanism or sensor that detects the attachment or detachment of the consumable kit while the power is turned off increases the cost significantly. It is impossible.

  Of course, to eliminate unnecessary initialization processing, after the power is turned on again, it is electrically judged whether the cover is open or closed, the necessity of correction processing in the initialization processing is judged, and unnecessary initialization is performed. There has been proposed an image forming apparatus that saves processing and reduces unnecessary power consumption and time (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-133259 A

  However, the prior art disclosed in Patent Literature 1 electrically detects opening / closing of the cover to determine whether initialization processing is necessary or not, and the user simply opens / closes the cover for checking inside the apparatus. However, there is still a problem that the initialization process is performed even though the initialization process is unnecessary when the power is turned on again.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an image formation that correctly determines whether or not initial setting processing is necessary and whether or not a warning notification is necessary, only with a detection device that is normally used as an essential detection device. An object is to provide an apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a lock unit that changes a position between a position where the consumable kit is fixed and a position where the consumable kit is released, and a normal print standby position when the consumable kit is released by the lock unit. In the image forming apparatus, which includes at least a unit unit that moves from a retreat position to a retreat position, a detection unit that detects whether or not the unit unit is at the retreat position, and a control unit, In the initialization process immediately after, when the detection unit indicates that the unit unit is in the retracted position, initial processing due to the attachment / detachment of the consumable kit is performed, and the detection unit is moved to the retracted position. When indicating that there is no unit portion, the initial processing due to the attachment / detachment of the consumable kit is omitted.

  In the image forming apparatus, when the detection unit indicates that the unit unit is in the retracted position at the time of initialization immediately after the power is turned on, the control unit further supplies the consumable immediately before the power is turned off. Refer to the history of errors and warnings of the kit. When the error or warning is not released, the error and / or warning is re-reported. When the error and warning is released, the consumable kit is attached or detached. Configured to shift to initial processing.

  In this image forming apparatus, for example, the consumable kit is a component constituting a recording unit such as a toner supply unit, a recording head, a developing unit, and a primary transfer unit, and the unit unit is opposed to the recording unit. This is a belt unit section that holds and drives the belt.

  The present invention can provide an image forming apparatus that can determine the necessity / unnecessity of initial setting processing when restarting operation and the necessity / unnecessity of notification of an error or a warning only with a detection apparatus that is normally used as an essential detection apparatus. Play.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. (a), (b), (c) is a figure explaining the movement state of the position of the transfer belt with respect to the recording part of the image forming apparatus which concerns on Example 1. FIG. (a), (b) is a diagram showing a belt movement drive mechanism for moving the transfer belt of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment to three positions of a full color print mode position, a monochrome print mode position, and a full down position. . FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a state in which the upper surface of a transfer belt of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment sequentially moves from a full down position to a monochrome print mode position and further to a full color print mode position and a detection result by a detection sensor. (a), (b) is a figure explaining the fixation state and fixation release state of the consumables kit of the image forming apparatus which concern on Example 1. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating determination processing for determining whether or not initial processing is necessary when the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment is turned on. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the belt U / D position control process of the flowchart of FIG. 6 in more detail. 7 is a flowchart for explaining in more detail the standby processing in the flowchart of FIG. 6. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a determination process of necessity / unnecessity of re-notification of an error / warning when the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment is turned on. 10 is a flowchart for explaining in more detail the standby processing in the flowchart of FIG. 9. It is a flowchart explaining the Close process of the flowchart of FIG. 10 in more detail.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. An image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using toner, and is a secondary transfer type tandem type image forming apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as a printer) having a removable primary transfer belt unit. It is.

  In FIG. 1, as a primary transfer belt unit (hereinafter simply referred to as a belt unit) 2, a transfer belt 3, a driving roller 4 and a driven roller 5 for circulating and moving the transfer belt 3, belt cleaners 6, and 4. Only the primary transfer rollers 7 (7k, 7c, 7m, 7y) are shown, and the other components are not shown.

