JP5585089B2 - Degradation state determination device, image forming apparatus, and deterioration state determination program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a deterioration state determination device, an image forming apparatus, and a deterioration state determination program.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a printing apparatus (printer) or a copying machine (copier), for example, a sheet feeding mechanism unit that takes out a sheet as a recording material from a sheet storage unit and supplies it to a subsequent apparatus unit (eg, an image forming unit) In the paper feeding operation in, paper feed defects such as misfeed (feeding 0 sheets), double feeding (paper feeding with multiple sheets superimposed), skew (feeding in a state tilted with respect to the transport direction), etc. There are things to do. In the paper feeding failure state, troublesome restoration work such as removing paper occurs, and productivity is lowered due to temporary stoppage of the apparatus.

When the cause of paper feed failure is due to deterioration of components such as roll members that move the paper, paper feed failure occurs intermittently or continuously even after temporary restoration work. There is a high possibility of doing.
Here, in order to prevent a paper feeding failure due to deterioration of the roll member, for example, a method of performing maintenance such as judging the deterioration state of the roll member from the number of sheets of the sheet running and proactively replacing the component parts. It has been known.

  In addition, for example, timing sensors that detect the timing at which the paper has passed are arranged at a plurality of points in the middle of the paper conveyance, and the time required to pass through a certain section is obtained based on the measurement result of each timing sensor. There is known a method for calculating the deterioration value of the roll member. Regarding this technique, FIG. 14 illustrates the configuration of the paper feed mechanism unit corresponding to cut sheets (sheets cut one by one), and FIG. 13 illustrates continuous sheets (each page passes through a perforation). The configuration of the paper feed mechanism unit corresponding to the paper connected in this manner is illustrated.

  First, the case of cut paper will be described. In the paper feed mechanism unit of FIG. 14, a paper storage unit 91 that stores paper PB (cut paper), a pickup roll 92 that takes out the paper PB one by one from the paper storage unit 91, and a paper that is taken out by the pickup roll 92. A feed roll pair 93 (feed rolls 93a and 93b) for moving the PB downstream and a transport roll pair 94 (transport rolls 94a and 94b) for moving the paper PB further downstream are provided. For example, it has a function of supplying (feeding) paper PB to an image forming unit). Also, first to third timing sensors 95 to 97 are provided at positions upstream of the pickup roll 92, between the feed roll pair 93 and the transport roll pair 94, and at positions downstream of the transport roll pair 94. Then, for example, the distance L between the first timing sensor 95 and the second timing sensor 96 (measurement section) and the leading or trailing edge of the paper PB pass through the installation positions of these timing sensors 95 and 96. Based on the timing, the moving speed of the paper PB in the measurement section is calculated.

  Next, the case of continuous paper will be described. 13, the paper storage unit 81 that stores paper PA (continuous paper), the pick-up roll 82 that picks up the paper PA from the paper storage unit 81, and the paper PA that is picked up by the pick-up roll 82 downstream. A feed roll pair 83 (feed rolls 83a and 83b) that moves to the side, and a transport roll pair 84 (transport rolls 84a and 84b) that further moves the paper PA to the downstream side. Part) has a function of supplying (feeding) paper PA. Further, first and second timing sensors 85 and 86 are provided between the feed roll pair 83 and the transport roll pair 84 and at respective positions in the downstream portion of the transport roll pair 84. For example, the distance L of the section (measurement section) between the first timing sensor 85 and the second timing sensor 86 and the installation positions of these timing sensors 85 and 86 are set to the leading edge of the paper PA of the first page in the continuous paper. The moving speed in the measurement section is calculated for the leading paper PA in the continuous paper based on the timing at which the paper passes. For other pages on the continuous paper (other than the first page), it is difficult to detect the passage of the leading edge by the timing sensors 85 and 86, and the moving speed is not calculated.

Moreover, the following techniques are disclosed regarding determination of deterioration of the roll member used for paper feeding.
For example, a displacement information acquisition unit is provided at a position facing the printing paper in the paper feed tray, detects the passage of the trailing edge of the printing paper in the transport direction and the moving speed, and the displacement information acquisition unit irradiates the printing paper with illumination light. The scattered reflection component is received by the movement amount detection sensor, and the movement amount detection sensor detects structural features appearing on the surface of the printing paper in the conveyance process to detect passage of the trailing edge. The first sensor passage time obtained using one sensor is corrected with the paper rear edge passage time obtained using the displacement information acquisition unit, and the first sensor passage time is obtained using the displacement information acquisition unit. A technique for diagnosing the presence / absence of a failure, the state of the failure, and the content of the failure based on the degree of deviation of the first sensor passage time from the normal range is disclosed (see Patent Document 1).
For example, the sheet conveying apparatus measures the conveying roller that conveys the sheet, and conveying speed data indicating the conveying speed of the sheet by the conveying roller, and uses the measured plural conveying speed data to convey the conveying roller. A controller that determines the degree of performance degradation, and when the controller detects a predetermined event that is likely to be inappropriate data for determination, the transport speed measured at that time A technique for ignoring data is disclosed (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2005-206307 A JP 2007-050940 A

