US20240101374A1 - Medium feeding device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents
Medium feeding device and image forming apparatus Download PDFInfo
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- US20240101374A1 US20240101374A1 US18/188,448 US202318188448A US2024101374A1 US 20240101374 A1 US20240101374 A1 US 20240101374A1 US 202318188448 A US202318188448 A US 202318188448A US 2024101374 A1 US2024101374 A1 US 2024101374A1
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- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 claims description 30
- 230000032258 transport Effects 0.000 description 37
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 17
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 11
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 11
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 description 9
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- 230000000052 comparative effect Effects 0.000 description 3
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Classifications
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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
- 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
- B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
- B65H3/40—Separating articles from piles by two or more separators acting alternately on the same pile
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
- B65H3/44—Simultaneously, alternately, or selectively separating articles from two or more piles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
- B65H3/46—Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed
- B65H3/48—Air blast acting on edges of, or under, articles
-
- 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
- B65H7/16—Controlling air-supply to pneumatic 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
- B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
- B65H2511/40—Identification
- B65H2511/417—Identification of state of the machine
-
- 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
- B65H2511/524—Multiple articles, e.g. double feed
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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
- B65H2511/52—Defective operating conditions
- B65H2511/528—Jam
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2513/00—Dynamic entities; Timing aspects
- B65H2513/50—Timing
- B65H2513/51—Sequence of process
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2801/00—Application field
- B65H2801/03—Image reproduction devices
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2801/00—Application field
- B65H2801/03—Image reproduction devices
- B65H2801/06—Office-type machines, e.g. photocopiers
Definitions
- the present disclosure relates to a medium feeding device and an image forming apparatus.
- Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-042951 discloses a print management system having an image forming apparatus including a paper feeder, the print management system including: a determination unit that determines whether an area where a paper feed error has occurred is in a specific paper feeder; a display unit that, when the area where a paper feed error has occurred is in the specific paper feeder, displays on a display, information prompting for confirmation of the setting for the specific paper feeder; and an automatic recovery unit that, when the area where the paper feed error has occurred is not in the specific paper feeder, executes an automatic recovery process.
- a recovery process may be executed.
- the recovery process is such a process that at an occurrence of a paper feed error, a printing process is automatically resumed after removal of a medium such as a stuck sheet of paper by a user.
- Non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a medium feeding device and an image forming apparatus that are capable of reducing downtime of the apparatus due to medium jam, as compared to when a recovery process is executed after a medium jam has occurred.
- aspects of certain non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure address the above advantages and/or other advantages not described above. However, aspects of the non-limiting embodiments are not required to address the advantages described above, and aspects of the non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure may not address advantages described above.
- a medium feeding device including: multiple transporters each including a stacking unit on which a medium is stackable in a vertical direction, a feeder that feeds air to multiple media, each of which is the medium, stacked on the stacking unit to cause the multiple media to float and separate, a delivery unit that successively delivers the media floated and separated by the feeder, and a detector that detects a state of the medium floated and separated by the feeder; and at least one processor configured to: upon detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector of one of the multiple transporters during transport, switch to another transporter at a predetermined timing to feed the medium; and upon detection of the state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector, change an amount of air feed by the feeder of the one transporter before being switched.
- FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus including a medium feeding device according to a first exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating part of a medium feeder of the medium feeding device according to the first exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating part of the medium feeder of the medium feeding device according to the first exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the medium feeding device according to the first exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a control device of the medium feeding device according to the first exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 6 A is a view illustrating an example of a state where sheets of paper are favorably floated and separated
- FIG. 6 B is a view illustrating an example of a state where sheets of paper are not sufficiently floated and separated
- FIG. 6 C is a view illustrating another example of a state where sheets of paper are not sufficiently floated and separated;
- FIG. 7 is a configuration view illustrating a first state of an operation of switching to another medium feeder when there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of a medium of the medium feeder in use;
- FIG. 8 is a configuration view illustrating a second state of an operation after switching to another medium feeder when there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of a medium of the medium feeder in use;
- FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating part of the flow of process of the medium feeding device according to the first exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating another part of the flow of process of the medium feeding device according to the first exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 11 is a configuration view illustrating a light beam sensor used in a medium feeding device according to a second exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 12 is a front view illustrating a state of occurrence of jam or multi feeding of a medium in a medium feeder in use in a medium feeding device in a comparative example.
- the direction indicated by arrow X in the drawings be an apparatus width direction
- the direction indicated by arrow Y in the drawings be an apparatus height direction
- the direction (arrow Z direction) perpendicular to each of the apparatus width direction and the apparatus height direction be an apparatus depth direction.
- FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an image forming apparatus 100 including a medium feeding device 10 according to a first exemplary embodiment.
- the image forming apparatus 100 includes the medium feeding device 10 , and an image forming apparatus body 101 .
- the image forming apparatus body 101 includes: an image former 102 that forms an image on a sheet of paper P as an example of a medium; and a plurality of paper feed trays 104 to store sheets of paper P.
- the image forming apparatus 100 includes a control device 106 that controls the operation of each component of the image forming apparatus 100 .
- three paper feed trays 104 are provided, which store different types or sizes of the sheets of paper P.
- the inside of the image forming apparatus body 101 is provided with a transport unit that delivers sheets of paper P in the paper feed trays 104 one by one, and transports the one sheet to an image forming position of the image former 102 .
- the configuration and arrangement of the image former 102 and the transport unit are not particularly limited.
- the medium feeding device 10 is configured to be mounted on the image forming apparatus body 101 optionally.
- the medium feeding device 10 includes a housing 111 , and a plurality of paper feeders 112 that are disposed in the housing 111 to feed sheets of paper P one by one to the image former 102 of the image forming apparatus body 101 .
- the plurality of paper feeders 112 are an example of a plurality of transporters.
- the medium feeding device 10 includes a control device 50 that controls the operation of each component of the medium feeding device 10 .
- the control device 50 is electrically connected to the control device 106 of the image forming apparatus body 101 , to enable communication between the control device 50 and the control device 106 .
- the operation of each component of the medium feeding device 10 may be controlled by the control device 106 of the image forming apparatus body 101 .
- the housing 111 includes a first housing 111 A and a second housing 111 B, and the number of the plurality of paper feeders 112 is four.
- the medium feeding device 10 includes a first paper feeder 112 A and a second paper feeder 112 B in the first housing 111 A, and a third paper feeder 112 C and a fourth paper feeder 112 D in the second housing 111 B.
- the inside of the first housing 111 A is provided with a transport path 114 A to transport sheets of paper Pin the first paper feeder 112 A to the image forming apparatus body 101 , and a transport path 114 B to transport sheets of paper P in the second paper feeder 112 B to the image forming apparatus body 101 .
- the inside of the second housing 111 B is provided with a transport path 114 C to transport sheets of paper P in the third paper feeder 112 C to the image forming apparatus body 101 , and a transport path 114 D to transport sheets of paper P in the fourth paper feeder 112 D to the image forming apparatus body 101 .
- Part of the transport path 114 A, the transport path 114 B, the transport path 114 C, and the transport path 114 D is made common.
- the transport path 114 A, the transport path 114 B, the transport path 114 C, and the transport path 114 D are each provided with a transport unit such as a transport roll.
- the medium feeding device 10 includes the first paper feeder 112 A, the second paper feeder 112 B, the third paper feeder 112 C, and the fourth paper feeder 112 D.
- the first paper feeder 112 A, the second paper feeder 112 B, the third paper feeder 112 C, and the fourth paper feeder 112 D have a similar configuration, and when these four paper feeders do not need to be distinguished, the paper feeders are denoted as the paper feeder 112 and described.
- the paper feeder 112 includes: a stacking unit 12 on which sheets of paper P are stackable in a vertical direction, and a feeder 14 (see FIG. 2 ) that supplies air to a plurality of sheets of paper P stacked on the stacking unit 12 to cause the sheets of paper P to float and separate.
- the paper feeder 112 includes: a delivery unit 16 (see FIG. 2 ) that successively delivers the sheets of paper P floated and separated by the feeder 14 , and a camera 18 as an example of a detector that detects a state of the sheets of paper P floated and separated by the feeder 14 .
- the stacking unit 12 includes a plate-like body 12 A on which a plurality of sheets of paper P are stackable.
- the medium feeding device 10 includes a lifting device that lifts the plate-like body 12 A in a vertical direction. The lifting device lifts the plate-like body 12 A so that the position of the uppermost sheet of paper P among the sheets of paper P stacked on the plate-like body 12 A reaches a predetermined height.
- the paper feeder 112 is provided with side guides 20 that regulate the widthwise (the arrow Z direction in this example) lateral positions of the sheets of paper P stacked on the stacking unit 12 .
- the side guides 20 are provided over the stacking unit 12 .
- the side guides 20 are provided on both sides of widthwise (the arrow Z direction) lateral portions of the sheets of paper P.
- the side guides 20 are mounted on the stacking unit 12 so as to be slidable in the apparatus depth direction (the arrow Z direction).
- the side guides 20 can be slid in the apparatus depth direction (the arrow Z direction) according to the size of the sheets of paper P.
- the movement range of the side guides 20 is regulated by a stopper (the length of a guide slit) which is not illustrated so that the side guides 20 do not interfere with the delivery unit 16 .
- the feeder 14 includes an air outlet 30 to blow air upward of the stacking unit 12 from the widthwise (the arrow Z direction) lateral portions of the sheets of paper P.
- the air outlet 30 is disposed at a position opposed to the upper portion of the plurality of sheets of paper P stacked on the plate-like body 12 A.
- the feeder 14 blows the air through the air outlet 30 between the plurality of sheets of paper P, thereby causing the plurality of sheets of paper P stacked on the plate-like body 12 A of the stacking unit 12 to float and separate.
- the feeder 14 includes a duct 32 connected to the air outlet 30 , and a fan 34 provided upstream of the direction of air flow in the duct 32 (see FIG. 3 ).
- air is fed to the air outlet 30 through the duct 32 due to rotation of the fan 34 , and air is blown upward of the stacking unit 12 through the air outlet 30 .
- the air outlet 30 and the duct 32 are provided in the side guides 20 .
- the air outlet 30 is provided on both sides of widthwise (the arrow Z direction) lateral portions of the sheets of paper P.
