JPH0430176A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent generation of unexpected accidents by judging whether or not an abnormality mode should be reset or not according to content or state of the abnormality. CONSTITUTION:When abnormality is detected, a code for the abnormality is stored in RAM111 and the mode is transferred to the state where no operation is possible by displaying abnormality on a display panel 49. When a trigger at the time of power ON is detected and if the abnormality code stored in the RAM111 is a code where the abnormality is not reset, abnormality display is carried out and the mode is transferred to the operation unable state. When it is a code other than the resettable code, the abnormality display is reset and the operation enable state is made. Thus, unexpected accidents can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus characterized by control over various abnormalities occurring during image forming operations.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, in an image forming apparatus having an electrophotographic process, various abnormalities may occur during image forming operations. For example, there may be a paper jam in the paper transport path, an error in separating the paper from the photoconductor, or an abnormality in the optical system or the image forming process unit around the photoconductor.

Then, when various abnormalities are detected by each sensor,
The control unit was set to abnormal mode and controlled to stop the operation of the device. Furthermore, after the abnormality processing has been performed, the abnormality mode is reset by turning the power off and then on.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Even though there are various types of abnormalities, such as those for which there is no guarantee that the abnormality can be detected again after a reset, those that are related to safety, or those that are not directly related to safety, the above-mentioned In the prior art, it was possible to reset it uniquely.

Therefore, after the reset, there was a risk that abnormalities would occur continuously or even larger abnormalities would occur.

An object of the present invention is to ensure the safety of the apparatus and provide a highly reliable image forming apparatus by making it impossible to reset the abnormality mode depending on the nature of the abnormality.

[Means to solve the problem]

The above purpose is to provide an abnormality detecting means for detecting various abnormalities, a display means for transitioning to an abnormal mode by the output of the abnormality detecting means and displaying the same, and an operation prohibiting means for prohibiting use of the device when in the abnormal mode. This is achieved by including a reset means for resetting the abnormal mode by a reset operation, and a determining means for determining whether or not the abnormal mode should be reset depending on the content and state of the abnormality.

[Effect]

The abnormal mode is reset, that is, canceled, by the reset means, but the reset means does not uniquely reset the abnormal mode, but after the determination means determines whether or not the abnormal mode should be reset. ,
Based on the result of this determination, it is reset only if it is acceptable.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a large-sized copying machine to which the present invention is applied. The configuration and operation will be explained below. In the figure, when the start key is pressed, the paper feed clutch is turned on and
Send the transfer paper to 0. Then, this transfer paper is prevented from double feeding by the paper feed rollers 11 and the reverse rollers 12, and is sent to the registration rollers 13. On the other hand, when the original on the contact glass 14 is exposed by the exposure lamp 15, the reflected light hitting the original is reflected from the first mirror 16, the second mirror 17, the third mirror 18, the L/7 lens 19, the fourth mirror 2o, The light reaches the photoreceptor drum 24 via the fifth mirror 21, the sixth mirror 22, and the dust-proof glass 23, and forms a latent image on the photoreceptor drum 24, which is charged by the charger 25. This latent image is irradiated with light by an eraser 26 to erase charges in unnecessary portions, thereby preventing toner from adhering to the photoreceptor drum 24 in non-image areas. When the timing for development comes, the development motor is driven and the development roller 27 rotates.
The latent image on the photosensitive drum 24 is developed by the toner on the developing roller 27 . The developed image is placed on the registration roller 13
The toner is transferred from the toner to the transfer paper fed synchronously at the transfer section, but before that, the adhesion force (charge) between the toner and the photoreceptor drum 24 is reduced, and when the transfer paper is separated from the photoreceptor drum 24, the toner is In order to suppress re-transfer, pre-transfer static elimination is performed using a pre-transfer static elimination lamp. The transfer paper sent out from the registration roller 13 is transferred to the photoreceptor drum 2 by a guide mylar.
The photosensitive drum 2 is brought into close contact with the photosensitive drum 2 by the transfer charger 28.
The toner on 4 is transferred to the transfer paper. If the transfer paper cannot be separated from the photosensitive drum 24 after the transfer, it is forcibly separated by the separation claw of the cleaning unit 29.

The transfer paper separated from the photoreceptor drum 24 is sent to a fixing section by a belt of a transport unit 30. - On the other hand, the photoreceptor drum 24 after separation is neutralized before cleaning, the toner remaining on the photoreceptor drum 24 is scraped off by the fur brush of the cleaning unit 29, and the toner not removed by the fur brush is cleaned. scraped off by a blade.

