JPH11202575A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an easy-to-use image forming device where jamming due to the elastic strength of image forming paper is hardly caused and the claim of which is reduced. SOLUTION: By providing a paper elasticity measuring device E measuring the elastic strength of the image forming paper and a carrying condition setting changing device changing the setting of the carrying condition of an image forming paper carrying device based on the measured result by the device E in a feeding and carrying path for the image forming paper, a user easily judges whether it is the usable image forming paper and further sets the condition of paper feeding, paper carrying and paper ejection corresponding to the image forming paper. Furthermore, by providing a register means registering the measured result and the setting of the condition of paper feeding and paper ejection based on the measured result, the elastic strength need not be measured every time the paper is changed.

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, a facsimile machine or a printing machine.
More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of changing the setting of the transfer condition of the image forming sheet according to the type of the image forming sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The technology relating to image formation in an image forming apparatus is becoming more mature year by year, and the number of complaints about the formed image is decreasing. However, a chronic complaint about the image formation is a paper jam (hereinafter, referred to as a jam) of the image forming paper, and the serviceman call always occupies a higher position in the field of maintenance of the image forming apparatus. One of the reasons why the above-mentioned jam occurs is that, in addition to cut paper using ordinary virgin pulp, a user of the image forming apparatus may use, for example, OHP film for presentation, thin paper such as tracing paper, or fiber. There are many opportunities to use special paper such as recycled paper that is short and weak in elasticity, or cardboard that is strong in elasticity for presentation to a product sales place. In such a case, the paper is sometimes preset in the image forming apparatus. Paper that exceeds the specification range is used. In order to solve the problem caused by the use of paper exceeding the above-mentioned specification range, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 60-131804 and
-183606, JP-A-9-22151,
As disclosed in JP-A-9-34310, JP-A-9-34311, etc., an apparatus for measuring the thickness and transport speed of image forming paper is arranged upstream of the image forming section, and the thickness and transport speed of the image forming paper are measured. There is known an image forming apparatus in which various conditions in an image forming apparatus are changed based on a measurement result to obtain a good image forming process.

[0003]

However, in general, the user of the image forming apparatus himself / herself confirms whether the sheet to be used in the future falls within the specifications such as the sheet conveyance path set in the current image forming apparatus. I can not judge whether
In many cases, the user does not have to worry about setting the transport path without worrying about the setting of the transport path of the sheet. The result of using the above-mentioned special paper without changing the setting of such a conveyance path also results in a complaint such as a jam in the above-described paper conveyance path. If the setting of the transport path is not optimal, there is a margin for the sheet feeding performance because the time required to set the transport path to separate the first sheet and place it on the transport path or take a longer time than a normal set value in a curved path. And the jam rate in the paper transport path increases. However, the measurement of the thickness of the paper is to detect the presence of the paper (being conveyed) and to make various settings for image formation in accordance with the thickness of the paper to improve the image quality of the image. In the above-described measurement of the conveyance speed, the post-processing after the occurrence of the jam is simply facilitated by stopping the conveyance of the sheet immediately after the occurrence of the jam. Therefore, with respect to the paper jam in the transport path which is higher in the market complaint, in the above-described conventional technology, the measurement result is not used to suppress the occurrence of the jam before the jam occurs. No precautionary measures were taken against the outbreak, and it was not a means of solving the problem. In addition, the sheet feeding unit for each of a large number incorporated in the main body of the image forming apparatus generally employs a separation claw method in which separation is performed by utilizing the elasticity of the image forming sheet. Even if you use the measurement means, the setting of the paper feed unit is not changed, so special paper such as thick paper outside the allowable range is too elastic and cannot be separated by the separation claw, and the image from the paper feed unit The formed paper cannot be transported. Further, in the image forming apparatus, jams frequently occur in the paper discharge unit. The cause is that a turn in the paper discharge unit is used for paper discharge in the machine of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus has functions such as a sorter and a finisher (bookbinding machine) that are required by the user. Therefore, the transport path of the paper in the image forming apparatus becomes complicated, and in a place where the curvature of the transport path is small, Another problem is that a jam easily occurs depending on whether the elasticity of the image forming paper is strong or weak. For example, when the elasticity of the image forming paper is strong, the image forming paper cannot bend at a place where the curvature of the transport path is small, and when the elasticity of the image forming paper is weak, the path of the curvature of the transport path is changed. Accordingly, the resistance due to the change of the path such as the curvature becomes greater than the resistance due to the elasticity, and the transport of the image forming paper conveyed is delayed, and the image forming paper buckles or wrinkles.