- the side guides 20 on both sides of widthwise (the arrow Z direction) lateral portions of the sheets of paper P are each provided with the air outlet 30 .
- the duct 32 is branched into two parts downstream of the fan 34 in the direction of air flow, and the downstream ends of the branched parts of the duct 32 are each provided with the air outlet 30 .
- the delivery unit 16 transports the sheets of paper P stacked on the plate-like body 12 A of the stacking unit 12 one by one in arrow A direction, that is, rightward (rightward in the arrow X direction) in the apparatus width direction.
- the delivery unit 16 includes a delivery roll (feed roll) 36 that delivers the uppermost sheet of paper P on the stacking unit 12 one by one, and an adsorption unit 40 disposed inward (left side in the arrow X direction) of the delivery roll 36 in the apparatus width direction.
- the adsorption unit 40 adsorbs the uppermost sheet of paper P.
- the delivery unit 16 includes a pair of transport rolls 38 that transport the sheet of paper P delivered by the delivery roll 36 .
- the sheet of paper P absorbed by the adsorption unit 40 comes into contact with the delivery roll 36 , thus the sheet of paper P is delivered in the arrow A direction by the delivery roll 36 , and transported in the arrow A direction by the transport rolls 38 .
- the camera 18 is an example of an image capture unit, and captures a floated and separated state of an end of the sheets of paper P. As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the camera 18 is provided in a widthwise (the arrow Z direction) lateral side of the sheets of paper P. The camera 18 captures a widthwise (the arrow Z direction) end of the sheets of paper P, thereby detecting a floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P from the widthwise outer side of the sheets of paper P. As an example, the camera 18 is provided in each of both widthwise (the arrow Z direction) lateral sides of the sheets of paper P.
- the camera 18 is provided on the upper side of the side guides 20 , and is disposed in the vicinity of an end of the side guides 20 downstream in the delivery direction (the arrow A direction) of the sheet of paper P.
- the camera 18 is disposed at a position opposed to a widthwise (the arrow Z direction) lateral side of the sheets of paper P stacked on the plate-like body 12 A.
- the detection range of the camera 18 includes the vicinity of a widthwise end of the sheets of paper P stacked on the plate-like body 12 A. Consequently, the camera 18 can detect the widthwise end of the sheets of paper P.
- FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of components mounted on the medium feeding device 10 .
- the medium feeding device 10 includes a notifier 44 , in addition to the above-mentioned control device 50 , and the plurality of paper feeders 112 .
- the paper feeders 112 each include the feeder 14 , and the camera 18 .
- the first paper feeder 112 A, the second paper feeder 112 B, the third paper feeder 112 C, and the fourth paper feeder 112 D comprised in the plurality of paper feeders 112 are not illustrated.
- the control device 50 has the following components: a central processing unit (CPU) 51 , a read only memory (ROM) 52 , a random access memory (RAM) 53 , a storage 54 , and an I/O interface 55 .
- the components are coupled via a bus 59 to enable communication with each other.
- the CPU 51 is a central processing unit, and executes various programs and controls the components.
- the CPU 51 is an example of a processor. Specifically, the CPU 51 reads a program from the ROM 52 or the storage 54 , and executes the program using the RAM 53 as a work area.
- the CPU 51 performs control of the above-mentioned components and various calculation processes in accordance with the program recorded in the ROM 52 or the storage 54 .
- a feed processing program is stored in the ROM 52 or the storage 54 .
- the ROM 52 stores various programs and various data.
- the RAM 53 as a work area temporarily stores programs or data.
- the storage 54 is comprised of a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), and stores various programs including the operating system, and various data.
- the storage 54 stores a program for a printer driver.
- the CPU 51 reads the program for a printer driver from the storage 54 , and executes the program, thereby serving as a printer driver.
- the I/O interface 55 is an interface to communicate with the devices mounted on the medium feeding device 10 and the control device 106 mounted on the image forming apparatus 100 .
- the control device 50 is coupled to the plurality of paper feeders 112 , the notifier 44 and the image forming apparatus body 101 via the I/O interface 55 .
- the plurality of paper feeders 112 , and the notifier 44 may be directly connected via the bus 59 .
- the notifier 44 is a device that notifies a user of information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P or information on absence of sheet of paper P in the paper feeder 112 .
- the control device 50 outputs information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P to the notifier 44 .
- the notifier 44 is a display that displays the information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P as character information.
- the notifier 44 may be a voice output unit that outputs the information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by voice, or both display and voice output unit.
- the notifier 44 is provided in the medium feeding device 10 , but may be provided in an external device of the image forming apparatus 100 .
- FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of the control device 50 .
- the control device 50 has a paper state detector 71 , a paper feeder information acquirer 72 , a switching controller 73 , an air feed amount change unit 74 , and a notification information output unit 75 .
- the CPU 51 reads a feed processing program stored in the ROM 52 or the storage 54 to load and execute the program in the RAM 53 , thereby implementing the feed processing.
- the paper state detector 71 detects whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P based on an image of a floated and separated state of an end of sheets of paper P captured by the camera 18 of the paper feeder 112 during transport.
- a condition to detect that there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is pre-stored in the storage 54 .
- the paper state detector 71 detects whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P according to the above-mentioned condition based on the image of a floated and separated state of the end of sheets of paper P. For example, when the sheet of paper P is fed (in other words, transported) from the first paper feeder 112 A as illustrated in FIG. 7 , the paper state detector 71 detects a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by the camera 18 of the first paper feeder 112 A during transport.
- the paper feeder information acquirer 72 acquires information on whether sheets of paper P can be fed in the plurality of paper feeders 112 . Thus, information is obtained, which indicates whether there is another paper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable or there is no other paper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable among the plurality of paper feeders 112 except the paper feeder 112 during transport.
- the switching controller 73 When sheets of paper P are fed from one paper feeder 112 , the switching controller 73 performs control of switching to another paper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P, or control of continuing feed of sheets of paper P from the original paper feeder 112 without switching to another paper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P.
- the switching controller 73 switches to another paper feeder 112 at the later-described predetermined timing to feed sheets of paper P. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7 , this applies to when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected by the camera 18 of the first paper feeder 112 A during transport.
- the switching controller 73 switches to another paper feeder 112 at a predetermined timing to feed sheets of paper P.
- sheets of paper P are feedable from the second paper feeder 112 B, the third paper feeder 112 C, and the third paper feeder 112 D.
- the switching controller 73 performs control of switching to, for example, the third paper feeder 112 C to feed sheets of paper P.
- the switching controller 73 may make preparations to enable another paper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P, and when the predetermined timing allows, may switch to another paper feeder 112 after the preparations are completed.
- the switching controller 73 may allow the original paper feeder 112 (for example, the first paper feeder 112 A) to continue to feed the sheets of paper P without switching to any of the other paper feeders 112 .
- the predetermined timing will be described later.
- the switching controller 73 may make preparations to enable another paper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P, and may stop feeding of the sheets of paper P from the paper feeder 112 (for example, the first paper feeder 112 A) before being switched until the preparations are completed. The switching controller 73 then may start to feed sheets of paper P from the one paper feeder 112 after completion of the preparations.
- the air feed amount change unit 74 changes the amount of air feed by the feeder 14 of the paper feeder 112 before being switched. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 , this applies to when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected by the camera 18 of the first paper feeder 112 A during transport, and switching is made to another paper feeder 112 (for example, the second paper feeder 112 C). In this case, the air feed amount change unit 74 changes the amount of air feed by the feeder 14 of the first paper feeder 112 A before being switched.
- the air feed amount change unit 74 increases the amount of air feed by the feeder 14 .
- the air feed amount change unit 74 decreases the amount of air feed by the feeder 14 .
- the change of the amount of air feed by the feeder 14 is performed by changing the rotational speed of the fan 34 .
- the predetermined timing is, for example, after detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by the camera 18 , through change of the amount of air feed by the feeder 14 of the paper feeder 112 (for example, the first paper feeder 112 A) before being switched, and after detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P for a second time by the camera 18 of the paper feeder 112 (for example, the first paper feeder 112 A) before being switched.
- the switching controller 73 may allow the original paper feeder 112 (for example, the first paper feeder 112 A) to feed the sheets of paper P without switching to another paper feeder 112 .
- the switching controller 73 may continue to feed sheets of paper P from the original paper feeder 112 (for example, the first paper feeder 112 A). After switching is made to another paper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P, when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is not detected for a second time by the camera 18 of the original paper feeder 112 , the switching controller 73 may switch to the original paper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P.
- the notification information output unit 75 outputs information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P or information on absence of sheets of paper P in the paper feeder 112 to the notifier 44 . For example, when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected for a second time by the camera 18 of the paper feeder 112 before being switched, the notification information output unit 75 outputs information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P to the notifier 44 .
- the condition to detect a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by the camera 18 may be a situation in which sheets of paper P are floated, where the number of sheets is less than or equal to a first threshold (for example, four) which is a predetermined number.
- the condition to detect a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by the camera 18 may be a situation in which sheets of paper P are not separated and in a bundle state, where the number of sheets is greater than or equal to a second threshold (for example, three) which is a predetermined number.
- a first threshold and the second threshold are changeable.
- FIGS. 6 A to 6 C schematically illustrate an example of a state of sheets of paper P detected by the camera 18 when air is blown through the air outlet 30 of the feeder 14 to the plurality of sheets of paper P stacked on the plate-like body 12 A of the stacking unit 12 .
- a first example illustrated in FIG. 6 A about 10 sheets of paper P on the upper side are separated in an uncoordinated fashion and floated, thus the floated and separated state of sheets of paper P is favorable.
- the paper state detector 71 based on the above-described conditions.
- the number of floated sheets of paper P is only one, and the floated and separated state of sheets of paper P is insufficient.
- a feed failure in other words, a miss feed
- possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected by the paper state detector 71 based on the above-described conditions.
- FIGS. 9 and 10 are flowcharts illustrating the flow of feed processing for sheets of paper managed by the control device 50 .
- the CPU 51 reads a feed processing program from the ROM 52 or the storage 54 to load and execute the program in the RAM 53 , thereby performing feed processing.
- a user specifies the sheets of paper P to be used in the image forming apparatus body 101 of the image forming apparatus 100 for printing, and provides instructions for printing image data.
