JP6746387B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to images forming device, particularly to forgetting removal structure for preventing the fixing member used for the transportation.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers include a sheet feeding device that feeds a sheet to an image forming unit. As the sheet feeding device, a sheet is stacked on a sheet stacking unit provided in a sheet storage unit so as to be able to move up and down, and the sheet stacking unit is raised to a sheet feeding position, and then the sheet is fed by an image forming unit. There is something to send to.

As such a sheet feeding device, a sheet stacking unit is suspended by a wire, and an elevating unit for feeding and winding the wire is provided, and the sheet stacking unit is provided by feeding and winding the wire by the elevating unit. There is one that is made to move up and down. As the sheet feeding device, a sheet surface sensor for detecting the height position of the uppermost sheet stacked on the sheet stacking unit is provided, and the sheet surface sensor indicates that the height of the uppermost sheet is a feedable height. Some are configured to feed the sheet during detection.

In such a sheet feeding device, when the sheets are sequentially fed and the height position of the uppermost sheet becomes lower than the feedable height by a signal from the sheet surface sensor, the control unit moves up and down. The sheet stacking unit is raised by winding the wire by the unit. As a result, the height of the uppermost sheet can be maintained at the feedable position.

Further, in the sheet feeding device, the sheet storage portion is provided in the main body of the apparatus so that the sheet storage portion can be pulled out. Some are configured to project. In this sheet feeding device, a biasing unit that biases the sheet storage unit to project and a sheet storage unit stored in the apparatus main body are locked against the biasing unit when storing, and a button operation is performed. A lock mechanism is provided for releasing the lock.

Then, when storing the sheet in the sheet storage portion, the button is operated to release the lock by the lock mechanism so that a part of the sheet storage portion is projected, and then the sheet storage portion is pulled out to the sheet stacking portion. Stack the sheets. When the sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking unit, the wire is fed to lower the sheet stacking unit to a predetermined sheet stacking position so that the sheets can be stacked easily.

By the way, in the sheet feeding device, various moving members are provided in the main body of the device, but when the moving member is shaken greatly by vibration or impact during transportation, for example, the moving member bumps against the housing and is damaged or damaged. There is a case to do. Therefore, each moving member is fixed by the fixing member during transportation. Also in the sheet storage unit, since the sheet stacking unit is suspended in the sheet storage unit by the wire, it greatly shakes due to vibration or shock during transportation. When the sheet stacking unit swings largely, the sheet stacking unit may hit the peripheral members, and the sheet stacking unit and the peripheral members may be damaged or damaged. Therefore, conventionally, during transportation, the sheet stacking portion is fixed to the sheet storage portion by a transportation fixing member to prevent damage or damage due to vibration or impact during transportation (see Patent Document 1). ..

JP, 2007-197204, A

In an image forming apparatus including such a conventional sheet feeding apparatus, the fixing member is removed when the transported image forming apparatus is installed, but at this time, the installer may forget to remove the fixing member. For this reason, conventionally, the color of the fixing member is made conspicuous with the surroundings, or a tag for promoting the removal is attached so that the fixing member is conspicuous, thereby preventing forgetting to remove the fixing member. There is.

However, the fixing member for fixing the sheet stacking unit to the sheet storage unit is difficult to visually recognize because the sheet storage unit is stored in the main body of the apparatus during transportation, and it is difficult to remove the fixing member. Is likely to occur. If the user forgets to remove the fixing member, the sheet stacking unit remains fixed to the sheet storage unit. If the wire is unwound or wound in this state, the wire may be loosened and disengaged due to excessive wire unwinding, or the wire may be broken or the drive part may be deformed due to the wire winding load.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, it is an object to provide a picture image forming device that can of preventing the occurrence of removal forgetting of the fixing member.

An aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus main body having an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet, and is connectable to the image forming apparatus main body, and the sheet is attached to the image forming apparatus main body. In an image forming apparatus having a sheet feeding device for feeding, the sheet feeding device includes a sheet storage unit that is provided so as to be able to be drawn out from a housing of the sheet feeding device, and a sheet storage unit inside the sheet storage unit. The image forming apparatus main body includes a sheet stacking member that raises and lowers stacked sheets and a fixing member that fixes the sheet stacking member to the sheet storage unit, and the image forming apparatus main body includes the sheet feeding apparatus in the image forming apparatus main body. A storage unit that stores history information relating to the mounting history of mounting, and when it is determined that the sheet feeding device is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus at the time of startup, based on the history information stored in the storage unit. A control means for performing a notification operation of the removal of the fixing member without moving the sheet stacking member up and down.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of forgetting to remove the fixing member.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a full-color laser beam printer which is an example of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The control block diagram of the said full-color laser beam printer. The schematic diagram of the option deck attached to the said full color laser beam printer. The load configuration diagram of the above option deck. The figure explaining the structure which fixes a middle board to the sheet storage part of the said option deck. The figure explaining the deck mounting history flag of RAM provided in the control part of the said full-color laser beam printer. (A) is a front view of the operation part of the above-mentioned full-color laser beam printer, (b) is a figure explaining the fixed screw removal instruction screen of the display part of the operation part. 7 is a flow chart of the control for preventing forgetting to remove the fixing screw after the power is turned on by the control unit. 6 is a flowchart of a fixing screw installation judgment by the control unit. The flowchart of the deck raising/lowering control by the said control part. 6 is a flowchart of middle plate lowering control by the control unit. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating determination of deck replacement using the mounted deck serial ID of the RAM provided in the control unit of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart of a fixing screw installation judgment by the control unit.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a full-color laser beam printer which is an example of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a full-color laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer) 100 includes a printer main body 100A which is an image forming apparatus main body. The printer main body 100A includes an image forming unit 100B that forms an image on a sheet, a sheet feeding device 100C, and the like, and an image reading device 200 is provided above the image forming unit 100B. A discharge space S for discharging a sheet is formed between the image reading device 200 and the printer body 100A. An optional deck 180, which is a large-capacity sheet feeding device, is detachably attached to one side of the printer body 100A.

