Patent Application
20240101374
This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-153051 filed Sep. 26, 2022.
The present disclosure relates to a medium feeding device and an image forming apparatus.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-042951 discloses a print management system having an image forming apparatus including a paper feeder, the print management system including: a determination unit that determines whether an area where a paper feed error has occurred is in a specific paper feeder; a display unit that, when the area where a paper feed error has occurred is in the specific paper feeder, displays on a display, information prompting for confirmation of the setting for the specific paper feeder; and an automatic recovery unit that, when the area where the paper feed error has occurred is not in the specific paper feeder, executes an automatic recovery process.
For example, in an image forming apparatus including a paper feeder, when a paper feed error occurs, a recovery process may be executed. For example, the recovery process is such a process that at an occurrence of a paper feed error, a printing process is automatically resumed after removal of a medium such as a stuck sheet of paper by a user.
Aspects of non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a medium feeding device and an image forming apparatus that are capable of reducing downtime of the apparatus due to medium jam, as compared to when a recovery process is executed after a medium jam has occurred.
Aspects of certain non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure address the above advantages and/or other advantages not described above. However, aspects of the non-limiting embodiments are not required to address the advantages described above, and aspects of the non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure may not address advantages described above.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a medium feeding device including: multiple transporters each including a stacking unit on which a medium is stackable in a vertical direction, a feeder that feeds air to multiple media, each of which is the medium, stacked on the stacking unit to cause the multiple media to float and separate, a delivery unit that successively delivers the media floated and separated by the feeder, and a detector that detects a state of the medium floated and separated by the feeder; and at least one processor configured to: upon detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector of one of the multiple transporters during transport, switch to another transporter at a predetermined timing to feed the medium; and upon detection of the state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector, change an amount of air feed by the feeder of the one transporter before being switched.
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment to implement the present disclosure will be described. In the following description, let the direction indicated by arrow X in the drawings be an apparatus width direction, the direction indicated by arrow Y in the drawings be an apparatus height direction, and the direction (arrow Z direction) perpendicular to each of the apparatus width direction and the apparatus height direction be an apparatus depth direction.
As illustrated in
As an example, the medium feeding device 10 is configured to be mounted on the image forming apparatus body 101 optionally. The medium feeding device 10 includes a housing 111, and a plurality of paper feeders 112 that are disposed in the housing 111 to feed sheets of paper P one by one to the image former 102 of the image forming apparatus body 101. The plurality of paper feeders 112 are an example of a plurality of transporters. In addition, the medium feeding device 10 includes a control device 50 that controls the operation of each component of the medium feeding device 10. The control device 50 is electrically connected to the control device 106 of the image forming apparatus body 101, to enable communication between the control device 50 and the control device 106. Instead of this configuration, the operation of each component of the medium feeding device 10 may be controlled by the control device 106 of the image forming apparatus body 101.
As an example, the housing 111 includes a first housing 111A and a second housing 111B, and the number of the plurality of paper feeders 112 is four. As an example, the medium feeding device 10 includes a first paper feeder 112A and a second paper feeder 112B in the first housing 111A, and a third paper feeder 112C and a fourth paper feeder 112D in the second housing 111B.
The inside of the first housing 111A is provided with a transport path 114A to transport sheets of paper Pin the first paper feeder 112A to the image forming apparatus body 101, and a transport path 114B to transport sheets of paper P in the second paper feeder 112B to the image forming apparatus body 101. In addition, the inside of the second housing 111B is provided with a transport path 114C to transport sheets of paper P in the third paper feeder 112C to the image forming apparatus body 101, and a transport path 114D to transport sheets of paper P in the fourth paper feeder 112D to the image forming apparatus body 101. Part of the transport path 114A, the transport path 114B, the transport path 114C, and the transport path 114D is made common. Although illustration is omitted, the transport path 114A, the transport path 114B, the transport path 114C, and the transport path 114D are each provided with a transport unit such as a transport roll.
