JP4582500B2 - Image forming apparatus and image forming apparatus control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that performs recovery processing when an abnormality such as a paper jam occurs, and a control method therefor.

  In general, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, a paper jam (hereinafter, simply referred to as “jam”) such as a paper jam in the middle of conveyance on a paper conveyance path during an image forming operation for forming an image on paper. Abnormalities may occur. When such an abnormality occurs, the image forming operation is temporarily interrupted, and after the user confirms that the jammed paper has been removed, recovery such as restarting the image forming operation is performed. Further, as conventional techniques related to recovery when an abnormality such as a jam occurs, techniques described in, for example, the following Patent Documents 1 to 4 are known.

  Proper recovery at the time of occurrence of an abnormality in the image forming apparatus is important in maintaining the consistency of print contents (number of prints, page order, etc.). For example, when you copy multiple pages of original images and bind them, if the consistency of the print contents is lost due to the occurrence of an abnormality such as a jam, the page order may be incorrect, This may cause problems such as skipping or overlapping pages, making it difficult to read the bound content or not transmitting the entire content to the reader. Also, in cases where printed paper is placed in an envelope, it is necessary to match the address of the envelope and the document to be placed in the envelope. However, if the consistency of the printed contents is lost, the document to be placed in the envelope addressed to Mr. A There is a risk that a part of the problem may be mixed into the envelope addressed to Mr. B. For this reason, when dealing with documents printed with personal information, leakage of personal information to a third party becomes a serious problem.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-292154 JP-A-4-273266 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-333796 JP 2003-156895 A

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, there is a case where it is not possible to recover properly (a recovery mistake occurs) depending on the situation when an abnormality occurs. In such a case, the user finds a part of the print output result (paper bundle) discharged to the discharge tray that has not been properly recovered, and prints the entire page by reprinting the page necessary for repairing the recovery error. The contents need to be consistent.

  However, it is often not clear from a glance at the printed output whether the recovery has been performed properly. For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, six images are to be printed on a total of six sheets in the order of A-1, A-2, A-3, B-1, B-2, and B-3. In this case, as shown in FIG. 9B, a jam occurred at the time when the B-1 image was printed, and the recovery was performed with the paper on which the B-2 image was printed removed. In this case, the print output result (six sheets) ejected by normal printing operation and the print output result (five sheets) ejected after recovery from jamming are both B-3 images. Is printed on the topmost sheet. Therefore, there is almost no difference in appearance between the two print output results. Therefore, even if a recovery mistake occurs, there is a risk of overlooking it. In addition, in order to find a recovery mistake, it is necessary to manually check the number of printed sheets and the page order, which takes a lot of work. Furthermore, when the number of prints per job increases, it takes time to find a recovery error. Further, in a situation where it is not known whether or not a recovery error has occurred, there is a high risk of missing the recovery error.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet and discharges the image-formed sheet to a discharge tray. When an abnormality occurs during an image forming operation, the abnormality is generated. Control means for discharging a predetermined sheet, which clearly indicates the stacking position of the image-formed sheets discharged to the discharge tray, to the discharge tray.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, when an abnormality occurs during the image forming operation, a predetermined sheet that clearly indicates the stacking position of the image-formed sheets discharged to the discharge tray when the abnormality occurs is displayed on the discharge tray. By discharging, a sheet on which an image has been formed and a predetermined sheet are discharged on the discharge tray. Therefore, the user can easily and quickly determine whether or not the recovery has been properly performed and recover from the recovery mistake based on the stacking position of the sheets specified as the predetermined sheets.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily determine whether or not recovery has been properly performed when an abnormality occurs, and to easily recover from a recovery mistake.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated image forming apparatus includes a quadruple tandem system including four image forming units 1, 2, 3, and 4 corresponding to colors of K (black), Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan). Thus, a monochrome, two-color or full-color image can be formed using the four image forming units 1, 2, 3, and 4. Each of the image forming units 1, 2, 3, and 4 is configured using, for example, a photosensitive drum, a charger, a laser scanner, a developing device, a primary transfer roll, a cleaner, and a static eliminator. Is. The charger uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum. The laser scanner writes an electrostatic latent image by irradiating the surface of a photosensitive drum charged by a charger with a laser beam. The developing device develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum with toner or the like. The primary transfer roll transfers the toner image developed by the developing device to the intermediate transfer belt 5. The cleaner removes unnecessary toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum without being transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 5. The static eliminator removes unnecessary charges on the surface of the photosensitive drum.

