Patent Grant
9815646
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium fed from a stacking portion.
Description of the Related Art
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is configured to feed a sheet that is placed in a sheet feeding cassette or on a manual feed tray so as to form an image on the fed sheet. In particular, the manual feed tray is widely used to form an image on a cardboard sheet having a basis weight that is not accepted by the sheet feeding cassette, a coated paper sheet, and the like. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H07-097079, there is disclosed a drive transmission mechanism using the same drive source for a sheet feeding pickup roller configured to feed a sheet placed on the manual feed tray and for a sheet feeding roller arranged on a downstream side in a conveying direction of the fed sheet. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H07-097079, there is proposed the configuration described above for feeding an uppermost sheet on the manual feed tray in a one-by-one manner each time the sheet feeding pickup roller feeds the sheet to vertically rock a support arm for the sheet feeding pickup roller.
Meanwhile, hitherto, first copy output time (hereinafter referred to as “FCOT”) from the pressing of a copy key to output of the first sheet is desired to be shortened. Even when the sheet is fed from the above-mentioned manual feed tray, it is desired to shorten the FCOT.
However, the conventional image forming apparatus is configured to vertically move the sheet feeding pickup roller each time one sheet is fed from the manual feed tray, and wait in an upper-limit position serving as an initial position while a sheet feeding operation is not performed (during a non-sheet feeding operation). Therefore, the sheet feed is delayed by a time period required for the sheet feeding pickup roller to be moved from the initial position down onto the sheet and a time period required for the sheet feeding pickup roller to wait on the sheet until oscillation is stopped so that the sheet feeding pickup roller starts rotating. Thus, there is a problem in that the FCOT is disadvantageously increased by the amount of delay time.
The present invention has been made under the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an object to shorten first copy output time.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image forming control portion;
a stacking portion on which a recording medium is stacked;
a sheet feeding unit configured to feed the recording medium stacked on the stacking portion to a conveyance path;
a change unit configured to change a state of the sheet feeding unit between a first state in which the sheet feeding unit is in abutment with the recording medium stacked on the stacking portion and a second state in which the sheet feeding unit is separated away from the recording medium stacked on the stacking portion;
a decision unit configured to decide a size of the recording medium stacked on the stacking portion; and
a control unit configured to control the change unit so that, when the size of the recording medium is changed from an undecided state to a decided state by the decision unit, the state of the sheet feeding unit is changed from the second state to the first state even without an instruction to start image formation from the image forming control portion.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image forming control portion;
a stacking portion on which a recording medium is stacked;
a sheet feeding unit configured to feed the recording medium stacked on the stacking portion to a conveyance path;
a change unit configured to change a state of the sheet feeding unit between a first state in which the sheet feeding unit is in abutment with the recording medium stacked on the stacking portion and a second state in which the sheet feeding unit is separated away from the recording medium stacked on the stacking portion;
a decision unit configured to decide a size of the recording medium stacked on the stacking portion;
a determination unit configured to determine whether or not an operation from which execution of image formation is predicted is performed; and
a control unit configured to control the change unit so that, when the determination unit determines that the operation is performed and the size of the recoding medium is decided by the decision unit, the state of the sheet feeding unit is changed from the second state to the first state even without an instruction to start the image formation from the image forming control portion.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
A mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
<Schematic Configuration of Image Forming System>
[Schematic Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]
A control portion 300 illustrated in
During a copy operation, the image signal control portion 281 performs various processes after the analog image signal input from the image sensor 233 is converted into a digital signal. After converting the digital image signal which has been subjected to the various processes into a video signal, the image signal control portion 281 outputs the video signal to a printer control portion 285. In this case, the copy operation is an operation of reading the original with the image sensor 233, and performing a print operation based on the read data. Further, during the print operation performed in response to an instruction from outside, the image signal control portion 281 first performs the various processes on the digital image signal which is input from a computer 283 through an external I/F 282. Then, the image signal control portion 281 converts the digital image signal which has been subjected to the various processes into the video signal, and outputs the thus obtained video signal to the printer control portion 285.
