JP2010085659A - Conveying unit, conveying system, image forming apparatus, image forming system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to take an appropriate measure for clearing a jam when a paper jam occurs regardless of the length of the paper.
SOLUTION Jam is detected based on the ON / OFF states of three jam sensors A, B, and C provided along the conveyance path of a sheet P and the time change thereof. At the time of jam detection, information on the jam occurrence position and the jam release method is displayed on the LCD as an error message. This error message is prepared in advance for each ON / OFF combination of the three JAM sensors A, B, and C (for each JAM pattern 1 to 8), and even if the same combination (the same JAM pattern) is used, The message contents are appropriately switched according to the length of the paper P. Specifically, in the case of the JAM patterns 4 to 7, when the length of the paper P is equal to or longer than a predetermined value (long), an error message different from that in the short length is displayed.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport device that transports a sheet-shaped transport medium, a transport system including the transport device, an image forming apparatus in which a recording medium is transported by the transport device, an image forming system including the image forming apparatus, And the program.

  In an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, generally, a conveying device including various rollers for conveying the sheet is mounted, and the sheet placed on a tray or the like is conveyed on a predetermined conveying path by the conveying device. Is done. Then, an image is formed on a sheet at a predetermined position in the conveyance process.

In the image forming apparatus having such a configuration, when the paper is transported along the transport path, the paper may be jammed for some reason, and the paper may not be transported and discharged normally.
Therefore, in order to cope with the occurrence of such a jam, a jam detection sensor is provided in each part of the conveyance path, and when the jam is detected, a guidance for releasing the jam (removing the jammed paper) is displayed on the display unit. A technique for displaying the image is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-2005-318206

  However, in the conventional guidance display method represented by the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the jam occurs, an operation procedure for clearing the jam is displayed, thereby providing support when the user clears the jam. However, depending on the length of the paper, it could not be said that sufficient support could be provided.

  In other words, in the conventional technology, for example, when a jam occurs when the paper is conveyed to the vicinity of the discharge portion on the downstream side of the conveyance path, as a guidance, the jam has occurred near the discharge portion, and the jam is canceled. An instruction to open a cover or the like in the vicinity of the discharge unit is displayed as a procedure for performing the operation.

At this time, if the paper is short, the user can cancel the jam by following the guidance. However, when the paper is long, it is fully assumed that the jammed position is in the vicinity of the discharge portion, but the paper that has jammed the entire conveyance path is blocked.
In this state, even if you try to remove the paper from the vicinity of the discharge unit according to the guidance, it is difficult to remove the paper. There is a risk that.

  As described above, according to the conventional guidance display method, depending on the length of the sheet, it is not always possible to appropriately display the jam occurrence position specification and the jam release method, and the user cannot sufficiently support the jam release. there were.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is to enable a user to take appropriate measures for clearing a jam regardless of the length of a sheet when a sheet jam occurs. Objective.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transporting device that transports a sheet-shaped transported medium, and a jam of the transported medium in a transporting path of the transported medium by the transporting unit. Jam detection means for detecting a jam when it occurs, a first display means for displaying information, and a jam that is information indicating that a jam has occurred when the jam detection means detects the occurrence of the jam Display control means for displaying information on the first display means, and medium length acquisition means for acquiring the length of the medium to be transported in the transport direction by the transport means.

The display control means switches jam information to be displayed on the first display means according to the length of the transported medium acquired by the medium length acquisition means.
According to the transport apparatus according to claim 1 configured as described above, since the jam information is switched according to the length of the transported medium, the user can cancel the jam regardless of the length of the transported medium. Appropriate responses can be taken.

  Note that the switching of jam information according to the length of the transported medium does not necessarily require switching (that is, displaying different jam information) for every jam occurrence state (occurrence position, etc.). Accordingly, the same jam information may be displayed regardless of the length of the transported medium (for example, depending on the jam occurrence position). In other words, as long as appropriate jam information for releasing the jam can be provided to the user, the same jam information may be obtained regardless of the length of the medium to be transported depending on the occurrence state and position of the jam.

  Next, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the transport apparatus according to the first aspect, a plurality of types of medium length ranges are set in advance, and the length of the transported medium transported by the transport means is the plurality of types of media. It is configured to be included in any one of the medium length ranges. Then, the display control means determines which medium length range of the plurality of types of medium length ranges the length of the transported medium acquired by the medium length acquisition means corresponds to the determined medium length range. The jam information is displayed on the first display means.

  According to the transport apparatus according to claim 2 configured as described above, since the jam information is switched according to which of the plurality of types of medium length ranges the length of the transported medium is included, By appropriately setting the type of medium length range, it is possible to perform necessary and sufficient switching of jam information according to the length of the transported medium.

  Here, there are various ways of specifically setting a plurality of types of medium length ranges. For example, as described in claim 3, the first medium length shorter than a predetermined medium length determination threshold value. The second medium length range that is equal to or greater than the range and the medium length determination threshold value can be set. In this case, the display control means is configured such that the length of the transported medium acquired by the medium length acquisition means is the first medium. It may be determined whether it is within the long range or the second medium length range, and jam information corresponding to the determination result is displayed on the first display means.

  According to the transport apparatus according to claim 3 configured as described above, at least two kinds of jams are performed depending on whether the length of the transported medium is either the first medium length range or the second medium length range. Since information can be provided, it is possible to provide appropriate jam information to the user while realizing simplification of the device configuration.

  Next, the invention according to claim 4 is the conveyance apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the position of the medium to be conveyed in the conveyance path when the occurrence of the jam is detected by the jam detection means. Position detecting means for detecting is provided. The display control means causes the first display means to display jam information corresponding to the length of the transported medium acquired by the medium length acquisition means and the position of the transported medium detected by the position detection means.

  According to the transport apparatus according to claim 4 configured as described above, jam information that includes not only the length of the medium to be transported but also the position at the time of jam occurrence is provided. Can be provided to the user.

  Further, as to what kind of information is specifically displayed as jam information by the display control means on the first display means, various kinds of information can be considered as long as the information can be appropriately canceled by the user. As described in the above, at least one of the position of the medium to be transported in the transport path and the method for removing the medium to be transported from the transport path when the occurrence of the jam is detected by the jam detection unit as the jam information One may be displayed on the first display means.

  If the position of the transported medium at the time of jam occurrence is displayed as the jam information and the display content is switched according to the length of the transported medium, the user can display the jam regardless of the length of the transported medium. The jam can be released appropriately based on the position. Further, if the transport medium removal method (that is, the jam release method) is displayed as the jam information, and the display contents are switched according to the length of the transport medium, the length of the transport medium is limited. The user can appropriately release the jam according to the displayed removal method.

  Therefore, according to the transport apparatus of the fifth aspect, when a jam occurs, at least the position of the transported medium or the removal method of the transported medium is displayed, so that the user can cancel the jam. Can take an appropriate response.

  By the way, various specific configurations of the position detection means can be considered. For example, as described in claim 6, one or a plurality of medium detection means for detecting the presence / absence of a medium to be transported are provided along the transport path, The detection means can be configured to detect the position of the medium to be transported when the occurrence of a jam is detected based on the detection result by the medium detection means.

  According to the transport apparatus of the sixth aspect configured as described above, the position of the transported medium can be easily detected based on the detection result by the medium detecting unit. In addition, it is possible to ensure appropriate detection accuracy according to the number of medium detection means.

  Note that one or a plurality of medium detection means are not only used for detecting the position of the medium to be transported when a jam occurs as described above, but also used for the jam detection means to detect the occurrence of a jam. You may do it. Specifically, for example, even if a predetermined time elapses after a certain medium detecting unit in the transport path detects the transported medium, the transported medium still does not pass there (that is, the presence of the transported medium continues to be detected). In such a case, it can be determined that a jam has occurred. Of course, this is just an example.

  The position of the medium to be transported based on the detection result of the medium detection unit can be more specifically performed as described in, for example, claim 7. That is, the medium detection means outputs ON or OFF information according to the presence / absence of a medium to be transported, and a plurality of medium detection means are provided along the transport path. The position detection unit detects the position of the transported medium based on a combination of ON or OFF information output from the plurality of medium detection units.