  Further, as the recording unit 10, the photosensitive drum 8 (8k, 8c, 8m, 8y) of the image forming unit and the recording head which are arranged to face the four primary transfer rollers 7 with the transfer belt 3 interposed therebetween, respectively. Only 9 is shown, and the other components are not shown.

  Note that the image forming unit is originally composed of mutually replaceable consumables kits such as a toner hopper kit, a developing unit kit, and a drum kit. Only the photosensitive drum 8 of the drum kit is shown.

  The recording heads 9 shown above the four photosensitive drums 8 are simply and collectively shown as recording heads that are individually arranged facing the four photosensitive drums 8. Further, a control unit that controls each unit of the printer 1 is not shown.

  Further, in FIG. 1, the secondary transfer roller 11, the fixing device 12, the two-stage feed cassettes 13 and 14, and an arrow a as a maintenance door are shown so that the arrangement relationship of each part of the overall configuration can be understood. A side door 15 that can be opened and a kit fixing door 16 that can be opened in the front direction of the figure are shown. Note that the front door in front of the kit fixing door 16 is not shown.

  The fixing device 12 includes a heat roller and a pressure roller, although not shown with numbers in FIG. The heat roller includes a heater (not shown) inside the roller, and is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown). The pressing roller is pressed against the heat roller by a biasing member (not shown) and is driven by the heat roller, and a fixing portion is formed by the pressure contact portion.

  2A, 2 </ b> B, and 2 </ b> C are diagrams for explaining a movement state of the position of the transfer belt 3 with respect to the recording unit 10. First, the printer 1 has, as print modes, a full color print mode in which an image is formed by a consumable kit for all four colors, and a monochrome print mode in which an image is formed by a black color consumable kit.

  These print modes are stored in a predetermined print mode storage area in advance through operation of an operation panel (not shown) by the user or by communication of print data from a host device (not shown) connected to the printer 1. ing.

  Regardless of whether the printer main body is in a printing state, a printing standby state, or a stopped state, the upper surface of the transfer belt 3 is in the full-color printing mode and all four consumables kits (photosensitive drums) shown in FIG. 8k, 8c, 8m, and 8y), and in the monochrome print mode, the positions are set to contact only the black consumable kit (photosensitive drum 8k) shown in FIG.

  When the user attaches or removes the belt unit 2 or the consumables kit for exchanging old and new parts, the upper surface of the transfer belt 3 that circulates is all the consumable kits (photoconductors) shown in FIG. The drums 8k, 8c, 8m, and 8y) are set to positions that are not in contact with each other. Hereinafter, the position of the transfer belt 3 shown in FIG. 2C is referred to as a “full down” position.

  Although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (a), 2 (b), and 2 (c), a tension roller is always in pressure contact with the back surface of the transfer belt 3 at an appropriate position below the circulating movement. Yes. Thus, the transfer belt 3 is stretched without being loosened at any position shown in FIGS. 2 (a), 2 (b), and 2 (c).

  FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing a belt movement drive mechanism for moving the transfer belt 3 to three positions of a full-color print mode position, a monochrome print mode position, or a full-down position. 3 (a) is a view from the opposite side of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 (the side facing the depth direction of the drawing), and FIG. 3 (b) shows the belt unit 2 from the same direction as FIG. 1 and FIG. FIG.

  When viewed as FIG. 3A, the transfer belt 3 circulates in the direction indicated by the arrow b. As shown in FIG. 3, a position switching mechanism 17 that moves the upper surface of the transfer belt 3 to the upper and lower positions is built in the belt unit 2.

  The position switching mechanism 17 includes a gear 18 and a position switching unit 19. The gear 18 is engaged with a rotating shaft of a belt drive motor 21 fixed on the main body side shown in FIG. The gear 18 rotates in the forward direction indicated by the arrow c and in the reverse direction indicated by the arrow d according to the forward and reverse rotation of the belt drive motor 21.