The printer control portion (image forming control portion) 285 instructs an image forming portion 271 to form an image based on an instruction output from the CPU 301. The image forming portion 271 drives an image forming unit 120 based on the input video signal. Further, the printer control portion 285 controls a sheet conveying portion 270 to perform sheet feeding control and conveyance control for a sheet which is a recording medium and performs a raising and lowering operation for a sheet feeding pickup roller 113 illustrated in
The image forming apparatus 100 illustrated in
[Basic Image Forming Operation of Image Forming Apparatus]
Next, referring to
Specifically, the CPU 301 moves a position of the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 to a “sheet feeding pickup roller abutment position” through a lowering operation of the sheet feeding pickup roller 113. The term “sheet feeding pickup roller abutment position” indicates a position at which the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 comes into abutment with the sheet placed on the sheet feeding tray 111 so that the sheet can be fed. The sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is placed in a first state of being in abutment with the sheet stacked on the sheet feeding tray 111.
Meanwhile, when detecting a print setting instruction input through the operating portion 330, such as the color mode and the number of print copies, and opening and closing of an original pressure plate or the placement of the original via the original feeder control portion 480 and the image reader control portion 280, the CPU 301 performs a print preparation operation. Specifically, the print preparation operation is an operation which is performed by the CPU 301 detecting the execution of an operation necessary to perform printing such as the instruction to set the print mode (operation on the operating portion), the opening and closing of the original pressure plate, the placement of the original, the placement of the sheet on the sheet feeding tray 111 before print start is instructed. The above-mentioned operations performed before the print start is instructed are operations from which execution of printing is predicted. The execution of printing is accompanied by sheet feed, and hence the above-mentioned operations can also be referred to as operations from which the sheet feed is predicted. For the reason described above, the CPU 301 functions as a determination unit. The CPU 301 starts temperature control for a fixing device 170 in the print preparation operation. Further, when the sheet is placed on the sheet feeding tray 111, the sheet size is in a decided state, and the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is not present at the “sheet feeding pickup roller abutment position”, the CPU 301 moves the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 to the “sheet feeding pickup roller abutment position”. The raising and lowering operation of the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 and the print preparation operation will be described later in detail.
Next, when receiving the instruction to start the print operation from the operating portion 330 or the like, the CPU 301 starts an operation of reading an image of the original via the original feeder control portion 480. The CPU 301 drives the original conveying roller 112 to convey an original sheet from the original table 152 onto a platen glass plate, and irradiates the original sheet on the platen glass plate with light of a lamp (not shown). Reflected light from the original is guided to the image sensor 233 through a mirror. Image data of the original that is read by the image sensor 233 is output to the image signal control portion 281. The reading of the original is continued until the reading of the original on the original pressure plate glass plate 55 is completed or until reading of an image of a final original detected by the original sensor 151 is completed.
Meanwhile, the CPU 301 controls the image forming unit 120 via the image forming portion 271 to start an image forming operation for the image data stored in the RAM 303. Specifically, the image forming unit 120 includes a yellow image forming unit 120y, a magenta image forming unit 120m, a cyan image forming unit 120c, and a black image forming unit 120k. The suffixes y, m, c, and k respectively indicating colors are hereinafter omitted unless otherwise needed. The image forming unit 120 includes a photosensitive drum 101, a developing device 104, a charging roller 102, a photosensitive drum cleaner 107, and the like. In the image forming unit 120, after a surface of the photosensitive drum 101 configured to rotate in a direction indicated by the arrow in
Further, the CPU 301 drives a conveying motor (not shown) via the sheet conveying portion 270 so as to be in synchronization with timing of arrival of the toner image at the secondary transfer portion 118. The sheet feeding pickup roller 113, the pair of sheet feeding rollers 114, a pair of registration rollers 116, and a pair of delivery rollers 139 are driven by the conveying motor that is a drive source. As a result, the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is rotationally driven to feed and convey the sheet from the sheet feeding tray 111 in a one-by-one manner. In the manner described above, the full-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 130 is transferred onto the conveyed sheet through application of a secondary transfer voltage in the secondary transfer portion 118.
The sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred in the secondary transfer portion 118 is conveyed to the fixing device 170. In the fixing device 170, the unfixed toner image on the sheet is heated and pressurized so as to be fixed onto the sheet. Thereafter, the CPU 301 delivers the sheet to a delivery tray 132 by the pair of delivery rollers 139 which are controlled by the sheet conveying portion 270. After the print operation is completed, the CPU 301 performs the following operation in response to a power saving request described later. Specifically, the CPU 301 controls the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 to move from the “sheet feeding pickup roller abutment position” at which the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is in contact with the sheet on the sheet feeding tray 111 to a “sheet feeding pickup roller separation position” at which the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is located above the sheet. The sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is placed in a second state in which the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is separated away from the sheet stacked on the sheet feeding tray 111. The “sheet feeding pickup roller abutment position” is hereinafter referred to simply as “abutment position”, and the “sheet feeding pickup roller separation position” is hereinafter referred to simply as “separation position”.
Further, the CPU 301 can switch between supply of power from a power source to the sheet conveying portion 270 or the image forming portion 271 via the printer control portion 285 and stop of the supply of the power. Sensors and drive sources are connected to the sheet conveying portion 270. Further, after elapse of a predetermined time (referred to “set time”) set on the timer 291, the CPU 301 can also perform auto power saving control (hereinafter referred to as “autosleep”) of stopping the supply of the power from the power source. As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the embodiment can be operated in a normal power consumption mode for the image formation and a power saving mode in which power consumption is reduced from that during the image formation. Note that, the image forming operation and the power control described above are merely an example, and therefore the present invention is not limited to the configuration described above.
<Description of Sheet Feeding Pickup Roller Raising and Lowering Operation>
Next, a raising and lowering mechanism for the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 according to the embodiment will be described.
[Description of Sheet Feeding Tray 111]
First, a configuration for detecting the sheet on the sheet feeding tray 111 according to the embodiment will be described referring to
On the other hand, when the sheet P is not present on the sheet feeding tray 111, the sheet flag 411 does not shield the sheet sensor 115 from light. In this case, for example, the sheet sensor 115 outputs an OFF signal. With the configuration described above, the CPU 301 is configured so as to be capable of detecting the presence/absence of the sheet on the sheet feeding tray 111. When detecting the placement of the sheet P on the sheet feeding tray 111, the CPU 301 controls the operating portion 330 to display the sheet size selection screen. The display on the operating portion 330 will be described later. Further, in a state in which the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is in abutment with the sheet P, the sheet conveying motor 164 is driven. As a result, the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 and the pair of sheet feeding rollers 114 are respectively rotated in directions indicated by the arrows in
[Description of Operating Portion 330]
[Decision of Sheet Size]
When the CPU 301 determines the absence of the sheet P based on the result of detection by the sheet sensor 115 after the sheet size is decided with the use of the sheet size selection screen of the display portion 311, the sheet size is determined as undecided. Then, information indicating that the sheet size is undecided is stored in the RAM 303. Such a situation corresponds to a case where, for example, the sheet P is removed from the sheet feeding tray 111 after the sheet size is decided, or the like. When the sheet P is placed on the sheet feeding tray 111 thereafter, the sheet size selection screen is displayed again on the display portion 311. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the embodiment cannot start the print operation before the sheet size is decided.
[Description of Raising and Lowering of Sheet Feeding Pickup Roller]
Next, the raising and lowering operation of the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 will be described referring to
For example, when the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is present at the separation position PR2 (the HP sensor 167 is ON) after the state of the sheet size changes from the undecided state to the decided state, the CPU 301 starts driving the raising and lowering motor 163 at timing T1. Alternatively, the CPU 301 may be configured to start driving the raising and lowering motor 163 at the time T1 when the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is present at the separation position PR2 (the HP sensor 167 is ON) in a case where the operation from which the execution of the image formation is predicted has been performed and the sheet size is in the decided state.
After the drive of the raising and lowering motor 163 is started, the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 starts being lowered from the separation position PR2 to change the HP sensor 167 from the shielded state to the unshielded state. At timing T2 at which a predetermined time Ta elapses from the timing T1, the CPU 301 determines that the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 has been lowered to the abutment position PR1 at which the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is the closest to the sheet feeding tray 111. Then, the CPU 301 stops driving the raising and lowering motor 163 to maintain the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 at the abutment position. When determining that the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 has been lowered to the abutment position PR1, the CPU 301 stores information thereof in the RAM 303. In the embodiment, the CPU 301 determines that the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 has been moved to the abutment position PR1 based on the elapse of the predetermined time Ta from the start of the drive of the raising and lowering motor 163. However, for example, a sensor configured to detect the movement of the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 to the abutment position PR1 may be included instead.
Before receiving the instruction to start the print operation, the CPU 301 waits for the reception of the instruction to start the print operation in a state in which the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is held in the abutment position PR1 after being moved to the abutment position PR1. In this manner, in comparison to a case where the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is moved from the separation position PR2 to the abutment position PR1 after the reception of the instruction to start the print operation, first copy output time (hereinafter referred to as “FCOT”) is shortened by the predetermined time Ta (=500 ms). In this case, the FCOT is time from the pressing of the start key 306 for starting the copy operation to output of the first sheet P. The predetermined time Ta is a time period required to move the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 from the separation position PR2 to the abutment position PR1. A value which is determined in advance through a measurement or the like is stored in the ROM 302 as the predetermined time Ta. The predetermined time Ta is determined in consideration of a variation in time period from a time at which the CPU 301 outputs a signal to start or stop the drive of the raising and lowering motor 163 to a time at which the raising and lowering operation of the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is actually started or stopped and the like.
Next, when the CPU 301 starts driving the raising and lowering motor 163 again at timing T3 at which the feeding of the last sheet is completed in the print operation, the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 starts being raised from the abutment position. The CPU 301 determines that the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 has been raised to the separation position at timing T4 at which the CPU 301 detects that the HP sensor 167 is shielded from light. Then, the CPU 301 stops driving the raising and lowering motor 163 to maintain the position of the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 in the separation position PR2. However, the configurations of the raising and lowering motor 163, the sheet feeding pickup roller 113, and the HP sensor 167 and the conditions of the raising and lowering control described above are merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the configurations described above. In the embodiment, the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is configured to be raised and lowered so as to bring the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 and the sheet P into abutment with each other and separate the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 and the sheet P from each other. Instead, however, the sheet feeding tray 111 may be configured to be raised and lowered, while the position of the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is fixed. In this case, a motor configured to raise and lower the sheet feeding tray 111 or the like functions as the change unit. The raising and lowering motor 163 may also be used as the drive unit configured to raise and lower the sheet feeding tray 111.
[Raising and Lowering Operation of Sheet Feeding Pickup Roller]
When the size of the sheet on the sheet feeding tray 111 changes from the undecided state to the decided state in the embodiment, the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is moved in advance to the abutment position PR1 before the print operation is instructed to be started. Alternatively, the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 may be moved in advance to the abutment position PR1 before the print operation is instructed to be started when the size of the sheet on the sheet feeding tray 111 is in the decided state and the operation from which the execution of the image information is predicted has been performed. In this manner, the sheet can be fed immediately after the start of the print operation. Therefore, in comparison to a configuration in which the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is moved to the abutment position PR1 after the reception of the instruction to start the print operation, the FCOT can be shortened by the time period required to bring the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 into abutment with the sheet.
As described above, after the sheet is placed on the sheet feeding tray 111, the CPU 301 first detects the presence of the sheet with the sheet sensor 115. Next, the sheet size is selected on the sheet size selection screen displayed on the operating portion 330 so that the sheet size is decided. Now, the reason why the condition for moving the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 to the abutment position PR1 is “change of the sheet size from the undecided state to the decided state” will be described. The following description also corresponds to a description of the reason why one of the conditions for moving the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 to the abutment position PR1 when the size of the sheet on the sheet feeding tray 111 is in the decided state and the operation from which the execution of the image formation is predicted has been performed is “decided sheet size”.
When the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is present at the abutment position PR1, the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 pressurizes the sheet feeding tray 111 to some degrees so as to feed the sheet on the sheet feeding tray 111. When the user removes the sheet on the sheet feeding tray 111 so as to place a new sheet thereon in this state, the sheet can be removed, but it is difficult to insert a sheet stack between the sheet feeding tray 111 and the sheet feeding pickup roller 113. Therefore, usability is lowered when the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is present at the abutment position PR1 regardless of the state of the image forming apparatus 100 and the sheet on the sheet feeding tray 111.
Further, even when the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is moved to the abutment position PR1 at timing immediately after the user places the sheet on the sheet feeding tray 111, the user cannot move the side regulating plates 421 so as to align the sheet position. Therefore, even when the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is moved to the abutment position PR1 before the CPU 301 detects the presence of the sheet by the sheet sensor 115 so that the sheet size is decided, the usability is lowered.
As described above referring to
The method of deciding the sheet size according to the embodiment is merely an example, and the method of deciding the sheet size is not limited to that using the side regulating plates 421 as in the embodiment. For example, a configuration without using the side regulating plates 421, which picks up an image on the sheet present on the sheet feeding tray 111 with an image pickup apparatus or the like so as to detect the sheet size can be used. In the image forming apparatus 100 having such a configuration, even when the sheet is placed obliquely on the sheet feeding tray 111, the image is formed in accordance with an angle at which the sheet is placed so that the toner image is transferred at a predetermined position on the sheet. Even in such a configuration, the sheet size may be decided as a size detected by a predetermined method.
[Control Process for Sheet Feeding Pickup Roller (when Placement of Sheet is Detected)]
An example where a lowering control process for the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is performed when the information on the sheet size, which is stored in the RAM 303, is changed from “undecided size” to “selected size”, will be described referring to flowcharts.
In S1112, the CPU 301 controls the operating portion 330 to display the sheet size selection screen, for example, as illustrated in
On the other hand, when the CPU 301 determines in S1114 that the sheet sensor 115 has detected the sheet (presence of the sheet), in other words, when a state in which the sheet is present is maintained even after the sheet size selection screen is displayed on the operating portion 330, the process proceeds to S1116. In S1116, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the OK button 325 on the sheet size selection screen of the operating portion 330 has been pressed. When the CPU 301 determines in S1116 that the OK button 325 has not been pressed, the process returns to S1114. On the other hand, when determining in S1116 that the OK button 325 has been pressed, the CPU 301 determines that the size of the sheet on the sheet feeding tray 111 has been decided. Then, the process proceeds to S1118.
In S1118, the CPU 301 stores the sheet size (selected size) selected on the operating portion 330, for example, “A4 size” when the A4 button 321 is selected on the sheet size selection screen on the operating portion 330, as the sheet size information in the RAM 303. In S1122, the CPU 301 performs a sheet feeding pickup roller lowering control process described below so as to move the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 to the abutment position.
[Sheet Feeding Pickup Roller Lowering Control Process]
In S2116, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the sheet has been detected by the sheet sensor 115. The process in S2116 is a process that is performed so as to deal with the removal of the sheet by the user before the time set on the timer 291 is up after the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is lowered. The process in S2116 is performed because, when the user removes the sheet, control of raising the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is required to be performed so that the user can place the sheet again. When the CPU 301 determines in S2116 that the sheet has not been detected by the sheet sensor 115 (no sheet), the process proceeds to S2128. In S2128, the CPU 301 sets the “undecided size” as the sheet size information to be stored in the RAM 303, and stores the sheet size information in the RAM 303. In S2126, the CPU 301 performs the raising control for the sheet feeding pickup roller 113, of moving the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 to the separation position PR2. As a result, the user can place the sheet on the sheet feeding tray 111 again. Specifically, as described referring to
When determining in S2116 that the sheet has been detected by the sheet sensor 115 (presence of the sheet), the CPU 301 determines in S2118 whether or not the predetermined time has elapsed (whether or not the time set on the timer 291 is up) by referring to the timer 291. When the CPU 301 determines in S2118 that the time set on the timer 291 is up, the process proceeds to S2126. When the CPU 301 determines in S2118 that the time set on the timer 291 is not up, the process proceeds to S2122. In S2122, the CPU 301 determines whether or not a job has been input in response to the instruction to start the print operation (whether or not the instruction to start printing has been received). When the CPU 301 determines that the job has not been input, the process proceeds to S2116. When determining in S2122 that a print job has been input, the CPU 301 stops the timer that has been started in S2114, and then terminates the lowering processing for the sheet feeding pickup roller 113.
[Control Process for Sheet Feeding Pickup Roller (when Power is Turned on or the Like)]
When the CPU 301 determines in S3122 that the sheet has been detected by the sheet sensor 115 (presence of the sheet), the process proceeds to S3124. In S3124, the CPU 301 reads the sheet size information stored in the RAM 303 so as to determine whether or not the read sheet size information is the “undecided size”. In this step, the sheet size information stored in the RAM 303 is the sheet size information before the power is turned on or the mode is changed to the power saving mode.
When the CPU 301 determines in S3124 that the sheet size information is the “undecided size”, the process proceeds to S3126. The CPU 301 performs the process for detecting the placement of the sheet on the sheet feeding tray 111, which is described above referring to
When the CPU 301 determines in S3125 that the size of the sheet placed on the sheet feeding tray 111 and the sheet size information stored in the RAM 303 are equal to each other, the process proceeds to S3128. In this case, there is a high possibility that the sheet having the same size as the decided size has been placed on the sheet feeding tray 111 before the power is turned off for the last time or before the mode is changed to the power saving mode. Therefore, the size is decided for the sheet. In S3128, the CPU 301 performs the lowering control process for the sheet feeding pickup roller 113, of moving the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 to the abutment position, which has been described referring to
When the CPU 301 determines in S3125 that the size of the sheet placed on the sheet feeding tray 111 and the sheet size information stored in the RAM 303 are not equal to each other, the process proceeds to S3132. In this case, there is a possibility that the sheet on the sheet feeding tray 111 is removed and a sheet having a different size is placed thereon during the power is turned off or during the operation in the power saving mode. In S3132, the CPU 301 sets the “undecided size” as the sheet size information to be stored in the RAM 303. Then, the process proceeds to S3126.
Through the control described above, even when a print start request is issued immediately after the mode is returned to the normal mode from the power saving mode, the size selection screen can be appropriately displayed while the FCOT is shortened.
[Print Preparation Operation]
Now, a process that is performed after the raising control for the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is performed so that the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is moved to the separation position after the lowering control for the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 illustrated in FIG. 6A,
Here, the reason why one of the conditions for moving the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 to the abutment position is “the operation from which the execution of the image formation is predicted has been performed” will be described. In the image forming apparatus 100 according to the embodiment, in a case where the predetermined time elapses without reception of the instruction to start printing in a state in which the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is in abutment with the sheet after the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is moved to the abutment position, the following control is performed. Specifically, the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is moved to the separation position. This is because, in a case where the execution of the image formation (execution of the sheet feed) is not predicted, it is unnecessary that the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is in abutment with the sheet and there is a fear in that the mark of the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 remains on some kinds of sheets.
In such a case, for example, if the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is moved to the abutment position only under the condition where, for example, the sheet size is in the decided state, the following problem arises. Specifically, when the predetermined time elapses after the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is moved to the abutment position, the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is then retracted to the separation position, as described above. However, the state in which the sheet size is decided is maintained, and hence, the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is moved to the abutment position again. As described above, there is a fear in that the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is repeatedly moved to the abutment position and the separation position. Therefore, in the embodiment, two conditions, specifically, “the operation from which the execution of the image formation is predicted has been performed” and “the sheet size is in the decided state”, are set as the conditions for the movement of the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 to the abutment position so as to prevent unnecessary movement of the sheet feeding pickup roller 113.
[Control Process for Sheet Feeding Pickup Roller as Print Preparation Operation]
In S4114, the CPU 301 reads the sheet size information stored in the RAM 303 so as to determine whether or not the sheet size information is the “undecided size”. When the CPU 301 determines in S4114 that the sheet size information is the “undecided size”, the process is terminated. In this case, as described above referring to
When determining in S4114 that the sheet size information is not the “undecided size”, the CPU 301 then determines in S4116 whether or not the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is present at the abutment position PR1. When the CPU 301 determines in S4116 that the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is present at the abutment position PR1, the process proceeds to S4117. In S4117, the CPU 301 sets the predetermined time to the timer 291 as in the process performed in S2114 described above referring to
In S4200, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the predetermined time has elapsed (the time set on the timer 291 is up) by referring to the timer 291. When the CPU 301 determines in S4200 that the time set on the timer 291 is up, the process proceeds to S4202. In S4202, the CPU 301 performs the raising control for the sheet feeding pickup roller 113, of moving the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 to the separation position PR2. Then, the process is terminated. Specifically, as described above referring to
When the CPU 301 determines in S4200 that the time set on the timer 291 is not up, the process proceeds to S4201. In S4201, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the job has been input in response to the instruction to start the print operation (whether or not the instruction to start printing has been received). When the CPU 301 determines that the job has not been input, the process returns to S4200. On the other hand, when determining in S4201 that the print job has been input, the CPU 301 stops the timer that has been started in S4117 to terminate the process.
When the CPU 301 determines in S4116 that the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is not present at the abutment position PR1, the process proceeds to S4118. In S4118, the CPU 301 performs the lowering control process for the sheet feeding pickup roller 113, which is illustrated in
When the sheet feeding cassette 153 or 154 is selected in the state in which the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is present at the abutment position PR1, the raising control for the sheet feeding pickup roller is performed.
[Control Process During Print Job]
When the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is moved to the abutment position PR1, the CPU 301 starts feeding the sheet on the sheet feeding tray 111. When the CPU 301 determines in S5114 that the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is present at the abutment position PR1, the process proceeds to S5117. In S5117, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the print job has been completed. When the CPU 301 determines in S5117 that the print job has not been completed, the process in S5117 is repeated. On the other hand, when the CPU 301 determines in S5117 that the print job has been completed, the raising control of moving the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 to the separation position PR2 is performed in S5118. Then, the control is terminated.
As described above, when the sheet size changes from the undecided state to the decided state, the control is performed so that the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 and the sheet come into abutment with each other even before the print start is instructed. As a result, the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 and the sheet are in abutment with each other, and hence the sheet can be fed immediately after the input of the print start instruction. Therefore, the FCOT is shortened by the time period required to bring the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 into abutment with the sheet.
Further, the control may be performed so that the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 and the sheet are brought into abutment with each other even before the print start is instructed when the operation from which the execution of the image formation is predicted has been performed and the size of the sheet on the sheet feeding tray 111 is in the decided state. In this manner, the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 and the sheet are in abutment with each other, and hence the sheet can be fed immediately after the input of the print start instruction. Therefore, the FCOT is shortened by the time period required to bring the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 into abutment with the sheet. Further, when the operation from which the execution of the image formation is predicted has not been performed even in the state in which the sheet size is decided, the lowering control for the sheet feeding pickup roller 113, of moving the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 to the abutment position, is not performed. Therefore, the sheet feeding pickup roller 113 is prevented from being unnecessarily brought into abutment with the sheet.
As described above, according to the embodiment, the first copy output time can be shortened.
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-102886, filed May 20, 2015, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-102885, filed May 20, 2015, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-102885 | May 2015 | JP | national |
| 2015-102886 | May 2015 | JP | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5689759 | Isemura | Nov 1997 | A |
| 7364155 | Nagao | Apr 2008 | B2 |
| 8576427 | Sakai | Nov 2013 | B2 |
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