  The intermediate transfer belt 5 is looped around a plurality of belt support rollers. A registration sensor 6 and a secondary transfer roll 7 are disposed in the middle of the loop of the intermediate transfer belt 5. The registration sensor 6 reads a registration mark formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 5 and the position of the belt edge in order to correct a color registration shift. The secondary transfer roll 7 is for transferring the toner image carried on the intermediate transfer belt 5 to a sheet. The vacuum conveyance unit 8 conveys the sheet on which the toner image is transferred by the secondary transfer roll 7 to the fixing device 9 while vacuum-sucking the sheet from the back side. The fixing device 9 fixes the toner image on the paper by heating and pressing.

  The plurality of paper trays 10, 11, 12, and 13 are for storing sheets of a predetermined size in a stacked state. The paper stored in each of the paper trays 10, 11, 12, 13 is supplied to the paper transport path by the corresponding paper feed mechanism and is transported through the corresponding transport path. Further, the sheets accommodated in the respective sheet trays 10, 11, 12, and 13 are respectively taken into the common sheet aligning unit 14, and after the sheet aligning operation is performed by the sheet aligning unit 14, the secondary transfer roll. 7 is sent to the image transfer position. For example, the sheet aligning unit 14 performs skew correction for correcting the inclination of the sheet with respect to the sheet conveying direction, lead registration correction for correcting the positional deviation of the sheet in the sheet conveying direction (sub-scanning direction), and a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction (main scanning). Direction alignment), such as side registration correction for correcting the positional deviation of the paper, and a paper alignment operation for correcting the positional deviation of the paper that occurs during paper conveyance.

  On the other hand, on the paper discharge side of the fixing device 9, the paper transport path is branched into a transport path connected to the discharge tray 15 and a transport path connected to the reversing unit 16 and the re-transport unit 17. The discharge tray 15 is a portion where a sheet on which an image is formed (printed) on one side or both sides is finally discharged. The reversing unit 16 is a part for reversing the front and back of the paper. The re-conveying unit 17 serves to convey the paper that has passed the image transfer position by the secondary transfer roll 7 to the image transfer position again after being reversed by the reversing unit 16. A curl correction unit 18 is provided in the middle of the conveyance path connected to the discharge tray 15. The curl correction unit 18 is for correcting the curl of the paper that occurs when the fixing device 9 fixes the toner image.

  In addition, an operation panel 19 serving as a UI (user interface) is provided on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body. The operation panel 19 is configured using, for example, a display unit including a touch panel display and an operation unit having various operation buttons (for example, a start button). The operation panel 19 is operated by the user in order to set the density of the output image, the number of output sheets, the number of output copies, the paper size, and the like, and to start the image forming operation with the start button. In addition, a paper tray 20 for storing paper with tabs (hereinafter referred to as tab paper) is provided in the vicinity of the discharge tray 15. The tab paper is one having a tab that protrudes partially from the edge of the paper. The paper tray 20 is incorporated in a paper feed unit 21 having a paper feed mechanism (not shown). Further, a transport path for tab paper is formed between the paper tray 20 and the discharge tray 15, and the tab paper in the paper tray 20 can be discharged onto the discharge tray 15 through this transport path. The tab sheet transport path may be formed completely separate from the transport path through which the sheets stored in the plurality of sheet trays 10, 11, 12, and 13 pass when discharged to the discharge tray 15. Alternatively, both the conveyance paths may be joined before the carry-out roll (upstream in the conveyance direction), and the sheet and the tab sheet may be discharged to the discharge tray 15 using a common carry-out roll.

  Even if an image is formed on the paper stored in any of the paper trays 10, 11, 12, and 13 and discharged to the discharge tray 15, the image-formed paper and the tab paper are placed on the discharge tray 15. A paper that satisfies the condition that at least the tab portion of the tab paper protrudes outward from the outer edge portion of the paper on which the image has been formed is adopted. For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, when the maximum sheet size to be image-formed is A3 size, the same A3 size tab sheet is adopted. In this case, the A3 size paper and the tab paper are discharged to the discharge tray 15 in the same direction (vertical or horizontal). As a result, when the maximum size (A3 size) paper discharged to the discharge tray 15 and the same A3 size tab paper are superimposed, the tab portion of the tab paper protrudes from the maximum size paper. Become. Although not shown, when a paper having a size smaller than the maximum size is overlapped with the A3 size tab paper which is the same as the maximum size, the outer periphery (including the tab portion) of the tab paper is outside the paper. It will be in the state of protruding.