  An object of the present invention is to make it possible to accurately determine a deterioration state of a roll member at a portion where a recording material is supplied from a storage unit to a downstream apparatus.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the recording material is moved by the rotation of the roll member, so that the recording material is supplied from the storage unit to the downstream apparatus, and a predetermined observation point. Detection means for detecting the moving speed of the recording material by the roll member, storage means for storing the data of the moving speed detected by the detecting means in association with the supply amount of the recording material, and supply of the recording material by the storage means A deterioration state determination apparatus comprising: determination means for determining a deterioration state of the roll member based on movement speed data accumulated in association with a quantity.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the deterioration state determination apparatus according to the first aspect, the determination unit performs recording based on movement amount data accumulated in association with the supply amount of the recording material by the accumulation unit. A relational expression between the supply amount of the material and the moving speed of the recording material is derived, and the deterioration state of the roll member is determined using the relational expression.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the deterioration state determination apparatus according to the first or second aspect, a time range that is a detection target of the moving speed by the detecting unit is a moving operation of the recording material by the roll member. Is a time range after elapse of a predetermined time from the start of.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the deterioration state determination apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the moving amount of the recording material is determined at predetermined time intervals as the detecting means. Measuring means for measuring, and calculating means for calculating the moving speed of the recording material based on a measurement result by the measuring means, and the determination of the deterioration state of the roll member by the determining means is measured by the measuring means. It is characterized in that it is performed by excluding recording materials in which the amount of data of the amount of movement is less than a predetermined reference data number.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the deterioration state determination apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the moving amount of the recording material is determined at predetermined time intervals as the detection unit. Measuring means for measuring, and calculating means for calculating the moving speed of the recording material based on the measurement result by the measuring means, and determining the deterioration state of the roll member by the determining means in accordance with a predetermined reference movement The movement amount less than the amount is performed by excluding the recording material measured by the measuring means.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the deterioration state determination apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, further comprising a detection unit that detects an error that has occurred in the own apparatus or a subsequent apparatus. The determination unit determines the deterioration state of the roll member by excluding the recording material in which an error is detected by the detection unit during the movement operation by the roll member.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the deterioration state determination apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the roll member is a first roll member for taking out a recording material from a storage portion. And a second roll member for sending the recording material taken out by the first roll member to the apparatus on the subsequent stage, wherein the determination means has a contribution rate to the movement of the recording material toward the first roll member. The deterioration state of the first roll member is determined based on the moving speed of the recording material in a period when the recording material is high, and based on the moving speed of the recording material in a period when the contribution ratio to the movement of the recording material is higher in the second roll member. The deterioration state of the second roll member is determined.

  According to the present invention, the image forming unit for forming an image on the recording material, and the recording material is moved by the rotation of the roll member, so that the recording material is moved from the recording material accommodating portion to the image forming unit side. Supply means for supplying, detecting means for detecting the moving speed of the recording material by the roll member at a predetermined observation point, and storing the data of the moving speed detected by the detecting means in association with the supply amount of the recording material An image forming apparatus comprising: an accumulating unit configured to determine a deterioration state of the roll member based on movement speed data accumulated in association with the supply amount of the recording material by the accumulating unit. Device.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, a predetermined observation is made to a computer related to an apparatus for supplying a recording material from a recording material accommodating portion to a subsequent apparatus by moving the recording material by rotation of a roll member. A detection function for detecting the moving speed of the recording material by the roll member at a point, a storage function for storing data of the moving speed detected by the detection function in the storage means in association with the supply amount of the recording material, and the storage function Is a deterioration state determination program for realizing a determination function for determining the deterioration state of the roll member based on the moving speed data accumulated in association with the supply amount of the recording material.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the deterioration state of the roll member at the portion where the recording material is supplied from the storage unit to the apparatus on the subsequent stage is determined with higher accuracy than in the case where the present invention is not applied. Is possible. For example, the deterioration state of the roll member in the paper feed mechanism corresponding to continuous paper can be determined based on the moving speed of each page as well as the moving speed of the first page. Even if it does, it can be judged without hindrance.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the determination can be made in consideration of the progress of deterioration of the roll member in accordance with factors such as the operation status of the apparatus and the operating environment. Furthermore, for example, by comparing the current moving speed with the relational expression, it is possible to determine the deterioration state of the roll member at the current time. By doing so, the supply amount at the time when the roll member needs to be replaced can be determined.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the deterioration state of the roll member can be determined based on the detection result in the state where the moving speed is stable, not the state where the moving speed immediately after starting the moving operation is unstable. This can improve the determination accuracy.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to determine the deterioration state of the roll member by excluding the recording material that could not be measured sufficiently due to follow-up feeding or the like, and the determination accuracy can be improved.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to determine the deterioration state of the roll member by excluding the recording material whose measurement result includes an abnormal value, and the determination accuracy is improved.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to determine the deterioration state of the roll member by excluding the recording material in which the apparatus error has occurred during the moving operation, and the determination accuracy is improved.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the first roll member for taking out the recording material from the accommodating portion, and the second roll for sending the recording material taken out by the first roll member to the apparatus on the subsequent stage side. The deterioration state can be determined for each of the members.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the deterioration state of the roll member at the portion where the recording material is supplied from the container to the apparatus on the rear stage side can be determined with higher accuracy than when the present invention is not applied. Is possible.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the deterioration state of the roll member at the portion where the recording material is supplied from the container to the apparatus on the rear stage side can be accurately determined as compared with the case where the present invention is not applied. Is possible.