[0004] In particular, the prior art completely does not allow a user of an image forming apparatus to determine whether or not an image forming sheet used for the first time is within a specification range or out of the specification range. Because of this, image forming paper used for the first time was fed and conveyed from a paper feeding unit for each of a large number of units inside the machine of the image forming apparatus, and sent to the measuring apparatus. For this reason, for example, if the elasticity of the image forming paper used for the first time is higher than the allowable range preset in the image forming apparatus, the separation from the sheet feeding unit by the separation claw or the like is not performed well, and the jam due to the separation failure occurs. Occurs. Then, the user needs to remove the jam, and the separation failure does not disappear as long as the multi-sheet feeding unit inside the machine is used, which causes a complaint to the image processing apparatus. In general, the types of image forming papers used by the above-mentioned users are limited, and among the limited types, the user can use various types of image forming papers built in the image forming apparatus as necessary. It is set in a paper feeding device such as a paper feeding unit or a manual paper feeding unit. Here, especially for special paper, in most cases, the special paper is generally supplied to the paper feeding device of the manual paper feeding unit and fed to the image forming apparatus immediately before use. Then, when any setting change is required to use the special paper, the user of the image forming apparatus resets the paper supply / transport conditions according to the image forming paper each time the special paper is used. In addition, for example, in order to perform measurement by the above-described paper thickness measuring device, in the case of special paper, as described above, it may not be possible to feed paper from a large number of paper feeding units inside the machine. Therefore, each time the special paper is used, it is necessary to feed the paper from the manual paper feeder and perform measurement to match the setting of the image forming apparatus. In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which is less likely to cause a jam due to the elastic strength of image forming paper, has few complaints, and is easy to use.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a sheet elasticity measuring means for measuring the elasticity of an image forming sheet in a paper feed path of the image forming sheet;
A conveyance condition setting change unit that changes the setting of the conveyance condition of the image forming sheet conveyance device based on the measurement result of the sheet elasticity measurement unit. This makes it possible for the user to easily determine whether or not the image forming sheet can be used, and furthermore, it is possible to set the conditions of sheet feeding, conveyance, and sheet discharging corresponding to the image forming sheet. Further, the present invention is characterized in that it has a registration unit for registering the measurement result of the measurement unit and the paper feed and discharge condition settings based on the measurement result. Need not be measured.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a view showing a path of an image forming sheet in the image forming apparatus, FIG. 2 is a view showing a configuration of an embodiment of a sheet elasticity measuring apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a paper unit, FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between settings in a paper feeding unit and elasticity of the paper, and FIG. 5 illustrates a configuration of a paper feeding condition setting change apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. Image forming apparatus 1 of FIG.
In FIG. 1, a plurality of sheet feed trays such as a first multi-sheet feeder 2, a second multi-sheet feeder 3, a third multi-sheet feeder 4, and a manual feeder 9 are provided. As shown by a bold line in FIG. 3, the paper feed (conveyance) path of the paper from each paper feed tray is provided. Regarding the paper discharge after image formation, in recent image forming apparatuses such as digital copiers, a straight paper discharge unit 5, a first upper paper discharge unit 6, a second upper paper discharge unit 7, and a duplex device 8 As shown by a bold line in FIG. 1, there are a plurality of paper discharge trays and intermediate trays, and a paper discharge (conveyance) path for each tray. However, in recent image forming apparatuses, as shown in FIG. 1, the curvature at the transition point of the path of the transport path is small and complicated in order to reduce the size.
Therefore, if the elasticity of the image forming paper is high, the small curvature cannot be completely bent at each transition point or the like, and as a result, a jam occurs due to the difference in the elasticity of the paper.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the elasticity strength measuring device E shown in FIG. 2 is disposed at a position D where the sheet feeding paths meet in FIG. . In FIG. 2, the image forming paper is transported between the guide plate A of the elasticity strength measuring device E and the roller 12. The guide plate A is formed with an opening that is sufficiently larger than the roller 12 fits therein. The elasticity of the conveyed image forming paper causes the roller 12 to be fitted into the guide plate A and the guide plate A to come into contact with the surface. It is urged in one direction. On the other hand, the roller 12 is supported by a lever 13,
Further, the lever 13 is rotatably fixed with the fulcrum 14 as a fulcrum. A spring 15 is connected to a part of the lever 13, and the roller 12 is connected to the guide plate A via the lever 13.
Is pressed so as to urge toward. In addition, a displacement sensor 16 is installed at a position where the displacement of the lever 13 is most easily detected,
The elastic strength of the image forming paper is measured based on the displacement.
For example, in the case of FIG. 2 in which the roller 12 is connected, the roller 12 is pressed by the spring 15 in the direction of lifting the lever 13 around the fulcrum 14, so that the roller 12 is pressed against the guide plate A in the downward direction. Force). When the image forming paper is conveyed, the spring 15 presses (biases) downward.
The roller 12 that has been moved is pushed back upward (in the direction C in FIG. 2) by the elasticity of the image forming paper. The pushed back amount changes depending on the elastic strength of the image forming paper. Then, in proportion to the amount of the roller 12 pushed back, the lever 1
Assuming that the distance from the fulcrum 14 to the roller 12 is A and the distance from the fulcrum 14 of the lever 13 to the displacement sensor 16 is B, the roller 12 is pushed up by the image forming paper. The detection position of the displacement sensor 16 at the multi-end moves, and the amount of movement is measured by the displacement sensor 16.

