JP2017010008A - Guidance system and image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A guiding device for an image forming apparatus capable of prompting a user to pull out a unit is provided. Kind Code: A1 A guide device for an image forming apparatus 10 having a manual knob 21, and a fixing unit 20 and a double-sided unit 30 provided in an apparatus main body 11 so as to be able to be drawn out, and facilitating the drawing out of the units. A paper detection sensor that detects paper, when the manual knob 21 is rotated when it is determined that a paper jam has occurred based on the detection of the paper detection sensor, and when the paper detection sensor stops detecting paper. and light emitting diodes LED1 to LED9 for urging the unit to be pulled out in order to take out the jammed paper, and the light emitting diodes LED1 to LED9 detect the paper with the paper detection sensor when the manual knob 21 is turned a specified number of times. Also, it flashes to urge the user to pull out the fixing unit 20 and the duplex unit 30 . [Selection drawing] Fig. 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a guide device for an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the guide device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an image forming apparatus provided with a hand turning knob for removing a jammed paper (see Patent Document 1).

  Such an image forming apparatus includes a plurality of sheet detection sensors that detect a sheet along a sheet conveyance path, and determines whether a paper jam or a so-called jam has occurred based on the detection of the sheet by the sheet detection sensor. doing. If a jam occurs, turn the hand knob to discharge the jammed paper from the roller nip. As a result, when the paper detection sensor no longer detects jammed paper, the light emitting diode provided on the front surface of the unit blinks to prompt the unit to be pulled out.

  The unit is pulled out and the jammed paper discharged from the roller nip is taken out.

  However, in such an image forming apparatus, the jammed paper may not be discharged from the roller nip if the jammed paper is caught on the periphery of the conveyance path even if the hand turning knob is turned. In such a case, the paper detection sensor continues to detect jammed paper, the light emitting diode cannot be blinked, and the user cannot be notified that the unit can be pulled out. For this reason, the user cannot perform jam processing at any time.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus guidance device that can prompt a user to pull out a unit even when a hand knob is turned and the jammed paper is still caught on the periphery of the conveyance path. It is in.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming unit provided in the apparatus main body so as to be capable of being pulled out, and a rotation operating unit for manually rotating a roller provided in a transport path in the unit to eliminate a paper jam. And a guide device that prompts the unit to be pulled out in order to take out the jammed paper when a paper jam occurs in the conveyance path.
Paper detection means for detecting paper conveyed in the conveyance path;
When it is determined that a paper jam has occurred based on the detection of the paper by the paper detection means, the paper is jammed when the rotation detecting section is rotated and the paper detection means no longer detects the paper. Prompting means for prompting the unit to be pulled out for taking out,
The urging means urges the unit to be pulled out even when the paper detection means detects a paper when the rotation operation unit is rotated a specified number of times.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prompt the user to pull out the unit even when the jammed paper is caught in the periphery of the conveyance path.

It is the perspective view which showed the state which opened the front cover door of the image forming apparatus which mounts the guidance apparatus of Example 1 which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a fixing unit and a duplex unit. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a circuit diagram which shows the structure of the guidance device provided in the fixing unit. It is a circuit diagram which shows the structure of the guidance apparatus provided in the double-sided unit. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the guidance apparatus shown in FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2. FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment as an embodiment of an image forming apparatus equipped with a guidance device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus 10. The image forming apparatus 10 includes a fixing unit 20 which is a unit provided in the apparatus main body 11, a duplex unit 30 for forming images on both sides of a sheet P (see FIG. 2), and another unit 40. Yes. The fixing unit 20 and the duplex unit 30 are units for image formation and can be pulled out from the apparatus main body 11. The fixing unit 20 is disposed on the upstream side of the duplex unit 30.

  On the upper surface of the apparatus main body 11, a contact glass 12 for placing a document and an operation display unit 13 are provided.