  Further, a gear 22 having a smaller diameter than the gear 18 is engaged with a rotating shaft of the belt drive motor 21 via a one-way clutch (not shown) coaxially with the gear 18. The gear 22 rotates only in the forward rotation direction, and drives the gear train 23 shown in FIG. 3A that rotationally drives the drive roller 4 shown in FIGS.

  Further, when the gear 18 is rotationally driven in the reverse direction, a holding frame (not shown) that holds the primary transfer roller 7k and other three primary transfer rollers 7 (7c, 7m, 7y) are not shown. The position switching unit 19 moves the holding frame up and down.

  When the two holding frames are moved upward, the transfer belt 3 is in the state shown in FIG. 2 (a), and the three primary transfer rollers 7 (7c, 7m, 7m, 7m, When the holding frame 7y) is moved downward, the transfer belt 3 is in the state shown in FIG. 2B. When the two holding frames are moved downward, the transfer belt 3 is in the state shown in FIG. Become.

  As shown in FIG. 3 (a), the belt unit 2 is provided with a detection lever 24 that moves in the horizontal direction as indicated by a double arrow e in conjunction with the vertical movement of the two holding frames described above. It is installed. On the printer main body side, as shown in FIG. 3B, a detection sensor 25 for detecting the detection lever 24 is provided.

  The vertical movement position of the upper surface of the transfer belt 3 is set so that the belt unit 2 is always in the full down position when the belt unit 2 is mounted on the printer body. This state can be detected by a detection lever 24 provided in the belt unit 2 and a detection sensor 25 provided in the printer main body.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a state in which the upper surface of the transfer belt 3 sequentially moves from the full down position to the monochrome print mode position and further to the full color print mode position and the detection result by the detection sensor 25.

  FIG. 4 shows the reverse rotation of the belt drive motor 21 from the top, the detection result of the detection sensor 25, and the movement position of the upper surface of the transfer belt 3, respectively. As described above, the upper surface of the transfer belt 3 is always set to the full down position when the belt unit 2 is attached to the printer body.

  At this time, the detection lever 24 is inserted in the optical path of the detection sensor 25, the detection sensor 25 is in a light-shielded state, and a light-shielding signal, that is, a signal indicating that the upper surface of the transfer belt 3 is at the full-down position. Output to.

  The controller moves the upper surface of the transfer belt 3 from the full-down position to the monochrome print mode position by rotating the belt drive motor 21 reversely by “n1” steps.

  Further, the control unit further rotates the belt drive motor 21 in the reverse direction by “n2” step according to the designation from the user, and moves the upper surface of the transfer belt 3 to the full color print mode position.

  When switching from the full-color printing mode to the monochrome printing mode, the belt driving motor 21 is reversely rotated by “n3” steps to temporarily move the upper surface of the transfer belt 3 to the full-down (sensor light shielding) position, and then the belt driving motor 21 is moved. The reverse rotation of the predetermined number of steps is performed to move the upper surface of the transfer belt 3 to the monochrome print mode position.

  FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining a fixed state and a fixed release state of the consumable kit (photosensitive drum 8). As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 of this example includes a kit fixing door 16 for fixing the consumables kit.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a lock lever 26 penetrating the belt unit 2 is provided on the printer body side. FIG. 5A shows a state in which the kit fixing door 16 is closed and the lock lever 26 is maintained at the fixed position.

  When taking out the consumable kit, the kit fixing door 16 must be opened, and the lock lever 26 should be pulled out as shown by the arrow g to release the consumable kit as shown in FIG. 5 (b). I must.

  On the other hand, when the consumables kit is released from the belt unit 2, the transfer belt 3 is moved to the full-down position shown in FIG. A moving mechanism is provided.

  In the printer 1 of this example, as described above, once the consumable kit is released, the upper surface of the transfer belt 3 (hereinafter, simply referred to as the transfer belt 3 with the upper surface omitted) always moves to the full down position.

