JPH03231261A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent changing the set number of sheets due to misoperation by stopping an image formation based on a sheet unsuitable signal when a sheet unsuitable state occurs and simultaneously switching a first transfer path to a second transfer path always opened. CONSTITUTION:When the sheet unsuitable state occurs caused by a sheet jam, etc., a driving means 204 stops forming an image based on the sheet unsuitable signal and simultaneously the first transfer path is switched to the second transfer path always in opened state. Further, when a timer 202 starts to count the time, and counts a prescribed time, the second transfer path is closed and a set key 208 and a RAM 206 are connected. Thus, the change in the number of set sheets caused by the misoperation is prevented while the image formation is stopped on the way caused by the sheet unsuitable state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which the number of copies can be set.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in this type of image forming apparatus, the number of copies is set using a setting key such as a numeral key or a clear key, and the set number of copies is stored in a memory via a first transfer path and displayed on a display. After displaying, the image is formed.

However, since the numeric keypad and clear key operate with a light touch, input operations may be made incorrectly during a stoppage due to a paper jam, etc., resulting in the initial setting number becoming unclear or copying more than the required number of copies. .

Therefore, an image forming apparatus such as that disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-10823 has been proposed.

The image forming apparatus has a means to prevent signals from setting keys such as a numeric keypad from being sent to the memory during an intermediate stop due to an inappropriate sheet state such as a paper jam, and prevents the set number of sheets from being changed due to an erroneous operation. It made it possible.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the image forming apparatus described above, even if the operator desires to change the set number of sheets during a mid-stop, it is impossible to do so.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it makes it impossible to change the set number of sheets due to an erroneous operation during a mid-stop stop due to an inappropriate sheet state, and also makes it possible for the operator to change the set number of sheets. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that allows changes to be made when desired.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve this object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a signal generating means that generates a sheet inappropriateness signal when an inappropriate sheet state occurs due to a paper jam or the like; a stop means for stopping image formation in response to a sheet inappropriateness signal; a switching means for switching to a second transfer path which is different from the first transfer path and which is normally open in response to the sheet inappropriateness signal; The device includes a timer that starts timekeeping based on an inappropriate signal and the depression of a setting key, and a circuit closing device that closes the second transfer path when the timer measures a predetermined time.

[Function] In the image forming apparatus of the present invention having the above configuration, when an improper sheet state occurs due to a paper jam or the like, the signal generating means generates a sheet improper signal, and the stop means is activated based on the sheet improper signal. At the same time as stopping image formation, the switching means switches the first transfer path to the second transfer path, which is normally open. Further, the timer starts measuring time, and when a predetermined time has elapsed, the circuit closing means closes the second transfer path to connect the setting key and the memory.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the monochrome laser printer 1 and the color image recording device 20 in a combined arrangement.

First, the monochrome laser printer 1 is mounted on top of the color image recording device 20. In the laser printer 1, a polygon scanner 2 irradiates a charged photoreceptor 3 with laser light, thereby drawing an electrostatic latent image. The photoreceptor 3 on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed is developed by a developing device 4, and the toner image is transferred onto plain paper or an OHP sheet fed from a paper feed cassette 5, and fixed by a fixing device 6. Normally, the monochrome laser printer 1 records data transmitted from a host combinator.

The output from the laser printer 1 is sent to the paper bus switching section 10.
If a black and white image is required, it is fed to the monochrome output tray 11 or automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) tray 12; if a color image is required, it is fed to the ADF.
) After being sent to the ray 12, it is taken into the color image recording device 20.

The sheets sent to the ADF tray 12 are taken one by one into the color image recording device 20 by the ADF feed roller 13, and a set of three sheets of monochrome printed paper output from the laser printer 1 is formed. The original mask 15 (15R, 15G, 15B) of the color image recording device 20
) is used as.

Next, the configuration of the color image recording device 20 will be explained.

An alignment device 31 is located at the bottom of the main body of the color image recording device 20.
1 are connected by a mask original transport path 21. On both the left and right sides of the alignment device 31 are roller pairs 22 whose rotational direction can be controlled. 23. 24, 25, 26, 27, gates 28, 29, and mask original storage section 102 are arranged. A pair of glue curler rollers 101 is arranged in the middle of the mask original transport path 21 to remove curls from the mask original 15 discharged from the laser printer 1.