[Fixing unit]
On the front surface 20 </ b> A of the fixing unit 20, light emitting diodes LED <b> 1 to LED <b> 4, a hand turning knob (rotating operation unit) 21, and a light emitting diode LED 10 that prompts manual operation of the hand turning knob 21 are provided. The light emitting diodes LED1 to LED4 are provided along transport paths U1 and U2 (see FIG. 2) of the paper P described later.

  The hand turning knob 21 rotates each pair of rollers (R1, R1) and (R2, R2) of the transport path U1 shown in FIG. 2, and these pairs of rollers (R1, R1). ), (R2, R2) to move the jammed paper to the downstream side. As a result, the paper jam is eliminated, that is, the jam processing can be performed. The pair of rollers (R1, R1) is referred to as a roller pair R1, and the pair of rollers (R2, R2) is referred to as a roller pair R2.

  The fixing unit 20 is provided with a rotation detector 25 that detects the rotation of the hand turning knob 21. For example, the rotation detection unit 25 outputs a pulse every rotation, and the CPU 3 (see FIG. 3) counts the number of pulses. The rotation detection unit 25 and the CPU 3 constitute a rotation speed detection means that detects the rotation speed of the knob 21 by hand.

  In addition, in the fixing unit 20, as shown in FIG. 2, a conveyance path U1 formed along the horizontal direction, and a conveyance path U2 formed from near the discharge port of the conveyance path U1 toward directly below. Is provided. A roller pair R1, R3 and a sheet detection sensor S1 are provided along the transport path U1. A roller pair R2 and a sheet detection sensor S2 are provided along the transport path U2.

  The fixing unit 20 is provided with a first induction circuit 60 (see FIG. 4) that displays a jam state or prompts the fixing unit 20 to be pulled out.

[Double-sided unit]
As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of light emitting diodes LEDs 5 and 6 and LEDs 7 to 9 are provided on the front surface of the duplex unit 30 along the conveyance paths U4 and U5 (see FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the duplex unit 30 is provided with a transport path U3 formed along the vertical direction and transport paths U4 and U5 formed along the horizontal direction. A paper detection sensor S3 is provided above the transport path U3, and a roller pair R4 and a paper detection sensor S4 are provided along the transport path U4. A roller pair R5 and a sheet detection sensor S5 are provided along the transport path U5.

  The double-sided unit 30 is provided with a second induction circuit 160 (see FIG. 4A) that displays a jam condition or prompts the double-sided unit 30 to be pulled out.

[Control system]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the image forming apparatus 10. The control system of the image forming apparatus 10 includes an outlet 1 connected to a commercial power supply AC100V, a DC power supply unit 2 that converts the commercial power supply to a DC power supply, a control unit that controls the fixing unit 20, the duplex unit 30, and other devices. Part 6 and the like.

  The control unit 6 includes a CPU 3 that performs various controls necessary for image formation, a ROM 4 that stores programs executed by the CPU 3, a RAM 5 that is used as a work memory, and the like.

[First induction circuit]
As shown in FIG. 4, the first induction circuit 60 includes paper detection sensors S1 and S2, light emitting diodes LED1 to LED4 and LED10, an LED blinking circuit 61, a capacitor 62, a resistor 63, an internal connector 64, And an infrared transmitter / receiver 65 and the like. The internal connector 64 is provided on the rear surface of the fixing unit 20 and is connected to a main body connector 70 provided on the apparatus main body 11. When the fixing unit 20 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 11, the internal connector 64 is disconnected from the main body connector 70, and when the fixing unit 20 is attached to the apparatus main body 11, the internal connector 64 is connected to the main body connector 70.

  The capacitor 62 is charged by the DC power supply unit 2 while the internal connector 64 is connected to the main body connector 70.

  Detection signals detected by the sheet detection sensors S 1 and S 2 are input to the CPU 3 of the control unit 6 via the internal connector 64 and the main body connector 70. The CPU 3 determines the occurrence of the jam and the position thereof based on the detection signal, and sends the blinking signal and the lighting signal for blinking the light emitting diodes LED1 to LED4 at the position to the LED blinking circuit 61 via the main body connector 70 and the internal connector 64. Send. Further, the CPU 3 transmits a blinking signal and a lighting signal for blinking the light emitting diode LED10 instructing to rotate the hand knob 21 based on the detection signal to the LED blinking circuit 61 via the main body connector 70 and the internal connector 64.

