Image forming apparatus, and information processor communicable with image forming apparatus

Abstract

To specify whether or not failure having occurred in an image forming apparatus is caused by addition of a paper sheet.SOLUTION: The system comprises an image forming apparatus and an information processor. The image forming apparatus comprises: a storage part for storing a recording material; a feed part for feeding the recording material stored in the storage part; a support part supporting the recording material and movable between a reference position and a feed position as a position where the recording material is fed to the feed part; a control unit including a first detection unit for detecting a moving amount from the reference position of the support part to the feed position, and a second detection unit for detecting generation of conveyance abnormality of the recording material; and a transmission unit for transmitting data on a moving amount detected by the first detection unit, and data on a detection result detected by the second detection unit to the information processor. The information processor comprises: a storage unit for storing the data on the moving amount transmitted from the transmission unit, and the data on the detection result; and an analysis unit for analyzing whether or not to be paper addition, using the data on the moving amount stored by the storage unit, and the data on the detection result.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] One of the causes of problems during paper transport (paper jams, etc.) is the act of adding paper to a paper feed cassette that already has paper remaining. In order to prevent problems during paper transport due to a decrease in the friction coefficient of the adding surface, in the image forming device described in Patent Document 1, a double-feed prevention sheet is interposed between the paper in the paper feed cassette and the paper to be added. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-128303 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the image forming device described in Patent Document 1, if a problem occurs during paper transport, it is not possible to determine whether the cause is replenishment, and the user is required to investigate the cause of the problem. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to determine whether a problem occurring in an image forming device is due to replenishment of paper. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One aspect of the present invention is as follows.

[0006] A system having an image forming apparatus and at least one information processing apparatus, The image forming apparatus includes: a storage section for storing a recording material; a feeding section that feeds the recording material accommodated in the accommodation section; a support portion that supports the recording material and is movable between a reference position and a feeding position where the recording material is fed to the feeding portion; a control unit including a first detection unit that detects a movement amount of the support unit from the reference position to the feeding position, and a second detection unit that detects an occurrence of a conveyance abnormality of the recording material; A transmission unit that transmits data of the amount of movement detected by the first detection unit and data of a detection result detected by the second detection unit to the at least one or more information processing devices; having The at least one information processing device a storage unit that stores the movement amount data and the detection result data transmitted from the transmission unit; The system further comprises an analysis unit which uses the movement amount data stored in the memory unit and the detection result data to analyze whether the cause of the transport abnormality is top-off, which is the act of adding more recording material to the storage section in which the recording material is stored. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to identify whether a problem occurring in an image forming apparatus is due to replenishment of paper. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams of a display unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D are schematic diagrams of a cassette according to Example 1. [Diagram 5] 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams of a cassette and a photosensor according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a relationship diagram between the total movement amount and the total number of passed sheets according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 4 is a specific flow of addition according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a relationship diagram between the total movement amount and the total number of passed sheets according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 1A, 1B, and 1C are schematic diagrams of a cassette according to Example 2. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a relationship diagram between the total movement amount and the total number of passed sheets according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the transport time and the total number of passed sheets according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Example 1 An image forming apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 1. In the following description and in each drawing, the vertical direction when the image forming apparatus 1 is installed on a horizontal surface is defined as the Z direction. The direction intersecting the Z direction and the direction of the rotation axis of a photosensitive drum 101 (described later) is defined as the Y direction. The direction intersecting both the Z direction and the Y direction is defined as the X direction. The X direction and the Y direction are preferably horizontal directions. In addition, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are preferably perpendicular to each other. In addition, the directions of the arrows X, Y, and Z shown in each drawing are respectively represented as the +X side, the +Y side, and the +Z side, and the opposite sides are respectively represented as the -X side, the -Y side, and the -Z side, as necessary.