- the image forming apparatus 100 executes feed processing for the sheets of paper P by the paper feeder 112 which stores the specified sheets of paper P in the medium feeding device 10 , and performs an operation of forming an image on the sheet of paper P in the image forming apparatus body 101 .
- feed processing for sheets of paper P performed by the medium feeding device 10 will be described.
- the CPU 51 starts to feed sheets of paper P from one paper feeder 112 (step S 201 ).
- the one paper feeder 112 is the paper feeder 112 that stores the sheets of paper P specified by the printing instructions. For example, when the specified sheets of paper P are stored in the first paper feeder 112 A, the CPU 51 starts to feed sheets of paper P from the first paper feeder 112 A.
- the CPU 51 detects a floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P stacked on the stacking unit 12 in the one paper feeder 112 (step S 201 ). For example, when feeding of the sheets of paper P is started from the first paper feeder 112 A, a floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P stacked on the stacking unit 12 is captured by the camera 18 of the first paper feeder 112 A. An image captured by the camera 18 is transmitted to the control device 50 , and the CPU 51 detects the floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P based on the captured image.
- the CPU 51 determines whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the one paper feeder 112 (step S 203 ). For example, the CPU 51 determines based on the above-described conditions for detection whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper Pin the first paper feeder 112 A during feeding (in other words, during transport).
- the CPU 51 continues an operation of feeding the sheets of paper P from the one paper feeder 112 (step S 204 ). For example, when there is no possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the first paper feeder 112 A, the CPU 51 continues an operation of feeding the sheets of paper P from the first paper feeder 112 A.
- the CPU 51 acquires information on other paper feeders 112 (step S 205 ).
- the information on other paper feeders 112 includes information on whether sheets of paper P are feedable from the other paper feeders 112 .
- the CPU 51 acquires information on the second paper feeder 112 B, the third paper feeder 112 C, and the fourth paper feeder 112 D other than the first paper feeder 112 A.
- the CPU 51 determines whether switching to another paper feeder 112 is not ready (step S 206 ). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7 , when there is another paper feeder 112 (the second paper feeder 112 B, the third paper feeder 112 C, or the fourth paper feeder 112 D) by which the sheets of paper P are feedable, the CPU 51 determines that it is possible to switch to another paper feeder 112 . When there is another paper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable, a precondition is that air is fed from the feeder 14 to another paper feeder 112 in advance to float and separate the sheets of paper P. When there is no other paper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable, the CPU 51 determines that it is not possible to switch to another paper feeder 112 . Also, for example, when no sheets of paper P are present in any other paper feeder 112 , the CPU 51 also determines that it is not possible to switch to another paper feeder 112 .
- the CPU 51 switches to another sheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P (step S 207 ).
- the CPU 11 selects one paper feeder 112 (for example, the third paper feeder 112 C), and switches to the selected paper feeder 112 (for example, the third paper feeder 112 C) to feed sheets of paper P.
- the CPU 51 prepares for switching to another sheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P (step S 208 ). For example, as the preparations for switching, the CPU 51 supplies air from the feeder 14 of another paper feeder 112 to float and separate the sheets of paper P stacked on the stacking unit 12 .
- the CPU 51 changes the amount of air feed of one paper feeder 112 (step S 209 ). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7 , when there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the first paper feeder 112 A, the CPU 51 changes the amount of air feed of the feeder 14 of the first paper feeder 112 A. Note that the order of step S 208 and step S 209 may be reversed.
- the CPU 51 detects a floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P stacked on the stacking unit 12 in the one paper feeder 112 (step S 210 ). In other words, the CPU 51 detects a floated and separated state for the second time in the one paper feeder 112 .
- the CPU 51 determines whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper Pin the one paper feeder 112 (step S 211 ). Specifically, the CPU 51 detects a floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P for a second time in the one paper feeder 112 , thereby determining whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P.
- the CPU 51 continues an operation of feeding the sheets of paper P from the one paper feeder 112 (step S 204 ).
- the CPU 51 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the preparations for switching to another sheet feeder 112 (step S 212 ).
- a predetermined time for example, a minimum time from the preparations for switching to another sheet feeder 112 to completion of the preparations is set.
- the CPU 51 determines whether it is possible to switch to another sheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P (step S 213 ). For example, when the CPU 51 prepares for switching to another sheet feeder 112 in step S 208 , and the preparations are completed, the CPU 51 determines whether it is possible to switch to another sheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P.
- step S 207 When it is possible to switch to another sheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P (YES in step S 213 ), the CPU 51 switches to another sheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P (step S 207 ).
- the CPU displays an alert on the notifier 44 (step S 214 ).
- an alert for example, warning information
- the alert may be information prompting a user to adjust the sheet of paper P set in the first paper feeder 112 A by a user, and/or the settings for the feeder 14 .
- an alert saying that there is no sheet of paper P in the first paper feeder 112 A may be displayed on the notifier 44 .
- the CPU 51 stops feeding of the sheets of paper P from the one paper feeder 112 (step S 215 ).
- the CPU 51 changes the amount of air feed of the one paper feeder 112 (step S 221 ). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8 , when there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the first paper feeder 112 A, the CPU 51 switches to the third paper feeder 112 C to feed sheets of paper P, then changes the amount of air feed of the original first paper feeder 112 A.
- the CPU 51 detects a floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P in the one paper feeder 112 (step S 222 ). For example, the CPU 51 detects a floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P in the original first paper feeder 112 A.
- the CPU 51 determines whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper Pin the one paper feeder 112 (step S 223 ). For example, the CPU 51 determines whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the original first paper feeder 112 A.
- the CPU 51 switches to the one paper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P (step S 224 ).
- the CPU 51 switches to the first paper feeder 112 A to feed sheets of paper P.
- the CPU 51 continues an operation of feeding the sheets of paper P from another paper feeder 112 (step S 225 ).
- step S 225 the CPU 51 continues an operation of feeding the sheets of paper P from the third paper feeder 112 C.
- feeding of the sheets of paper P from the one paper feeder 112 may be temporarily stopped.
- the CPU 51 may start to continue an operation of feeding the sheets of paper P from the one paper feeder 112 .
- the CPU 51 switches to another sheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P.
- FIG. 12 illustrates an image forming apparatus 300 in a comparative example.
- the image forming apparatus 300 includes an image forming apparatus body 101 , a medium feeding device 310 , and a control device 320 inside the image forming apparatus body 101 .
- the medium feeding device 310 includes a first paper feeder 312 A, a second paper feeder 312 B, a third paper feeder 312 C, and a fourth paper feeder 312 D as a plurality of paper feeders 312 .
- the control device 320 automatically performs recovery processing to resume a printing process.
- the control device 320 stops the entire operation of the image forming apparatus 300 , and prompts for instructions to clear jam of sheets of paper P on a display (not illustrated). After the sheets of paper P stuck in the third paper feeder 312 C are removed by a user, the control device 320 resumes a printing process by the recovery processing.
- the operation of the image forming apparatus 300 cannot be started until removal of the sheets of paper P stuck in the third paper feeder 312 C is completed, and the downtime of the image forming apparatus 300 is increased.
- the CPU 51 when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected by the camera 18 of the paper feeder 112 during transport, the CPU 51 switches to another sheet feeder 112 at a predetermined timing to feed sheets of paper P. In addition, when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected by the camera 18 of the paper feeder 112 during transport, the CPU 51 changes the amount of air feed by the feeder 14 of the paper feeder 112 before being switched.
- the medium feeding device 10 it is possible to reduce the downtime of the medium feeding device 10 due to jam of sheets of paper P, as compared to when the recovery processing is performed after an occurrence of jam of sheets of paper P.
- the CPU 51 switches to another paper feeder 112 at a predetermined timing. Therefore, in the medium feeding device 10 , it is possible to quickly switch to another paper feeder 112 , as compared to when preparations for feeding sheets of paper by another paper feeder are started after detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper.
- the CPU 51 makes preparations to enable another paper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P, and when the predetermined timing allows, switches to another paper feeder 112 after the preparations are completed.
- the predetermined timing does not allow, the CPU 51 continues to feed sheets of paper P from the original paper feeder 112 without switching to another paper feeder 112 . Therefore, in the medium feeding device 10 , it is possible to reduce the downtime of the medium feeding device 10 , as compared to when the original paper feeder 112 is in standby until preparations for enabling another paper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper are completed.
- the CPU 51 makes preparations to enable another paper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P, and stops feeding of the sheets of paper P from the paper feeder 112 before being switched until the preparations are completed. The CPU 51 then starts to feed the sheets of paper P from another paper feeder 112 switched after the preparations are completed. Therefore, in the medium feeding device 10 , it is possible to reduce the occurrence of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P, as compared to when the sheets of paper are supplied from the paper feeder before being switched until preparations to enable another paper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P are completed.
- the above-mentioned timing is after detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by the camera 18 , through change of the amount of air feed by the feeder 14 of the paper feeder 112 before being switched, and after detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P for a second time by the camera 18 of the paper feeder 112 before being switched.
- the medium feeding device 10 it is possible to continue to feed the sheets of paper P from the paper feeder 112 before being switched while reducing the occurrence of jam of sheets of paper P, as compared to when switching is made to another paper feeder without waiting for the result of detection by the camera of the paper feeder 112 before being switched.
- the CPU 51 allows the original paper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P without switching to another paper feeder 112 .
- the CPU 51 when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected for a second time by the camera 18 of the paper feeder 112 before being switched, the CPU 51 outputs information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P to the notifier 44 that notifies a user. Therefore, in the medium feeding device 10 , it is possible to prompt a user to solve a problem of the original paper feeder 112 .
- the medium feeding device 10 after switching is made to another paper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P, air feed by the feeder 14 is continued in the original paper feeder 112 , and when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is not detected for a second time by the camera 18 of the original paper feeder 112 , switching is made to the original paper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P.
- the medium feeding device 10 it is possible to switch to the original paper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P, while reducing the occurrence of jam of sheets of paper P, as compared to when feeding of the sheets of paper P from another paper feeder is continued.
- the camera 18 captures a floated and separated state of an end of the sheets of paper P.
- detection of an end of the sheets of paper P is easy, as compared to when an end of the sheets of paper is detected by a photoelectronic sensor.
