JP6168305B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet having punch holes or window frames is known.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus capable of passing paper without jamming by masking paper detection of a sensor for a predetermined time after detecting a binder paper having a hole.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-315553

  An object of the present invention is to avoid jamming (jamming) of a recording medium having an open window frame.

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1
A transporter that transports the recording paper by a rotating member that rotates with the peripheral surface contacting the surface of the recording paper;
An image forming machine for forming an image on a recording paper conveyed by the conveying machine;
A position information obtaining unit for obtaining information for specifying a positional relationship between the window frame and the rotating member for the recording paper with a window frame in which a window frame is opened on the recording paper;
A determination warning unit for determining stability of conveyance of the recording paper with the window frame by the conveyance device based on information obtained by the position information acquisition unit, and for warning a user when the conveyance is unstable; ,
It is provided with.

An image forming apparatus according to claim 2
If the determination warning unit determines that the conveyance is unstable based on the information obtained by the position information acquisition unit, the conveyance stability is maintained under the condition that the orientation of the recording paper with the window frame is changed in the conveyance. It is characterized by re-determining sex.

An image forming apparatus according to a third aspect is the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect,
When the determination warning unit re-determines and determines that the conveyance is stable, the determination warning unit prompts the user to change the orientation of the recording sheet with the window frame in the conveyance.

An image forming apparatus according to claim 4
The transport machine has a plurality of serial rotating members arranged along the transport direction of the recording paper as the rotating member,
The determination warning unit is configured to determine the stability of conveyance in consideration of the interval between the series rotating members.

An image forming apparatus according to claim 5
The position information obtaining unit obtains the information by reading the shape of the recording paper with a window frame with a reading device.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, it is possible to avoid clogging (jam) of the recording medium in which the window frame is vacant.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect, it is possible to determine the direction to avoid the clogging of the recording medium.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, image formation can be performed with stable conveyance.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect, it is possible to more accurately determine the conveyance stability than in the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect, it is easy to obtain the information as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a multifunction machine corresponding to an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure showing the information used for determination of stability of paper conveyance. It is a figure which shows the example determined with conveyance impossible. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example in which conveyance is possible by changing the direction of a sheet.

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

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a multifunction peripheral corresponding to the first embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  An image reading unit 10 for reading an image from a document is provided on the upper part of the multifunction device 1. The image reading unit 10 includes a lid 11 that opens and closes with a hinge as a rotation axis, a transparent platen glass 12 disposed immediately below the lid 11, and an image reading sensor 13 disposed further below the platen glass 12. Is provided. When the image reading unit 10 reads an image, the lid 11 is opened and the document is set downward on the platen glass 12. When the lid 11 is closed and the start button is pressed, the image of the original is read and image data is generated. The image reading sensor 13 extends in the depth direction of the multi-function device 1 (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1), sequentially reads the image of the document while moving in the arrow A direction, and generates image data.

  The multifunction device 1 includes a control unit 21 that controls the overall operation of the multifunction device 1. For example, an external device such as a personal computer (PC), an internal telephone communication device (not shown), or the image reading unit 10 described above. The image processing unit 23 is also provided which obtains image data from the image data and performs image processing on the image data. The multi-function device 1 also includes a plurality of operation buttons including the above-described start button and a display screen, and a user interface (UI) unit 22 that accepts operation inputs from the user and displays various information to the user. Is provided.

  Further, the multifunction machine 1 is provided with an image forming unit 30 that forms an image corresponding to the image data of each color. The image formation in the image forming unit 30 is image data obtained by reading by the image reading unit 10, image data obtained from an external device such as a PC, or a telephone communication device (not shown) inside the multifunction device 1. Based on. That is, the multifunction device 1 has the functions of a copier, a printer, and a facsimile machine.

  The image forming unit 30 includes four image forming engines 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50K arranged side by side. These image forming engines 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50K are engines that form toner images with toners of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively. These image forming engines 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50K have the same configuration except for the difference in the color of the toner used. In the following, when it is not necessary to distinguish between colors, Y, M, C, and K, which are symbols representing colors, are omitted, and the description will be made using only numerals.