  The LED blinking circuit 61 blinks or lights up the light emitting diodes LED1 to LED4 at the jam position and the LED 10 that prompts the hand knob 21 to rotate based on the blinking signal or the lighting signal.

  When the fixing unit 20 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 11, the internal connector 64 is disconnected from the main body connector 70 and the power supply is cut off. However, the LED blinking circuit 61 continues to operate due to the charging current of the capacitor 62, and the light emitting diodes LED1 to LED4 and LED10 continue to blink and light up.

  The detection signals detected by the paper detection sensors S1 and S2 are input to the CPU 3 via the infrared transmission / reception unit 65 and the infrared transmission / reception unit 71 of the apparatus main body 11 even when the internal connector 64 and the main body connector 70 are not connected. Is done. Based on the detection signals of the paper detection sensors S1 and S2, the CPU 3 determines that the jam processing has been completed, the paper is remaining, etc. Output. This signal is input to the LED blinking circuit 61 via the infrared transmitter / receiver 71 and the infrared transmitter / receiver 65.

  The LED blinking circuit 61 blinks, lights up, or turns off the light emitting diodes LED1 to LED4 and LED10 based on the input signal, thereby prompting the drawer of the fixing unit 20 or notifying that the jam processing is completed. .

[Second induction circuit]
As shown in FIG. 4A, the second induction circuit 160 includes paper detection sensors S3 to S5, light emitting diodes LED5 to LED9, an LED blinking circuit 161, a capacitor 162, a resistor 163, an internal connector 164, and an infrared ray. A transmission / reception unit 165 and the like. The internal connector 164 is provided on the rear surface of the fixing unit 20 and is connected to a main body connector 170 provided in the apparatus main body 11.

  Since the second induction circuit 160 performs the same operation as the first induction circuit 60, the description thereof is omitted.

  In this embodiment, the first induction circuit 60, the second induction circuit 160, and the control unit 6 constitute an induction device.

[Operation]
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described.
When the image forming apparatus 10 is operating normally, each time the sheet P passes through the conveyance paths U1 to U5 of the fixing unit 20 and the duplex unit 30, the sheet detection sensors S1 to S5 detect this and detect signals. Will be output. When a jam (paper jam) occurs, the detection signal is not output at any timing of the paper detection sensors S1 to S5, and the CPU 3 determines that a jam has occurred before the paper detection sensors S1 to S5. Even when any of the sheet detection sensors S1 to S5 continues to output a detection signal, the CPU 3 determines that a jam has occurred at the position of the sheet detection sensors S1 to S5.

  Based on the detection signals of the paper detection sensors S1 to S5, the CPU 3 displays that the jam has occurred on the operation display unit 13 of the apparatus main body 11 and displays the position of the jam.

  Further, the CPU 3 blinks or lights any one of the light emitting diodes LED1 to LED5 of the fixing unit 20 and the light emitting diodes LED5 to LED9 of the duplex unit 30, and displays the position where the jam has occurred. Further, the light emitting diode LED10 that prompts the user to rotate the hand turning knob 21 blinks or lights up.

  Now, for example, a case where the paper detection sensor S2 continues to output a detection signal, that is, a case where a jam occurs at the position of the paper detection sensor S2, will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step 1, the occurrence of the jam is displayed on the operation display unit 13 of the apparatus main body 11, and the position where the jam has occurred is displayed. Further, the light emitting diode LED4 blinks or is lit.

  In step 2, the user looks at the display on the operation display unit 13 of the apparatus main body 11 and opens the front cover door 15 of the apparatus main body 11 as shown in FIG. 1.

  Since the light emitting diode LED4 is blinking or lit, the user can know that a jam has occurred near the light emitting diode LED4 of the fixing unit 20.