  According to the transport apparatus according to claim 7 configured as described above, a plurality of medium detection units are provided, and each of the plurality of medium detection units is, for example, a detection execution position of the transported medium in the medium detection unit. For example, ON information is simply output according to the presence or absence of the medium to be transported, such as ON if the medium to be transported exists, and OFF if the medium does not exist. Therefore, the position of the transported medium can be detected easily and accurately.

  Further, in this case, for example, as described in claim 8, the jam information is previously stored in accordance with the length of the medium to be transported and for each combination of ON or OFF information output from a plurality of medium detection units. If it is prepared, more appropriate jam information according to the position of the medium to be transported (that is, the detection state of each medium detection unit) can be provided to the user.

  Next, the invention according to claim 9 is the conveyance apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising a measuring unit that measures an elapsed time from the start of conveyance of the medium to be conveyed by the conveyance unit, and the jam detection unit includes: After the start of transporting the medium to be transported by the transport unit, the occurrence of a jam is detected when the operation of the transport unit is forcibly stopped during the transport. The position detection unit detects the position of the medium to be transported when the jam occurs based on the elapsed time measured by the measurement unit when the occurrence of the jam is detected by the jam detection unit.

  When the transported medium is transported on the transport path by the transport means, if the transported medium stops on the transport path due to a jam for some reason, it directly acts on the transported medium constituting the transport means. In many cases, the operation of the portion that moves the transported medium in the transport direction is forcibly stopped.

  As a specific example, for example, when the transport unit is configured to transport the transported medium with a roller, if the transported medium stops in the middle of the transport due to the jam, The rotation of the roller being conveyed is also forcibly stopped. Of course, it does not always stop, and in some cases, it is expected that the roller will continue to idle, but in many cases, the roller that is in contact with the medium to be transported is also forced by the contact resistance with the medium to be transported. The rotation is stopped.

  Therefore, after the transport of the transported medium is started, it is determined that a jam has occurred when the transport operation of the transported medium by the transport unit is forcibly stopped halfway, and the position detection unit is The position of the transported medium is detected based on the elapsed time until it is stopped. For example, when the elapsed time is short, it can be determined that a jam has occurred at a position relatively close to the conveyance start position. Further, for example, it can be determined that the jam has occurred at a position closer to the end side in the transport path as the elapsed time is longer.

  According to the transport apparatus according to claim 9 configured as described above, since the detection of the occurrence of the jam is performed based on whether the transport operation by the transport unit is forcibly stopped without providing a sensor or the like, Jam can be detected with a simple configuration. Moreover, since the position of the medium to be transported when a jam occurs can be detected based on the elapsed time from the start of transport without providing a medium detecting means, the medium to be transported can be easily configured with a simpler configuration. Can be detected.

  More specifically, in the transport device according to the ninth aspect, for example, as described in the tenth aspect, a plurality of types of elapsed time ranges are set in advance for the elapsed time measured by the measuring unit. The position detection means determines whether the elapsed time measured by the measurement means when the occurrence of the jam is in one of a plurality of types of elapsed time ranges, and responds to the determination result. Thus, the position of the medium to be transported can be detected, and the jam information can be configured according to the length of the medium to be transported and prepared in advance for each of a plurality of types of elapsed time ranges.

  According to the conveying apparatus according to claim 10 configured as described above, by appropriately setting a plurality of types of elapsed time ranges, the position of the medium to be conveyed at the time of jam occurrence can be changed from the start of conveyance to the time of jam occurrence. Can be detected with necessary and sufficient accuracy. Moreover, since jam information is prepared in advance for each elapsed time range, more appropriate jam information according to the position of the transported medium can be provided to the user.

  Next, invention of Claim 11 is a conveyance system provided with the conveyance apparatus in any one of Claims 1-10, and an information processing apparatus, and a conveyance apparatus is a 1st display means. Transmitting means for transmitting the displayed jam information to the information processing apparatus is provided. The information processing apparatus includes a second display unit that displays information, and causes the second display unit to display the jam information transmitted by the transmission unit.

That is, the jam information to be displayed when a jam occurs is displayed on both the first display means in the transport device and the second display means provided in the information processing apparatus.
Therefore, according to the transport system according to the eleventh aspect configured as described above, the convenience of the user for jam removal is further improved.

  Next, the invention described in claim 12 inputs the image data and the transport apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10 in which a recording medium for forming an image is transported as the transported medium. Image forming means comprising: image data input means for performing image forming; and image forming means for forming an image indicated by the image data input by the image data input means on a recording medium conveyed by the conveying means. Device.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the twelfth aspect configured as described above, the conveyance apparatus according to any one of the first to tenth aspects of the invention is provided, so that a jam is generated in the image forming apparatus. The effect similar to the terms 1-10 is acquired.

  By combining the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus, an image forming system such as that described in claim 13 can be constructed. That is, an image forming system according to a thirteenth aspect includes the image forming apparatus according to a twelfth aspect and an information processing apparatus that outputs image data to the image forming apparatus. The apparatus includes transmission means for transmitting jam information displayed on the first display means to the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a second display unit that displays information, and causes the second display unit to display the jam information transmitted by the transmission unit.

  According to the image forming system according to claim 13 configured as described above, the jam information to be displayed when a jam occurs is displayed on the first display unit and the information processing apparatus in the transport device in the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the convenience of the user for jam removal is further improved, as in the transport system of claim 11.

  Next, the invention according to claim 14 is directed to a computer having a transport device that transports a sheet-shaped transport medium and a display device that displays information. Jam detection procedure for detecting the occurrence of a jam in the transported medium in the transport path, a medium length acquisition procedure for acquiring the length of the transported medium in the transport direction by the transport means, and a jam occurrence by the jam detection procedure A display control procedure for causing the display means to display jam information, which is information indicating that the jam has occurred, in accordance with the length of the transported medium acquired by the medium length acquisition means. This is a program to be executed.

  By causing the computer of the transport apparatus to execute this program, the transport apparatus according to claim 1 can be realized, and in this case, the same effect as in claim 1 can be obtained. This program may be provided to the user integrally with the transport device in the state of being written in the transport device (for example, ROM or nonvolatile memory) from the beginning. It can also be provided to the user through a portable recording medium or a communication line.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
(1) Overall Configuration of Laser Multifunction Machine FIG. 1 is a central cross-sectional view of a laser multifunction machine 1 of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the laser complex machine 1 according to the present embodiment is configured such that a flatbed scanner unit 5 is integrated on the upper side of a monochrome printer unit 3. Between the printer unit 3 and the scanner unit 5, a sheet-like recording medium (hereinafter referred to as “paper”) P such as a recording sheet or an OHP sheet on which image formation (printing) has been completed in the printer unit 3 is discharged. A discharge portion 7 is provided. Note that the paper P as a recording medium is also an example of a transported medium according to the present invention, and is placed in a paper feed tray 31 described later.

  The printer unit 3 includes an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms an image on the paper P by transferring the developer image onto the paper P. The scanner unit 5 is placed in a stationary state. The image reading apparatus is a flat bed type image reading apparatus that reads an image of the original document.

  In the housing 10 of the printer unit 3, an image forming unit 20 (an example of an image forming unit of the present invention) that forms an image on the paper P, a feeder unit 30 that supplies the paper P to the image forming unit 20, and an image Housed is a transport unit 40 that forms a transport path L that turns the paper P, on which image formation has been completed in the forming unit 20, approximately 180 degrees upward and reaches the discharge port 9 side.

  In addition, the paper P jammed in the transport unit 40, a fixing device 23, which will be described later, and the like is removed from the folded portion (curved portion) of the transport path L configured in a substantially U shape on the rear side of the housing 10. And an opening 12 is provided for attaching and detaching the fixing device 23. The opening 12 is opened and closed by a rear cover 41 that is attached to the housing 10 or a frame (not shown) so as to be swingable about a swing shaft 41A.

  On the other hand, a discharge tray 11 on which at least one sheet P discharged from the discharge port 9 is placed is provided on the upper surface side of the housing 10 and above the fixing device 23. Note that the image forming unit 20, the transport unit 40, and the like are assembled in a frame that forms a part of the main body of the laser multifunction peripheral 1.