  Each image forming engine 50 includes a photosensitive drum 51 that rotates in the direction of arrow B. Each image forming engine 50 is provided with a charger 52, an exposure device 53, a developing device 54, a transfer device 55, and a cleaner 56 around the photosensitive drum 51.

  The charger 52 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 51, and the exposure device 53 irradiates the photosensitive drum 51 with exposure light modulated according to image data, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 51. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface.

  The developing device 54 stores toners of colors (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to the image forming engines 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50K. A toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 51 by developing the electrostatic latent image.

  Endless intermediate transfer belts 61 wound around rolls 62 and 63 are arranged above the four image forming engines 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50K arranged side by side, and the four image forming engines 50Y, 50M are arranged. , 50C, and 50K, circulate and move in the direction of arrow C on the circulation moving path.

  The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 51 is transferred so as to sequentially overlap the intermediate transfer belt 61 by the action of the transfer unit 55 of each image forming engine 50.

  The cleaner 56 cleans the photosensitive drum 51 by removing unnecessary toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 51 after the transfer from the photosensitive drum 51.

  The toner images transferred so as to sequentially overlap the intermediate transfer belt 61 are conveyed by the intermediate transfer belt 61 and transferred onto the sheet by the action of the secondary transfer unit 71. Unnecessary toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 61 after the transfer onto the paper is removed from the intermediate transfer belt 61 by the cleaner 64.

  A paper tray 31 that can be pulled out is provided below the image forming unit 30. In the paper tray 31, sheets before image formation are stacked and accommodated as recording media used for image formation. Here, as a recording medium, an OHP sheet or plastic paper may be accommodated. In addition, a paper with a window frame in which a window frame is vacant in a part of the paper may be stored. The paper with a window frame is, for example, a paper used for a cover of a simple booklet, and a part of characters (for example, a title of a booklet) printed on a paper immediately below the cover from the window frame portion is confirmed.

  The paper stored in the paper tray 31 is picked up by the pick-up roll 81, and when a plurality of sheets are picked up one by one, it is surely separated into one by the paper roll 82, and the single paper is taken by the transport roll 83. It is conveyed in the direction of arrow D and reaches the timing adjustment roll 84. The conveyance of the sheet by the conveyance roll 83 is executed by the rotation of the conveyance roll 83. That is, the sheet is sandwiched between a pair of conveyance rolls 83 so that the circumferential surface of each conveyance roll 83 comes into contact with the surface of the sheet, and each conveyance roll 83 rotates so that the circumferential surface of each conveyance roll 83 holds the sheet. It will be sent out.

  The timing of the sheet that has reached the timing adjusting roll 84 is such that the sheet is conveyed to that position in synchronization with the timing at which the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 61 is conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer unit 71. Adjusted and sent out in the direction of arrow E by the timing adjustment roll 84. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 61 is transferred onto the sheet by the action of the secondary transfer unit 71.

  The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is further conveyed in the direction of arrow F and passes through the fixing device 90. The fixing device 90 includes a pressure roll 92 that rotates in the direction of arrow I and a heating roll 91 that rotates in the direction of arrow J. The paper conveyed to the fixing device 90 is sandwiched between the pressure roll 91 and the heating roll 91 and is pressurized and heated, whereby the toner image on the paper is fixed on the paper.

  The paper that has passed through the fixing device 90 is further transported in the direction of arrow G by transport rollers 85 and 86, and is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 32 provided above the image forming unit 30 by a discharge roller 87.

  However, a post-processing device called a finisher may be connected to the multifunction device 1 on the left side in FIG. In that case, after passing through the transport roll 85, the transport path branches to the left side in FIG. 1 and heads toward the finisher.