The image reading apparatus 200 includes an original document conveyance roller 112 that conveys the original document D placed on the original document table 152, and an original document presence sensor 151 that detects the presence or absence of the original document D. When reading the original image, the original conveying roller 112 is driven to pass the original D over the original pressure plate glass plate 55, and at this time, the original image is read by the image sensor 233.

The image forming unit 100B is of a 4-drum full-color type and includes laser scanners 103y, 103m, 103c, and 103k (hereinafter referred to as the laser scanner 103). Further, the image forming unit 100B includes four process cartridges 120 that form four color toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K).

Here, each process cartridge 120 includes photoconductor drums 101y, 101m, 101c and 101k (hereinafter referred to as photoconductor drum 101) and chargers 102y, 102m, 102c and 102k (hereinafter referred to as charger 102). I have it. Each process cartridge 120 includes developing devices 104y, 104m, 104c, 104k (hereinafter, referred to as developing device 104) and cleaners 107y, 107m, 107c, 107k (hereinafter, referred to as cleaner 107).

Further, the image forming unit 100B includes an intermediate transfer unit 140 arranged above the process cartridge 120. The intermediate transfer unit 140 includes an intermediate transfer belt 130. In addition, the intermediate transfer unit 140 is provided inside the intermediate transfer belt 130, and is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 130 at a position facing the photoconductor drum 101 so that the primary transfer rollers 105y, 105m, 105c, and 105k ( Hereinafter, it is referred to as a primary transfer roller 105.). Here, the intermediate transfer belt 130 is composed of a film-shaped member, is arranged so as to be in contact with each photoconductor drum 101, and is rotated in the arrow direction by a drive unit (not shown).

Then, by applying a positive transfer bias to the intermediate transfer belt 130 by the primary transfer roller 105, each color toner image having a negative polarity on the photosensitive drum is sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 130. As a result, a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt. The color image formed on the intermediate transfer belt is transferred to the sheet P by the secondary transfer unit 118. The fixing unit 170 is arranged above the secondary transfer unit 118, and the first discharging roller pair 139a, the second discharging roller pair 139b, and the double-sided reversing unit 100D are arranged at the upper left portion of the fixing unit 170.

The sheet feeding apparatus 100C includes a cassette 150 and a sheet feeding unit 153 that feeds the sheets P stored in the cassette 150. The option deck (hereinafter referred to as a deck) 180 includes a sheet storage unit 181 that stacks and stores a large number of sheets P, a pickup roller 187 that feeds the sheets stored in the sheet storage unit 181, a conveyance roller 188, and the like. .. The sheet storage portion 181 is provided so as to be freely drawn out from a housing 180a that is a deck body (sheet feeding device body), and includes a middle plate 182 that is a sheet stacking member that stacks the sheets P and can move up and down. There is. The middle plate 182 is suspended by a wire as described later, and can be raised and lowered by winding or rewinding the wire.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer body 100A is provided with a control unit (control means) 300 for controlling the image forming operation of the printer body 100A, the sheet feeding apparatus 100C, and the sheet feeding operation of the deck 180. A UI 330, which is an operation unit, is connected to the control unit 300, and the user uses the UI 330 to select a color mode for forming an image on the control unit 300, display the status of the printer 100, and start copying. And so on.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the printer 100 according to the present embodiment. The control unit 300 has a CPU 301, a ROM 302, and a RAM 303. The CPU 301 performs system control of the printer 100 and the deck 180, a control program is written in the ROM 302, variables used for control, image data read by an image reader control unit 280 described later, and the like are stored in the RAM 303. To be done. The ROM 302 and the RAM 303 are connected to the CPU 301 via an address bus and a data bus. The RAM 303 is a non-volatile memory that can retain the stored value even when the power supply to the printer 100 is stopped.

The CPU 301 drives the document feeding roller 112 shown in FIG. 1 described above via the document feeding device control unit 480, detects the document presence or absence by the document presence sensor 151, and the like. Further, the CPU 301 detects the opening/closing operation of the document pressure plate via the image reader control unit 280, and at the same time, detects the document image on the document pressure plate glass plate 55 and the document image fed by the document feeding device control unit 480. Read at 233. Then, the analog image signal output from the image sensor 233 is transferred to the image signal control unit 281.

During the copying operation (image forming operation), the image signal control unit 281 converts the analog image signal from the image sensor 233 into a digital image signal and then performs each process, converts the digital image signal into a video signal, and prints it. It is output to the control unit 285. Further, during the printing operation, the image signal control unit 281 performs various processes on the digital image signal input from the computer 283 via the external IF 282, converts the digital image signal into a video signal, and causes the printer control unit 285 to perform the processing. Output.

The printer control unit 285 instructs the image forming unit 100B to form an image based on the instruction from the CPU 301. The image forming unit 100B drives the laser scanner 103 of FIG. 1 based on the input video signal to emit laser light and drive the process cartridge 120. The printer control unit 285 also controls the sheet feeding and conveyance of the sheet feeding unit 153 based on the instruction from the CPU 301. Further, the printer control unit 285 drives the fixing unit 170 based on an instruction from the CPU 301 to perform fixing control for fixing the toner image on the image-formed sheet.

