US20180097947A1 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents
Image forming apparatus Download PDFInfo
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- US20180097947A1 US20180097947A1 US15/832,197 US201715832197A US2018097947A1 US 20180097947 A1 US20180097947 A1 US 20180097947A1 US 201715832197 A US201715832197 A US 201715832197A US 2018097947 A1 US2018097947 A1 US 2018097947A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- sheet
- manual feed
- detector
- size
- recording material
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/0035—User-machine interface; Control console
- H04N1/00405—Output means
- H04N1/00482—Output means outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H1/00—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated
- B65H1/26—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated with auxiliary supports to facilitate introduction or renewal of the pile
- B65H1/266—Support fully or partially removable from the handling machine, e.g. cassette, drawer
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- 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
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2220/00—Function indicators
- B65H2220/01—Function indicators indicating an entity as a function of which control, adjustment or change is performed, i.e. input
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2220/00—Function indicators
- B65H2220/03—Function indicators indicating an entity which is measured, estimated, evaluated, calculated or determined but which does not constitute an entity which is adjusted or changed by the control process per se
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2220/00—Function indicators
- B65H2220/04—Function indicators for distinguishing adjusting from controlling, i.e. manual adjustments
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
- B65H2511/10—Size; Dimensions
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
- B65H2511/50—Occurence
- B65H2511/51—Presence
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
- B65H2511/50—Occurence
- B65H2511/515—Absence
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
- B65H2511/50—Occurence
- B65H2511/52—Defective operating conditions
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2553/00—Sensing or detecting means
- B65H2553/80—Arangement of the sensing means
- B65H2553/82—Arangement of the sensing means with regard to the direction of transport of the handled material
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
- H04N2201/0077—Types of the still picture apparatus
- H04N2201/0094—Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Manual Feeding Of Sheets (AREA)
- Control Or Security For Electrophotography (AREA)
- Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
- Controlling Sheets Or Webs (AREA)
Abstract
Provided is an image forming apparatus, including: a manual feed tray on which a recording material is stacked; a first detecting unit; a second detecting unit arranged on an upstream side of the first detecting unit; a third detecting unit arranged on an upstream side of the second detecting unit; a fourth detecting unit detecting a length of the recording material; a display portion; and a control portion determining a size of the recording material based on detection results and causing the display portion to display a first screen displaying the determined size, wherein the control portion causes the display portion to display a second screen for designating the size, when, among the first to third detecting units, a detecting unit located on a downstream side does not detect presence of the recording material and another detecting unit located on an upstream side of the detecting unit, detects the presence.
Description
- This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/857,013, filed Sep. 17, 2015, which claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-207387, filed Oct. 8, 2014, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
- The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a fed sheet.
- Hitherto, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer includes a sheet feeding cassette in an apparatus main body so that copying or printing can be carried out for a sheet continuously. A size and a type of the sheet to be used greatly depend on an environment in which a user uses the image forming apparatus. To address such a requirement, the image forming apparatus is provided with a plurality of sheet feeding cassettes. Even when the image forming apparatus includes a plurality of sheet feeding cassettes, there may arise a demand to execute the copying or printing for a sheet different from the sheet set on each of the sheet feeding cassettes. On the assumption that there may arise such a demand, the image forming apparatus is configured as follows. Specifically, the image forming apparatus also includes a manual feed tray besides the sheet feeding cassettes so that a desired sheet can be set with ease.
- In order to feed and convey the sheet set on the manual feed tray and form an image in an appropriate position, the size of the sheet needs to be known, and it is necessary for the user to input the size of the sheet through an operation portion. In this case, each time the user sets a sheet on the manual feed tray, the user needs to set the sheet size through the operation portion, and hence there has been a fear for a decrease in usability. In contrast, there has been proposed such a configuration that a plurality of sensors is arranged on the manual feed tray in a direction of conveying the sheet (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-231410). A length of the sheet placed on the manual feed tray in the conveyance direction is detected by the plurality of sensors. Based on a value acquired from a volume sensor mounted to a movable guide on the manual feed tray, a length of the sheet in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction is detected. Based on the detection results, the image forming apparatus automatically detects the sheet size. In the image forming apparatus configured to automatically detect the sheet size, in order to further enhance operability of the user, the sheet size is determined without displaying a screen for checking the automatically detected sheet size on the operation portion.
- The related-art image forming apparatus has the following problems. When a sensor arranged in the conveyance direction of the sheet fails, and a sheet to be subjected to copying or printing is set on the manual feed tray, the sheet size of the sheet set on the manual feed tray is erroneously detected. For example, a sensor arranged in the conveyance direction of the sheet for detecting a sheet having the size of an A3 length (420 mm) may fail and be stuck in an on state. In this case, even when the user sets a sheet having an A4 size (210 mm) on the manual feed tray, the image forming apparatus determines that the sheet size is the A3 length. As a result, the image forming is carried out so as to be suitable for the size of the A3 length. However, the fed sheet is the sheet having the A4 length, and hence the size of a formed image is larger than the size of the fed sheet. As a result, remaining toner that has not been transferred onto the sheet is adhered to members of an image forming portion, which causes an image failure such as marking back during image forming processing on the subsequent sheet.
- The sensor arranged in the conveyance direction of the sheet may fail and be stuck in an off state. In this case, even when the user sets a sheet having the A3 size on the manual feed tray, the image forming apparatus determines that the sheet size is the A4 length. As a result, the sheet size determined by the image forming apparatus is smaller in length than the sheet size of the fed sheet in the conveyance direction, and it may be determined that a paper jam occurs.
- The present invention has an object to prevent an image failure or a paper jam caused by an erroneous detection when a sheet size is detected by a manual feed tray.
- In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, one embodiment of the present invention includes the following configuration.
- There is provided an image forming apparatus, including: a manual feed tray on which a recording material is to be manually stacked; a first detecting unit configured to detect presence or absence of the recording material on the manual feed tray; a second detecting unit arranged on an upstream side of the first detecting unit in a conveyance direction of the recording material, the second detecting unit configured to detect presence or absence of the recording material on the manual feed tray; a third detecting unit arranged on an upstream side of the second detecting unit in the conveyance direction, the third detecting unit configured to detect presence or absence of the recording material on the manual feed tray; a fourth detecting unit configured to detect a length of the recording material on the manual feed tray in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction; a display portion configured to display information; and a control portion configured to determine a size of the recording material based on detection results of the first detecting unit, the second detecting unit, the third detecting unit and the fourth detecting unit, and control portion causing the display portion to display a first screen displaying the determined size of the recording material, wherein the control portion causes the display portion to display a second screen for designating the size of the recording material, when, among the first detecting unit, the second detecting unit and the third detecting unit, a detecting unit located on a downstream side in the conveyance direction does not detect the presence of the recording material and another detecting unit located on an upstream side of the detecting unit in the conveyance direction, which does not detect the presence of the recording material, detects the presence of the recording material.