  Among the image forming units 30 in the multifunction machine 1 shown in FIG. 1, a combination of the four image forming engines 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50K, the intermediate transfer belt 61, the secondary transfer unit 71, and the fixing unit 90 is provided. This corresponds to an example of an image forming machine according to the invention. Further, a mechanism for transporting paper with a series of rolls from the pick-up roll 81 to the discharge roll 87 corresponds to an example of a transport device according to the present invention, and the transport rolls 83, 85, 86 and the discharge roll 87 are included in the present invention. This corresponds to an example of a rotating member. Each of the transport rolls 83, 85, 86 and the discharge roll 87 has a plurality of roll members (here, a direction intersecting with the paper transport direction and hereinafter referred to as a width direction) arranged in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. As a simple example, two roll members) are connected and integrated by a single shaft, and such a plurality of roll members correspond to an example of a parallel rotating member according to the present invention.

  In the multifunction device 1 shown in FIG. 1, when a sheet with a window frame is used, the user operates the UI unit 22 to input the position of the window frame of the sheet with a window frame. On the other hand, the control unit 21 stores the arrangement positions of the transport rolls 83, 85, 86 and the discharge roll 87, and the stability of the paper transport is determined by a determination calculation described in detail later, so that the paper transport can be performed. If not, a warning is given to the user via the UI unit 22. That is, the UI unit 22 corresponds to an example of a position information acquisition unit according to the present invention, and the combination of the control unit 21 and the UI unit 22 corresponds to an example of a determination warning unit according to the present invention.

  Hereinafter, a method for determining the stability of paper conveyance in the present embodiment will be described in detail.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing information used for determining the stability of paper conveyance.

  Information input from the UI unit 22 described above is the following information in the present embodiment.

  First, the paper size of the paper P with window frame is input. However, the paper size value itself is not input, and the size value L1 in the paper transport direction and the size value L2 in the width direction are determined, for example, “A4 vertical direction”. Then, the paper size selection operation is performed, and then converted into the size values L1 and L2 in the control unit 21.

  Second, the position L3 of the window frame W in the transport direction (the direction of arrow H in FIG. 2) is input, and thirdly, the size L4 of the window frame W in the transport direction is input.

  Further, fourth, the position L5 of the window frame W in the width direction is input, and sixth, the size L6 of the window frame W in the width direction is input.

  For these input information, the internal information stored in advance in the control unit 21 is the following information. Note that all of the internal information described below is stored for each of the transport rolls 83, 85, 86 and the discharge roll 87. In the following description, the transport rolls 83, 85, 86 and the discharge roll 87 are collectively referred to as “rolls”. As described above, each roll has a plurality of (two here as an example) roll members 80 arranged in the width direction. The size and arrangement interval of the roll member 80 itself are generally different for each roll.

  First of the internal information, the center position A in the width direction in the arrangement of the roll members 80 is stored.

  Second, the width direction size B of the roll member 80 itself is stored.

  Third, an interval (pitch) C between a roll and a roll positioned “upstream” of the roll is stored, and fourth, a roll and a roll positioned “downstream” of the roll The interval (pitch) D is stored. Here, “upstream” and “downstream” mean upstream and downstream in sheet conveyance.

Based on such input information and internal information, the stability of paper conveyance is determined by the following arithmetic expression. First,
L2 / 2-L5-A-B> 0 and L2 / 2-L5-L6-A <0 (Formula 1)
L2 / 2 + A−L5> 0 and L2 / 2 + A + B−L5−L6 <0 (Expression 2)
Any of the rolls corresponding to at least one of the roll members 80 is transported in an unstable manner when any one of the roll members 80 is placed inside the window frame.

Next, it is determined whether or not the roll is determined to be unstable by the above formulas 1 and 2, whether or not the roll is transported by one roll. That is,
(L1-L3-L4)> C and L3> D (Expression 3)
If it corresponds to the arithmetic expression, it is transported by one roll, and it is determined that transport is impossible. When it is determined that any one of the rolls incorporated in the multifunction machine 1 cannot be transported, the control unit 21 gives a warning to the user via the UI unit 22 as described above.

  Such determination and warning are executed before the paper is extracted from the paper tray 31 for image formation. Specifically, it is executed at the timing when the input of the input information described above is completed or while the image formation is temporarily interrupted after the start button of the UI unit 22 is pressed. The interrupted image formation is resumed when it is determined that conveyance is possible, and is stopped when it is determined that conveyance is impossible. As a result, the use of the paper P with a window frame that cannot be conveyed and causes a paper jam is avoided, and a paper jam is also avoided.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example in which it is determined that conveyance is impossible.