  The feeder unit 30 is provided at the bottom of the housing 10 so as to be detachable in the front-rear direction. The feeder unit 30 is provided above the front end of the sheet feeding tray 31 and is fed to the image forming unit 20. A sheet feeding roller (pickup roller) 32 that conveys P, and a separation roller 33 and a separation pad 34 that separate sheets P conveyed by the sheet feeding roller 32 one by one are configured. FIG. 1 shows a state in which a plurality of sheets P are stacked on the sheet feed tray 31. The paper feed roller 32 is in contact with the upper surface of the uppermost paper P among the papers P placed on the paper feed tray 31.

  For example, various standard sizes such as A4, A5, B5, letter, postcard, envelope, legal, and the like can be placed on the paper feed tray 31, and a user-defined paper size can be set.

  Of the paper feed roller 32, the separation roller 33, and the separation pad 34 constituting the feeder unit 30, the paper feed roller 32 and the separation roller 33 are fixed to the housing 10 side, and the separation pad 34 is provided on the paper feed tray 31. It is fixed on the side. Therefore, when the paper feed tray 31 is completely attached to the housing 10 (the state shown in FIG. 1), the outer peripheral surface of the separation roller 33 is in contact with the separation pad 34, but the paper feed tray 31 is opened. When pulled out (forward), the separation pad 34 also moves forward with the movement of the paper feed tray 31, so that the contact state between the separation roller 33 and the separation pad 34 is released.

  The pair of transport rollers 35 disposed on the downstream side of the transport path of the paper P from the separation roller 33 transports the paper P transported by the paper feed roller 32 toward the image forming unit 20. The pair of registration rollers 36 disposed on the entrance side of the image forming unit 20 applies a predetermined transport resistance to the transported paper P to adjust the transport state of the paper P.

The image forming unit 20 includes an exposure device (scanner) 21, a developing device 22, a fixing device 23, and the like.
The exposure device 21 is provided at the top of the housing 10 and forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of a photosensitive drum 22A described later. Specifically, a laser light source (not shown), It comprises a polygon mirror (not shown), an fθ lens (not shown), a reflecting mirror (not shown), and the like.

  The developing device 22 is detachably accommodated in the housing 10 below the exposure device 21. The developing device 22 includes a photosensitive drum 22A that carries a developer image transferred to the paper P, a charger 22B that charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 22A, and a developer (in this embodiment, powdered toner). And a developer accommodating portion 22C for accommodating the toner.

  Further, a supply roller 22D and a developing roller 22E for supplying the developer carried out from the developer container 22C to the photosensitive drum 22A are disposed between the developer container 22C and the photosensitive drum 22A. The developer carried out from the developer container 22C is supplied to the developing roller 22E side by the rotation of the supply roller 22D, and the developer supplied to the developing roller 22E side is carried on the surface of the developing roller 22E. After that, the surface of the photosensitive drum 22 </ b> A exposed by the exposure device 21 is supplied.

  Further, at a position facing the photosensitive drum 22A across the sheet P conveyed on the conveyance path L, a transfer roller having a charge opposite to the charge charged on the photosensitive drum 22A (in this embodiment, a negative charge). 22G is disposed, and the transfer roller 22G rotates in synchronization with the photosensitive drum 22A, whereby the developer image generated on the surface of the photosensitive drum 22A is transferred onto the printing surface of the paper P.

  The fixing device 23 is disposed on the printing surface side of the paper P to heat the developer image, and the fixing device 23 is disposed on the opposite side of the heating roller 23A across the paper P to place the paper P on the heating roller 23A side. The fixing roller 23 is configured to include a pressing roller 23B for pressing, a casing 23C for storing the heating roller 23A and the pressing roller 23B, and the like. The fixing device 23 is detachably attached to the frame.

  The transport unit 40 is disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper P with respect to the fixing device 23, forms a substantially U-shaped transport path L from the fixing device 23 to the discharge port 9 side, and from the fixing device 23. The discharged paper P is conveyed to the discharge tray 11, and specifically has the following configuration.

  The pair of transport rollers 42 </ b> A and 42 </ b> B are feed rollers that feed the paper P by rotating in contact with the paper P discharged from the fixing device 23. In this embodiment, the lower conveying roller 42A is a driving roller that applies a conveying force to the paper P, and the upper conveying roller 42B presses the paper P against the lower conveying roller 42A while pressing the paper P. This is a driven roller that is driven to rotate along with the conveyance of.

  Further, a turning guide 43 is provided downstream of the pair of transport rollers 42A and 42B in the transport direction. The turning guide 43 is disposed at a folded portion of the conveyance path L curved in a substantially U shape, and turns the conveyance direction of the paper P discharged from the pair of conveyance rollers 42A and 42B upward by about 180 degrees. Is.

  A pair of discharge rollers 46 </ b> A and 46 </ b> B for discharging the paper P to the discharge tray 11 is provided on the most downstream portion of the transport path L, that is, on the discharge port 9 side. Incidentally, of the discharge rollers 46A and 46B, in the present embodiment, the discharge roller 46A that contacts the paper P from the upper surface side is a roller that applies a conveying force to the paper P, and the discharge roller that contacts the paper P from the lower surface side. 46B is a roller that passively rotates while pressing the paper P against the discharge roller 46A.

  A front cover 13 is provided on the front end side of the housing 10. The front cover 13 is assembled to the housing 10 so as to be swingable around a swing shaft 13A. By opening the front cover 13, a user of the laser multifunction device 1 or the like The inside can be seen from the front side. For this reason, when performing various maintenance inside the printer unit 3 such as replacing the developing device 22, the front cover 13 is opened as necessary.

  Further, an operation panel 48 including various operation switches, an LCD (liquid crystal display) 49, and the like is provided on the front end side of the scanner unit 5 in the laser complex machine 1. The user can perform various settings for the laser multi-function peripheral 1 by operating various switches provided on the operation panel 48. Further, on the LCD 49 (corresponding to an example of the first display means of the present invention) provided on the operation panel 48, various information relating to the laser multi-function device 1 is displayed, and the user can view the display contents by viewing this display content. It is possible to know the state and operation status of the laser multifunction device 1.

  A conveyance path L of the paper P is a path indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. That is, the paper P placed on the paper feed tray 31 is sent out in the transport direction by the paper feed roller 32, so that the transport along the transport path L is started. The paper P that has been transported is separated one by one by the separation roller 33 and the separation pad 34, and is transported to the developing device 22 through a pair of downstream transport rollers 35 and a pair of registration rollers 36.

  In the developing device 22, while the paper P passes between the photosensitive drum 22A and the transfer roller 22G (nip portion), the developer image generated on the photosensitive drum 22A is transferred to the paper P, that is, onto the paper P. Image formation is performed. Then, the paper P onto which the image has been transferred is further conveyed to the fixing device 23 where the image is fixed. After the image is fixed, the sheet P is conveyed toward the discharge port 9 by a pair of conveying rollers 42A and 42B provided on the downstream side of the fixing device 23, and further, the most downstream side (terminal portion) of the conveying path L. ) Are discharged from the discharge port 9 onto the discharge tray 11 by a pair of discharge rollers 46A and 46B.

  The printer unit 3 in the laser multifunction machine 1 of the present embodiment includes three JAM (jam) sensors A, B, and C (corresponding to an example of the medium detection unit of the present invention) along the conveyance path L. Is provided. Among these, the most upstream JAM sensor A in the conveyance path L is installed between the pair of registration rollers 36 and the pair of upstream conveyance rollers 35, and the sheet P passes through the installation position. The paper is turned on while the paper P is not passing (it does not exist at the installation position) and is turned off.

  The most downstream JAM sensor C in the conveyance path L is installed between the pair of conveyance rollers 42A and 42B on the downstream side of the fixing device 23 and the pair of discharge rollers 46A on the downstream side. As with the sensor A, the JAM sensor C is configured to be turned on while the paper P is passing through the installation position of the JAM sensor C, and is turned off while the paper P is not passing (not existing at the installation position). Is.