As described above, the medium feeding device 10 includes the first paper feeder 112A, the second paper feeder 112B, the third paper feeder 112C, and the fourth paper feeder 112D. The first paper feeder 112A, the second paper feeder 112B, the third paper feeder 112C, and the fourth paper feeder 112D have a similar configuration, and when these four paper feeders do not need to be distinguished, the paper feeders are denoted as the paper feeder 112 and described.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The feeder 14 includes a duct 32 connected to the air outlet 30, and a fan 34 provided upstream of the direction of air flow in the duct 32 (see
Although illustration is omitted, the air outlet 30 is provided on both sides of widthwise (the arrow Z direction) lateral portions of the sheets of paper P. As an example, the side guides 20 on both sides of widthwise (the arrow Z direction) lateral portions of the sheets of paper P are each provided with the air outlet 30. The duct 32 is branched into two parts downstream of the fan 34 in the direction of air flow, and the downstream ends of the branched parts of the duct 32 are each provided with the air outlet 30.
As illustrated in
As an example, in the delivery unit 16, the sheet of paper P absorbed by the adsorption unit 40 comes into contact with the delivery roll 36, thus the sheet of paper P is delivered in the arrow A direction by the delivery roll 36, and transported in the arrow A direction by the transport rolls 38.
The camera 18 is an example of an image capture unit, and captures a floated and separated state of an end of the sheets of paper P. As illustrated in
As an example, the camera 18 is provided on the upper side of the side guides 20, and is disposed in the vicinity of an end of the side guides 20 downstream in the delivery direction (the arrow A direction) of the sheet of paper P.
As illustrated in
The control device 50 has the following components: a central processing unit (CPU) 51, a read only memory (ROM) 52, a random access memory (RAM) 53, a storage 54, and an I/O interface 55. The components are coupled via a bus 59 to enable communication with each other.
The CPU 51 is a central processing unit, and executes various programs and controls the components. The CPU 51 is an example of a processor. Specifically, the CPU 51 reads a program from the ROM 52 or the storage 54, and executes the program using the RAM 53 as a work area. The CPU 51 performs control of the above-mentioned components and various calculation processes in accordance with the program recorded in the ROM 52 or the storage 54. In the exemplary embodiment, a feed processing program is stored in the ROM 52 or the storage 54.
The ROM 52 stores various programs and various data. The RAM 53 as a work area temporarily stores programs or data. The storage 54 is comprised of a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), and stores various programs including the operating system, and various data. The storage 54 stores a program for a printer driver. The CPU 51 reads the program for a printer driver from the storage 54, and executes the program, thereby serving as a printer driver.
The I/O interface 55 is an interface to communicate with the devices mounted on the medium feeding device 10 and the control device 106 mounted on the image forming apparatus 100. The control device 50 is coupled to the plurality of paper feeders 112, the notifier 44 and the image forming apparatus body 101 via the I/O interface 55. Note that the plurality of paper feeders 112, and the notifier 44 may be directly connected via the bus 59.
The notifier 44 is a device that notifies a user of information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P or information on absence of sheet of paper P in the paper feeder 112. For example, when possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected based on an image of a floated and separated state of an end of sheets of paper P captured by the camera 18, the control device 50 outputs information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P to the notifier 44. As an example, the notifier 44 is a display that displays the information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P as character information. Note that instead of a display, the notifier 44 may be a voice output unit that outputs the information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by voice, or both display and voice output unit. The notifier 44 is provided in the medium feeding device 10, but may be provided in an external device of the image forming apparatus 100.
As illustrated in
The paper state detector 71 detects whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P based on an image of a floated and separated state of an end of sheets of paper P captured by the camera 18 of the paper feeder 112 during transport. A condition to detect that there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is pre-stored in the storage 54. The paper state detector 71 detects whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P according to the above-mentioned condition based on the image of a floated and separated state of the end of sheets of paper P. For example, when the sheet of paper P is fed (in other words, transported) from the first paper feeder 112A as illustrated in
The paper feeder information acquirer 72 acquires information on whether sheets of paper P can be fed in the plurality of paper feeders 112. Thus, information is obtained, which indicates whether there is another paper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable or there is no other paper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable among the plurality of paper feeders 112 except the paper feeder 112 during transport.
When sheets of paper P are fed from one paper feeder 112, the switching controller 73 performs control of switching to another paper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P, or control of continuing feed of sheets of paper P from the original paper feeder 112 without switching to another paper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P.