[0010] (Overall configuration of image forming apparatus) 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus 1. In this embodiment, a color laser beam printer that forms toner images of four colors, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), is shown as an example of the image forming apparatus 1. As recording materials for the image forming apparatus 1, a variety of papers of different sizes and materials can be used, including paper such as plain paper and cardboard, paper materials with surface treatments such as plastic film, cloth, and coated paper, and paper materials with special shapes such as envelopes and index paper.

[0011] The image forming apparatus 1 has a scanner unit 103, a photosensitive drum 101, a developing cartridge 104, a primary transfer roller 106, a cassette 14, a pickup roller 11, a feed roller 12, a separation roller 13, a registration roller 32, a registration roller 33, a secondary transfer roller 105, a fixing unit 40, a pair of discharge rollers 107, a paper discharge tray 108, a first detection sensor 50, a second detection sensor 51, and a third detection sensor 52.

[0012] The scanner unit 103 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 101 based on image data. The photosensitive drum 115 (115Y-K) is an image carrier that carries the electrostatic latent image. The developing cartridge 104 (104Y-K) contains a developer and develops the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 115 (115Y-K) with toner. The primary transfer roller 106 (106Y-K) is a transfer unit that transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 115 to the intermediate transfer belt 114. The cassette 14 is a storage unit that can store a stack of paper S. The cassette 14 can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus 100 by inserting and removing it in the X direction. Specifically, the cassette 14 can be removed from the image forming apparatus 100 by pulling it out in the -X direction, and can be attached to the image forming apparatus 100 by pushing it out in the +X direction. The pickup roller 11 is a feeding section that contacts the paper S supported by the cassette 2 and feeds the paper S to the feed roller 12 and separation roller 13. The feed roller 12 and separation roller 13 are rollers that separate the paper stack S sent from the pickup roller 11 one by one and transport it to the transfer roller 105. The registration roller 32 and registration roller 33 are rollers that transport the paper in a timed manner so that the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 114 is transferred to the paper by the secondary transfer roller 105. The secondary transfer roller 105 is a roller that transfers the image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 114 to the paper. The fixing unit 40 fixes the image transferred by the secondary transfer roller 105 by applying heat and pressure to the paper. The paper that has passed through the fixing unit 40 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 108 by the discharge roller pair 107. The first detection sensor 50, the second detection sensor 51, and the third detection sensor 52 are sensors (third detection units) that detect the passage of the recording material on the conveying path. In the conveying direction in which the recording material is conveyed on the conveying path, the first detection sensor 50 is downstream of the feed roller 12 and upstream of the registration roller 32. In addition, in the conveying direction in which the recording material is conveyed on the conveying path, the second detection sensor 51 is downstream of the registration roller 32 and upstream of the secondary transfer roller 105. In addition, in the conveying direction in which the recording material is conveyed on the conveying path, the third detection sensor 52 is downstream of the fixing unit 40 and upstream of the discharge roller pair 107.

[0013] (Communication System Configuration) Next, a communication system according to the present embodiment will be described. This system is made up of an image forming apparatus 100, a host computer 200, a server 300, and a maintenance management computer 400. Fig. 2 shows an overview of the communication system according to the present embodiment.

[0014] The host computer 200 is a computer capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus 100 (video controller 101). The host computer 200 transmits a print job to the video controller 101 of the image forming apparatus 100. The host computer 200 has an operation unit 201 and a control unit 202. The operation unit 201 is an input unit, such as a keyboard or a touch panel, that allows a user to input information to the host computer 200. The control unit 202 is a CPU that transmits a print job including image data in accordance with the input information input through the operation unit 201.

