JPH06175454A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow a user to easily judge whether a sheet discharged from an image forming device has normally recorded an image or not. CONSTITUTION:An image forming device in which a latent image corresponding to an output image and formed on an image bearing medium, is developed so as to obtain a toner image which is then transferred on a recording sheet, comprises a message memory 17e in which several messages in accordance with operating conditions of an image forming device have been previously stored, a pattern generator 17f for reading a message stored in the message memory 17e so as to deliver an image signal corresponding to the message, and a laser element 17b adapted to be driven by the image signal from the pattern generator 17f so as to form a latent image corresponding to the message on the image carrier. Upon occurrence of an accident, a recording sheet on which a kind of the accident is printed is discharged from the device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus for displaying an abnormal image forming operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a copying machine, for example, sheets of paper stored in a paper tray are conveyed one by one to an image forming section, an image is recorded on the sheets of paper, subjected to a fixing process, and then discharged to the outside of the apparatus. To be done. In addition, when making multiple copies of one original, in order to improve the copying efficiency,
Before the first sheet on which an image is formed is discharged to the outside of the apparatus, the next sheet is conveyed to the image forming unit and the next image is recorded.

In such a copying machine, for example, when a failure occurs in the image forming section or the sheet conveying path and normal storage cannot be performed, the operation of the apparatus is generally stopped and the operation panel or the like is stopped. It is generally practiced to display a simple message indicating the cause of a failure such as "paper jam".

Further, in such a copying machine, the operation of the apparatus is not stopped immediately upon occurrence of a failure, but the sheet which is being conveyed and remains in the apparatus is discharged to the discharge tray outside the apparatus as much as possible. I am trying. This is to make it possible to use the paper on which the image is normally recorded, and if the paper remains in the device, it may be an obstacle when handling the paper jam or cause a new paper jam. Because.

Further, when image formation is defective due to a temporary failure in a part other than the paper transport system, a failure message is displayed on the operation panel or the like, the defective paper is ejected, and then a copying operation is performed. May continue.

[0006]

The paper discharged to the outside of the apparatus when a failure occurs is not only a paper on which an image is normally recorded, but also an incomplete image is recorded depending on the timing or location of the failure. Paper or blank paper with nothing recorded may be ejected.

While the user is using the copying machine to perform copying work, the operation of the copying machine is stopped for some reason, and some sheets are discharged to the discharge tray in that state. When a blank sheet is included, the user cannot determine whether this blank sheet is caused by a failure of the copying machine, or caused by a user's setting mistake or operation mistake. Can not.

In a copying machine in which a fee is charged for each number of copies, or in a copying machine in which the number of copies is managed, only the number of normally copied sheets is accurately counted, and the failure of the copying machine is the cause. If any miscopy occurs, it must be excluded.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional copying machine, the user cannot know the cause of the occurrence of the miscopy, so that the copying machine is actually created even though the miscopy occurs due to the user's human error. There was an inconvenience such as misunderstanding that a failure had occurred, or being unsatisfied with the number of copies.

On the contrary, when a blank sheet is actually ejected due to a failure of the copying machine, the user mistakenly thinks that the blank sheet is ejected due to the double feeding of the sheets, and the copying operation is normally performed again. Although it has to be done, there is a possibility that there may be an inconvenience of carrying a copy with an insufficient number of sheets.

Further, when a failure occurs in the copying machine, a message indicating the cause of the failure is displayed on the operation panel or the like in the conventional copying machine, but the area of the operation panel is limited. Only a simple message can be displayed. For example, the detailed location of the failure,
Alternatively, it was not possible to display the measures for the failure. Also, if multiple failures occur at the same time, not all messages can be displayed at the same time due to the limited display area, and each message must be displayed on the operation panel sequentially by the user's operation. There was a problem of poor sex.

