JPH09323846A - Luminous energy regulation method in paper discharging device, and paper discharging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent malfunction and make new parts and maintenance and management of parts be unnecessary by maintaining a constant luminous energy irrespective of change of conditions of use and of change with time. SOLUTION: A device comprises a light emitting element 11 which is disposed on one face side of passing papers, a light receiving element 12 which is disposed on the other face side of papers and receives light having passed through said papers, a transmission type sensor 1 which detects passage of papers with change of output of the light receiving element, a light energy controlling means 2 which varies the light energy of the light emitting element 11 and is controlled in such a way as the output of the light receiving element 12 which has directly received the light of said light emitting element 11 becomes a constant level and a display 3 which displays abnormal discharging of papers.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light emitting element disposed on one side of a sheet of paper passing therethrough and a light receiving element disposed on the other side of the sheet for receiving light transmitted through the sheet. In a paper ejection device comprising a transmissive sensor, which is composed of an element and detects passage of a paper by a change in the output of the light receiving element, in a state where no paper is present in the transmissive sensor before use, The present invention relates to a light amount adjusting method and a paper discharging device in a paper discharging device in which the light amount is changed and the output of the light receiving element that receives the light of the light emitting element is adjusted to a constant level.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional transmission type sensor, the light amount of a light emitting element is adjusted to a constant value one by one at the time of shipping inspection.

A conventional toner concentration sensor (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-19
578), as shown in FIG. 7, a reference patch P as an adjustment area having a reference toner density is arranged on the transfer belt B, and the infrared light emitting diode D irradiates the reference patch P to generate the reference patch P. The light amount of the infrared light emitting diode D is calculated and adjusted so that the output of the infrared light receiving element T that detects the reflected light reflected by the infrared light emitting diode T becomes a predetermined value.

[0004]

Since the above-mentioned conventional transmission type sensor adjusts the light amount of the light emitting element at the time of shipping inspection, it is used even if the light amount of the light emitting element is adjusted in consideration of changes in the surrounding environment. Due to changes in conditions and changes with time, the amount of light may be insufficient and malfunction may occur, and there is a problem that readjustment is required.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional toner density sensor, the infrared light receiving element T for detecting the reflected light reflected by the reference patch P arranged on the transfer belt B has a red value so that the output becomes a predetermined value. Since the light amount of the external light emitting diode D is calculated and adjusted, it is necessary to dispose the reference patch P as an adjustment area having a reference toner concentration on the transfer belt B, that is, a new part is required. In addition, there is a problem that it is necessary to maintain the reference patch to have the reference toner density.

Therefore, the inventor of the present invention changes the light amount of the light emitting element before the paper is used in the transmissive sensor so that the output of the light receiving element receiving the light of the light emitting element becomes a constant level. As a result of further research and development focusing on the technical idea of the present invention that the adjustment is made, a malfunction is prevented by keeping the light amount constant regardless of changes in operating conditions and changes over time, and new parts are unnecessary. The present invention has been achieved to achieve the object of eliminating the need for maintenance of parts.

[0007]

According to the present invention (the first invention according to claim 1), a light quantity adjusting method in a sheet discharging device is as follows.
A light-emitting element disposed on one side of the sheet of paper passing therethrough and a light-receiving element disposed on the other side of the sheet for receiving light transmitted through the sheet. In a paper discharge device equipped with a transmissive sensor that detects changes in the output of the element, the light amount of the light emitting element is changed to change the light amount of the light emitting element before use when paper is not present in the transmissive sensor. The output of the light receiving element that receives the light is adjusted to a constant level.

The light amount adjusting method in the paper discharging device of the present invention (the second invention according to claim 2) is the light emitting device according to the first invention, wherein the light amount of the light emitting element is adjusted by discharging the paper after the power is turned on. It is performed prior to the detection.