  It is assumed that the paper P with a window frame is conveyed in the right direction in FIG. Here, the interval (pitch) between the rolls is sufficiently larger than the size of the paper P with window frame.

  In the case shown in FIG. 3, one of the roll members 80 enters the window frame W by the conveyance, so that the force for feeding out the paper P with the window frame cannot be obtained, and the conveyance becomes impossible.

  As the determination warning unit according to the present invention, a form that issues a warning when the conveyance is determined to be unstable by the above formulas 1 and 2 can be adopted. However, as in the above formula 3, the roll member in the paper conveyance direction In the present embodiment in which the determination in consideration of the interval (pitch) is performed, more accurate determination on the stability of sheet conveyance can be obtained.

  Further, in this embodiment, when it is determined that the paper P with the window frame can be transported, each of the passage sensors provided at various locations on the paper transport path for determining the paper passage status. The position and the passing position of the window frame W are compared by the control unit 21, and sensor information is excluded (information masking) from the determination of the passing situation for passing sensors whose positions overlap. This is to avoid a situation in which the edge of the window frame W is misidentified as the outer edge of the paper and the situation is judged.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the image formed on the paper P with the window frame has an image portion corresponding to the window frame W, the image portion is excluded from the image formation. This is for avoiding contamination in the apparatus.

  In the present embodiment, when it is determined that the conveyance is impossible by the determination of Expression 3, the determination is further performed even when the direction of the sheet during conveyance (specifically, the length and width of the sheet) is changed. That is, the size value L1 and the size value L2 described above are interchanged, the position L3 and the position L5 of the window frame W are interchanged, and the size L4 and the size L6 of the window frame W are interchanged. Will be redone. By re-determining the determination in this way, a direction in which a paper jam can be avoided is confirmed. However, when a post-processing device (finisher) is connected to the multifunction machine 1 shown in FIG. 1, the orientation of the paper may be limited due to processing (for example, bending processing or stapling processing) in the post-processing device. Therefore, in that case, the determination is not redone.

  If it is impossible to carry the paper even if it is determined that the paper orientation is changed, the warning is given to the user as described above. In this case, the control unit 21 displays a message prompting the user to change the direction of the sheet during conveyance through the UI unit 22.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the paper can be conveyed by changing the direction of the paper.

  The paper P with a window frame shown in FIG. 4 is the same paper as the paper P with the window frame shown in FIG. 3, but the direction of the paper in conveyance is different. The paper P with the window frame is conveyed in the right direction in FIG. 4, but in FIG. 3, the long side of the paper is conveyed at the top, whereas in FIG. 4, the short side of the paper is conveyed at the top. Yes. And if it is conveyance in such a direction, the paper P with a window frame will be conveyed stably regardless of the roll frame 80 regardless of the window frame W.

  As described above, when the paper can be transported by changing the orientation of the paper in the transport, the user who has seen the message prompting the change of orientation changes the orientation of the paper (specifically, the paper in the paper tray 31 is changed). The paper jam is avoided by re-inserting and changing the orientation or selecting another paper tray 31 in which the paper is stored in a different orientation.

  Note that, in the multifunction device 1, in general, an image sent from the control unit 21 to the image forming unit 30 so that the orientation of the image formation on the paper does not depend on the orientation of the paper at the time of conveyance and becomes a direction desired by the user. It is assumed that a function for switching the orientation of an image represented by data is incorporated, and this embodiment also has this function. Even when the user changes the orientation of the paper according to the message, the orientation of image formation with respect to the paper is maintained by using this function.

  Next, a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described. The second embodiment is similar to the multifunction device 1 of the first embodiment in terms of hardware configuration, and the combination of the image reading unit 10 and the image processing unit 23 is an example of the position information acquisition unit referred to in the present invention. The point corresponding to is different from the first embodiment. Hereinafter, description will be given focusing on differences from the first embodiment, and redundant description will be omitted.