  Furthermore, as another example, as shown in FIG. 2B, when the maximum paper size to be image-formed is A3 size, A4 size tab paper smaller than this can be adopted. However, in this case, a tab portion is provided on the short side portion of the tab sheet. Further, assuming that the maximum size (A3 size) paper is discharged to the discharge tray 15 in the horizontal direction (the direction in which the short side of the paper is directed in the transport direction), the A4 size tab paper is in the vertical direction (the length of the paper). It is assumed that the paper is discharged to the discharge tray 15 in a direction in which the side is directed in the transport direction. As a result, when the maximum size paper discharged to the discharge tray 15 and the tab paper having a smaller size are overlapped, the tab portion of the tab paper protrudes from the maximum size paper. Here, tab paper is used as the predetermined paper, but tab paper may not be used as long as it has a size that is slightly larger than the maximum paper size to be image-formed.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control system of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a control unit 31 comprehensively controls processing operations of the entire image forming apparatus. In addition to the operation panel 19 described above, a jam detection unit 32, a job management unit 33, an image forming unit 34, a paper transport unit 35, and a memory 36 are connected to the control unit 31.

  The jam detection unit 32 detects, for example, detection sensors that detect the presence (passage) of paper at appropriate locations (multiple locations) on the paper transport path, and each detection sensor detects the passage of the paper (passing the leading edge and passing the trailing edge). And a jam determination unit that determines whether or not a jam has occurred depending on whether or not the timing is within an allowable range. In this configuration, the jam determination unit determines that a jam has not occurred if the paper passage timing detected by the detection sensor is within the allowable range, and if the paper passage timing exceeds the allowable range, the jam is detected at that time. Is determined to have occurred. The jam detection unit 32 outputs a detection signal to that effect when the jam determination unit determines that a jam has occurred, and outputs a detection signal to that effect when it is determined that no jam has occurred. To do.

  The job management unit 33 relates to image formation processing such as print processing and copy processing, job details set by the user using the operation panel 19 and job details notified from an external terminal device (such as a personal computer). While taking in via the control part 31, it manages the execution of a job according to the content of this taken-in job. The contents of the job include the number of sheets for image formation (number of pages), page order, number of copies, and the like.

  The image forming unit 34 includes functional devices (image forming units 1, 2, 3, 4, the intermediate transfer belt 5, the secondary transfer roll 7, the fixing device 9, etc.) for forming an image on a sheet. is there. The paper transport unit 35 includes functional devices (such as a paper feed unit, a paper transport roll, a vacuum transport unit 8, and a paper aligning unit 14) for transporting paper. The memory 36 is used for storing various data and information necessary when the control unit 31 executes the image forming process.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of image forming processing according to the embodiment of the present invention. Such image forming processing is executed by the control unit 31. First, after the image forming operation is started by driving the image forming section 34 and the sheet conveying section 35 (step S1), it is determined whether or not a jam has occurred during the image forming operation (step S2). Whether or not a jam has occurred is determined based on a detection signal output from the jam detection unit 32. In addition, the paper on which image formation has been completed before the occurrence of the jam (paper at the corner of the image formation) is sequentially discharged to the discharge tray 15 via the curl correction unit 18, whereby the paper on which the image has been formed on the discharge tray 15. Are stacked one by one.

  If it is determined in step S2 that a jam has occurred, the image forming operation is interrupted (step S3), and job information is read from the job management unit 33 and stored in the memory 36 (step S4). At this time, the machine may be stopped at the same time as the image forming operation is interrupted. In some situations, the machine may be stopped after the image-formed paper is discharged to the discharge tray 15. Also, the job information stored in the memory 36 includes a job history (which indicates how far the job has progressed) required when the image forming operation is restarted later, and a page to be processed when a jam occurs. Information such as image data and image data of pages before and after (neighboring) the image data is included. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that no jam has occurred, the process proceeds to step S8 described later.