It is a figure which illustrates the functional block of the deterioration state determination part in the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow relating to deterioration state determination in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a paper feeding mechanism unit corresponding to continuous paper in the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a movement amount measurement locus from a viewpoint based on continuous paper in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow related to data collection for continuous paper in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a paper feed mechanism unit corresponding to cut paper in the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a moving amount measurement locus from a viewpoint based on a cut sheet in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. It is a figure which illustrates the processing flow regarding the data collection about the cut paper in the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a detection result of a sheet movement amount in the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. It is a figure which illustrates the deterioration prediction curve derived | led-out by the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the contribution ratio of each roll member in a paper feeding operation in the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a paper feed mechanism unit corresponding to continuous paper in a conventional image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a paper feed mechanism unit corresponding to cut paper in a conventional image forming apparatus.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 illustrates functional blocks of a deterioration state determination unit in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As the image forming apparatus, for example, a printing apparatus (printer), a copying machine (copying machine), a facsimile apparatus, or a multifunction machine having a combination of functions such as printing / copying / facsimile is used.

  The degradation state determination unit of this example is a degradation state of a roll member used for a sheet feeding operation in a sheet feeding mechanism unit that takes out a sheet as a recording material from a sheet storage unit and supplies it to a subsequent apparatus unit (image forming unit side). A sheet movement amount detection unit 11, an RTC (Real Time Clock) 12, a sheet conveyance drive control unit 13, an error information detection unit 14, a deterioration determination unit 15, and a notification unit 20. .

  The sheet movement amount detection unit 11 moves the sheet moved by the roll member of the sheet feeding mechanism unit at a predetermined measurement interval (for example, 10 ms) as a sampling cycle based on the current time data measured by the RTC 12. The amount is detected, and movement amount data representing the detected value (movement amount) is output to the deterioration determining unit 15. In this example, a movement amount measuring sensor including a light emitting unit and an imaging unit is provided in the middle of the conveyance path in the paper feeding mechanism unit (for example, an upstream portion of a pickup roll for taking out paper from the paper storage unit). The imaging unit captures the part irradiated with light on the paper and obtains a captured image, and compares the captured images obtained at different timings (for example, the latest captured image and the immediately preceding captured image). Thus, the sheet movement amount is detected from the displacement amount between the images of the common parts in the captured images, and movement amount data for each measurement interval is intermittently output. Note that the method is not limited to such a method, and the amount of sheet movement may be detected by another method.

  The paper transport drive control unit 13 performs drive control of components of the paper feed mechanism unit (for example, each feed motor that rotationally drives a roll member such as a pickup roll or a feed roll). In this example, the start signal and the stop signal of the component parts are output as control signals from the paper conveyance drive control unit 13 to the paper movement amount detection unit 11, and this control signal is the movement amount in the paper movement amount detection unit 11. This is used to determine the detection start timing. That is, for example, in the sheet movement amount detection unit 11, when a feed motor activation signal for rotating the pickup roll for taking out the sheet from the sheet storage unit is received from the sheet conveyance drive control unit 13 (feeding start timing). The movement amount detection is started from the time point, or the movement amount detection is started when a predetermined time (for example, 50 ms) elapses after receiving the activation signal. When continuous paper is used as the paper, page start information is output to the paper movement amount detection unit 11 for each page break so that the paper feed start timing can be specified for each page. Yes.

  The error information detection unit 14 acquires machine state information from a paper feed mechanism unit or a subsequent apparatus unit (for example, an image forming unit), and detects an error that has occurred in these apparatus units. The detected error information is output to the paper conveyance drive control unit 13 and used for drive control of the components of the paper feed mechanism unit, and is also output to the deterioration determination unit 15 for consideration in a deterioration state determination described later. .

  The deterioration determination unit 15 includes a movement amount calculation unit 16, a movement amount storage unit 17, a deterioration state value calculation unit 18, and a deterioration state determination unit 19, and feeds paper based on the detection result by the paper movement amount detection unit 11. The deterioration state of the roll member of the mechanism unit is determined.

The movement amount calculation unit 16 converts the value of the movement amount data for each measurement interval output from the paper movement amount detection unit 11 during the paper feeding operation by the paper feeding mechanism unit into a movement speed (paper movement amount per unit time). To do.
The movement amount storage unit 17 accumulates movement speed data representing the movement speed calculated by the movement amount calculation unit 16 in a storage unit (memory) in association with supply amount data representing the number of sheets fed (supply amount). In the following description, “sheet” is used as a unit representing the supply amount of continuous paper, but one sheet in this case corresponds to one page (unit divided by perforations).

In this example, as a time range for calculating the moving speed, a time range after a predetermined time has elapsed since the paper feeding operation was started (for example, a period of 50 ms to 100 ms after the paper feeding operation is started). The detection value in the state where the movement speed immediately after starting the paper feeding operation is unstable is excluded. The start timing of the paper feeding operation can be specified based on a control signal output from the paper conveyance drive control unit 13 or page start information.
In this example, the movement speed is calculated for each sheet and the movement speed data is accumulated. However, the movement amount data for each measurement interval is individually converted into movement speed data and accumulated. Alternatively, the moving speed may be averaged in units of a plurality of sheets (for example, 10 sheets) in consideration of the memory capacity and the processing load of subsequent processing, and the average moving speed data may be accumulated. .