  In step 3, the light emitting diode LED10 is blinked or lit. When the light emitting diode LED10 blinks or lights up, it is prompted to rotate the hand turning knob 21.

  In step 4, the user manually turns the hand turning knob 21 by prompting the light emitting diode LED10 to blink or turn on. As the hand turning knob 21 is rotated, the roller pair R1, R2 is rotated, and the jammed paper is moved downstream. That is, it is moved to the duplex unit 30.

  In step 5, it is determined whether or not the paper detection sensor S2 has detected jammed paper, that is, whether or not the paper detection sensor S2 has detected jammed paper. If it is determined as YES, that is, if the jammed paper is moved to the duplex unit 30, the process proceeds to Step 10.

  In step 10, the light emitting diodes LED <b> 5 to LED <b> 9 of the duplex unit 30 are blinked or turned on, and the drawer of the duplex unit 30 is prompted. At this time, since the sheet detection sensor S2 is turned off, the light emitting diode LED4 is turned off.

  In step 11, the user pulls out the duplex unit 30 from the apparatus main body 11.

  In step 12, the jammed paper is removed by the user. By this removal, the paper detection sensor S3 does not detect the fed jammed paper, and the light emitting diodes LED5 to LED9 of the duplex unit 30 are turned off.

  When it is determined NO in step 5, that is, when the paper detection sensor S2 continues to detect jammed paper, the process proceeds to step 6.

  In step 6, it is determined whether or not the sheet detection sensor S2 is turned off when the hand turning knob 21 is turned a predetermined number of times. That is, when the hand turning knob 21 is turned a predetermined number of times, it is determined whether or not the paper detection sensor S2 detects jammed paper. If yes, go to step 13.

  In step 13, the light emitting diodes LED <b> 5 to LED <b> 9 of the duplex unit 30 are blinked or turned on, and the drawer of the duplex unit 30 is prompted. At this time, since the sheet detection sensor S2 is turned off, the light emitting diode LED4 is turned off.

  In step 14, the duplex unit 30 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 11 by the user.

  In step 15, the jammed paper is removed by the user. By this removal, the paper detection sensor S3 does not detect the fed jammed paper, and the light emitting diodes LED5 to LED9 of the duplex unit 30 are turned off.

  If it is determined NO in step 6, that is, if the paper detection sensor S2 continues to detect jammed paper even if the hand turning knob 21 is rotated a predetermined number of times, the process proceeds to step 7.

  In step 7, even if the hand turning knob 21 is rotated a specified number of times, the sheet detection sensor S2 detects the jammed paper, so that the sheet P straddles between the fixing unit 20 and the duplex unit 30 as shown in FIG. It is judged that For this reason, the light emitting diodes LED1 to LED4 of the fixing unit 20 and the light emitting diodes LED5 to LED9 of the duplex unit 30 are blinked or lit. By blinking or lighting of the light emitting diodes LED1 to LED4 and the light emitting diodes LED5 to LED9, the user is prompted to pull out the fixing unit 20 and the duplex unit 30.

  In step 8, the user pulls out the fixing unit 20 and the duplex unit 30 from the apparatus body 11 by prompting the light emitting diodes LED <b> 1 to LED <b> 9 to blink or turn on.

  In step 9, the jammed paper is removed by the user. With this removal, the paper detection sensors S2 and S3 do not detect jammed paper, and the light emitting diodes LED1 to LED4 of the fixing unit 20 and the light emitting diodes LED5 to LED9 of the duplex unit 30 are turned off.

  As described above, when jamming occurs and the hand turning knob 21 is rotated a specified number of times, even if the paper detection sensor S2 continues to detect jammed paper, the light emitting diodes LED1 to LED9 of both units 20 and 30 blink or Light up. For this reason, the fixing unit 20 and the duplex unit 30 are urged to be pulled out, and there is no problem that jam processing cannot be performed at any time as in the related art.

  Next, a control system of the image forming apparatus including the guidance device according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.
A drive motor (not shown) that rotates each rotor pair R1, R2, R3 (see FIG. 3) in the fixing unit 20 includes a rotation detection mechanism 200 such as an encoder.

