JP2012252047A - Image forming apparatus, protection method for the apparatus, and program applying the method - Google Patents

Abstract

An image forming apparatus capable of sufficiently preventing breakage of a roller in a fixing device even if a long-term power failure due to an earthquake occurs.
In this image forming apparatus, a CPU 4b in a fixing device 4 controls a roller 4d to which pressure is applied when an earthquake is detected by an earthquake detection device 4a so that no pressure is applied, and the roller in the roller state detection device 4e. At the time of pressure detection to 4d, the roller driving device 4c is instructed to return the roller passing portion. In addition, the CPU 4b determines whether or not the printing is being performed by the apparatus based on the driving state of the roller driving device 4c, and performs control to return the roller passage portion during printing. Further, the CPU 4b cancels the print job when detecting an earthquake during printing. The controller 1 notifies the display unit of the operation unit 3 that the paper jam has been detected by the paper jam detection device 4f through the engine control unit 2 and that the roller passage unit detected by the roller state detection device 4e has been released. When the paper jam is cleared, the device is restarted.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a protection function for a fixing device when a disaster such as an earthquake occurs, a protection method for the image forming apparatus, and a program to which the image forming apparatus is applied.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in image processing apparatuses (representing image forming apparatuses such as printers, facsimile apparatuses, and multi-function machines, and image reading apparatuses such as scanners), technical developments have been carried out to cope with disasters such as earthquakes. As for the attached fixing device (the device that melts the toner placed on the paper during printing with the heated fixing roller and the pressure roller and adsorbs it to the paper), the technology to prevent the earthquake has been introduced. Yes.

  As a well-known technique related to such an earthquake countermeasure (protection function) of the fixing device, for example, a speaker is used to forcibly stop the temperature control of the image fixing heater in the event of a disaster or trouble involving abnormal vibration such as an earthquake or device dropping. "Multifunctional image forming apparatus" used as vibration detecting means (see Patent Document 1), "Image forming apparatus" provided with control means for changing the control state according to the output of the vibration detecting means for detecting vibration (Patent Document) 2).

  In the image forming apparatus according to Patent Document 1 described above, heating in the fixing device is stopped by shutting off the power supply of the fixing device when an earthquake is detected. Since no operation is performed on the printer, depending on the usage conditions, if the roller under pressure is deformed or damaged during a long-term power failure, etc., printing will not be performed normally thereafter. There is a problem of end.

  More specifically, the fixing roller and the pressure roller in the fixing device are usually in contact with each other during printing, and the pressure is locally applied to these rollers. When the roller is off, the roller is physically separated by the drive unit, and no pressure is applied to the roller passage unit. This is to prevent the roller from being deformed when the roller is not rotated for a long time while pressure is applied to the roller passage portion. Assuming a case where pressure is locally applied to the roller for a long time, it is conceivable that subsequent printing will not be performed normally due to factors such as the occurrence of dent deformation.

  In the image forming apparatus disclosed in Cited Document 1, when an earthquake occurs during printing and an unexpected power failure occurs immediately due to the earthquake, the pressure is applied to the rollers of the fixing device (the roller passing part is in contact). In situations where the fixing device stops and it takes time to restore power due to an earthquake, the roller (fixing roller and pressure roller) to which pressure is applied is left for a long time while maintaining a state where pressure is locally applied. Therefore, as a result of this, as a result, a dent deformation or local breakage occurs in the roller of the fixing device, and subsequent printing cannot be performed normally.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in the cited document 2, the control unit changes the control state in accordance with the output of the vibration detection unit. However, here, a technique for automatically shutting down each unit when an earthquake occurs is disclosed. However, as in the case of the technique of Cited Document 1, since the operation on the roller is not considered when the power to the fixing device is shut down, the roller in the fixing device cannot be sufficiently prevented from being damaged during a long-term power failure. ing.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and the technical problem thereof is an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can sufficiently prevent breakage of a roller in a fixing device even if a long-term power failure occurs due to an earthquake. An object of the present invention is to provide a forming apparatus protection method and a program using the same.

  In order to solve the above technical problem, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an earthquake detection unit that detects the occurrence of an earthquake, and a roller to which pressure in the fixing device is applied when the occurrence of the earthquake is detected by the earthquake detection unit. And control means for controlling the pressure so that it is not applied.

  According to the protection method for an image forming apparatus of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes: a first step of detecting the presence or absence of an earthquake by the earthquake detecting means in the image forming apparatus; and an image forming apparatus when the occurrence of the earthquake is detected by the earthquake detecting means. And a second step of controlling the roller to which the pressure in the fixing device is applied by the control means to a state in which no pressure is applied.

