US20150336758A1 - Image forming system and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Image forming system and image forming apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US20150336758A1
US20150336758A1 US14/710,537 US201514710537A US2015336758A1 US 20150336758 A1 US20150336758 A1 US 20150336758A1 US 201514710537 A US201514710537 A US 201514710537A US 2015336758 A1 US2015336758 A1 US 2015336758A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
paper
conveyance
conveyance path
papers
remaining
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Abandoned
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US14/710,537
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English (en)
Inventor
Hiroyuki Konishi
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Konica Minolta Inc
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Konica Minolta Inc
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Assigned to Konica Minolta, Inc. reassignment Konica Minolta, Inc. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KONISHI, HIROYUKI
Publication of US20150336758A1 publication Critical patent/US20150336758A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/50—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control
    • G03G15/5012—Priority interrupt; Job recovery, e.g. after jamming or malfunction
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H7/00—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles
    • B65H7/02—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles by feelers or detectors
    • B65H7/06—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles by feelers or detectors responsive to presence of faulty articles or incorrect separation or feed
    • B65H7/12—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles by feelers or detectors responsive to presence of faulty articles or incorrect separation or feed responsive to double feed or separation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H7/00—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles
    • B65H7/02—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles by feelers or detectors
    • B65H7/06—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles by feelers or detectors responsive to presence of faulty articles or incorrect separation or feed
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H7/00—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles
    • B65H7/18—Modifying or stopping actuation of separators
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H7/00—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles
    • B65H7/20—Controlling associated apparatus
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/70—Detecting malfunctions relating to paper handling, e.g. jams
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
    • G03G2215/00535—Stable handling of copy medium
    • G03G2215/00548—Jam, error detection, e.g. double feeding
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
    • G03G2215/00535—Stable handling of copy medium
    • G03G2215/00548—Jam, error detection, e.g. double feeding
    • G03G2215/00552—Purge of recording medium at jam
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
    • G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
    • G03G2221/1672—Paper handling
    • G03G2221/1675—Paper handling jam treatment

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an image forming system and an image forming apparatus.
  • automatic purge which is automatic discharge of papers remaining in the conveyance path after conveyance of papers is stopped and an originating paper of the jam is removed, is performed.
  • the automatic purge is performed, so that it is possible to reduce a load for the jam processing by a user such as removal work of remaining papers.
  • each conveyance driving motor which is corresponding to each of at least two or more paper conveyance paths having a merging point is controlled to sequentially start the conveyance of remaining papers at a proper time difference so that papers remaining in each paper conveyance path do not collide with each other at the merging point. In this way, the collision of the papers at the merging point is prevented, so that the jam is prevented from occurring again.
  • stop points for waiting for the conveyance of preceding papers are provided at a plurality of places in the normal paper conveyance.
  • the conveyance is stopped by the occurrence of the jam, there is a case in which remaining papers are stopped at places other than the stop points.
  • the remaining papers are reconveyed from those places other than the stop points, it is not possible to normally convey the remaining papers or it is probable that bending or inclination occurs in the remaining papers.
  • an object of the present invention is to prevent or reduce the reoccurrence of the jam in the automatic purge or to prevent jam processability from deteriorating regardless of the places of remaining papers when conveyance has been stopped by the occurrence of the jam.
  • an image forming system reflecting one aspect of the present invention includes the followings.
  • An image forming system comprising: a jam detection unit which detects a jam of a paper conveyed along a conveyance path of said image forming system; and a control unit which temporarily stops conveyance of the paper when said jam detection unit has detected said jam, after an originating paper having caused said jam is removed, conveys papers, other than said originating paper, remaining in said conveyance path in such a way that an interval between a preceding paper and a following paper in said conveyance path is expanded, and discharges said papers from said image forming system.
  • a correction unit which corrects at least one of bending, inclination, and deviation of the passing paper, wherein, when said correction unit exists in said conveyance path from a remaining position of said preceding paper to discharge positions of the papers, said control unit conveys said papers, other than said originating paper, remaining in said conveyance path in such a way that said conveyance of said following paper and said conveyance of said preceding paper are simultaneously started, and when said correction unit does not exist in said conveyance path from said remaining position of said preceding paper to said discharge positions of said papers, said control unit conveys said papers, other than said originating paper, remaining in said conveyance path in such a way that said interval between said preceding paper and said following paper in said conveyance path is expanded by delaying said start of said conveyance of said following paper by a third time as the predetermined time from said start of said conveyance of said preceding paper.
  • the image forming system as described in above (1) further comprising: a first detection unit which detects a paper, which exists in at least a position of said conveyance path conveyed by each conveyance driving source, in said each conveyance driving source respectively, wherein, when said first detection unit detects that said preceding paper and said following paper remain in at least positions of said conveyance path conveyed by a common first conveyance driving source, said control unit conveys said papers, other than said originating paper, remaining in said conveyance path in such a way that said interval between said preceding paper and said following paper in said conveyance path is expanded by conveying said preceding paper and said following paper until said preceding paper passes through at least said position of said conveyance path conveyed by said first conveyance driving source, temporarily stopping conveyance of said following paper by said first conveyance driving source and conveying said preceding paper by a second conveyance driving source other than said first conveyance driving source when said preceding paper has passed through at least said position of said conveyance path conveyed by said first conveyance driving source, and restarting
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a humidifying device
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a post-processing device
  • FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a paper feeding device
  • FIG. 6 is an entire configuration diagram of the image forming system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is an explanation diagram illustrating places of papers remaining in the image forming system when the jam has occurred in the post-processing device
  • FIG. 8 is an explanation diagram illustrating places of papers withdrawn to ADU before the conveyance of the papers is temporarily stopped after the occurrence of the jam;
  • FIG. 9 is an explanation diagram illustrating places of withdrawn papers together with a discharge order of each paper from the image forming apparatus in automatic purge
  • FIG. 10 is an explanation diagram illustrating places of the papers remaining in the humidifying device of the image forming system when the jam has occurred in the post-processing device;
  • FIG. 11 is an explanation diagram illustrating places of the papers withdrawn to places, other than specific places, in the humidifying device before paper conveyance is temporarily stopped after the occurrence of the jam;
  • FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating processing from the jam occurrence to the automatic purge by the image forming system
  • FIG. 13 is a sub-routine flowchart of step S 125 of the flowchart of FIG. 12 ;
  • FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a detailed flow of determination in step S 135 of the sub-routine flowchart of FIG. 13 ;
  • FIG. 15 is an explanation diagram illustrating places of the remaining papers in the state in which the papers have been withdrawn to places other than specific places in the humidifying device before paper conveyance is temporarily stopped after the occurrence of the jam;
  • FIG. 16 is an explanation diagram illustrating the state in which the automatic purge is performed from the state of FIG. 15 and a preceding paper has passed through the position of the conveyance path conveyed by a common conveyance driving source together with a following paper;
  • FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the automatic purge in the second embodiment of the present invention and is the sub-routine flowchart of step S 125 of the flowchart of FIG. 12 ;
  • FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the automatic purge in a third embodiment of the present invention and is the sub-routine flowchart of step S 125 of the flowchart of FIG. 12 .