The present invention has been devised in order to solve the above problems, and a user can determine whether or not the paper discharged from the image forming apparatus is a paper on which an image is normally recorded. The purpose is to make it easy to judge. It is another object of the present invention to enable a user to know detailed information regarding a failure when the apparatus has a failure.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention forms a latent image corresponding to an output image on an image carrier, develops the latent image to obtain a toner image, and the toner image is obtained. In an image forming apparatus that transfers a message to a recording sheet, a message storage device in which a plurality of messages corresponding to the operating state of the image forming device is recorded in advance, and a message recorded in the message storage device is read to display the message A pattern generator that outputs an image signal, a unit that detects an operating state of the image forming apparatus, and an operating state of the image forming apparatus detected by the unit that detects the operating state transmits some information to a user. Means for selecting a message to be transmitted from the message storage device and supplying it to the pattern generator; Is driven by the image signals, characterized in that it and a first auxiliary image forming means for forming a latent image corresponding to the message on the image bearing member.

[0014]

When some trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus and it becomes impossible to record a normal image on the recording paper, it should be transmitted to the user on the image bearing member such as the photosensitive drum. Form a latent image corresponding to the message. This latent image undergoes development processing to become a toner image, and this toner image is transferred to recording paper. Therefore, the recording paper discharged to the outside of the apparatus is printed with a message indicating that the recording paper is not normally recorded. Thus, the user can clearly know that the output recording paper is defective.

[0015]

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a copying machine will be described as an example of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied. The copying machine is roughly divided into a copying machine main body 1 for forming a copy by forming a toner image corresponding to the original document image on a recording paper, and an original document is automatically sent to a document mounting surface of the copying machine main body 1. Automatic document feeder 2
And a post-processing device 3 for performing post-processing such as sorting and stapling on the copy discharged from the copying machine main body 1.
It consists of and.

Inside the copying machine main body 1, an image reading device 5 for reading an original image by scanning an original placed on a platen glass 4 which is an original placing surface from the upper side, and the image reading device 5. An image forming apparatus 6 that forms a toner image corresponding to an original image on a recording sheet based on the image information obtained by the above, and a sheet feeding apparatus 7 that supplies the recording sheet to the image forming apparatus 6 are provided. ing.

The automatic document feeder 2 is a copying machine body 1.
The platen glass 4 provided on the upper part of the platen is opened and closed so that the originals stacked on the original platen tray 8 are sequentially fed one by one by a feed roller (not shown) and a conveyor belt 9. 4 sent and copied,
The copied document is discharged to the document discharge tray 10 by the conveyor belt 9 and discharge rollers (not shown).

The image reading device 5 is provided with an exposure lamp 11, a plurality of reflection mirrors 12, a lens 13, an image sensor 14 and the like as an optical system, and the exposure lamp 11 and the reflection mirror 12 are moved along the platen glass 4. Then, the reflected light from the document is converged on the image sensor 14 and the density of the image of the document is converted into an electric image signal. This image signal is converted into digital image data by an A / D conversion circuit or the like provided as an electric system inside the image reading device 5. This image data is supplied to the processing unit described later, and after being subjected to predetermined signal processing, is supplied to the image forming apparatus 6.

The image forming device 6 forms a toner image on a recording sheet by a well-known electrophotographic method. The surface of the photosensitive drum 16 uniformly charged by the charging device 15 is fed from the laser exposure device 17 to the surface. To form an electrostatic latent image.

The laser exposure device 17 is a laser element (not shown) such as a semiconductor laser whose drive current is modulated based on the image data from the image reading device 5, and a laser beam from the laser element to the photosensitive drum 16. A rotating polygon mirror 1 that periodically deflects in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the surface.
8, a reflection mirror 19 and the like.