The used mask original plate 1 is placed on the outside of the roller pair 26 and 27.
There is a mask original discharge tray 30 for discharging the mask original plate 5.

The alignment device 31 includes a sensor (not shown) and a pair of rollers 32 disposed near both left and right ends. 33 and a glass plate 34 arranged between them.

An exposure device 41 is arranged below the alignment device 31.
It can be moved left and right along the

The exposure device 41 includes a linear white light source (hereinafter referred to as a lamp) 42, a reflector 43 that reflects light from the lamp 42, and a filter unit 44 that includes a red filter 44R, a green filter 44G, and a blue filter 44B. ing.

The photosensitive recording medium 50 is, for example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-14304.
The main material is a photocurable resin using a photopolymerization initiator known in Publication No. 4, and includes a photocurable resin that cures with light of each wavelength of red, green, and blue, and cyan, magenta, Microcapsules containing yellow dye precursors are coated on a base sheet. The photosensitive recording medium 50 is housed in a cartridge 51 so as not to be exposed to light. The photosensitive recording medium 50 passes from inside the cartridge 51 between the glass plate 34 and the exposure table 52, and passes through the buffer 55, separation roller 64, and pressure developing device 70.
It is routed through the drive roller 57 to the take-up roller 54. The exposure table 52 is lowered by a cam 53, and the mask original 1 conveyed onto the glass plate 34 is placed on the exposure table 52.
5 and the photosensitive recording medium 50 are brought into close contact with each other.

Further, the fixed roller 56 is pressed against the left end portion of the exposure table 52 when the exposure table 52 is lowered to a predetermined position, and the fixed roller 56 is pressed against the left end portion of the exposure table 52 when the exposure table 52 is lowered to a predetermined position.
It is arranged to be fixed to.

The developer sheet 60 is constructed by coating a base paper with a developer described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-88739, and is placed in the cassette 61 so that the developer-coated surface faces downward. It is set.

A suction cup 62 for feeding the color developer sheets 60 one by one is arranged at the upper part of the cassette 61.

The pressure developing device 70 is composed of a photosensitive recording medium 50 on which a latent image has been formed by exposure, and a pair of pressure rollers 71 for overlapping a color developer sheet 60 and developing it under pressure.

The heat fixing device 80 is installed between a casing 83 containing a heater 81 and an impeller 82 in the upper part, rubber rollers 84, 85, 86 for conveying the color developer sheet 60 in the lower part, and rollers 87 and 88. A paper ejection tray 63 is attached to the outside of the heat fixing device 80.

Next, the configuration of the main parts of the present invention will be explained using FIG.

A RAM 206, a timer 202, and an input/output means 203 are connected to the CPU 201, and a setting key 208, sensors 81 to S6, and a driving means 204 are connected to the input/output means 203, respectively. The RAM 206 includes flags such as a key flag, a time-up flag, and a timer start flag.

Sensors S1 to S6 are sequentially provided on the paper conveyance path, and abnormality in the conveyance of the mask original plate 15 is detected by the sensors S1 to S4, and abnormality in the feeding of the color developer sheet 60 is detected by the sensor S.
At step 5, the conveyance abnormality is detected by sensor S6.

Next, the action will be explained.

First, the monochrome laser printer 1 creates a red mask original 15R. This mask original version 15R is
In order to harden the microcapsules containing a cyan dye precursor among the microcapsules coated on the photosensitive recording medium 50, this mask original plate has toner as a light-shielding image placed on other parts. At this time, the mask original 15R outputted from the monochrome laser printer 1 is sent to the ADF tray 12 and fed into the color image recording device 20 by the ADF paper feed roller 13. Color image recording device 20
The mask original 15R fed inside passes through the mask original transport path 21 and is moved to the positioning device 3 by roller pairs 24 and 22.
Sent to 1. On the way, the curl of the mask master plate 15R is corrected by the curler roller 101. A sensor S1 is disposed at the exit of the recurler roller 101, and when the tip of the mask original 15R passes through the sensor, a timer 202 starts a time slightly longer than the time required for the mask original to pass from S1 to 82 in normal times. Starts the time measurement operation with the set time. At this time, the gate 28 is at the position indicated by the solid line, and the mask original is introduced into the alignment device. At this time, when sensor S2 detects the mask original,
The timekeeping operation by Sl is stopped and a new timekeeping operation is started. The timer 202 is stopped when the mask original is conveyed to the alignment device.