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • the image forming system 100 includes the image forming apparatus 110 , a paper feeding device 120 , a humidifying device 130 , and a post-processing device 140 .
  • the paper feeding device 120 , the humidifying device 130 , and the post-processing device 140 are devices provided according to necessity, and the image forming system 100 may not have these devices.
  • the image forming apparatus 110 , the paper feeding device 120 , the humidifying device 130 , and the post-processing device 140 are communicably connected to one another via a network 150 .
  • the network 150 can be configured by a LAN (Local Area Network) connecting computers or network devices to one another based on a standard such as the Ethernet (a registered trademark) and FDDI (Fiber-Distributed Data Interface).
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus.
  • the image forming apparatus 110 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111 , a storage unit 112 , a communication interface 113 , an operation unit 114 , a display unit 115 , an image control unit 116 , a reading unit 117 , an engine 118 , and a paper sensor 1119 . These elements are connected to one another via a bus 119 for exchanging signals.
  • a CPU Central Processing Unit
  • the storage unit 112 can be configured by RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), and HDD (Hard Disk Drive).
  • the RAM temporarily stores a program executed by the CPU 111 or data processed by the CPU 111 .
  • the ROM stores various programs or various kinds of data.
  • the HDD stores various programs including a program for controlling each element of the image forming apparatus 110 by the CPU 111 , image data received through the communication interface 113 or the reading unit 117 , and other various kinds of data.
  • the communication interface 113 is an interface for performing communication between the image forming apparatus 110 and an external device, and a network interface based on a standard such as the Ethernet (a registered trademark), SATA, PCI, Express, USB, and IEEE 1394, various local connection interfaces such as a wireless communication interface such as the Bluetooth (a registered trademark) and IEEE 802.11, or the like, are used.
  • a standard such as the Ethernet (a registered trademark), SATA, PCI, Express, USB, and IEEE 1394
  • various local connection interfaces such as a wireless communication interface such as the Bluetooth (a registered trademark) and IEEE 802.11, or the like, are used.
  • the operation unit 114 includes touch panel for performing various types of setting, various fixed keys or the like such as a numeric keypad for setting the number of copies or the like, a start key for instructing the start of an operation, a stop key for instructing the stop of an operation, and a reset key for initializing various setting conditions.
  • various fixed keys or the like such as a numeric keypad for setting the number of copies or the like, a start key for instructing the start of an operation, a stop key for instructing the stop of an operation, and a reset key for initializing various setting conditions.
  • the display unit 115 includes a touch panel for displaying various types of information and inputting various types of setting, various fixed keys such as a numeric keypad for setting the number of copies or the like, a start key for instructing the start of an operation, a stop key for instructing the stop of an operation, and a reset key for initializing various setting conditions, and a display lamp or the like. Overlapping functions of the operation unit 114 and the display unit 115 may be included in any one of the operation unit 114 and the display unit 115 .
  • the image control unit 116 performs a layout process and a rasterization process of print data included in a print job received by the communication interface 113 , and generates image data which is data of a bitmap type image.
  • the print job is a generic term of a print command for the image forming apparatus 110 and includes print data and print setting.
  • the print data is data of a document to be printed, and for example, may include various kinds of data such as image data, vector data, and text data.
  • the print data may be PDL (Page Description Language) data, PDF (Portable Document Format) data, or TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) data.
  • the print setting is setting regarding image formation to a paper and post-processing of a printed matter, and for example, may include various types of setting such as a paper type, a grayscale or a full color, 2in1, duplex printing, stapling, punching, and folding.
  • the reading unit 117 irradiates a document, which has been set in a predetermined reading position of a document platen, by using a light source such as a fluorescent lamp, photoelectrically converts reflected light into an electrical signal by using an imaging device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor, and generates image data from the electrical signal.
  • a light source such as a fluorescent lamp
  • an imaging device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor
  • the engine 118 performs image formation based on the image data on the paper through each process of charging, exposure, development, transfer, and fixing by an electrophotographic scheme, and then outputs the paper.
  • the paper sensor 119 detects positions of the papers in a conveyance path.
  • the paper sensor 119 for example, can be configured by a line sensor provided at a required place of the conveyance path.
  • the CPU 111 constitutes a control unit, and constitutes a jam detection unit together with the paper sensor 119 .
  • the CPU 111 performs the control of the aforementioned each element, various arithmetic processes or the like according to the program. More specifically, the CPU 111 performs general control regarding various processes, image formation, and storing while cooperating with each element constituting the image forming apparatus 110 .
  • the CPU 111 detects the jam having occurred in the image forming apparatus 110 on the basis of the positions of the papers in the conveyance path detected by the paper sensor 1119 .
  • the CPU 111 can detect the jam by no change in the positions of the papers even though control for conveying the papers is performed.
  • the CPU 111 communicates with the humidifying device 130 , the post-processing device 140 , and the paper feeding device 120 , which are devices (hereinafter, referred to as “other devices”) except for the image forming apparatus 110 of the image forming system 100 , and receives information on the occurrence of the jam having occurred in the other devices from the other devices.
  • the CPU 111 temporarily stops the conveyance of papers, and transmits information on the occurrence of the jam to the other devices so as to temporarily stop the conveyance of the papers in the other devices.
  • the positions, the number or the like of the papers temporarily stopped in the other devices are received by the CPU 111 from the other devices.
  • the CPU 111 conveys respective papers, other than the originating paper, remaining in the conveyance path in such away that an interval between a preceding paper and a following paper in the conveyance path is expanded, and discharges the papers from the image forming apparatus by an automatic purge. In this way, it is possible to prevent or reduce the reoccurrence of the jam due to a collision of the preceding paper and the following paper in the automatic purge.