The light amount adjusting method in the paper discharge device of the present invention (the third invention according to claim 3) is such that the light amount of the light emitting element is gradually decreased from the maximum value as compared with the second invention, The output of the light receiving element is adjusted to a constant level.

The light amount adjusting method for a sheet discharging device of the present invention (the fourth invention according to claim 4) is the light emitting device according to the second invention, wherein the light amount of the light emitting element is gradually increased from the minimum value, The output of the device is adjusted to a constant level.

According to another aspect of the present invention (a fifth aspect of the invention described in claim 5), a sheet discharging device is provided on one side of a sheet of paper passing therethrough and on the other side of the sheet. And a light receiving element that receives light that has passed through the paper, and in a paper discharge device that includes a transmissive sensor that detects passage of the paper by a change in the output of the light receiving element, changing the light amount of the light emitting element, The light amount control means is controlled so that the output of the light receiving element that directly receives the light of the light emitting element becomes a constant level.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention (the sixth aspect of the present invention), in the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the light receiving element does not output a light receiving signal in synchronization with the timing when the sheet passes, Is provided with an abnormality detecting means for detecting and displaying the discharge abnormality.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper discharge device according to the sixth aspect, wherein the light amount control is performed when the light receiving element outputs a light receiving signal at a timing other than the timing when the paper passes. When the means does not change the detection output of the light receiving element when the light amount of the light emitting element is changed, the stop detection means for detecting and displaying that the paper is stopped in the sensor is provided. is there.

(Operation) According to the light amount adjusting method of the first aspect of the paper ejecting apparatus having the above-mentioned structure, the light emitting element disposed on one side of the passing sheet and the other side of the sheet are arranged. A paper discharge device provided with a light receiving element that receives light that has been transmitted through the paper, and that includes a transmissive sensor that detects passage of the paper based on a change in the output of the light receiving element,
Prior to use, the amount of light of the light emitting element is changed so that the output of the light receiving element receiving the light of the light emitting element is adjusted to a constant level in a state where there is no paper in the transmissive sensor.

In the light amount adjusting method of the second aspect of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, in the first aspect of the present invention, the light amount of the light emitting element is adjusted prior to detecting the discharge of the sheet after the power is turned on.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the light amount adjusting method in the paper discharge device according to the second aspect is such that the light amount of the light emitting element is gradually decreased from the maximum value and the output of the light receiving element is at a constant level. Is adjusted to.

In the light amount adjusting method for a sheet discharging device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the light amount of the light emitting element is gradually increased from the minimum value in the second aspect of the invention, and the output of the light receiving element is at a constant level. Is adjusted to.

In the sheet discharging device of the fifth invention having the above-mentioned structure, the light emitting element arranged on one surface side of the sheet to be passed and the other surface side of the sheet are arranged to transmit the sheet. In a paper ejection device including a light receiving element that receives light, and a transmissive sensor that detects passage of a paper by a change in the output of the light receiving element, the light amount control unit changes the light amount of the light emitting element, The output of the light receiving element that directly receives the light of the light emitting element is controlled to be a constant level.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the sheet ejecting apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the invention is the sheet ejecting apparatus according to the fifth aspect, wherein the abnormality detecting means does not output the light receiving signal in synchronization with the timing when the sheet passes. The abnormal discharge of is detected and displayed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, which is the paper ejecting apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the invention, in the sixth aspect, the light amount control is performed when the stop detecting means outputs the light receiving signal at a timing other than the timing when the paper passes. When the detection output of the light receiving element does not change when the means changes the light amount of the light emitting element, the fact that the paper is stopped is detected and displayed in the sensor.

[0021]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the light amount adjusting method in the paper ejecting device changes the light amount of the light emitting element before the use in a state where there is no paper in the transmissive sensor. Since the output of the light receiving element that receives the light is adjusted to a constant level, there is an effect that the amount of light is constant regardless of a change with time and a malfunction is prevented.