Further, when the deck 180 is connected to the printer 100, the printer control unit 285 performs a handshake with the deck control unit 278 and gives an operation instruction to the deck control unit 278 based on the instruction of the CPU 301. Based on this operation instruction, the deck controller 278 controls the feeding and conveyance of the sheets in the deck 180, the lift-up and lift-down operations of the intermediate plate 182, and the reading and writing of the value of the deck nonvolatile RAM 279 of the deck 180.

Next, the control of the CPU 301 during the image forming operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. When the CPU 301 detects opening/closing of the document pressure plate or document placement based on the print setting instructions such as the color mode and the number of copies from the UI 330 or the like via the document feeding device controller 480 or the image reader controller 280, the CPU 301 prepares for printing. Take action. In the print preparation operation, the temperature control of the fixing unit 170 is started, the contact/separation state of the primary transfer roller 105 is switched, and the polygon motor in the laser scanner 103 is driven according to the color mode designated by the UI 330. Start control.

When the CPU 301 receives a print operation start instruction, the CPU 301 starts document reading via the document feeder control unit 480. That is, the document conveying rollers 112 are driven to convey the document D from the document placing table 152 onto the document pressure plate glass plate 55, and at the same time, the document pressure plate glass plate 55 is irradiated with light from a lamp (not shown). The reflected light from the document D is configured to be guided to the image sensor 233 through the mirror, and the image data of the document D read by the image sensor 233 is output to the image signal control unit 281. The document reading is continued until the document reading on the document pressure plate glass plate 55 is completed or the reading of the final document detected by the document presence/absence sensor 151 is completed.

On the other hand, when the contact state switching of the primary transfer roller 105 of the intermediate transfer unit 140 is completed, the CPU 301 controls the process cartridge 120 via the printer control unit 285. As a result, after the surface of the photoconductor drum 101 is charged, a latent image is formed on the photoconductor drum 101 by the laser light emitted from the laser scanner 103 based on the image data stored in the RAM 303. The formed latent image is developed on the photosensitive drum 101 by the toner in the developing device, and the developed toner image on the photosensitive drum 101 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt by the primary transfer voltage applied by the primary transfer roller 105. It is transferred to 130. The toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 130 is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 118 by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 130.

Further, for example, when forming an image on the sheet P stored in the deck 180, the CPU 301 receives the pickup roller 187 and the pickup roller 187 via the deck control unit 278 in time so that the toner image arrives at the secondary transfer unit 118. The transport roller 188 is driven. As a result, the sheets P are fed one by one from the deck 180, and then the sheets P are conveyed to the registration rollers 116 by the conveying rollers 114. Then, the sheet P reaches the secondary transfer portion 118 in a state where the skew feeding is corrected by the registration roller 116, and the secondary transfer voltage is applied to the sheet P and the toner image in the secondary transfer portion 118. Thus, the toner image is transferred to the sheet P.

After the secondary transfer, the sheet P is conveyed to the fixing section 170, and the fixing section 170 receives heat and pressure to melt and mix the toners of the respective colors, so that the sheet P is fixed as a color image. After that, the sheet P on which the image is fixed is discharged to the discharge space S by the first discharge roller pair 139a and the second discharge roller pair 139b provided downstream of the fixing unit 170, and is projected to the bottom surface of the discharge space S. It is loaded on the loading unit 132. When images are formed on both sides of the sheet P, after the images are fixed, the sheet P is conveyed to the re-conveyance path R by the pair of reversing rollers 223 of the double-sided reversing section 100D and again to the image forming section 100B. To be done.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the deck 180 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, a partial transparent view is shown in order to explain the configuration of the back surface of the sheet storage unit 181. Further, FIG. 3 shows a state in which the sheet storage portion 181 is pulled out in order to stack the sheets P on the intermediate plate 182. When the sheet storage portion 181 is pulled out in this manner, the upper portion of the sheet storage portion 181 is opened. It In the present embodiment, the drawing direction of the sheet storage portion 181 indicated by the arrow is the width direction orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction.

The sheet storage portion 181 is provided with side plates 189a and 189b located laterally of the middle plate 182 in the width direction. Between the side plates 189a, 189b and the middle plate 182, side regulating plates 182a, 182b for regulating the position of the sheets stacked on the middle plate 182 in the width direction are provided. Further, the sheet storage portion 181 is provided with a trailing edge regulation plate 182c that regulates the position of the sheets stacked on the middle plate 182 in the sheet feeding direction.

In the side plate 189a on the upstream side in the drawing direction, two openings 190 are formed in the vertical direction side by side in the sheet feeding direction. Wire suspending portions 193a and 193b protruding outward from the opening 190 of the side plate 189a are formed on the side surface of the intermediate plate 182 on the upstream side in the drawing direction. Although not shown in the drawing, two openings are formed vertically in the sheet feeding direction on the side plate 189b on the downstream side in the drawing direction, and the side plate 189b is formed on the side surface on the downstream side in the drawing direction of the middle plate 182. A wire suspending portion that projects outward from the opening of the wire. Then, by attaching the wires 194 each having one end attached to the wire winding shaft 171 to the wire suspension portions 193a and 193b, and winding or unwinding the wires 194, the intermediate plate 182 moves up and down.