As described above, when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected by the camera 18 of the paper feeder 112 during transport, the switching controller 73 switches to another paper feeder 112 at the later-described predetermined timing to feed sheets of paper P. For example, as illustrated in
As an example, when there is no other paper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable, the switching controller 73 may make preparations to enable another paper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P, and when the predetermined timing allows, may switch to another paper feeder 112 after the preparations are completed. When there is no other paper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable refers to the situation where sheets of paper P are not feedable by all of the other paper feeders 112. When the predetermined timing does not allow, the switching controller 73 may allow the original paper feeder 112 (for example, the first paper feeder 112A) to continue to feed the sheets of paper P without switching to any of the other paper feeders 112. The predetermined timing will be described later.
As another example, for example, when there is no other paper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable, the switching controller 73 may make preparations to enable another paper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P, and may stop feeding of the sheets of paper P from the paper feeder 112 (for example, the first paper feeder 112A) before being switched until the preparations are completed. The switching controller 73 then may start to feed sheets of paper P from the one paper feeder 112 after completion of the preparations.
When a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected by the camera 18 of the paper feeder 112 during transport, the air feed amount change unit 74 changes the amount of air feed by the feeder 14 of the paper feeder 112 before being switched. For example, as illustrated in
For example, when a floated and separated state of an end of sheets of paper P is insufficient (the number of sheets of paper P floated and separated is small) based on a captured image of the floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P, the air feed amount change unit 74 increases the amount of air feed by the feeder 14. Also, for example, when the number of sheets of paper P floated is too many, and the multiple sheets of paper P are in a bundle state and not sufficiently separated based on a captured image of the floated and separated state of an end of the sheets of paper P, the air feed amount change unit 74 decreases the amount of air feed by the feeder 14. For example, the change of the amount of air feed by the feeder 14 is performed by changing the rotational speed of the fan 34.
The predetermined timing is, for example, after detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by the camera 18, through change of the amount of air feed by the feeder 14 of the paper feeder 112 (for example, the first paper feeder 112A) before being switched, and after detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P for a second time by the camera 18 of the paper feeder 112 (for example, the first paper feeder 112A) before being switched.
When a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is not detected for a second time by the camera 18 of the paper feeder 112 (for example, the first paper feeder 112A) before being switched, the switching controller 73 may allow the original paper feeder 112 (for example, the first paper feeder 112A) to feed the sheets of paper P without switching to another paper feeder 112.
For example, after switching is made to another paper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P, the switching controller 73 may continue to feed sheets of paper P from the original paper feeder 112 (for example, the first paper feeder 112A). After switching is made to another paper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P, when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is not detected for a second time by the camera 18 of the original paper feeder 112, the switching controller 73 may switch to the original paper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P.
The notification information output unit 75 outputs information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P or information on absence of sheets of paper P in the paper feeder 112 to the notifier 44. For example, when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected for a second time by the camera 18 of the paper feeder 112 before being switched, the notification information output unit 75 outputs information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P to the notifier 44.
Next, the condition to detect a state of sheets of paper P by the camera 18 will be described.
The condition to detect a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by the camera 18 may be a situation in which sheets of paper P are floated, where the number of sheets is less than or equal to a first threshold (for example, four) which is a predetermined number. In addition, the condition to detect a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by the camera 18 may be a situation in which sheets of paper P are not separated and in a bundle state, where the number of sheets is greater than or equal to a second threshold (for example, three) which is a predetermined number. In the situations described above, possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected by the paper state detector 71. The first threshold and the second threshold are changeable.
In a second example illustrated in
In a third example illustrated in
Next, the operation of the first exemplary embodiment will be described.
Before the feed processing illustrated in
The CPU 51 starts to feed sheets of paper P from one paper feeder 112 (step S201). The one paper feeder 112 is the paper feeder 112 that stores the sheets of paper P specified by the printing instructions. For example, when the specified sheets of paper P are stored in the first paper feeder 112A, the CPU 51 starts to feed sheets of paper P from the first paper feeder 112A.