  In the fixed state of the consumables kit, the transfer belt 3 is moved to a position other than the full-down position (monochrome print mode position or Move to the full color print mode position).

  However, the transfer belt 3 moves to the full-down position when the kit fixing door 16 is opened and the lock lever 26 is pulled out, and of course, the power is turned off for safety.

  Accordingly, even after the consumable kit is fixed and the kit fixing door 16 is closed, that is, even if the consumable kit is in a fixed state, the position switching mechanism 17 cannot operate unless the power is turned on next time. The transfer belt 3 is stopped at the full down position.

  When the transfer belt 3 is stopped at the full down position, the detection belt 24 and the detection sensor 25 (hereinafter, the detection lever 24 and the detection sensor) indicate that the transfer belt 3 is at the full down position. 25 is simply detected by the detection unit).

  Based on the mechanism of the belt unit 2 and the position detection function of the detection unit as described above, the control unit of the printer 1 of the present example requires initial setting processing (initial processing) when operation is resumed (when the power is turned on).・ Determine the necessity / unnecessity of notification of unnecessary or error or warning. This will be described below.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating determination processing for determining whether or not initial processing is necessary when the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment is turned on. This process is a process performed by a control unit (not shown).

  First, when the power is turned on (step S0), data recorded in a predetermined storage area is initialized (step S1). In this process, for example, initialization of a RAM (Random Access Memory), confirmation and initialization of a connected device, initial setting of a recording head, and the like are performed.

  Subsequently, fixing warm-up is started (step S2). In this process, for example, a motor that rotationally drives the heat roller of the fixing device 12 is activated, and a heater of the heat roller is activated to preheat the fixing unit.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the transfer belt 3 is at the full down position (step S3). In this process, the position of the transfer belt 3 is determined depending on whether or not the detection sensor 25 of the detection unit is shielded from light.

  If the transfer belt 3 is in the fully down position (S3 is Yes), the kit fixing door 16 is opened and the lock lever 26 is pulled out before the power is turned on, so that the consumable kit may be replaced. There is.

  If the consumable kit has been replaced, it is necessary to perform an initial process. Therefore, an initial process request flag is set in a predetermined register (step S4), and belt U / D (up / down) position control, which will be described in detail later, is performed (step S5).

  If it is determined in step S3 that the detection sensor 25 of the detection unit is in a light-transmitting state, that is, if the transfer belt 3 is not in the full-down position (S3 is No), the process immediately proceeds to step S5. To do.

  Next, the control unit refers to whether or not “abnormality in the transfer belt 3” is detected in step S5 (step S6). If no abnormality is detected (No in S6), it is subsequently determined whether or not there is an initial processing request (step S7).

  This process is a process for determining whether or not the initial process request flag is set in a predetermined register. If there is an initial processing request (S7 is Yes), the motors of the respective units other than the fixing device 12 are activated to perform various checks (step S8).

  Subsequently, initial processing is started (step S9). In this process, it is confirmed whether or not various consumables kits are mounted on the mounting unit, whether or not they are normally mounted, and the remaining amount of toner for the toner kits.

  Furthermore, the output from the paper feed sensor, transport sensor, etc. is referenced to check whether a paper jam has occurred in the paper feed path or transport path, and the transfer belt surface is checked by the density sensor. In addition, for example, confirmation of the driving state by idling to cope with replacement of the consumable kit is performed as the initial process.

  Following the above initial processing, the control unit performs automatic density / registration adjustment (step S10). This process is a process performed at a predetermined cycle during the printing process and also as an initial process.

  Following the above, the control unit stops the motors other than the fixing device 12 (step S11), and then determines whether or not the fixing warm-up is completed (step S12). This process is a process for determining whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the fixing warm-up in step S2 or whether the temperature of the fixing unit of the fixing device 12 has reached a predetermined temperature.

