JPH07200001A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To continue the operation of a part where the execution of a succeeding processing is not directly hindered by the error when a device error is generated. CONSTITUTION:This recorder is provided with plural sensors 14 and 19 for detecting the insertion and ejection of recording paper to/from a recording means 4, a storage means for storing the management information of the carried recording paper, an error detection means for detecting the errors and a control means for referring to the management information of the recording paper during carriage and performing an error processing accompanying error detection. Thus, when the error is generated in the recorder, the processing is continued for the recording paper for which the succeeding processing is not hindered by the error.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, and more particularly to a recording apparatus capable of continuing the operation of a portion which does not hinder the performance of work directly when an apparatus error occurs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various types of recording devices such as laser beam printers have been widely used which are equipped with a multi-cassette to accommodate recording papers of various sizes and perform a large amount of recording at high speed. ing. In such a recording apparatus, conventionally, when an error occurs at a certain part of the apparatus during the operation of the apparatus, an error is displayed immediately when the error is detected, and the operation of the entire recording apparatus is stopped. There is. As an example of such a stopping operation, if one of the plurality of recording paper cassettes is pulled out while the recording apparatus is operating, the operation of the entire apparatus is stopped as a cassette pull-out error.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional recording apparatus, the operation of the entire recording apparatus is stopped even if an error occurs at any one place in the apparatus. This becomes invalid even though the subsequent processing is possible. For example, as mentioned above,
Consider a case where one of the recording paper cassettes is pulled out. In this case, even if the recording paper cassette is pulled out, the recording paper which is being recorded by the recording means at that time, or the recording paper which has been completely sent out from the recording paper cassette and headed for the recording means is conveyed and There is no problem even if the recording operation is continued and ended. Also, when looking at between multiple recording paper cassettes, if the pulled-out recording paper cassette is assumed to be the recording paper cassette set at the farthest position from the transport path, then from the overall recording device, there are other defective parts. Therefore, there is no inconvenience when the recording operation is performed by successively sending the recording papers from the recording paper cassettes other than the farthest position cassette. Nevertheless, in the above case, the operation of the entire apparatus is stopped as a cassette pull-out error, and the user feels inconvenient.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. An object of the present invention is to enable the operation of a portion which does not directly interfere with the execution of the subsequent processing to be continued due to the error when an apparatus error occurs. It is to provide a recording device.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a recording apparatus, a first sensor for detecting insertion of recording paper into the recording means, and detection of ejection of recording paper from the recording means. A second sensor, a storage unit that stores management information of each conveyed recording paper, an error detection unit that detects an apparatus error, and reference the management information of each recording paper being conveyed in accordance with the detection of the apparatus error However, the gist of the present invention is to provide a control means for continuing the processing of the recording paper which does not hinder the subsequent processing due to this error.

In addition to the above-mentioned aspect, the recording device further includes a storage unit for storing the leading end position and the trailing end position of the recording sheet being conveyed and the recording sheet size, and a counting unit for counting the conveying distance by the sheet conveying unit. The control means calculates the position of the recording paper being conveyed from the first and second sensors, the storage means, and the counting means.

[0007]

According to the present invention, with the above-described structure, the first and second sensors detect the recording paper being conveyed during the operation of the recording apparatus and send the detection result to the control means. The control means creates management information about each recording sheet being conveyed from the sent detection data and stores it in the storage means. When a device error occurs in such a situation, the error detection means detects the occurrence of this error and notifies the control means. The control unit refers to the management information for each of the recording sheets being conveyed at that time, and continues the processing for the recording sheets that do not hinder the subsequent processing due to this error.

[0008]

EXAMPLES A recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described below based on examples. FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing the overall construction of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of a control system in this embodiment.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a first recording paper cassette for accommodating recording paper of a predetermined size, reference numeral 2 is a second recording paper cassette for accommodating recording paper of another size, and reference numeral 3 is still another. It is a third recording paper cassette for accommodating recording paper of a size. Reference numeral 4 is a recording unit having a process cartridge structure and incorporating various recording members, 5 is a light source unit for generating and emitting a laser beam, 6 is a main motor for activating each drive unit for conveying the recording paper, 7 Is a fixing roller for fixing the recorded and developed image on the recording paper, and 8 is a discharge roller for discharging the recording paper after fixing to the outside of the apparatus.

The recording unit 4 incorporates a drum 9 for developing the recording paper. The light source unit 5 has a semiconductor laser 10 that generates a laser beam, and a polygon motor 11 that scans the laser beam on the drum 9 in the main scanning direction.