- According to the one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the image failure or the paper jam caused by the erroneous detection when the sheet size is detected by the manual feed tray.
- Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
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FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment and a second embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a view for illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment. -
FIG. 3A is a top view of a manual feed tray according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment. -
FIG. 3B is a graph for showing a relationship between an AD value and a sheet size. -
FIG. 4A is a diagram for illustrating a manual feed sheet size display screen according to the first embodiment. -
FIG. 4B is a diagram for illustrating a manual feed sheet size designation screen. -
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for displaying the manual feed sheet size display screen according to the first embodiment. -
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for determining a normal operation of size detection according to the first embodiment. -
FIG. 7 is a diagram for illustrating a state of a sheet on the manual feed tray according to the first embodiment. -
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for illustrating a display screen switching operation according to the first embodiment. -
FIG. 9 is a diagram for illustrating a manual feed size detection alarm screen according to the second embodiment. -
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for displaying the manual feed size detection alarm screen according to the second embodiment. -
FIG. 11 is a diagram for illustrating a screen setting screen when a manual feed size is indefinite according to a third embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 12 is a flowchart for displaying a screen setting screen when a manual feed size is indefinite according to the third embodiment. - Now, embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings.
- (Image Forming Apparatus)
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FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 2 is a sectional view of animage forming apparatus 100 and ascanner portion 101 according to this embodiment. With reference toFIG. 1 andFIG. 2 , a basic configuration is described. Acontrol portion 300 illustrated inFIG. 1 includes aCPU 301, aROM 302, aRAM 303, and anEEPROM 304. When, for example, an instruction (hereinafter referred to as “job”) to start a printing operation is input to theCPU 301 through a user interface (UI) of an operation portion 330 (hereinafter referred to simply as “operation portion 330”), theCPU 301 starts the printing operation. TheCPU 301 can drive and control, via an I/O 307, aconveyance motor 145, afixing motor 173, aconveyance motor 146, a manualfeed conveyance motor 147, adischarge motor 148, and adischarge motor 149. Further, theCPU 301 can detect, via the I/O 307, an input signal input from aconveyance sensor 171, aregistration sensor 160, asheet feeding sensor 152, adischarge sensor 195, or adischarge sensor 197. - Further, the
CPU 301 can detect, via the I/O 307, an input signal input from a manual feedsheet presence sensor 214, a manual feedsheet length sensor 218, or a manual feedsheet length sensor 219. The sheet length represents a length of a sheet in a conveyance direction thereof. TheCPU 301 can detect, via the I/O 307, an input signal input from a manual feedsheet width sensor 217. In addition, theCPU 301 can also receive a job input from a network I/F 314 or a facsimile I/F 315. For example, theCPU 301 is connected to a network for communicating to/from an external apparatus, and receives a job from the external apparatus via the network I/F 314. Further, for example, theCPU 301 is connected to a telephone line for receiving FAX, and receives FAX via the facsimile I/F 315. - The
CPU 301 includes animage processing portion 316 configured to process an image corresponding to the job received from theoperation portion 330 or the like, and executes image processing such as expansion and rotation of the image. Further, theCPU 301 can control animage forming portion 320. Theimage forming portion 320 can control drive and supply of a high voltage to aprocess unit 120 indicated by the dotted frame inFIG. 2 , atransfer belt 130, asecondary transfer portion 140, and the like, and can control alaser scanner unit 110 indicated by the dotted frame inFIG. 2 . Further, theimage forming portion 320 can control a temperature of a heater of afixing device 170 illustrated inFIG. 2 . Thescanner portion 101 carries out an operation for reading an original when copying is executed. TheCPU 301 includes a timer, and carries out various types of timing control by using the timer to measure the time. - With reference to
FIG. 1 andFIG. 2 , a basic image forming operation is described. When receiving a job from theoperation portion 330, theCPU 301 analyzes the received job, and starts a printing operation. TheCPU 301 drives, via the I/O 307, theconveyance motor 145 serving as a drive source of acassette pickup roller 151. Thereby, thecassette pickup roller 151 is driven to rotate and sheets within asheet feeding cassette 150 are fed and conveyed one by one. At this time, theCPU 301 uses thesheet feeding sensor 152 to monitor whether or not a sheet feeding operation has been normally carried out for the sheets. - Sheet conveyance from the
manual feed tray 210 is described. TheCPU 301 operates as follows when receiving an instruction to convey a sheet on themanual feed tray 210 from theoperation portion 330 with the sheets serving as recording materials being stacked on themanual feed tray 210. Specifically, theCPU 301 drives the manualfeed conveyance motor 147 via the I/O 307 to rotate manualfeed pickup rollers 211. When rotation of the manualfeed pickup rollers 211 is started, the sheets on themanual feed tray 210 are fed and conveyed one by one. In the same manner as in the case of sheet feeding from thesheet feeding cassette 150, theCPU 301 monitors theregistration sensor 160 to determine whether or not the sheet feeding operation has been normally carried out. Further, the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 serving as a first detecting unit determines whether or not a sheet is set on themanual feed tray 210. A configuration of themanual feed tray 210 is described later in detail. - The
CPU 301 causes theprocess unit 120 to start the image forming operation so as to be in time with arrival of the sheet at thesecondary transfer portion 140. Theprocess unit 120 includes a photosensitive drum, a developing device, a charging roller, and a photosensitive drum cleaner. In theprocess unit 120, after a surface of the photosensitive drum is charged, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum by a laser beam emitted from thelaser scanner unit 110. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum is developed on the photosensitive drum by the toner within the developing device, and becomes a toner image. After that, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum is applied with a primary transfer voltage in a primary transfer portion 121 (illustrated by the dotted frame), and the toner image is transferred onto thetransfer belt 130. The toner image transferred onto thetransfer belt 130 is conveyed to thesecondary transfer portion 140 by rotation of thetransfer belt 130. - Further, the
CPU 301 monitors theregistration sensor 160 to detect a position of the sheet conveyed byconveyance rollers 153,conveyance rollers 154, andconveyance rollers 155. Then, in consideration of a timing at which a leading edge of the sheet reaches theregistration sensor 160, theCPU 301 controls the conveyance of the sheet so that the leading edge of the sheet and the leading edge of the toner image on thetransfer belt 130 are aligned with each other at thesecondary transfer portion 140. For example, when the sheet has reached theregistration sensor 160 earlier than the toner image, theCPU 301 stops the sheet for a predetermined period of time atconveyance rollers 161 and restarts the conveyance of the sheet thereafter. In thesecondary transfer portion 140, theCPU 301 applies a secondary transfer voltage to the sheet and the toner image that have reached thesecondary transfer portion 140, to thereby transfer the toner image onto the sheet. - The sheet having the toner image transferred thereon is conveyed to the