The CPU 51 detects a floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P stacked on the stacking unit 12 in the one paper feeder 112 (step S201). For example, when feeding of the sheets of paper P is started from the first paper feeder 112A, a floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P stacked on the stacking unit 12 is captured by the camera 18 of the first paper feeder 112A. An image captured by the camera 18 is transmitted to the control device 50, and the CPU 51 detects the floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P based on the captured image.
The CPU 51 determines whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the one paper feeder 112 (step S203). For example, the CPU 51 determines based on the above-described conditions for detection whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper Pin the first paper feeder 112A during feeding (in other words, during transport).
When there is no possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the one paper feeder 112 (NO in step S203), the CPU 51 continues an operation of feeding the sheets of paper P from the one paper feeder 112 (step S204). For example, when there is no possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the first paper feeder 112A, the CPU 51 continues an operation of feeding the sheets of paper P from the first paper feeder 112A.
When there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the one paper feeder 112 (YES in step S203), the CPU 51 acquires information on other paper feeders 112 (step S205). The information on other paper feeders 112 includes information on whether sheets of paper P are feedable from the other paper feeders 112. For example, as illustrated in
The CPU 51 determines whether switching to another paper feeder 112 is not ready (step S206). For example, as illustrated in
When it is possible to switch to another paper feeder 112 (NO in step S206), the CPU 51 switches to another sheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P (step S207). As illustrated in
When it is not possible to switch to another paper feeder 112 (YES in step S206), the CPU 51 prepares for switching to another sheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P (step S208). For example, as the preparations for switching, the CPU 51 supplies air from the feeder 14 of another paper feeder 112 to float and separate the sheets of paper P stacked on the stacking unit 12.
The CPU 51 changes the amount of air feed of one paper feeder 112 (step S209). For example, as illustrated in
The CPU 51 detects a floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P stacked on the stacking unit 12 in the one paper feeder 112 (step S210). In other words, the CPU 51 detects a floated and separated state for the second time in the one paper feeder 112.
The CPU 51 determines whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper Pin the one paper feeder 112 (step S211). Specifically, the CPU 51 detects a floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P for a second time in the one paper feeder 112, thereby determining whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P.
When there is no possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the one paper feeder (NO in step S211), the CPU 51 continues an operation of feeding the sheets of paper P from the one paper feeder 112 (step S204).
When there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the one paper feeder (YES in step S211), the CPU 51 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the preparations for switching to another sheet feeder 112 (step S212). As the predetermined time, for example, a minimum time from the preparations for switching to another sheet feeder 112 to completion of the preparations is set.
When the predetermined time has not elapsed since the preparations for switching to another sheet feeder 112 (NO in step S212), the CPU 51 returns to the process in step S209.
When the predetermined time has elapsed since the preparations for switching to another sheet feeder 112 (YES in step S212), the CPU 51 determines whether it is possible to switch to another sheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P (step S213). For example, when the CPU 51 prepares for switching to another sheet feeder 112 in step S208, and the preparations are completed, the CPU 51 determines whether it is possible to switch to another sheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P.
When it is possible to switch to another sheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P (YES in step S213), the CPU 51 switches to another sheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P (step S207).
When it is not possible to switch to another sheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P (NO in step S213), the CPU displays an alert on the notifier 44 (step S214). For example, when there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the first paper feeder 112A, an alert (for example, warning information) saying that there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the first paper feeder 112A is displayed on the notifier 44. Alternatively, the alert may be information prompting a user to adjust the sheet of paper P set in the first paper feeder 112A by a user, and/or the settings for the feeder 14. When there is no sheet of paper P in the first paper feeder 112A, an alert saying that there is no sheet of paper P in the first paper feeder 112A may be displayed on the notifier 44.
The CPU 51 stops feeding of the sheets of paper P from the one paper feeder 112 (step S215).
Also, after switching to another sheet feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P in step S207, as illustrated in
The CPU 51 detects a floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P in the one paper feeder 112 (step S222). For example, the CPU 51 detects a floated and separated state of the sheets of paper P in the original first paper feeder 112A.
The CPU 51 determines whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper Pin the one paper feeder 112 (step S223). For example, the CPU 51 determines whether there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the original first paper feeder 112A.