  If it is determined in step S7 that there is no initial processing request (No in S7), there is no evidence that the consumable kit has been removed, so the initial processing in steps S7 to S11 described above is omitted, and the step is immediately performed. The process proceeds to S12.

  In step S12, the process waits until the fixing warm-up is completed (No in S12). If the fixing warm-up is completed (Yes in S12), the motor of the fixing device 12 is stopped (step S13). The process proceeds to the waiting process (step S14).

  If it is determined in step S6 that an abnormality in the transfer belt 3 has been detected (Yes in S6), the user is notified of the belt abnormality (step S15), and the process proceeds to step S13.

  As a result, in the waiting process described later, the abnormality of the transfer belt 3 is re-recognized, and the abnormality notification to the user is continued, or the process of waiting for the abnormality recovery work by the user is performed.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the belt U / D position control process in step S5 in the flowchart of FIG. 6 in more detail. The belt U / D position control process is a process for setting the transfer belt 3 to the position of the monochrome print mode or the full color print mode.

  In FIG. 7, when the belt U / D position control process is started (step S50), the control unit first starts the belt drive motor 21 in reverse rotation (step S51).

  As a result, the position switching mechanism 17 is driven to move the transfer belt 3 to the reference position for setting the belt position shown in FIG. 4 to the position of any print mode, that is, the full-down position.

  Then, the control unit waits until the detection sensor 25 of the detection unit is shielded from light (S52, No is determined). At this time, the control unit measures the waiting time with a timer, and monitors whether or not the time being measured has exceeded a predetermined time (timed out) (step S53).

  When the detection sensor 25 receives a light-shielded notification from the detection unit within a predetermined time (Yes in S52), the transfer belt 3 is set to a full-down position that is a reference position in the case of belt U / D position control. Recognize that

  Therefore, the control unit continues the reverse rotation of the belt drive motor 21 with reference to the full-down position, and waits until the time corresponding to the n1 step rotation elapses (S54, No is determined).

  When the time for rotating n1 steps elapses (Yes in S54), it is determined that the transfer belt 3 has been set to the monochrome printing mode position (see FIG. 4), and is the monochrome printing mode designated as the current printing mode? It is determined whether or not (step S55).

  The print mode designation of the monochrome print mode or the full color print mode is specified in advance by the operation of the operation panel (not shown) by the user or by communication of print data from a host device (not shown) connected to the printer 1. It is stored in a predetermined print mode storage area.

  The control unit refers to data or a flag in a predetermined print mode storage area, and when the monochrome print mode is designated as the current print mode (S55 is Yes), the reverse rotation of the belt drive motor 21 is stopped. (Step S57), it returns to the process of FIG. 6, and progresses to the process of step S6.

  If it is determined in step S55 that the monochrome printing mode is not designated, that is, the full-color printing mode is designated (S55 is No), the belt driving motor 21 is further added to the rotation of the n1 step. A command is given to reversely rotate n2 steps, and the process waits until all the rotations of “n1 + n2” are performed (No in step S56).

  When the rotation of the “n1 + n2” step is reached (S56 is Yss), the process proceeds to step S57 and subsequent steps.

  When the time-out occurs in the determination process in step S53 (Yes in S53), the control unit determines that the position switching mechanism 17 is abnormal or that the belt unit 2 is not attached to the main body of the pudding et al. to decide.

  In this case, the control unit sets an error occurrence flag in a predetermined storage area (step S59), and proceeds to the processing after step S57.

  Accordingly, when the process returns to the process of FIG. 6 and proceeds to the process of step S6, the state in the machine is that the transfer belt 3 is in the monochrome print mode position, the full color print mode position, or the belt abnormality. Either the position switching mechanism 17 is abnormal or the belt unit 2 is not attached.

  Based on this state, the processing after step S6 in FIG. 6 proceeds as described in FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the standby processing in the flowchart of FIG. 6 in more detail. In FIG. 8, in the waiting process (step S140), the control unit first determines whether or not the cover is open (the kit fixing door 16 is open) (step S141).