  After the job information is stored in step S4, recovery processing related to the occurrence of a jam is performed (step S5). The recovery process described here refers to a process for removing the cause (jam paper in the case of paper jam) and recovering to a normal state when an abnormality occurs in the image forming apparatus. In the recovery process when a jam occurs, the position of the jammed paper on the conveyance path and the jammed paper removal procedure (method) are displayed on the operation panel 19 or the jammed paper is removed to support the user's jam removal operation. Whether the work has been performed properly is confirmed by a sensor, job information (information for jam recovery) necessary for resuming the image forming operation is read from the memory 36, or a start button on the operation panel 19 A process for confirming whether or not the button has been pressed by the user is performed.

  After the recovery process is performed, one tab sheet stored in the sheet tray 20 is fed out and conveyed, and the tab sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 15 (step S6). As a result, the tab sheet is discharged on the image-formed sheet that has been discharged (stacked) on the discharge tray 15 when the image forming operation is interrupted due to the occurrence of a jam.

  Next, the previously interrupted image forming operation is resumed according to the job information read during the previous recovery process (step S7). As a result, when the recovery at the time of occurrence of the jam is appropriately performed, the image forming operation is restarted from the image, the number of processed sheets, the page, and the like that are not formed on the sheet due to the interruption of the image forming operation. On the discharge tray 15, the image-formed paper that has been discharged to the discharge tray 15 when the image forming operation is interrupted and the image that has been discharged to the discharge tray 15 after the image forming operation is resumed. The tab sheet is inserted between the two sheets of paper. Accordingly, the position where the tab sheet is inserted in the bundle of sheets discharged to the discharge tray 15 is the position where the image formed on the discharge tray 15 is discharged when a jam occurs (including immediately before and after the occurrence of the jam). This clearly indicates the stacking position of the sheets.

  Thereafter, it is confirmed whether or not the image forming operation is completed (step S8). The image forming operation ends when the number of sheets set by the user on the operation panel 19 is processed. For example, when 10 images of one page are printed, the image forming operation is completed when 10 sheets of paper are printed, and when 6 copies of 3 pages of images are printed, The image forming operation ends when six sheets are printed. If the image forming operation has not been completed, the process returns to step S2 to perform the same processing. If the image forming operation has been completed, a series of image forming processing is terminated at that time.

  By performing such an image forming process, the image forming operation is interrupted due to the occurrence of a jam, and then the image forming operation is resumed to finish the image forming operation. In the state where is inserted, the print output result is taken out from the discharge tray 15. The print output result described here refers to a bundle of sheets discharged to the discharge tray 15 by a series of image forming processes. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, six images are to be printed on a total of six sheets in the order of A-1 → A-2 → A-3 → B-1 → B-2 → B-3. When a paper jam occurs in the middle of the image forming operation and the paper on which the B-2 image is printed is pulled out due to a recovery mistake at that time, a tab appears at the paper position or in the vicinity (front and back). The print output result is taken out with the paper inserted. Therefore, the user can easily determine whether or not the recovery has been properly performed only by confirming the context (page order or the like) of the position at which the tab sheet is inserted.

  In addition, if it is found that recovery has not been performed properly (when a recovery mistake is found), it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp the page necessary for repairing the recovery error, It is possible to remove the paper of the page (duplicate page) or to reprint the missing page. Therefore, it is possible to greatly reduce the labor required for repairing a recovery error. In addition, when recovering a recovery error by reprinting, the recovery error can be easily and reliably detected by inserting the paper obtained by reprinting into a tab sheet into the printout result to be recovered. Can be repaired.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. Compared with the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the previous embodiment (see FIG. 1), this image forming apparatus is not provided with a paper feed unit 21 including a paper tray 20 dedicated to tab sheets. The basic configuration is the same. The plurality of paper trays 10, 11, 12, and 13 contain sheets of different sizes. Also, any one of the plurality of paper trays 10, 11, 12, and 13 accommodates paper that is to be printed with job information when a jam occurs. The paper on which the job information is printed only needs to satisfy a condition that a part of the paper on which the job information is printed protrudes from the image-formed paper when the paper is overlapped with the image-formed paper. . Specifically, a sheet larger than the maximum sheet size that is an image formation target may be set as a print target of job information. Here, as an example, it is assumed that a sheet to be printed with job information is stored in the sheet tray 13.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of image forming processing according to another embodiment of the present invention. Such image forming processing is executed by the control unit 31. First, after starting the image forming operation (step S11), it is determined whether or not a jam has occurred during the image forming operation (step S12). If it is determined in step S12 that a jam has occurred, the image forming operation is interrupted (step S13), the job information is read from the job management unit 33, stored in the memory 36 (step S14), and then recovered. Processing is performed (step S15). The processing so far is the same as the processing of steps S1 to S5 in FIG. However, among the job information stored in the memory 36 in step S14, in addition to the above-described information, the stack of image-formed sheets discharged to the discharge tray 15 when a jam occurs in the print output result. Information that can specify the position (for example, the number of prints, page number, number of copies, etc.) is included.