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the humidifying device.
  • the humidifying device 130 includes a CPU 131 , a storage unit 132 , a communication interface 133 , a paper feeding unit 134 , a paper discharge unit 135 , a humidifying unit 136 , and a paper sensor 139 . These elements are connected to one another via a bus 137 for exchanging signals.
  • the storage unit 132 stores a program for controlling each element of the humidifying device 130 by the CPU 131 , and various kinds of data such as paper information received through the communication interface 133 .
  • the storage unit 132 for example, can be configured by RAM and HDD.
  • the communication interface 133 is an interface for performing communication between the humidifying device 130 and the image forming apparatus 110 /the post-processing device 140 , and the Ethernet or the like is used.
  • the papers for which image formation has been performed are input by the image forming apparatus 110 .
  • the paper discharge unit 135 outputs papers humidified by the humidifying unit 136 .
  • the humidifying unit 136 humidifies the paper passing therethrough by uniformly supplying water to both surfaces of the paper. In this way, the water content of the paper increases, so that it is possible to reduce the waviness of the paper.
  • the paper sensor 139 detects positions of the papers in the conveyance path.
  • the paper sensor 139 for example, can be configured by a line sensor provided at a required place of the conveyance path.
  • the CPU 131 constitutes a control unit, and constitutes a jam detection unit together with the paper sensor 139 .
  • the CPU 131 performs the control of the aforementioned each element, various arithmetic processes or the like according to the program. More specifically, the CPU 131 performs general control regarding paper humidification while cooperating with each element constituting the humidifying device 130 .
  • the CPU 131 detects the jam having occurred in the humidifying device 130 based on the positions of the papers in the conveyance path detected by the paper sensor 139 . For example, the CPU 131 can detect the jam by no change in the positions of the papers even though control for conveying the papers is performed.
  • the CPU 131 transmits information on the occurrence of the jam in the humidifying device 130 to the image forming apparatus 110 by the communication interface 133 .
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the post-processing device.
  • the post-processing device 140 includes a CPU 141 , a storage unit 142 , a communication interface 143 , a paper feeding unit 144 , an output unit 145 , a stitching unit 146 , and a paper sensor 149 . These elements are connected to one another via a bus 147 for exchanging signals.
  • the storage unit 142 stores a program for controlling each element of the post-processing device 140 by the CPU 141 , and various kinds of data such as the print setting received through the communication interface 143 .
  • the storage unit 142 for example, can be configured by RAM and HDD.
  • the communication interface 143 is an interface for performing communication between the post-processing device 140 and the image forming apparatus 110 /the paper humidifying device 130 , and the Ethernet or the like is used.
  • the output unit 145 outputs the papers subjected to post-processing as the printed matters.
  • the stitching unit 146 performs side stitching on the papers.
  • the paper sensor 149 detects positions of the papers in the conveyance path.
  • the paper sensor 149 for example, can be configured by the line sensor provided at the required place of the conveyance path.
  • the CPU 141 constitutes a control unit, and constitutes a jam detection unit together with the paper sensor 149 .
  • the CPU 141 performs the control of the aforementioned each element, various arithmetic processes or the like according to the program. On the basis of the print setting of the print job, the CPU 141 controls the stitching unit 146 to perform side stitching which is post-processing of the paper.
  • the CPU 141 detects the jam having occurred in the post-processing device 140 based on the positions of the papers in the conveyance path detected by the paper sensor 149 . For example, the CPU 141 can detect the jam by no change in the positions of the papers even though control for conveying the papers is performed.
  • the CPU 141 transmits information on the occurrence of the jam in the post-processing device 140 to the image forming apparatus 110 by the communication interface 143 .
  • FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the paper feeding device.
  • the paper feeding device 120 includes a CPU 121 , a storage unit 122 , a communication interface 123 , a paper feeding unit 124 , and a paper sensor 128 . These elements are connected to one another via a bus 126 for exchanging signals.
  • the storage unit 122 stores a program for controlling each element of the paper feeding device 120 by the CPU 121 , and various kinds of data.
  • the storage unit 122 for example, can be configured by RAM and HDD.
  • the communication interface 123 is an interface for performing communication between the paper feeding device 120 and the image forming apparatus 110 , and the Ethernet or the like is used.
  • the paper feeding unit 124 has a plurality of paper feeding trays and paper feeding rollers, conveys the papers taken out from each paper feeding tray by the paper feeding rollers, and supplies the image forming apparatus 110 with the taken-out papers.
  • the paper sensor 128 detects positions of the papers in the conveyance path.
  • the paper sensor 128 for example, can be configured by the line sensor provided at the required place of the conveyance path.
  • the CPU 121 constitutes a control unit, and constitutes a jam detection unit together with the paper sensor 128 .
  • the CPU 121 performs the control of the aforementioned each element, various arithmetic processes or the like according to the program.
  • the CPU 121 controls the paper feeding unit 124 so as to feed papers from each paper feeding tray of the paper feeding unit 124 to the image forming apparatus 110 .
  • the CPU 121 detects the jam having occurred in the paper feeding device 120 based on the positions of the papers in the conveyance path detected by the paper sensor 128 . For example, the CPU 121 can detect the jam by no change in the positions of the papers even though control for conveying the papers is performed.
  • the CPU 121 transmits information on the occurrence of the jam in the paper feeding device 120 to the image forming apparatus 110 by the communication interface 123 .
  • FIG. 6 is an entire configuration diagram of the image forming system according to the present embodiment.
  • the image forming system 100 includes the image forming apparatus 110 , the paper feeding device 120 , the humidifying device 130 , and the post-processing device 140 , and is configured by connecting these devices to one another.
  • the papers pass through each device in sequence of the paper feeding device 120 , the image forming apparatus 110 , the humidifying device 130 , and the post-processing device 140 . More specifically, the papers fed from the paper feeding device 120 to the image forming apparatus 110 are subjected to image formation by the image forming apparatus 110 , humidified by the humidifying device 130 , and then subjected to post-processing by the post-processing device 140 for output.
  • the image forming apparatus 110 controls the conveyance of the papers in the conveyance path 118 e under the control of the CPU 111 , and performs image formation on papers by a transfer unit 118 b and a fixing unit 118 c which are elements of the engine 118 . Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 110 makes the paper pass through an ADU 1110 and reverses the front and the back of the paper in the conveyance path 118 e , thereby performing the image formation on both surfaces of the paper.