The light quantity adjusting method in the paper discharging device of the second invention having the above-mentioned operation, in addition to the effect of the first invention,
Since the light amount of the light emitting element is adjusted before detecting the discharge of the sheet each time the power is turned on, the light amount of the light emitting element is constantly controlled according to the change over time. This has the effect of eliminating the need for a special operation for.

In addition to the effect of the second aspect of the invention, the light amount adjusting method for a sheet ejecting apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention that achieves the above-mentioned effect is
Since the light amount of the light emitting element is gradually decreased from the maximum value and the output of the light receiving element is adjusted to a constant level, there is an effect that the light amount adjusting procedure of the light emitting element is simple.

The light quantity adjusting method in the paper discharge device of the fourth invention having the above-mentioned operation, in addition to the effect of the second invention,
Since the light amount of the light emitting element is gradually increased from the minimum value and the output of the light receiving element is adjusted to a constant level, there is an effect that the light amount adjustment procedure of the light emitting element is simple.

In the paper discharge device of the fifth invention having the above-mentioned operation, the light amount control means changes the light amount of the light emitting element, and the output of the light receiving element which directly receives the light of the light emitting element becomes a constant level. Since it is controlled as described above, it is possible to adjust the light amount of the light emitting element accurately, and it is possible to eliminate the need for a new component and the maintenance of the component.

In addition to the effect of the fifth aspect of the invention, the paper discharge device of the sixth aspect of the invention having the above-mentioned operation is characterized in that the abnormality detecting means includes:
When the light receiving element does not output the light receiving signal in synchronization with the timing when the sheet passes, the abnormal discharge of the sheet is detected and displayed, so that it is possible to detect the abnormal discharge of the sheet.

In addition to the effect of the sixth aspect of the invention, the paper discharge device of the seventh aspect of the invention having the above-mentioned operation is characterized in that:
In the sensor, when the light receiving element outputs a light receiving signal at a timing other than the timing when the paper passes, and the detection output of the light receiving element does not change when the light amount control means changes the light amount of the light emitting element, Since the fact that the sheet is stopped is detected and displayed, the effect that it becomes possible to detect the stop of the sheet in the sensor is exerted.

[0028]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention are described below.
This will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) A paper ejecting apparatus and a light amount adjusting method in the paper ejecting apparatus of the first embodiment are arranged on one surface side of a paper sheet passing therethrough as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. And a light-receiving element 12 disposed on the other surface side of the paper for receiving light transmitted through the paper, and a transmissive sensor for detecting passage of the paper by a change in the output of the light-receiving element. 1, a light amount control means 2 for controlling the light amount of the light emitting element 11 so that the output of the light receiving element 12 that directly receives the light of the light emitting element 11 is at a constant level, and an abnormal discharge of paper. Displaying 3
It consists of and.

As shown in FIG. 1, the light receiving element 12 outputs a voltage according to the light amount of the received light, compares the output with a set reference value, and the output exceeds the reference value. In some cases, a comparator 13 that outputs a signal is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the light quantity control means 2 has a CPU 20 for carrying out calculations relating to paper feeding and discharging and calculations for adjusting the light quantity of light emitting elements, and a paper feeding and discharging computing program (shown in FIG. 2). ) And a calculation program (shown in FIG. 3) for adjusting the light amount of the light emitting element, and a memory 21 having an EEPROM for storing various data and a D / A converter 22 connected to the light emitting element.

When the power is turned on in the arithmetic program relating to the feeding and discharging of the sheet shown in FIG. 2 which is stored in advance in the memory 21, the automatic light amount adjustment shown in FIG. At 102, it is determined whether or not it is the timing when the sheet passes.

If it is the timing when the paper passes, it is judged in step 103 whether the output from the light receiving element 12 is "0", and if the output is "0", the paper discharge is abnormal in step 104. An abnormal output for displaying is output.

In the first embodiment, when the light receiving element does not output the light receiving signal in synchronization with the timing when the paper passes through the series of steps described above, the paper discharge abnormality is detected and displayed. A detection means is configured.