When there is no possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the one paper feeder (NO in step S223), the CPU 51 switches to the one paper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P (step S224). For example, as illustrated in
When there is a possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P in the one paper feeder (YES in step S223), the CPU 51 continues an operation of feeding the sheets of paper P from another paper feeder 112 (step S225). For example, in
In the flowchart illustrated in
However, in the image forming apparatus 300 in the comparative example, the operation of the image forming apparatus 300 cannot be started until removal of the sheets of paper P stuck in the third paper feeder 312C is completed, and the downtime of the image forming apparatus 300 is increased.
In contrast, in the medium feeding device 10 of the first exemplary embodiment, when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected by the camera 18 of the paper feeder 112 during transport, the CPU 51 switches to another sheet feeder 112 at a predetermined timing to feed sheets of paper P. In addition, when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected by the camera 18 of the paper feeder 112 during transport, the CPU 51 changes the amount of air feed by the feeder 14 of the paper feeder 112 before being switched.
Therefore, in the medium feeding device 10, it is possible to reduce the downtime of the medium feeding device 10 due to jam of sheets of paper P, as compared to when the recovery processing is performed after an occurrence of jam of sheets of paper P.
In addition, in the medium feeding device 10, when there is another paper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable, the CPU 51 switches to another paper feeder 112 at a predetermined timing. Therefore, in the medium feeding device 10, it is possible to quickly switch to another paper feeder 112, as compared to when preparations for feeding sheets of paper by another paper feeder are started after detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper.
Also, in the medium feeding device 10, when there is no other paper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable, the CPU 51 makes preparations to enable another paper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P, and when the predetermined timing allows, switches to another paper feeder 112 after the preparations are completed. When the predetermined timing does not allow, the CPU 51 continues to feed sheets of paper P from the original paper feeder 112 without switching to another paper feeder 112. Therefore, in the medium feeding device 10, it is possible to reduce the downtime of the medium feeding device 10, as compared to when the original paper feeder 112 is in standby until preparations for enabling another paper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper are completed.
Also, in the medium feeding device 10, when there is no other paper feeder 112 by which sheets of paper P are feedable, the CPU 51 makes preparations to enable another paper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P, and stops feeding of the sheets of paper P from the paper feeder 112 before being switched until the preparations are completed. The CPU 51 then starts to feed the sheets of paper P from another paper feeder 112 switched after the preparations are completed. Therefore, in the medium feeding device 10, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P, as compared to when the sheets of paper are supplied from the paper feeder before being switched until preparations to enable another paper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P are completed.
In addition, in the medium feeding device 10, the above-mentioned timing is after detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by the camera 18, through change of the amount of air feed by the feeder 14 of the paper feeder 112 before being switched, and after detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P for a second time by the camera 18 of the paper feeder 112 before being switched. Thus, in the medium feeding device 10, it is possible to continue to feed the sheets of paper P from the paper feeder 112 before being switched while reducing the occurrence of jam of sheets of paper P, as compared to when switching is made to another paper feeder without waiting for the result of detection by the camera of the paper feeder 112 before being switched.
Also, in the medium feeding device 10, when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is not detected for a second time by the camera 18 of the paper feeder 112 before being switched, the CPU 51 allows the original paper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P without switching to another paper feeder 112. Thus, in the medium feeding device 10, it is possible to continue to feed the sheets of paper P from the original paper feeder 112 while reducing the occurrence of jam of sheets of paper P, as compared to when switching is made to another paper feeder.
Also, in the medium feeding device 10, when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is detected for a second time by the camera 18 of the paper feeder 112 before being switched, the CPU 51 outputs information on possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P to the notifier 44 that notifies a user. Therefore, in the medium feeding device 10, it is possible to prompt a user to solve a problem of the original paper feeder 112.
Also, in the medium feeding device 10, after switching is made to another paper feeder 112 to feed sheets of paper P, air feed by the feeder 14 is continued in the original paper feeder 112, and when a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P is not detected for a second time by the camera 18 of the original paper feeder 112, switching is made to the original paper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P. Thus, in the medium feeding device 10, it is possible to switch to the original paper feeder 112 to feed the sheets of paper P, while reducing the occurrence of jam of sheets of paper P, as compared to when feeding of the sheets of paper P from another paper feeder is continued.