  The degradation state value calculation unit 18 is based on the movement speed data accumulated in the movement amount storage unit 17 in association with the supply amount data, and the movement speed (per unit time) of the sheet moved by the roll member of the paper feed mechanism unit. ) And the deterioration state value of the roll member is calculated from the relationship between the number of sheets fed (supply amount) up to the time when the movement speed is detected. In this example, after deriving a deterioration prediction curve (a relational expression between the number of sheets fed and the movement speed) as described later, the movement speed is recalculated by referring to the deterioration prediction curve for the number of sheets fed up to the present time. The recalculated moving speed is output to the deterioration state determination unit 19 as a deterioration state value.

  The deterioration state determination unit 19 compares the deterioration state value (reverse calculation value of the moving speed) output from the deterioration state value calculating unit 18 with a threshold value (deterioration threshold value) relating to the moving speed that serves as a guide for replacing the roll member. The deterioration state of the member is determined. In this example, when the deterioration state value (the backward calculation value of the moving speed) is smaller than the deterioration threshold (or less than the deterioration threshold), it is determined that the deterioration state is necessary to be replaced. It is determined that the deterioration state is not necessary. It should be noted that the comparison of the movement speed calculated from the number of sheets fed up to the present time and the deterioration prediction curve with the deterioration threshold, not the movement speed detected at the present time, takes into account that variations occur for each movement speed detection. It is what.

  When the deterioration determination unit 15 determines that the deterioration state needs to be replaced, the notification unit 20 provides information indicating that fact to the user (user) or the management center that undertakes management of the image forming apparatus. (Or an administrator) or the service (or terminal device) of the instruction source that sent the print instruction or the like. The notification can be performed by various methods. For example, the notification may be displayed on a display device such as a display, printed on a recording material such as paper, or the person / device / service set as a transmission destination. Or the like may be transmitted and output.

  As described above, in the degradation state determination unit in the image forming apparatus of this example, the timing at which the leading edge or the trailing edge of the paper passes through two (or more) observation points that are separated from each other and the observation points. In order to determine the deterioration state of the roll member by detecting the sheet moving speed itself at a certain (one) observation point instead of the sheet moving speed based on the distance, the timing at which the leading or trailing end of the sheet passes Can be acquired even for continuous paper that is difficult to detect in units of pages (that is, it is difficult to detect the speed of movement for each page), and deterioration of the roll member in the paper feed mechanism section It becomes possible to accurately determine the state.

  Here, when the error information is output by the error information detection unit 14, the deterioration determination unit 15 of this example excludes the paper being fed at that time and determines the deterioration state. As a method of exclusion, for example, the moving speed data obtained for the corresponding sheet may be discarded so as not to be accumulated in the moving amount storage unit 17, and information indicating that an error has occurred is attached to the moving speed data. It may be accumulated in the movement amount storage unit 17, and the movement speed data to which the information is attached may be excluded from the processing target of the deterioration state value calculation unit 18, and various methods can be employed.

  Further, in the degradation determination unit 15 of this example, the number of movement amount data within a time range for which the movement speed is calculated (for example, a period of 50 ms to 100 ms after the start of the paper feeding operation) is a predetermined reference data number. The deterioration state determination is performed by excluding paper that does not satisfy the above condition. As a method of exclusion, various methods as described above can be adopted. The time range for calculating the moving speed and the number of reference data in the time range may be set according to the size of the paper. In this example, the amount of data is counted by removing the amount of movement data that is small enough to estimate that the amount of movement is 0 or not moving.

  Further, in the deterioration determination unit 15 of this example, the movement amount data for each measurement interval output from the sheet movement amount detection unit 11 is within the time range for which the movement speed is calculated (for example, from 50 ms after the start of the paper feeding operation). The degradation state determination is performed by excluding sheets in which movement amount data in a period of 100 ms) includes a sheet (abnormal value) that does not satisfy a predetermined reference movement amount. That is, when all the movement amount data obtained for the sheet is equal to or greater than the reference movement amount (normal value), it is used for the deterioration state determination. As a method of exclusion, various methods as described above can be adopted.

  In this example, the current deterioration state is determined by comparing the moving speed calculated backward from the deterioration prediction curve with a threshold (deterioration threshold) relating to the moving speed that serves as a guide for replacing the roll member. The determination is not limited to this. That is, for example, the number of sheets fed (predicted number) at the time when it is predicted that the roll member needs to be replaced may be determined from the intersection of the deterioration prediction curve and the straight line representing the deterioration threshold.

  In this example, the number of sheets fed is used as the amount of paper supplied. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, paper feeding of different sizes by manual feeding or the like is considered. You may make it handle the length of the conveyance direction of the printed paper as supply amount.

FIG. 2 illustrates a processing flow relating to the deterioration state determination by the deterioration state determination unit in the image forming apparatus of this example.
The deterioration state determination unit of this example has a measurement value storage area in which movement amount data for each measurement interval can be accumulated for at least one sheet, and is obtained by the paper movement amount detection unit 11 in the measurement value storage area. The movement amount data for each measurement interval is temporarily accumulated.
When the feeding of one sheet is finished and the data update (accumulation of movement amount data) for the measurement value storage area is completed (step S11), the movement amount calculation unit 16 updates the update data (movement amount data for each measurement interval). The movement speed (paper movement amount per unit time) is calculated based on the above (step S12), and the movement amount storage unit 17 accumulates the movement speed data in association with the supply amount data (number of sheets fed).
Then, the deterioration state value calculation unit 18 averages the moving speed for each predetermined number of fed sheets (for example, 10 sheets) based on the accumulated supply amount data and moving speed data. (Average movement amount value) is calculated (step S13), and each coefficient of the polynomial representing the deterioration prediction curve is calculated by curve fitting based on the average movement speed (average movement amount value) (step S14). After that, the deterioration state determination unit 19 determines whether or not the current value obtained from the deterioration prediction curve (polynomial) (the backward calculation value of the moving speed) exceeds the deterioration threshold (step S15). The notification unit 20 notifies that the roll member (for example, the pickup roll) of the paper feed mechanism unit needs to be replaced (step S16).

