Patent Grant
9745156
This application is based upon, and claims the benefit of priority from, corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-065752 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Mar. 27, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Unless otherwise indicated herein, the description in this section is not prior art to the claims in this application and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
From a perspective of enhancing a user's convenience, an image forming apparatus, such as a printer, a copier, and a multi-functional peripheral, includes the following functions. That is, the functions include: a function to detect an open/close state of a sheet feed cassette, which houses paper sheets, and a function to detect presence/absence of the paper sheets inside the sheet feed cassette. However, to provide the above-described functions, individually mounting sensors, such as a push switch and a photo interrupter (PI), for each function is required. This causes a problem of cost increase.
In association with recent heated cost competitions, the image forming apparatus omits the sensors. This restricts the above-described functions and supplements the functions by other simple functions. For example, the function to detect the presence/absence of paper sheets inside the sheet feed cassette is replaced by, for example, the following simple function. That is, when a paper feeding operation from the sheet feed cassette is performed first but paper feeding cannot be performed, the function is replaced by a simple function such as displaying a message for a user to replenish paper sheets.
Meanwhile, as a method for ensuring cost reduction while ensuring the above-described functions, for example, the following mechanism has been disclosed. By detecting two states by one sensor, both an open/close state of a sheet feed cassette and presence/absence of paper sheets are detected.
A sheet feed cassette monitor according to one aspect of the disclosure monitors a sheet feed cassette. The sheet feed cassette includes an actuator, a detecting circuit, a plurality of protrusions, a signal monitoring circuit, and a signal determining circuit. The actuator includes one end portion and another end portion. The one end portion is in contact with an uppermost layer of paper sheets housed in the sheet feed cassette. When the one end portion is in contact with the paper sheet with the sheet feed cassette mounted to an installation box, the other end portion swings in a first direction. When the one end portion is not in contact with the paper sheet, the other end portion swings in a second direction. The second direction is a direction opposite to the first direction. The detecting circuit is located on the installation box side. The detecting circuit detects the swinging of the other end portion on the actuator. The plurality of protrusions are convexly installed in an asymmetric manner with respect to a putting-in/taking-out direction of the feed cassette. The protrusions are located on a far-side in the putting-in/taking-out direction of the sheet feed cassette with respect to a position of the other end portion on the actuator. The signal monitoring circuit monitors a signal from the detecting circuit. The signal determining circuit determines a presence/absence state of the paper sheet housed in the sheet feed cassette and an open/close state of the sheet feed cassette based on a pattern of change in the monitored signal.
These as well as other aspects, advantages, and alternatives will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detailed description with reference where appropriate to the accompanying drawings. Further, it should be understood that the description provided in this summary section and elsewhere in this document is intended to illustrate the claimed subject matter by way of example and not by way of limitation.
Example apparatuses are described herein. Other example embodiments or features may further be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.
The example embodiments described herein are not meant to be limiting. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the drawings, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.
The following describes embodiments of a sheet feed cassette monitor, an image forming apparatus, and a sheet feed cassette monitoring method according to the disclosure with reference to the attached drawings for understanding of the disclosure. The following embodiments are merely exemplary embodiments according to the disclosure and do not intend to limit the technical scope of the disclosure. The alphabets S attached before numerals in the flowcharts mean steps.
The following describes an image forming apparatus that includes a sheet feed cassette monitoring unit as one example of the embodiments of the disclosure. For example, as the image forming apparatus, a multi-functional peripheral (MFP) 100 that includes a function such as a facsimile, a copy, a scanner, or a printer, and furthermore a copier, a printer, or a similar device is applicable.
As illustrated in
Here, the image forming apparatus 100 houses a sheet feed cassette monitoring unit 105. The sheet feed cassette monitor unit 105 monitors presence/absence state of a paper sheet housed in the sheet feed cassette and the (attached/detached) state of the sheet feed cassette and displays a screen according to the state of this sheet feed cassette to the user via the operation unit 101.
Control circuits (not illustrated) of the image forming apparatus 100 and the sheet feed cassette monitoring unit 105 connect a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), and drivers corresponding to respective driving units by an internal bus.
For example, the CPU operates as follows: executing programs stored in the ROM, the HDD, the SSD, or a similar device using the RAM as a work area; receiving and transmitting data, instructions, signals, commands, and similar information from the drivers based on this execution result; controlling operations of the respective driving units regarding the execution of the job. Regarding respective units (illustrated in
The following describes configurations and execution procedures according to the embodiments of the disclosure with reference to
The control unit 201 notifies the sheet feed cassette monitoring unit 105 of the start. The sheet feed cassette monitor unit 105 receiving this notification monitors the presence/absence state of paper sheets housed in the sheet feed cassette and the open/close state of the sheet feed cassette.