Also, in the medium feeding device 10, the camera 18 captures a floated and separated state of an end of the sheets of paper P. Thus, in the medium feeding device 10, detection of an end of the sheets of paper P is easy, as compared to when an end of the sheets of paper is detected by a photoelectronic sensor.
Also, in the medium feeding device 10, a condition to detect a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by the camera 18 is that a predetermined number or less of sheets of paper P are floated. Therefore, in the medium feeding device 10, a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P can be detected by the number of floated sheets of paper P.
Also, in the medium feeding device 10, a condition to detect a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P by the camera 18 is that a predetermined number or more of sheets of paper P are not separated, and in a bundle state. Therefore, in the medium feeding device 10, a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of sheets of paper P can be detected by the number of floated sheets of paper P in a bundle state.
The image forming apparatus 100 has the medium feeding device 10, and the image former 102 that forms an image on a sheet of paper P fed by the medium feeding device 10. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 100, it is possible to reduce the downtime of the image forming apparatus 100 due to jam of sheets of paper P, as compared to when the recovery processing is performed after an occurrence of jam of sheets of paper P.
Next, a medium feeding device in a second exemplary embodiment will be described. Note that the same components as in the above-described first exemplary embodiment are labeled with the same symbol, and a description thereof is omitted.
As illustrated in
The photoelectronic sensor 170 has a light projector 174 that emits light to an end face 172A of a housing 172, and a light receiver 176. In the photoelectronic sensor 170, a floated and separated state of an end of the sheets of paper P is detected by the light receiver 176 receiving light from the light projector 174. The configuration of the medium feeding device in the second exemplary embodiment except the photoelectric sensor 170 is the same as that of the medium feeding device 10 in the first exemplary embodiment.
In addition to the operation and effect achieved by the same configuration as that of the medium feeding device 10 in the first exemplary embodiment, the medium feeding device in the second exemplary embodiment has the following operation and effect.
In the medium feeding device in the second exemplary embodiment, the photoelectric sensor 170 detects a floated and separated state of an end of the sheets of paper P by receiving light from the light projector 174. For this reason, the medium feeding device in the second exemplary embodiment is easily mounted on the apparatus body (in other words, the bodies of a plurality of paper feeders), as compared to when an end of the sheets of paper P is detected by an image captured by an image capture unit.
In the medium feeding device in the first and second exemplary embodiments, the camera 18 or the photoelectric sensor 170 is provided in each of both widthwise sides of the sheets of paper P; however, the present disclosure is not limited to this configuration. For example, the camera 18 or the photoelectric sensor 170 may be configured to be provided in one of both widthwise sides of the sheets of paper P.
The processing of the medium feeding device 10, the image forming apparatus 100 can be implemented by a dedicated hardware circuit. In this case, the processing may be executed by one hardware, or may be executed by multiple hardware.
Also, a program to cause the medium feeding device 10, and the image forming apparatus 100 to execute may be provided by a computer readable recording medium such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory, a flexible disk, and a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), or may be provided online through a network such as the Internet. In this case, a program recorded on a computer-readable recording medium is usually transferred to and stored in a memory or a storage. Also, this program may be provided, for example, as independent application software, or may be incorporated in the software of the medium feeding device 10, and the image forming apparatus 100 as a function thereof.
Note that although the present disclosure has been described in detail through specific exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to those exemplary embodiments, and it is apparent to those skilled in the art that various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present disclosure.
In the embodiments above, the term “processor” refers to hardware in a broad sense. Examples of the processor include general processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, and programmable logic device).
In the embodiments above, the term “processor” is broad enough to encompass one processor or plural processors in collaboration which are located physically apart from each other but may work cooperatively. The order of operations of the processor is not limited to one described in the embodiments above, and may be changed.
The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the disclosure be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
(((1)))
A medium feeding device comprising:
The medium feeding device according to (((1))),
The medium feeding device according to (((1))) or (((2))),
The medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((3))),
The medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((4))),
The medium feeding device according to (((5))),
The medium feeding device according to (((5))),
The medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((5))),
The medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((8))),
The medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((8))),
The medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((10))),
The medium feeding device according to any one of (((1))) to (((11))),
An image forming apparatus comprising:
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-153051 | Sep 2022 | JP | national |
