JP6943299B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus that allows a user to identify a retention position of paper when a jam occurs. Specifically, the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a paper transport path, a plurality of paper detection sensors, a jam detection unit, and a plurality of light emitting elements. The plurality of paper detection sensors output a signal indicating the presence or absence of paper at the detection position. The jam detection unit detects the occurrence of jam based on the outputs of a plurality of paper detection sensors. The plurality of light emitting elements are arranged side by side in the direction from the upstream side to the downstream side of the paper transport path. When the occurrence of jam is detected by the jam detection unit, the light emitting element installed at a position corresponding to the paper retention position in the paper transport path among the plurality of light emitting elements emits light.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-350223

However, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, when paper stays adjacent to each other, it is difficult to know the staying position of the paper, and the work efficiency of the jam treatment for removing the staying paper may decrease. be.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus for improving the work efficiency of jam processing.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention forms an image on a sheet. The image forming apparatus includes a housing, a plurality of inner covers, a plurality of light emitting elements, and a plurality of sheet detection sensors. The plurality of inner covers are arranged inside the housing. The plurality of light emitting elements are arranged on each of the plurality of inner covers. The plurality of sheet detection sensors output detection signals indicating the presence or absence of the sheet in the region corresponding to the plurality of inner covers. The control unit detects the occurrence of jam in response to the detection signal. The control unit detects a region in which the jam has occurred among the plurality of regions. The control unit controls the operation of the light emitting element arranged on the inner cover corresponding to the region where the jam is generated among the plurality of light emitting elements.

According to the present invention, the work efficiency of jam processing can be improved.

It is a figure which shows the appearance of the image forming apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the inside of the image forming apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the jam detection processing which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the image forming apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the jam detection processing which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

[Embodiment 1]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals and the description is not repeated.

First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a housing 1. The housing 1 has an exterior opening / closing cover 1c that can be opened / closed. When the exterior opening / closing cover 1c is opened, the inside of the image forming apparatus 100 is exposed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the inside of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 2 shows a part of the inside of the image forming apparatus 100 exposed when the exterior opening / closing cover 1c shown in FIG. 1 is opened.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 100 has a plurality of inner covers 11, a plurality of light emitting elements 12, and a plurality of handles 13. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 has three inner covers 11, three light emitting elements 12, and three handles 13. The three inner covers 11, the three light emitting elements 12, and the three handles 13 are arranged inside the housing 1. Hereinafter, the three inner covers 11 may be described as "first inner cover 111", "second inner cover 112", and "third inner cover 113", respectively.

Each inner cover 11 covers at least one element among the elements constituting the image forming apparatus 100. Each element is, for example, a roller included in each mechanism and / or a roller included in each device.

The three light emitting elements 12 are arranged on each of the three inner covers 11. Specifically, each light emitting element 12 is arranged in a portion of the corresponding inner cover 11 that is exposed when the exterior opening / closing cover 1c is opened. In the present embodiment, each light emitting element 12 is an LED (Light Emitting Diode).

Each handle 13 can operate the corresponding inner cover 11 by being operated by the user. For example, the user can pull out the inner cover 11 from the housing 1 by operating each handle 13. Alternatively, the user can open the cover of the inner cover 11 by operating each handle 13.

Each handle 13 is associated with a light emitting element 12 via an inner cover 11. Specifically, each handle 13 is associated with a light emitting element 12 arranged on the corresponding inner cover 11.

Further, the image forming apparatus 100 further includes three label LBs. The three labels LB are attached to the three handles 13 respectively. Each label LB indicates information for identifying the handle 13. In the present embodiment, each label LB has a number for identifying each handle 13.

Next, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. The alternate long and short dash line shown in FIG. 3 indicates the region A corresponding to the inner cover 11 described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the area A is an area covered by the inner cover 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, in addition to the housing 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an operation panel 2, a document conveying device 3, a document reading device 4, a paper feeding device 5, a sheet conveying mechanism 6, an image forming unit 7, and an ejection port. It is provided with 1h and a discharge tray 1t.

The operation panel 2 receives instructions from the user. When the operation panel 2 receives an instruction from the user, the operation panel 2 outputs a signal indicating the instruction from the user. The operation panel 2 includes a touch display.

Touch displays include displays and touch sensors. The display displays various screens. The display is, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display (Organic Electroluminescence Display). The touch sensor detects the touch by the object to be detected. The touch sensor outputs a touch signal indicating the position where the touch by the object to be detected is detected. The detected body is, for example, a user's finger. The touch sensor is, for example, a resistive film type or a capacitance type touch sensor.

The document transport device 3 transports the document D one by one. Specifically, the document transport device 3 has a document loading tray, a document transport mechanism, and a document ejection tray. The document transporting unit transports the documents D placed on the document loading tray one by one to the document ejection tray so as to pass through the reading position R.