  • a resist roller 118 a constitutes a correction unit and corrects bending, inclination, and deviation of the paper conveyed along the conveyance path 118 e .
  • the bending, the inclination, and the deviation of the paper in the conveyance path 118 e are corrected, so that it is possible to improve the accuracy of the position of the image formed on the paper and to suppress the occurrence of the jam due to paper conveyance failure.
  • the transfer unit 118 b includes a photosensitive drum.
  • the surface of the photosensitive drum is uniformly charged by a charging unit (not illustrated), and irradiated with laser light by an optical writing unit (not illustrated) according to an image information signal so as to form a latent image.
  • the latent image is developed by a developing unit (not illustrated), resulting in the formation of a toner image.
  • the toner image is transferred to the paper whose inclination has been corrected by the resist roller 118 a , by the transfer unit 118 b in the conveyance path 118 e.
  • the fixing unit 118 c includes a heating roller and a pressing roller, and forms a nip area having an approximately arc shape formed when the heating roller is pressed by the pressing roller.
  • the paper with the transferred toner image passes through the nip area of the fixing unit 118 c so that a side with the toner image placed thereon becomes convex, and toner of the toner image is pressed and heated, so that the toner image is fixed to the paper.
  • the ADU 1110 includes a first ADU conveyance path 1110 a , a second ADU conveyance path 1110 b , a third ADU conveyance path 1110 c , and ADU conveyance rollers 1111 provided in the respective ADU conveyance paths 1110 a , 1110 b , and 1110 c .
  • the ADU 1110 conveys the paper, whose surface is subjected to the image formation and has been input to the first ADU conveyance path 1110 a , to the second ADU conveyance path 1110 b by the ADU conveyance roller 1111 .
  • the surface of the paper faces a direction (that is, a vertical downward direction) in which the surface contacts with the second ADU conveyance path 1110 b .
  • the ADU 1110 conveys the paper from the second ADU conveyance path 1110 b to the third ADU conveyance path 1110 c by the ADU conveyance roller 1111 .
  • the surface of the paper faces a direction (that is, a vertical upward direction) in which the surface does not contact with the third ADU conveyance path 1110 c .
  • the ADU 1110 conveys the paper from the third ADU conveyance path 1110 c to an upstream of the resist roller 118 a of the conveyance path 118 e by the ADU conveyance roller 1111 .
  • the conveyance path 118 e since the surface of the paper faces a direction (that is, a vertical downward direction) in which the surface contacts with the conveyance path 118 e and the back surface of the paper faces a direction (that is, a vertical upward direction) in which the surface does not contact with the conveyance path 118 e , the front and the back of the paper are reversed in a direction in which image formation can be performed on the back surface.
  • the inclination and the like of the paper are corrected again by the resist roller 118 a , and the image formation is performed on the back surface by the transfer unit 118 b and the fixing unit 118 c , so that the image formation is performed on the front and back of the paper.
  • the humidifying device 130 makes the paper pass through a humidifying roller of the humidifying unit 136 provided in the conveyance path 138 under the control of the CPU 131 , and humidifies the paper, thereby reducing the waviness of the paper.
  • the post-processing device 140 performs the side stitching on the paper by the stitching unit 146 based on the print setting of the print job under the control of the control unit 141 .
  • the paper to be subjected to the side stitching is conveyed to the stitching unit 146 by the conveyance path 148 c among three conveyance paths 148 b , 148 c , and 148 d branched from a conveyance path 148 a , is subjected to the side stitching, and then is output to an output tray 145 c .
  • the paper not to be subjected to the side stitching is conveyed by the conveyance path 148 b for output.
  • the paper feeding device 120 takes out the papers from any one of paper feeding trays 124 a , 124 b , and 124 c by a paper feeding roller (not illustrated) in response to a paper type required from the image forming apparatus 110 , and feeds the papers to the image forming apparatus 110 through the conveyance path 127 under the control of the CPU 121 .
  • the image forming apparatus 110 will be further described in detail.
  • the ADU 1110 is available as a withdrawing place for the withdrawal of papers, other than an originating paper of jam, to a place other than predetermined specific places in the conveyance path 118 e before the conveyance of papers are temporarily stopped due to the occurrence of the jam in the image forming system 100 .
  • the papers withdrawn to the ADU 1110 are discharged from the image forming apparatus 110 by automatic purge performed after the originating paper is removed by the user, and then are discharged to outside of the image forming system 100 .
  • the specific places are places at which paper conveyance failure may occur frequently when paper reconveyance is started from the specific place by the automatic purge, and can be set in advance in the image forming apparatus 110 by the user.
  • installation places of the transfer unit 118 b , the fixing unit 118 c , and the resist roller 118 a may be set as the specific places.
  • the reason for setting the transfer unit 118 b as the specific place is because when a paper is temporarily stopped in the transfer unit 118 b and when the paper is retransmitted from the transfer unit 118 b , the paper may be broken or deformed by the photosensitive drum and paper conveyance failure may occur.
  • the reason for setting the fixing unit 118 c as the specific place is because when the paper is temporarily stopped in the fixing unit 118 c and when the paper is retransmitted from the fixing unit 118 c , the paper may be broken or deformed by the heating roller and the pressing roller.
  • the specific place may be a place of the conveyance path with a relatively large curvature. This is because when the paper remains in the place of the conveyance path with a relatively large curvature, the paper may be curled and paper conveyance failure may occur.
  • FIG. 7 is an explanation diagram illustrating places of the papers remaining in the image forming system when the jam has occurred in the post-processing device.
  • FIG. 8 is an explanation diagram illustrating places of the papers withdrawn to the ADU before the conveyance of papers is temporarily stopped after the occurrence of the jam.
  • the humidifying device 130 is omitted in order to facilitate a description.
  • the occurrence place of the jam is indicated by a mark X
  • the paper P 1 serves as the originating paper at a branch point at which the three conveyance paths 148 b , 148 c , and 148 d are branched from the conveyance path 148 a of the post-processing device 140 , resulting in the occurrence of the jam.
  • the number of the papers, other than the originating paper, remaining in the image forming system 100 when the jam has occurred is 6, wherein four papers P 2 , P 3 , P 4 , and P 5 remain in the conveyance path of the image forming apparatus 110 , and two papers P 6 and P 7 remain in the conveyance path 127 of the paper feeding device 120 .