The transfer paper sent to the fixing section 31 by the transport unit 30 is thermally fixed there, and is sent to the ejection roller 33 and ejected by the switching claw 32 except when copying the first side in the duplex mode. When copying of the first side in the double-sided mode is completed, the transfer paper is sent to the reversing section 34 by the switching claw 32, and the transfer paper is reversed and sent to the intermediate tray 35.

As is well known, the transfer paper is sent out again from this intermediate tray 35 toward the photosensitive drum 24.

Note that 36 is an optional paper feeding device.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the operation section 40 of the copying machine.

In the figure, 41 is a timer key, 42 is a timer display, 4
3 is a program key, 44 is a program display, 45 is an enter key, 46 is a numeric keypad, 47 is a guidance key,
48 is a guidance key display, 49 is a display panel, 50 is a dimension scaling key, 51 is a dimension scaling display, 52 is a centering key, 53 is a centering display, 54 is a binding margin adjustment key, 55 is a representative binding water, 56 is a 2-sided display, 57 is sort display, 58 is stack display, 59 is sorter key, 60 is double-sided key, 61 is page continuous copy display, 62 is page continuous copy key, 63 is erase display, 64 is erase key 65 is paper specification change Magnification display, 66 is the paper specification magnification key, 67 is the zoom magnification key, 68 is the reduction key, 69 is the enlargement key, 70 is the same magnification key,
71 is a paper selection key, 72 is an automatic paper selection key, 73 is a density adjustment key, 74 is an automatic density key, 75 is a clear/stop key, 76 is a print key (start key), 7
7 is interrupt key, 78 is preheating display, 79 is mode clear/
The preheating key 80 is a guidance display section.

Recent copiers have become more multi-functional and can be set to various modes, so as mentioned above, the keys and their displays are diverse, but since the individual contents are already well known, we will omit the explanation. .

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of the display panel 49 of the copying machine.

In the figure, 81 is a call service person display, 82 is a manual feed display, 83 is a running display, 84 is a copy ready display, 85 is a standby display, 86 is a paper supply display, 87 is a misfeed display, 88 is a toner supply display, and 89 is a paper supply display. indicates the remaining amount of paper, 90 indicates the paper direction, 91 indicates the paper size, 92
is paper selection display, 93 is automatic paper selection display, 94 is paper specified magnification display, 95 is magnification display, 96 is same magnification display, 97
indicates zoom magnification, 98 indicates misfeed position, 99
1 is a density adjustment display, 100 is an automatic density display, 101 is a copy number counter, and 102 is a set number counter.

As with the operation section 40, a description of its contents will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and each component is a microcomputer (CPU) 110.
controlled by The CPU 10 includes a RAM 111 for data storage, a ROM 112 for storing control B program and control data, a decoder 113 for serial communication, a clock IC 114 for outputting current time data, and a clock IC 114 for outputting current time data.
An interface 115 to which various analog sensors (S Tl) such as (photo) sensors are connected, an interface 116 to which various digital sensors 5 (2) such as interlock sensors are connected, and various cross current loads such as motors and clutches are connected. Interfaces 117, 118, an optical communication interface 119 connected to an ADF control CPU (not shown), and the like are connected. In addition, A.D.
The control CPLJ of F is a microprocessor that controls the feeding and ejection of originals while communicating with this CPU 1l/O, and this communication includes information such as whether or not the original is on the original table and copy start information given from the former to the latter. , as well as manuscript set/update information given from the latter to the former.

The power source of this device is a commercial power source, and the power supply unit 120
Constant voltage Vcc for logic loads such as the CPU and various sensors (including timer displays) generated from commercial power supply, constant voltage VL for light loads such as displays (excluding timer displays), and heavy loads such as motors, clutches, heaters, etc. A constant load voltage VH is supplied to each part. However, a backup power source 121 is connected to the RAMI 1 and the clock IC 114 in case the commercial power source is cut off. The decoder 113 is connected to the operating section 40, various drivers for the optical unit, a slave CPU, an eraser clock, a relay driver, etc., and transmits and receives data to and from the CPU 10 using serial signals.