The document reading device 4 reads the image of the document D and generates document image data indicating the image of the document D. The document reading device 4 has a contact glass and a document reading mechanism. The document reading mechanism includes a light source, a carriage, an optical system, and a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) image sensor. The document reading mechanism reads the image of the document D placed on the contact glass and outputs the document image data. Alternatively, the document reading device 4 reads the image of the document D passing through the scanning position R and outputs the document image data. The document reading device 4 is, for example, a scanner.

The paper feed device 5 executes a paper feed process for feeding the sheet S. Specifically, the paper feed device 5 has two paper feed cassettes 51 and two paper feed roller groups 52. Each paper cassette 51 accommodates a plurality of sheets S. The two paper feed roller groups 52 are provided in the two paper cassettes 51, respectively. Each paper feed roller group 52 feeds a plurality of sheets S housed in the corresponding paper cassette 51 one by one. Sheet S is, for example, paper.

The sheet transport mechanism 6 has a plurality of rollers and a plurality of guide members. The plurality of rollers includes a resist roller pair 61. The resist roller pair 61 adjusts the transfer timing of the sheet S to the image forming unit 7.

Each of the plurality of rollers and the plurality of guide members constitutes a transport path L. The sheet S is transported along the transport path L. In the present embodiment, the transport path L has a first transport path L1 and a second transport path L2. The first transport path L1 extends from the paper feeding device 5 to the image forming unit 7. The second transport path L2 extends from the image forming portion 7 to the discharge port 1h.

The image forming unit 7 forms an image on the sheet S by an electrophotographic method. In the present embodiment, the image forming unit 7 forms a color image on the sheet S. Specifically, the image forming unit 7 has image forming units 70Y, 70C, 70M and 70BK. The image forming unit 70Y forms a yellow image. The image forming unit 70C forms a cyan image. The image forming unit 70M forms a magenta image. The image forming unit 70BK forms a black image. Each image forming unit 70Y, 70C, 70M and 70BK has a charging device 72, a developing device 73, and a photoconductor drum 74, respectively.

Further, the image forming unit 7 includes an exposure device 71, a transfer device 75, and a fixing device 76.

The exposure apparatus 71 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 74 of each image forming unit 70BK, 70Y, 70C, and 70M based on the image data.

In each of the image forming units 70BK, 70Y, 70C, and 70M, the charging device 72 uniformly charges the photoconductor drum 74 to a predetermined potential. The developing device 73 supplies toner to the photoconductor drum 74 and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 74.

The transfer device 75 transfers the toner image to the sheet S. Specifically, the transfer device 75 includes an intermediate transfer belt 751, four primary transfer rollers 752, a drive roller 753, a driven roller 754, and a secondary transfer roller 755. The four primary transfer rollers 752 are respectively arranged via the intermediate transfer belt 751 so as to face the photoconductor drums 74 of the image forming units 70Y, 70C, 70M, and 70BK. The toner image formed on each photoconductor drum 74 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 751 at a position where each photoconductor drum 74 and the primary transfer roller 752 face each other.

The drive roller 753 and the driven roller 754 stretch the intermediate transfer belt 751. The driven roller 754 rotates according to the rotation of the driving roller 753. Specifically, the driven roller 754 rotates as the intermediate transfer belt 751 orbits in response to the rotation of the drive roller 753. The secondary transfer roller 755 is arranged to face the driven roller 754 to form a transfer nip. When the sheet S passes through the transfer nip, the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 751 is transferred to the sheet S.

The fixing device 76 fixes the toner image on the sheet S. The fixing device 76 has a heating member 761 and a pressure member 762. The fixing device 76 fixes the toner image on the sheet S by heating and pressurizing the sheet S by the heating member 761 and the pressing member 762.

The sheet S on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to the discharge tray 1t via the discharge port 1h. The discharge tray 1t is provided outside the housing 1.

Further, the image forming apparatus 100 further includes a plurality of sheet detection sensors 8. Each sheet detection sensor 8 outputs a detection signal indicating the presence or absence of the sheet S. Each sheet detection sensor 8 is, for example, a transmissive sensor or a reflective sensor.

At least one of the plurality of sheet detection sensors 8 is arranged in each of the plurality of regions A. In the present embodiment, there are three regions A, which correspond to the inner cover 11 described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, the three regions A will be referred to as "first detection region A1", "second detection region A2", and "third detection region A3".

