JP4136394B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and more particularly to a technique for improving operability when removing a paper jam.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When a paper jam occurs in the paper transport path of the image forming apparatus, it must be removed. In connection with this, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 07-015650 blinks the lamp at the paper jam location and paper jam occurs. In addition to indicating the location, the technology to light up the inside of the machine by lighting other lamps is shown. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-130786 discloses a technology in which a lamp indicating a place is used as a separate power source and the lamps are turned on in the order of operation.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventionally, techniques for facilitating the removal of paper jams have been proposed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 07-015650, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-130786, and the like. However, both publications only indicate the location with a lamp, and it is still difficult to understand when a user who first looks inside the machine removes a paper jam.
[0004]
By the way, recently, the capacity of the hard disk has been increased and the network has also been speeded up, so it has become possible to store and download information such as various videos and animations. In addition, the processing speed of the processor has been greatly improved, and moving image processing can be easily performed.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of increasing the efficiency of a paper removing operation when a paper jam occurs.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pull-out amount detecting means for detecting a pull-out amount when pulling out an internal unit at a location where a paper jam has occurred, and a moving image command based on the pull-out amount detection result. An image forming apparatus comprising: a main controller for sending a moving image; a display means controller for performing moving image processing in accordance with an instruction from the main controller; and a display means for displaying a moving image of the internal unit being pulled out under the control of the display means controller. Features.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the display means is mainly characterized by an image forming apparatus that can be rotated to a position that can be viewed by the user while the internal unit is pulled out.
[0008]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, if there is an error in the operation of pulling out the internal unit corresponding to the paper jam or the lever for the paper removing operation, the speaker is provided. The main feature of the image forming apparatus is that the controller detects this and performs a warning to that effect by a speaker.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of an image forming apparatus (copier). An original is placed on the contact glass 1, and a copy operation is started by a key on the operation panel 2 or touch panel input. The operation panel 2 includes a display unit 2-1 such as an LCD, and the user sets a copy mode according to the display guidance. When the paper is jammed in the transport path, the fact is displayed on the display unit 2-1, and the user who sees it opens the front cover 3 and performs the operation of removing the jammed paper.
[0010]
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a paper conveyance path of the image forming apparatus. Paper is supplied from the paper feed tray 11. The paper is temporarily stopped by the registration roller 12, adjusted in timing and corrected for skew, and then enters between the photosensitive member 13 and the transfer belt 14, and a toner image is transferred from the photosensitive member 13. The paper on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed on the transfer belt 14 as it is, and the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit 15.
[0011]
The paper is normally discharged to the left as it is, but in the case of duplex copying, it is sent to the duplex reversing unit 16. The paper is turned upside down by the double-side reversing unit 16, and is again conveyed to the registration roller 12, and the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive member 13 to the back surface. When a paper jam occurs in the middle of the path, the user must perform the removal operation of the jammed paper.
[0012]
In the present invention, this paper removal operation is assisted by displaying an animation (moving image) on the display section 2-1. Furthermore, by reflecting the movement of the internal unit during the removal work in real time, the user can determine whether the display screen looks like an actual internal unit and the work that he / she is currently performing is correct as the removal work. Can do. For example, when a paper jam occurs in the fixing unit 15, an image of a part of the fixing unit 15 viewed from the front is displayed on the display unit 2-1, and an instruction is given to pull out this part forward. The fixing unit 15 is pulled out according to the instruction on this screen.
[0013]
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a mechanism for detecting the drawer of the internal unit, and FIG. 4 is a control block diagram for displaying the drawer of the internal unit as a moving image. As shown in FIG. 3, when the internal unit 21 (for example, the fixing unit 15) is pulled out to the left side, the pull-out amount detection roller 22 rotates in conjunction with the internal unit 21 to detect the pull-out of the internal unit 21.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 4, the rotation of the pull-out amount detection roller 22 is transmitted to a rotary volume (variable resistor) 23, and the input voltage of the A / D converter 24 changes according to the rotation. The rotation of the pull-out amount detection roller 22 is converted into digital data by the A / D converter 24 and sent to the main controller 25. Based on this information, the main controller 25 issues a command to the LCD display controller 26 so that the internal unit 21 appears to be drawn on the image. This moving image processing is performed on the LCD controller 26 side. An image in which the internal unit 21 is gradually pulled out is displayed on the display unit (LCD) 2-1.
[0015]
Thus, by displaying the position of the internal unit 21 on the display unit 2-1 in real time, the user can perform the removal work in an interactive format using virtual reality on the screen. Actually, there is a possibility of paper jam in various places in the transport path, so there are a plurality of detection inputs.