[0015] The image forming apparatus 100 includes a motor 90, an IO port 109, a CPU 111, a ROM 112, a RAM 113, a video controller 101, and an operation display unit 102. The video controller 101 is a communication unit that communicates with the host computer 200, the server 300, and the maintenance management computer 400. The video controller 101 is also a transmission unit that transmits data on the amount of movement detected by a movement amount detection unit 111a (first detection unit) described later and data on the detection result detected by a paper jam detection unit 111b (second detection unit) to the server 300. The video controller 101 also receives a print job from the host computer 200, and controls the CPU 111 that controls image formation based on the print job. The ROM 112 is a non-volatile memory that holds and stores a control program and various data. Note that a rewritable non-volatile memory can be used instead of the ROM 112. The CPU 111 executes a control program stored in the ROM 112, and controls the motor 90 via the IO port 109. The motor 90 is a drive source for driving various members of the image forming apparatus 100 described above. For example, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a feed motor, a photoconductor motor, a fixing motor, and a stepping motor. The feed motor is a drive unit for driving the pickup roller 11, the feed roller 12, and the separation roller 13. The photoconductor motor is a drive unit for driving the photoconductor drum 115. The fixing motor is a drive unit for driving the pressure roller 41 of the fixing unit. The stepping motor is a drive unit for driving the support plate 17 described later. The RAM 113 is a volatile memory for storing temporary data. The RAM 113 is a storage unit for storing the total movement amount and the detection result of the paper jam detection described later. The operation unit 102 includes an input unit, a display unit, and the like. A user can input printing conditions to the input unit. In addition, the input unit provided in the operation unit 102 can display notifications.

[0016] The maintenance management computer 400 is a computer capable of communicating with the video controller 101 of the image forming apparatus 100 and the server 300. The maintenance management computer 400 is, for example, a computer used by a dealer. The maintenance management computer 400 can monitor the state of the image forming apparatus 100 and notify the image forming apparatus 100. The maintenance management computer 400 can also receive information notified from the server 300 and display the information on the display unit 402.

[0017] The server 300 is a computer (information processing device) that identifies whether the cause of the malfunction described later is replenishment. In this embodiment, replenishment refers to the act of adding more recording material to a cassette containing recording material. The server 300 can communicate with the video controller 101 of the image forming apparatus 100. The server 300 can also communicate with the maintenance management computer 400. The server 300 has an analysis unit 310 and a storage device 320. The storage device 320 includes any volatile and non-volatile storage device. The storage device 320 can store data on the amount of movement detected by the movement amount detection unit 111a described later and data on the detection result detected by the paper jam detection unit 111b, in addition to the program executed by the analysis unit 310. The analysis unit 310 includes one or more processors (CPUs) and executes a control program stored in the storage device 320. Further, the analysis unit 310 analyzes and identifies whether the cause of the transport abnormality is replenishment, using the data of the movement amount detected by the movement amount detection unit 111a and the data of the detection result detected by the paper jam detection unit 111b stored in the storage device 320. In this embodiment, the analysis unit 310 and the storage device 320 are stored in one server 300, but they may be stored in at least one or more servers (information processing devices). That is, the present system may be configured by one or more servers. When the analysis unit 310 identifies that the cause of the malfunction of the image forming device 100 is replenishment, the server 300 notifies the image forming device 100 or the maintenance management computer 400 of information based on the analysis result. Note that the notification destination may be a device other than the image forming device 100 or the maintenance management computer 400. FIG. 3 shows an example of information notified by the server 300. Fig. 3(a) shows a state in which the server 300 has notified the maintenance management computer 400 and the display unit 402 has displayed the notified information. Fig. 3(b) shows a state in which the server 300 has notified the image forming apparatus 100 and the display of the operation unit 102 has displayed the notified information. In Fig. 3(a), the analysis results and measures for the transport abnormality are notified. By the maintenance management computer 400 receiving this information, the dealer can take appropriate measures for the broken image forming apparatus 100.The information to be notified may include at least one of the analysis result and a measure for the transport abnormality. In Fig. 3(b), information to alert the user is notified.