Here, when a sheet is stored in the sheet storage unit 181, the sheet storage unit 181 is pulled out from the housing 180a, but when the sheet storage unit 181 is pulled out, the sheet storage unit 181 can be easily pulled out. Part of it is projected. Therefore, the sheet storage portion 181 is provided with a deck opening spring 196 which is a biasing means for biasing the sheet storage portion 181 so that a part thereof projects in the pull-out direction. It should be noted that when the sheet storage portion 181 is stored in the housing 180a, the deck opening spring 196 comes into contact with an unillustrated stopper provided in the housing 180a and contracts, so that the sheet storage portion 181 moves in the pull-out direction. It is urged to project.

The deck 180 has a locking portion 197 provided on the side plate 189a of the sheet storage portion 181, and a deck hook 195 provided on the housing 180a, and locks the sheet storage portion 181 biased by the deck opening spring 196. The lock mechanism 195a is provided. Then, the sheet storage portion 181 is held in the housing by the lock mechanism 195a which is the locking means. Further, on the side plate 189a, a deck opening switch 183 for releasing the lock by the lock mechanism 195a to project a part of the sheet storage portion 181, and a deck opening/closing detection switch for detecting that the sheet storage portion 181 is pulled out. 191 is provided. A sheet presence/absence sensor 184 for detecting the presence/absence of a sheet on the middle plate 182, and the uppermost sheet of the sheets P stacked on the middle plate 182 as the pickup roller 187 are located above the housing 180a. A paper surface sensor 185 that detects that the sheet has been pushed up is provided.

FIG. 4 is a load configuration diagram of the deck 180 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the pickup roller 187 and the conveyance roller 188 are driven by the feeding motor 411. Then, when the CPU 301 drives the feeding motor 411 via the deck controller 278 shown in FIG. 2, the uppermost sheet on the middle plate 182 is fed into the printer body by the pickup roller 187 and the conveyance roller 188. Be done.

The wire winding shaft 171 is rotated by a deck lifter motor 412 capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions. When the CPU 301 normally rotates the deck lifter motor 412 via the deck control unit 278, the wire winding shaft 171 rotates normally, the wire 194 is wound, and the middle plate 182 moves up. When the deck lifter motor 412 is rotated in the reverse direction, the wire winding shaft 171 rotates in the reverse direction, the wire 194 is paid out, and the intermediate plate 182 is lowered. When the intermediate plate 182 rises and the sheet on the intermediate plate 182 pushes up the pickup roller 187, and the paper surface sensor 185 detects this, the CPU 301 stops the deck lifter motor 412 and stops the rise of the intermediate plate 182.

The deck hook 195 is driven by the deck opening solenoid 413, and the deck opening solenoid 413 is operated by the deck opening switch 183. When the CPU 301 detects that the deck open switch 183 is pressed, it drives the deck open solenoid 413 to rotate the deck hook 195 upward, and unlocks the locking portion 197. As a result, the extension force of the deck opening spring 196 acts on the sheet storage portion 181, and a part of the sheet storage portion 181 projects in the pull-out direction from the housing 180a. As described above, in the present embodiment, the locking mechanism 195a, the deck opening spring 196, and the deck opening solenoid 413 which is the unlocking means constitute the projecting means 180b.

Here, even if the sheet storage portion 181 is pulled out, if the intermediate plate 182 is at a height that pushes up the pickup roller 187, it is not possible to stack more sheets. For this reason, when the CPU 301 detects that the sheet storage portion 181 has been pulled out by the deck opening/closing detection switch 191, the CPU 301 reversely rotates the deck lifter motor 412 to feed out the wire 194 and lower the middle plate 182.

In addition, at the center in the height direction of the sheet storage portion 181, the height position of the uppermost sheet of the sheets stacked on the middle plate 182, or the height position of the middle plate 182 if the sheet P is not stacked. A relay sensor 186 for detecting When the CPU 301 lowers the intermediate plate 182, the intermediate sensor 186 determines whether the height of the uppermost sheet of the sheets P stacked on the intermediate plate 182 or the height of the intermediate plate 182 is higher than that of the intermediate sensor 186. Or lower position is detected.

When the CPU 301 detects that the uppermost sheet is at a position lower than the relay sensor 186, the CPU 301 does not lower the intermediate plate 182 and detects that the uppermost sheet is at a position higher than the relay sensor 186. If so, the middle plate 182 is lowered. After that, when the intermediate sensor 186 detects the position of the middle plate 182 or the uppermost sheet of the sheets stacked on the middle plate 182, the lowering of the middle plate 182 is stopped. A lower limit sensor 192 that detects that the middle plate 182 has reached the lower limit of the sheet storage unit 181 is provided below the sheet storage unit 181, and even when the lower limit sensor 192 detects the lowering middle plate 182. Similarly, the lowering of the middle plate 182 is stopped.

When a sheet is stored in the sheet storage portion 181 and the sheet storage portion 181 is stored in the housing, the deck hook 195 is locked by the locking portion 197, and the sheet storage portion 181 is locked in the state stored in the housing. To be done. After that, when the deck opening/closing detection switch 191 detects that the sheet storage portion 181 is stored, the CPU 301 rotates the deck lifter motor 412 in the forward direction and raises the middle plate 182.

After that, when the height of the sheet on the middle plate 182 reaches the height for pushing up the pickup roller 187, that is, the so-called feedable height, and when a feeding signal is sent from the printer 100 in this state, the CPU 301 The feeding motor 411 is driven. As a result, the pickup roller 187 rotates while contacting the uppermost sheet, and the uppermost sheet is fed to the conveying roller 188.