Next, the alignment device 31 transports the mask original 15R to an appropriate exposure position by the pair of rollers 32, and then, while reading the alignment mark printed on the mask original 15R with a sensor, moves the mask original 15R to a drive source (not shown).
Move 5R to the specified position.

Immediately before alignment, the exposure table 52 is lowered to a predetermined position by a cam 53, and a fixed roller 5 is placed on the left end of the exposure table 52.
6 is pressed to fix the photosensitive recording medium 50 to the exposure table 52. After the alignment is completed, the exposure table 52 is further lowered by the cam 53, and the glass plate 34 of the alignment device 31
The mask original plate 15R and the photosensitive recording medium 50 are brought into close contact with each other.

When the exposure table 52 comes into close contact with the alignment device 31, the lamp 42
lights up, and the exposure device 41 performs operational exposure in the direction of arrow A in order to expose the photosensitive recording medium 50 with red light via the mask original 15R via the red filter 44R. When the exposure is completed, the lamp 42 is turned off and the exposure device 4 is turned off.
1 moves back in the direction of arrow B. At this time, the filter unit 44 of the exposure device 41 is moved by a drive source (not shown), and the green filter 44G is positioned above the lamp 42.

While the exposure device 41 moves backward, the exposure table 52 is raised by the rotation of the cam 53, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 is separated from the alignment device 31 and the mask original 15R. At this time, back tension is applied to the photosensitive recording medium 50 at the center of rotation of the roll of the photosensitive recording medium 50 in the cartridge 51, and when the exposure table 52 descends, the amount of descent of the exposure table 52 corresponds to the target amount. The length is pulled out from the storage cartridge 51, and the exposure stage 5 is
2 rises, the photosensitive recording medium 50 is rewound in a direction to take up the slack.

Even after the exposure of the red mask master plate 15R is completed, the exposure table 52 only rises to a predetermined position, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 is moved to the exposure table 52 by a fixed roller 56 pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52. remains fixed.

Next, the green mask original 15G created by the monochrome laser printer 1 is placed in the ADF tray 12,
When the sheet passes through the F paper feed roller 13, recurler roller 101, and mask original transport path 21, and reaches just before the roller pair 24,
The roller pairs 22, 24° 25.27 and the roller pair 32° 33 of the alignment device 31 are rotated in the direction of conveying the mask original 15R to the right, and at the same time the mask original 15R is sent out from the alignment device 31, the timer 202 is activated, and S4 is stopped when the trailing edge of the mask original 15R passes.

The mask original 15G is transported to the exposure position and stopped. At this time, Sl and S2 operate in the same manner as in the case of the mask original 15R. At this time, the gates 28 and 29 are located at the positions indicated by solid lines, the exposed mask original 15R is sandwiched between the pair of rollers 27, and the rear end thereof passes through the gate 29, and the rotation of the pair of rollers 27 is stopped. It is maintained by this.

The mask original 15G guided by the alignment device 31 is aligned with the photosensitive recording medium 50 in the same manner as the mask original 15R, and then the exposure table 52 is lowered to align the mask original 15G with the photosensitive recording medium 50. Being brought into close contact. after that,
The lamp 42 is turned on and exposure to green light is performed via the green filter 44G. After the exposure is completed, the exposure table 52 is raised to a predetermined position. The exposure device 41 is moved back to the original position, and the filter unit 44 is moved so that the blue filter 44B is positioned above the lamp 42.

Next, the blue mask original 15B created by the monochrome laser printer 1 is similarly fed to the color image recording device 20, and while being conveyed just before the roller pair 24, the blue mask original 15B is moved to the roller pair 24, 22.degree. 25. 26 and alignment device 3
One pair of rollers 32.degree. 33 is rotated in the direction of conveying the mask original 15G to the right, so that the mask original 15G is sent out from the alignment device 31, and the mask original 15B is conveyed to the exposure position and stopped. At this time, the gate 28 is located at the position indicated by the solid line, the gate 29 is located at the position indicated by the broken line, and the exposed mask original 15G is sandwiched between the pair of rollers 26, and
With the rear end passing through the gate 29, the roller pair 2
It is maintained by stopping the rotation of 7.

The mask original 15B guided by the alignment device 31 is brought into close contact with the photosensitive recording medium 50 by a similar operation. The photosensitive recording medium 50 is exposed to blue light through the mask original 15B.