[0018] (Configuration of Support Plate 17) Next, the paper feeding operation of the image forming apparatus in this embodiment will be described. The cassette 14 has a support plate 17 therein. FIG. 4(a) is a schematic diagram of the cassette. As shown in FIG. 4(a), the support plate 17 is a support part that supports paper. A rotation axis P is provided at the end of the support plate 17 on the -X direction side, and the support plate 17 rotates counterclockwise around the rotation axis P when viewed in the +Y direction. The support plate 17 is drivingly connected to a stepping motor (not shown), and the support plate 17 is rotated by the stepping motor. That is, the amount of rotation of the support plate 17 is controlled by a pulse signal input to the stepping motor, which is the driving part. Also, as shown in FIG. 4(C), the support plate 17 can take a reference position where the end of the support plate 17 on the +X direction side abuts against the bottom surface of the cassette 14. The support plate 17 can move from the reference position to a feeding position (FIG. 4(a)) where the topmost paper of the paper stack abuts against the pickup roller 11 and can be fed. The support plate 17 can also move from the feeding position toward the reference position. That is, the support plate 17 can move between the reference position and the feeding position. In this embodiment, the reference position is the position where the end of the support plate 17 on the +X direction side abuts against the bottom surface of the cassette 14, but the reference position does not have to be this position and may be set to any position.

[0019] Next, a method for detecting that the support plate 17 has reached the feeding position will be described with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a method for detecting that the support plate 17 has reached the feeding position. The image forming apparatus 100 has a photosensor 55. The photosensor 55 is a detection unit that detects that the pickup roller 11 has reached the feeding position. When the support plate 17 moves from the reference position (FIG. 5(a)) to the feeding position (FIG. 5(b)), the paper supported by the support plate 17 comes into contact with the pickup roller 11, causing the pickup roller 11 to move in the +Z direction. When a shielding member provided in a holder that supports the pickup roller 11 changes the transmission state of the photosensor 55 to a light-shielding state, the photosensor 55 detects that the support plate 17 has reached the feeding position.

[0020] (Paper jams caused by refilling) Next, a flow until a paper jam occurs due to replenishment will be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4(a) shows a state in which the stack of paper ST1 is loaded in the cassette 14 and the pickup roller 11 is about to feed the paper. FIG. 4(b) shows a state in which paper feeding is performed from FIG. 4(a) and the stack of paper becomes stack of paper ST2, which is half the number of sheets of ST1. FIG. 4(c) shows a state in which stack of paper ST3 is being replenished to stack of paper ST2 in FIG. 4(b). FIG. 4(d) shows a state in FIG. 4(c) immediately before a paper jam occurs after stack of paper ST3 is replenished and feeding is performed. As shown in FIG. 4(C), when stack of paper ST3 is replenished to the cassette 14, the top sheet of paper S of stack of paper ST2 is pushed in the +X direction by stack of paper ST3 and comes into contact with the end of the cassette 14 on the +X direction side, and the leading edge of the sheet of paper S may be bent. If the sheet of paper S is transported in this state, a paper jam may occur in the middle of the transport path. The above is the flow until a paper jam occurs.

[0021] (How to determine the cause of the paper jam) Next, a method for identifying whether the cause of a paper jam is replenishment will be described with reference to Figs. 4 to 6. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a relational expression between the total number of sheets passed (X) and the total movement amount (Y) of support plate 17. The total movement amount shown in Fig. 5 is the movement amount required for support plate 17 to move from the reference position to the feeding position. In this embodiment, the movement amount is the amount of pulse signals that need to be input to the stepping motor to move support plate 17 from the reference position to the feeding position. The amount of pulse signals is detected by movement amount detection unit 111a in CPU 111.

[0022] Unlike this embodiment, the movement amount detection unit 111a may detect the driving time of the stepping motor required to move the support plate 17 from the reference position to the feed position, and the driving time may be regarded as the movement amount. In other words, it is sufficient to employ a parameter whose value changes when the support plate 17 moves from the reference position to the feed position, and the movement amount is not limited to the amount of pulse signals or the driving time of the stepping motor.