The case where continuous paper is used as a recording material will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 for the paper feed mechanism provided with the degradation state determination unit of this example.
FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the paper feed mechanism unit corresponding to continuous paper.
The paper feed mechanism unit of this example includes a paper storage unit 31 that stores paper PA, which is continuous paper, a pickup roll 32 that takes out the paper PA from the paper storage unit 31, and a paper PA that is taken out by the pickup roll 32 downstream. A feed roll pair 33 (feed rolls 33a, 33b) that moves to the side, and a transport roll pair 34 (transport rolls 34a, 34b) that further moves the paper PA to the downstream side. Part) has a function of supplying (feeding) paper PA. Further, a movement amount measuring sensor 35 (paper movement amount detection unit 11) is provided at a position between the paper storage unit 31 and the pickup roll 32, and further, between the feed roll pair 33 and the conveyance roll pair 34, and the conveyance roll. First and second timing sensors 35 and 36 are provided at respective positions in the downstream portion of the pair 34.

  In this example, the movement amount measurement sensor 35 as the sheet movement amount detection unit 11 detects a sheet movement amount at a predetermined measurement interval (for example, 10 ms) and outputs it as movement amount data. The movement amount calculation unit 16 calculates a movement speed (paper movement amount per unit time) within a predetermined time range (for example, a period of 50 ms to 100 ms after the start of paper feeding). Here, the time range for which the moving speed is calculated is not determined based on the point of time when the leading edge of the sheet is detected by the first or second timing sensor 35, 36, but the sheet conveyance drive control is performed for each page break of the continuous sheet. By determining based on the time when the page start information output from the unit 13 is received, the moving speed can be individually detected for each page of the continuous paper. Thereby, the deterioration state determination of the roll member in the paper feed mechanism corresponding to continuous paper is realized.

FIG. 4 exemplifies a trajectory of the movement amount measurement from the viewpoint based on the paper (continuous paper).
The right arrow in the figure indicates the sheet conveyance direction, and indicates that the sheet PA, which is a continuous sheet, is conveyed from the left side to the right side in the figure. In FIG. 4, an observation point at the start of movement amount detection by the movement amount measurement sensor 35 is indicated by p (1), and thereafter, p (2), which is an observation point when a measurement interval (sampling period) has elapsed. Is a position moved to the left side by a distance m from p (1), and the observation point is moved further to the left side position to p (3) and p (4) every time the measurement interval elapses. That is, as the paper PA is conveyed from the left side to the right side, the observation point by the movement amount measuring sensor 35 changes from the right side to the left side on the paper PA.

FIG. 5 illustrates a processing flow relating to data collection for continuous paper.
In this example, when a job (for example, a print job) is started, the paper feed start timing corresponding to the page is specified based on the page start information used for page switching control or the like (step S21). Then, collection of movement amount data (accumulation in the measurement value storage area) for each measurement interval obtained by the sheet movement amount detection unit 11 is started (step S22).
Thereafter, when the conveyance of the paper corresponding to the page is completed, it is determined whether an error has occurred in the paper feed mechanism unit or the subsequent apparatus unit (for example, the image forming unit) during the conveyance of the paper corresponding to the page (step S23). If it is determined in step S23 that an error has occurred, the movement amount data accumulated in the measurement value storage area is discarded (step S27), whereas if it is determined that no error has occurred. Further, whether or not the number of movement amount data accumulated in the measurement value storage area is equal to or larger than a predetermined reference data number (and all movement amount data are normal values exceeding the reference movement amount). Whether or not) (step S24). If it is determined in step S24 that the number of data is not equal to or greater than a predetermined reference data number (or includes abnormal value movement amount data not exceeding the reference movement amount), the measured value storage area Is stored (step S27).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S24 that the number of data is greater than or equal to a predetermined reference data number (and all the movement amount data is a normal value exceeding the reference movement amount), the measured value is stored. Based on the movement amount data accumulated in the area, the movement speed is calculated, and the movement amount storage unit 17 is updated (addition of movement speed data) with the movement speed data (step S25). When the data update in step S25 is completed, it is determined whether or not the job is completed (step S26). If it is determined that the job is not completed, the same processing (steps S21 to S21) is performed for the uncompleted job. The process of S25) is repeated, and if it is determined that the process has been completed, the process ends.

Note that, as the paper feed mechanism unit provided with the deterioration state determination unit of this example, cut paper may be used as the recording material, and this case will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 6 illustrates a configuration of a paper feed mechanism unit corresponding to cut paper.
The paper feed mechanism unit of this example includes a paper storage unit 51 that stores paper PB that is cut paper, a pickup roll 52 that takes out the paper PB from the paper storage unit 51, and a paper PB that is taken out by the pickup roll 52 downstream. A feed roll pair 53 (feed rolls 53a and 53b) to be moved to the side and a transport roll pair 54 (transport rolls 54a and 54b) to further move the paper PB to the downstream side. Part) has a function of supplying (feeding) paper PB. In addition, a pickup roll 53 is provided on the downstream side of the paper take-out surface (upper surface in this example) of the paper storage unit 51 in the paper conveyance direction, and a movement amount measuring sensor 55 (paper movement) A quantity detector 11) is provided.