- a condition to detect a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by the camera 18 is that a predetermined number or less of sheets of paper P are floated. Therefore, in the medium feeding device 10 , a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P can be detected by the number of floated sheets of paper P.
- a condition to detect a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by the camera 18 is that a predetermined number or more of sheets of paper P are not separated, and in a bundle state. Therefore, in the medium feeding device 10 , a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P can be detected by the number of floated sheets of paper P in a bundle state.
- the image forming apparatus 100 has the medium feeding device 10 , and the image former 102 that forms an image on a sheet of paper P fed by the medium feeding device 10 . Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 100 , it is possible to reduce the downtime of the image forming apparatus 100 due to jam of sheets of paper P, as compared to when the recovery processing is performed after an occurrence of jam of sheets of paper P.
- a medium feeding device in the second exemplary embodiment includes a photoelectronic sensor 170 as an example of a detector instead of the camera 18 of the medium feeding device 10 in the first exemplary embodiment.
- the photoelectronic sensor 170 has a light projector 174 that emits light to an end face 172 A of a housing 172 , and a light receiver 176 .
- a floated and separated state of an end of the sheets of paper P is detected by the light receiver 176 receiving light from the light projector 174 .
- the configuration of the medium feeding device in the second exemplary embodiment except the photoelectric sensor 170 is the same as that of the medium feeding device 10 in the first exemplary embodiment.
- the medium feeding device in the second exemplary embodiment has the following operation and effect.
- the photoelectric sensor 170 detects a floated and separated state of an end of the sheets of paper P by receiving light from the light projector 174 .
- the medium feeding device in the second exemplary embodiment is easily mounted on the apparatus body (in other words, the bodies of a plurality of paper feeders), as compared to when an end of the sheets of paper P is detected by an image captured by an image capture unit.
- the camera 18 or the photoelectric sensor 170 is provided in each of both widthwise sides of the sheets of paper P; however, the present disclosure is not limited to this configuration.
- the camera 18 or the photoelectric sensor 170 may be configured to be provided in one of both widthwise sides of the sheets of paper P.
- the processing of the medium feeding device 10 , the image forming apparatus 100 can be implemented by a dedicated hardware circuit. In this case, the processing may be executed by one hardware, or may be executed by multiple hardware.
- a program to cause the medium feeding device 10 , and the image forming apparatus 100 to execute may be provided by a computer readable recording medium such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory, a flexible disk, and a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), or may be provided online through a network such as the Internet.
- a program recorded on a computer-readable recording medium is usually transferred to and stored in a memory or a storage.
- this program may be provided, for example, as independent application software, or may be incorporated in the software of the medium feeding device 10 , and the image forming apparatus 100 as a function thereof.
- processor refers to hardware in a broad sense.
- Examples of the processor include general processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, and programmable logic device).
- processor is broad enough to encompass one processor or plural processors in collaboration which are located physically apart from each other but may work cooperatively.
- the order of operations of the processor is not limited to one described in the embodiments above, and may be changed.
- a medium feeding device comprising:
- the medium feeding device according to (((1))) or (((2))),
- the medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((3))),
- the medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((4))),
- the medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((5))),
- the medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((8))),
- the medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((8))),
- the medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((10))),
- the medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((11))),
- An image forming apparatus comprising:
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
- Controlling Sheets Or Webs (AREA)
Abstract
A medium feeding device includes: multiple transporters each including a stacking unit on which a medium is stackable in a vertical direction, a feeder that feeds air to multiple media, each of which is the medium, stacked on the stacking unit to cause the multiple media to float and separate, a delivery unit that successively delivers the media floated and separated by the feeder, and a detector that detects a state of the medium floated and separated by the feeder; and at least one processor configured to: upon detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector of one of the multiple transporters during transport, switch to another transporter at a predetermined timing to feed the medium; and upon detection of the state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector, change an amount of air feed by the feeder of the one transporter before being switched.
Description
- This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-153051 filed Sep. 26, 2022.
- The present disclosure relates to a medium feeding device and an image forming apparatus.
- Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-042951 discloses a print management system having an image forming apparatus including a paper feeder, the print management system including: a determination unit that determines whether an area where a paper feed error has occurred is in a specific paper feeder; a display unit that, when the area where a paper feed error has occurred is in the specific paper feeder, displays on a display, information prompting for confirmation of the setting for the specific paper feeder; and an automatic recovery unit that, when the area where the paper feed error has occurred is not in the specific paper feeder, executes an automatic recovery process.
- For example, in an image forming apparatus including a paper feeder, when a paper feed error occurs, a recovery process may be executed. For example, the recovery process is such a process that at an occurrence of a paper feed error, a printing process is automatically resumed after removal of a medium such as a stuck sheet of paper by a user.
- Aspects of non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a medium feeding device and an image forming apparatus that are capable of reducing downtime of the apparatus due to medium jam, as compared to when a recovery process is executed after a medium jam has occurred.
- Aspects of certain non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure address the above advantages and/or other advantages not described above. However, aspects of the non-limiting embodiments are not required to address the advantages described above, and aspects of the non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure may not address advantages described above.
- According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a medium feeding device including: multiple transporters each including a stacking unit on which a medium is stackable in a vertical direction, a feeder that feeds air to multiple media, each of which is the medium, stacked on the stacking unit to cause the multiple media to float and separate, a delivery unit that successively delivers the media floated and separated by the feeder, and a detector that detects a state of the medium floated and separated by the feeder; and at least one processor configured to: upon detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector of one of the multiple transporters during transport, switch to another transporter at a predetermined timing to feed the medium; and upon detection of the state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector, change an amount of air feed by the feeder of the one transporter before being switched.
- Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
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FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus including a medium feeding device according to a first exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating part of a medium feeder of the medium feeding device according to the first exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating part of the medium feeder of the medium feeding device according to the first exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the medium feeding device according to the first exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a control device of the medium feeding device according to the first exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 6A is a view illustrating an example of a state where sheets of paper are favorably floated and separated,FIG. 6B is a view illustrating an example of a state where sheets of paper are not sufficiently floated and separated, andFIG. 6C is a view illustrating another example of a state where sheets of paper are not sufficiently floated and separated; -
FIG. 7 is a configuration view illustrating a first state of an operation of switching to another medium feeder when there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of a medium of the medium feeder in use; -
FIG. 8 is a configuration view illustrating a second state of an operation after switching to another medium feeder when there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of a medium of the medium feeder in use; -
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating part of the flow of process of the medium feeding device according to the first exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating another part of the flow of process of the medium feeding device according to the first exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 11 is a configuration view illustrating a light beam sensor used in a medium feeding device according to a second exemplary embodiment; and -
FIG. 12 is a front view illustrating a state of occurrence of jam or multi feeding of a medium in a medium feeder in use in a medium feeding device in a comparative example. - Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment to implement the present disclosure will be described. In the following description, let the direction indicated by arrow X in the drawings be an apparatus width direction, the direction indicated by arrow Y in the drawings be an apparatus height direction, and the direction (arrow Z direction) perpendicular to each of the apparatus width direction and the apparatus height direction be an apparatus depth direction.
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FIG. 1 illustrates an example of animage forming apparatus 100 including amedium feeding device 10 according to a first exemplary embodiment. - As illustrated in
FIG. 1 , theimage forming apparatus 100 includes themedium feeding device 10, and an image formingapparatus body 101. The image formingapparatus body 101 includes: an image former 102 that forms an image on a sheet of paper P as an example of a medium; and a plurality ofpaper feed trays 104 to store sheets of paper P. In addition, theimage forming apparatus 100 includes acontrol device 106 that controls the operation of each component of theimage forming apparatus 100. As an example, threepaper feed trays 104 are provided, which store different types or sizes of the sheets of paper P. Although illustration is omitted, the inside of the image formingapparatus body 101 is provided with a transport unit that delivers sheets of paper P in thepaper feed trays 104 one by one, and transports the one sheet to an image forming position of the image former 102. The configuration and arrangement of the image former 102 and the transport unit are not particularly limited. - As an example, the
medium feeding device 10 is configured to be mounted on the image formingapparatus body 101 optionally. Themedium feeding device 10 includes ahousing 111, and a plurality ofpaper feeders 112 that are disposed in thehousing 111 to feed sheets of paper P one by one to the image former 102 of the image formingapparatus body 101. The plurality ofpaper feeders 112 are an example of a plurality of transporters. In addition, themedium feeding device 10 includes acontrol device 50 that controls the operation of each component of themedium feeding device 10. Thecontrol device 50 is electrically connected to thecontrol device 106 of the image formingapparatus body 101, to enable communication between thecontrol device 50 and thecontrol device 106. Instead of this configuration, the operation of each component of themedium feeding device 10 may be controlled by thecontrol device 106 of the image formingapparatus body 101. - As an example, the
housing 111 includes afirst housing 111A and asecond housing 111B, and the number of the plurality ofpaper feeders 112 is four. As an example, themedium feeding device 10 includes afirst paper feeder 112A and asecond paper feeder 112B in thefirst housing 111A, and athird paper feeder 112C and afourth paper feeder 112D in thesecond housing 111B. - The inside of the