  If the cover is Open (S141 is Yes), it is determined that the user is to replace the consumable kit, and if so, it is determined that the initial process needs to be performed, and the initial process request flag is set to a predetermined value. The register is set (step S142), and the process returns to step S141.

  After returning to step S141, steps S141 and S142 are repeated until the user enters the cover close state (kit fixing door 16 is closed).

  If it is determined in the above determination that the cover is not open (when the kit fixing door 16 is closed) (No in step S141), it is then determined whether or not there is an initial processing request (step S143).

  The initial process request determined here is the initial process request flag set in step S142 when the cover is open at the beginning of the waiting process, and is displayed when the cover process is closed at the beginning of the waiting process. 6 is the initial processing request flag set in step S4 of FIG. 6, and the belt is abnormal in step S6.

  Here, when it is determined that there is an initial processing request (Yes in S143), the control unit performs belt U / D position control (Step S144). The belt U / D position control in this case is a process of setting the transfer belt 3 to the position of the print mode designated at that time.

  Subsequently, the control unit refers to whether or not “the transfer belt 3 is abnormal” is detected in step S144 (step S145). If an abnormality is detected (Yes in S145), the user is informed of the belt abnormality (step S147) and waits for the user to finish the error recovery operation by the cover Open → the cover Close.

  When the error recovery work by the user is completed, step S141 is No, step S143 is Yes, step S144 is normal processing, and step S145 is No, so the control unit performs cover close processing (step S146).

  In this process, various processes such as cancellation of various errors, start of warm-up of the fixing device 12, confirmation of consumable kit installation and check for abnormality, and automatic density / registration adjustment are executed. At this stage, the detection sensor 25 is in a light-transmitting state, that is, the transfer belt 3 is in a position other than full down.

  Subsequently, the control unit returns to step S141. In this case, step S141 is No and step S143 is No, thereby determining whether there is a print request (step S148). If there is no print request (No in S148), standby control processing is performed (step S149).

  In this standby control process, temperature control of the fixing device 12, control and monitoring of devices such as a cooling fan, control and monitoring of various sensors arranged in various places, execution of various commands and data processing, etc. are performed. Is called. Until there is a print request, the processes in steps S141, S143, S148, and S149 are repeated.

  When a print request is generated in step S148 (Yes in S148), belt U / D position control is performed in order to set the transfer belt 3 to the position of the monochrome or full color print mode specified together with the print request. This is performed (step S150).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not a belt abnormality has occurred during the belt U / D position control process (step S151). If there is an abnormality (Yes in S151), the process proceeds to the above-described step S147. If there is no abnormality (No in S151), printing is executed (step S152).

  In this print execution process, all the motors are activated, the recording head 9 is controlled, the temperature of the fixing device 12 is controlled, the initializing voltage applied to the photosensitive drum 8 of the consumable kit, the developing voltage applied to the developing roller, the primary Process control, such as a transfer voltage applied to the transfer roller 7, a transfer voltage applied to the secondary transfer roller 11, and the like, a process control, an output of image data, a control of transfer timing, a control of paper feed and conveyance, and the like are performed. .

  Then, the number of prints designated together with the print request is compared with the number of print executions to determine whether or not the print is complete (step S153). If the print is not complete (S153 is No), the print execution is repeated to complete the print. If so (Yes in S153), all the motors are stopped (Step S154), and the process returns to Step S141 and waits.

  As described above, according to the processing shown in the first embodiment, when the power is turned on or when the kit fixing door is opened and closed, it is only necessary to detect that the upper surface of the transfer belt is not in the full down position. Initial processing and automatic concentration / registration adjustment can be omitted, and while maintaining the conventional quality, it is possible to shorten the warm-up time, save energy, and improve the processing capacity.

  In addition, it can reduce idle rotation necessary for the measurement of the remaining amount of toner as much as possible, including during the occurrence of errors in the consumables kit as described above. The effect of suppressing the consumption of the battery or extending the life of the consumables kit can be obtained.