fixing device 170 via aconveyor belt 190. In thefixing device 170, the unfixed toner image that has transferred onto the sheet is heated and fixed to the sheet. After that, the sheet is further conveyed to a downstream-side part in the conveyance direction of the sheet. When the leading edge of the sheet subjected to the fixing reaches theconveyance sensor 171, theCPU 301 carries out the following operation. Specifically, theCPU 301 determines, based on contents of the job designated through theoperation portion 330 in advance, which conveyance path of asheet conveyance path 230, asheet conveyance path 231, and asheet conveyance path 234 the sheet is to be conveyed byconveyance rollers 162. TheCPU 301 switches a conveyance destination of the sheet by switching aconveyance flapper 172 and aconveyance flapper 182. - Specifically, when the job designated through the
operation portion 330 is a double-sided print job, and when the sheet is to be discharged with the printed surface facing down with respect to adischarge port 200, theCPU 301 switches theconveyance flapper 172 in order to convey the sheet to thesheet conveyance path 230. Further, when the sheet is to be discharged onto adischarge port 196 or adischarge port 199 at a time of one-sided printing or double-sided printing, theCPU 301 conveys the sheet to thesheet conveyance path 231 by switching theconveyance flapper 182. In addition, when the job designated through theoperation portion 330 is a discharge instruction with respect to thedischarge port 200, theCPU 301 conveys the sheet to thesheet conveyance path 234 by switching theconveyance flapper 172 and theconveyance flapper 182. - The sheet conveyed to the
sheet conveyance path 231 is further conveyed to a downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet (hereinafter referred to as “downstream side”) byconveyance rollers 232. Subsequently, the sheet is conveyed to asheet conveyance path 181, and conveyed toward thedischarge port 196 and thedischarge port 199. The sheet conveyed to thesheet conveyance path 181 is conveyed bydischarge rollers 241 anddischarge rollers 242 driven by thedischarge motor 148. When the job designated through theoperation portion 330 is a discharge instruction with respect to thedischarge port 196, theCPU 301 conveys the sheet to aconveyance path 193 by switching aflapper 183, to thereby discharge the sheet onto thedischarge port 196 bydischarge rollers 243. When the job designated through theoperation portion 330 is a discharge instruction with respect to thedischarge port 199, theCPU 301 switches theflapper 183 toward aconveyance path 184. Subsequently, theCPU 301 conveys the sheet to aconveyance path 198 bydischarge rollers 244,discharge rollers 245, and dischargerollers 246 that are driven by thedischarge motor 149, to thereby discharge the sheet onto thedischarge port 199. - When the sheet is discharged onto the
discharge port 200 with the printed surface facing down at the time of carrying out the one-sided printing, theCPU 301 conveys the sheet to thesheet conveyance path 230. Then, at a timing at which a trailing edge of the sheet passes throughreversal rollers 163, the rollers such as thereversal rollers 163 and double-sided conveyance rollers 164 are driven to reversely rotate so that the sheet is conveyed towarddischarge rollers 180, to thereby the sheet is discharged onto thedischarge port 200. When performing the double-sided printing, the sheet is conveyed to thesheet conveyance path 230. Then, the sheet is conveyed to a double-sidedturnover conveyance path 233 by the double-sided conveyance rollers sided conveyance rollers 179, a double-sided turnover flapper 178 is switched toward double-sided conveyance rollers 169, and the rollers such as the double-sided conveyance rollers sided conveyance rollers conveyance rollers 155. After all the jobs are finished, theCPU 301 displays on theoperation portion 330 that the jobs have been finished. - The
operation portion 330 includes an input key group 331 (illustrated by the dotted frame) to be used when a user inputs information, and astart key 332 to be depressed when the image forming operation is started. Further, theoperation portion 330 includes astop key 333 to be depressed when the image forming operation or the like is interrupted, adisplay portion 334 serving as a display unit, and asleep button 335. Thesleep button 335 of theoperation portion 330 is depressed when shifting to a sleep mode in which theimage forming apparatus 100 is in a power saving state to reduce power consumption. Moreover, thesleep button 335 is depressed when theimage forming apparatus 100 recovers from the sleep mode. Auser setting button 336 is depressed when a screen for displaying a screen setting screen 1200 (refer toFIG. 11 ) is displayed on thedisplay portion 334. The basic image forming operation is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned configuration. - (Manual Feed Tray)
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FIG. 3A is a top view of themanual feed tray 210, and a main body of theimage forming apparatus 100 is located on the left side ofFIG. 3A . When a bundle of sheets (hereinafter sometimes referred to simply as “sheets”) is set on themanual feed tray 210, the sheets are separated from the bundle of sheets one by one by the manualfeed pickup rollers 211, to be conveyed. When the sheets are set on themanual feed tray 210, the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 outputs the ON signal. An ON signal is input from the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 to theCPU 301, and theCPU 301 determines that the sheet is present on themanual feed tray 210. The bundle of sheets set on themanual feed tray 210 is sandwiched at both end portions of the bundle of sheets in the conveyance direction of the sheet by side-regulatingguides feed pickup rollers 211. By causing the side-regulatingguides arrows FIG. 3A , it is possible to prevent the sheet from being skew fed even when the sheet having an arbitrary sheet width is set. The sheet width represents the length of the sheet in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. In addition, the side-regulatingguides sheet width sensor 217 serving as a fourth detecting unit and a link member (not shown). The manual feedsheet width sensor 217 outputs a signal (AD value) corresponding to positions of the side-regulatingguides CPU 301 in conjunction with operations of the side-regulatingguides - The
CPU 301 detects the sheet width based on the signal (AD value) input from the manual feedsheet width sensor 217. The manual feedsheet length sensor 218 serving as a second detecting unit and the manual feedsheet length sensor 219 serving as a third detecting sensor are, for example, flag-type sensors, and detect the length of the sheet set on the manual feed tray 210 (refer toFIG. 7 ). The sheet length represents the length of the sheet in the conveyance direction. The flag-type sensors include, for example,flags photointerrupters FIG. 7 ). When the sheet is stacked on themanual feed tray 210, the sheet abuts against the flag, the flag consequently turns, and the flag brings the photointerrupter into a light shielding state. For example, in this embodiment, when the photointerrupter is in the light shielding state, the manual feedsheet length sensors manual feed tray 210, the flags do not turn, and the flags do not shield the light, and the photointerrupters are in a light transmission state. For example, in this embodiment, when the photointerrupters are in the light transmission state, the manual feedsheet length sensors sheet presence sensor 214 also includes aflag 214 a and aphotointerrupter 214 b (refer toFIG. 7 ), but the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 may be a sensor of another type. - (Sheet Size Detection)
- With reference to
FIG. 3B and Table 1, a method of detecting a size of the sheet set on themanual feed tray 210 is described.FIG. 3B is a graph for showing a relationship between the signal (AD value) output from the manual feedsheet width sensor 217 based on the positions of the side-regulatingguides FIG. 3B , the horizontal axis indicates the AD value (such as 0×3D4) output by the manual feedsheet width sensor 217, while the vertical axis indicates the size of the sheet (paper width) (such as A4 width (297 mm)). The manual feedsheet width sensor 217 is a sensor configured to output, specifically, a 10-bit digital value and to output, substantially linearly, output values 0×000 to 0×400 in the hexadecimal format. - As shown in