[0016]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which a plurality of pull-out amount detection rollers are provided in the control block shown in FIG. A plurality of pull-out amount detection rollers 22 are respectively connected to the variable resistor 23, and the output voltage is input to the analog switch 27. The main controller 25 sequentially determines which analog switch is to be selected (which drawer amount detection roller 22 is to be selected), A / D-converts only the data, and performs processing for reflecting it in the moving image. There is no need to perform A / D conversion as long as only on / off is reflected on the display unit 2-1, such as a simple lever, and the output of the analog switch 27 is connected to the input port of the main controller 25. do it.
[0017]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the first control example. When the paper jam position is determined (S1), it is determined which of the analog switches 27 is selected depending on the position (S2). The selected analog data is A / D converted (S3), the movement amount of the internal unit 21 is calculated from the result (S4), and the movement amount is reflected on the LCD display (S5). Drawing on the actual screen is performed by a moving image control routine activated separately (S6).
[0018]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the internal unit drawer is confirmed on the rotary operation panel. As described with reference to FIG. 1, the jam paper removing operation is performed by opening the front cover 3 of the copying machine. For this reason, the user performs the removal work by bending in front of the copying machine. However, since the actual operation panel 2 is installed at a position that is most easily visible when the user is standing and operating, it is not visible to the user who is working in a bent position.
[0019]
In the present embodiment, normally, the operation panel 2 installed at the front part on the upper surface of the copying machine is rotated as shown in FIG. From the user's point of view, when the internal unit 21 is pulled out, the same movement is reproduced on the display unit 2-1 on the operation panel 2 in front of the eyes, so that the reliability of the internal unit drawer is increased.
[0020]
When a user performs jam paper removal work, the user often performs an incorrect operation. In addition, the wrong operation tears the paper and further confuses the operation. In order to prevent such an erroneous operation, voice guidance and the sensors attached to each operation unit and lever are linked. Since only the warning by the image display is often not noticed by the user during the removal work, the voice warning is effective.
[0021]
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example in which a speaker is added to the control block of FIG. The movement of the lever 28 is input to the input port of the main controller 25 through the switch 29. The movement of the internal unit 21 is A / D converted through the variable resistor 23 and input to the main controller 25. If the main controller 25 determines that the processing performed by the user is inappropriate from the viewpoint of the input data, the main controller 25 issues a command for outputting a warning voice to the voice output interface 30. The audio output interface 30 converts this into an audio signal and outputs audio from the speaker 31.
[0022]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the second control example. For example, when fixing jam processing is performed, it is necessary to pull out the fixing unit 15 shown in FIG. However, if the user touches the lever that pulls out another unit, a warning must be given. If you touch the lever that pulls out (or opens) the resist, vertical conveyance unit, duplex unit, etc., and the sensor detects it (S11), go to the voice guidance routine and say, “You are operating the wrong lever. Is for pulling out the duplex unit. ”(S12) is output.
[0023]
When the fixing unit 15 is pulled out and the lever for taking out the jammed paper is reached, “Pull this lever down to remove the jammed paper” (S13), “As the operation panel displays. Pull out the paper. ”(S14) If guidance is given by voice, the system will be very convenient for the user.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the jam paper is removed, the movement of the internal unit operated by the user is reflected on the screen of the display means in real time on the screen, thereby confirming on the screen. The paper removal operation can be performed while improving the reliability and efficiency of the paper removal operation.
[0025]
According to the second aspect of the invention, since the position of the display means can be changed, the user during the jam paper removing operation can view the screen, and the paper removing operation efficiency can be further improved.
[0026]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a wrong lever is operated, guidance is given by voice even if the user is not looking at the screen, so that erroneous operation can be surely prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view of an image forming apparatus (copier).
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a paper conveyance path of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a mechanism for detecting the withdrawal of the internal unit.
FIG. 4 is a control block diagram for displaying the drawer of the internal unit as a moving image.
5 is a diagram showing an example in which a plurality of pull-out amount detection rollers are provided in the control block shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a first control example.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which an internal unit drawer is confirmed on a rotary operation panel.
8 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a speaker is added to the control block of FIG. 4;
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a second control example.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Operation panel 2-1 Display section (display means)
21 Internal unit 22 Pull-out amount detection roller (Pull-out amount detection means)
25 Main controller 26 LCD display controller (display means controller)

Claims (3)

A pull-out amount detection means for detecting the pull-out amount when pulling out the internal unit at the location where the paper jam has occurred;
A main controller that sends a video command based on the amount of drawer detection result;
A display means controller that performs video processing in accordance with instructions from the main controller;
Display means for displaying a moving image of the internal unit being pulled out under the control of the display means controller;
An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display means is rotatable to a position that can be viewed by a user in a state in which the internal unit is pulled out. In the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, when there is an error in the operation of a lever for pulling out an internal unit corresponding to a paper jam, or a lever for removing a paper, the main controller detects this, An image forming apparatus that performs control to warn to that effect by a speaker.

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