For example, as illustrated in
For example, the actuator 402 has a U shape formed by orthogonally bending the one end portion 402a and the other end portion 402b of long bars in a longitudinal direction. A main unit 402c, which is located at the longitudinal direction of the actuator 402, serves as a swinging rotation shaft and is rotatably journaled to the one side surface 400a on the sheet feed cassette 400. Viewed from the longitudinal direction of the main unit 402c of the actuator 402, the one end portion 402a and the other end portion 402b are bent at different angles.
A detecting unit 403 (also referred to as a detecting circuit) is located on the installation box 401 side of the image forming apparatus 100. The detecting unit 403 detects the swing of the other end portion 402b on the actuator 402. When the detecting unit 403 is, for example, a photo interrupter, the other end portion 402b on the actuator 402 forms a shade plate. A light-emitting element 403a and a light receiving portion 403b, which is located across the other end portion 402b, are located on the image forming apparatus 100 (the installation box 401) side. The other end portion 402b passes through between the light-emitting element 403a and the light receiving portion 403b while swinging. As illustrated in
Thus, with the sheet feed cassette 400 mounted to the installation box 401, by monitoring whether an signal finally output from the detecting unit 403 is the ON signal or the OFF signal, whether the paper sheets P are present at the sheet feed cassette 400 or not is detectable.
If the sheet feed cassette 400 is not appropriately mounted to the installation box 401, the paper sheets P fail to press up the one end portion 402a. Then, the detecting unit 403 outputs the OFF signal.
When putting in/taking out the sheet feed cassette 400, the detecting unit 403 (between the light-emitting element 403a and the light receiving portion 403b) does not detect the other end portion 402b on the actuator 402. Therefore, using the detecting unit 403, the open/close state of the sheet feed cassette of the sheet feed cassette 400 is detected.
For example, as illustrated in
Next, the following describes specific procedure of monitoring the sheet feed cassette monitoring unit 105. First, a signal monitoring unit 203 (also referred to as a signal monitoring circuit) in a sheet feed cassette monitor unit 105 that receives notification from the control unit 201 of the image processing apparatus 100 monitors signals from the detecting unit 403 (
Here, for example, when the plurality of sheet feed cassettes 400 are present, the sheet feed cassettes 400 each include the actuators 402, the detecting units 403, and the protrusions 404. Thus, the signal monitoring unit 203 monitors signals from the detecting units 403 for the respective sheet feed cassettes 400.
For example, as illustrated in
Here, upon detection of the change in signal (
For example, when the signal determining unit 205 receives the pattern of changing from the ON signal to the OFF signal via the signal monitoring unit 203, the signal determining unit 205 refers to a signal change state table 500 stored in a specific memory. As illustrated in
Here, with the closed state of the sheet feed cassette 400, when the paper sheets at this sheet feed cassette 400 have been conveyed and gone, the signal change pattern 501 of the signal change state table 500 simply changes from the ON signal to the OFF signal, keeping a first signal change pattern where the OFF signal is held as it is.
Therefore, when the pattern of change in the received signal corresponds to a first signal change pattern 501a, the signal determining unit 205 obtains the presence/absence state 502 (present→absent) of the paper sheets P and the open/close state 503 (the closed state) of the specific sheet feed cassette 400, which correspond to the first signal change pattern 501a. The signal determining unit 205 determines that the pattern of change in the receive signal indicates the state of the paper sheets P being absent and the sheet feed cassette 400 being in the closed state. The signal determining unit 205 notifies the display accepting unit 202 of the states. This notified display accepting unit 202 displays a paper sheet absence screen 600 on a touch panel corresponding to the result determination (
As illustrated in
Next, as illustrated in
When the pattern of change in the received signal corresponds to a second signal change pattern 501b in the signal change state table 500, the signal determining unit 205 obtains the presence/absence state 502 (present) of the paper sheets P and the open/close state 503 (closed state→open state) of the specific sheet feed cassette 400, which correspond to the second signal change pattern 501b. The signal determining unit 205 determines that the pattern of change in the receive signal indicates the state of the paper sheets P being present and the sheet feed cassette 400 being in the open state. Corresponding to the determination results, the display accepting unit 202 causes the touch panel to display a sheet feed cassette open state screen 605.
As illustrated in
Next, as illustrated in
When the pattern of change in the received signal corresponds to a third signal change pattern 501c in the signal change state table 500, the signal determining unit 205 obtains the presence/absence state 502 (present) of the paper sheets P and the open/close state 503 (open state→closed state) of the specific sheet feed cassette 400, which correspond to the third signal change pattern 501c. The signal determining unit 205 determines that the pattern of change in the receive signal indicates the state of the paper sheets P being present and the sheet feed cassette 400 being in the closed state. The display accepting unit 202 performs a process corresponding to the determination result. For example, when the display accepting unit 202 has already caused the touch panel to display the sheet feed cassette open state screen 605, the display accepting unit 202 causes the touch panel to clear this sheet feed cassette open state screen 605.