Next, an example of an embodiment in which the setting is changed in the sheet feeding device based on the above-described measurement results will be described. For example,
When the first to third multi-sheet feeding devices 2, 3, and 4 in FIG. 1 employ a separation claw system having a separation claw 18 and a sheet feeding roller 19 like the sheet feeding device 17 in FIG. Will be described.
If the elasticity of the image forming paper arranged in the paper feeding device 17 exceeds the allowable range, the paper is fed by the paper feeding roller 19 and the separation claw 18 is used to separate the image forming paper.
Since the image forming sheet cannot pass through the separation claw 18, the image forming sheet cannot be fed from the sheet feeding device 17 as a result.
This causes a non-feeding paper jam. As a countermeasure, the distance F between the separation claw 18 and the paper feed roller 19 may be adjusted according to the measurement result of the elastic strength of the image forming paper. FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the distance F between the separation claw 18 and the paper feed roller 19 and the elastic strength of the image forming paper.

In FIG. 4, the separating claw 18 and the sheet feeding roller 1 are arranged on the horizontal axis.
9, the elastic strength of the image forming paper is shown on the vertical axis, and the lower limit characteristic and the upper limit characteristic of the elastic strength of the image forming paper are shown. FIG. 4 shows the measurement results obtained by the elastic strength measuring device E shown in FIG.
Is determined so as to fall within the allowable range. When obtaining the distance F from the measurement result of the elastic strength of the image forming paper, it is desirable to select the distance F closer to the center value in the measurement result and the allowable range in FIG. In FIG. 5, the paper feed roller 19 is adjusted so that the position of the paper feed roller 19 in FIG. 3 falls within the allowable range in FIG. 4 in accordance with the elastic strength of the image forming paper measured by the elastic strength measuring device E in FIG. 1 shows an example of an embodiment of a state setting change device. In FIG. 5, the paper feed roller 19 is supported by a lever 21 via a bearing 20. Lever 21
As described above, one end supports the feed roller 19 via the bearing 20, but the other end is rotatably fixed by a fulcrum, so that the position of the feed roller 19 can be changed. I have. Further, the eccentric cam 22 is rotated by the motor 23, and the lever 21 is pushed by the eccentric cam 22 to change the position of the sheet feeding roller 19. At that time, the spring 2
4 is connected to a part of the lever 21 and constantly urges the lever 21 toward the eccentric cam 22.
The feed roller 19 is moved by the lever 21 with the rotation of the eccentric cam 22.
The position shifts as the rocks.