  In addition, it is possible to realize the function that can achieve the above-mentioned effects without arranging a new mechanism or sensor for recognizing attachment / detachment of the consumable kit while the power is off. Will contribute to the realization of inexpensive equipment.

  Next, a description will be given of a process in which error and warning notifications are continuously re-notified when the power is turned on after the power is turned off while the error or warning notification is ignored while being wrong or overlooked. .

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the necessity / unnecessity determination process of the error / warning re-notification when the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment is turned on. In FIG. 9, the same processing steps as those in FIG. 6 are given the same step symbols as those in FIG. 6 and description thereof is omitted, and only S201 to S205 which are processing steps different from those in FIG. 6 will be described. .

  In FIG. 9, if it is determined whether or not the transfer belt 3 is in the full-down position in step S3, if the transfer belt 3 is in the full-down position (S3 is Yes), the consumables kit may have been replaced. Therefore, the kit attachment / detachment flag is set in a predetermined register (step S201), and the process proceeds to step S5.

  On the other hand, if the transfer belt 3 is not in the full down position (No in S3), the consumable kit has not been replaced, so a no kit attachment / detachment flag is set in a predetermined register (step S202), and the process proceeds to step S5. These flags indicating whether or not the kit is attached / detached are maintained until a close process described later is executed.

  If the determination of the belt abnormality in Step S6 is No, it is determined whether or not the kit is attached or detached (Step S203). In this process, the determination is made with reference to the kit attachment / detachment flag set in a predetermined register.

  When it is determined that the kit is attached or detached, it is determined that the error has been repaired by attaching or detaching the kit, the error information related to the kit is cleared (step S205), and steps S8 to S14 are executed.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the kit is not attached or detached, it is determined that the state of the consumable kit has not changed from before the power is turned off, and the previous kit-related information (before the power is turned off) is restored (step S204).

  In this process, for example, kit-related information such as no remaining toner, a life warning for each consumable kit, an unauthorized consumable kit installation warning, and a toner bridge warning is read from a predetermined storage area.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the standby processing of the flowchart of FIG. 9 in more detail. In FIG. 10, the same processing steps as those in FIG. 8 are given the same step symbols as those in FIG. 8 and the description thereof will be omitted. Only the processing steps S301 to S305 which are different from those in FIG. .

  In FIG. 10, when it is determined that the cover is open in the first step S <b> 141 of the waiting process, when the cover is open (Yes in S <b> 141), it is determined that the belt unit or the consumable kit is operated by the user. Sets a close processing request flag for executing a close processing, which will be described later, in a predetermined register (step S301), and returns to step S141.

  If the cover is not open in step S141 (S141: No), it is then determined whether there is a Close processing request (step S302). And when there is no Close processing demand (S302 is No), Steps S148-S154 are performed.

  On the other hand, when there is a Close processing request (Yes in S302), the Close processing described later in detail is performed (Step S303).

  The belt abnormality determined in the subsequent step S145 is the belt abnormality detected in steps S5 and S6 of FIG. If there is no belt abnormality (No in S145), it is determined whether or not there is another error (Step S304).

  This error determination is error information in the kit-related information restored in step S204 in FIG. 9 and information on errors that have not been repaired by the close process in step S303.

  When there is such another error, the error information is notified to the user (step S305). After that, it waits for error cancellation. When the error is released, the determination in step S302 is No, so that the above-described steps S148 to S154 are also executed in this case.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the Close processing of the flowchart of FIG. 10 in more detail. In FIG. 11, it is first determined whether or not there is a belt abnormality (step S401).

  The belt abnormality determined here is the belt abnormality detected in steps S5 and S6 of FIG. 9 and notified to the user in step S15. If there is a belt abnormality (Yes in S401), it is determined that the belt abnormality notified to the user in step S15 has not yet been repaired by the user, and the process immediately returns to the process of FIG.