  In this example, the movement amount measurement sensor 55 as the sheet movement amount detection unit 11 detects a sheet movement amount at a predetermined measurement interval (for example, 10 ms) and outputs it as movement amount data. The movement amount calculation unit 16 calculates a movement speed (paper movement amount per unit time) within a predetermined time range (for example, a period of 50 ms to 100 ms after the start of paper feeding). Here, the time range for calculating the moving speed is determined based on, for example, the point of time when the page start information output from the sheet conveyance drive control unit 13 is received for each sheet feeding. In addition, a passage detection sensor that detects the passage of the leading or trailing edge of the paper is provided in the middle of the paper transport path, and the movement speed is calculated based on the passage of the leading or trailing edge of the paper by the passage detection sensor. The time range may be determined.

FIG. 7 exemplifies a trajectory of the movement amount measurement from the viewpoint based on the paper (cut paper).
In FIG. 7A, the sheet position at the start of movement amount detection by the movement amount measurement sensor 55 is indicated by S (1), and thereafter, the sheet position at each time point when the measurement interval (sampling period) has elapsed is represented by S (2 ), S (3), and S (4), and shows how the paper PB progresses in the paper transport direction (right direction in this example) as time elapses. Further, in FIG. 7B, the observation point at the start of the movement amount detection by the movement amount measurement sensor 55 is indicated by p (1), and thereafter the observation point at the time when the measurement interval (sampling period) has elapsed. A certain p (2) is a position moved to the left by a distance m from p (1), and the observation point moves further to the left side to p (3) and p (4) every time the measurement interval elapses. doing. That is, as the paper PB is conveyed from the left side to the right side, the observation point by the movement amount measuring sensor 55 changes from the right side to the left side on the paper PB.

FIG. 8 illustrates a processing flow related to data collection for cut sheets.
In this example, when a job (for example, a print job) is started, page start information used for page switching control or a passage detection sensor provided in the middle of the paper transport path is used to detect the passage of the leading or trailing edge of the paper. Based on the detection, the start timing of paper feed is specified (step S31), and accompanying this, collection of movement amount data for each measurement interval obtained by the sheet movement amount detection unit 11 (accumulation in the measurement value storage area) Is started (step S32).
Thereafter, when the feeding of one sheet is completed, it is determined whether or not an error has occurred in the sheet feeding mechanism section or the subsequent apparatus section (for example, the image forming section) during the sheet feeding (step S33). If it is determined in step S33 that an error has occurred, the movement amount data accumulated in the measurement value storage area is discarded (step S37), whereas if it is determined that no error has occurred. Further, whether or not the number of movement amount data accumulated in the measurement value storage area is equal to or larger than a predetermined reference data number (and all movement amount data are normal values exceeding the reference movement amount). (Step S34). If it is determined in step S34 that the number of data is not greater than or equal to a predetermined reference data number (or includes an abnormal value movement amount data not exceeding the reference movement amount), a measured value storage area Are stored (step S37).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S34 that the number of data is equal to or larger than the predetermined reference data number (and all the movement amount data is a normal value exceeding the reference movement amount), the measured value is stored. Based on the movement amount data accumulated in the area, the movement speed is calculated, and the movement amount storage unit 17 is updated (addition of movement speed data) with the movement speed data (step S35). When the data update in step S35 is completed, it is determined whether or not the job is completed (step S36). If it is determined that the job is not completed, the same processing (steps S31 to S31) is performed for the uncompleted job. The process of S35) is repeated, and if it is determined that the process has been completed, the process ends.

  FIG. 9 illustrates a result of measurement of the sheet movement amount by the sheet movement amount detection unit 11 (movement amount measurement sensors 35 and 55) of this example. The horizontal axis represents the elapsed timing (ms) from the start of paper feeding, and the vertical axis represents the measured movement amount (point). In FIG. 9A, a change state (cumulative value) of the movement amount measured in the process of feeding one sheet of paper is shown by a graph 61, and a period (feeding operation) set as a data collection section. The portion of 50 ms to 100 ms after the start) is shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. 9B, in which the amount of movement per 10 ms is calculated as the moving speed. Further, FIG. 9A shows the feeding of the cut paper (the second (second from the top) paper advances slightly as the uppermost paper in the paper storage unit 11 is fed). A graph 62 shows a change state (cumulative value) of the movement amount when the movement amount starts to be measured from a timing later than normal due to the position shift due to the slip, the slip at the start of paper feeding, or the like. As described above, since the movement speed is unstable for a while after the start of paper feeding, in this example, the data on the time range after a predetermined time has elapsed since the paper feeding operation started. I try to collect it. Note that the slip can be determined from a delay in the speed rise from the start of paper feeding or a decrease in the moving speed during paper conveyance (a decrease in the moving amount).