By the way, during transportation of the printer 100, if the middle plate 182 is largely shaken by vibration or shock, the middle plate 182 may hit the housing 180a or the like, and the middle plate 182 itself or the housing 180a or the like may be damaged or damaged. May occur. Therefore, in the present embodiment, at least one of the side plates 189a and 189b, in the present embodiment, the side plate 189a is provided with a screw hole 198 as shown in FIG. 5, and the middle plate 182 is also provided with a screw hole 182d. There is.

Then, at the time of transportation, the middle plate 182 is fixed to the side plate 189a through the fixing screws 199 which are fixing members in the screw holes 182d and 198. As a result, the middle plate 182 is fixed to the sheet storage portion 181 at the positions of the screw holes 182d and 198, and the deck 180 is fixed in a state where the sheet storage portion 181 and the middle plate 182 are fixedly fixed by the fixing screw 199. Ship. The fixing screw 199 is removed when the deck 180 is installed after the conveyance of the deck 180 is completed and is connected to the installed printer body 100A or before being connected to the printer body 100A. As a result, the middle plate 182 can be moved up and down, and is moved up and down by winding and unwinding the wire 194.

However, for example, when installing the deck 180, the installer may forget to remove the fixing screw 199. In this case, since the intermediate plate 182 is fixed by the fixing screw 199, if the wire 194 is unwound in this state, the wire is loosened and disengaged due to excessive wire unwinding, and the wire 194 is unwound. As a result, the wire breaks or the drive unit deforms.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the fixing screw 199 is removed from the UI 330 before the first sheet feeding by the deck 180 after the printer main body 100A is installed, that is, before the lifting operation of the intermediate plate 182 is performed. Is displayed. Further, before the first sheet feeding by the deck 180 is started after the printer main body 100A is installed, the sheet storage portion 181 is automatically projected. Accordingly, it is possible to notify the installer that a confirmation operation for confirming the detached state of the fixing screw 199 is necessary.

In order to perform such an informing operation, as shown in FIG. 6, the RAM 303 which is an informing operation storage means is provided with a deck mounting history address for storing a deck mounting history flag. Then, as the initial value, 0 is written in the deck mounting history address as the initial value at the timing when the printer 100 is shipped.

Then, when the printer 100 is powered on after the printer 100 is installed and the deck 180 is connected to the printer 100, the CPU 301 reads the deck mounting history address. Here, when 0 is read, the CPU 301 determines that there is no deck mounting history. If there is no deck mounting history, the power is turned on for the first time after the deck 180 is connected, and in this case, the fixing screw 199 may not be removed.

For this reason, the CPU 301 drives the deck opening solenoid 413 to cause the sheet storage portion 181 to project so as to allow the installer to confirm whether or not the fixing screw 199 has been removed, and displays the instruction screen for removing the fixing screw 199 on the UI 330. To do. Here, it can be expected that the fixing screw 199 will be removed by the installer by driving the deck opening solenoid 413 and displaying the screen. Therefore, the CPU 301 drives the deck opening solenoid 413 and the like, and then writes 1 in the deck mounting history address, which indicates that the deck mounting history exists, that is, the notification operation has already been performed, as in the data 712.

FIG. 7A is a front view of the UI 330 according to the present embodiment. The UI 330 includes a start key 306 for starting a copy operation, a stop key 307 for interrupting the copy operation, a number setting, etc. A numeric keypad 313 for performing the operation is arranged. Further, a display unit 311 which is a display unit having a touch panel formed on the top is arranged, and soft keys can be created on the screen.

Then, when the CPU 301 determines that there is no deck mounting history, that is, it is necessary to confirm the removal of the fixing screw 199, the display unit 311 causes the display unit 311 to perform a confirming operation. A pop-up screen of the instruction screen for removing the fixing screw 199 shown in FIG. Since this pop-up display does not disappear until the OK key 314 is pressed, the installer will press the OK key 314 to turn off the display, recognizing that it is necessary to confirm the removal of the fixing screw 199. To do.

Next, the removal forgetting prevention control of the fixing screw 199 will be described. FIG. 8 is a control flowchart after the power is turned on. Note that the removal forgetting prevention control is performed after the printer main body 100A is installed and before the option deck 180 first starts sheet feeding. In the present embodiment, the power is turned on to turn the printer 100 ON. Control is started.

First, the CPU 301 determines whether the deck 180 is connected to the printer 100 based on whether the handshake between the printer controller 285 and the deck controller 278 shown in FIG. 2 has been successful (S2111). If the handshake has failed, it is determined that the deck 180 is not mounted. When the deck 180 is mounted (Y in S2111), it is determined whether or not the fixing screw 199 is forgotten to be removed (S2115). The details of this fixing screw attachment determination will be described later.

When it is determined that the fixing screw may be attached by the determination of the fixing screw attachment (Y in S2121), an operation of making the installer notice the removal of the fixing screw 199 is performed. First, as described with reference to FIG. 7B, the CPU 301 displays a message instructing the UI 330 to remove the fixing screw 199 (S2125). Next, it is determined whether the deck 180 is in the open state, that is, whether the sheet storage portion 181 is pulled out (S2131). If the deck 180 is not in the open state (N in S2131), the deck open solenoid 413 is turned on for a predetermined time. Yes (S2135). As a result, the sheet storage portion 181 projects. The driving time of the deck opening solenoid 413 is set to 200 ms, which is the moving time of the deck hook 195 plus the reaction time of the deck opening solenoid 413.