Through the above operations, a latent image of a desired color image is recorded on the photosensitive recording medium 50.

Next, the exposure table 52 is raised to the initial position, the fixed roller 56 and the left end of the exposure table 52 are separated from each other, and the buffer 55 is moved in the direction of the arrow E to remove the unexposed portions of the photosensitive recording medium 50. is pulled out from inside the cartridge 51 below the exposure table 52. Drive roller 57
The photosensitive recording medium 50 is conveyed and stopped when the leading edge of the latent image reaches the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70.

In synchronization with the movement of the photosensitive recording medium 50, the developer sheet 60 is fed out from the cassette 61 by a suction cup 62 until the tip of the developer sheet 60 corresponds to the tip of the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 50. After being transported, it stops. At this time, the timing means is operated at the same time as the suction cup starts to operate, and S
5 passes the tip of the color developer sheet 60, the operation of the timing means is stopped.

Next, by a drive device (not shown), the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70 is rotated in the direction of the arrow and pressed against the roller 71 . At this time, by starting the timing operation again and lowering the exposure table 52 to a predetermined position, the fixed roller 56 is pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 is fixed to the exposure table 52. Photosensitive recording medium 5
0 is sent under pressure while being overlapped with the color developer sheet 60, and the uncured microcapsules on the photosensitive recording medium 50 are destroyed by the pressure, and a color corresponding to the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 50 is formed. The image is developed onto developer sheet 60.

By rotating the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70 in the direction of the arrow, the buffer 55 is moved in the direction of the arrow F. The color developer sheet 60 is peeled off from the photosensitive recording medium 50 by a separation roller 64 and guided toward a heat fixing device 80 .

In the heat fixing device 80, the color developer sheet 60 is heated by a heater 81 and heated by air circulating in a casing 83 by an impeller 82, thereby promoting color development of a color image. At the same time, the binder polymer (binder resin) for fixing the color developing medium to the base paper of the color developer sheet 60 is thermally melted, and the surface becomes smooth and the surface of the color developer sheet 60 has a moderate gloss. can get. The color developer sheet 60 that has been subjected to the color development and gloss treatment passes through S6, the operation of the clock means is stopped, and the sheet is discharged to the paper discharge tray 63.

During the above-described series of development and coloring/glossy processing, the photosensitive recording medium 50 is held and fixed between the exposure table 52 and the fixed roller 56. Therefore, while the development processing for one screen is being performed, the next exposure point is It is possible to perform exposure processing on the latent image of a color image.

When exposing the second color image, first, the mask original 15B at the exposure position is sent to the left, and the mask original 15R held at the position of the roller pair 27 is sent to the alignment device 31 by the rollers. vs. 24, 22, 25
．． 27 and the pair of rollers 32 and 33 of the alignment device 31 are rotated so as to convey the mask original 15R to the left. At this time, the gates 28 and 29 are located at the positions indicated by solid lines.

The mask original plate 15B is sandwiched between the roller pair 24 and the gate 28
The rotation of the pair of rollers 24 is stopped and held at the position where the rear end has passed. The mask original 15R sent to the alignment device 31 is aligned and placed on the photosensitive recording medium 50.
be brought into close contact with The photosensitive recording medium 50 is the mask original plate 15
is exposed to red light through R.

Next, the mask original 15R at the exposure position is sent to the left, and the roller pair 26 is moved to send the mask original 15G held at the position of the roller pair 26 to the alignment device 31.
2, 23, 25, 26 and the roller pair 3 of the alignment device 31
2.33 is rotated so as to convey the mask original 15G to the left.

At this time, the gates 28 and 29 are located at the positions indicated by broken lines. The mask original plate 15R is sandwiched between the roller pair 23 and the gate 2
It is held by stopping the rotation of the roller pair 23 at the position where the rear end passes through the roller pair 8. The mask original 15G sent to the alignment device 31 is aligned and brought into close contact with the photosensitive recording medium 50. The photosensitive recording medium 50 is exposed to green light through the mask original 15G.

Next, the mask original 15G at the exposure position is sent to the right, and the same operation is performed to send the mask original 15B held at the position of the roller pair 24 to the alignment device 31, and the color is placed on the photosensitive recording medium 50. A latent image of the image is formed to form a color image on the developer sheet 60.

By repeating the same operation, one set of mask originals 1
5, a predetermined number of color images can be output.