  On the other hand, if there is no belt abnormality (No in S401), the control unit first cancels the error that can be recovered only by the cover Open (opening / closing operation accompanied by Close) (step S402).

  Subsequently, the control unit determines whether the kit is attached or detached (step S403). In this process, the consumable kit presence / absence flag set in the predetermined register in step S201 or S202 of FIG. 9 is referred to.

  If it is determined that the kit is attached / detached (Yes in S403), it is determined that the error has been repaired by the user, and in this case, the error information on which the consumable kit is required for error recovery is canceled ( Step S404).

  Next, check the installation of the consumables kit, check for abnormalities in the installed consumables kit, measure the amount of toner remaining in the toner kit, update the remaining amount data if there is a change in the amount of toner remaining, the life of each consumable kit Initial processing such as re-detection is executed, and further processing after kit attachment / detachment such as automatic density / registration adjustment is executed (step S405), and the processing returns to the processing of FIG.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the kit is not attached / detached (No in S403), the error notification is wrong or overlooked and ignored, and it is determined that the user has not repaired the error.

  In this case, the control unit holds error information that requires the consumable kit to be attached / detached for error recovery (step S406), notifies the error information, and warns the user that an error is occurring. Then (step S407), the process returns to the process of FIG.

  As described above, according to the above-described processing of the second embodiment, the power supply is turned off and the maintenance door is opened and closed without error restoration during the notification of an error or warning that cannot be restored unless the consumable kit is securely removed from the main body. Even in such a case, it is possible to detect that the transfer belt is in the full down position, and continuously notify an error or warning when the power is turned on, thereby preventing secondary failure and maintaining the quality of the formed image.

  In the above-described embodiments, the transfer belt has been described as the secondary transfer type primary transfer belt. However, the transfer belt is not limited thereto, and may be a sheet transfer belt that transfers a sheet to a recording unit in a direct transfer type printer. .

  The present invention can be used for an image forming apparatus that correctly determines the necessity / unnecessity of initial setting processing and the necessity / unnecessity of warning notification when restarting operation.

1 Image forming device (printer)
2 Primary transfer belt unit (belt unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Transfer belt 4 Drive roller 5 Drive roller 6 Belt cleaner 7 (7k, 7c, 7m, 7y) Primary transfer roller 8 (8k, 8c, 8m, 8y) Photosensitive drum 9 Recording head 10 Recording part 11 Secondary transfer roller 12 Fixing device 13, 14 Paper cassette 15 Side door 16 Kit fixed door 17 Position switching mechanism 18 Gear 19 Position switching unit 21 Belt drive motor 22 Gear 23 Gear train 24 Detection lever 25 Detection sensor 26 Lock lever

Claims (3)

A lock unit that changes the position between a position for fixing the consumables kit and a position for releasing the consumables kit;
A unit that moves from a normal printing standby position to a retracted position when the consumable kit is released by the lock; and
A detection unit for detecting whether or not the unit unit is in the retracted position;
A control unit;
In an image forming apparatus comprising at least
The controller is
In the initialization process immediately after the power is turned on, when the detection unit indicates that the unit unit is in the retracted position, an initial process due to attachment / detachment of the consumable kit is performed,
When the detection unit indicates that the unit unit is not in the retracted position, an initial process due to attachment / detachment of the consumable kit is omitted,
An image forming apparatus. The controller is
In the initialization process immediately after the power is turned on, when the detection unit indicates that the unit part is in the retracted position, refer to the error and warning history of the consumable kit immediately before the power is turned off. When the error or warning is not cancelled, the error and / or warning re-notification is continued, and when the error and warning is cancelled, the process proceeds to initial processing due to the attachment / detachment of the consumable kit.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The consumable kit is a component that constitutes a recording unit such as a toner supply unit, a recording head, a developing unit, and a primary transfer unit, and the unit unit is a belt that holds and drives a belt facing the recording unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a unit portion.