  In the MFP 1 of the second embodiment, the input information described in FIG. 2 is obtained by reading the paper P with a window frame by the image reading unit 10. The multifunction device 1 of the second embodiment is provided with a window frame reading mode, and the user selects the window frame reading mode by menu selection via the UI unit 22. Also, black paper or the like is prepared as a background for reading the paper P with window frame. Then, the paper P with window frame and the background paper are placed on the platen glass 12 so that the image reading unit 10 reads the paper P with window frame. The read image of the paper P with the window frame is sent to the image processing unit 23, and the position of the edge of the paper P with the window frame (including the edge of the window frame) is detected by the image processing by the image processing unit 23. As this image processing, for example, a technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-305700 may be applied. In the image processing unit 23, the input information as described with reference to FIG. 2 is calculated based on the edge position thus detected and sent to the control unit 21. Thus, since the user inputs information by causing the image reading unit 10 to read the paper P with the window frame, the user's input operation is easy.

  The operation after the input information is sent to the control unit 21 is the same as in the first embodiment.

  This is the end of the description of the present embodiment.

  In the above description of the embodiment, a multifunction peripheral has been presented as an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. However, the image forming apparatus of the present invention may be a single function apparatus of a printer, a copier, or a facsimile.

  In the description of the embodiment, a so-called tandem color machine has been presented as an example of the image forming machine according to the present invention. However, the image forming machine according to the present invention may be a so-called revolver type color machine. Or it may be a monochrome machine.

  In the description of the above embodiment, an example of a conveyance method in which the sheet is conveyed so that the center of the sheet is aligned with the center in the width direction of the conveyance path is shown. However, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the conveyance path A conveyance method may be employed in which the sheet is conveyed so as to bring the sheet toward one side in the width direction. As described above, in the case of the conveyance method in which the paper is brought to one side, the above-mentioned “condition for changing the orientation of the recording paper” includes a condition for reversing the paper in the width direction.

  In the description of the above embodiment, as the position information acquisition unit referred to in the present invention, a method of acquiring the size of a directly input window frame or the like, and a method of acquiring by position reading and image processing by the image reading unit 10 are used. Although the thing is illustrated, as a position information acquisition part said to the present invention, each position of each roll member 80 contained in each conveyance roll 83, 85, 86 and discharge roll 87 in the vicinity of pickup roll 81, for example It is also possible to use a method of detecting the position of the window frame W by providing each passing sensor corresponding to, and extracting one sheet of paper P with a window frame by the pickup roll 81.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Multifunction device 10 Image reading part 21 Control part 22 User interface (UI) part 23 Image processing part 31 Paper tray 50Y, 50M, 50C, 50K Image formation engine 61 Intermediate transfer belt 71 Secondary transfer device 83, 85, 86 Transport roll 87 Discharging roll 90 Fixing device

Claims (5)

A transporter that transports the recording paper by a rotating member that rotates with the circumferential surface in contact with the surface of the recording paper;
An image forming machine for forming an image on a recording sheet conveyed by the conveying machine;
A position information obtaining unit for obtaining information for specifying a positional relationship between the window frame and the rotating member for the recording paper with a window frame in which a window frame is opened on the recording paper;
A determination warning unit that determines stability of conveyance of the recording paper with the window frame by the conveyance unit based on information obtained by the position information acquisition unit, and warns a user when conveyance is unstable; ,
An image forming apparatus comprising:   When the determination warning unit determines that the conveyance is unstable based on the information obtained by the position information acquisition unit, the conveyance is stabilized under the condition that the direction of the recording sheet with the window frame is changed in the conveyance. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is re-determined.   The determination warning unit urges the user to change the orientation of the recording sheet with the window frame in conveyance when the determination is made again and it is determined that the conveyance is stable. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 2. The transport machine has a plurality of series rotating members arranged along the transport direction of the recording paper as the rotating member,
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination warning unit determines conveyance stability in consideration of an interval between the series rotating members. 5.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position information obtaining unit obtains the information by reading a shape of the recording paper with a window frame by a reading device. .

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