After producing the required number of color images from the same mask original 15, each mask original 15 is discharged from the roller pair 27 or the roller pair 26 to the paper discharge tray 30.

In addition, if the next mask master plate 15 is output from the monochrome laser printer 1 while a series of color images are being exposed, the ADF )ray 12 is stored.
After the exposure of the previous set is completed, the sheets are fed into the color image recording apparatus 20 one by one by the ADF paper feed roller 13.

Furthermore, when a mask original output from another monochrome laser printer or a previously used mask original is to be used again, the mask original can be manually operated by setting it on the ADF tray 12.

Next, Fig. 2 (a) to (C) shows the situation when paper conveyance is abnormal.
This will be explained using a flowchart.

When the occurrence of a sheet inappropriateness signal is detected in Sl,
Image formation is stopped in S2. The key flag is checked in S3, and if it is not pressed, the buzzer is turned off.
F (Sll) Return to L, Sl. If the key is pressed in S3, the timer time up flag is checked at 84, and if the time is up, the buzzer is turned off (S5)
L, Execute key manual processing SIO.

If the time is not up in S4, turn on the buzzer (S
6) Check the timer start flag (S7). If the timer has started, go to ■. If not started, the timer is started in S8 and the timer start flag is set to 1.

If there is no sheet inappropriate signal at Sl, the first transfer path 2
11, and if the setting key is pressed in S9, key manual processing S10 is performed.

As shown in FIG. 2(b), the key scan is read with an interrupt. In S30, it is determined whether the key is pressed, and if it is, the key flag is set to 1 in S31. If it is determined in S30 that the key is not pressed, the key flag is set to 0 (S32
), sets the timer start flag to 0 (333) and exits the interrupt.

As shown in Fig. 2(C), the timer is processed by interrupt,
In S34, it is determined whether the timer start flag is 1 or 0, and the timer start flag is set to 1.
If so, count down in S35, set the time-up flag to 1 when the time-up occurs in S36, and exit the interrupt if the time-up does not occur.

On the other hand, if the flag is -0 in S34, a time constant is set in S38, the time-up flag is set to 0 in S39, and the interrupt is exited.

As is clear from the detailed description above, in the color image forming apparatus 20 of the present embodiment, when an inappropriate sheet state occurs due to a paper jam or the like, a sheet inappropriate signal is generated, and the drive is driven based on the sheet inappropriate signal. When the means 204 stops image formation, the transfer path 211 is switched to the normally open transfer path 212, and the timer 202 starts counting, and when a predetermined time has been counted, the transfer path 212 is closed and set. Since the key 208 and the RAM 206 are connected, it is impossible to change the set number of sheets due to an erroneous operation during a stoppage due to an inappropriate sheet state, and it is also possible to change the set number of sheets when the operator desires to do so. I can do something.

Further, if the setting key 208 is pressed in an inappropriate sheet state, a buzzer sounds, thereby alerting the operator.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above detailed description, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when an inappropriate sheet state occurs due to a paper jam or the like, the signal generating means generates a sheet inappropriate signal, and the sheet Based on the inappropriate signal, the stop means stops image formation, the switching means switches the first transfer path to the normally open second transfer path, and the timer starts measuring time, and the predetermined time elapses. When the time is counted, the closing means closes the second transfer path and the setting key and memory are connected, so that it is impossible to change the set number of sheets due to an erroneous operation during a mid-stop due to an inappropriate sheet state, and When the operator desires to change the set number of sheets, the change can be made possible.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 3 show an embodiment embodying the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main parts in this embodiment, and FIG. (b) is a flowchart for key scan interruption, (C) is a flowchart for timer interruption, and FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the color image recording apparatus of this embodiment. FIG. In the figure, 202 is a timer, 204 is a driving means, 206 is a RAM, 208 is a setting key, 211. 212 is a transfer path. wi1 figure 2 (a)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, which sets the number of copies using a setting key, stores the set number of copies in a memory via a first transfer path, and In an image forming apparatus that forms an image after displaying it on a display, a signal generating means generates a sheet inappropriateness signal when an inappropriate sheet state occurs due to a paper jam or the like; a stop means for stopping the sheet; a switching means for switching to a normally open second transfer path different from the first transfer path in response to the sheet inappropriateness signal; 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a timer that starts timekeeping based on the timing, and a closing means that closes the second transfer path when the timer measures a predetermined time.