[0023] The total number of sheets of paper (X) shown in FIG. 6 is the cumulative number of sheets of paper fed by the pickup roller 11. FIG. 6 shows the total movement amount and the total number of sheets of paper fed in each state of FIG. 4(a) to (d). In the state of FIG. 4(a), the total movement amount is Y1. From the state of FIG. 4(a), the image forming apparatus 100 receives a print job, and the pickup roller 11 feeds paper, so that the number of sheets of paper in the stack decreases, and the position of the topmost paper moves in the -Z direction. Therefore, the CPU 111 controls the support plate 17 to move in the +Z direction every time a predetermined number of sheets of paper are fed, so that the topmost paper stacked in the cassette 14 is fed. Then, when the feeding position of the support plate 17 is adjusted, the movement amount detection unit 111a detects the movement amount of the support plate 17, and stores the data of the detected movement amount in the RAM 113. In the state of FIG. 4(b) where printing is performed from the state of FIG. 4(a) and the total number of sheets passed reaches X1, the total movement amount increases to Y2. In FIG. 4(C), a stack of paper ST3 is added to the cassette in the state of FIG. 4(b). Therefore, the total movement amount decreases to Y1 again. From FIG. 4(C), when printing is performed again, the movement amount gradually increases, and when the total number of sheets passed reaches X2, the movement amount reaches Y2 again (FIG. 4(d)). As described above, in FIG. 4(d), a paper jam may occur. When the total movement amount decreases beyond a predetermined amount in this way, there is a possibility that the paper has been replenished. That is, the replenishment can be detected by referring to whether the total movement amount has decreased beyond a predetermined amount. Also, when the total movement amount reaches the value immediately before the replenishment again, a paper jam may occur. Therefore, when the total movement amount reaches the value immediately before the replenishment and the occurrence of a paper jam is detected, it is possible to identify that the cause of the paper jam is the replenishment. Whether or not a paper jam has occurred is determined using the first detection sensor 50, the second detection sensor 51, and the third detection sensor 52. The CPU 111 has a paper jam detection unit 111b. The paper jam detection unit 111b measures the transport time from when the pickup roller 11 feeds the paper until the first detection sensor 50, the second detection sensor 51, and the third detection sensor 52 each detect the passage of the paper. If the transport time is not included in a predetermined threshold, it is determined that a paper jam (transport abnormality) has occurred.In this embodiment, the conveyance time is measured for each sheet of paper fed, and it is detected by the paper jam detection unit 111b whether a paper jam has occurred, and the data of the detection result is stored in the RAM 113.

[0024] In this embodiment, a range including an error of ±β from Y2 is set as an interval where a paper jam may occur. When a paper jam is detected in this interval Y2 - β < Y2 < Y2 + β, it is specified that the cause of the paper jam is an addition. The reason for including the error is that the theoretical total number of sheets passed through when a paper jam occurs is different from the actual total number of sheets passed through due to variations in the resistance of the windings of the stepping motor and the tolerance of the rotor of the stepping motor.

[0025] As described above, in this embodiment, the cause of the paper jam is specified as follows. First, the feeding position at the first time point is the first position, the feeding position at the second time point after the first time point is the second position, and the feeding position at the third time point after the second time point is the third position. The amount of movement (total movement amount) required for the movement from the reference position of the cassette 14 to the first position is the first movement amount, the amount of movement (total movement amount) required for the movement from the reference position of the cassette 14 to the second position is the second movement amount, and the amount of movement (total movement amount) required for the movement from the reference position of the cassette 14 to the third position is the third movement amount. At this time, when the second movement amount is smaller than the first movement amount, and the third movement amount is included in a predetermined threshold range including the first movement amount, and furthermore, a conveyance abnormality of the recording material fed at the third time point is detected by the paper jam detection unit 111b, the analysis unit 310 specifies that the cause of the paper jam (conveyance abnormality) is due to an addition.