FIG. 3B , the output value 0×320 of the manual feedsheet width sensor 217 represents 210 mm as the A4R width, the output value 0×384 similarly represents 257 mm as the B4R width, and the output value 0×3D4 represents 297 mm as the A4 width. In other words, for example, when the AD value 0×320 is input from the manual feedsheet width sensor 217, theCPU 301 determines that the paper width of the sheet set on themanual feed tray 210 is 210 mm. TheCPU 301 detects the sheet width from the output value (AD value) of the manual feedsheet width sensor 217, and detects the sheet length from the output values of the manual feedsheet length sensors CPU 301 refers to Table 1 to determine the size of the sheet from those detection results. -
TABLE 1 Manual Manual Manual feed feed feed sheet sheet sheet Manual presence length length feed sheet Sheet Sheet sensor sensor sensor width Size width length 214 218 219 sensor 217A5 210 148 ON OFF OFF 0x320 ± 0x10 B5 257 182 ON OFF OFF 0x384 ± 0x10 A4 297 210 ON OFF OFF 0x3D4 ± 0x10 A5R 148 210 ON OFF OFF 0x258 ± 0x10 B5R 182 257 ON ON OFF 0x2E4 ± 0x10 A4R 210 297 ON ON OFF 0x320 ± 0x10 B4 257 364 ON ON ON 0x384 ± 0x10 A3 297 420 ON ON ON 0x3D4 ± 0x10 - Table 1 shows the size of the sheet, the sheet width (mm), and the sheet length (mm) from the left in this order, and shows the information in which the sizes of the sheet are associated with the detection results obtained by the respective sensors. In addition, Table 1 shows the detection result from the manual feed
sheet presence sensor 214, the detection results from the manual feedsheet length sensors sheet width sensor 217. The manual feedsheet width sensor 217 outputs the AD value to theCPU 301, and the other sensors output an ON signal or an OFF signal to theCPU 301. - The
CPU 301 refers to those detection results from the sensors and Table 1, to thereby determine the size of the sheet. In other words, theCPU 301 functions as a determination unit configured to determine the size of the sheet. For example, it is assumed that the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 outputs the ON signal, the manual feedsheet length sensor 218 outputs the OFF signal, the manual feedsheet length sensor 219 outputs the OFF signal, and the manual feedsheet width sensor 217 outputs the AD value 0×320±0×10. In this case, theCPU 301 determines that the sheet set on themanual feed tray 210 is an A5-size sheet based on the detection results from the respective sensors and the information of Table 1. In the same manner, it is assumed that the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 outputs the ON signal, the manual feedsheet length sensor 218 outputs the ON signal, the manual feedsheet length sensor 219 outputs the OFF signal, and the manual feedsheet width sensor 217 outputs the AD value 0×320±0×10. In this case, theCPU 301 determines that the sheet set on themanual feed tray 210 is an A4R-size sheet to be fed by a short edge feed of A4. - As shown in Table 1, even when the output value of the manual feed
sheet width sensor 217 is the same, it is possible to determine that the size is different based on a difference in the detection results from the manual feedsheet length sensors sheet width sensor 217 is the same AD value 0×320±0×10, the size of the sheet can be distinguished between A5 and A4R based on the detection results from the manual feedsheet length sensors - Even when the detection results from the manual feed
sheet length sensors sheet width sensor 217 is different. For example, even when the detection results from the manual feedsheet length sensors CPU 301 can make the following determination based on the AD value of the manual feedsheet width sensor 217. For example, the size of the sheet is determined as A5, B5, A4, and A5R when the AD value of the manual feedsheet width sensor 217 is 0×320±0×10, 0×384±0×10, 0×3D4±0×10, and 0×258±0×10, respectively. - (Manual Feed Sheet Size Display Screen)
- With reference to
FIG. 4A andFIG. 4B , a screen displayed on theoperation portion 330 in order to prompt the user to check the sheet size set on themanual feed tray 210 and designate the sheet size is described.FIG. 4A is a manual feed sheetsize display screen 500, which is a first screen displayed on thedisplay portion 334 of theoperation portion 330. The manual feed sheetsize display screen 500 ofFIG. 4A is displayed on thedisplay portion 334 of theoperation portion 330 in response to a state in which the sheet is set on themanual feed tray 210, and the sheet size is determined by theCPU 301. For example, in a process of S708 ofFIG. 5 or a process of S909 ofFIG. 8 , theCPU 301 displays the manual feed sheetsize display screen 500 on thedisplay portion 334 of theoperation portion 330. - Specifically, the
CPU 301 determines the size of the sheet set on themanual feed tray 210, and displays the determined size of the sheet on thedisplay portion 334. In this manner, thedisplay screen 500 prompts the user to check the size of the sheet set on themanual feed tray 210. Referring toFIG. 5 andFIG. 8 , a method of detecting the size of the sheet set on themanual feed tray 210 is described later. When the size of the sheet set on themanual feed tray 210 matches a displayedsize 501 displayed on the manual feed sheetsize display screen 500, anOK button 503 is depressed. When the size of the sheet set on themanual feed tray 210 does not match the displayedsize 501 displayed on the manual feed sheetsize display screen 500, achange button 502 is depressed. - (Manual Feed Sheet Size Designation Screen)
-
FIG. 4B is a manual feed sheetsize designation screen 600, which is a second screen displayed on thedisplay portion 334 of theoperation portion 330. The manual feedsheet designation screen 600 is displayed on theoperation portion 330 when an arbitrary size of the sheet is designated by the user. For example, the manual feed sheetsize designation screen 600 is displayed when thechange button 502 is depressed on the manual feed sheetsize display screen 500 ofFIG. 4A . Moreover, when the size of the sheet cannot be determined by the respective sensors of the manual feed tray 210 (S910 ofFIG. 8 ), the manual feed sheetsize designation screen 600 is also displayed on theoperation portion 330. When the manual feed sheetsize designation screen 600 is displayed on thedisplay portion 334 of theoperation portion 330, the size of the sheet is selected by the user depressing any of the buttons of the size designation buttons 601 (indicated by the broken-line frame). InFIG. 4B , as an example, the A4 size is designated. After the sheet size is selected, the sheet size of the sheet set on themanual feed tray 210 is determined when the user depresses theOK button 602. Theimage forming apparatus 100 carries out a subsequent image forming operation based on the sheet size designated through the manual feed sheetsize designation screen 600. The sheet size designated through the sheetsize designation screen 600 is stored, for example, in theRAM 303. - (Processing from Setting of Sheet to Displaying of Manual Feed Sheet Size Display Screen)
-
FIG. 5 is a basic flowchart for illustrating processing from setting of the sheet on themanual feed tray 210 to displaying of the manual feed sheetsize display screen 500 on theoperation portion 330. This processing is generally carried out. In order to compare the general processing ofFIG. 5 with the processing ofFIG. 8 according to this embodiment, the general processing ofFIG. 5 is first described. In S701 (a step is indicated as “S”), theCPU 301 determines whether or not the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 outputs the ON signal. While theCPU 301 is operating, theCPU 301 always monitors the output (ON or OFF) of the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214, and the same holds true forFIG. 6 andFIG. 8 . - In S701, when the