In the present embodiment, the first detection area A1 is an area covered by the first inner cover 111 described with reference to FIG. The first detection region A1 indicates, for example, the region from each paper feed roller group 52 to the resist roller pair 61 in the region where the sheet S is conveyed. The second detection area A2 is an area covered by the second inner cover 112 described with reference to FIG. The second detection region A2 indicates, for example, the region of the image forming unit 7 excluding the fixing device 76 in the region where the sheet S is conveyed. The third detection area A3 is an area covered by the third inner cover 113 described with reference to FIG. The third detection area A3 indicates, for example, the area from the fixing device 76 to the discharge port 1h in the area where the sheet S is conveyed. Each region is set so that, for example, when the seat S stays, the seat S can be easily removed from the housing 1. Hereinafter, the process of removing the accumulated sheet S from the housing 1 will be referred to as "jam processing". In the present embodiment, the user can recognize the boundary of each region by opening the exterior opening / closing cover 1c described with reference to FIG. 2 and looking at the outer edge of each inner cover 11. In other words, the boundaries of each region are indicated by the outer edges of each inner cover 11.

Subsequently, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the image forming apparatus 100 further includes a storage device 9 and a control unit 10.

The storage device 9 stores various types of data. The storage device 9 is composed of a storage device and a semiconductor memory. The storage device is composed of, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and / or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The semiconductor memory constitutes, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The storage device 9 stores the control program.

The control unit 10 controls each mechanism of the image forming apparatus 100 and the operation of each apparatus by executing the control program. The control unit 10 is composed of a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). Further, the control unit 10 includes an integrated circuit for image formation processing. The integrated circuit for image forming processing is configured by, for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

The control unit 10 executes the jam detection process. Specifically, the control unit 10 detects the area where the jam has occurred among the plurality of areas based on the detection signals output by the plurality of sheet detection sensors 8. The control unit 10 detects the area where the jam has occurred by specifying the position of the seat S based on, for example, the time when the tip of the seat S passes through each sheet detection sensor 8 and the transport speed of the seat S. ..

When the control unit 10 detects the area where the jam has occurred, the control unit 10 controls the operation of the light emitting element 12 arranged on the inner cover 11 corresponding to the area where the jam has occurred. Specifically, the control unit 10 identifies the light emitting element 12 arranged on the inner cover 11 corresponding to the region where the jam has occurred by referring to the association information. Then, the control unit 10 controls the operation of the specified light emitting element 12. The association information indicates the association between the position where each sheet detection sensor 8 is arranged, the area corresponding to each inner cover 11, and the position where each light emitting element 12 is arranged. The association information is stored in the storage device 9 in advance.

Subsequently, with reference to FIG. 5, the jam detection process according to the first embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a jam detection process according to the first embodiment. The jam detection process is executed, for example, when the sheet S is fed (paper feed process) by the paper feed device 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 10 waits until the occurrence of jam is detected (step S101: No). When the control unit 10 detects the occurrence of jam (step S101: Yes), the control unit 10 detects the area where the jam has occurred (step S102) based on the detection signal. Next, the control unit 10 controls the operation of the light emitting element 12 indicating the region where the jam has occurred (step S103), and ends the jam detection process. In the present embodiment, the control unit 10 lights the light emitting element 12 arranged on the inner cover 11 that covers the area where the jam has occurred. The user can recognize the target handle 13 by using the lit light emitting element 12 as a clue. The target handle 13 indicates a handle 13 that needs to be operated in order to eliminate the jam. By operating the target handle 13, the user can pull out the inner cover 11 covering the area where the jam has occurred from the housing 1. As a result, the user can remove the stagnant sheet S from the inner cover 11, and the jam can be easily eliminated. Therefore, the work efficiency of jam is improved.

The first embodiment has been described above. According to the present embodiment, when the control unit 10 detects the occurrence of jam, the control unit 10 lights the light emitting element 12 indicating the region where the jam has occurred. The user can easily recognize the target handle 13 as a clue to the light emitting element 12 that emits light. Therefore, the jam processing can be easily performed. As a result, the work efficiency of jam processing is improved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, each light emitting element 12 is arranged in a portion of the corresponding inner cover 11 that is exposed when the exterior opening / closing cover 1c described with reference to FIG. 2 is opened. Therefore, the user can easily confirm the light emitting state of the plurality of light emitting elements 12 by opening the exterior opening / closing cover 1c. Therefore, the user can more easily recognize the target handle 13.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the outer edge of each inner cover 11 indicates a boundary of each region. Therefore, the user can recognize the boundary of each region by opening the exterior opening / closing cover 1c and looking at the outer edge of each inner cover 11. As a result, the user can recognize the position where the seat is retained. Therefore, the work efficiency of jam is improved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, one light emitting element 12 is provided in each region. Therefore, the number of light emitting elements 12 can be reduced and the cost can be reduced as compared with the configuration in which the light emitting elements 12 are arranged along the transport path L of the sheet S.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 10 notifies the target handle 13 by lighting the light emitting element 12, but the control unit 10 may blink the light emitting element 12. Alternatively, the control unit 10 may blink the light emitting element 12 a predetermined number of times. The predetermined number of times may match, for example, the number of times indicated by the number written on the label LB attached to the handle 13 described with reference to FIG. As a result, the user can more easily recognize the target handle 13.