Next, a deterioration prediction curve (relational expression between the number of sheets fed and the moving speed) derived by the deterioration state value calculation unit 18 of this example will be described.
FIG. 10 illustrates a deterioration prediction curve derived by the deterioration state value calculation unit 18 of this example. The horizontal axis represents the number of sheets fed (k sheets), and the vertical axis represents the moving speed (mm / s). In FIG. 10, the relationship between the number of sheets fed and the moving speed (actually measured value) is plotted as it is (reference numeral 41), and a deterioration prediction curve 42 derived based on this is shown. Further, a threshold (deterioration threshold) 43 relating to a moving speed serving as a guideline for replacing the roll member, a moving speed (performance limit value) 44 when the roll member is assumed to have reached a performance limit, and depending on the roll member The number of sheets fed 45 up to the present time is also shown. As the deterioration threshold, a value (high movement speed value) before the performance limit value is set. According to FIG. 10, at present, about 300k sheets (300,000 sheets) have been fed, but it is not necessary to replace the roll member yet, and when the image forming apparatus is used as before, 400k is used. It can be seen that it is predicted that replacement is required at the time of feeding about 400,000 sheets (400,000 sheets).

In this example, when the deterioration state value calculation unit 18 assumes that the number of fed sheets is x and the movement speed is y based on the movement speed data per unit accumulated sequentially, y (x, w) = w ₂ x. Each coefficient w ₂ , w ₁ , w ₀ that minimizes the error function is obtained (curve fitting) for the deterioration prediction curve expressed by ² + w ₁ x + w ₀ . Then, the deterioration state determination unit 19 compares the polynomial (linear regression model) obtained by the deterioration state value calculation unit 18 with the deterioration threshold value, and determines whether or not the current state is in a deterioration state exceeding the deterioration threshold value. When the determination unit 20 determines that the deterioration state determination unit 19 determines that the deterioration state is in the deteriorated state, a warning (notification) to that effect is given.
In addition, the deterioration prediction curve 42 of FIG. 10 obtained by curve fitting in this example is represented by a polynomial y = −1E−04x ² −0.0015x + 199.41, and R ² = 0.9974. This R ² is called a coefficient of determination and indicates how close the predicted value of the approximate curve is to the actual data. The closer to 1, the higher the probability that the predicted value is represented by curve fitting. .

Next, the deterioration state determination based on the contribution rate by each roll member when the paper feed mechanism corresponding to the cut paper is fed using a plurality of roll members will be described.
FIG. 11 illustrates the contribution ratio of each roll member (in this example, the pick-up roll 52 and the feed roll pair 53 in FIG. 6) when paper is fed using two roll members. The horizontal axis represents the transport distance (mm) of the leading edge of the paper when the paper storage unit 51 is the base point, and the vertical axis represents the contribution rate (%) by each roll member to the paper feeding operation. Further, the graph 65 is the contribution rate of the pickup roll 52, and the graph 66 is the contribution rate of the feed roll pair 53. According to the figure, the contribution rate of the pickup roll 52 is 100% and the contribution rate of the feed roll pair 53 is 0% up to a certain sheet conveyance distance, and thereafter, the contribution rate of the feed roll pair 53 gradually increases. At the same time, the contribution rate of the pickup roll 52 is reduced and the relationship of the contribution rate is reversed. Finally, the contribution rate of the pickup roll 52 is 0% and the contribution rate of the feed roll pair 53 is 100%.

  Therefore, based on the relationship between the contribution ratios of the roll members when the paper is fed using a plurality of roll members as described above, the sheet movement speed in the period in which the pickup roll 52 has a higher contribution ratio to the paper feed operation. The deterioration state of the pick-up roll 52 can be determined based on this, and the deterioration state of the feed roll pair 53 is determined based on the sheet moving speed during the period when the contribution rate to the paper feeding operation is higher in the feed roll pair 53. be able to. In the case of feeding paper using three or more roll members, the deterioration state may be determined for each roll member based on the relationship of the contribution ratio of each roll member.

FIG. 12 illustrates main hardware in a computer of the image forming apparatus according to this example.
In this example, a CPU 71 that performs various arithmetic processing, a RAM 72 that is a work area of the CPU 71, a main storage device such as a ROM 73 that records a basic control program, an auxiliary that stores programs and various data according to an embodiment of the present invention. Storage device (for example, magnetic disk such as HDD, rewritable non-volatile memory such as flash memory) 74, display device for displaying and outputting various information, operation buttons used for input operation by operator, touch panel, etc. The computer includes hardware resources such as an input / output I / F 75 that is an interface with the input device and a communication I / F 76 that is an interface for performing wired and wireless communication with other devices.
Then, the program according to the embodiment of the present invention is read from the auxiliary storage device 74 or the like, loaded into the RAM 72, and executed by the CPU 71, whereby each function of the deterioration state determination device according to the embodiment of the present invention is performed. This is realized on the computer of the image forming apparatus.

Note that the deterioration state determination apparatus (or image forming apparatus) may be realized by one computer, and the deterioration state determination apparatus (or image forming apparatus) is realized by providing each functional unit in a plurality of computers. May be.
In addition, the program according to the embodiment of the present invention may be a computer according to the present example, for example, in a format read from an external storage medium such as a CD-ROM storing the program or a format received via a communication line. Set to
Moreover, it is not restricted to the aspect which implement | achieves each function part by software configuration like this example, You may make it implement | achieve each function part with a dedicated hardware module.