CPU 301 determines that the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 outputs the OFF signal, theCPU 301 repeats the processing of S701. In S701, when theCPU 301 determines that the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 outputs the ON signal, the processing proceeds to S702. In S702, theCPU 301 stores the output value of the manual feedsheet width sensor 217 as a variable AdVal (AdVal=output value of manual feed sheet width sensor 217). The variable AdVal is a variable for storing a value to be stored in theRAM 303. In S703, theCPU 301 stores the output value of the manual feedsheet length sensor 218 as a variable L1Val (L1Val=output value of manual feed sheet length sensor 218). In S704, theCPU 301 stores the output value of the manual feedsheet length sensor 219 as a variable L2Val (L2Val=output value of manual feed sheet length sensor 219). Each of L1Val and L2Val is a variable for storing a value to be stored in theRAM 303. In the following description, the variable for storing the value to be stored in theRAM 303 is referred to simply as “variable of theRAM 303”. - In S705, the
CPU 301 compares the respective values stored as the variables in theRAM 303 in the processing of S702 to S704 with Table 1 to determine whether or not Table 1 includes a suitable size. When theCPU 301 determines that Table 1 includes a suitable size in S705, theCPU 301 stores information (such as A5) of the suitable size as PapSize serving as the variable in the RAM 303 (PapSize=suitable size) in S706. When theCPU 301 determines that Table 1 does not include a suitable size in S705, theCPU 301 stores information (for example, “indefinite”) indicating that the size is indefinite as the variable PapSize (PapSize=indefinite) in S707. - In S708, based on the information of the size of the sheet stored as the variable PapSize in S706 or S707, the
CPU 301 displays the manual feed sheetsize display screen 500 on thedisplay portion 334 of theoperation portion 330, and brings the processing to an end. In other words, based on the information of the size of the sheet stored as the variable PapSize in S706 or S707, the manual feed sheetsize display screen 500 described with reference toFIG. 4A is displayed on thedisplay portion 334 of theoperation portion 330. Specifically, theCPU 301 displays the information (such as “A4”) of the size of the sheet, which is stored as the variable PapSize in S706, on the displayedsize 501 of the manual feed sheetsize display screen 500. Alternatively, theCPU 301 displays the information (such as “indefinite”) indicating that the size of the sheet is indefinite, which is stored as the variable PapSize in S707, on the displayedsize 501 of the manual feed sheetsize display screen 500. - (Processing of Determining Whether or Not Detection of Sheet Size by Manual Feed Tray is Normal)
-
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for determining whether or not the processing of detecting the size of the sheet set on themanual feed tray 210 can be normally carried out. In this embodiment, when the sheet is set on themanual feed tray 210, the processing illustrated inFIG. 6 is carried out. In S801, theCPU 301 determines whether or not the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 outputs the OFF signal. Moreover, theCPU 301 resets and starts the timer. In S801, when theCPU 301 determines that the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 outputs the OFF signal, the processing proceeds to S802. In S802, theCPU 301 determines whether or not the manual feedsheet length sensor 218 outputs the ON signal. When theCPU 301 determines that the manual feedsheet length sensor 218 outputs the ON signal, the processing proceeds to S804. In S802, when theCPU 301 determines that the manual feedsheet presence sensor 218 outputs the OFF signal, the processing proceeds to S803. In S803, theCPU 301 determines whether or not the manual feedsheet length sensor 219 outputs the ON signal. When theCPU 301 determines that the manual feedsheet length sensor 218 outputs the ON signal, the processing proceeds to S804. In S803, when theCPU 301 determines that the manual feedsheet presence sensor 219 outputs the OFF signal, the processing proceeds to S806. In this case, none of the sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210 in the conveyance direction of the sheet detects the presence of the sheet, and theCPU 301 determines that the size detection for the sheet is normal. - In S804, by referring to the timer, the
CPU 301 determines whether or not a predetermined period of time T1 has elapsed. When theCPU 301 determines that the predetermined period of time T1 has not elapsed, theCPU 301 repeats the processing of S804. In S804, when theCPU 301 determines that the predetermined period of time T1 has elapsed, the processing proceeds to S805. In S805, theCPU 301 again determines whether or not the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 outputs the ON signal. When theCPU 301 determines that the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 outputs the ON signal, the processing proceeds to S806. In this case, among the sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210 in the conveyance direction of the sheet, there is no sensor in the OFF state and arranged on the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to a sensor in the ON state. Therefore, theCPU 301 determines that the size detection for the sheet is normal. In S805, when theCPU 301 determines that the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 outputs the OFF signal, the processing proceeds to S807. In other words, when the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 outputs the OFF signal in S801, and still outputs the OFF signal after the predetermined period of time T1 has elapsed, the processing proceeds to S807. - In S807, the
CPU 301 sets a normally detectable flag of the manual feed size, which is a variable in theRAM 303, to OFF (the normally detectable flag of the manual feed size=OFF), and the processing returns to S801. TheCPU 301 determines that the detection of the sheet size by the sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210 cannot be normally carried out. In this state, despite the fact that the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 outputs the OFF signal, namely the sheet is not set on themanual feed tray 210, at least one of the manual feedsheet length sensors manual feed tray 210 cannot normally detect the size of the sheet. In this embodiment, when the sensor located on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet does not detect the presence of the sheet, and the sensor located on the upstream side of the sensor, which does not detect the presence of the sheet, in the conveyance direction detects the presence of the sheet, the following operation is carried out. Specifically, theCPU 301 determines that the size of the sheet cannot be determined by the plurality of sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210. - The reason for the processing of S804 in which the
CPU 301 waits until the predetermined period of time T1 elapses is described below. There is a conceivable state in which, in the course of the setting of the sheet on themanual feed tray 210 by the user, the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 outputs the OFF signal, and at least one of the manual feedsheet length sensors manual feed tray 210 cannot be determined as the abnormality of the sensors. Therefore, in S804, theCPU 301 waits until the predetermined period of time T1 elapses. In this embodiment, the predetermined period of time T1 is, for example, 3 seconds. - In S806, the
CPU 301 sets the normally detectable flag of the manual feed size, which is the variable in theRAM 303, to ON (the normally detectable flag of the manual feed size=ON). This is because the size of the sheet can be determined by the plurality of sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210 when the processing proceeds to S806. In S808, theCPU 301 sets an alarm screen display flag, which is the variable in the RAM 803, to OFF (alarm screen display flag=OFF), and the processing returns to S801. The alarm screen display flag is described later in a second embodiment of the present invention. - In S801, when the
CPU 301 determines that the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 outputs the ON signal, the processing proceeds to S809. In S809, theCPU 301 determines whether or not the manual feedsheet length sensor 219 outputs the ON signal. In S809, when theCPU 301 determines that the manual feedsheet length sensor 219 outputs the OFF signal, the processing proceeds to S806. In this way, when the sensor located on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet detects the presence of the sheet, and the sensor located on the upstream side of the sensor, which detects the presence of the sheet, in the conveyance direction of the sheet does not detect the presence of the sheet, theCPU 301 determines that the size detection for the sheet is normal. Moreover, when all of the sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210 in the conveyance direction of the sheet detect the presence of the sheet, theCPU 301 determines that the size detection for the sheet is normal. - In S809, when the