Further, in the present embodiment, the light emitting element 12 may notify the user of the target handle 13 by emitting colors different from each other. For example, each label LB may have a different color from each other, and each of the plurality of light emitting elements 12 may emit the color possessed by each label LB. As a result, the user can more easily recognize the target handle 13 by using the color emitted by the light emitting element 12 as a clue.

Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration in which the boundary of each region is indicated by the outer edge of the inner cover 11 has been described, but the boundary of each region is not limited to the configuration indicated by the outer edge of the inner cover 11. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the image forming apparatus 100 has a light guide body 14 arranged along the outer edge of the inner cover 11, and the boundary of each region may be indicated by the light guide body 14. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 6 shows the inner cover 11 and its vicinity inside the image forming apparatus 100. The light guide body 14 passes the light emitted by the light emitting element 12. The light guide body 14 is made of, for example, a methacrylic resin. Therefore, when the light emitting element 12 emits light, the light that has passed through the light guide body 14 is recognized by the user. This allows the user to more easily recognize the area where the jam has occurred. Therefore, the work efficiency of jam processing is improved.

[Embodiment 2]
Subsequently, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the control unit 10 determines whether or not a jam has occurred in all the regions. Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described with respect to matters different from the first embodiment, and the description of the portion overlapping with the first embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the jam detection process according to the second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the control unit 10 detects the occurrence of jam, it determines whether or not jam has occurred in all the regions (step S201). When the control unit 10 determines that a jam has occurred in all the regions (step S201: Yes), the control unit 10 controls the operation of all the light emitting elements 12 (step S202), and ends the jam detection process. Specifically, the control unit 10 notifies the user that a jam has occurred in all areas by lighting all the light emitting elements 12. On the other hand, if the control unit 10 determines that the jam has occurred only in any one of the three regions, in other words, if it determines that the jam has not occurred in all the regions (step S201: No). ), Detects the area where the jam has occurred (step S102), controls the operation of the light emitting element 12 indicating the area where the jam has occurred (step S103), and ends the jam detection process.

The second embodiment has been described above. According to the present embodiment, the control unit 10 determines whether or not a jam has occurred in all the regions. When the control unit 10 determines that a jam has occurred in all the regions, the control unit 10 lights all the light emitting elements 12. As a result, the user can more specifically recognize the area where the jam has occurred. Therefore, the work efficiency of jam processing is improved.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings (FIGS. 1 to 7). However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various aspects without departing from the gist thereof. Further, the configurations and numerical values shown in the above embodiments are merely examples and are not particularly limited, and various changes can be made without substantially deviating from the effects of the present invention.

For example, in the embodiment of the present invention, the case where the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus has been described as an example, but the present invention can also be applied to, for example, an inkjet type image forming apparatus.

The present invention is useful, for example, in the field of image forming apparatus.

Claims (6)

An image forming device that forms an image on a sheet.
With the housing
A plurality of inner covers arranged inside the housing and
A plurality of light emitting elements arranged on each of the plurality of inner covers,
A plurality of sheet detection sensors that output a detection signal indicating the presence or absence of the sheet in the area corresponding to the plurality of inner covers, and a plurality of sheet detection sensors.
A control unit that detects the occurrence of jam in response to the detection signal ,
A light guide body for passing the light emitted by the light emitting element is provided.
The control unit detects the area where the jam has occurred among the plurality of areas, and determines the area where the jam has occurred.
Wherein, among the plurality of light emitting elements, controls the operation of the light emitting element that is disposed on the inner cover corresponding to the area where the jam has occurred,
An image forming apparatus in which the light guide body is arranged along the outer edge of each of the plurality of inner covers and indicates the boundary of each of the plurality of regions. With multiple handles
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit notifies a handle of the plurality of handles that needs to be operated in order to eliminate the jam by changing the number of blinks of the light emitting element. The image forming according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit notifies the handle that needs to be operated to eliminate the jam among the plurality of handles by changing the color that causes the light emitting element to emit light. Device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control of the operation of the light emitting element includes lighting the light emitting element. The plurality of handles are arranged inside the housing, and the plurality of handles are arranged inside the housing.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the inner cover is pulled out from the housing by operating the handle. Each of the plurality of handles is associated with the light emitting element disposed on the corresponding inner cover.
A label identifying the plurality of handles is affixed to each of the plurality of handles.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the number of blinks coincides with the number of times indicated by the number indicated on the label.

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