Then, the sheet storage portion 181 is projected and the fixing screw removal instruction screen is displayed, so that the installer performs a confirmation operation. Therefore, even if the installer forgets to remove the fixing screw 199, the installer does not use the fixing screw. You can notice that you have forgotten to remove 199. Note that the visibility of the fixing screw 199 can be enhanced by binding a noticeable red tag to the fixing screw 199 when the deck 180 is shipped. After that, the process returns to S2115, and it is determined whether or not the fixing screw is attached. In this case, since the fixing screw 199 has been removed, the raising/lowering operation of the middle plate 182 is started as normal deck raising/lowering control (S2138). The details of this deck lifting control will be described later.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the fixing screw attachment determination S2115 of FIG. First, the CPU 301 reads the deck mounting history address value of the RAM 303 as shown in FIG. 6, and determines whether or not the RAM 303 has a deck mounting history, that is, the deck mounting history address value is 1 (S2411). If there is a deck mounting history (Y in S2411), the notification operation to notify the installer of the removal of the fixing screw 199 shown in S2125 and S2135 of FIG. 8 has already been performed, and the fixing screw 199 has already been removed and mounted. If not (S2415), this flow ends.

When there is no deck mounting history (N in S2411), that is, when the deck mounting history address value is 0, it is determined that the deck 180 is mounted in the printer 100 for the first time, and it is possible that the fixing screw is mounted. Yes (S2421). When it is determined that the fixing screw may be attached as described above, the CPU 301 performs the notification operation as described above, and thus the fixing screw is removed. Therefore, when the CPU 301 determines that the fixing screw may be mounted once and performs the notification operation, the CPU 301 writes 1 as the mounting history in the deck mounting history address value of the RAM 303 (S2425). This makes it possible to determine that the fixing screw has not been attached from the next time onward.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the deck raising/lowering control S2138 of FIG. The CPU 301 determines whether the deck opening/closing detection switch 191 provided in the sheet storage unit 181 is in the pressed state, thereby determining whether the deck is open, that is, the sheet storage unit 181 is pulled out (S2211). ). If it is determined that the deck is open (Y in S2211), the deck seat absence confirmation flag is turned off (S2215). After that, in order to lower the middle plate 182 to the position where the sheets can be stacked, the middle plate lowering control described later is executed (S2221).

When the CPU 301 determines that the deck is closed, that is, the sheet storage unit 181 is stored (N in S2211), the CPU 301 then determines whether the deck open switch 183 is pressed (ON) ( S2231). Then, when the deck open switch 183 is pressed to be turned on (Y in S2231), the CPU 301 drives the deck open solenoid 413 for a predetermined time in order to cause the sheet storage portion 181 to project (S2271). As a result, as described above, the deck opening solenoid 413 is driven for 200 ms, and the sheet storage portion 181 projects. Since this deck up/down control flow is repeatedly executed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8, when this flow is executed next time, it is determined that the deck is open in S2211 (Y in S2211). ), and thereafter, the middle plate lowering control (S2221) is performed.

When the deck open switch 183 is not pressed (N in S2231), the CPU 301 confirms whether the deck seat absence confirmation flag is ON (S2235). When the deck seat absence confirmation flag is ON (Y in S2235), middle plate lowering control is executed (S2221). When the deck sheet absence confirmation flag is OFF (N in S2235), it is confirmed whether or not the paper surface sensor 185 is ON in order to perform normal control for keeping the height of the uppermost sheet at the feedable position (S2241).

Here, as described above, when the sheet on the middle plate 182 or the middle plate 182 itself pushes up the pickup roller 187, the paper surface sensor 185 is turned on. Therefore, when the paper surface sensor 185 is OFF (N in S2241), the CPU 301 rotates the deck lifter motor 412 forward (S2251) to raise the middle plate 182. Since this deck raising/lowering control flow is repeatedly executed, the middle plate 182 is continuously raised until the paper surface sensor 185 is turned on.

When the paper surface sensor 185 is ON (Y in S2241), the CPU 301 confirms whether the sheet presence sensor 184 is ON (S2245). When the sheets are stacked on the middle plate 182, the sheet presence/absence sensor 184 is turned on. Therefore, when the paper surface sensor 185 is ON (Y in S2241) and the sheet presence sensor 184 is also ON (Y in S2245), it is determined that the sheet on the middle plate 182 has reached the feedable height, and the deck lifter motor is determined. 412 is stopped (S2265).

On the other hand, when the sheet presence sensor 184 is OFF (N in S2245), the CPU 301 determines that the sheets are not stacked on the middle plate 182, and turns on the deck sheet absence confirmation flag (S2261). Accordingly, thereafter, when the sheet storage unit 181 is pulled out, the middle plate lowering control (S2221) is performed to lower the middle plate 182 to the position where the user can stack the sheets on the middle plate 182. Since this flow is repeatedly executed, the next time this flow is executed, the deck seat absence confirmation flag is turned on in S2235, and in this case, the middle plate lowering control is continued (S2221).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the middle plate lowering control S2221 of FIG. First, the CPU 301 determines whether the relay sensor 186 is ON (S2311). If the relay sensor 186 is ON (Y in S2311), it is determined that the middle plate 182 or the uppermost sheet on the middle plate 182 is located higher than the position of the middle sensor 186. In this case, as described above, in order to make it easy for the user to stack the sheets on the intermediate plate 182, the deck lifter motor 412 is rotated in the reverse direction so that the uppermost sheet is positioned lower than the relay sensor 186 (S2312), The middle plate 182 is lowered.