As illustrated in
Therefore, when the pattern of change in the received signal corresponds to a fourth signal change pattern 501d in the signal change state table 500, the signal determining unit 205 obtains the presence/absence state 502 (absent) of the paper sheets P and the open/close state 503 (closed state→open state) of the specific sheet feed cassette 400, which correspond to the fourth signal change pattern 501d. The signal determining unit 205 determines that the pattern of change in the receive signal indicates the state of the paper sheets P being absent and the sheet feed cassette 400 being in the open state. Corresponding to the determination results, for example, the display accepting unit 202 causes the touch panel to display the paper sheet absence screen 600 and the sheet feed cassette open state screen 605.
As illustrated in
When the pattern of change in the received signal corresponds to a fifth signal change pattern 501e in the signal change state table 500, the signal determining unit 205 obtains the presence/absence state 502 (absent) of the paper sheets P and the open/close state 503 (open state→closed state) of the specific sheet feed cassette 400, which correspond to the fifth signal change pattern 501e. The signal determining unit 205 determines that the pattern of change in the receive signal indicates the state of the paper sheets P being absent and the sheet feed cassette 400 being in the closed state. Corresponding to the determination results, the display accepting unit 202, for example, displays the paper sheet absence screen 600.
Thus, the disclosure ensures highly accurately detecting the open/close state of the sheet feed cassette and the presence/absence state of the paper sheet by the one detecting unit 403 (IP) and with the simple configuration of logic values. Additionally, since the one detecting unit 403 is sufficient, costs taken for other sensors, wiring, substrate connectors, circuits, or similar components, the number of used CPU ports for another sensors, and power consumption for other sensors can be reduced. This ensures reducing the total cost.
With the embodiment of the disclosure, the photo interrupter of the detecting unit 403 is a transmissive sensor; however, a reflective sensor may be employed.
The embodiment of the disclosure includes the two protrusions 404. However, as long as the protrusions 404 are convexly installed in an asymmetric manner with respect to the putting-in/taking-out direction of the sheet feed cassette 400 so as to distinguish the putting-in and taking out of the sheet feed cassette 400, the protrusions 404 may be three or more.
With the embodiment of the disclosure, the signal determining unit 205 receives the monitored signal when necessary and determines whether the pattern of change in this monitored signal corresponds to any of the signal change patterns in the signal change state table or not when necessary. That is, the signal determining unit 205 discards the change in the signals monitored in the past and uses the pattern of change in the signal newly monitored. For example, assume the case where the monitored signal irregularly changes due to some sort of reason, such as power-on of the apparatus while the user extracts the sheet feed cassette 400. Although the signal determining unit 205 once determines the pattern of change in the irregular signal, the signal determining unit 205 performs a process the pattern determining that this irregular pattern of change in the signal does not correspond to any of the signal change patterns in the signal change state table. The signal determining unit 205 receives the pattern of change in the newly monitored signal and determines whether this pattern of change in the monitored signal corresponds to any of the signal change patterns in the signal change state table or not. Thus, discarding the pattern of change in the irregular signal ensures highly accuracy detecting the open/close state of the sheet feed cassette 400 and the presence/absence state of the paper sheet P.
The embodiment of the disclosure configures the sheet feed cassette monitoring unit 105 so as to include the respective units. However, the image forming apparatus may include the respective units.
The embodiment of the disclosure configures that the sheet feed cassette monitoring unit 105 includes the respective units. However, a storage medium may store a program achieving these respective units, and this storage medium may be provided. With this configuration, the apparatus reads the program to achieve the respective units by the apparatus. In this case, the program read from the recording medium itself provides operational advantages of the disclosure. Furthermore, a method that causes a hard disk to store steps performed by the respective units can also be provided.
As described above, the sheet feed cassette monitor, the image forming apparatus, and the sheet feed cassette monitoring method according to the disclosure are effective to a paper sheet conveying device, an image processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, an electronic device, or a similar apparatus or a device. Although the configuration is simple, the disclosure is effective as a sheet feed cassette monitor, an image forming apparatus, and a sheet feed cassette monitoring method that ensure highly accurately detecting the open/close state of the sheet feed cassette and the presence/absence state of the paper sheet.
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-065752 | Mar 2015 | JP | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5897112 | Kwag | Apr 1999 | A |
| 6244588 | Tsubakimoto | Jun 2001 | B1 |
| 8047527 | Adachi | Nov 2011 | B2 |
| 8608153 | Ro | Dec 2013 | B2 |
| 8695967 | Fujita | Apr 2014 | B2 |
| 8790026 | Hirate | Jul 2014 | B2 |
| 9359156 | Shimazu | Jun 2016 | B2 |
| 20150274461 | Ota | Oct 2015 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 06-048612 | Feb 1994 | JP |
| 2005-082295 | Mar 2005 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20160279979 A1 | Sep 2016 | US |