  When the CPU 3 performs the process of step 6 described in the first embodiment, the CPU 3 determines whether or not the rotation knob 21 has been operated at the specified rotation speed by detecting the rotation speed of the rotation detection mechanism 200. Based on output. That is, as the hand turning knob 21 is rotated, the drive motor (not shown) rotates together with each of the roller pairs R1, R2, and R3, and the rotation detection mechanism 200 detects the motor rotation speed at that time. Since these rotation speeds are in a proportional relationship, the rotation speed of the hand-turning knob 21 can be detected based on the rotation speed detected by the rotation detection mechanism 200.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, in addition to the effects described in the first embodiment, an effect that the cost for reducing the sensor for detecting the number of rotations of the hand turning knob 21 can be reduced can be obtained.

  In the embodiment described above, when the paper detection sensor S2 detects jammed paper in Step 6, the light emitting diodes LED1 to LED9 of both the units 20 and 30 are blinked or lit, but this is not restrictive. For example, when both the paper detection sensors S2 and S3 detect jammed paper, the light emitting diodes LED1 to LED9 of both the units 20 and 30 may be blinked or lit. Further, when only the paper detection sensor S2 detects jammed paper, only the light emitting diodes LED1 to LED4 of the fixing unit 20 may be blinked or lit to prompt the drawer of only the fixing unit 20.

  In the said Example, although light emitting diode LED1-LED10 is used, you may use light emitting members, such as a lamp, for example.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and design changes and additions are permitted without departing from the scope of the claimed invention.

3 CPU
6 Control Unit 10 Image Forming Device 20 Fixing Unit (Unit)
21 Hand turning knob (rotation operation part)
25 Rotation detector 30 Duplex unit (unit)
60 1st induction circuit 61 LED blinking circuit 62 Capacitor 160 2nd induction circuit 161 LED blinking circuit 162 Capacitor LED1-LED9 Light emitting diode (prompting means: light emitting member)
S1 to S5 Paper detection sensor (paper detection means)
U1-U5 transport path R1-R5 Roller pair (roller)

JP 2006-11330 A

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit provided in the apparatus main body so as to be capable of being pulled out; and a rotation operation unit for manually rotating a roller provided in a conveyance path in the unit to remove a paper jam. In this case, when a paper jam occurs in the transport path, the guidance device prompts the unit to be pulled out in order to take out the jammed paper,
Paper detection means for detecting paper conveyed in the conveyance path;
When it is determined that a paper jam has occurred based on the detection of the paper by the paper detection means, the paper is jammed when the rotation detecting section is rotated and the paper detection means no longer detects the paper. Prompting means for prompting the unit to be pulled out for taking out,
The prompting means prompts the unit to be pulled out even when the paper detection means detects a paper when the rotation operation unit is rotated a specified number of times.   The guidance device according to claim 1, wherein the prompting means has a light emitting member provided on a front surface of the unit, and prompts the unit to be pulled out by blinking or lighting the light emitting member. The unit includes a fixing unit,
A double-sided unit provided on the downstream side of the fixing unit so that it can be pulled out;
A light emitting member provided on the front surface of the duplex unit;
A control unit for determining occurrence of a paper jam based on detection of the paper by the paper detection means;
Rotation number detecting means for detecting the rotation number of the rotation operation unit,
When it is determined that a paper jam has occurred in the fixing unit, the control unit detects that the paper detection unit no longer detects paper due to the rotation operation unit being rotated. Blink or turn on the light emitting diode to prompt the double-sided unit to be pulled out,
When the rotation detection unit detects the specified number of times by the rotation operation of the rotation operation unit, when the sheet detection unit continues to detect the sheet, the sheet straddles between the fixing unit and the duplex unit. The guidance device according to claim 2, wherein it is determined that the light emitting members of the fixing unit and the duplex unit are blinked or lit to prompt the user to pull out both units.   An image forming apparatus comprising the guidance device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.