In this recording apparatus, first to third recording paper cassettes 1, 2, and 3 are set in this order from the side closer to the recording unit 4 on the lower part of the apparatus, and these recording paper cassettes 1, 2, and 3 are set. A recording paper transport path is formed upward from the position through the recording unit 4, the fixing roller 7, and the paper discharge roller 8. A first paper feed roller 12 is provided at the exit of the first recording paper cassette 1, and a registration roller 13 corresponding to a first intermediate roller and a recording unit 4 are provided in the transport path near the exit. A registration sensor 14 for detecting the insertion of the recording paper into the recording paper is provided. Further, the second recording paper cassette 2 has a second
The paper feed roller 15 is provided, and the second intermediate roller 16 is provided in the transport path near the exit.
Further, a third paper feed roller 17 is provided at the exit of the third recording paper cassette 3, and a third intermediate roller 18 is provided in the transport path near this exit. Further, a paper ejection sensor 19 for detecting the ejection of the recording paper is provided near the paper ejection roller 8 in the recording paper conveyance path.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the control system of this recording apparatus. In this figure, reference numeral 21 is a heater for performing residual heat,
22 is a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the heater 21, 23 is a power supply for supplying electric power to the heater 1, 24 is a system control unit for controlling the operation of the entire recording apparatus, and 25 is an A / D converter for the output of the thermistor 22. System control unit 2
4 is an A / D converter, and 26 is a system controller 24
The read-only memory (ROM) 27 for storing fixed information such as programs necessary for the control operation of is constantly written and read with various data created or taken in during the control operation of the system controller 24. A rewritable memory (R
AM), 28 is an address bus connected between the system controller 24 and the ROM 26 and the RAM 27, and 29 is a data bus similarly connected between the system controller 24 and the ROM 26 and the RAM 27. Further, reference numeral 30 is a process cartridge constituting the recording unit 4, 31 is a recording paper from the recording paper cassettes 1, 2, 3 to the recording unit 4
A paper transport mechanism section as a paper transport means configured by a main motor 9 and various rollers required for transporting to
2 is a port for distributing the control signal from the system control unit 24 to the heater 21, the process cartridge 30, and the like, 33 is a driver for driving the heater 21, the process cartridge 30, and the paper conveyance mechanism unit 31, and 34 is a conveyance of recording paper. Various sensors for detecting the situation, and 35 are resistors for applying a constant electric potential to the thermistor 22.

In this embodiment, the system controller 24
A CPU is used for this, and the system control unit 24 controls the entire apparatus and also has a function as an error detecting means. Further, the system control unit 24 controls the paper transport mechanism unit 3
It also has a function as a counting unit that counts the transport distance of the recording paper by 1. In addition, in this embodiment, the RAM 27 is provided as a storage means, but the inside of the RAM 27 can be divided into a plurality of storage areas to store data, if necessary. In the same manner as having a plurality of storage units.
The RAM 27 stores management information regarding the recording paper being conveyed.

The operation of the recording apparatus having such a configuration will be described below. First, in this recording apparatus, when the recording operation is started, in a normal operation state, under the control of the system control unit 24, the recording paper is fed with the first to third recording paper cassettes 1 according to the contents specified by the operator. It is sent out from any one of 2, 3 and is first conveyed to the recording unit 4 by the paper conveying mechanism section 31. And the recording unit 4
In the above, the image is printed by the drum 9 and then conveyed to the fixing roller 7 to be fixed, and is discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the paper discharge roller 8 in the final path.

During the recording and printing operations, the system control unit 24 creates management information for each of the recording papers conveyed from the first to third recording paper cassettes 1, 2 and 3.
This management information is stored in the RAM 27 which is a storage means. An example of this management information and its storage state in the RAM 27 are shown in FIG. The RAM 27 is provided with at least a storage area A and a storage area B as shown in FIG. The storage area A stores the number of recording paper sheets during the recording operation. Further, in the storage area B, the management information 41 for each of the recording sheets in the recording operation is stored in the order of the recording sheets moving on the transport path. Since each management information 41 changes with the passage of time as the recording paper moves, the recording area B has a ring buffer structure. Then, as one management information 41, for example, as shown in FIG. 3B, a leading edge position information section 41a in which information indicating whether the leading edge of the recording paper has reached the portion of the recording unit 4 is recorded, and the recording information It comprises a trailing edge position information section 41b in which information indicating the position of the trailing edge of the paper is written, and a paper size information section 41c in which information indicating the size of the recording paper and the recording paper cassette from which this recording paper is taken out is written. ing. Further, the system control unit 24 counts the transport distance of the recording paper by the paper transport mechanism unit 31 during the recording and printing operations. Then, this counting result is also stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 27.