CPU 301 determines that the manual feedsheet presence sensor 219 outputs the ON signal, the processing proceeds to S810. In S810, theCPU 301 determines whether or not the manual feedsheet length sensor 218 outputs the ON signal. When theCPU 301 determines that the manual feedsheet length sensor 218 outputs the ON signal, the processing proceeds to S806. In S810, when theCPU 301 determines that the manual feedsheet length sensor 218 outputs the OFF signal, the processing proceeds to S811. In this case, as described with reference toFIG. 3A , among the respective sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210, the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 and the manual feedsheet length sensor 219 arranged on the both sides of themanual feed tray 210 in the conveyance direction output the ON signals. The manual feedsheet length sensor 218 arranged on the center side of themanual feed tray 210 in the conveyance direction outputs the OFF signal. - In S811, by referring to the timer, the
CPU 301 determines whether or not a predetermined period of time T2 has elapsed. When theCPU 301 determines that the predetermined period of time T2 has not elapsed, the processing of S811 is repeated. In S811, when theCPU 301 determines that the predetermined period of time T2 has elapsed, the processing proceeds to S812. TheCPU 301 again determines whether or not the manual feedsheet length sensor 218 outputs the ON signal. In S812, when theCPU 301 determines that the manual feedsheet length sensor 218 outputs the ON signal, the processing proceeds to S806. When theCPU 301 determines that the manual feedsheet length sensor 218 outputs the OFF signal, the processing proceeds to S807. The predetermined period of time T2 in S811 is 3 seconds, which is the same as the predetermined period of time T1. The predetermined period of time T2 is set to a sufficient period of time for resolving a deflection on a sheet A, even if the deflection is generated when the sheet A is stacked on themanual feed tray 210.FIG. 7 illustrates a state in which the deflection is generated on the sheet A when the sheet A is stacked on themanual feed tray 210, and a portion near the center of the sheet A in the conveyance direction is temporality lifted upward from themanual feed tray 210. - The processing of S809 to S812 are carried out in order to detect the following state of the sheet on the
manual feed tray 210.FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of themanual feed tray 210 of theimage forming apparatus 100 illustrated inFIG. 2 . As illustrated inFIG. 7 , the portion near the center of the sheet A set on themanual feed tray 210 may be in the lifted state due to stiffness or the deflection (also referred to as “curl”) of the sheet. In the state illustrated inFIG. 7 , theflag 214 a blocks the light in thephotointerrupter 214 b, and the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 is thus turned on. Theflag 218 a does not block the light in thephotointerrupter 218 b, and thus the manual feedsheet length sensor 218 outputs the OFF signal. Further, theflag 219 a blocks the light in thephotointerrupter 219 b, and thus the manual feedsheet length sensor 219 outputs the ON signal. In the state illustrated inFIG. 7 , the sheet size of the sheet A on themanual feed tray 210 cannot be normally detected. Even if the sheet itself is normally set on themanual feed tray 210, when the manual feedsheet length sensor 218 is defective, and is always outputs the OFF signal, the size of the sheet set on themanual feed tray 210 cannot be normally detected. Even in this state, a case may occur in which the manual feedpaper presence sensor 214 outputs the ON signal, the manual feedsheet length sensor 218 outputs the OFF signal, and the manual feedsheet length sensor 219 outputs the ON signal. The control illustrated inFIG. 6 is carried out independently of and in parallel with other control. - (Presence or Absence of Normal Detection of Sheet Size)
-
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for illustrating the processing of carrying out display on theoperation portion 330, which is based on the flowchart ofFIG. 5 . In this processing, based on the result of the determination as to whether or not the size detection for the sheet can be normally carried out by using the sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210 in the processing illustrated inFIG. 6 , the display is carried out on theoperation portion 330. In this embodiment, in place of the basic flowchart ofFIG. 5 , the processing may also be carried out by following the flowchart ofFIG. 8 . In S901, theCPU 301 determines whether or not the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 outputs the ON signal. When theCPU 301 determines that the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 outputs the OFF signal, the processing of S901 is repeated. In S901, when theCPU 301 determines that the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 outputs the ON signal, theCPU 301 determines whether or not the normally detectable flag of the manual feed size, which is the variable of theRAM 303, is set to ON in S902. The normally detectable flag of the manual feed size holds the value set by the processing of S806 or S807 ofFIG. 6 . - In S902, when the
CPU 301 determines that the normally detectable flag of the manual feed size is set to ON, the processing proceeds to S903. TheCPU 301 refers to the value of the normally detectable flag of the manual feed size, and determines that the size detection for the sheet can be normally carried out by using the sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210. TheCPU 301 carries out the size detection for the sheet on themanual feed tray 210 by the processing starting from S903. The processing from S903 to S909 ofFIG. 8 is the same as the processing from S702 to S708 of theFIG. 5 described above, and description thereof is omitted. When theCPU 301 normally carries out the size detection for the sheet by using the sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210, theCPU 301 displays the manual feed sheetsize display screen 500 ofFIG. 4A on thedisplay portion 334 of theoperation portion 330 in S909. - In S902, when the
CPU 301 determines that the normally detectable flag of the manual feed size is set to OFF, theCPU 301 determines that the size detection for the sheet cannot be normally carried out by using the sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210. Therefore, theCPU 301 displays the manual feed sheetsize designation screen 600 described with reference toFIG. 4B on thedisplay portion 334 of theoperation portion 330 in S910. This screen is used to prompt the user to designate the size of the sheet instead of automatically determining the size of the sheet when the size detection for the sheet cannot be normally carried out by using the sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210. - In this embodiment, the screen to be displayed on the
display portion 334 of theoperation portion 330 is switched between for a case in which the size detection for the sheet can be normally carried out by using the sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210 and for the case in which the size detection cannot be normally carried out. In other words, when the size detection for the sheet can be normally carried out, theCPU 301 displays the manual feed sheetsize display screen 500 ofFIG. 4A on thedisplay portion 334 by the processing of S909 ofFIG. 8 . When the size detection for the sheet cannot be normally carried out, theCPU 301 displays the manual feed sheetsize designation screen 600 ofFIG. 4B on thedisplay portion 334 by the processing of S910 ofFIG. 8 . As a result, according to this embodiment, without spoiling the usability, the image failure or the paper jam caused by the erroneous detection of the sheet size on themanual feed tray 210 can be prevented. - As described above, according to the first embodiment, the image failure or the paper jam caused by the erroneous detection when the sheet size is detected by the manual feed tray can be prevented.