The position of the sheet feeding roller 19 is moved in the direction G in FIG. 5 by the sheet feeding state setting changing device shown in FIG. 5, and the distance F between the separation claw 18 and the sheet feeding roller 19 in FIG. By making the adjustment, the setting is changed to the paper supply condition corresponding to the image forming paper. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an operation for adjusting the distance F between the separation claw 18 and the paper feed roller 19 to an optimum position. The adjustment operation in FIG. 6 is performed when the user of the image forming apparatus intends to use the special paper. First, in step S1, the user selects a condition setting mode instead of normal image formation. In step S2, the user feeds one sheet of special paper or the like for taking data from the manual sheet feeding unit 9. In step S3, the elasticity strength measuring device E of the image forming apparatus 1 obtains elasticity strength data of the transported special paper or the like. In step S4,
The user selects which of the paper feeding devices 2, 3, and 4 to apply the obtained elastic strength data to. In step S5, it is determined whether or not the obtained elastic strength data is within the allowable range of FIG. 4 for the sheet feeding device selected in step S4, and if it is within the allowable range (step S5).
5: YES), the process proceeds to step S7, and if it is outside the allowable range (step S5: NO), the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, since the obtained elasticity strength data is outside the allowable range in FIG. 4, the display unit of the image forming apparatus, the sound generating device, or the like warns the user that the image can be formed only by manual paper feeding. In step S7, since the obtained elastic strength data is within the allowable range in FIG. 4, the setting of the sheet feeding device designated in step S4 is changed based on the obtained elastic strength data.

According to the operation flow chart of FIG. 6, the elastic strength of the image forming paper is measured by the elastic strength measuring device E of FIG. 2, and the distance F of FIG.
This makes it possible to automatically set the paper feeder, transport path, and paper ejection device based on the elasticity of the image forming paper, and automatically change the settings of the transport path, etc., based on the elasticity of the image forming paper. Becomes possible. That is, by applying the change of the setting of the sheet feeding device shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, not only the sheet feeding device but also the elasticity of the image forming sheet and the duplex device 8 and the first and second upper discharging devices. It is also possible to set the paper units 6, 7 and the straight discharge unit 5. However, in the setting of the paper discharging device, the duplex paper 8 may be used in addition to the first and second upper paper discharging units 6 and 7 and the straight paper discharging unit 5, so that the image forming paper shown in FIG. The judgment is made according to the figure of the elastic strength of the sheet and the tolerance of each sheet discharging device.

In FIG. 7, in the case of the straight discharge section 5, the allowable range of the elastic strength of the image forming paper is wide, and in the upper discharge sections 6 and 7, the allowable range of the elastic strength of the image forming paper is slightly narrowed. In the double-sided device 8, the allowable range of the elastic strength of the image forming paper is further narrowed. This tolerance, for example,
By changing the setting in place of the determination in S5 of FIG. 6, the setting of the paper discharge device can be changed. Further, in the case of an image forming sheet used by a user for the first time, as described above, it cannot be determined whether or not the elastic strength of the image forming sheet is within the sheet feeding allowable range of the image forming apparatus. In the case of, when paper is fed and conveyed from a paper feeding device other than manual feeding, a jam occurs before reaching the elasticity strength measuring device E, so that the paper feeding conditions cannot be changed and the image forming paper cannot be used forever. In addition, jam processing is required, which contributes to complaints from users.