FIG. 4 shows a processing procedure of paper path error processing by the system control unit 24 when any of the first to third recording paper cassettes 1, 2, and 3 is pulled out during the recording operation. Show. When this error processing operation starts, the system control unit 24 checks whether or not any one of the recording paper cassettes 1, 2, and 3 is opened in a processing step (hereinafter simply referred to as step) ST1. , This check operation is repeated unless it is opened. When one of the recording paper cassettes is opened, a program for recording paper cassette open error processing is set in the system controller 24 in step ST2. And
In step ST3, the paper size information section 41c of the management information 41 stored in the RAM 27 is referred to as to whether or not the recording paper currently being recorded is fed from the recording paper cassette below the opened recording paper cassette. To check. In this checking operation, if the recording paper cassette is fed from the recording paper cassette below the open cassette, it is determined in step ST4 whether or not the leading end of the recording paper being fed has reached the portion of the recording unit 4.
The check is performed by referring to the leading edge position information section 41a of the management information 41 stored in item 7. If the recording paper being fed has reached the recording unit 4, step S
At T5, the recording paper is fed and the recording operation is executed, and all the operations are stopped. At step ST6, the recording unit is jam-set, and then the paper path error processing operation is ended.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step ST4 that the recording paper being fed has not reached the recording unit 4, the trailing end of the recording paper being fed is the opened recording paper cassette portion in step ST7. It is checked whether or not it has passed, and if it has not passed, the paper feeding operation by the paper transport mechanism unit 31 is stopped in step ST8. Then, in step ST9, the jam is set in the paper feeding section, and in the next step ST10, it is checked whether or not there is another recording sheet which is currently being recorded and printed by referring to the information in the storage area A of the RAM 27. If it is determined in step ST7 that the trailing edge of the recording sheet being fed has already passed through the opened recording sheet cassette, the process directly proceeds to step ST10. When it is determined in step ST3 that the recording paper currently being recorded is not fed from the recording paper cassette below the opened recording paper cassette, the processing from step ST3 to step ST10 is also performed. Go directly to.

If it is determined in step ST10 that there is another recording sheet that is currently being recorded and printed, the recording and printing is continued in step ST11, and then, in step ST12, whether all the recording sheets that are being recorded and printed are completely printed. Whether or not it is checked by referring to the rear end position information section 41b of the management information 41 stored in the RAM 27, and if printing is completed, a series of paper path error processing operations are ended.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step ST12 that all the recording sheets that are being recorded and printed have not been printed, the process returns to step ST11 to continue printing. Further, if it is determined in step ST10 that there is no other recording sheet currently being recorded and printed, the subsequent processing is not executed and the paper path error processing operation is immediately ended.

As described above, even if a paper path error occurs during the recording operation, the error can continue the processing of the recording paper which does not hinder the subsequent processing.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In the recording device, a plurality of sensors for detecting the insertion and ejection of the recording paper to the recording means, a storage means for storing management information of the conveyed recording paper, an error detection means for detecting an error, and with the error detection, Since the control means for performing error processing by referring to the management information of the recording paper being conveyed is provided, when an error occurs in the device, the processing is continued for the recording paper which does not hinder the subsequent processing due to this error. I was able to do it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the above embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram showing an example of the internal structure of a RAM in the above embodiment. FIG. 3B is a diagram showing an example of the structure of management information of recording paper stored in the RAM in the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a paper path error processing operation in the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 and 3 recording paper cassette 4 recording unit (recording means) 5 light source unit 6 main motor 12, 15, 17 paper feed roller 14 registration sensor (first sensor) 16, 18 intermediate roller 19 paper ejection sensor (second Sensor) 24 system control section (control means) 27 RAM (storage means) 30 process cartridge 31 paper transport mechanism section

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of recording paper cassettes for accommodating recording papers of different sizes, recording means for recording images on the recording papers, and paper for conveying the recording papers from the recording paper cassettes to the recording means. The conveying means, the first sensor for detecting the insertion of the recording paper into the recording means, the second sensor for detecting the discharge of the recording paper from the recording means, and the recording paper conveyed from the recording paper cassette. Storage means for storing management information, error detection means for detecting the occurrence of an apparatus error, and when this error detection means detects an error in the apparatus, the management information of each of the recording sheets being conveyed is referred to A recording apparatus having a control means for continuing the processing for the recording paper that does not hinder the subsequent processing. 2. A plurality of recording paper cassettes for accommodating recording papers of a plurality of sizes, recording means for recording an image on the recording papers, and paper for conveying the recording papers from the recording paper cassettes to the recording means. Conveying means, a first sensor for detecting the insertion of the recording paper into the recording means, a second sensor for detecting the ejection of the recording paper from the recording means, a front end position and a rear end position of the recording paper being conveyed. And storage means for storing the recording paper size, and counting means for counting the transport distance by the paper transport means,
The position of the recording paper being conveyed is calculated from the first and second sensors, the storage means, and the counting means, and based on the result, when an apparatus error occurs, this error does not hinder the subsequent processing. And a recording device having control means for continuing the processing.