If it is not time to pass the paper,
In step 105, it is determined whether the output from the light receiving element 12 is "1". If the output is "1", the light amount of the light emitting element is maximized in step 106, and in step 107, the light receiving element It is determined whether the output is "1".

In step 107, when the output of the light receiving element is "1" as shown in FIG. 5, a stop output for indicating that the paper is stopped in the transmissive sensor is output. .

In the first embodiment, the light amount control means changes the light amount of the light emitting element when the light receiving element outputs the light receiving signal at a timing other than the timing when the paper passes through the series of steps described above. When the detection output of the light receiving element does not change at this time, stop detection means for detecting and displaying that the paper is stopped is configured in the sensor.

The automatic adjustment of the light quantity of the light emitting element in step 101, which is executed prior to the detection of the paper discharge when the power is turned on, will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

In step 1011, the light amount of the light emitting element 11 is first set to the maximum as shown in FIG. 4, and in step 1012, the light amount of the light emitting element 11 is gradually decreased.

When the light quantity of the light emitting element 11 is gradually decreased, in step 1013, the light receiving element 1
It is determined whether the output of the comparator 13 of No. 2 has changed from “0” to “1”, and in step 1014, the light amount of the light emitting element when the output of the light receiving element 12 has changed to “1” is a constant K. And the result is recorded in the memory 21, and the light amount adjustment is completed.

The D / A converter 22 is the CPU
Is configured to convert a digital signal for light amount adjustment from the above into an analog signal, drive the light emitting element 11 through an amplifier, and control the light emitting element 11 so that the light amount is in accordance with a command from the CPU. Has been done.

The operation of the sheet ejection device of the first embodiment in which the above configuration and program are stored and the light quantity adjusting method in the sheet ejection device will be described below. Before the detection of paper ejection after the power is turned on, the light quantity of the light emitting element is gradually decreased from the maximum value in a state where there is no paper in the transmissive sensor, and the output of the light receiving element is at a constant level. It is adjusted to become.

That is, immediately after the power is turned on, the CPU 20
A digital command signal for adjusting the maximum light amount is output, the D / A converter 22 converts the signal into an analog signal, and the voltage V for driving the light emitting element 11 is the maximum value V.
x is set.

The driving voltage V of the light emitting element 11 is the maximum value V
After being set to x, the drive voltage is gradually reduced, the output of the light receiving element 12 at that time is continuously detected by the CPU, and the output of the light receiving element 12 changes from "0" to "1". The driving voltage of the light emitting device 11 is reduced up to.

The drive voltage value of the light emitting element when the output of the light receiving element 12 changes to "1" is set to Va and stored in the EEPROM of the memory 22. Since the value of Va is a value at the moment when the light receiving element 12 changes, there is a possibility that it may always output "1" regardless of the presence or absence of paper even if the environment changes slightly. In order to stabilize, the constant K is multiplied by the above Va, and the value Vb is set,
Like the Va, Vb is also stored in the memory 22.

After the automatic adjustment of the amount of light, the passage of the paper is detected as the output change of the light receiving element 12 every time the paper passes, and the CPU 20 controls the movement of the paper according to the detected value.

The size of the sheets used in this tray module, the distance between the sheets to be continuously fed, and the like are stored in advance in the EEPROM or the like of the memory 21. Further, information about what kind of sheets to send and how many sheets to send is also stored in the memory 21 each time the paper is fed.

Therefore, the CPU compares the change in the output of the light receiving element 12 with the information regarding the sheet feeding, and as a result of comparison, if the output of the light receiving element 12 is "0" at the timing when the sheet passes. , The CPU 20
When it is detected that the paper is not fed correctly, a signal is output to the display unit 3 to display the signal to inform the user of the abnormality.