In the present embodiment, the laser exposure apparatus 1
A 2-beam type is used as 7. The two-beam type laser exposure device 17 is provided with two laser elements 17a and 17b that can be independently driven as shown in FIG. 2, and the first laser element 17a is the original image signal from the image reading device 5. The laser beam L1 is driven by the drive circuit 17c on the basis of the above, and the photosensitive drum 16 is irradiated with the laser beam L1. On the other hand, the second laser element 17b is driven by the drive circuit 17d based on the message image signal to irradiate the photoconductor drum 16 with the laser beam L2. As the message image signal, the desired message selected by the message selection data in the message memory 17e storing a plurality of messages is read by the pattern generator 17f in synchronization with the main scanning and the sub scanning of the laser beam L2. Is obtained by The message image signal from the pattern generator 17f is also supplied to a printing device 20 such as an inkjet printer arranged between a conveyor 25 and a fixing device 26 described later. When the copying machine is operating normally, only the original image signal system is in operation, only the first laser element 17a is driven, and the message image signal system circuit is inoperative. However, when some trouble occurs in the copying machine, the circuit of the message image signal system is activated to form an electrostatic latent image of the message on the photoconductor drum 16 or print the message on the recording paper. To do

The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 16 is developed by the developing device 21 to form a toner image on the photosensitive drum 16, and the toner image is transferred by the transfer device 22 to a plurality of sheets of the paper feeding device 7. It is transferred onto the recording paper sent along the path A from any one of the trays 7a to 7e. It should be noted that the trays 7a to 7c store paper sheets of different sizes, the tray 7d stores an intermediate tray for temporarily storing recording papers for double-sided copying, and 7e stores several hundreds of recording papers. It is a large capacity tray. The residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 16 after the transfer is removed by the cleaning device 23.

The recording paper after transfer is peeled from the photosensitive drum 16 by the peeling device 24, conveyed to the fixing device 26 by the conveyor 25, and subjected to the fixing process. The path of the sheet of paper after fixing is switched by the switching gate 27 to either the path B which goes to the post-processing device 3 or the path C which goes to the intermediate tray 7d through the reversing device 28 for double-sided copying.
In the case of double-sided copying, the reverse side of the recording paper is reversed by the reversing device 28, and the recording paper is supplied again to the image forming device 6 along the path A via the intermediate tray 7d, and a toner image is formed on the back surface of the recording paper this time. After that, it is sent to the post-processing device 3.

The recording paper discharged from the image forming device 6 to the post-processing device 3 is switched to either the route D or the route E by the switching gate 29. The recording paper that has advanced to the route D is sent to the route F with the image side facing up, and then to the route E.
The recording paper that has proceeded to step 1 is turned upside down by the reversing roll 30a provided in the reversing device 30 and is sent to the path F.

The recording paper traveling along the path F is the switching gate 3
By means of 1, the route G is directed to the top tray 32, and the route H is subjected to various types of post-processing. The recording paper that has proceeded to the path H is conveyed downward along the path I by the vertical conveyor belt 33, and is sorted by the switching gate 34 into the path J that is subjected to the stapling process and the path K that directly goes to the sorter bin 35. . The recording paper that has advanced to the path J is discharged into the holding tray 36, and when a required number of recording papers are accumulated, the stapler 37 staples the recording paper. In the case of signature output, the central portion of the recording paper, which is a fold, is stapled. The stapled recording paper is again conveyed downward by the vertical conveyance belt 33 and discharged to a predetermined position in the sorter bin 35.

Next, an electric circuit for controlling the operation of the above copying machine will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.

A processing section 41 shown in FIG. 3 controls the automatic document feeder 2, the image reading apparatus 5, the image forming apparatus 6 and the recording sheet post-processing apparatus 3 in accordance with an instruction designated by a user interface 42 such as an operation panel. System controller 43 for controlling, input interface 44 for controlling command / status signal and image input signal, output interface 45 for controlling command / status signal and image output signal, page buffer for temporarily storing input image data 46, a disk control device 48 for controlling a hard disk 47 as a large-capacity data storage memory, an output control device 49 for switching operation conditions of the image forming device 6, the post-processing device 3, the output interface 45, and the like, for image data transmission. Image data bus 50 used It is equipped with a.

The user interface 42 is, specifically, a display device such as a keyboard, a lamp or a liquid crystal display.
Various operation buttons such as a button for setting various copying conditions such as double-sided / single-sided copying, presence / absence of sorting, and a start button for instructing copying start are provided.