After that, the CPU 301 determines whether the lower limit sensor 192 is ON (S2315). If the lower limit sensor 192 is not ON (N in S2315), the relay sensor 186 is OFF (N in S2311) or the lower limit sensor 192 is ON (Y in S2315), the deck lifter motor. 412 is rotated in the reverse direction. When the relay sensor 186 is turned off (N in S2311) or the lower limit sensor 192 is turned on (Y in S2315), the deck lifter motor 412 is stopped (S2325). As a result, when the sheet storage unit 181 is pulled out, the middle plate 182 descends to a position where the user can stack sheets on the middle plate 182 and stops.

As described above, in the present embodiment, using the deck mounting history written in the RAM 303, the deck 180 is in the initial installation state, that is, before the sheet is first fed, and the fixing screw 199 is used. Check whether the confirmation operation is necessary. When it is determined that the confirmation operation is necessary, the sheet storage unit 181 is projected and the notification operation of displaying the removal instruction screen on the display unit 311 is performed.

This allows the installer to perform a confirmation operation, and thus it is possible to prevent forgetting to remove the fixing screw 199 and prevent the deck 180 from being damaged due to forgetting to remove the fixing screw 199. In the present embodiment, the case has been described in which the protrusion operation of the sheet storage unit 181 and the removal instruction screen display operation are performed as the notification operation, but one of the protrusion operation of the sheet storage unit 181 and the removal instruction screen display operation is performed. You may do it.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the deck is replaceable, and the mounted deck serial ID, which is an identification means, is given to the deck. Then, when the deck is replaced, the CPU writes the mounted deck serial ID given to the deck in the RAM 303, and the deck serial ID in the deck nonvolatile RAM 279 provided in the deck 180 as shown in FIG. Hold it.

Then, the mounted deck serial ID read from the deck nonvolatile RAM 279 again at the next startup is compared with the mounted deck serial ID held in the RAM 303. When the read mounted deck serial ID and the mounted deck serial ID held in the RAM 303 do not match, the deck has been replaced, and there is a possibility that a fixed screw is mounted on the replaced deck. Judge that there is.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining determination of deck replacement using the mounted deck serial ID according to the present embodiment. In the mounted deck serial ID address of the RAM 303 in which the mounted deck serial ID is stored, 0 is written like data 732 at the timing when the printer 100 is shipped. When the power of the printer is turned on while the deck is connected to the printer, the CPU 301 reads the mounted deck serial ID held in the deck nonvolatile RAM 279.

Then, for example, when "0011A52" is read as the mounted deck serial ID, the read "0011A52" is written to the mounted deck serial ID address as data 742. Also, when another deck is connected and the power is turned on, for example, when “0061A30” is read as the mounted deck serial ID, the loaded deck serial ID address “0061A30” is read as data 743. Is written.

When the mounted deck serial ID stored in the deck nonvolatile RAM 279 is read, the CPU 301 compares the read mounted deck serial ID with the mounted deck serial ID written in the RAM 303. Here, if the loaded deck serial IDs are different, it is determined that the deck 180 has been replaced and a confirmation operation for confirming that the fixing screw 199 has been removed is necessary. When such a determination is made, a notification operation is performed to make the installer notice the removal of the fixing screw 199 as in the first embodiment described above. In the present embodiment, the mounted deck serial ID held in the deck nonvolatile RAM 279 takes a value other than 0. Therefore, when the deck 180 is connected to the printer 100 for the first time, it is determined that it is necessary to confirm that the fixing screw 199 has been removed without fail, and the notification operation is performed.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the fixing screw mounting determination S1205 shown in FIG. 8 described above in the present embodiment. First, the CPU 301 reads the mounted deck serial ID held in the deck nonvolatile RAM 279, as described with reference to FIG. Then, it is determined whether or not there is a change in the serial ID by comparing it with the mounted deck serial ID of the connected deck held in the RAM 303 (S2451).

Here, if there is no change in the serial ID (N in S2451), it is determined that the notification operation has already been performed in S2125 and S2135 of FIG. 8 and the fixing screw 199 has already been removed (S2455), and this flow is executed. finish. If the serial ID has changed (Y in S2451), it is determined that the fixing screw may be attached because the deck 180 connected to the printer 100 has been replaced or the deck 180 has been attached for the first time. (S2461). In this case, the notification operation of S2125 and S2135 of FIG. 8 is performed. Further, after performing such an informing operation, in order to determine that the fixing screw is not attached from the next time onward, the read deck serial ID is written in the attached deck serial ID address of the RAM 303 (S2465), and this flow is executed. To finish.

As described above, in the present embodiment, by using the mounted deck serial ID written in the deck nonvolatile RAM 279, the deck 180 is in the initial installed state, that is, before the sheet is first fed, and the fixing screw 199 of the fixing screw 199 is used. Confirm whether or not to confirm the removal. When it is determined that the confirmation operation is necessary, the notification operation is performed to prevent the deck 180 from being damaged due to forgetting to remove the fixing screw 199.

In the first embodiment described above, the deck mounting history flag of the RAM 303 is used, and in the present embodiment, the mounting deck serial ID of the RAM 303 is used to notify the installer of the removal of the fixing screw 199 only once. I am trying to do it. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in order to confirm whether or not the sheet is first fed, it is possible to detect that the power is first turned on after the deck 180 is connected to the printer 100. good. In other words, it may be possible to check whether or not the sheet is first fed by detecting whether or not the deck 180 is used and detecting that the deck 180 is unused.