Even when there is no paper,
When the light receiving element 12 indicates "1", the light amount of the light emitting element 11 is decreased when the paper is stopped in the transmissive sensor 1, or the light amount of the light emitting element 11 is decreased due to a change with time, and measurement is performed when the power is turned on. There are two possible cases in which the output of the light receiving element 12 changes from “0” to “1”, and the Va value becomes large, and therefore the presence of paper is detected because the Va value becomes larger than the initially set Vb value. .

Therefore, the CPU 20 again increases the voltage V of the light emitting element 11 to the maximum value Vx, and at the same time checks the output of the light receiving element, and when the output of the light receiving element 12 does not change due to the presence of "1" paper. Indicates that the paper is actually present in the sensor 1, so the CPU
20 immediately causes the display 3 to display that the paper is stopped in the sensor 1.

When the output of the light receiving element 12 changes to "0", it is not a trouble related to the paper but the decrease of the light amount of the light emitting element 11, and therefore, it is the same as when the power is turned on as shown in FIG. Then, the voltage Va 'at the moment when the output of the light receiving element 12 changes from "0" to "1" and the voltage value Vb' multiplied by the constant K are obtained, and the memory 21
Instead of the voltage value Va and the voltage value Vb, the sheet feed control is continued.

Next, in the adjustment immediately after the power is turned on, when the output of the light receiving element 12 is 1 when the light amount of the light emitting element 11 is set to the maximum value Vm, the paper remains in the sensor 1. Therefore, the CPU 20 immediately causes the display device 3 to display an abnormality.

In the light amount adjusting method in the paper discharging device of the first embodiment having the above-mentioned operation, the light amount of the light emitting element 11 is changed and the light is emitted before using the paper in the transmissive sensor 1. Since the output of the light receiving element 12 that receives the light of the element 11 is adjusted to a constant level, there is an effect that the malfunction is prevented by keeping the light amount constant regardless of the change over time.

Further, in the light quantity adjusting method in the paper discharging apparatus of the first embodiment, the light quantity of the light emitting element 11 is adjusted before the paper discharging is detected every time the apparatus is powered on. Accordingly, since the light amount of the light emitting element 11 is constantly controlled, there is an effect that a special operation for adjusting the light amount of the light emitting element 11 is unnecessary.

Further, in the light quantity adjusting method in the sheet discharging apparatus of the first embodiment, the light quantity of the light emitting element 11 is gradually decreased from the maximum value, and the output of the light receiving element 12 is adjusted to a constant level. Therefore, the light emitting element 1
This has the effect that the light amount adjustment procedure of No. 1 is simple.

Further, in the sheet discharging device of the first embodiment which has the above-described operation, the light quantity control means 2 is configured such that the light emitting element 11 is used.
Is controlled so that the output of the light receiving element 12 that directly receives the light of the light emitting element 11 becomes a constant level, which enables the accurate adjustment of the light amount of the light emitting element 11. There is an effect that a new component such as the reference patch in the conventional toner density sensor is unnecessary, and maintenance of the component is unnecessary.

Further, in the paper discharge device of the first embodiment, when the light receiving element 12 does not output the light receiving signal in synchronization with the timing when the paper passes, the abnormality detecting means detects the paper discharge abnormality. Since it is displayed, it is possible to detect the abnormal discharge of the sheet.

Further, in the paper ejection device of the first embodiment, the light amount control means 2 causes the light emitting element 12 to output when the light receiving element 12 outputs a light receiving signal at a timing other than the timing when the sheet passes. If the detection output of the light receiving element 12 does not change when the amount of light is changed, the fact that the paper is stopped in the sensor 1 is detected and displayed. Therefore, the detection of the paper stop in the sensor 1 is detected. Has the effect of enabling.

Further, the paper discharging apparatus of the first embodiment automatically adjusts the light quantity of the light emitting element 11 according to a program stored in advance in the memory 21 of the light quantity control means 2 when the power of the apparatus is turned on. Therefore, even if the light amount of the light emitting element 11 decreases with time, the voltage value Vb of the light receiving element 12 is adjusted and stored accordingly, so that it is possible to cope with the time change of the light amount of the light emitting element 11. In addition to that, it is possible to easily change the light quantity adjustment logic and conditions by changing the program, and there is an effect that it is flexible.