In the system controller 43, C
PU (Central Processing Unit) 43a, ROM (Read Only Memory) 43b in which a program for controlling the operation of the entire device is written, RA used as a work area, etc.
M (random access memory) 43c, bus buffer 4
3d, interface 43e, system bus 43f
Are connected to each other via. In addition, the DMA (direct memory access) control circuit 43g is configured so that the CPU 43a
It is provided to transfer image data without going through. The system bus 43f is connected to the image data bus 50 via the bus buffer 43d. The interface 43e is connected to the automatic document feeder 2, the image reader 5, the input interface 44, the page buffer 46, the disk controller 48, the output controller 49, and the like. The operation of each device is the interface 43
It is controlled by the CPU 43a via e.g., and the operating status of each device is controlled by the CPU 4a via the interface 43e.
3a. Further, the conveyance state of the original or the recording paper in the copying machine main body 1, the automatic document feeder 2 and the recording paper post-processing device 3 shown in FIG. 1 is determined by a plurality of paper sensors (not shown) provided along the conveyance path. The output of each paper sensor is supplied to the CPU 43a via the interface 43e and the system bus 43f.
It is determined whether or not the original document or the recording paper is conveyed at a predetermined timing.

The features of the present invention will be specifically described below based on embodiments with reference to the drawings.

When the above-mentioned copying machine is operating normally, the original is carried by the automatic document feeder 2 onto the platen glass 4 on the upper surface of the copying machine main body 1, and the image is read by the image reading device 5 onto the platen glass 4. The placed document is scanned to read the document image, and the first laser element 1 is based on the image information obtained by the image reading device 5.
7a is driven, the photosensitive drum 16 is exposed by the laser beam L1 from the laser element 17a, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image is formed.
Is developed into a toner image, and the toner image is transferred onto the recording paper by the transfer device 22, fixed by the fixing device 26, and sent toward the recording paper post-processing device 3.

On the other hand, if a failure occurs in the operation of the copying machine and normal copying is not performed, the recording paper is ejected with a predetermined failure message printed on the recording paper. To do. For example, when the automatic document feeder 2 fails to feed a document and a copy is made without a document on the platen glass 4 and a blank recording sheet is ejected, this recording sheet is displayed as "Missing this copy. Print the message "It's a copy" and eject it. The means for printing the predetermined fault message on the recording paper differs depending on when the fault is detected.

An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image formed on the photosensitive drum 16 is transferred to the photosensitive drum 16 and the transfer device 22.
When the occurrence of a failure is detected before passing through the contact position with or the transfer position, the CPU 43a displays a message "This copy is a miscopy" from a plurality of messages in the message memory 17e. An image signal for displaying this message as an image is generated in the pattern generator 17f, and the drive circuit 17d is selected.
The second laser element 17b is driven via. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to this message is formed on the photosensitive drum 16, and this electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 21 to become a toner image, and then transferred to recording paper.
Therefore, the chart paper says, "This copy is a miscopy."
Will be ejected in a printed state. As a result, if the user has ejected a sheet of paper on which no original image has been recorded and this message is printed on that sheet of paper, the mistaken copy is not the user's responsibility and the copy machine is not responsible. It is possible to know that the copy has been generated due to the failure, that is, the copy is not charged.

After the electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image formed on the photosensitive drum 16 has passed the transfer position,
When the occurrence of a failure is detected, the printing device 20 is activated, the failure message corresponding to the failure is selected from the message memory 17e, and the pattern generator 17f is selected.
By generating an image signal corresponding to, a message is printed on the recording paper between the conveyor 25 and the fixing device 26.