As a detection means for detecting that the deck is unused, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 described above, a fuse F, which is an irreversible means, is provided between the deck lifter motor 412 and the power source 500, and Turn off the fuse F when the power is turned on. In this case, if the printer is new, a confirmation current flows to the connected deck when the power is turned on for the first time after the printer body is installed, and the confirmation current thus flows, and the deck is new. I can judge. In this case, by storing the fact that the power source is turned on for the first time in the RAM 303, the removal forgetting prevention control of the fixing screw 199 becomes unnecessary thereafter. If it is not new, the fuse is blown by the current for confirmation. In this case, since the current for confirmation does not flow, it can be determined that the deck 180 is not new.

It should be noted that the fact that the power is turned on for the first time may be stored in the deck nonvolatile RAM 279 of the deck 180 instead of the RAM 303. In this case, the deck non-volatile RAM 279 is provided with a flag or the like for holding that the initial power supply is ON after the printer 100 is connected, and the CPU 301 determines that the initial power supply is ON because the flag is OFF. .. After that, the above control may be executed only once by turning on the flag.

In the above description, the history of writing the history to the RAM 303 when the fixing screw is determined to be mounted has been described, but the history may be written after it is determined that the installer has received a response to remove the fixing screw 199. Absent. For example, when the installer presses the OK key 314 on the instruction screen for removing the fixed screw 199 shown in FIG. 7 described above, it may be determined that the fixed screw 199 has been removed and the history may be written in the RAM 303. Further, the content of the message on the instruction screen for removing the fixing screw 199 may be any as long as it is related to the confirmation of the sheet storage unit 181, and may be a content for which a direct response is required such as "Did you remove the fixing screw?" good.

Although the case where the middle plate 182 is fixed by the fixing screw 199 has been described so far, the image forming apparatus is provided with a plurality of movable members other than the middle plate 182 so as to be movable. Then, when the image forming apparatus is transported, it is necessary to fix the moving member to the housing so as to be fixable by the fixing member. Even in such a case, in order to prevent forgetting to remove the moving member, when it is determined that the confirmation operation is necessary, a notification operation for displaying a screen prompting the confirmation operation by the display unit may be performed.

Although the control flow according to FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 13 is executed by the CPU 301 of the control unit 300 provided in the printer body 100A, the present invention is not limited to this. A CPU for executing the control flow may be provided in the option deck 180 to execute the control.

100... Full-color laser beam printer, 100A... Printer body, 100B... Image forming unit, 100C... Sheet feeding device, 180... Option deck (sheet feeding device), 180a... Housing, 180b... Protrusion means, 181... Sheet storage Parts, 182... middle plate (sheet stacking member), 184... sheet presence sensor, 185... paper surface sensor, 186... relay sensor, 189a, 189b... side plate, 191... deck open/closed detection switch, 195a... locking mechanism (locking means), 196... Deck opening spring (biasing means), 199... Fixing screw (fixing member), 300... Control section (control means), 301... CPU, 303... RAM (notification operation storage means), 311... Display section (display means) ), 330... UI (operation unit), 411... Feed motor, 412... Deck lifter motor, 413... Deck opening solenoid (lock release means), 500... Power supply, F... Fuse, P... Sheet

Claims (10)

An image forming apparatus main body having an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
An image forming apparatus that is connectable to the image forming apparatus main body and has a sheet feeding device that feeds a sheet to the image forming apparatus main body,
The sheet feeding device,
A sheet storage portion provided so as to be able to be drawn out with respect to the housing of the sheet feeding device;
A sheet stacking member for moving up and down the sheets stacked in the sheet storage section,
A fixing member for fixing the sheet stacking member to the sheet storage portion,
The image forming apparatus main body is
Storage means for storing history information relating to a mounting history of mounting the sheet feeding device on the main body of the image forming apparatus ;
When it is determined that the sheet feeding apparatus is attached to the image forming apparatus main body at the time of start-up, the fixing member is not moved up and down based on the history information stored in the storage unit. And a control means for performing a notification operation of removal of
An image forming apparatus characterized by the above. The sheet feeding device includes a projecting unit that projects the sheet storage unit from the housing in a drawing direction,
The control means causes the protruding means to protrude the sheet storage portion as the notification operation.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The protruding means is
Urging means for urging the sheet storage portion in the pull-out direction,
Locking means for locking the sheet storage portion so as to hold it in the housing against the biasing means,
Lock releasing means for releasing the lock of the lock means,
The control means actuates the lock releasing means when the sheet storage portion is projected,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein The image forming apparatus main body includes a display unit for displaying a screen,
The control means prompts a confirmation operation by the display means as the notification operation,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. The control means performs the notification operation from the time when the sheet feeding device is installed in the image forming apparatus main body to the time when the sheet feeding device first starts feeding the sheet,
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that. The sheet feeding device is provided so as to be replaceable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body,
The control means performs the notification operation after the sheet feeding device is replaced and before the sheet feeding device first starts feeding a sheet,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. The control unit replaces the sheet feeding device when the identification unit of the sheet feeding device before replacement stored in the storage unit and the identification unit of the replaced sheet feeding device are different. Determined to have been done,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein. The control means does not perform the notification operation when the storage means stores that the notification operation has been performed,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The sheet feeding device includes a detection unit for detecting whether or not the sheet storage unit is used,
The control unit performs the notification operation when the detection unit determines that the sheet storage unit is unused.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. The detecting unit has a fuse that is blown by a confirmation current that flows first after the sheet feeding device is installed in the image forming apparatus main body.
The control means causes the confirmation current to flow before first starting sheet feeding, and when the confirmation current flows, performs the notification operation.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein.

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