  Further, the JAM sensor B positioned between the JAM sensors A and C in the transport path L is installed between the pair of registration rollers 36 and the developing device 22 on the downstream side thereof. Similar to the sensors A and C, the sensor P is configured to be ON while the paper P is passing through the installation position, and is OFF while the paper P is not passing (not existing at the installation position). .

  In this embodiment, each JAM sensor A, B, C is turned off by an urging force such as a spring in the open state, and receives the pressing load of the paper P while the paper P is passing (contacting). A mechanical push switch that is turned on is used. However, the use of such a mechanical switch as each of the JAM sensors A, B, and C is merely an example, and the specific configuration is not particularly limited as long as the presence or absence of the paper P at each installation position can be detected.

  In this embodiment, the jam detection of the paper P is performed based on the determination based on the relative changes in the states (ON or OFF) of the three JAM sensors A, B, and C. Details thereof will be described later.

  In this embodiment, as described later, when a jam is detected, “JAM...” Is written in English on the LCD 49. Therefore, in this specification, “jam” may be written as “JAM” in English, but the meanings of both are the same.

(2) Overall configuration of image forming system (block diagram)
Next, the image forming system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming system 50 of the present embodiment. In the image forming system 50 of the present embodiment, the above-described laser complex machine 1 of FIG. 1 and a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as “PC”) 60 which is an example of an information processing apparatus include, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable. And an Ethernet cable (Ethernet is a registered trademark) or a communication line such as a wireless LAN so that data can be transmitted and received with each other.

  The electrical configuration of the laser complex machine 1 is schematically as shown in FIG. That is, the printer unit 3, the scanner unit 5, the operation panel 48, and the control unit 51 that controls them are provided. In addition, a communication interface (I / F) 57 for transmitting / receiving various data to / from the PC 60 is also provided.

  The control unit 51 is mainly configured by a microcomputer including a CPU 52, a ROM 53, a RAM 54, an EEPROM 55, a timer 56, and the like. Based on various control programs stored in the ROM 53, the printer unit 3, the scanner unit 5, the operation unit Controls each part of the panel 48, the communication I / F 57, and the like. The communication I / F 57 is an example of a transmission unit and an image data input unit of the present invention.

  Further, the control unit 51 also detects whether or not a jam has occurred on the paper P that is being printed (transporting along the transport path L) based on the states of the three JAM sensors A, B, and C. If a jam is detected, an error message (corresponding to an example of jam information of the present invention) indicating that a jam has occurred is displayed on the LCD 49.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 (details will be described later), an error message corresponding to the position at the time of jam occurrence is preset for each JAM pattern 1 to 8 as an error message at the time of jam occurrence. The specific contents of this error message are the position where the jam occurred and the method for clearing the jam.

  Further, the error message is set so that the message content is appropriately switched according to the length of the paper P even at the same occurrence position (JAM pattern). This is the most characteristic configuration of the present embodiment. is there.

  An error message when a jam occurs is stored in advance in the ROM 53 as a “JAM error message registration table” (see FIG. 3). When detecting the occurrence of a jam, the control unit 51 displays an error message corresponding to the jam occurrence position (JAM pattern) and the length of the paper P from the error messages registered in the JAM error message registration table. To display.

  The PC 60 transmits and receives various data between the laser MFP 1 and the control unit 61 including a CPU 62, a ROM 63, a RAM 64, a hard disk drive (HDD) 65, a user I / F 67 including a keyboard and a mouse (not shown), and the like. This is a general configuration including a communication I / F 66 to be performed and a graphics I / F 68 for outputting an image to be displayed to the display 70. The display 70 is an example of the second display means of the present invention.

  Various application software such as an operating system (OS), document creation software, and image editing software is installed in the HDD 65 of the PC 61. Therefore, the user can print (image formation) an image created / edited by these application software on the paper P by the laser multi-function peripheral 1.

  In the laser complex machine 1, when various print data such as a print command, image data, and paper size data are input from the PC 61, the control unit 51 processes these various print data and applies the print data to the paper P by the printer unit 3. Printing and displaying the printing status on the LCD 49 are performed.

  In addition to the function of printing the image data from the PC 61, the laser multifunction machine 1 prints the image of the document read by the scanner unit 5, or directly reads and prints the image data stored in the USB memory or the like. It also has a function to do.

  More specifically, the printing on the paper P by the printer unit 3 performed by the control unit 51 drives the various rollers 32, 33, 35, 36, 42A, and 46A provided along the transport path L (illustrated). This is performed by forming the image on the paper P by controlling the operation of the image forming unit 20 while transporting the paper P.

  The control unit 51 also transmits information to be displayed on the LCD 49 to the PC 60 in response to a status inquiry from the PC 60. As will be described later, the PC 60 periodically makes a status inquiry to the laser multi-function peripheral 1, and if there is information to be displayed on the PC 60 side, receives the information and displays it on the display 70.

(3) Jam Detection and Error Message Next, jam detection of the paper P in the printer unit 3 of the laser complex machine 1 will be described. When printing on the paper P is performed in the printer unit 3, the paper P is transported along the transport path L. At this time, the paper P may be jammed for some reason. Therefore, in the laser multi-function peripheral 1, the control unit 51 determines whether or not a jam has occurred based on the states of the three JAM sensors A, B, and C provided along the transport path L, and the occurrence position when the jam has occurred. Is detected.

  Each of the jam sensors A, B, and C outputs a signal that is ON when the paper P is passing and is OFF when the paper is not passing. The control unit 51 of the laser complex machine 1 generates a jam based on the time from the start of conveyance of the paper P until each sensor A, B, C is turned on, or the time from when the sensor A is turned on to when it is turned off again. Whether or not it has been detected (jam detection) is performed.

  Specifically, for example, even when a predetermined time has elapsed after the conveyance of the paper P, the most upstream JAM sensor A in the conveyance path L does not turn on (that is, the paper P has not reached the position of the JAM sensor A). ), The control unit 51 determines that a jam has occurred. Further, for example, when the most upstream JAM sensor A is turned on after the start of conveyance, but the next JAM sensor B is not turned on after a predetermined time, the control unit 51 determines that a jam has occurred. . Also, for example, after the conveyance starts, the two JAM sensors A and B are sequentially turned on, but after the second JAM sensor B is turned on, the most downstream JAM sensor C is not turned on even after a predetermined time has elapsed. Also, the control unit 51 determines that a jam has occurred.

  When detecting the occurrence of a jam, the control unit 51 determines the position of the paper P in the jammed state, that is, the occurrence based on the combination of ON / OFF of the sensors A, B, and C at the time of detection. It is also detected whether the jammed jam corresponds to any one of the JAM patterns 1 to 8 described later. Then, based on the detected JAM pattern and the length of the paper P, the corresponding error message is selected from the JAM error message registration table stored in advance in the ROM 53 and displayed on the LCD 49.

  FIG. 3 shows a JAM error message registration table stored in the ROM 53 in advance. As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, eight JAM patterns 1 to 8 are set according to the combination of the JAM sensors A, B, and C when a jam occurs. An error message is set for each JAM pattern. The error message for each JAM pattern is appropriately switched depending on the length of the paper P.

  In the present embodiment, the length of the paper P is less than a predetermined value set in advance (short length. An example of the first medium length range of the present invention) or greater than a predetermined value (long length. Second medium length range of the present invention). The error message at the time of jamming is switched depending on which of the above. However, in all of the JAM patterns 1 to 8, the error message is not necessarily different between the short case and the long case. In the present embodiment, in the case of the JAM patterns 4 to 7, the short case and the long case are used. The error message is switched between the case and the case.

  This is because, for the JAM patterns 1 to 3 and the JAM pattern 8, the user can appropriately cancel the jam even if the error message is the same regardless of the length of the paper P.

Next, for each of the eight JAM patterns 1 to 8 set in the present embodiment, a jam occurrence state, an error message, a jam release method, and the like will be described.
(3-1) JAM pattern 1
The JAM pattern 1 is a case where the states of the JAM sensors A, B, and C are all OFF when the control unit 51 detects the occurrence of a jam. This case may occur when a jam occurs in a relatively short time after the conveyance of the paper P is started. For example, a jam state occurs near the feeder unit 30 before the paper P reaches the first JAM sensor A. It is assumed that this happens.

