JPH02300770A - Image formation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To know at a glance the connection state of peripheral equipments, the states of the peripheral equipments, and the jamming position of a form by displaying these pieces of information concentrically on a display according to the detection signal of a detecting means. CONSTITUTION:Only an image forming device main body 1 and the peripheral equipments 2 - 7 which are connected thereto are displayed on a display graphically on a dot matrix display basis like a figure 15. Then the detecting means detects the states of the peripheral equipments, e.g. an overflow state and the rest of forms and they are also displayed graphically on the display with the detection signal. If a jam occurs on any form conveyance path in the system, a jam display mark blinks on the displayed main body and peripheral equipments 2 - 7, so the jam occurrence position is easily known. Consequently, the display is as clear as day and the operation of the equipments is made extremely easy.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an image forming system in which various peripheral devices are connected to an image forming apparatus main body, particularly the configuration state of the system, the state of each device constituting the system, etc. Regarding the display of

Conventional technology In image forming apparatuses such as printers and copying machines, not only the main body of the image forming apparatus itself but also various peripheral devices are connected to form an integrated image forming system. functions can be achieved.

For example, in the case of a laser printer system, as illustrated in FIG. By selectively connecting these, a number of system configurations can be created. Peripherals to be connected may vary depending on customer requirements.
Various system configurations can be formed by arbitrary selection and combinations ranging from a single printer main body 1 at the minimum to a fully equipped system consisting of the above six types of peripheral devices connected to the printer main body 1.

Some examples of system configurations are shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(e).

The system shown in FIG. 2(a) is comprised of a printer main body 1, a system table 2, and a large quantity paper feed unit 1-3.

FIG. 2(b) shows a reversing unit 4 in the system of (a).
has been added.

The system shown in FIG. 2(c) includes a printer body 1, a system table 2, a reversing unit 4, a job stacker 6, and a duplex unit 7.

The system shown in FIG. 2(d) is provided with a sorter 5 in place of the duplex unit 7 of the system shown in FIG. 2(c).

FIG. 2(e) shows a fully equipped system.

The functions of the laser printer main body 1 and each peripheral device are well known and are not related to the present invention, so explanations will be omitted. The functions of each system are achieved by transporting the fed and printed paper through each peripheral device, so the connection status of each peripheral device and the status of each peripheral device itself (for example, unit In order to facilitate use, it is necessary to clearly display information such as whether the cover is open, overflow of ejected paper, remaining amount of fed paper, etc.), and the position where a jam occurs.

However, in conventional image forming systems, the system status of a fully equipped system is displayed on the display panel, or several peripheral units are displayed together, and a jam indicator light is installed above the system status. . Furthermore, among stand-alone printers, printers in which the jam is indicated only by a message are also widely used.

For example, in the laser printer system shown in Figure 1,
The printer main body 1 is provided with a jam indicator 8 as shown in FIG. This indicator graphically displays the paper conveyance path inside the printer body, graphic displays 9 and 1o indicating the large-volume paper feed unit, and thick lines 1 to collectively indicate other peripheral devices. Six LEDs 12 are arranged at representative positions on the road. In the figure, * indicates an LED, and when a jam occurs, the LED near the position on the indicator corresponding to the part where the jam occurs lights up.

Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 7, eight LEDs 12 are arranged above the position corresponding to the paper conveyance path on the schematic diagram 13 of the device assuming a fully equipped system, and when a jam occurs, it is displayed. An indicator 14 in which an LED near a position corresponding to the position lights up is also considered.

For both indicators, no matter how the system configuration changes, the shape on the indicator will not change, and the system configuration cannot be determined just by looking at the indicators, and it may not work properly because it is not connected correctly. There were some flaws that I couldn't figure out. Furthermore, in the indicator shown in Fig. 6, the peripheral devices are not clearly distinguished one by one, so even if the jam indicator LED 12 above the thick line 1 indicating the peripheral device lights up, it will not be possible to identify which peripheral device the jam has occurred in. The problem was that it was difficult to tell what was going on.

41 The present invention improves the system configuration, connection status, status of each peripheral device, and the status of each peripheral device of an image forming system such as a conventional printer system, which improves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the jam occurrence position indicator. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming system equipped with an indicator that allows the location of a jam to be clearly seen at a glance.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the image forming system of the present invention includes a display capable of displaying a dot matrix, a means for detecting connection of peripheral devices, a means for detecting the status of peripheral devices, and a means for detecting paper jam position. Based on the detection signals from each of the above-mentioned detection means, information such as the connection status of peripheral devices, the status of peripheral devices, and the location of paper jam occurrence is displayed centrally on two displays. Features.