  • the conveyance for withdrawing the papers P 2 , P 4 , and P 5 remaining in the specific places to the ADU 1110 can be performed as follows.
  • the paper P 3 is conveyed to the resist roller 118 a and is stopped under the control of the resist roller 118 a , and the conveyance of the papers P 4 , P 2 , and P 5 in the conveyance path 118 e is continued and they are input to the ADU 1110 in sequence of the paper P 4 , the paper P 2 , and the paper P 5 .
  • the paper P 4 , the paper P 2 , and the paper P 5 are conveyed to the third ADU conveyance path 1110 c , the second ADU conveyance path 1110 b , and the first ADU conveyance path 1110 a respectively under the control of each ADU conveyance roller 1111 and are stopped.
  • the papers P 2 , P 4 , and P 5 remaining in the specific places are withdrawn to the ADU 1110 , which are places other than the specific places, and automatic purge is performed from the places other than the specific places, so that it is possible to suppress paper conveyance failure in the automatic purge.
  • FIG. 9 is an explanation diagram illustrating places of withdrawn papers together with a discharge order of each paper from the image forming apparatus in the automatic purge.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates the state in which the papers are temporarily stopped in the state of withdrawn and the originating paper P 1 has been removed by the user.
  • numbers written in parentheses of the papers P 2 to P 7 indicate a discharge order of each paper from the image forming apparatus 110 .
  • the image forming apparatus 110 decides the discharge order of each paper from the image forming apparatus 110 based on the positions of the papers remaining in the image forming apparatus 110 which are detected by the paper sensor 119 , and the positions of the papers remaining in the paper feeding device 120 which are detected by the paper sensor 128 , and received from the paper feeding device 120 .
  • the discharge order is decided as an order of papers more quickly dischargeable from the image forming apparatus 110 by conveyance.
  • the papers are discharged from the image forming apparatus 110 in the decided discharge order. Specifically, in the automatic purge, the papers are discharged from the image forming apparatus 110 in sequence of the paper P 3 , the paper P 4 , the paper P 2 , the paper P 5 , the paper P 6 , and the paper P 7 .
  • the papers P 2 to P 7 remaining in the image forming apparatus 110 and the paper feeding device 120 are conveyed by the automatic purge in such a way that an interval of a preceding paper and a following paper in the conveyance path 118 e is expanded.
  • the papers P 2 to P 7 are conveyed such that an interval of the paper P 3 , which is the preceding paper in terms of a relation with the paper P 4 , and the paper P 4 serving as the following paper is expanded.
  • the papers P 2 to P 7 are conveyed in such a way that an interval of the preceding paper P 4 and the following paper P 2 , an interval of the preceding paper P 2 and the following paper P 5 , an interval of the preceding paper P 5 and the following paper P 6 , and an interval of the preceding paper P 6 and the following paper P 7 are expanded.
  • a collision of the preceding paper and the following paper is suppressed, so that regardless of the positions of remaining papers when conveyance has been stopped due to the occurrence of jam, it is possible to prevent or reduce the reoccurrence of the jam in the automatic purge and to prevent jam processablity from deteriorating.
  • the automatic purge it is preferably to convey papers such that an interval of the preceding paper and the following paper in the conveyance path 118 e is expanded to be equal to or more than a reference interval provided in normal paper conveyance. In this way, it is possible to more simply and reliably prevent or reduce the reoccurrence of the jam in the automatic purge and to prevent jam processability from deteriorating.
  • FIG. 10 is an explanation diagram illustrating places of the papers remaining in the humidifying device of the image forming system when the jam has occurred in the post-processing device.
  • FIG. 11 is an explanation diagram illustrating places of the papers withdrawn to places, other than the specific places, in the humidifying device before the conveyance of papers is temporarily stopped after the occurrence of the jam.
  • the paper feeding device 120 is omitted in order to facilitate a description.
  • FIG. 10 similarly to FIG. 7 , the occurrence place of the jam is indicated by the mark X.
  • the number of papers, other than the originating paper, remaining in the image forming system 100 when the jam has occurred is 4, wherein all the papers remain in the conveyance path 138 of the humidifying device 130 .
  • the paper P 4 remaining in the humidifying unit 136 which is the specific place is conveyed for withdrawal from the humidifying unit 136 to a proper place, other than the specific place, at a downstream side from the humidifying unit 136 .
  • the reason for setting the humidifying unit 136 as the specific place is because when the paper is temporarily stopped in the humidifying unit 136 and when the paper is reconveyed from the humidifying unit 136 , the paper may be broken or deformed by the humidifying roller. Furthermore, this is because when the paper stayed in the humidifying unit 136 is continuously humidified and thus is excessively humidified, the paper may be deformed, broken, or absorbed to the device, and at the time of paper reconveyance, paper conveyance failure may occur.
  • the paper P 4 remaining in the specific place can be conveyed for withdrawal to the proper place, other than the specific place, at a downstream side from the humidifying unit 136 by rotationally driving the humidifying roller of the humidifying unit 136 .
  • the paper P 4 remaining in the humidifying unit 136 is withdrawn to the proper place, other than the specific place, and the automatic purge is performed from the place, other than the humidifying unit 136 , so that it is possible to suppress conveyance failure of the paper remaining in the humidifying unit 136 in the automatic purge.
  • the papers P 2 to P 5 remaining in the humidifying device 130 are respectively conveyed under the control of the CPU 131 in the automatic purge in such a way that an interval between the preceding paper and the following paper in the conveyance path 118 e is expanded. In this way, it is possible to prevent or reduce the reoccurrence of the jam in the automatic purge and to prevent jam processability from deteriorating.
  • FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating processing from jam occurrence to automatic purge in the image forming system.
  • the present flowchart can be executed by the CPU 111 of the image forming apparatus 110 according to the program stored in the storage unit 112 of the image forming apparatus 110 .
  • the CPU 111 of the image forming apparatus 110 continues image formation on the paper until it is detected that the jam has occurred in the image forming system 100 (S 121 : NO, S 126 ).
  • the CPU 111 detects the jam having occurred in the image forming system 100 based on the positions of the papers detected by the paper sensor 1119 .
  • the CPU 111 detects the jam having occurred in the other devices of the image forming system 100 by receiving information of jam occurrence from the other devices. Each device, in which the jam has occurred, can detect the occurrence of the jam based on the positions of the papers detected by each of the paper sensors 139 , 149 , and 128 .