In the operation flow chart shown in FIG. 6, the image forming paper is fed and conveyed from the manual paper feeder 9, and the conditions obtained based on the result are changed to the multi-sheet feeders 2, 3,.
If the image forming paper is not within the allowable paper feed setting range in FIG. 4, the user is notified that the image forming paper is valid only for manual paper feed. Since it is displayed and notified, it is possible to eliminate complaints from the user. Further, each setting information corresponding to the image forming paper obtained by the above method is registered in a memory (not shown), and when the user enters the condition setting mode of step S1 in FIG. By simply selecting the type, it is possible to change the setting to the optimal one without manually re-feeding one sheet of image forming paper and performing the measurement again to obtain the elasticity data. The convenience of use can be improved.

[0014]

As described above, the image forming apparatus of the present invention
In the conveyance path of the image forming paper, there is a measuring device for measuring the elastic strength of the image forming paper, and the setting conditions of the paper feeding device, the conveying device, the paper discharging device, etc. can be changed based on the measurement result. It is possible to change the transport condition to the optimal transport condition for the image forming paper, and it is possible to provide a stable image forming apparatus with less paper feed jam and transport / discharge jam. Also, for the image forming paper to be used for the first time, regardless of whether or not the image forming paper to be used is out of the allowable range of the setting of the image forming apparatus, the paper is supplied under the optimum condition corresponding to the image forming paper. Can be set, and by registering the image forming paper for which the elastic strength has been measured once,
It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that is easy to use, does not need to be measured again, is hard to cause a jam, and does not require unnecessary trouble such as a jam processing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a path of an image forming sheet in an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a paper elasticity measuring device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a sheet feeding unit in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between settings in a paper feeding unit and elastic strength of paper.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of a sheet feeding condition setting change device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an operation of adjusting a distance between a separation claw and a sheet feeding roller to an optimum position.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the elastic strength of image forming paper and the tolerance of each paper ejection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 2, 3, 4 ... Many-sheet feeder, 5 ...
Straight discharge unit 6, 7, upper discharge unit 8, double-sided device 9, manual paper feeder 10, image forming device 11,
Opening, 12: roller, 13: lever, 14: fulcrum, 1
5 spring, 16 displacement sensor, 17 paper feeder,
18 ... separation claw, 19 ... paper feed roller, 20 ... bearing, 21 ...
Lever, 22: Eccentric cam, 23: Motor, 24: Spring, A, B: Distance, C: Direction, D: Position, E: Elastic strength measuring device, F: Distance, G: Direction

Claims (5)

[Claims] A sheet elasticity measuring unit for measuring the elasticity of the image forming sheet in a paper feeding path of the image forming sheet; and a transfer condition of the image forming sheet conveying device based on a measurement result of the sheet elasticity measuring unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer condition setting change unit configured to change a setting. 2. A sheet elasticity measuring unit for measuring the elasticity of an image forming sheet in a sheet feeding and conveying path of the image forming sheet, and a sheet feeding unit and a sheet discharging unit based on a measurement result of the sheet elasticity measuring unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a sheet supply / discharge condition setting change unit configured to change setting of a sheet supply / discharge condition including a sheet and a sheet discharge path. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet elasticity measuring unit is configured to supply a large number of the image forming sheets from the sheet supplying unit and a supply path from outside the image forming apparatus as necessary. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the manual feeding unit is installed on a sheet feeding path after the image forming sheet is fed from a sheet feeding unit of the image forming sheet and before the image forming unit. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a registration unit configured to register a measurement result of the measurement unit and a condition setting of sheet feeding and discharging based on the measurement result. Image forming device. 5. The paper elasticity measuring means is provided on a paper feeding path of the image forming paper and biases a part of the paper in a direction perpendicular to the paper plane. Guide means having a flat opening having a size capable of accommodating the sheet urging means, supporting means for supporting the sheet urging means, and urging the supporting means in the direction of the guide means to form the image. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an urging unit for urging a vertical force on the forming sheet, and a measuring unit for measuring an amount of displacement of the supporting unit to measure an elastic strength of the image forming sheet. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.