first housing 111A is provided with atransport path 114A to transport sheets of paper Pin thefirst paper feeder 112A to the image formingapparatus body 101, and atransport path 114B to transport sheets of paper P in thesecond paper feeder 112B to the image formingapparatus body 101. In addition, the inside of thesecond housing 111B is provided with atransport path 114C to transport sheets of paper P in thethird paper feeder 112C to the image formingapparatus body 101, and atransport path 114D to transport sheets of paper P in thefourth paper feeder 112D to the image formingapparatus body 101. Part of thetransport path 114A, thetransport path 114B, thetransport path 114C, and thetransport path 114D is made common. Although illustration is omitted, thetransport path 114A, thetransport path 114B, thetransport path 114C, and thetransport path 114D are each provided with a transport unit such as a transport roll. - As described above, the
medium feeding device 10 includes thefirst paper feeder 112A, thesecond paper feeder 112B, thethird paper feeder 112C, and thefourth paper feeder 112D. Thefirst paper feeder 112A, thesecond paper feeder 112B, thethird paper feeder 112C, and thefourth paper feeder 112D have a similar configuration, and when these four paper feeders do not need to be distinguished, the paper feeders are denoted as thepaper feeder 112 and described. - As illustrated in
FIG. 1 andFIG. 2 , thepaper feeder 112 includes: astacking unit 12 on which sheets of paper P are stackable in a vertical direction, and a feeder 14 (seeFIG. 2 ) that supplies air to a plurality of sheets of paper P stacked on thestacking unit 12 to cause the sheets of paper P to float and separate. In addition, thepaper feeder 112 includes: a delivery unit 16 (seeFIG. 2 ) that successively delivers the sheets of paper P floated and separated by thefeeder 14, and acamera 18 as an example of a detector that detects a state of the sheets of paper P floated and separated by thefeeder 14. - As illustrated in
FIG. 1 , thestacking unit 12 includes a plate-like body 12A on which a plurality of sheets of paper P are stackable. Although illustration is omitted, themedium feeding device 10 includes a lifting device that lifts the plate-like body 12A in a vertical direction. The lifting device lifts the plate-like body 12A so that the position of the uppermost sheet of paper P among the sheets of paper P stacked on the plate-like body 12A reaches a predetermined height. - As illustrated in
FIG. 3 , thepaper feeder 112 is provided withside guides 20 that regulate the widthwise (the arrow Z direction in this example) lateral positions of the sheets of paper P stacked on thestacking unit 12. Theside guides 20 are provided over thestacking unit 12. Theside guides 20 are provided on both sides of widthwise (the arrow Z direction) lateral portions of the sheets of paper P. As an example, theside guides 20 are mounted on thestacking unit 12 so as to be slidable in the apparatus depth direction (the arrow Z direction). The side guides 20 can be slid in the apparatus depth direction (the arrow Z direction) according to the size of the sheets of paper P. The movement range of the side guides 20 is regulated by a stopper (the length of a guide slit) which is not illustrated so that the side guides 20 do not interfere with thedelivery unit 16. - As illustrated in
FIG. 2 andFIG. 3 , thefeeder 14 includes anair outlet 30 to blow air upward of the stackingunit 12 from the widthwise (the arrow Z direction) lateral portions of the sheets of paper P. Theair outlet 30 is disposed at a position opposed to the upper portion of the plurality of sheets of paper P stacked on the plate-like body 12A. Thefeeder 14 blows the air through theair outlet 30 between the plurality of sheets of paper P, thereby causing the plurality of sheets of paper P stacked on the plate-like body 12A of the stackingunit 12 to float and separate. - The
feeder 14 includes aduct 32 connected to theair outlet 30, and afan 34 provided upstream of the direction of air flow in the duct 32 (seeFIG. 3 ). In thefeeder 14, air is fed to theair outlet 30 through theduct 32 due to rotation of thefan 34, and air is blown upward of the stackingunit 12 through theair outlet 30. Theair outlet 30 and theduct 32 are provided in the side guides 20. - Although illustration is omitted, the
air outlet 30 is provided on both sides of widthwise (the arrow Z direction) lateral portions of the sheets of paper P. As an example, the side guides 20 on both sides of widthwise (the arrow Z direction) lateral portions of the sheets of paper P are each provided with theair outlet 30. Theduct 32 is branched into two parts downstream of thefan 34 in the direction of air flow, and the downstream ends of the branched parts of theduct 32 are each provided with theair outlet 30. - As illustrated in
FIG. 2 , thedelivery unit 16 transports the sheets of paper P stacked on the plate-like body 12A of the stackingunit 12 one by one in arrow A direction, that is, rightward (rightward in the arrow X direction) in the apparatus width direction. Thedelivery unit 16 includes a delivery roll (feed roll) 36 that delivers the uppermost sheet of paper P on the stackingunit 12 one by one, and anadsorption unit 40 disposed inward (left side in the arrow X direction) of thedelivery roll 36 in the apparatus width direction. Theadsorption unit 40 adsorbs the uppermost sheet of paper P. Furthermore, thedelivery unit 16 includes a pair of transport rolls 38 that transport the sheet of paper P delivered by thedelivery roll 36. - As an example, in the
delivery unit 16, the sheet of paper P absorbed by theadsorption unit 40 comes into contact with thedelivery roll 36, thus the sheet of paper P is delivered in the arrow A direction by thedelivery roll 36, and transported in the arrow A direction by the transport rolls 38. - The
camera 18 is an example of an image capture unit, and captures a floated and separated state of an end of the sheets of paper P. As illustrated inFIG. 2 andFIG. 3 , thecamera 18 is provided in a widthwise (the arrow Z direction) lateral side of the sheets of paper P. Thecamera 18 captures a widthwise (the arrow Z direction) end of the sheets of paper P, thereby detecting a floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P from the widthwise outer side of the sheets of paper P. As an example, thecamera 18 is provided in each of both widthwise (the arrow Z direction) lateral sides of the sheets of paper P. - As an example, the
camera 18 is provided on the upper side of the side guides 20, and is disposed in the vicinity of an end of the side guides 20 downstream in the delivery direction (the arrow A direction) of the sheet of paper P. - As illustrated in
FIG. 3 , thecamera 18 is disposed at a position opposed to a widthwise (the arrow Z direction) lateral side of the sheets of paper P stacked on the plate-like body 12A. The detection range of thecamera 18 includes the vicinity of a widthwise end of the sheets of paper P stacked on the plate-like body 12A. Consequently, thecamera 18 can detect the widthwise end of the sheets of paper P. -
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of components mounted on themedium feeding device 10. As illustrated inFIG. 4 , themedium feeding device 10 includes anotifier 44, in addition to the above-mentionedcontrol device 50, and the plurality ofpaper feeders 112. Thepaper feeders 112 each include thefeeder 14, and thecamera 18. InFIG. 4 , in order to simplify the configuration, thefirst paper feeder 112A, thesecond paper feeder 112B, thethird paper feeder 112C, and thefourth paper feeder 112D comprised in the plurality ofpaper feeders 112 are not illustrated. - The
control device 50 has the following components: a central processing unit (CPU) 51, a read only memory (ROM) 52, a random access memory (RAM) 53, astorage 54, and an I/O interface 55. The components are coupled via abus 59 to enable communication with each other. - The
CPU 51 is a central processing unit, and executes various programs and controls the components. TheCPU 51 is an example of a processor. Specifically, theCPU 51 reads a program from theROM 52 or thestorage 54, and executes the program using theRAM 53 as a work area. TheCPU 51 performs control of the above-mentioned components and various calculation processes in accordance with the program recorded in theROM 52 or thestorage 54. In the exemplary embodiment, a feed processing program is stored in theROM 52 or thestorage 54. - The
ROM 52 stores various programs and various data. TheRAM 53 as a work area temporarily stores programs or data. Thestorage 54 is comprised of a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), and stores various programs including the operating system, and various data. Thestorage 54 stores a program for a printer driver. TheCPU 51 reads the program for a printer driver from thestorage 54, and executes the program, thereby serving as a printer driver. - The I/
O interface 55 is an interface to communicate with the devices mounted on themedium feeding device 10 and thecontrol device 106 mounted on theimage forming apparatus 100. Thecontrol device 50 is coupled to the plurality ofpaper feeders 112, thenotifier 44 and the image formingapparatus body 101 via the I/O interface 55. Note that the plurality ofpaper feeders 112, and thenotifier 44 may be directly connected via thebus 59. - The
notifier 44 is a device that notifies a user of information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P or information on absence of sheet of paper P in thepaper feeder 112. For example, when possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected based on an image of a floated and separated state of an end of sheets of paper P captured by thecamera 18, thecontrol device 50 outputs information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P to thenotifier 44. As an example, thenotifier 44 is a display that displays the information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P as character information. Note that instead of a display, thenotifier 44 may be a voice output unit that outputs the information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by voice, or both display and voice output unit. Thenotifier 44 is provided in themedium feeding device 10, but may be provided in an external device of theimage forming apparatus 100. -
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of thecontrol device 50. - As illustrated in
FIG. 5 , as the functional configuration, thecontrol device 50 has apaper state detector 71, a paperfeeder information acquirer 72, a switchingcontroller 73, an air feedamount change unit 74, and a notificationinformation output unit 75. TheCPU 51 reads a feed processing program stored in theROM 52 or thestorage 54 to load and execute the program in theRAM 53, thereby implementing the feed processing. - The
paper state detector 71 detects whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P based on an image of a floated and separated state of an end of sheets of paper P captured by thecamera 18 of thepaper feeder 112 during transport. A condition to detect that there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is pre-stored in thestorage 54. Thepaper state detector 71 detects whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P according to the above-mentioned condition based on the image of a floated and separated state of the end of sheets of paper P. For example, when the sheet of paper P is fed (in other words, transported) from thefirst paper feeder 112A as illustrated inFIG. 7 , thepaper state detector 71 detects a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by thecamera 18 of thefirst paper feeder 112A during transport. - The paper
feeder information acquirer 72 acquires information on whether sheets of paper P can be fed in the plurality ofpaper feeders 112. Thus, information is obtained, which indicates whether there is anotherpaper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable or there is noother paper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable among the plurality ofpaper feeders 112 except thepaper feeder 112 during transport. - When sheets of paper P are fed from one
paper feeder 112, the switchingcontroller 73 performs control of switching to anotherpaper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P, or control of continuing feed of sheets of paper P from theoriginal paper feeder 112 without switching to anotherpaper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P. - As described above, when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected by the
camera 18 of thepaper feeder 112 during transport, the switchingcontroller 73 switches to anotherpaper feeder 112 at the later-described predetermined timing to feed sheets of paper P. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 7 , this applies to when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected by thecamera 18 of thefirst paper feeder 112A during transport. When there is anotherpaper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable, the switchingcontroller 73 switches to anotherpaper feeder 112 at a predetermined timing to feed sheets of paper P. When there is anotherpaper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable refers to the situation where sheets of paper P are feedable by one or more ofother paper feeders 112. InFIG. 7 , sheets of paper P are feedable from thesecond paper feeder 112B, thethird paper feeder 112C, and thethird paper feeder 112D. As illustrated inFIG. 8 , the switchingcontroller 73 performs control of switching to, for example, thethird paper feeder 112C to feed sheets of paper P. - As an example, when there is no
other paper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable, the switchingcontroller 73 may make preparations to enable anotherpaper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P, and when the predetermined timing allows, may switch to anotherpaper feeder 112 after the preparations are completed. When there is noother paper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable refers to the situation where sheets of paper P are not feedable by all of theother paper feeders 112. When the predetermined timing does not allow, the switchingcontroller 73 may allow the original paper feeder 112 (for example, thefirst paper feeder 112A) to continue to feed the sheets of paper P without switching to any of theother paper feeders 112. The predetermined timing will be described later. - As another example, for example, when there is no
other paper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable, the switchingcontroller 73 may make preparations to enable anotherpaper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P, and may stop feeding of the sheets of paper P from the paper feeder 112 (for example, thefirst paper feeder 112A) before being switched until the preparations are completed. The switchingcontroller 73 then may start to feed sheets of paper P from the onepaper feeder 112 after completion of the preparations. - When a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected by the
camera 18 of thepaper feeder 112 during transport, the air feedamount change unit 74 changes the amount of air feed by thefeeder 14 of thepaper feeder 112 before being switched. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 7 andFIG. 8 , this applies to when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected by thecamera 18 of thefirst paper feeder 112A during transport, and switching is made to another paper feeder 112 (for example, thesecond paper feeder 112C). In this case, the air feedamount change unit 74 changes the amount of air feed by thefeeder 14 of thefirst paper feeder 112A before being switched. - For example, when a floated and separated state of an end of sheets of paper P is insufficient (the number of sheets of paper P floated and separated is small) based on a captured image of the floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P, the air feed
amount change unit 74 increases the amount of air feed by thefeeder 14. Also, for example, when the number of sheets of paper P floated is too many, and the multiple sheets of paper P are in a bundle state and not sufficiently separated based on a captured image of the floated and separated state of an end of the sheets of paper P, the air feedamount change unit 74 decreases the amount of air feed by thefeeder 14. For example, the change of the amount of air feed by thefeeder 14 is performed by changing the rotational speed of thefan 34. - The predetermined timing is, for example, after detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by the
camera 18, through change of the amount of air feed by thefeeder 14 of the paper feeder 112 (for example, thefirst paper feeder 112A) before being switched, and after detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P for a second time by thecamera 18 of the paper feeder 112 (for example, thefirst paper feeder 112A) before being switched. - When a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is not detected for a second time by the
camera 18 of the paper feeder 112 (for example, thefirst paper feeder 112A) before being switched, the switchingcontroller 73 may allow the original paper feeder 112 (for example, thefirst paper feeder 112A) to feed the sheets of paper P without switching to anotherpaper feeder 112. - For example, after switching is made to another
paper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P, the switchingcontroller 73 may continue to feed sheets of paper P from the original paper feeder 112 (for example, thefirst paper feeder 112A). After switching is made to anotherpaper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P, when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is not detected for a second time by thecamera 18 of theoriginal paper feeder 112, the switchingcontroller 73 may switch to theoriginal paper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P. - The notification
information output unit 75 outputs information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P or information on absence of sheets of paper P in thepaper feeder 112 to thenotifier 44. For example, when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected for a second time by thecamera 18 of thepaper feeder 112 before being switched, the notificationinformation output unit 75 outputs information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P to thenotifier 44. - Next, the condition to detect a state of sheets of paper P by the
camera 18 will be described. - The condition to detect a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by the
camera 18 may be a situation in which sheets of paper P are floated, where the number of sheets is less than or equal to a first threshold (for example, four) which is a predetermined number. In addition, the condition to detect a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by thecamera 18 may be a situation in which sheets of paper P are not separated and in a bundle state, where the number of sheets is greater than or equal to a second threshold (for example, three) which is a predetermined number. In the situations described above, possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected by thepaper state detector 71. The first threshold and the second threshold are changeable. -
FIGS. 6A to 6C schematically illustrate an example of a state of sheets of paper P detected by thecamera 18 when air is blown through theair outlet 30 of thefeeder 14 to the plurality of sheets of paper P stacked on the plate-like body 12A of the stackingunit 12. In a first example illustrated inFIG. 6A , about 10 sheets of paper P on the upper side are separated in an uncoordinated fashion and floated, thus the floated and separated state of sheets of paper P is favorable. In this state, even when the sheets of paper P are successively transported by thedelivery unit 16, multi feeding of sheets of paper P is unlikely to occur. In this situation, no possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected by thepaper state detector 71 based on the above-described conditions. - In a second example illustrated in
FIG. 6B , the number of floated sheets of paper P is only one, and the floated and separated state of sheets of paper P is insufficient. In this state, when the sheets of paper P are successively transported by thedelivery unit 16, a feed failure (in other words, a miss feed) in which sheets of paper P are not smoothly fed may occur. In this situation, possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected by thepaper state detector 71 based on the above-described conditions. - In a third example illustrated in
FIG. 6C , air is too strongly blown through theair outlet 30, thus the sheets of paper P on the upper side are floated in a bundle, and the floated and separated state of sheets of paper P is insufficient. In this state, when the sheets of paper P are successively transported by thedelivery unit 16, multi feeding of sheets of paper P may occur. In this situation, possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected by thepaper state detector 71 based on the above-described conditions. - Next, the operation of the first exemplary embodiment will be described.
-
FIGS. 9 and 10 are flowcharts illustrating the flow of feed processing for sheets of paper managed by thecontrol device 50. TheCPU 51 reads a feed processing program from theROM 52 or thestorage 54 to load and execute the program in theRAM 53, thereby performing feed processing. - Before the feed processing illustrated in
FIG. 9 is executed, a user specifies the sheets of paper P to be used in the image formingapparatus body 101 of theimage forming apparatus 100 for printing, and provides instructions for printing image data. Upon receiving the printing instructions, theimage forming apparatus 100 executes feed processing for the sheets of paper P by thepaper feeder 112 which stores the specified sheets of paper P in themedium feeding device 10, and performs an operation of forming an image on the sheet of paper P in the image formingapparatus body 101. Hereinafter feed processing for sheets of paper P performed by themedium feeding device 10 will be described. - The
CPU 51 starts to feed sheets of paper P from one paper feeder 112 (step S201). The onepaper feeder 112 is thepaper feeder 112 that stores the sheets of paper P specified by the printing instructions. For example, when the specified sheets of paper P are stored in thefirst paper feeder 112A, theCPU 51 starts to feed sheets of paper P from thefirst paper feeder 112A. - The
CPU 51 detects a floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P stacked on the stackingunit 12 in the one paper feeder 112 (step S201). For example, when feeding of the sheets of paper P is started from thefirst paper feeder 112A, a floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P stacked on the stackingunit 12 is captured by thecamera 18 of thefirst paper feeder 112A. An image captured by thecamera 18 is transmitted to thecontrol device 50, and theCPU 51 detects the floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P based on the captured image. - The
CPU 51 determines whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the one paper feeder 112 (step S203). For example, theCPU 51 determines based on the above-described conditions for detection whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper Pin thefirst paper feeder 112A during feeding (in other words, during transport). - When there is no possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the one paper feeder 112 (NO in step S203), the
CPU 51 continues an operation of feeding the sheets of paper P from the one paper feeder 112 (step S204). For example, when there is no possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in thefirst paper feeder 112A, theCPU 51 continues an operation of feeding the sheets of paper P from thefirst paper feeder 112A. - When there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the one paper feeder 112 (YES in step S203), the
CPU 51 acquires information on other paper feeders 112 (step S205). The information onother paper feeders 112 includes information on whether sheets of paper P are feedable from theother paper feeders 112. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 7 , when there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in thefirst paper feeder 112A, theCPU 51 acquires information on thesecond paper feeder 112B, thethird paper feeder 112C, and thefourth paper feeder 112D other than thefirst paper feeder 112A. - The
CPU 51 determines whether switching to anotherpaper feeder 112 is not ready (step S206). For example, as illustrated inFIG. 7 , when there is another paper feeder 112 (thesecond paper feeder 112B, thethird paper feeder 112C, or thefourth paper feeder 112D) by which the sheets of paper P are feedable, theCPU 51 determines that it is possible to switch to anotherpaper feeder 112. When there is anotherpaper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable, a precondition is that air is fed from thefeeder 14 to anotherpaper feeder 112 in advance to float and separate the sheets of paper P. When there is noother paper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable, theCPU 51 determines that it is not possible to switch to anotherpaper feeder 112. Also, for example, when no sheets of paper P are present in anyother paper feeder 112, theCPU 51 also determines that it is not possible to switch to anotherpaper feeder 112. - When it is possible to switch to another paper feeder 112 (NO in step S206), the
CPU 51 switches to anothersheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P (step S207). As illustrated inFIG. 7 , for example, when sheets of paper P are feedable by thesecond paper feeder 112B, thethird paper feeder 112C, and thefourth paper feeder 112D, the CPU 11 selects one paper feeder 112 (for example, thethird paper feeder 112C), and switches to the selected paper feeder 112 (for example, thethird paper feeder 112C) to feed sheets of paper P. - When it is not possible to switch to another paper feeder 112 (YES in step S206), the
CPU 51 prepares for switching to anothersheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P (step S208). For example, as the preparations for switching, theCPU 51 supplies air from thefeeder 14 of anotherpaper feeder 112 to float and separate the sheets of paper P stacked on the stackingunit 12. - The
CPU 51 changes the amount of air feed of one paper feeder 112 (step S209). For example, as illustrated inFIG. 7 , when there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in thefirst paper feeder 112A, theCPU 51 changes the amount of air feed of thefeeder 14 of thefirst paper feeder 112A. Note that the order of step S208 and step S209 may be reversed. - The
CPU 51 detects a floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P stacked on the stackingunit 12 in the one paper feeder 112 (step S210). In other words, theCPU 51 detects a floated and separated state for the second time in the onepaper feeder 112. - The
CPU 51 determines whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper Pin the one paper feeder 112 (step S211). Specifically, theCPU 51 detects a floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P for a second time in the onepaper feeder 112, thereby determining whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P. - When there is no possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the one paper feeder (NO in step S211), the
CPU 51 continues an operation of feeding the sheets of paper P from the one paper feeder 112 (step S204). - When there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the one paper feeder (YES in step S211), the
CPU 51 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the preparations for switching to another sheet feeder 112 (step S212). As the predetermined time, for example, a minimum time from the preparations for switching to anothersheet feeder 112 to completion of the preparations is set. - When the predetermined time has not elapsed since the preparations for switching to another sheet feeder 112 (NO in step S212), the
CPU 51 returns to the process in step S209. - When the predetermined time has elapsed since the preparations for switching to another sheet feeder 112 (YES in step S212), the
CPU 51 determines whether it is possible to switch to anothersheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P (step S213). For example, when theCPU 51 prepares for switching to anothersheet feeder 112 in step S208, and the preparations are completed, theCPU 51 determines whether it is possible to switch to anothersheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P. - When it is possible to switch to another
sheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P (YES in step S213), theCPU 51 switches to anothersheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P (step S207). - When it is not possible to switch to another
sheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P (NO in step S213), the CPU displays an alert on the notifier 44 (step S214). For example, when there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in thefirst paper feeder 112A, an alert (for example, warning information) saying that there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in thefirst paper feeder 112A is displayed on thenotifier 44. Alternatively, the alert may be information prompting a user to adjust the sheet of paper P set in thefirst paper feeder 112A by a user, and/or the settings for thefeeder 14. When there is no sheet of paper P in thefirst paper feeder 112A, an alert saying that there is no sheet of paper P in thefirst paper feeder 112A may be displayed on thenotifier 44. - The
CPU 51 stops feeding of the sheets of paper P from the one paper feeder 112 (step S215). - Also, after switching to another
sheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P in step S207, as illustrated inFIG. 10 , theCPU 51 changes the amount of air feed of the one paper feeder 112 (step S221). For example, as illustrated inFIG. 8 , when there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in thefirst paper feeder 112A, theCPU 51 switches to thethird paper feeder 112C to feed sheets of paper P, then changes the amount of air feed of the originalfirst paper feeder 112A. - The
CPU 51 detects a floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P in the one paper feeder 112 (step S222). For example, theCPU 51 detects a floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P in the originalfirst paper feeder 112A. - The
CPU 51 determines whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper Pin the one paper feeder 112 (step S223). For example, theCPU 51 determines whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the originalfirst paper feeder 112A. - When there is no possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the one paper feeder (NO in step S223), the
CPU 51 switches to the onepaper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P (step S224). For example, as illustrated inFIG. 8 , when there is no possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in thefirst paper feeder 112A, theCPU 51 switches to thefirst paper feeder 112A to feed sheets of paper P. - When there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the one paper feeder (YES in step S223), the
CPU 51 continues an operation of feeding the sheets of paper P from another paper feeder 112 (step S225). For example, inFIG. 8 , when there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper Pin thefirst paper feeder 112A, theCPU 51 continues an operation of feeding the sheets of paper P from thethird paper feeder 112C. Thus, the processing based on the feed processing program managed by thecontrol device 50 is completed. - In the flowchart illustrated in
FIG. 9 , when transition is made to the process in step S208, feeding of the sheets of paper P from the onepaper feeder 112 may be temporarily stopped. When feeding of the sheets of paper P from the onepaper feeder 112 is temporarily stopped, after transition is made to the process in step S204, theCPU 51 may start to continue an operation of feeding the sheets of paper P from the onepaper feeder 112. When feeding of the sheets of paper P from the onepaper feeder 112 is temporarily stopped, after transition is made to the process in step S207, theCPU 51 switches to anothersheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P. -
FIG. 12 illustrates animage forming apparatus 300 in a comparative example. Aa illustrated inFIG. 12 , theimage forming apparatus 300 includes an image formingapparatus body 101, amedium feeding device 310, and acontrol device 320 inside the image formingapparatus body 101. Themedium feeding device 310 includes afirst paper feeder 312A, asecond paper feeder 312B, athird paper feeder 312C, and afourth paper feeder 312D as a plurality ofpaper feeders 312. When a paper feed error occurs, such as jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P, after stuck sheets of paper P are removed by a user, thecontrol device 320 automatically performs recovery processing to resume a printing process. For example, when jam of sheets of paper P occurs in thethird paper feeder 312C, thecontrol device 320 stops the entire operation of theimage forming apparatus 300, and prompts for instructions to clear jam of sheets of paper P on a display (not illustrated). After the sheets of paper P stuck in thethird paper feeder 312C are removed by a user, thecontrol device 320 resumes a printing process by the recovery processing. - However, in the
image forming apparatus 300 in the comparative example, the operation of theimage forming apparatus 300 cannot be started until removal of the sheets of paper P stuck in thethird paper feeder 312C is completed, and the downtime of theimage forming apparatus 300 is increased. - In contrast, in the
medium feeding device 10 of the first exemplary embodiment, when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected by thecamera 18 of thepaper feeder 112 during transport, theCPU 51 switches to anothersheet feeder 112 at a predetermined timing to feed sheets of paper P. In addition, when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected by thecamera 18 of thepaper feeder 112 during transport, theCPU 51 changes the amount of air feed by thefeeder 14 of thepaper feeder 112 before being switched. - Therefore, in the
medium feeding device 10, it is possible to reduce the downtime of themedium feeding device 10 due to jam of sheets of paper P, as compared to when the recovery processing is performed after an occurrence of jam of sheets of paper P. - In addition, in the
medium feeding device 10, when there is anotherpaper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable, theCPU 51 switches to anotherpaper feeder 112 at a predetermined timing. Therefore, in themedium feeding device 10, it is possible to quickly switch to anotherpaper feeder 112, as compared to when preparations for feeding sheets of paper by another paper feeder are started after detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper. - Also, in the
medium feeding device 10, when there is noother paper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable, theCPU 51 makes preparations to enable anotherpaper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P, and when the predetermined timing allows, switches to anotherpaper feeder 112 after the preparations are completed. When the predetermined timing does not allow, theCPU 51 continues to feed sheets of paper P from theoriginal paper feeder 112 without switching to anotherpaper feeder 112. Therefore, in themedium feeding device 10, it is possible to reduce the downtime of themedium feeding device 10, as compared to when theoriginal paper feeder 112 is in standby until preparations for enabling anotherpaper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper are completed. - Also, in the
medium feeding device 10, when there is noother paper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable, theCPU 51 makes preparations to enable anotherpaper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P, and stops feeding of the sheets of paper P from thepaper feeder 112 before being switched until the preparations are completed. TheCPU 51 then starts to feed the sheets of paper P from anotherpaper feeder 112 switched after the preparations are completed. Therefore, in themedium feeding device 10, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P, as compared to when the sheets of paper are supplied from the paper feeder before being switched until preparations to enable anotherpaper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P are completed. - In addition, in the
medium feeding device 10, the above-mentioned timing is after detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by thecamera 18, through change of the amount of air feed by thefeeder 14 of thepaper feeder 112 before being switched, and after detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P for a second time by thecamera 18 of thepaper feeder 112 before being switched. Thus, in themedium feeding device 10, it is possible to continue to feed the sheets of paper P from thepaper feeder 112 before being switched while reducing the occurrence of jam of sheets of paper P, as compared to when switching is made to another paper feeder without waiting for the result of detection by the camera of thepaper feeder 112 before being switched. - Also, in the
medium feeding device 10, when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is not detected for a second time by thecamera 18 of thepaper feeder 112 before being switched, theCPU 51 allows theoriginal paper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P without switching to anotherpaper feeder 112. Thus, in themedium feeding device 10, it is possible to continue to feed the sheets of paper P from theoriginal paper feeder 112 while reducing the occurrence of jam of sheets of paper P, as compared to when switching is made to another paper feeder. - Also, in the
medium feeding device 10, when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected for a second time by thecamera 18 of thepaper feeder 112 before being switched, theCPU 51 outputs information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P to thenotifier 44 that notifies a user. Therefore, in themedium feeding device 10, it is possible to prompt a user to solve a problem of theoriginal paper feeder 112. - Also, in the
medium feeding device 10, after switching is made to anotherpaper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P, air feed by thefeeder 14 is continued in theoriginal paper feeder 112, and when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is not detected for a second time by thecamera 18 of theoriginal paper feeder 112, switching is made to theoriginal paper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P. Thus, in themedium feeding device 10, it is possible to switch to theoriginal paper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P, while reducing the occurrence of jam of sheets of paper P, as compared to when feeding of the sheets of paper P from another paper feeder is continued. - Also, in the
medium feeding device 10, thecamera 18 captures a floated and separated state of an end of the sheets of paper P. Thus, in themedium feeding device 10, detection of an end of the sheets of paper P is easy, as compared to when an end of the sheets of paper is detected by a photoelectronic sensor. - Also, in the
medium feeding device 10, a condition to detect a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by thecamera 18 is that a predetermined number or less of sheets of paper P are floated. Therefore, in themedium feeding device 10, a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P can be detected by the number of floated sheets of paper P. - Also, in the
medium feeding device 10, a condition to detect a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by thecamera 18 is that a predetermined number or more of sheets of paper P are not separated, and in a bundle state. Therefore, in themedium feeding device 10, a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P can be detected by the number of floated sheets of paper P in a bundle state. - The
image forming apparatus 100 has themedium feeding device 10, and the image former 102 that forms an image on a sheet of paper P fed by themedium feeding device 10. Therefore, in theimage forming apparatus 100, it is possible to reduce the downtime of theimage forming apparatus 100 due to jam of sheets of paper P, as compared to when the recovery processing is performed after an occurrence of jam of sheets of paper P. - Next, a medium feeding device in a second exemplary embodiment will be described. Note that the same components as in the above-described first exemplary embodiment are labeled with the same symbol, and a description thereof is omitted.