  Subsequently, the previously interrupted image forming operation is resumed (step S16). As a result, the paper discharged to the discharge tray 15 by the resumption of the image forming operation is superimposed on the paper that has been discharged to the discharge tray 15 when the image forming operation is interrupted due to the occurrence of a jam.

  Thereafter, it is confirmed whether or not the image forming operation has been completed (step S17). If the image forming operation has not been completed, the process returns to step S12 and the same processing is performed. If the image forming operation has been completed, the sheet is fed out from the sheet tray 13 and the recovery in the previous step S15 is performed on this sheet. The job information read by the processing (information that can specify the stacking position of the image-formed paper discharged to the discharge tray 15 when a jam occurs) is printed, and the paper on which the job information is printed is discharged to the discharge tray 15 After (step S18), a series of image forming processes is terminated. As a result, the sheet on which the job information is printed is superimposed on the sheet discharged to the discharge tray 15 by the image forming operation and discharged.

  By performing such an image forming process, the image forming operation is interrupted due to the occurrence of a jam, and then the image forming operation is resumed to finish the image forming operation. The paper on which the job information that can specify the stacking position of the image-formed paper is printed is taken out from the discharge tray 15 together with the image-formed paper as a print output result. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when six images are printed on a total of six sheets in the order of A-1 → A-2 → A-3 → B-1 → B-2 → B-3. If the paper on which the B-2 image is printed is removed due to a recovery mistake at that time, the other five images (A-1, A-2) except the B-2 image , A-3, B-1, B-3) and the paper on which the job information is printed are taken out together with the five papers. Therefore, the user can easily determine whether or not the recovery has been performed properly simply by checking the context (page order, etc.) in the vicinity of the stacking position of the sheet specified by the job information printed on the sheet. Can do.

  In addition, if it is found that recovery has not been performed properly (when a recovery mistake is found), it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp the page necessary for repairing the recovery error, It is possible to remove the paper of the page (duplicate page) or to reprint the missing page. Therefore, it is possible to greatly reduce the labor required for repairing a recovery error. Furthermore, when repairing a recovery error by reprinting, by inserting the paper obtained by reprinting in the vicinity of the stacking position of the paper indicated by the job information for the print output result to be recovered by the recovery error, Recovery mistakes can be repaired easily and reliably.

  In the above embodiment, the jam is given as a specific example of the abnormality that occurs during the image forming operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the invention is similarly applied to a case where an abnormality such as toner out occurs. Is possible. In addition, when image data transmitted from an external terminal device (such as a personal computer) is received by the image forming apparatus and an image is formed on a sheet according to the received image data, a communication failure or the like occurs during the image forming operation. The present invention can also be applied in the same manner when an abnormality occurs, such as when transmission / reception of image data is interrupted.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the size of the tab paper employ | adopted by embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control system of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of image forming processing according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the print output result by embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the image forming apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the image formation process which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the print output result by other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the output result at the time of normality and abnormality occurrence.

Explanation of symbols

  1, 2, 3, 4 ... Image forming unit, 5 ... Intermediate transfer belt, 10, 11, 12, 13, 20 ... Paper tray, 15 ... Discharge tray, 19 ... Operation panel, 31 ... Control unit, 32 ... Jam detection , 33 ... Job management unit, 34 ... Image forming unit, 35 ... Paper transport unit, 36 ... Memory

Claims (1)

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet and discharging the image-formed sheet to a discharge tray,
Storage means for storing job information including a job history indicating a progress state of a job up to the time of occurrence of an abnormality when an abnormality occurs during an image forming operation;
When the abnormality occurs , the image forming operation is interrupted, the tab sheet that clearly indicates the stacking position of the image-formed sheets discharged to the discharge tray is discharged to the discharge tray, and the job history is read from the storage unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: control means for restarting the interrupted image forming operation according to the job history .

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