[0026] (Flowchart for specifying the cause of paper jam) Next, the flow of identifying the cause of a paper jam performed by the analysis unit 310 of the server 300 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The total movement amount stored in the RAM 113 and the detection result of the paper jam detection unit 111b are transmitted to the server 300 by the video controller 101. Identification of the cause of the paper jam is started using the data of the total movement amount and the data of the detection result of the paper jam detection unit 111b (S101). First, it is checked whether a paper jam has been detected from the data of the detection result of the paper jam detection unit 111b (S102). If a paper jam is not detected (S102NO), cause identification is terminated (S106). If a paper jam is detected (S102YES), it is next detected whether a paper jam has been added (S103). Whether a paper jam has been added can be detected by whether the total movement amount has decreased beyond a predetermined amount as described above. If a paper jam has not been detected (S103NO), cause identification is terminated (S106). If replenishment is detected (S103 YES), as described above, the total movement amount reaches the value immediately before replenishment, and further, an analysis is performed to determine whether the occurrence of a paper jam is detected, and whether the cause of the paper jam is replenishment (S104). If the cause of the paper jam is not determined to be replenishment (S104 NO), cause determination is terminated (S106). If the cause of the paper jam is determined to be replenishment (S104 YES), a notification is sent to image forming apparatus 100 or maintenance management computer 4002 as described above. After the notification, cause determination is terminated (S106).

[0027] As described above, the communication system in this embodiment, which is composed of the image forming apparatus 100, the server 300, the host computer 200, and the maintenance management computer 400, is a system that identifies that the cause of a paper jam during image formation is replenishment and notifies the user. More specifically, it identifies whether the cause of the paper jam is replenishment based on the total movement amount and the data of the detection result of the paper jam detection unit 111b. This makes it possible to take appropriate measures for the image forming apparatus 100 in which a paper jam has occurred.

[0028] In this embodiment, the server 300 identifies the cause of paper jams. However, different from this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 may identify the cause of paper jams. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an analysis unit 310 and a storage device 320. Also, in this embodiment, when the occurrence of a paper jam is detected in the interval X2 - α < X2 < X2 + α, a notification is made. However, different from this embodiment, even when the occurrence of a paper jam is not detected, a notification may be made when an addition is detected. For example, by giving a warning notification to a user who frequently makes additions, the occurrence of paper jams can be suppressed. In this implementation, the case where an addition is made once by the user has been described. However, the method of this embodiment can also be used to identify the case where additions are made two or more times. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the total number of sheets passed (X) and the total movement amount (Y) when additions are made two or more times. When additions are made two or more times, there are two intervals, X3 ± α and X4 ± α, as the intervals where paper jams are likely to occur. By performing the above-described cause identification analysis on these two intervals, it is possible to identify whether the cause of the paper jam that occurred in each interval is an addition.

[0029] <<Example 2>> Next, Example 2 will be described. In Example 1, an example in which the leading edge of the paper is bent due to an addition and a paper jam occurs was described. In Example 2, an example in which a false notification of the occurrence of a paper jam is caused by a decrease in the friction coefficient of the addition surface will be described, and an algorithm for identifying whether the cause of the paper jam in that case is an addition will be explained. Note that the same reference numerals as those in Example 1 are used for the same members as those described in Example 1, and descriptions overlapping with those in Example 1 are omitted.