  • the CPU 111 When the CPU 111 detects that the jam has occurred in the image forming system 100 (S 121 : YES), the CPU 111 communicates with the other devices and temporarily stops the conveyance of the papers remaining in the image forming system 100 (S 122 ).
  • the CPU 111 may withdraw the papers remaining in each device of the image forming system 100 to places other than the specific places.
  • the CPU 111 determines whether automatic purge is possible (S 124 ).
  • the CPU 111 ends the procedure without performing the automatic purge.
  • the case, in which it is determined that the automatic purge is not possible includes the case in which the papers remaining in the image forming system 100 are determined as continuous papers, and the case in which the remaining papers are not withdrawn and remain in the specific places.
  • FIG. 13 is a sub-routine flowchart of step S 125 of the flowchart of FIG. 12 .
  • the CPU 111 of the image forming apparatus 110 communicates with the other devices and detects the number Nmax of the papers, other than the originating paper, remaining in the image forming system 100 (S 131 ).
  • the number of the papers remaining in each device of the image forming system 100 can be detected based on the number of the papers detected by the paper sensors 1119 , 139 , 149 , and 128 of each device.
  • the number Nmax of the papers, other than the originating paper, remaining in the image forming system 100 is 6.
  • step S 131 the discharge order of the remaining papers from the image forming system 100 is further decided.
  • the paper with the discharge order N th from the image forming system 100 is an N th remaining paper.
  • the CPU 111 sets a counter value N of an internal counter to 1 (S 132 ).
  • the CPU 111 starts the conveyance of the N th remaining papers (S 133 ).
  • the CPU 111 determines that there is no following paper of the N th remaining paper (S 134 : NO)
  • the CPU 111 ends the automatic purge process after determining that the final remaining paper has been discharged from the image forming system 100 (S 139 ).
  • the counter value N of the internal counter reaches Nmax, so that it is determined that there is no following paper of the N th remaining paper.
  • the CPU 111 determines whether it is necessary to expand the paper interval between the N th remaining paper and the following paper (S 135 ).
  • FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a detailed flow of the determination in step S 135 of the flowchart of FIG. 13 .
  • the CPU 111 of the image forming apparatus 110 determines that the N th remaining paper does not remain in temporary stop positions provided in normal paper conveyance (S 141 : NO)
  • the CPU 111 determines that it is necessary to expand the paper interval between the N th remaining paper and the following paper in step S 135 of FIG. 13 .
  • the N th remaining paper as the preceding paper does not remain in the temporary stop positions provided in the normal paper conveyance
  • the temporary stop positions provided in the normal paper conveyance correspond to the remaining positions of the papers P 2 , P 3 , P 4 , P 6 , and P 7 in FIG. 8 .
  • all positions correspond to positions other than the temporary stop positions provided in the normal paper conveyance.
  • the CPU 111 determines whether the N th remaining paper remains in the positions in which the bending, the inclination, and the deviation of the paper can be corrected (S 142 ).
  • the positions, in which the bending, the inclination, and the deviation of a paper can be corrected are upstream positions from the resist roller 118 a . That is, the position in which the resist roller 118 a exists in the conveyance path from remaining positions of the papers to discharge positions of the papers. For example, in FIG.
  • the remaining positions of the papers P 2 to P 7 correspond to the positions in which the bending, the inclination, and the deviation of the paper can be corrected.
  • all the positions correspond to positions in which the correction of the bending, the inclination, and the deviation of the paper is not possible.
  • the CPU 111 determines that the N th remaining paper does not remain in the positions in which the bending, the inclination, and the deviation of the paper can be corrected (S 142 : NO), the CPU 111 determines that it is necessary to expand the paper interval between the N th remaining paper and the following paper in step S 135 .
  • the CPU 111 determines that it is necessary to expand the paper interval between the N th remaining paper and the following paper in step S 135 .
  • the bending, the inclination, or the deviation of the paper may occur due to reconveyance and is not corrected, it is probable that paper conveyance failure occurs.
  • the CPU 111 determines whether the paper interval between the N th remaining paper and the following paper is smaller than the reference interval provided in the normal paper conveyance (S 143 ).
  • the CPU 111 determines that it is necessary to expand the paper interval between the N th remaining paper and the following paper in step S 135 . This is because the paper interval between the preceding paper and the following paper is smaller than the reference interval, resulting in an increase in the probability that conveyance failure occurs due to a collision of the preceding paper and the following paper.
  • the CPU 111 determines that it is not necessary to expand the paper interval between the N th remaining paper and the following paper in step S 135 .
  • the interval between the paper P 2 and the paper P 5 is smaller than the reference interval. This is due to withdrawing papers to the ADU which is a place other than the specific places. Furthermore, in FIG. 11 , the interval between the paper P 3 and the paper P 4 is smaller than the reference interval. This is due to withdrawing the paper P 4 to the downstream in order to prevent papers from staying in the humidifying unit 136 which is the specific place.
  • step S 135 when it is determined that it is not necessary to expand the paper interval between the N th remaining paper and the following paper in step S 135 (S 135 : NO), the CPU 111 increments the counter value of the internal counter (S 138 ) and returns to step S 133 to continue the process on an N+1 th remaining paper.
  • the CPU 111 delays the start of conveyance of the following paper by a predetermined time from the start of the N th remaining paper, thereby expanding the paper interval between the N th remaining paper and the following paper in step S 136 and step S 137 .
  • the predetermined time may differ in (1) when it is determined that the N th remaining paper does not remain in the temporary stop positions provided in the normal paper conveyance (S 141 : NO), (2) when it is determined that the N th remaining paper does not remain in the positions in which the bending, the inclination, and the deviation of the paper can be corrected (S 142 : NO), and (3) when it is determined that the paper interval between the N th remaining paper and the following paper is smaller than the reference interval (S 143 : YES).
  • a time, in which the paper interval between the N th remaining paper and the following paper becomes the reference interval can be set as the predetermined time (a fourth time).
  • the predetermined time in consideration of the fact that the bending, the inclination, and the deviation of the N th remaining paper are not corrected, the predetermined time can be set as a time (a third time) longer than the case of (3).
  • the predetermined time in consideration of the fact that the N th remaining paper does not remain in the temporary stop positions provided in the normal paper conveyance, the predetermined time can be set as a time (a second time) longer than the case of (2).