  According to the present invention, when the occurrence of an earthquake is detected and an earthquake occurs, control is performed so that the roller to which pressure is applied in the fixing device is not applied by the control means. Even if a power failure occurs, it is possible to sufficiently prevent the roller from being damaged due to local pressure being applied to the rollers (pressure roller, fixing roller) in the fixing device.

1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process related to a control system function unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus, a protection method for an image forming apparatus, and a program to which the image forming apparatus is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  This image forming apparatus includes an operation unit 3 equipped with a display unit (display means) such as a button and an LCD for operating the device, a controller (CPU) 1 connected to the operation unit 3 and controlling each unit, and printing. The entire mechanical portion of the fixing device 4 that melts the toner placed on the paper with a heated fixing roller and a pressure roller and adsorbs the toner onto the paper, and the writing device that projects the toner onto the paper. And an engine control unit (CPU) 2 for controlling.

  Among them, the fixing device 4 includes a roller 4d including a fixing roller and a pressure roller to which pressure is applied during printing, and a roller driving device 4c that is controlled by the engine control unit 2 during normal printing and drives a roller passage portion of the roller 4d. And an earthquake detection device 4a as an earthquake detection means having a function of detecting an earthquake such as an acceleration sensor, and connected to the earthquake detection device 4a to determine whether or not an earthquake has occurred. When an earthquake occurs, a roller driving device 4c The CPU 4b as a control means for performing control to physically separate the roller passage portion so that no pressure is applied to the roller 4d to which pressure is applied, and whether or not pressure is applied to the roller 4d. A roller state detection device 4e having a function of detecting, and a function of detecting whether or not a paper jam has occurred and whether or not the paper being printed remains in the device. Configured to include a paper jam detection device 4f, a.

  Further, the controller 1 has a central processing function and a storage function such as a memory, and performs control to a timekeeping unit such as a timer unit, which is schematically shown, in addition to controlling the operation unit 3 and the engine control unit 2. Further, when the paper jam is detected by the paper jam detection device 4f of the fixing device 4 via the engine control unit 2, the controller 1 performs display control on the operation unit 3 to notify the paper jam ( Warning) or the fact that the roller passage portion has been released by the roller driving device 4c is displayed on a display unit (display means) such as an LCD.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation process related to a control system function unit (centering on the CPU 4b of the fixing device 4) of the image forming apparatus.

  In the operation processing here, first, the CPU 4b of the fixing device 4 receives a detection signal indicating whether or not an earthquake has occurred from the earthquake detection device 4a, thereby determining whether or not an earthquake has occurred (step S1). As a result of the determination, if there is no earthquake occurrence, the process returns before the determination of whether or not this earthquake has occurred (step S1) and continues to detect the occurrence of the earthquake. Based on the roller driving state, the engine control unit 2 determines whether the image forming apparatus is printing (step S2). If the result of this determination is that printing is not in progress, the roller passing portion of the normal roller 4d (fixing roller, pressure roller) is released and no pressure is applied to the roller 4d. Even if the image forming apparatus is stopped due to occurrence, the roller 4d is not damaged, so that the process returns to the previous determination of whether or not an earthquake has occurred (step S1) and continues to detect the occurrence of the earthquake. If so, the print job is canceled (step S3).

  Thereafter, the CPU 4b receives the roller state detection signal from the roller state detection device 4e, and contacts the roller 4d (fixing roller, pressure roller) to determine whether or not pressure is applied to the roller 4d in the roller pressure state. It is determined whether or not there is (step S4). If the result of this determination is that the roller is in a pressurized state, a command to release the roller passing portion is immediately issued to the roller driving device 4c, and the roller 4d is separated (step S5), so that no pressure is applied to the roller 4d. However, if the roller is not pressed, the separation of the roller 4d (step S5) is jumped and the process proceeds to the next process. Here, even if the image forming apparatus is stopped due to a power failure that occurs shortly thereafter, there is no problem that the roller 4d is damaged because the roller passage portion is separated. By the way, if a power failure occurs after the power supply is restored, paper jams in the image forming device or paper remains during printing. When the power is turned on next time, the paper jam is notified. Since a message (warning) is transmitted from the display unit of the operation unit 3 to the user, the user can return to a printable state by removing the paper in the same manner as in a normal paper jam.