- (Manual Feed Size Detection Alarm Screen)
- Referring to
FIG. 9 andFIG. 10 , the second embodiment is now described.FIG. 9 illustrates a screen for prompting the user to check temporary placement and the like. This screen is displayed when it is determined that the size detection for the sheet on themanual feed tray 210 cannot be normally carried out in the processing described with reference toFIG. 6 . In this embodiment, the following cases are assumed as the case in which the size detection for the sheet cannot be normally carried out by the sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210. A first case is a case in which at least one of the manual feedsheet length sensor 218 and the manual feedsheet length sensor 219 fails. A second case is a case in which a sheet other than the sheet subjected to the printing or an object (hereinafter referred to as “foreign matter”) is temporarily placed on themanual feed tray 210. The temporary placement refers to placement of a sheet not to be subjected to copying or printing or an object that changes the state of the sensor arranged in the conveyance direction of the sheet.FIG. 9 illustrates a manual feed sizedetection alarm screen 1000 which is a third screen, when assuming the second case. Specifically, the temporary placement of a foreign matter on themanual feed tray 210 is assumed, and a screen for prompting the user to check themanual feed tray 210 is displayed. The user removes the foreign matter on themanual feed tray 210, and the sheet is set again. Then, the size detection for the sheet is again carried out by the various sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210. The user can depress theOK button 1001 to return the display on thedisplay portion 334 of theoperation portion 330 from the display of the manual feed sizedetection alarm screen 1000 to a predetermined display screen. - (Display of Manual Feed Size Detection Alarm Screen)
-
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for illustrating processing for carrying out the display of the manual feed sizedetection alarm screen 1000. The processing from S1101 to S1110 ofFIG. 10 is the same as the processing from S901 to S910 of theFIG. 8 described above, and description thereof is omitted. In S1102, when theCPU 301 determines that the normally detectable flag of the manual feed size is set to OFF, the processing proceeds to S1111. TheCPU 301 determines that the detection of the sheet size by the sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210 cannot be normally carried out. In S1111, theCPU 301 determines whether or not the value of the alarm screen display flag stored by the processing of S808 ofFIG. 6 is set to ON. - In S1111, when the
CPU 301 determines that the alarm screen display flag is set to OFF, the processing proceeds to S1112. The case, in which the normally detectable flag of the manual feed size is set to OFF and the alarm screen display flag is set to OFF, corresponds to a state described below. In the state, the size detection cannot be normally carried out for the first time after the size detection has been normally carried out by using the sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210, and this state is a first abnormality detection. In S1112, theCPU 301 displays the manual feed sizedetection alarm screen 1000 described with reference toFIG. 9 on thedisplay portion 334 of theoperation portion 330. In S1113, theCPU 301 sets the alarm screen display flag, which is the variable of theRAM 303, to ON, and the processing proceeds to S1114. In the processing of S1113, theCPU 301 stores the fact that the manual sizedetection alarm screen 1000 is once displayed on thedisplay portion 334. In S1114, theCPU 301 determines whether or not the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 outputs the OFF signal. When theCPU 301 determines that the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 does not output the OFF signal, theCPU 301 repeats the processing of S1114. In S1114, when theCPU 301 determines that the manual feedsheet presence sensor 214 outputs the OFF signal, namely, the sheet has been removed from themanual feed tray 210, the processing returns to S1101. - In S1111, when the
CPU 301 determines that the alarm screen display flag is set to ON, theCPU 301 determines that, after the size detection could not normally be carried out, the manual feed sizedetection alarm screen 1000 has once been displayed on theoperation portion 330. TheCPU 301 does not display the manual feed sizedetection alarm screen 1000 on thedisplay portion 334, and the processing proceeds to S1110. In this embodiment, when theCPU 301 determines that the size of the sheet cannot be normally detected by using the sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210, theCPU 301 only once displays the manual sizedetection alarm screen 1000 on thedisplay portion 334. - Only when the alarm screen display flag is set to OFF by the processing of S808 of
FIG. 6 , theCPU 301 carries out the following processing. Specifically, after theCPU 301 determines that the size detection can be normally carried out, or after the three sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210 can no longer detect the sheet, when theCPU 301 determines that the size detection is abnormal for the first time, theCPU 301 displays the manual feed sizedetection alarm screen 1000 on theoperation portion 330. As a result, when a foreign matter is temporarily placed on themanual feed tray 210, theCPU 301 appropriately prompts the user to check themanual feed tray 210. Then, the size detection for the sheet can be normally carried out. In a case in which at least one of the manual feedsheet length sensor 218 and the manual feedsheet length sensor 219 fails, the display of the manual feed sizedetection alarm screen 1000 is not repeated. As a result, the usability is prevented from being spoiled. - As described above, according to the second embodiment, the image failure or the paper jam caused by the erroneous detection when the sheet size is detected by the manual feed tray can be prevented.
- (Selection of Screen)
- Referring to
FIG. 11 andFIG. 12 , a third embodiment of the present invention is now described. FIG. illustrates a screen displayed on thedisplay portion 334 when the sheet size is determined to be indefinite after the size detection for the sheet is carried out by the sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210. The screen ofFIG. 11 is displayed when theCPU 301 determines that the sheet size is indefinite. This screen functions as a selecting unit configured to select, in advance, which of the manual feed sheetsize display screen 500 and the manual feed sheetsize designation screen 600 is to be displayed on thedisplay portion 334 of theoperation portion 330. Ascreen setting screen 1200 for selecting, in advance, the screen displayed when the sheet size on themanual feed tray 210 is indefinite includes two selection buttons. Specifically, thescreen setting screen 1200 includes aselection button 1201 for selecting the manual feed sheetsize display screen 500 and aselection button 1202 for selecting the manual feed sheetsize designation screen 600. The user depresses any one of theselection buttons selection buttons OK button 1203 on thescreen setting screen 1200 when the sheet size on themanual feed tray 210 is indefinite is depressed. As a result, which of the screens is to be displayed is determined. Thisscreen setting screen 1200 is displayed in response to the depression of theuser setting button 336 on theoperation portion 330. - (Processing when Sheet Size on Manual Feed Tray is Indefinite)
-
FIG. 12 is a flowchart for illustrating processing for carrying out the display switching. This processing is carried out by following the screen selected on thescreen setting screen 1200 when the sheet size is determined to be indefinite in the size detection for the sheet by the sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210. The processing from S1301 to S1308 ofFIG. 12 is the same as the processing from S901 to S908 of theFIG. 8 described above, and description thereof is omitted. In S1308, theCPU 301 stores information (such as “indefinite”) representing that the sheet size is indefinite as PapSize which is the variable in theRAM 303. TheCPU 301 determines which of the settings of the screen is made in advance (S1310). The setting is made on thescreen setting screen 1200 when the sheet size on themanual feed tray 210 is determined to be indefinite, which is illustrated inFIG. 11 . - The
CPU 301 determines the content to be displayed on theoperation portion 330 according to the setting made in advance. The setting is made on thescreen setting screen 1200 when the sheet size on themanual feed tray 210 is determined to be indefinite. When the manual feed sheetsize display screen 500 is set on the screen setting screen 1200 (YES in S1310), the processing proceeds to S1309. - When the manual feed sheet
size designation screen 600 is set on the screen setting screen 1200 (NO in S1310), the processing proceeds to S1311. In S1309, theCPU 301 displays the manual feed sheetsize display screen 500 ofFIG. 4A on thedisplay portion 334 of theoperation portion 330 based on the sheet size stored as the PapSize, which is the variable in theRAM 303, and finishes the processing. In S1311, theCPU 301 displays the manual feed sheetsize designation screen 600 ofFIG. 4B on thedisplay portion 334 of theoperation portion 330, and finishes the processing. Information of the sheet size designated on the manual feed sheetsize designation screen 600 ofFIG. 4B is stored in an area, for example, in theRAM 303, different from the area for the detection results (S1303 to S1305) obtained by the sensors arranged on themanual feed tray 210. The information of the designated sheet size stored in theRAM 303 or the like is maintained until the sheet size is designated on the manual feed sheetsize designation screen 600 next time. - In the first and second embodiments, when the size of the sheet on the
manual feed tray 210 is indefinite, the manual feed sheetsize display screen 500 is displayed (S908 and S909 ofFIGS. 8 , and S1108 and S1109 ofFIG. 10 ). In this embodiment, the setting is made in advance on thescreen setting screen 1200 ofFIG. 11 . When the size of the sheet on themanual feed tray 210 is determined to be indefinite, according to the made setting, any one of the manual feed sheetsize display screen 500 and the manual feed sheetsize designation screen 600 is displayed. As a result, according to this embodiment, the usability can be increased. - As described above, according to the third embodiment, the image failure or the paper jam caused by the erroneous detection when the sheet size is detected by the manual feed tray can be prevented.
- While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
Claims (8)
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a manual feed tray on which recording material is to be manually stacked;
a first detector configured to detect a presence or absence of the recording material on the manual feed tray;
a second detector arranged on an upstream side of the first detector in a conveyance direction of the recording material, the second detector configured to detect a presence or absence of the recording material on the manual feed tray;
a third detector arranged on an upstream side of the second detector in the conveyance direction of the recording material, the third detector configured to detect a presence or absence of the recording material on the manual feed tray;
a display portion configured to display information; and
a controller configured to determine a size of the recording material based on detection results of the first detector, the second detector and the third detector, and to cause the display portion to display the determined size of the recording material,
wherein the controller is further configured to cause the display portion to display a message representing that the size of the recording material has not been detected in a case that, among the first detector, the second detector and the third detector, a detection result of a downstream-side detector located on a downstream side in the conveyance direction does not represent the presence of the recording material and a detection result of an upstream-side detector located on an upstream side of the downstream-side detector with respect to the conveyance direction represents the presence of the recording material.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause the display portion to display the message in a case that detection results of the first detector and the third detector represent the presence of the recording material and a detection result of the second detector does not represent the presence of the recording material.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause the display portion to display the message in a case that a detection result of the first detector does not represent the presence of the recording material and a detection result of the second detector represents the presence of the recording material.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause the display portion to display another message for prompting to check the recording material on the manual feed tray along with the message.
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause the display portion to display the determined size of the recording material in a case that detection results of all of the first detector, the second detector and the third detector represent the presence of the recording material.
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause the display portion to display the determined size of the recording material in a case that, among detection results of the first detector, the second detector and the third detector, a detection result of a downstream-side detector located on a downstream side in the conveyance direction represents the presence of the recording material and a detection result of an upstream-side detector located on an upstream side of the downstream-side detector with respect to the conveyance direction does not represent the presence of the recording material.
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising a fourth detector configured to detect a length of the recording material on the manual feed tray in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, wherein the controller is configured to determine the size of the recording material based on the detection results of the first detector, the second detector, the third detector, and the fourth detector.
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein:
the manual feed tray has regulating plates configured to regulate both end portions of the recording material in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, and
the fourth detector is configured to output a value corresponding to positions of the regulating plates in conjunction with an operation of the regulating plates.
Priority Applications (1)
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US15/832,197 US20180097947A1 (en) | 2014-10-08 | 2017-12-05 | Image forming apparatus |
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JP2014-207387 | 2014-10-08 | ||
JP2014207387A JP6388394B2 (en) | 2014-10-08 | 2014-10-08 | Image forming apparatus |
US14/857,013 US9871934B2 (en) | 2014-10-08 | 2015-09-17 | Image forming apparatus |
US15/832,197 US20180097947A1 (en) | 2014-10-08 | 2017-12-05 | Image forming apparatus |
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US14/857,013 Continuation US9871934B2 (en) | 2014-10-08 | 2015-09-17 | Image forming apparatus |
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US14/857,013 Active 2036-01-06 US9871934B2 (en) | 2014-10-08 | 2015-09-17 | Image forming apparatus |
US15/832,197 Abandoned US20180097947A1 (en) | 2014-10-08 | 2017-12-05 | Image forming apparatus |
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US14/857,013 Active 2036-01-06 US9871934B2 (en) | 2014-10-08 | 2015-09-17 | Image forming apparatus |
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JP (1) | JP6388394B2 (en) |
Cited By (2)
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US10498913B2 (en) * | 2016-07-29 | 2019-12-03 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Image forming apparatus |
US11939177B2 (en) | 2019-12-02 | 2024-03-26 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Image forming apparatus |
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US9592979B2 (en) * | 2013-11-13 | 2017-03-14 | Kyocera Document Solutions Inc. | Sheet feeder, and image forming device provided therewith |
JP6669381B2 (en) * | 2015-09-04 | 2020-03-18 | キヤノン株式会社 | Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and sheet feeder |
US10138084B2 (en) | 2017-03-21 | 2018-11-27 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Image forming apparatus and guidance method for paper feeding work |
JP7123603B2 (en) * | 2018-03-30 | 2022-08-23 | キヤノン株式会社 | Printing device and method of controlling the printing device |
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US10498913B2 (en) * | 2016-07-29 | 2019-12-03 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Image forming apparatus |
US11939177B2 (en) | 2019-12-02 | 2024-03-26 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Image forming apparatus |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US9871934B2 (en) | 2018-01-16 |
JP6388394B2 (en) | 2018-09-12 |
JP2016074529A (en) | 2016-05-12 |
US20160101954A1 (en) | 2016-04-14 |
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