  The error message in the JAM pattern 1 is “JAMA OpenTray & RemovePaper” in the case where the length of the paper P is less than the specified value (short) and more than the specified value (long).

  In this error message, “JAMA” means that a jam occurred in the vicinity of the feeder unit 30 immediately after the start of conveyance (hereinafter also referred to as “sheet feeding unit jam”). “OpenTray” indicates guidance that the paper feed tray 31 should be opened. Further, “RemovePaper” indicates guidance that the paper P should be removed.

  That is, it can be said that the error message in the JAM pattern 1 indicates to the user the message “Jam has occurred in the vicinity of the feeder unit 30 and the paper feed tray 31 should be opened to remove the paper P”.

  When the jam is caused in the vicinity of the feeder unit 30 in this manner, the user opens the paper feed tray 31 to release the jam, regardless of whether the paper P is short or long. Become.

(3-2) JAM pattern 2
The JAM pattern 2 is a case where when the control unit 51 detects the occurrence of a jam, only the most upstream JAM sensor A is ON and the other two JAM sensors B and C are both OFF. In this case, for example, it is assumed that the leading edge of the paper P is jammed in the vicinity of the pair of registration rollers 36 after passing the first JAM sensor A.

  The error message in the JAM pattern 2 is “JAMA OpenTray & RemovePaper” in the case where the length of the paper P is less than the specified value (short) and more than the specified value (long), which is described above. This is the same as JAM pattern 1.

  That is, the JAM pattern 2 can be handled as a paper feed unit jam immediately after the start of conveyance, although the paper P has advanced to a position slightly downstream of the JAM pattern 1, and the jam release can also be performed as a paper feed tray. This can be done by opening 31. For this reason, the same error message as in JAM pattern 1 is set.

(3-3) JAM pattern 3
The JAM pattern 3 is a case where when the control unit 51 detects the occurrence of a jam, the two JAM sensors A and B from the most upstream side are both ON and only the most downstream JAM sensor C is OFF. This case is assumed, for example, when the paper P is jammed in the vicinity of the developing device 22, in the vicinity of the fixing device 23, or in the vicinity of the pair of transport rollers 42 </ b> A and 42 </ b> B on the downstream side of the fixing device 23.

  The error message in the JAM pattern 3 is “JAMB OpenFrontCover & RemovePaper” when the length of the paper P is less than the specified value (short) and more than the specified value (long).

  In this error message, “JAMB” means that a jam has occurred in the middle of the transport path L (hereinafter also referred to as “internal jam”). “OpenFrontCover” indicates guidance that the front cover 13 should be opened.

  That is, it can be said that the error message in the JAM pattern 3 indicates to the user a message “Because an internal jam has occurred, open the front cover 13 and remove the paper P”.

  When such an internal jam occurs, the user opens the front cover 13 to release the jam regardless of whether the paper P is short or long. At that time, the developing device 22 can be taken out as necessary.

(3-4) JAM pattern 4
In the JAM pattern 4, when the control unit 51 detects the occurrence of a jam, the state of the most upstream side JAM sensor A and the most downstream side JAM sensor C are both ON, and only the intermediate portion JAM sensor B is OFF. This is the case.

  This case is basically the case when the paper P is short because the intermediate JAM sensor B is OFF. For example, the paper P that has been transported first is at the end of the transport path L. When the paper P to be printed next is conveyed from the paper feed tray 31 and has reached at least the position of the most upstream side JAM sensor A and is jammed. Is assumed.

  When the paper P is long and both the upstreammost JAM sensor A and the most downstream JAM sensor C are turned on by the long paper P, the JAM sensor B in the middle is usually used. Of course, it should be ON. Therefore, the JAM pattern 4 cannot basically occur in the case of such a long paper P. However, there is a case where the paper P is present at the position of the intermediate JAM sensor B but the presence of the paper P is not detected by the JAM sensor B due to bending or bending of the paper P (the JAM sensor B is not turned ON). It can happen. Therefore, since the pattern 4 may occur even when the paper P is long, different error messages are set depending on the length of the paper P depending on the length of the paper P. The error message to be displayed is switched.

  That is, the error message in the JAM pattern 4 is “JAMC OpenRearCover & RemovePaper” when the length of the paper P is less than the specified value (short). In this error message, “JAMC” means that a jam occurred in the second half of the transport path L (hereinafter also referred to as “discharge section jam”). “OpenRearCover” indicates guidance that the rear cover 41 should be opened. That is, in the JAM pattern 4, when the paper P is short, an error message is “A jam has occurred in the second half of the transport path L, so the paper P should be removed by opening the rear cover 41” to the user. It can be said that it shows.

  When such a discharge unit jam occurs, the user opens the rear cover 41 to release the jam, thereby removing the paper P in contact with at least the most downstream JAM sensor C. .

  However, there is a high possibility that another sheet P in contact with the most upstream side JAM sensor A has not been removed yet. Therefore, after the paper P is removed from the rear cover 41 side, the JAM pattern 4 changes to the JAM pattern 2, and in this case, an error message in the JAM pattern 2 is displayed. Therefore, the user can continuously remove the paper P in contact with the most upstream side JAM sensor A according to the error message.

  On the other hand, the error message when the length of the paper P is greater than or equal to the specified value (long) is “JAM OpenRearCover & OpenTray, RemovePaperFromRearSide”. In this error message, “JAM” means that the long paper P is a JAM generated in a state where the long paper P exists in a relatively wide range in the transport path L. “OpenRearCover & OpenTray” indicates guidance that the rear cover 41 and the paper feed tray 31 should be opened. “RemovePaperFromRearSide” indicates guidance that the paper P should be removed from the rear cover 41 side (from the opening 12).

  If the jam of the JAM pattern 4 occurs when the paper P is long, the leading edge of the paper P has reached the end of the transport path L, but the trailing edge of the paper P is still near the feeder unit 30. Moreover, there is a possibility of being sandwiched between the separation roller 33 and the separation pad 34. In such a case, even if only the rear cover 41 is opened and the paper P is pulled and removed from the rear cover 41, the paper P is difficult to be taken out, and if it is forcibly pulled, the paper P may be broken inside.

  Therefore, when the paper P is long, the rear cover 41 and the paper feed tray 31 are opened to separate the separation pad 34 from the separation roller 33 and weaken the action of suppressing the paper P in the vicinity of the feeder unit 30. In this way, it is easy to remove the paper P from the rear cover 41 side.

(3-5) JAM pattern 5
The JAM pattern 5 is a case where all of the three JAM sensors A, B, and C are ON when the control unit 51 detects the occurrence of a jam.

  In this case, when the paper P is short, it is assumed that a jam occurs when a plurality of papers P are present on the transport path L. When the paper P is long, one sheet It is assumed that the sheet P is jammed in a state where the sheet P exists at the position of at least three JAM sensors A, B, and C in the transport path L.

  The error message in the JAM pattern 5 is “JAMC OpenRearCover & RemovePaper” when the length of the paper P is less than the specified value (short), which is an error message when the paper P is short in the JAM pattern 4. The same.

  On the other hand, the error message when the length of the paper P is equal to or longer than the specified value (long) is “JAM OpenRearCover & OpenTray, RemovePaperFromRearSide”, which is also an error message when the paper P is long in the JAM pattern 4. The same.

Therefore, when the jam of the JAM pattern 5 occurs, the user can release the jam in the same procedure as the case of the JAM pattern 4 described above.
(3-6) JAM pattern 6
The JAM pattern 6 is a case where when the control unit 51 detects the occurrence of a jam, only the most upstream side JAM sensor A is OFF, and the states of the other JAM sensors B and C are all ON. In this case, for example, the leading end of the paper P has reached the end of the transport path L or has already been discharged from the discharge port 9 and the rear end of the paper P passes through the most upstream side JAM sensor A. This is assumed.

  The error message in the JAM pattern 6 is “JAMC OpenRearCover & RemovePaper” when the length of the paper P is less than the specified value (short), and this is when the paper P in the JAM patterns 4 and 5 is short. Is the same as the error message.

  On the other hand, the error message when the length of the paper P is equal to or longer than the specified value (long) is “JAM OpenRearCover & RemovePaper”. That is, compared to the error message in the case of the short length, the message regarding the position at the time of jam occurrence is not “JAMC” but simply “JAM”. The message on how to remove the jam is the same as for the short case.

(3-7) JAM pattern 7
The JAM pattern 7 is a case where, when the control unit 51 detects the occurrence of a jam, only the intermediate JAM sensor B is ON, and the states of the other JAM sensors A and C are all OFF. In this case, when the paper P is short, it is assumed that the paper P is jammed in a state where the paper P is located in the intermediate portion of the transport path L.

  When the paper P is long, basically, such a situation where only the intermediate JAM sensor B is ON cannot occur. However, as described in the description of the JAM pattern 4, there may be a situation in which the sheet P is present but not detected by the sensor due to bending or bending of the sheet P. Therefore, even when the paper P is long, this pattern 7 may be generated. Therefore, different error messages are set for the short paper and the long paper, and the length of the paper P is set accordingly. The error message to be displayed is switched.

  The error message in the JAM pattern 7 is “JAMB OpenFrontCover & RemovePaper” when the length of the paper P is less than the specified value (short), which is the same as the error message when the paper P in the JAM pattern 3 is short. .

  On the other hand, the error message when the length of the paper P is equal to or longer than the specified value (long) is “OpenRearCover & OpenTray, RemovePaperFromRearSide”, which is the same as the error message when the paper P in the JAM patterns 4 and 5 is long. It is.

(3-8) JAM pattern 8
The JAM pattern 8 is a case where, when the control unit 51 detects a jam, only the most downstream JAM sensor C is ON, and the states of the other JAM sensors A and B are all OFF. In this case, regardless of the length of the paper P, it is assumed that the paper P is jammed when the transport of the paper P is about to end.

  Therefore, the error message in the JAM pattern 8 is “JAMC OpenRearCover & RemovePaper” in the case where the length of the paper P is less than the specified value (short) and more than the specified value (long). This is the same as the error message when the paper P in the JAM patterns 4 to 6 is short.

  Whether the paper P is short or long is unique depending on the absolute size of the paper P, such as short if the paper P is less than A4 size, and long if the paper P is larger than A4 size. Can also be decided.

  However, for example, when the paper P is A4 size and the laser multifunction machine 1 is large and the entire length of the transport path L is long, the length of the A4 size paper is “short” with respect to the long transport path L. It is appropriate to treat as On the other hand, when the laser complex machine 1 is small and the entire length of the transport path L is short (for example, shorter than the length of the A4 size paper), the length of the A4 size paper with respect to the short transport path L is It is appropriate to treat it as “long”. As described above, even the same paper P may be handled as “short” or may be handled as “long” depending on the length of the conveyance path L.

  For this reason, in this embodiment, whether the paper P is short or long is determined by the relative relationship between the length of the entire transport path L and the size of the paper P, and whether the paper P is short or long is determined accordingly. The specified value, which is the criteria for the determination, is also determined.

  Further, the error messages of the respective JAM patterns 1 to 8 shown in FIG. 3 are displayed on the LCD 49 provided on the operation panel 48 as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows an example in which an error message is displayed on the LCD 49 when the paper P in the JAM pattern 4 is long as an example.

  In the present embodiment, characters of 2 rows × 16 digits can be displayed on the LCD 49. Therefore, in the initial stage immediately after being displayed, “JAM OpenRearCover & Op” is displayed as shown in FIG. Specifically, “JAM” is displayed on the first line, and “OpenRearCover & Op” is displayed on the second line. In this state, when the user operates the operation panel 48 to scroll the display contents, as shown in FIG. 4, the display contents on the second line move to the left side, and the scrolling is repeated to display the initial contents. Messages that could not be displayed are displayed in sequence.

The display content of the LCD 49 is displayed on the display 70 of the PC 60 in the same manner.
(4) Print Control Processing in Laser Multifunction Device Next, the print control processing executed by the control unit 51 of the laser multifunction device 1 when print data is transmitted from the PC 60 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing print control processing executed by the control unit 51. In the control unit 51, the CPU 52 reads a print control processing program from the ROM 53, and executes processing according to this program. This print control process is executed when print data is received from the PC 60.

  When this processing is started, first, print data input processing from the PC 60 is performed (S110). The print data from the PC 60 includes a command to execute printing, image data indicating an image to be printed on the paper P, paper size data indicating a size of the paper P to be printed, and the like.

  Then, the printing process on the paper P based on the input print data is started (S120). In other words, the conveyance of the paper P is started by driving and controlling various rollers including the paper feed roller 32, and printing on the paper P is performed by the image forming unit 20.

  Then, every time the printing process of S120 proceeds by a predetermined processing amount, it is determined whether or not a jam has occurred (S130). At this time, if a jam has not occurred (S130: NO), it is determined whether or not printing is completed, that is, whether or not printing on the paper P is finished and the paper P is discharged onto the discharge tray 11. If the printing is finished (S140: YES), this print control process is finished as it is. If the printing is not finished yet (S140: NO), the printing process of S120 is continued.

  If it is detected in the determination process of S130 that a jam has occurred (S130: YES), the size of the paper P is acquired (S150), and the three JAM sensors A, B, and C are turned ON / OFF. A JAM pattern is detected based on the combination (S160). That is, based on the combination of ON / OFF of each JAM sensor A, B, C, it is detected (determined) which one of the JAM patterns 1 to 8 is applicable.

Further, based on the paper size acquired in S150, it is determined whether the length of the paper P is longer than a specified value or shorter than a specified value (S170).
Here, when the length of the paper P is less than the prescribed value (short), the error message group “when the paper length is less than the prescribed value (short)” in the JAM error message registration table is referred to (S180). ), An error message corresponding to the JAM pattern is selected from the error message group (S200).

  On the other hand, when the length of the paper P is equal to or longer than the specified value (long), the error message group “when the paper length is longer than the specified value (long)” in the JAM error message registration table is referred to ( S190), an error message corresponding to the JAM pattern is selected from the error message group (S200).

  Then, the selected error message is displayed, that is, displayed on the LCD 49 and output to the PC 60 (S210). Note that the output to the PC 60 is not performed positively by the control unit 51 of the laser multifunction peripheral 1 but is performed as a response to a status inquiry from the PC 60.

  After the error message display process, it is determined whether or not the jam has been released (S220). Until the release, the process returns to S210 and the error message display process is continued. (S230), the process returns to S120 again to restart the printing process. Note that the display cancel processing in S230 is to erase the error message displayed on the LCD 49 and to instruct the PC 60 to erase the display of the error message. This erase instruction to the PC 60 is also made as a response to a status inquiry from the PC 60.

(5) MFP Status Display Control Processing in PC Next, MFP status display processing executed by the control unit 61 of the PC 60 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This multifunction machine status display process is so-called resident software that is executed when the PC 60 is started up and is always operating during the start-up.

  When the multifunction device status display process is started, first, a status inquiry is made to the laser multifunction device 1 (S310). Then, whether or not the state of the laser multifunction device 1 is in a state in which display processing is to be performed in the PC 60, that is, whether or not display related to the state of the laser multifunction device 1 needs to be performed on the display 70 of the PC 60 Is determined (S320).

  For example, if a jam occurs in the laser multifunction peripheral 1 and an error message is to be displayed (S320: YES), a display process for acquiring the error message and displaying it on the display 70 is performed (S330). The process returns to S310 again. In addition, after the error message is displayed once, it is determined that the display process is to be performed in the PC 60 even when the error message is to be erased due to the release of the jam (S320: YES). In the display process, a process for deleting the error message is performed.

(6) Effects of First Embodiment In the present embodiment described above, jam detection is performed in the laser complex machine 1 based on the ON / OFF states of the three jam sensors A, B, and C and their temporal changes. When a jam occurs, information relating to the jam occurrence position and information relating to a jam release method are displayed as error messages.

  Moreover, the error message is prepared in advance for each ON / OFF combination of the three JAM sensors A, B, and C (for each JAM pattern 1 to 8), and even if the same combination (the same JAM pattern) is used. The message contents are appropriately switched according to the length of the paper P.

  Specifically, in the case of JAM patterns 4 to 7, conventionally, the same error message (error message when the paper length is less than the specified value (short) in FIG. 3) is displayed regardless of the length of the paper P. However, in this embodiment, when the paper length is equal to or longer than the specified value (long), an error message different from that in the short length is displayed.

Therefore, when a jam occurs, the user can take an appropriate action for releasing the jam regardless of the length of the paper P and according to the position of the paper P when the jam occurs.
Further, the length of the paper P can be classified into three types, for example, long, medium, and short, or more than that, but in this embodiment, the minimum two types (long) are necessary. Error message at the time of jamming is switched according to whether it is long or short. Therefore, it is possible to switch the error message according to the length of the paper P as necessary and sufficient, and to provide an appropriate error message to the user while realizing simplification of the apparatus configuration.

  In the present embodiment, three jam sensors A, B, and C are provided along the transport path L in order to detect jams and detect the position of the paper P, thereby generating jams. In addition, the position of the paper P at the time of occurrence of the jam (and which of the JAM patterns 1 to 8 is extended) can be detected easily and accurately.

  Further, an error message when a jam occurs is displayed on the display 70 of the PC 60 in addition to the display on the LCD 49 in the laser multi-function peripheral 1. Therefore, the user can know that a jam has occurred or has been canceled while operating the PC 60, and the convenience of the user is further improved.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment described above, in the laser complex machine 1, three JAM sensors A, B, and C are provided along the transport path L of the paper P, and based on the states of these JAM sensors A, B, and C, etc. Although the jam detection and the position detection of the paper P at the time of the jam are performed, the laser complex machine of the present embodiment detects the jam and the position of the paper P at the time of the jam without using the JAM sensor. It is configured.

  The configuration of the laser complex machine of this embodiment is basically the same as that of the laser complex machine 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 except that the jam sensors A, B, and C are not provided. is there. Therefore, in the following description, the description will focus on the parts different from the first embodiment, that is, the jam detection method, the detection method of the position of the paper P (JAM pattern) at the time of jam detection, and the error message at the time of jam occurrence.

(1) Jam Detection Method First, jam detection is performed as follows. That is, as described above, the conveyance of the paper P is performed by various rollers provided along the conveyance path L including the paper feed roller 32. In such a configuration, when the paper P is jammed and the conveyance of the paper P is stopped, the rotation of the paper P is forcibly stopped by contact resistance with the paper P in any one or a plurality of rollers. It will be made. Of course, the roller does not always stop, and in some cases, it is expected that the roller will continue to idle. However, in many cases, the roller that is in contact with the jammed paper P also has contact resistance with the paper P. The rotation is forcibly stopped by.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is determined (detected) that a jam has occurred when any of the various rollers is stopped after the conveyance of the paper P is started until the conveyance is completed.

(2) Method for Detecting Position of Paper P When Jam is Detected On the other hand, the detection of the position of paper P when a jam occurs is performed based on the elapsed time from the start of conveyance of paper P to the time of jam detection. In the present embodiment, three types of JAM patterns 1 to 3 are set according to the elapsed time from the start of transport to the time of jam detection. When the elapsed time from the start of transport is less than 3 seconds, the transport path JAM pattern 1 indicating that the jam occurred relatively upstream in L. If the elapsed time from the start of conveyance is 3 seconds or more and less than 7 seconds, it is a jam occurring in the intermediate portion in the conveyance path L When the elapsed time from the start of conveyance is 7 seconds or more, a JAM pattern 3 indicating that the jam occurs relatively downstream in the conveyance path L is set. Then, for each of the JAM patterns 1 to 3, an error message at the time of occurrence of a jam is set in advance as shown in FIG.

The elapsed time from the start of conveyance is measured by a timer 56 provided in the control unit 51. This timer 56 corresponds to an example of the measuring means of the present invention.
In addition, the elapsed time from the start of conveyance to the occurrence of a jam is classified into three patterns (less than 3 seconds, 3 seconds to less than 7 seconds, 7 seconds or more) as described above. The number of settings and the specific elapsed time range can be determined as appropriate.

(3) Error message when jam is detected FIG. 7 shows a JAM error message registration table stored in advance in the ROM 53 in the laser multi-function peripheral of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, three JAM patterns 1 to 3 are set according to the elapsed time from the start of conveyance of the paper P until the jam is detected. An error message is set for each AM pattern. The error message for each JAM pattern is set so as to be switched appropriately depending on the length of the paper P, as in the first embodiment.

  Among them, the error message in the JAM pattern 1 is “JAMA OpenTray & RemovePaper” in the case where the length of the paper P is less than the specified value (short) and more than the specified value (long). This error message is the same as the error message in the case of JAM patterns 1 and 2 in the first embodiment.

  Further, the error message in the JAM pattern 2 is “JAMB OpenFrontCover & RemovePaper” in the case where the length of the paper P is less than the specified value (short) and more than the specified value (long). This error message is the same as the error message in the case of JAM pattern 3 in the first embodiment.

  The error message in the JAM pattern 3 is set differently depending on whether the paper P is short or long. Among these, the error message when the length of the paper P is less than the prescribed value (short) is “JAMC OpenRearCover & RemovePaper”. This error message is the same as the error message for the JAM patterns 4 to 6 and 8 in the first embodiment when the length of the paper P is short.

  On the other hand, the error message when the length of the paper P is greater than or equal to the specified value (long) is “JAM OpenRearCover & OpenTray, RemovePaperFromRearSide”. This error message is the same as the error message when the length of the paper P of the JAM patterns 4, 5, and 7 is long in the first embodiment.

(4) Print Control Process in Laser Multifunction Machine Next, the print control process executed in the laser multifunction machine of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the print control process is started by receiving the print data from the PC 60, first, the print data input process from the PC 60 is performed (S410) as in S110 to S120 of FIG. Based on the above, the printing process on the paper P is started (S420).

  Then, every time the printing process of S420 proceeds by a predetermined processing amount, it is determined whether or not a jam has occurred (S430). In this embodiment, the determination as to whether or not a jam has occurred in S430 is made based on whether or not the various rollers relating to the conveyance of the paper P are forcibly stopped as described above.

  If it is detected in the determination process of S430 that a jam has occurred (S430: YES), the size of the paper P is acquired (S450), and based on the elapsed time from the start of conveyance of the paper P. The JAM pattern is detected (S460). That is, based on the elapsed time from the start of conveyance of the paper P until the jam is detected, it is detected (determined) which of the JAM patterns 1 to 3 shown in FIG.

  Since each process after S470 after the JAM pattern is detected in this way is the same as the process after S170 in the first embodiment (FIG. 5), the description of each process after S470 is omitted. To do.

(5) Effects of the Second Embodiment According to the laser complex machine of the present embodiment described above, various rollers related to the conveyance of the paper P are forcibly detected for detecting jam occurrence without providing a JAM sensor or the like. Since it is based on whether or not it has been stopped, it is possible to detect the occurrence of a jam with a simpler configuration. In addition, since the position detection of the paper P at the time of jam occurrence (that is, detection of the JAM pattern) is performed based on the elapsed time from the start of conveyance without providing a JAM sensor, it is easy to jam with a simpler configuration. The position (JAM pattern) of the paper P at the time of occurrence can be detected.

  In addition, since the range of elapsed time from the start of conveyance is classified into three types, and error messages are prepared in advance for each range (that is, for each JAM pattern), appropriate jam information corresponding to the position of the paper P is displayed. Can be provided to the user.

[Other Embodiments]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can take various forms as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

  For example, the content of each error message in the JAM error message registration table shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 7 is merely an example, and information necessary for the jam release according to the position where the jam occurs and the length of the paper P is given to the user. As long as it can be appropriately provided, various specific contents of the error message can be considered.