Operation Since the image forming system of the present invention is equipped with an indicator having a two-part structure, the connection detection signal detected by the electrical connection detection means of the peripheral device causes the image forming apparatus main body and Only the peripheral devices connected to this device are graphically displayed, and the status of each peripheral device, such as the overflow state and the remaining amount of paper, is detected by the detection means and graphically displayed on the same display based on the signal. Furthermore, if a jam occurs in any paper conveyance path in the system, it is displayed on the main body and peripheral devices, making it easy to identify the location where the jam occurs. All these indications are displayed graphically on the same display, making them self-explanatory and greatly simplifying the operation of the device.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

In the present invention, the system configuration, the status of peripheral devices constituting the system, and the jam occurrence position are displayed on a single display capable of displaying a matrix.

FIGS. 3(a) to 3(e) show figures 15 displayed on the display corresponding to the system having the configuration shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 3(e). FIG. 3(f) is a diagram showing the state in which the paper feed force sensor 1- is removed from the laser printer main body of a fully equipped system. By looking at these figures 15, the peripheral devices that make up the system are obvious. Detection of the connection status of each peripheral device for this display is shown in Figure 4 (,).
As shown in FIG. 2, the electrical connection detection means 16 is configured to output a voltage of Vcc by bringing the units to be connected into contact with each other at an interface portion or the like so that contacts a and A and contacts b and B are connected to close the signal circuit and output a voltage of Vcc. , Figure 4 (
As shown in b), a photointerrupter D and a light-shielding plate C are provided on opposite sides of the two units to be connected, and when the two units are connected correctly, the light-shielding plate C activates the photointerrupter D and generates a detection signal. It is possible to employ a mechanical connection detection means 17 or the like that emits a signal, and a diagram of the system configuration is displayed on the display based on this signal.

Instead of using a photointerrupter and a light shield, a pushbutton switch may be used, and if the units to be connected are properly connected, the pushbutton switch may be pressed on one side.

Next, an example of the display when a jam occurs is shown in FIG. 5 (,).

The example in this figure shows a fully equipped system in which paper is stopped in the paper transport path in the reversing unit 4, duplex unit 1 to 7, and job stacker 6, and a jam indicator mark is displayed in one corner of the same display. 18 blinks, and a jam occurrence position display mark 19 is displayed on the figure representing each device.

This display is performed based on a detection signal from a jam occurrence detection means in each device.

FIG. 5(b) shows a state in which the front cover of the printer main body 1 is open, the white part of the diagram representing the device is blinking, and the mark 20 indicating a parts set failure is blinking in the corner of the display. do. The signal for this display is generated by the door switch.

FIG. 5(c) shows a display when the paper in the lower cassette of the printer body runs out, and the paper=8=end display mark 21 and the arrow 22 pointing to the lower cassette flash.

FIG. 5(d) shows a display on the display showing a state in which the sheets stacked in the upper layer of the reversing units 1 to 4 have overflowed, and includes a message display 23 of ○VERFLOR and an arrow 24 indicating that part. and lights up.

In FIGS. 5(a), (b), (c), and (d), the description has been made assuming that one type is displayed respectively, but it is also possible to display a plurality of states at the same time.

In addition, for automatic detection of the connection status of the unit, it is possible to detect electrical connections such as interfaces, and mechanical detection by sensing photointerrupters, switches, etc., but by performing both at the same time, if both are connected, If only one unit is connected, it can be determined that the connection is defective and that unit 1- can be displayed as a connection error.

In addition, by using a color display to perform color display, it becomes possible to display information that is easier to understand.

The above embodiment is an example, and the marks and the like of each display may be changed as appropriate.

Furthermore, the present invention is applicable not only to laser printer systems but also to copying systems and the like.

Effects As described above, according to the present invention, the system configuration, the status of component equipment, and the location of jam occurrence are displayed clearly as figures, etc. on a single display, making it easier to operate the equipment. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a fully equipped system configuration of an example of a laser printer system as an example of an image forming system to which the present invention is applied, and FIGS. 2(a), (b), etc.
..., (e) are side views showing the various system configurations, and Fig. 3 (a), (b), ..., (e), (
f) is an example of a graphic displaying the system configuration on a display according to the present invention; FIG. 4(a); (b) is a schematic diagram showing the connection detection means of each device, and Fig. 5 (
a), (b), (c), and (d) are examples of figures on the display indicating the status of each device, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrams showing an example of a jam display in a conventional image forming system. It is a diagram. 1. Laser printer main body (image forming device main body) 2.3
, 4, 5, 6.7 Peripheral equipment 15...System component device connection status display 16...Peripheral equipment electrical connection detection means 17...Peripheral equipment mechanical connection detection means 18...Jam display Mark 19 - Jam occurrence position display mark 20... Parts set defective mark 2 Topper end display mark 22.24... Arrow 23... Overflow message display
(Next meeting 1r

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An image forming system in which various peripheral devices are connected to an image forming apparatus main body, comprising: a display capable of displaying a dot matrix, peripheral device connection detection means, peripheral device status detection means, and paper jam position. It has a detection means, and based on the detection signals from each of the above detection means, information such as the connection status of the peripheral equipment, the status of the peripheral equipment, and the paper jam occurrence position is intensively displayed on the above display. An image forming system featuring: