Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus configured to convey a stopped sheet to an open portion of a conveyance path.
Description of the Related Art
Image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer are configured to form an image on a recording medium such as a paper sheet (hereinafter referred to as a “sheet”). In each of the image forming apparatus, the sheet is conveyed from a sheet containing portion to a sheet delivery portion through an image forming portion in the inside of the image forming apparatus. When a sheet jam (hereinafter referred to as “jam”) has occurred in the inside of the image forming apparatus, it may be difficult for a user to clear the jam depending on a stop position of the jammed sheet.
Incidentally, there is generally known a method of conveying, in the event of the jam, the jammed sheet P1 to a position from which the user can easily clear the jam. When the distance between the jammed sheet P1 and a jammed sheet P2 preceding the jammed sheet P1 is short as illustrated in
Therefore, according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-78604, when the lower door 260 is opened, the jammed sheet P1 is forcedly conveyed by an amount set in advance depending on the size, the type, and the like of the jammed sheet P1.
Depending on the type or stiffness of the sheet, however, the jammed sheet P1 is forcedly conveyed in a direction indicated by the arrow B as illustrated in
In view of the above, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus configured to convey a stopped sheet to a position from which a user can easily remove the stopped sheet.
According to one embodiment, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising:
a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet on a conveyance path on which the sheet is conveyed;
a first conveyance path opening member configured to open a first portion of the conveyance path;
a second conveyance path opening member configured to open a second portion, which is located on a downstream side of the first portion, of the conveyance path;
a sheet leading edge position detecting unit configured to detect a position of a leading edge of a stopped sheet on the conveyance path; and
a determination unit configured to determine, based on a detection result of the sheet leading edge position detecting unit, one of not conveying the stopped sheet, causing the conveyance unit to convey the stopped sheet toward the first portion, and causing the conveyance unit to convey the stopped sheet toward the second portion.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
Now, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.
(Image Forming Apparatus)
A control portion 300 and the process unit 120 being a part of an image forming portion are provided in a main body 100a of the image forming apparatus 100. A lower door (first conveyance path opening member) 260 and an upper door (second conveyance path opening member) 261, which serve as openable and closable members, are provided in a side wall of the main body 100a. The lower door 260 is configured to open a first portion 210 of a conveyance path for conveyance of a recording medium (hereinafter referred to as “sheet”) on which an image is to be formed. The first portion 210 corresponds to a position from which a user can easily remove a jammed sheet when the lower door 260 is opened. The upper door 261 is configured to open a second portion 211 of the conveyance path for conveyance of the sheet. The second portion 211 corresponds to a position from which the user can easily remove the jammed sheet when the upper door 261 is opened. A first sheet feed cassette 220 and a second sheet feed cassette 150 each containing the sheets are arranged at a lower portion of the main body 100a.
As illustrated in
An instruction to start a printing operation is input to the CPU 301 via, for example, a user interface (hereinafter referred to as “UI”) 330 serving as an operation portion. When the CPU 301 receives the instruction to start the printing operation, the CPU 301 controls the conveyance motor 145, the conveyance moor 146, the conveyance motor 507, the first cassette motor 505, the second cassette motor 506, and the draw motor 508.
The CPU 301 is electrically connected to an upper door open/close sensor second conveyance path opening detecting unit) 242 and a lower door open/close sensor (first conveyance path opening detecting unit) 252 via the I/O 310. The upper door open/close sensor 242 is configured to output, to the CPU 301, a detection signal indicating whether the upper door 261 is opened or not. The lower door open/close sensor 252 is configured to output, to the CPU 301, a detection signal indicating whether the lower door 260 is opened or not. The CPU 301 is electrically connected to a sheet sensor 171, an outlet sensor 173, a registration sensor 160, a first cassette sensor 222, and a second cassette sensor 152 via the I/O 310. The sheet sensor 171, the outlet sensor 173, the registration sensor 160, the first cassette sensor 222, and the second cassette sensor 152 each function as a sheet detecting unit configured to detect the sheet on the conveyance path. The sheet detecting unit is configured to output, to the CPU 301, a detection signal indicating whether the sheet is present on the conveyance path or not.
Further, the CPU 301 is configured to control an image forming portion 320. The image forming portion 320 is configured to control the process unit. 120, a transfer belt (intermediate transfer member) 130, a secondary transfer portion 140, and laser scanner units (light scanning devices) 122 illustrated in
(Image Forming Operation)
Next, referring to
On the other hand, the CPU 301 starts the image forming operation by the process unit 120 so that images reach the secondary transfer portion 140 in synchronization with the timing when the sheet reaches the secondary transfer portion 140. The process unit 120 includes four process units 120Y, 120M, 120C, and 120K as illustrated in
Based on the detection signal received from the registration sensor 160, the CPU 301 detects the position of the sheet conveyed by the conveyance rollers 153, the conveyance rollers 154, the conveyance rollers 158, and the conveyance rollers 155. Based on the detection signal received from the registration sensor 160, the CPU 301 controls the conveyance of the sheet so that the leading edge of the sheet is in alignment with the leading edge of the toner image on the transfer belt 130 at the secondary transfer portion 140. For example, when the sheet has reached earlier than the toner image, the CPU 301 causes the registration rollers 161 to stop the sheet for a predetermined period of time, and then resumes the conveyance in synchronization with the timing of the toner image.
When a secondary transfer voltage is applied to the secondary transfer portion 140, the toner image is transferred onto the sheet at the secondary transfer portion 140. The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 170. The fixing device 170 heats and pressurizes the sheet to thermally fix the toner image onto the sheet. When the leading edge of the sheet after the fixation has reached the outlet sensor 173, based on an instruction received via the UI 330, the CPU 301 determines of a sheet conveyance path 230 and a sheet conveyance path 231 to which the sheet is to be conveyed. The CPU 301 switches the flapper 172 to switch the sheet conveyance destination between the sheet conveyance path 230 and the sheet conveyance path 231. Specifically, when an instruction for duplex printing is issued, the sheet is conveyed to the sheet conveyance path 230, whereas when an instruction for simplex printing is issued or when an image is formed on a back surface of the sheet during the duplex printing, the sheet is conveyed to the sheet conveyance path 231.
The sheet conveyed to the sheet conveyance path 231 is further conveyed toward the downstream side by the conveyance rollers 232. The CPU 301 switches the flapper 190 based on an instruction received via the UI 330 to convey the sheet to a sheet conveyance path 180 or a sheet conveyance path 181. When the sheet delivery destination designated by the user is a sheet delivery tray 200, the sheet is conveyed to the sheet conveyance path 180, whereas when the sheet delivery destination designated by the user is a sheet delivery tray 196, the sheet is conveyed to the sheet conveyance path 181. Note that, the above-mentioned image forming apparatus 100 is only an example, and the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned image forming apparatus 100.
(Jam Detection)
Next, referring to
First, referring to
Next, referring to
Note that, the above-mentioned determination of the jam detection only an example, and the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned jam detecting method.
When the processing of the sheets to be conveyed in the inside of the main body 100a (normal delivery of the sheet out of the apparatus and stop of the conveyance of the jammed sheets) is finished, the CPU 301 displays, on a display portion 340 of the UI 330 (
(Determination of Whether Jammed-Sheet Forced-Conveying Control is Performed or Not)
Now, referring to
When the second cassette sensor 152 is turned ON (“YES” in S2), on the other hand, the CPU 301 determines the stopped sheet as the jammed sheet P1, namely the sheet whose jam is required to be cleared.
When the CPU 301 determines that the leading edge of the jammed sheet P1 is not located at the position satisfying X2≦Z2 (“NO” in S3), the leading edge of the sheet P1 has already been conveyed to a position past a position where it is difficult for the user to remove the lammed sheet P1 from the main body 100a. Thus, in this case, the CPU 301 decides not to perform the jammed-sheet forced-conveying control (S7). The CPU 301 ends the determination of whether the jammed-sheet forced-conveying control is performed or not.
When the CPU 301 determines that the sheet stopped in the event of the lam is not the sheet fed from the second sheet feed cassette 150 (“NO” in S1), the CPU 301 determines whether the stopped sheet is a sheet fed from the first sheet feed cassette 220 or not (S8). When the CPU 301 determines that the stopped sheet is not the sheet fed from the first sheet feed cassette 220 (“NO” in S8), the sheet is not a sheet fed from a sheet feed stage for which the forced-conveying control is to be performed, and hence the CPU 301 determines not to perform the jammed-sheet forced-conveying control (S7). The CPU 301 ends the determination of whether the jammed-sheet forced-conveying control is performed or not.
When the CPU 301 determines that the stopped sheet is the sheet fed from the first sheet feed cassette 220 (“YES” in S8), the CPU 301 determines whether the first cassette sensor 222 is turned ON or not (S9). When the first cassette sensor 222 is not turned ON (“NO” in S9), the stopped sheet is in a state of being usable in a subsequent job without a need for removal from the conveyance path. Therefore, the CPU 301 does not determine the stopped sheet as a jammed sheet, namely a sheet whose jam is required to be cleared. Thus, in this case, the CPU 301 determines not to perform the jammed-sheet forced-conveying control (S7). The CPU 301 ends the determination of whether the jammed-sheet forced-conveying control is performed or not.
When the first cassette sensor 222 is turned ON (“YES” in S9), on the other hand, the CPU 301 determines the stopped sheet as the jammed sheet P1, namely the sheet whose jam is required to be cleared. The CPU 301 determines whether the leading edge of the jammed sheet P1 has been conveyed from the first cassette sensor 222 to the downstream side by a first predetermined distance Z1 or more as illustrated in
The CPU 301 ends the determination of whether the jammed-sheet forced-conveying control is performed or not.
When the CPU 301 determines that the position of the leading edge of the jammed sheet P1 does not satisfy X1≦Z1 (“NO” in S10), the CPU 301 determines whether the leading edge of the jammed sheet P1 is located at a position satisfying X1≦Z11 (Z1<Z11) or not (S14). When Z1≦Z11 is satisfied (“YES” in S14), the CPU 301 decides the forced-conveying amount (distance) of the jammed sheet P1 as (Z11−X1+R1). The CPU 301 functions as the conveying amount deciding portion configured to decide the conveying amount (conveying distance) of the jammed sheet P1. The CPU 301 stores the forced-conveying amount (Z11−X1+R1) in the RAM 303 (S15). The CPU 301 determines to perform the jammed-sheet forced-conveying control (S16). To notify the user of the lam clearance procedure, the CPU 301 displays, on the display portion 340 of the UI 330, a screen for prompting the user to open the upper door 261 as illustrated in
The distance (Z11+R1) from the first cassette sensor 222 refers to a distance between the first cassette sensor 222 and a position where the user can easily grip the leading edge of the jammed sheet P1 when the upper door 261 is opened, and is set in advance. As illustrated in
When X1≦Z11 is not satisfied (“NO” in S14), the leading edge of the sheet P1 has already been conveyed to a position past a position where it is difficult for the user to remove the jammed sheet P1 from the main body 100a. Thus, the CPU 301 determines not to perform the jammed-sheet forced-conveying control (S7). The CPU 301 ends the determination of whether the jammed-sheet forced-conveying control is performed or not.
As described above, the CPU 301 functions as a determination unit configured to determine, based on the detection result of the sheet leading edge position detecting unit, whether not to convey the jammed sheet P1, whether to convey the jammed sheet P1 toward the first portion 210, or whether to convey the jammed sheet P1 toward the second portion 211.
(Jammed-Sheet Forced-Conveying Control)
Next, referring to
First, referring to
When the lower door 260 is opened (“YES” in S41), the CPU 301 determines whether the jammed sheet P1 is the sheet fed from the second sheet feed cassette 150 or not (S42). When the jammed sheet P1 is the sheet fed from the second sheet feed cassette 150 (“YES” in S42), the CPU 301 starts the drive of the second cassette motor 506 so as to convey the jammed sheet P1 (S43). The CPU 301 causes the second cassette motor 506 to rotate the second separation rollers 156, to thereby convey the jammed sheet P1 toward the conveyance path opened by the lower door 260. The CPU 301 determines whether the jammed sheet P1 has been conveyed by the forced-conveying amount (Z2−X2) or not (S44). The CPU 301 waits until the conveyance of the lammed sheet P1 by the forced-conveying amount (Z2−X2) is completed (“NO” in S44). When the CPU 301 determines that the jammed sheet P1 has been conveyed by the forced conveying amount (Z2−X2) (“YES” in S44), the CPU 301 stops the drive of the second cassette motor 506 (S45). The CPU 301 ends the jammed-sheet forced-conveying control.
When the jammed sheet P1 is not the sheet fed from the second sheet feed cassette 150 (“NO” in S42), the CPU 301 determines whether the jammed sheet P1 is the sheet fed from the first sheet feed cassette 220 or not (S46). When the jammed sheet P1 is the sheet fed from the first sheet feed cassette 220 (“YES” in S46), the CPU 301 starts the drive of the first cassette motor 505 so as to convey the jammed sheet P1 (247). The CPU 301 causes the first cassette motor 505 to rotate the first separation rollers 226, to thereby convey the jammed sheet P1 toward the conveyance path opened by the lower door 260. The CPU 301 determines whether the jammed sheet P1 has been conveyed by the forced-conveying amount (Z1−X1) or not (S48). The CPU 301 waits until the conveyance of the jammed sheet 21 by the forced-conveying amount (Z1−X1) is completed (“NO” in S48). When the CPU 301 determines that the jammed sheet P1 has been conveyed by the forced-conveying amount (Z1−X1) (“YES” in S′18) the CPU 301 stops the drive of the first cassette motor 505 (S49). The CPU 301 ends the jammed-sheet forced-conveying control. The first cassette motor 505 and the first separation rollers 226 each serve as a conveyance unit configured to convey the jammed sheet P1 to the first portion 210.
When the jammed sheet P1 is not the sheet fed from the first sheet feed cassette 220 (“NO” in S46), the CPU 301 ends the jammed-sheet forced-conveying control.
Note that, even when the upper door 261 is opened before the determination in Step S41 that the lower door 260 opened, there is no influence on the forced-conveying control associated with the operation of opening the lower door 260, and hence the determination of whether the lower door 260 is opened or not is continued.
Next, referring to
When the upper door 261 is opened (“YES” in S51), the CPU 301 determines whether the jammed sheet P1 is the sheet fed from the first sheet feed cassette 220 or not (S52). When the jammed sheet P1 is the sheet fed from the first sheet feed cassette 220 (“YES” in S52), the CPU 301 starts the drive of the first cassette motor 505 and the conveyance motor 507 so as to convey the jammed sheet P1 (S53). The CPU 301 causes the first cassette motor 505 to rotate the first separation rollers 226 and causes the conveyance motor 507 to rotate the conveyance rollers 154, to thereby convey the jammed sheet P1 toward the conveyance path opened by the upper door 261. The CPU 301 determines whether the jammed sheet P1 has been conveyed by the forced-conveying amount (Z11−X1+R1) or not (S54). The CPU 301 waits until the conveyance of the jammed sheet P1 by the forced-conveying amount (Z11−X1+R1) is completed (“NO” in S54). When the CPU 301 determines that the jammed sheet P1 has been conveyed by the forced-conveying amount (Z11−X1+R1) (“YES” in S54), the CPU 301 stops the drive of the conveyance motor 507 (S55). The CPU 301 ends the jammed-sheet forced-conveying control. The first cassette motor 505, the first separation rollers 226, the conveyance motor 507, and the conveyance rollers 154 each serve as a conveyance unit configured to convey the jammed sheet P1 to the second portion 211.
When the jammed sheet P1 is not the sheet fed from the first sheet feed cassette 220 (“NO” in S52), the CPU 301 does not perform the forced conveyance of the jammed sheet P1. The CPU 301 ends the jammed-sheet forced-conveying control.
Note that, when the lower door 260 is opened at the time of forced conveyance of the jammed sheet P1 in response to the opening of the upper door 261, the jammed sheet P1 cannot be conveyed by t conveyance rollers 154. Thus, a screen for prompting the user to close the lower door 260 may be displayed on the UI 330.
According to the embodiment, based on the position of the jammed sheet P1 before the lower door 260 or the upper door 261 is opened, determination is performed as to whether not to convey the jammed sheet P1, whether to convey the jammed sheet P1 toward the first portion to be opened by the lower door 260, or whether to convey the jammed sheet P1 toward the second portion to be opened by the upper door 261. Thus, in association with the door opening operation to be displayed on the display portion 340, the jammed sheet P1 can be conveyed to the position from which the user can easily remove the jammed sheet P1. The door for discharging the jammed sheet P1 is selected based on the stop position of the jammed sheet P1, and hence the jammed sheet P1 can be prevented from entering the conveyance path of the unopened door even when the jammed-sheet forced-conveying control is performed. According to the embodiment, the easiness of the jam clearance by the user can be enhanced.
According to the embodiment, the stopped sheet can be conveyed to the position from which the user can easily remove the stopped sheet.
Now, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the same structural elements as those of the first embodiment are represented by the same reference symbols, and description thereof is therefore omitted herein. In the second embodiment, the image forming apparatus, the image forming operation, the jam detection, and the determination of whether the jammed-sheet forced-conveying control is performed or not are the same as those of the first embodiment, and description thereof is therefore omitted herein. The jammed-sheet forced-conveying control of the second embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment, and hence this difference will be described below.
(Jammed-Sheet Forced-Conveying Control)
When the CPU 301 determines to perform the jammed-sheet forced-conveying control (S5, S12, or S16 of
Referring to
Referring to
When the upper door 261 is not opened (“NO” in S51), the CPU 301 determines whether the lower door open/close sensor 252 configured to detect the opening or closing of the lower door 260 is turned OFF or not (S61). That is, in Step S61, the CPU 301 determines whether the lower door 260 is opened or not. When the lower door 260 is not opened (“NO” in S61), the CPU 301 returns to Step S51. When the lower door 260 is opened (“YES” in S61), the CPU 301 ends the jammed-sheet forced-conveying control. Thus, when the lower door 260 is opened, the forced conveyance is not performed even though the upper door 261 is opened afterwards. The reason why the forced conveyance is halted when the door for opening a portion other than the open portion of the conveyance path through which the jammed sheet P1 is to be conveyed is opened after the CPU 301 has decided the open portion based on the position of the leading edge of the jammed sheet P1 will be described below. When the lower door 260 is opened without opening the upper door 261, the posture or state of the jammed sheet P1 may be chanced. When the conveyance of the jammed sheet P1 is started in this state in association with the operation of opening the upper door 261, skew feeding of the jammed sheet P1 may occur. In this case, the user may feel difficult to remove the jammed sheet P1 from the main body 100a. For this reason, the forced-conveying control is prevented from being started in association with the opening of the door for a portion other than the open portion through which the sheet is to be conveyed by the forced-conveying control.
According to the second embodiment, when the operation of opening the door other than the door decided by the CPU 301 is detected, the jammed sheet P1 can be prevented from being conveyed by the forced conveyance in a state in which it is difficult to remove the jammed sheet P1.
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. 2015-010848, filed Jan. 23, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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2015-010848 | Jan 2015 | JP | national |
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