  • the paper interval between the N th remaining paper and the following paper may also be expanded.
  • the predetermined time may also be set as a fixed time (a first time) shorter than the cases of (1) to (3).
  • the CPU 111 stops the following paper (the N+1 th remaining paper) until the conveyance time of the N th remaining paper reaches a timer value Tn provided for each N th remaining paper, thereby expanding the paper interval between the N th remaining paper and the following paper.
  • delaying the start of conveyance of the following paper by the predetermined time from the start of the N th remaining paper corresponds to expanding the paper interval between the N th remaining paper and the following paper.
  • the timer value Tn is set for each N th remaining paper by the degree by which the paper interval between the N th remaining paper and the following paper is expanded.
  • the CPU 111 sets the timer value Tn for the N th remaining paper and starts the measurement of the conveyance time T of the N th remaining paper (S 136 ).
  • the CPU 111 may set the timer value Tn by reading the timer value Tn set in advance by the user in correspondence to the position and the like of the remaining paper and stored in the storage unit 112 .
  • the CPU 111 continues the conveyance of the N th remaining paper until the conveyance time T of the N th remaining paper reaches the timer value Tn (S 137 ).
  • the measurement of the conveyance time T for example, can be performed using a program processing time required for a loop until No is determined again in step S 137 after No is determined in step S 137 .
  • the CPU 111 increments the counter value N of the internal counter (S 138 ) and starts the conveyance of the N+1 th remaining paper (S 133 ).
  • the CPU 111 can convey the papers remaining in the image forming system 100 while properly expanding the interval between the preceding paper and the following paper in response to the remaining position of a preceding paper or the interval between the preceding paper and the following paper, discharge the papers from the image forming apparatus 110 , and discharge the papers from the image forming system 100 .
  • the present embodiment has the following effects.
  • the papers, other than the originating paper are conveyed for withdrawal to places, other than predetermined specific places in the conveyance path.
  • the automatic purge is performed from the places, other than the specific places, so that it is possible to suppress paper conveyance failure in the automatic purge and more effectively prevent or reduce the reoccurrence of jam in the automatic purge.
  • the papers, other than the originating paper, remaining in a conveyance path are respectively conveyed in such a way that the interval between the preceding paper and the following paper in a conveyance path is expanded by delaying the start of conveyance of the following paper by the predetermined time from the start of conveyance of the preceding paper. In this way, it is possible to expand the interval between the preceding paper and the following paper more simply and accurately.
  • the papers, other than the originating paper, remaining in the conveyance path are respectively conveyed in such away that the interval between the preceding paper and the following paper in the conveyance path is expanded to be equal to or more than the reference interval provided in the normal paper conveyance.
  • the papers, other than the originating paper, remaining in the conveyance path are respectively conveyed in such away that the interval between the preceding paper and the following paper in the conveyance path is expanded to be equal to or more than the reference interval provided in the normal paper conveyance.
  • the papers, other than the originating paper, remaining in the conveyance path are conveyed in such a way that the interval between the preceding paper and the following paper in the conveyance path is maintained or expanded by simultaneously performing the start of the conveyance of the following paper and the start of the conveyance of the preceding paper or delaying the start of the conveyance of the following paper by the first time from the start of the conveyance of the preceding paper, and when the preceding paper remains in positions other than the temporary stop positions, the papers are conveyed in such a way that the interval between the preceding paper and the following paper is expanded by delaying the start of the conveyance of the following paper by the second time longer than the first time from the start of the conveyance of the preceding paper.
  • the papers are conveyed while expanding the interval between the preceding paper and the following paper, so that it is possible to suppress conveyance failure due to reconveyance from the position other than the temporary stop positions, and to effectively prevent the reoccurrence of the jam in the automatic purge.
  • the conveyance of the papers, other than the originating paper, remaining in the conveyance path are conveyed such a way that, the conveyance of the following paper and the conveyance of the preceding paper are simultaneously started when there is the correction unit for correcting the bending and the like of the paper in the conveyance path from the remaining position of the preceding paper to discharge positions of papers, and the interval between the preceding paper and the following paper is expanded by delaying the start of the conveyance of the following paper by the third time from the start of the conveyance of the preceding paper when there is no correction unit.
  • the bending and the like of the paper which are occurrable in reconveyance in the automatic purge are corrected, so that it is possible to suppress the paper conveyance failure and to more effectively prevent the reoccurrence of the jam in the automatic purge.
  • the conveyance of the papers, other than the originating paper, remaining in the conveyance path are conveyed such that the interval between the preceding paper and the following paper is expanded by delaying the start of the conveyance of the following paper by the fourth time from the start of the conveyance of the preceding paper when the interval between the remaining position of the preceding paper and the remaining position of the following paper in the conveyance path is narrower than the reference interval, and when the interval between the remaining position of the preceding paper and the remaining position of the following paper is equal to or wider than the reference interval, the conveyance of the following paper and the conveyance of the preceding paper are simultaneously started.
  • the papers are conveyed while expanding the paper interval to be equal to or more than the reference interval in the automatic purge, so that it is possible to suppress the conveyance failure due to the collision of papers and to more effectively prevent the reoccurrence of the jam in the automatic purge.
  • the image forming system and the image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Differences between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is that in the present embodiment, even though the preceding paper and the following paper remain in positions of the conveyance path conveyed by a common conveyance driving source, the automatic purge is performed to convey the papers while expanding the interval between the preceding paper and the following paper. Since the present embodiment is common to the first embodiment in other points, a description thereof will be omitted or simplified.
  • FIG. 15 is an explanation diagram illustrating the places of the remaining papers in the state in which papers have been withdrawn to the places other than the specific places in the humidifying device before paper conveyance is temporarily stopped after the occurrence of the jam.
  • the paper P 3 and the paper P 4 remain in the positions of the conveyance path 138 conveyed by a motor M 1 which is a common conveyance driving source.
  • Conveyance rollers R 11 , R 12 , R 13 , R 14 , and R 15 are rotated by the motor M 1 as the driving source.
  • Conveyance rollers R 21 and R 22 are rotated by another motor M 2 as the driving source.
  • the CPU 131 detects papers in each of the motor M 1 and the motor M 2 , which exist in the positions of the conveyance path 138 conveyed by the motor M 1 and the motor M 2 respectively, based on the positions of the papers in the conveyance path 138 , which have been detected by the paper sensor 139 constituting a first detection unit together with the CPU 131 .