11: paper movement amount detection unit, 12: RTC, 13: paper conveyance drive control unit, 14: error information detection unit, 15: deterioration determination unit, 16: movement amount calculation unit, 17: movement amount storage unit, 18: deterioration State value calculation unit, 19: deterioration state determination unit, 20: notification unit,
31, 51: Paper storage unit, 32, 52: Pickup roll, 33 (33a, 33b), 53 (53a, 53b): Feed roll pair, 34 (34a, 34b), 54 (54a, 54b) Transport roll pair, 35, 55: Movement amount measuring sensor, 36, 37: Timing sensor

Claims (8)

A supply means for supplying the recording material from the housing unit to the subsequent apparatus by moving the recording material by rotation of the roll member;
Detecting means for detecting a moving speed of the recording material by the roll member at a predetermined observation point;
Accumulation means for accumulating the data of the moving speed detected by the detection means in association with the supply amount of the recording material;
Determination means for determining a deterioration state of the roll member based on movement speed data stored in association with the supply amount of the recording material by the storage means;
Equipped with a,
The roll member moves the recording material while the moving speed of the recording material is detected by the detecting means, and is a first roll member for taking out the recording material from the accommodating portion as the roll member. And a second roll member for sending the recording material taken out by the first roll member to the apparatus on the rear stage side,
The detection means detects a moving speed of the recording material for a period during which at least one of the first roll member and the second roll member contributes to the movement of the recording material,
The determination unit determines a deterioration state of the first roll member based on a moving speed of the recording material during a period in which the contribution rate of the recording material to the first roll member is higher, and contributes to the movement of the recording material. Determining the deterioration state of the second roll member based on the moving speed of the recording material during a period when the rate of the second roll member is higher;
A deterioration state determination device characterized by the above. The determination unit derives a relational expression between the recording material supply amount and the recording material moving speed based on the movement amount data stored in association with the recording material supply amount by the storage unit, and uses the relational expression. To determine the deterioration state of the roll member,
The deterioration state determination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The time range that is the detection target of the moving speed by the detecting means is a time range after a predetermined time has elapsed after the recording material is moved by the roll member.
The deterioration state determination apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The detecting means includes a measuring means for measuring the moving amount of the recording material at predetermined time intervals, and a calculating means for calculating the moving speed of the recording material based on the measurement result by the measuring means,
The determination of the deterioration state of the roll member by the determination unit is performed by excluding a recording material in which the number of movement amount data measured by the measurement unit is less than a predetermined reference data number.
The deterioration state determination apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The detecting means includes a measuring means for measuring the moving amount of the recording material at predetermined time intervals, and a calculating means for calculating the moving speed of the recording material based on the measurement result by the measuring means,
The determination of the deterioration state of the roll member by the determination unit is performed by excluding the recording material in which the movement amount less than a predetermined reference movement amount is measured by the measurement unit.
The deterioration state determination apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein Provided with detecting means for detecting an error occurring in the own apparatus or the apparatus on the rear stage side,
The determination of the deterioration state of the roll member by the determination unit is performed excluding the recording material in which an error is detected by the detection unit during the movement operation by the roll member.
The deterioration state determination apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein Image forming means for forming an image on a recording material;
Supply means for supplying the recording material from the storage portion of the recording material to the image forming means side by moving the recording material by rotation of the roll member;
Detecting means for detecting a moving speed of the recording material by the roll member at a predetermined observation point;
Accumulation means for accumulating the data of the moving speed detected by the detection means in association with the supply amount of the recording material;
Determination means for determining a deterioration state of the roll member based on movement speed data stored in association with the supply amount of the recording material by the storage means;
Equipped with a,
The roll member moves the recording material while the moving speed of the recording material is detected by the detecting means, and is a first roll member for taking out the recording material from the accommodating portion as the roll member. And a second roll member for sending the recording material taken out by the first roll member to the apparatus on the rear stage side,
The detection means detects a moving speed of the recording material for a period during which at least one of the first roll member and the second roll member contributes to the movement of the recording material,
The determination unit determines a deterioration state of the first roll member based on a moving speed of the recording material during a period in which the contribution rate of the recording material to the first roll member is higher, and contributes to the movement of the recording material. Determining the deterioration state of the second roll member based on the moving speed of the recording material during a period when the rate of the second roll member is higher;
An image forming apparatus. By moving the recording material by the rotation of the roll member, the computer related to the apparatus for supplying the recording material from the recording material storage unit to the subsequent apparatus,
A detection function for detecting a moving speed of the recording material by the roll member at a predetermined observation point;
An accumulating function for accumulating in the accumulating means the data of the moving speed detected by the detecting function in association with the supply amount of the recording material;
A determination function for determining a deterioration state of the roll member based on movement speed data accumulated in association with the supply amount of the recording material by the accumulation function;
A degradation state determination program for realizing,
The roll member moves the recording material while detecting the moving speed of the recording material with the detection function, and as the roll member, a first roll member for taking out the recording material from the accommodating portion And a second roll member for sending the recording material taken out by the first roll member to the apparatus on the rear stage side,
The detection function detects a moving speed of the recording material for a period during which at least one of the first roll member and the second roll member contributes to the movement of the recording material,
The determination function determines a deterioration state of the first roll member based on a moving speed of the recording material during a period in which the contribution rate of the recording material to the first roll member is higher, and contributes to the movement of the recording material. Determining the deterioration state of the second roll member based on the moving speed of the recording material during a period when the rate of the second roll member is higher;
A deterioration state determination program characterized by that.

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