- As illustrated in
FIG. 11 , a medium feeding device in the second exemplary embodiment includes aphotoelectronic sensor 170 as an example of a detector instead of thecamera 18 of themedium feeding device 10 in the first exemplary embodiment. - The
photoelectronic sensor 170 has alight projector 174 that emits light to anend face 172A of ahousing 172, and alight receiver 176. In thephotoelectronic sensor 170, a floated and separated state of an end of the sheets of paper P is detected by thelight receiver 176 receiving light from thelight projector 174. The configuration of the medium feeding device in the second exemplary embodiment except thephotoelectric sensor 170 is the same as that of themedium feeding device 10 in the first exemplary embodiment. - In addition to the operation and effect achieved by the same configuration as that of the
medium feeding device 10 in the first exemplary embodiment, the medium feeding device in the second exemplary embodiment has the following operation and effect. - In the medium feeding device in the second exemplary embodiment, the
photoelectric sensor 170 detects a floated and separated state of an end of the sheets of paper P by receiving light from thelight projector 174. For this reason, the medium feeding device in the second exemplary embodiment is easily mounted on the apparatus body (in other words, the bodies of a plurality of paper feeders), as compared to when an end of the sheets of paper P is detected by an image captured by an image capture unit. - In the medium feeding device in the first and second exemplary embodiments, the
camera 18 or thephotoelectric sensor 170 is provided in each of both widthwise sides of the sheets of paper P; however, the present disclosure is not limited to this configuration. For example, thecamera 18 or thephotoelectric sensor 170 may be configured to be provided in one of both widthwise sides of the sheets of paper P. - The processing of the
medium feeding device 10, theimage forming apparatus 100 can be implemented by a dedicated hardware circuit. In this case, the processing may be executed by one hardware, or may be executed by multiple hardware. - Also, a program to cause the
medium feeding device 10, and theimage forming apparatus 100 to execute may be provided by a computer readable recording medium such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory, a flexible disk, and a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), or may be provided online through a network such as the Internet. In this case, a program recorded on a computer-readable recording medium is usually transferred to and stored in a memory or a storage. Also, this program may be provided, for example, as independent application software, or may be incorporated in the software of themedium feeding device 10, and theimage forming apparatus 100 as a function thereof. - Note that although the present disclosure has been described in detail through specific exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to those exemplary embodiments, and it is apparent to those skilled in the art that various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present disclosure.
- In the embodiments above, the term “processor” refers to hardware in a broad sense. Examples of the processor include general processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, and programmable logic device).
- In the embodiments above, the term “processor” is broad enough to encompass one processor or plural processors in collaboration which are located physically apart from each other but may work cooperatively. The order of operations of the processor is not limited to one described in the embodiments above, and may be changed.
- The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the disclosure be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
- (((1)))
- A medium feeding device comprising:
-
- a plurality of transporters each including a stacking unit on which a medium is stackable in a vertical direction, a feeder that feeds air to a plurality of media, each of which is the medium, stacked on the stacking unit to cause the plurality of media to float and separate, a delivery unit that successively delivers the media floated and separated by the feeder, and a detector that detects a state of the medium floated and separated by the feeder; and at least one processor configured to:
- upon detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector of one of the plurality of transporters during transport, switch to another transporter at a predetermined timing to feed the medium; and
- upon detection of the state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector, change an amount of air feed by the feeder of the one transporter before being switched.
(((2)))
- The medium feeding device according to (((1))),
-
- wherein the processor is configured to:
- when the medium is feedable by another one of the plurality of transporters, switch to the another transporter.
(((3)))
- The medium feeding device according to (((1))) or (((2))),
-
- wherein the processor is configured to:
- when there is no other transporter by which the medium is feedable, make preparations to enable another one of the plurality of transporters to feed the medium, and when the timing allows, switch to the another transporter after the preparations are completed; and
- when the timing does not allow, continue to feed the medium from the original one transporter without switching to the another transporter.
(((4)))
- The medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((3))),
-
- wherein the processor is configured to:
- when there is no other transporter by which the medium is feedable, make preparations to enable another one of the plurality of transporters to feed the medium, stop feeding of the medium from the one transporter before being switched until the preparations are completed, and start feeding of the medium from the another transporter to which the one transporter has been switched after the preparations are completed.
(((5)))
- The medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((4))),
-
- wherein the timing is:
- after detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector, through change of an amount of air feed by the feeder of the one transporter before being switched; and
- after detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium for a second time by the detector in the one transporter before being switched.
(((6)))
- The medium feeding device according to (((5))),
-
- wherein the processor is configured to:
- when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium is not detected for a second time by the detector in the one transporter before being switched, feed the medium from the original one transporter without switching to the another transporter.
(((7)))
- The medium feeding device according to (((5))),
-
- wherein the processor is configured to:
- when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium is detected for a second time by the detector in the one transporter before being switched, output information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium to a notifier that notifies a user.
(((8)))
- The medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((5))),
-
- wherein the processor is configured to:
- after switching to the another transporter to feed the medium, continue air feed by the feeder in the original one transporter, and when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium is not detected for a second time by the detector in the original one transporter, switch to the original one transporter to feed the medium.
(((9)))
- The medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((8))),
-
- wherein the detector includes an image capture unit that captures a floated and separated state of an end of the medium.
(((10)))
- wherein the detector includes an image capture unit that captures a floated and separated state of an end of the medium.
- The medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((8))),
-
- wherein the detector includes a photoelectronic sensor that detects a floated and separated state of an end of the medium with a light receiving unit that receives light from a projector.
(((11)))
- wherein the detector includes a photoelectronic sensor that detects a floated and separated state of an end of the medium with a light receiving unit that receives light from a projector.
- The medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((10))),
-
- wherein a condition to detect a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector is that a predetermined number or less of the plurality of media are floated.
(((12)))
- wherein a condition to detect a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector is that a predetermined number or less of the plurality of media are floated.
- The medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((11))),
-
- wherein a condition to detect a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector is that a predetermined number or more of the plurality of media are not separated, and in a bundle state.
(((13)))
- wherein a condition to detect a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector is that a predetermined number or more of the plurality of media are not separated, and in a bundle state.
- An image forming apparatus comprising:
-
- the medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((12))); and
- an image former that forms an image on the medium fed by the medium feeding device.
Claims (20)
1. A medium feeding device comprising:
a plurality of transporters each including a stacking unit on which a medium is stackable in a vertical direction, a feeder that feeds air to a plurality of media, each of which is the medium, stacked on the stacking unit to cause the plurality of media to float and separate, a delivery unit that successively delivers the media floated and separated by the feeder, and a detector that detects a state of the medium floated and separated by the feeder; and
at least one processor configured to:
upon detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector of one of the plurality of transporters during transport, switch to another transporter at a predetermined timing to feed the medium; and
upon detection of the state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector, change an amount of air feed by the feeder of the one transporter before being switched.
2. The medium feeding device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the processor is configured to:
when there is another one of the plurality of transporters by which the medium is feedable, switch to the another transporter.
3. The medium feeding device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the processor is configured to:
when there is no other transporter by which the medium is feedable, make preparations to enable another one of the plurality of transporters to feed the medium, and when the timing allows, switch to the another transporter after the preparations are completed; and
when the timing does not allow, continue to feed the medium from the original one transporter without switching to the another transporter.
4. The medium feeding device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the processor is configured to:
when there is no other transporter by which the medium is feedable, make preparations to enable another one of the plurality of transporters to feed the medium, stop feeding of the medium from the one transporter before being switched until the preparations are completed, and start feeding of the medium from the another transporter to which the one transporter has been switched after the preparations are completed.
5. The medium feeding device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the timing is:
after detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector, through change of an amount of air feed by the feeder of the one transporter before being switched; and
after detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium for a second time by the detector in the one transporter before being switched.
6. The medium feeding device according to claim 5 ,
wherein the processor is configured to:
when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium is not detected for a second time by the detector in the one transporter before being switched, feed the medium from the original one transporter without switching to the another transporter.
7. The medium feeding device according to claim 5 ,
wherein the processor is configured to:
when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium is detected for a second time by the detector in the one transporter before being switched, output information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium to a notifier that notifies a user.
8. The medium feeding device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the processor is configured to:
after switching to the another transporter to feed the medium,
continue air feed by the feeder in the original one transporter, and when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium is not detected for a second time by the detector in the original one transporter, switch to the original one transporter to feed the medium.
9. The medium feeding device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the detector includes an image capture unit that captures a floated and separated state of an end of the medium.
10. The medium feeding device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the detector includes a photoelectronic sensor that detects a floated and separated state of an end of the medium with a light receiving unit that receives light from a projector.
11. The medium feeding device according to claim 1 ,
wherein a condition to detect a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector is that a predetermined number or less of the plurality of media are floated.
12. The medium feeding device according to claim 1 ,
wherein a condition to detect a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector is that a predetermined number or more of the plurality of media are not separated, and in a bundle state.
13. An image forming apparatus comprising:
the medium feeding device according to claim 1 ; and
an image former that forms an image on the medium fed by the medium feeding device.
14. An image forming apparatus comprising:
the medium feeding device according to claim 2 ; and
an image former that forms an image on the medium fed by the medium feeding device.
15. An image forming apparatus comprising:
the medium feeding device according to claim 3 ; and
an image former that forms an image on the medium fed by the medium feeding device.
16. An image forming apparatus comprising:
the medium feeding device according to claim 4 ; and
an image former that forms an image on the medium fed by the medium feeding device.
17. An image forming apparatus comprising:
the medium feeding device according to claim 5 ; and
an image former that forms an image on the medium fed by the medium feeding device.
18. An image forming apparatus comprising:
the medium feeding device according to claim 6 ; and
an image former that forms an image on the medium fed by the medium feeding device.
19. An image forming apparatus comprising:
the medium feeding device according to claim 7 ; and
an image former that forms an image on the medium fed by the medium feeding device.
20. An image forming apparatus comprising:
the medium feeding device according to claim 8 ; and
an image former that forms an image on the medium fed by the medium feeding device.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2022153051A JP2024047437A (en) | 2022-09-26 | 2022-09-26 | MEDIUM SUPPLY DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS |
JP2022-153051 | 2022-09-26 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20240101374A1 true US20240101374A1 (en) | 2024-03-28 |
Family
ID=90360855
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US18/188,448 Pending US20240101374A1 (en) | 2022-09-26 | 2023-03-22 | Medium feeding device and image forming apparatus |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20240101374A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2024047437A (en) |
-
2022
- 2022-09-26 JP JP2022153051A patent/JP2024047437A/en active Pending
-
2023
- 2023-03-22 US US18/188,448 patent/US20240101374A1/en active Pending
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JP2024047437A (en) | 2024-04-05 |
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