  • the conveyance of the preceding paper and the following paper is controlled as follows, so that the preceding paper and the following paper are conveyed while expanding the interval between the preceding paper and the following paper in the automatic purge.
  • FIG. 16 is an explanation diagram illustrating the state in which the automatic purge is performed from the state of FIG. 15 and the preceding paper has passed through the position of the conveyance path conveyed by the common conveyance driving source together with the following paper.
  • the CPU 131 simultaneously starts the conveyance of the preceding paper P 3 and the following paper P 4 by the motor M 1 which is the common conveyance driving source (a first conveyance driving source).
  • the CPU 131 temporarily stops the motor M 1 to stop the conveyance of the following paper P 4 , and continues the conveyance of the preceding paper P 3 by the motor M 2 which is another conveyance driving source (a second conveyance driving source). In this way, it is possible to convey the preceding paper P 3 and the following paper P 4 while expanding the interval between the preceding paper P 3 and the following paper P 4 .
  • FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the automatic purge in the present embodiment and is a sub-routine flowchart of step S 125 of the flowchart of FIG. 12 .
  • the CPU 111 of the image forming apparatus 110 communicates with the other devices of the image forming system 100 and detects the number Nmax of the papers, other than the originating paper, remaining in the image forming system 100 (S 1701 ).
  • the CPU 111 sets the counter value N of the internal counter to 1 (S 1702 ).
  • the CPU 111 starts the conveyance of the N th remaining papers (S 1703 ).
  • the CPU 111 determines that there is no following paper of the N th remaining paper (S 1704 : NO)
  • the CPU 111 ends the automatic purge process after determining that the final remaining paper has been discharged from the image forming system 100 (S 1712 ).
  • the CPU 111 determines whether it is necessary to expand the paper interval with the following paper (S 1705 ).
  • step S 1705 When it is determined that it is not necessary to expand the paper interval between the N th remaining paper and the following paper in step S 1705 (S 1705 : NO), the CPU 111 increments the counter value of the internal counter (S 1711 ) and returns to step S 1703 to continue the process on an N+1 th remaining paper which is the following paper of the N th remaining paper.
  • the CPU 111 determines whether the N th remaining paper and the following paper (the N+1 th remaining paper) remain in the positions of the conveyance path conveyed by the common conveyance driving source (S 1706 ).
  • the CPU 111 sets the timer value Tn for the N th remaining paper and starts the measurement of the conveyance time T of the N th remaining paper (S 1709 ).
  • the CPU 111 continues the conveyance of the N th remaining paper until the conveyance time T of the N th remaining paper reaches the timer value Tn (S 1710 ), increments the counter value N of the internal counter (S 1711 ), and starts the conveyance of the N+1 th remaining paper (S 1703 ).
  • the CPU 111 continues the conveyance of the N th remaining paper (and the N+1 th remaining paper which is the following paper) until the N th remaining paper passes through the position of the conveyance path conveyed by the common conveyance driving source (S 1707 ).
  • the CPU 111 When the N th remaining paper has passed through the position of the conveyance path conveyed by the common conveyance driving source (S 1707 : YES), the CPU 111 temporarily stops of the conveyance of the N+1 th remaining paper which is the following paper (S 1708 ), and continues the conveyance of the N th remaining paper until the conveyance time T reaches the timer value Tn (a predetermined fifth time) (S 1709 and S 1710 ). Thereafter, the CPU 111 increments the counter value N of the internal counter (S 1711 ), and starts the conveyance of the N+1 th remaining paper, which has been temporarily stopped (S 1703 ).
  • the present embodiment has the following effects in addition to the effects of the first embodiment.
  • the conveyance of the following paper by the first conveyance driving source is temporarily stopped when the preceding paper has passed through the position of the conveyance path conveyed by the first conveyance driving source, and continues the conveyance of the preceding paper by the other second conveyance driving source.
  • the image forming system and the image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Differences between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is that in the present embodiment, in the automatic purge, in the case of conveying the remaining papers, when it is detected that the conveyance of the preceding paper is started and the preceding paper has passed through predetermined positions of the conveyance path, the conveyance of the following paper is started, so that the preceding paper and the following paper are conveyed while expanding the interval between the preceding paper and the following paper. Since the present embodiment is common to the first embodiment in other points, a description thereof will be omitted or simplified.
  • Each of the paper sensors 1119 , 139 , 149 , and 128 of the image forming system 100 constitutes a second detection unit together with each of the CPUs 111 , 131 , 141 , and 121 , and detects that the paper has passed through predetermined positions of the conveyance path.
  • the fact that the paper has passed through the predetermined positions of the conveyance path can be detected by detecting the rear end of the paper has passed through each of the paper sensors 1119 , 139 , 149 , and 128 .
  • the predetermined positions of the conveyance path may be the downstream ends of the conveyance paths 148 b and 148 d of the post-processing device 140 , or the downstream end of the conveyance path 118 e of the image forming apparatus 110 .
  • FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the automatic purge in the present embodiment and is a sub-routine flowchart of step S 125 of the flowchart of FIG. 12 .
  • the CPU 111 of the image forming apparatus 110 communicates with the other devices of the image forming system 100 and detects the number Nmax of the papers, other than the originating paper, remaining in the image forming system 100 (S 181 ).
  • the CPU 111 sets the counter value N of the internal counter to 1 (S 182 ).
  • the CPU 111 starts the conveyance of the N th remaining paper (S 183 ).
  • the CPU 111 determines whether there is the N+1 th remaining paper which is the following paper (S 185 ), and ends the procedure when it is determined that there is no following paper (S 185 : NO).
  • the CPU 111 increments the counter value N of the internal counter to 1 (S 186 ) and starts the conveyance of the N+1 th remaining paper (S 183 ).
  • the present embodiment has the following effects in addition to the effects of the first embodiment.
  • the conveyance of the following paper is started, so that the preceding paper and the following paper are conveyed while expanding the interval between the preceding paper and the following paper. In this way, the collision of the preceding paper and the following paper in the automatic purge is more reliably prevented, so that it is possible to more effectively prevent or reduce the reoccurrence of the jam in the automatic purge, and to prevent jam processability from deteriorating.
  • the image forming system and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention are not limited to the aforementioned embodiments.
  • the automatic purge process is performed by the program.
  • the whole or a part of the process performed by the program may be performed by hardware such as a circuit.

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