  There are various ways of specifically switching the error message depending on the length of the paper P. For example, when the paper P is long, it simply indicates that a long paper jam has occurred. On the contrary, if the content is short, the content may simply indicate that “jamming of short paper has occurred”. Even with this level of message, it is possible to take an appropriate response according to the length of the paper P. Further, for example, the information on the length may not be directly displayed, but only the method for canceling the jam (for example, where to remove the jam) may be switched and displayed based on the length of the paper P.

  In the above embodiment, the length of the paper P is classified as either long or short. However, this is only an example, and the length of the paper P is classified into three or more types of ranges. You may make it switch an error message suitably for every range.

  In the above embodiment, the length of the paper P is acquired based on the paper size data included in the print data transmitted from the PC 60, but various methods for acquiring the length of the paper P are also conceivable. For example, the user may input by operating the operation panel 48 of the laser complex machine. Further, for example, in the case where a paper guide that can be slidably adjusted according to the length of the paper P is provided in the paper feed tray 31 to hold the paper P in a predetermined position, the position information of the paper guide is displayed. The length of the paper P may be acquired based on the sensor.

  In the first embodiment, three JAM sensors A, B, and C are provided as JAM sensors. However, how many JAM sensors are provided or where the JAM sensors are provided in the transport path L can be appropriately determined.

  In the second embodiment, jam detection or the like is performed without providing a JAM sensor. In the laser complex machine of the second embodiment, one or more JAM sensors are further provided along the conveyance path L. The jam detection and the position detection (JAM pattern detection) may be performed comprehensively including the signal (ON or OFF) of the JAM sensor. In this way, jam detection or the like can be performed with higher accuracy.

  In the above-described embodiment, the laser multifunction device 1 and the PC 60 are connected to each other, and an error message when a jam occurs is displayed on both the LCD 49 of the laser multifunction device 1 and the display 70 of the PC 60. It is not necessary to display on both the LCD 49 and the display 70, and for example, it may be displayed only on the LCD 49, or conversely, it may be displayed only on the display 70.

  Needless to say, the application of the present invention is not limited to the printer unit 3 (image forming apparatus) in the laser multi-function peripheral 1, and a conveying apparatus that conveys a sheet-like medium to be conveyed, and various apparatuses including the conveying apparatus. Applicable to systems and the like.

It is a center sectional view of the laser compound machine of an embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the error message registration table at the time of JAM of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of the error message at the time of jam generation in LCD. 3 is a flowchart illustrating print control processing executed by the laser multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a multifunction machine status display process executed on a PC. It is explanatory drawing which shows the error message registration table at the time of JAM of 2nd Embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a print control process executed by the laser multifunction peripheral according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Laser compound machine, 3 ... Printer part, 5 ... Scanner part, 7 ... Ejection part, 9 ... Ejection port, 10 ... Housing | casing, 11 ... Ejection tray, 12 ... Opening part, 13 ... Front cover, 13A, 41A ... Oscillating shaft, 20 ... image forming unit, 21 ... exposure device, 22 ... developing device, 23 ... fixing unit, 30 ... feeder unit, 31 ... paper feed tray, 32 ... paper feed roller, 33 ... separation roller, 34 ... separation Pads, 35, 42A, 42B ... conveying rollers, 36 ... registration rollers, 40 ... conveying units, 41 ... rear cover, 43 ... turning guides, 46A, 46B ... discharge rollers, 48 ... operating panel, 49 ... LCD, 50 ... image formation System, 51, 61 ... Control unit, 52, 62 ... CPU, 53, 63 ... ROM, 54, 64 ... RAM, 55 ... EEPROM, 56 ... Timer, 57, 66 ... Communication I / F, 60 ... PC, 6 ... HDD, 67 ... user I / F, 68 ... graphics I / F, 70 ... display, A, B, C ... JAM sensor, L ... transport path, P ... paper

Claims (14)

Conveying means for conveying a sheet-like medium to be conveyed;
A jam detecting means for detecting when a jam occurs in the transport medium in the transport path of the transport medium by the transport means;
First display means for displaying information;
Display control means for displaying, on the first display means, jam information which is information indicating that the jam has occurred when the occurrence of the jam is detected by the jam detection means;
Medium length acquisition means for acquiring the length of the transported medium in the transport direction by the transport means;
With
The transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit switches the jam information to be displayed on the first display unit in accordance with the length of the transported medium acquired by the medium length acquiring unit. A plurality of types of medium length ranges are set in advance, and the length of the transported medium transported by the transport unit is configured to be included in any of the plurality of types of medium length ranges,
The display control means determines which medium length range of the plurality of types of medium length ranges the length of the transported medium acquired by the medium length acquisition means falls within the determined medium length range. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the corresponding jam information is displayed on the first display unit. As the plurality of types of medium length ranges, a first medium length range that is shorter than a predetermined medium length determination threshold and a second medium length range that is equal to or greater than the medium length determination threshold are set.
The display control means determines whether the length of the transported medium acquired by the medium length acquisition means is within the first medium length range or the second medium length range; The transport apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the jam information corresponding to the determination result is displayed on the first display means. A position detecting means for detecting a position of the transported medium in the transport path when the occurrence of the jam is detected by the jam detecting means;
The display control means displays the jam information corresponding to the length of the transported medium acquired by the medium length acquisition means and the position of the transported medium detected by the position detection means in the first display. It is made to display on a means. The conveyance device in any one of Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The display control means, as the jam information, at least when the occurrence of the jam is detected by the jam detection means, the position of the transport medium in the transport path and the transport medium from the transport path. The transfer apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the removal methods is displayed on the first display means. Comprising one or a plurality of medium detecting means provided along the transport path for detecting the presence or absence of the transported medium;
The transport according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the position detection unit detects a position of the transported medium when the occurrence of the jam is detected based on a detection result by the medium detection unit. apparatus. The medium detection means outputs ON or OFF information according to the presence or absence of the transported medium, and a plurality of the medium detection means are provided along the transport path.
The transport apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the position detection unit detects a position of the transported medium based on a combination of the ON or OFF information output from the plurality of medium detection units. . The jam information is prepared in advance according to the length of the transported medium and for each combination of the ON or OFF information output from a plurality of the medium detection means. Item 8. The transfer device according to Item 7. A measuring means for measuring an elapsed time from the start of transport of the transported medium by the transport means;
The jam detection means is configured to detect the occurrence of the jam when the transport means is forcibly stopped after the transport means starts transporting the medium to be transported. And
The position detection means detects the position of the transported medium at the time of the jam occurrence based on the elapsed time measured by the measurement means when the occurrence of the jam is detected by the jam detection means. The conveying apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein For the elapsed time measured by the measuring means, a plurality of types of elapsed time ranges are preset,
The position detection unit determines whether the elapsed time measured by the measurement unit is within the plurality of types of elapsed time ranges when the occurrence of the jam is detected. In response to detecting the position of the transported medium,
The transport apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the jam information is prepared in advance according to a length of the transported medium and for each of the plurality of types of elapsed time ranges. A transport apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
An information processing device;
With
The transport device includes transmission means for transmitting the jam information displayed on the first display means to the information processing apparatus,
The information processing apparatus includes a second display unit that displays information, and displays the jam information transmitted by the transmission unit on the second display unit. The transport apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a recording medium for forming an image is transported as the transported medium;
Image data input means for inputting image data;
An image forming unit that forms an image indicated by the image data input by the image data input unit on the recording medium transported by the transport unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: An image forming apparatus according to claim 12;
An information processing apparatus that outputs the image data to the image forming apparatus;
With
The image forming apparatus includes a transmission unit that transmits the jam information displayed on the first display unit to the information processing apparatus,
The information processing apparatus includes a second display unit that displays the information, and causes the second display unit to display the jam information transmitted by the transmission unit. Conveying means for conveying a sheet-like medium to be conveyed;
Display means for displaying information;
In a computer having a transport device equipped with
A jam detection procedure for detecting that a jam of the transported medium has occurred in a transport path of the transported medium by the transport unit;
A medium length acquisition procedure for acquiring the length of the transported medium in the transport direction by the transport means;
When occurrence of the jam is detected by the jam detection procedure, jam information that is information indicating that the jam has occurred is generated according to the length of the transported medium acquired by the medium length acquisition unit. A display control procedure to be displayed on the display means;
A program for running

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