In the sheet discharging device of the first embodiment, when the light receiving element 12 indicates "1" at the timing when there is no sheet, the sheet is stopped in the transmissive sensor 1. Or the amount of light of the light emitting element 11 decreases with time, and the output of the light receiving element 12 measured at power-on changes from “0” to “1”.
Since it is possible to distinguish from the case where the presence of paper is detected due to the increase of the a value and thus the Vb value which is initially set, it is possible to detect the abnormality of the sensor. Also, it is possible to easily analyze a trouble.

The embodiments described above are merely examples for the purpose of explanation, and the present invention is not limited to them. Those skilled in the art will recognize from the claims, the detailed description of the invention and the description of the drawings. Modifications and additions can be made without departing from the technical idea of the present invention.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the light amount of the light emitting element is gradually decreased from the maximum value and the output of the light receiving element is adjusted to a constant level has been described as an example. However, it is possible to adopt a mode in which the light amount of the light emitting element is gradually increased from the minimum value and the output of the light receiving element is adjusted to a constant level. Is.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a sheet ejection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a chart showing a procedure for detecting discharge and stop of a sheet in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a chart showing a procedure of automatic light amount adjustment of the light emitting element in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view showing an output change of the light receiving element in the automatic light amount adjustment of the light emitting element which is initially set in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view showing an output state of the light receiving element when the paper is stopped in the sensor of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a partial plan view showing an output change of the light receiving element in the automatic light amount adjustment of the light emitting element which has changed over time in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a conventional toner concentration sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transmissive sensor 11 Light emitting element 12 Light receiving element 2 Light quantity control means 3 Display

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A sheet comprising a light-emitting element disposed on one side of a sheet of paper passing therethrough and a light-receiving element disposed on the other side of the sheet for receiving light transmitted through the sheet. In a paper ejection device equipped with a transmissive sensor that detects the passage of light through a change in the output of the light receiving element, the amount of light of the light emitting element is changed in a state in which there is no paper in the transmissive sensor before use. A light amount adjusting method in a sheet ejecting apparatus, wherein the output of the light receiving element that receives the light of the light emitting element is adjusted to a constant level. 2. The light amount adjusting method according to claim 1, wherein the light amount adjustment of the light emitting element is performed prior to detection of paper discharge after power is turned on. 3. The sheet ejection device according to claim 2, wherein the light amount of the light emitting element is gradually decreased from a maximum value, and the output of the light receiving element is adjusted to a constant level. Light intensity adjustment method. 4. The sheet ejecting device according to claim 2, wherein the light amount of the light emitting element is gradually increased from a minimum value and the output of the light receiving element is adjusted to a constant level. Light intensity adjustment method. 5. A sheet comprising a light emitting element disposed on one side of a sheet of paper passing therethrough and a light receiving element disposed on the other side of the sheet for receiving light transmitted through the sheet. In a paper discharge device equipped with a transmissive sensor that detects the passage of light through the change in the output of the light receiving element, the light amount of the light emitting element is changed, and the output of the light receiving element that directly receives the light of the light emitting element has a constant level. A paper discharge device, comprising: a light amount control means controlled so that 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising abnormality detecting means for detecting and displaying a discharge abnormality of the sheet when the light receiving element does not output a light receiving signal in synchronization with the timing when the sheet passes. Characteristic paper ejection device. 7. The detection output of the light receiving element according to claim 6, when the light receiving element outputs a light receiving signal at a timing other than the timing when the paper passes, when the light amount control means changes the light amount of the light emitting element. The sheet discharging device is characterized by comprising stop detection means for detecting that the sheet is stopped and displaying it in the sensor when the value does not change.