The relay driver uses the CPU obtained through the decoder 113.
In response to the instruction from IlO, a solid state relay 122 inserted in the light load constant voltage VL supply line of the power supply unit 120 and a solid state relay inserted in the heavy load constant voltage VH supply line 123 are independently energized and deenergized. In addition, data to be stored (codes, counters, modes, etc.) are stored in RAMI
1 is stored.

Next, the program contents of CPUll0 related to abnormality processing will be explained based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 5, 6, and 7.

Here, typical abnormalities in the image forming apparatus will be listed by system.

First, in the optical system, there are abnormalities in the lamp (abnormal lamp lighting, lamp relay disconnection, etc.), and home position abnormalities in the scanner, mirror, and lens (position sensor on, off, etc.).

In addition, in the paper feeding system, jams may occur in the paper conveyance path.

Further, regarding image forming, there are charger voltage abnormalities, developing unit abnormalities, cleaning unit abnormalities, photoreceptor thermistor abnormalities, and the like.

Further, regarding the fixing system, there are abnormalities such as a temperature fuse blown, a thermistor blown, and a reload signal not turned on.

Here, if the thermistor connector etc. provided in the fixing unit 31 have a certain resistance value and the temperature is incorrectly detected as being lower than the actual temperature, if the temperature is increased to reach the target temperature, the fixing unit 31 There is a risk of accidents such as roller welding and fire. In addition, the fixing thermistor normally has a temperature of 1°C per second even when the temperature of the fixing roller increases.
Although it is a slight increase in temperature, when this temperature changes by 10℃ or more, it is determined that the abnormality is due to a malfunction of the fixing thermistor.We have adopted a method that detects when the condition changes from a normal state to an abnormal state. In this case, since the moment when the state changes to an abnormal state is detected, it may not be possible to detect it again when the state stabilizes in the abnormal state. In such cases, it is necessary to prevent the device from being used until it is repaired for safety reasons, instead of simply resetting the abnormality as in the past.

The same thing can also be said for abnormalities in parts that generate heat, such as the fixing unit or exposure lamp.

Figure 5 is a flowchart of the abnormality check processing subroutine, and when the above-mentioned abnormality is detected (Y at Sl).
, stores the code for the abnormality in the RAM 111 (
S2). Then, an abnormality is displayed on the display panel 49 (S
3), the mode is shifted to an inoperable state (S4).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a subroutine of abnormality display check processing (normal abnormality reset) when the power is turned on.

Detects the trigger when the power is turned on (Y at S5), and stores the RAM
If the abnormality code stored in I11 is a code that does not reset the abnormality (for example, fixing thermistor malfunction) (Y in S6), an abnormality is displayed (S7) and the mode shifts to a non-operational state. (S8). If it is a code other than that which cannot be reset (N at SO), the abnormality display is reset (S9) and the state becomes operational (SIO).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a subroutine for special resetting of abnormalities that cannot normally be reset. By simultaneously pressing the mode clear key 79, clear key 75, and enter key 45 (Sll, 512
, S13, respectively: Y), and the stored abnormality code is cleared (S14). Then, this abnormality can be reset by resetting the normal abnormality mode. It is also possible to perform normal reset processing at the same time and reset the abnormal state at this time.

In this embodiment, the fixing thermistor malfunction is cited as a problem that cannot be reset by turning the power on and off, which is a normal method for resetting the malfunction, but the present invention is not limited to this, of course.

Furthermore, in the fixing thermistor operation abnormality mode, the abnormal state is maintained until the storage abnormality code is reset by repair.

Furthermore, when an abnormality is detected, each relay is turned off to cut off the power to each load as a safety measure.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, damage to the device and unexpected accidents can be prevented by disabling resetting when an abnormality that poses a safety problem occurs.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an example of an image forming apparatus,
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the operation section, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the display contents of the display panel, and FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are flowcharts showing the control contents of the present invention. Sl, S2...Sensor (abnormality detection means), 45°75
．． 79...Various keys (reset means), 49...
Display panel (display means) ■ ■ 0... CPU (operation prohibition means and judgment means) Figure 5 Figure 5 Figure ? figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] an abnormality detection means for detecting various abnormalities, a display means for transitioning to an abnormality mode by the output of the abnormality detection means and displaying this, an operation prohibiting means for prohibiting use of the device when in the abnormality mode, and a reset operation An image forming apparatus comprising: a reset means for resetting an abnormality mode; and a determination means for determining whether or not the abnormality mode should be reset depending on the content or state of the abnormality.