[0030] 9(a) to 9(c) are diagrams showing a mechanism by which a paper jam occurs in this embodiment and is falsely reported. FIG. 9(a) is a diagram showing a state in which a paper stack ST4 is added to the cassette 14 in the state of FIG. 4(b). FIG. 9(b) is a diagram showing a state when paper feeding has progressed further after FIG. 9(a). FIG. 9(c) is a diagram showing a state when paper feeding has progressed further from FIG. 9(b). When the paper stack ST4 is added in FIG. 9(a), the friction coefficient μ between the paper stack ST4 and the paper stack ST2 at the contact surface becomes smaller than the friction coefficient μ between the paper stack ST4 and the paper stack ST2 due to the influence of the air layer generated during the addition. When the friction coefficient μ is small, when the remaining number of sheets of the added paper stack ST4 is about 10, all of the paper stack ST4 is conveyed to the nip portion between the feed roller 12 and the separation roller 13 by the conveying force of the pickup roller 11. Then, as shown in FIG. 9B, all the sheets of the sheet stack ST4 are moved by the distance x from the leading edge of the sheet stack ST2 to the nip between the feed roller 12 and the separation roller 13. In this state, the nip formed by the feed roller 12 and the separation roller 13 is separated due to the thickness of the sheet stack ST4. In this state, the separation roller 13 cannot separate the sheets and feed them one by one. Then, as shown in FIG. 9C, the sheet S2 to be fed next to the preceding sheet S1 is conveyed, and the position of the sheet S2 stops at a position where it has advanced a distance y from the nip position. When the pickup operation is started in this state, the interval between the sheets defined by the trailing edge of the preceding sheet S1 and the leading edge of the succeeding sheet S2 is shortened by y. As a result, the interval between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet becomes equal to or smaller than the allowable value, and the image forming apparatus 100 determines that the image forming process is difficult, stops the print operation, and reports that a paper jam has occurred. The above is the mechanism by which a paper jam caused by a decrease in the friction coefficient of the replenishment surface is falsely reported.

[0031] Next, a method of identifying the cause of a paper jam detected in this embodiment as being due to refilling will be described with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a graph showing the relationship between the total number of sheets passed (X) and the total movement amount (Y) in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the total movement amount is reduced by refilling, and when the total movement amount reaches the value just before refilling again (total number of sheets passed X4), the cause of the detected paper jam is identified as refilling. The difference from embodiment 1 is the method of defining the section where a paper jam may occur. In this embodiment, the mechanism by which a paper jam is detected is different from embodiment 1. Specifically, while embodiment 1 detects a paper jam by the deformation of the paper at the boundary of refilling, embodiment 2 detects a paper jam by the remaining paper of the refilled paper stack. Therefore, the section where a paper jam may occur is defined as X4-β or more≦X≦X4 (α<β) based on the total number of sheets passed X4 where the total movement amount reaches the value just before refilling again.

[0032] In addition, in this embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the transport time for each sheet of paper fed is measured, and the data on the transport time is used to improve the accuracy of the analysis. This method will be described. The transport time is measured by the above-mentioned method using the first detection sensor 50, the second detection sensor 51, and the third detection sensor 52. FIG. 11 is a graph showing the relationship between the total number of sheets passed (X) and the transport time (Z) in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, if the transport time decreases by a predetermined amount or more before and after the total number of sheets passed exceeds X4-B, it is highly likely that the cause of the paper jam is due to replenishment. Therefore, in addition to the identification method of the first embodiment, the accuracy of identification can be further improved by comparing the transport time before and after reaching the section where a paper jam may occur. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 100 Image forming device 14 Cassette 11 Pickup roller 17 Support plate 55 Photo sensor 55 50 First detection sensor 51 Second detection sensor 52 Third detection sensor 113 RAM 101 Video Controller 300 Servers 310 Analysis Department 320 storage device

Claims

1. A system having an image forming apparatus and at least one information processing apparatus, The image forming apparatus includes: a storage section for storing a recording material; a feeding section that feeds the recording material accommodated in the accommodation section; a support portion that supports the recording material and is movable between a reference position and a feeding position where the recording material is fed to the feeding portion; a control unit including a first detection unit that detects a movement amount of the support unit from the reference position to the feeding position, and a second detection unit that detects an occurrence of a conveyance abnormality of the recording material; a transmission unit that transmits data of the amount of movement detected by the first detection unit and data of a detection result detected by the second detection unit to the at least one information processing device; having The at least one information processing device a storage unit that stores the movement amount data and the detection result data transmitted from the transmission unit; The system further comprises an analysis unit which uses the movement amount data stored in the memory unit and the detection result data to analyze whether the cause of the transport abnormality is top-off, which is the act of adding more recording material to the storage section in which the recording material is stored.