  Therefore, in the next processing, the controller 1 receives a paper jam detection signal from the paper jam detection device 4f through the engine control unit 2, and determines whether or not the paper is jammed (step S6). As a result of this determination, if paper is jammed, a paper jam is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 3 (step S7), and then it is judged whether or not the paper jam has been eliminated (step S8). Before the determination (step S8), whether or not the paper jam has been cleared returns and waits until the paper jam is cleared. If the paper jam is cleared, it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned paper is jammed (step S6). As a result, the image forming apparatus is restarted (step S9) as in the case where the paper is not jammed, and the operation process is terminated. When the image forming apparatus is restarted, the toner remaining on the roller 4d is removed. In the process of displaying a paper jam on the display unit of the operation unit 3 (step S7), it may be displayed simultaneously that the roller passage detected by the roller state detection device 4e has been released.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment described above, the roller 4d to which pressure is applied when the occurrence of an earthquake is detected by the earthquake detection device 4a that is the earthquake detection means in the fixing device 4 is in a state where no pressure is applied. It has a basic feature that it has a CPU 4b as a control means for controlling it. Further, the CPU 4b drives the roller when it is detected that pressure is applied to the roller 4d in the roller state detection device 4e which is a roller state detection means for detecting whether or not the pressure is applied to the roller 4d. Control is performed to instruct the device 4c to return the roller passing portion. This function determines whether or not pressure is applied to the roller 4d, and makes the roller 4d in a state in which pressure cannot be applied when the pressure is reliably applied to the roller 4d. Further, the CPU 4b determines whether or not the apparatus is printing based on the driving state of the roller driving device 4c, and performs control to return the roller passing portion if printing is in progress. When this function is not being performed, an operation for separating the roller 4d by the roller driving device 4c is not necessary, so that a useless operation is omitted. In addition, the CPU 4b cancels the print job when an earthquake occurrence is detected by the earthquake detection device 4a during printing. Since this function makes printing impossible when the roller driving device 4c is operated to separate the roller 4d, printing is unnecessary in the first place, and unnecessary operations are omitted.

  The controller 1, which is another control means, detects when a paper jam transmitted from the paper jam detection device 4 f that is a paper jam detection means that detects the presence or absence of a paper jam through the engine control unit 2 when the print job is stopped. The fact that a paper jam has occurred and the fact that the roller passage part transmitted from the roller state detection device 4e has been released are displayed on the display part of the operation part 3. This function notifies the user that the paper is jammed and the pressure of the roller 4d is released. The controller 1 restarts the apparatus when the paper jam is cleared. This function makes it possible to return the image forming apparatus to the initial state upon restart, and is a function for automatically removing toner remaining on the roller 4d (especially the fixing roller). It is installed in the model.

  By the way, the processing function of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment described above can be restated as a protection method for the image forming apparatus. In this case, the protection method for the image forming apparatus includes a first step of detecting the presence or absence of the occurrence of an earthquake by the earthquake detection means in the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus when the occurrence of the earthquake is detected by the earthquake detection means. And a second step of controlling the roller to which the pressure in the fixing device is applied by the control means so that no pressure can be applied. However, in the second step, it is preferable to perform control to return the roller passage portion during printing in which pressure is applied to the roller by the control means. Incidentally, in the control means (CPU 4b) having a computer function, the storage unit such as a built-in storage unit or an external ROM (not shown) such as a program constructed so that the information of the first step and the second step can be executed. It is also possible to store the program and operate it by reading the program.

1 Controller (CPU)
2 Engine control unit (CPU)
3 Operation unit 4 Fixing device 4a Earthquake detection device 4b CPU
4c Roller drive device 4d Roller 4e Roller state detection device 4f Paper jam detection device

JP-A-11-184327 JP-A-8-146843

Claims (9)

  An earthquake detection means for detecting whether or not an earthquake has occurred, and a control means for controlling a roller to which pressure is applied in the fixing device when pressure is applied to the fixing device when the earthquake detection is detected by the earthquake detection means. An image forming apparatus.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising roller state detection means for detecting whether or not pressure is applied to the roller, wherein the control means applies pressure to the roller by the roller state detection means. An image forming apparatus that performs control to return a roller passing portion when it is detected that the roller has been detected.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit determines whether or not the apparatus is printing based on a driving state of the roller, and performs control to return the roller passing portion when printing is being performed. An image forming apparatus.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit stops a print job when the occurrence of the earthquake is detected by the earthquake detection unit during the printing.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a paper jam detecting unit that detects the presence or absence of a paper jam and occurrence of the paper jam when the paper jam detecting unit detects the paper jam when the print job is stopped. And other control means for displaying on the display means that the roller passage portion has been released.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the other control unit restarts when the paper jam is resolved.   A first step of detecting the occurrence of an earthquake by an earthquake detection means in the image forming apparatus; and a pressure in the fixing device by the control means in the image forming apparatus when the occurrence of the earthquake is detected by the earthquake detection means. And a second step of controlling the applied roller to a state in which no pressure is applied, and a protection method for an image forming apparatus.   8. The protection method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, in the second step, control is performed to return the roller passage portion during printing in which pressure is applied to the roller by the control means. Method for protecting image forming apparatus.   9. The program according to claim 7, wherein the information of the first step and the second step in the image forming apparatus protection method is constructed so as to be executable by a control means having a computer function.

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