As described above, since the means for printing the failure message is switched depending on when the occurrence of the failure is detected, it is possible to print the message corresponding to the failure on the recording paper for various failures. You can

Further, by providing a means for printing information other than the original image on the recording paper as described above, it is desired to convey some information to the user not only when a failure occurs in the copying machine but also in accordance with the state of the copying machine. At some times, the recording paper on which the message indicating the information is printed can be discharged after the normal copying operation is completed. For example, when the copier can operate itself, but when toner needs to be replenished, a message such as "please replenish toner" is printed on another recording paper and output after normal copying. can do. Also, when the copier is not equipped with a sorter or is in an operable state,
When the user uses the sorter as the post-processing device 3,
A message such as "Sort cannot be used" can be printed on recording paper and output.

Further, although the two-beam type laser exposure apparatus is used in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and two independent laser exposure apparatuses may be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the original image is once converted into an image signal and the laser element is driven by this image signal to form a latent image on the photosensitive drum. It is also possible to form a latent image by directly forming an image on the photosensitive drum using an optical lens. In this case the laser element would only be used to form a latent image corresponding to the message.

[0040]

As described above, in the present invention, since various messages are printed on the recording paper, it is determined whether the discharged paper is a miscopy or not. You can check it just by looking. As a result, the charging status can be surely confirmed, and the inconvenience of not being aware of the miscopy is eliminated. Also, since the printable area is large, it is possible to display a detailed message or a plurality of messages at the same time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit system of a two-beam type laser exposure apparatus used in the copying machine shown in FIG.

3 is a block diagram of an electric circuit for controlling the operation of the copying machine shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Copier main body, 2: Automatic document feeder, 3: Post-processing device, 4: Platen glass, 5: Image reading device, 6:
Image forming apparatus, 7: paper feeding device, 7a to 7e: tray,
8: Document placing tray, 9: Conveying belt, 10: Document discharging tray, 11: Exposure lamp, 12: Reflecting mirror, 13:
Lens, 14: image sensor, 15: charging device, 1
6: photoconductor drum, 17: laser exposure device, 17a,
17b: laser element, 17c, 17d: drive circuit, 1
7e: message memory, 17f: pattern generator, 1
8: rotating polygon mirror, 19: reflecting mirror, 20: printing device,
21: developing device, 22: transfer device, 23: cleaning device, 24: peeling device, 25: conveyor, 26: fixing device, 27: switching gate, 28: reversing device, 29: switching gate, 30: reversing device, 30a. : Reverse roll,
31: switching gate, 32: top tray, 33: vertical transport belt, 34: switching gate, 35: sorter bin, 36: holding tray, 37: stapler, 41: processing unit, 42: user interface, 43: system control device, 43a: CPU, 43b: ROM, 43c: R
AM, 43d: bus buffer, 43e: interface, 43f: system bus, 43g: DMA control circuit,
44: input interface, 45: output interface, 46: page buffer, 47: hard disk,
48: disk control device, 49: output control device, 50:
Image data bus

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for forming a latent image corresponding to an output image on an image carrier, developing the latent image to obtain a toner image, and transferring the toner image onto a recording sheet. A message storage device in which a plurality of messages according to the operating state of the device are recorded in advance, a pattern generator that reads out the message recorded in the message storage device and outputs an image signal of the message, When the operation state of the image forming apparatus detected by the operation state detecting unit and the operation state of the image forming apparatus detected by the operation state detecting unit requires transmission of some information to the user, the message storage unit transmits the information. Means for selecting a message to be supplied to the pattern generator, and a message driven by an image signal from the pattern generator, on the image carrier. An image forming apparatus characterized by comprising: a first auxiliary image forming means for forming a latent image corresponding to sage, and. 2. The recording paper is conveyed on a downstream side of a position where the toner image on the image carrier is transferred to the recording paper based on an image signal from the pattern generator. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising second auxiliary image forming means for performing printing. 3. The latent image corresponding to the output image formed on the image carrier is detected when the operation state of the image forming apparatus is detected to require transmission of some information to the user. When the image has not passed the transfer position,
3. The control means for setting the first auxiliary image forming means in the operating state and for setting the second auxiliary image forming means in the operating state after the transfer position has been passed. Image forming device.