2. the image forming apparatus includes a drive unit that drives the support unit, 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the amount of movement is an amount of a pulse signal input to the driving unit.

3. the image forming apparatus includes a drive unit that drives the support unit, The system according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of movement is a driving time of the driving unit.

4. When a feeding position at a first time point is defined as a first position, a feeding position at a second time point after the first time point is defined as a second position, and a feeding position at a third time point after the second time point is defined as a third position, a movement amount required for moving the support part from the reference position to the first position is defined as a first movement amount, a movement amount required for moving the support part from the reference position to the second position is defined as a second movement amount, and a movement amount required for moving the support part from the reference position to the third position is defined as a third movement amount, The system described in claim 1, characterized in that when the second movement amount is smaller than the first movement amount and the third movement amount is within a predetermined threshold range including the first movement amount, and further when a transport abnormality of the recording material fed at the third point in time is detected by the second detection unit, the at least one information processing device determines that the cause of the transport abnormality is due to replenishment.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one information processing device transmits information based on the results of the analysis to a device other than the image forming device, and the device has a display unit that displays the information based on the results of the analysis.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one information processing device transmits information based on the results of the analysis to the image forming device, and the image forming device has a display unit that displays the information based on the results of the analysis.

7. The system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the information based on the result of the analysis includes at least the result of the analysis or a countermeasure for the transport abnormality.

8. the image forming apparatus has a third detection unit that detects that the recording material has passed through a conveyance path, the control unit measures a conveying time from when the recording material is conveyed to the feeding unit until when the third detection unit detects the recording material; 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein a second detection unit detects that an abnormality in the conveyance of the recording material has occurred when the conveyance time is not included in a predetermined threshold value.

9. The transmission unit transmits data of the transport time to the at least one information processing device, The system described in claim 8, characterized in that the analysis unit analyzes whether the cause of the transport abnormality is top-off, which is the act of adding further recording material to the storage section in which the recording material is stored, based on the movement amount data, the detection result data, and the transport time data.

10. At least one information processing device capable of communicating with an image forming device, The image forming apparatus includes: a storage section for storing a recording material; a feeding section that feeds the recording material accommodated in the accommodation section; a support portion that supports the recording material and is movable between a reference position and a feeding position where the recording material is fed to the feeding portion; a control unit including a first detection unit that detects a movement amount of the support unit from the reference position to the feeding position, and a second detection unit that detects an occurrence of a conveyance abnormality of the recording material; a transmission unit that transmits data of the amount of movement detected by the first detection unit and data of a detection result detected by the second detection unit to the at least one information processing device; having The at least one information processing device a storage unit that stores the movement amount data and the detection result data transmitted from the transmission unit; an analysis unit that performs analysis using the movement amount data and the detection result data; The system further comprises an analysis unit which uses the movement amount data stored in the memory unit and the detection result data to analyze whether the cause of the transport abnormality is top-off, which is the act of adding more recording material to the storage section in which the recording material is stored.

11. a storage section for storing a recording material; a feeding section that feeds the recording material accommodated in the accommodation section; a support portion that supports the recording material and is movable between a reference position and a feeding position where the recording material is fed to the feeding portion; a control unit including a first detection unit that detects a movement amount of the support unit from the reference position to the feeding position, and a second detection unit that detects an occurrence of a conveyance abnormality of the recording material; and an analysis unit that uses the data on the amount of movement and the data on the detection results of the second detection unit to analyze whether the cause of the transport abnormality is replenishment, which is the act of adding more recording material to the storage unit in which the recording material is stored.

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