Image formation device

Abstract

To provide an art which enables further improvement of sheet cutting accuracy.SOLUTION: An ASIC 105 of a multifunction machine 1 moves a movable blade 15 in a cutting direction by using a DC motor driver MD4 in a state that a stepping motor driver MD3 is controlled to stop a discharge motor 109 and stops a cutter motor 106 by using the DC motor driver MD4 when controlling the stepping motor driver MD3 to drive the discharge motor 109.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to an image forming apparatus that cuts an image-formed sheet with a cutter.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an image forming apparatus for cutting a sheet of a standard size is known. Patent Document 1 describes a cutting apparatus configured to convey a sheet to a cutting position and stop it, and then cut the stopped sheet with a cutting blade extending in the sheet width direction intersecting the conveyance direction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a conventional image forming apparatus, when cutting a sheet and conveying the sheet are performed independently, there is a possibility of cutting the sheet during conveyance or conveying the sheet during cutting, which may affect the cutting accuracy of the sheet.

[0005] An object of this application is to provide a technology capable of further improving the cutting accuracy of a sheet.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present application includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, a heating rotator, and a pressurizing rotator that forms a nip with the heating rotator, and a fixing unit that fixes the image formed on the sheet to the sheet, a device main body having a conveyance path for the sheet, and a cutter having a moving blade disposed at a cutter position downstream of the fixing unit in the sheet conveyance direction in the conveyance path, the cutter cutting the sheet by moving the moving blade in the cutting direction, a conveyance unit that conveys the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction along the conveyance path, the conveyance unit having a discharge roller that is located downstream of the cutter position in the sheet conveyance direction and discharges the sheet on the conveyance path to the outside of the device main body, a discharge motor that transmits a driving force for rotationally driving the discharge roller, a cutter motor that transmits a driving force for moving the moving blade in the cutting direction to the cutter, a discharge motor driver that controls the driving of the discharge motor, a cutter motor driver that controls the driving of the cutter motor, and a control unit, wherein the control unit moves the blade in the cutting direction using the cutter motor driver in a state where the discharge motor driver is controlled to stop the discharge motor, and stops the cutter motor using the cutter motor driver when the discharge motor driver is controlled to drive the discharge motor.

[0007] In the image forming apparatus of the present application, when driving the cutter motor, the discharge motor is not driven, so that the sheet is cut while the sheet is surely stopped. Conversely, when driving the discharge motor, the cutter motor is not driven, so that the sheet is not conveyed during the cutting of the sheet. Therefore, the cutting accuracy of the sheet is further improved.

[0008] Further, the moving blade moves in the cutting direction from the initial position. When the control unit moves the moving blade in the cutting direction from the initial position by the driving force of the cutter motor to cut the sheet, the control unit controls the discharge motor driver to stop the discharge motor, and then controls the cutter motor driver to drive the cutter motor to move the moving blade in the cutting direction from the initial position to cut the sheet. Then, the control unit controls the discharge motor driver to drive the discharge motor to discharge the cut sheet to the outside of the apparatus main body. Then, the control unit controls the cutter motor driver to drive the cutter motor to return the blade to the initial position. This is the gist of the present invention.

[0009] Thus, when the moving blade is moved in the cutting direction from the initial position by the driving force of the cutter motor to cut the sheet, when driving the cutter motor, the discharge motor is stopped, and when driving the discharge motor, the cutter motor is stopped. Therefore, the sheet is cut while being surely stopped, and the sheet is not conveyed during the cutting of the sheet. Accordingly, the cutting accuracy of the sheet is further improved.

[0010] Further, the control unit outputs a plurality of control signals from a plurality of terminals of the control unit to the discharge motor driver, and outputs a control signal to the cutter motor driver using a part of the plurality of terminals. This is the gist of the present invention.

[0011] Thereby, since the cutter motor driver is controlled using a part of the plurality of terminals used for controlling the discharge motor driver, it is possible to solve the shortage of terminals of the control unit.

[0012] Further, the plurality of terminals of the control unit are connected to the discharge motor driver by a plurality of signal lines, and a part of the plurality of signal lines connecting a part of the plurality of terminals and the discharge motor driver is connected to the cutter motor driver by a connection line at a connection point on the part of the signal lines. This is the gist of the present invention.

[0013] In this way, among a plurality of signal lines connecting some of the plurality of terminals of the control unit and the discharge motor driver, some of the signal lines are connected by a connection line between a connection point on some of the signal lines and the cutter motor driver. Therefore, some of the terminals can be shared by the discharge motor driver and the cutter motor driver.

[0014] Further, the image forming apparatus of the present application further includes a first on-off circuit for turning on and off the supply of the power voltage to the discharge motor driver, and a second on-off circuit for turning on and off the supply of the power voltage to the cutter motor driver. The first on-off circuit and the second on-off circuit are respectively connected to the control unit by signal lines. When driving the discharge motor, the control unit turns on the supply of the power voltage to the discharge motor driver using the first on-off circuit and turns off the supply of the power voltage to the cutter motor driver using the second on-off circuit. When driving the cutter motor, the control unit turns off the supply of the power voltage to the discharge motor driver using the first on-off circuit and turns on the supply of the power voltage to the cutter motor driver using the second on-off circuit.

[0015] In this way, when driving the discharge motor, the supply of the power voltage to the cutter motor driver is turned off using the second on-off circuit. When driving the cutter motor, the supply of the power voltage to the discharge motor driver is turned off using the first on-off circuit. Therefore, when driving the discharge motor, the cutter motor is not driven. When driving the cutter motor, the discharge motor is not driven. Thus, it is possible to surely and exclusively drive the discharge motor and the cutter motor.

[0016] Further, the image forming apparatus of the present application further includes an on-off circuit for turning on and off the supply of the power voltage to the cutter motor driver. The on-off circuit and the control unit are connected by a signal line. When driving the discharge motor, the control unit turns off the supply of the power voltage to the cutter motor driver using the on-off circuit. When driving the cutter motor, the control unit turns on the supply of the power voltage to the cutter motor driver using the on-off circuit.

[0017] Thus, when driving the discharge motor, the supply of the power voltage to the cutter motor driver is turned off using an on-off circuit, and when driving the cutter motor, the supply of the power voltage to the cutter motor driver is turned on using the on-off circuit. Therefore, the supply of the power voltage to the cutter motor driver can be turned on only when it is desired to drive the cutter motor. On the other hand, when driving the discharge motor, since the supply of the power voltage to the cutter motor driver is turned off, the cutter motor can be surely stopped when driving the discharge motor.

[0018] Further, the discharge motor is a stepping motor, the cutter motor is a DC motor, the first terminal and the second terminal which are part of the control unit are connected to two terminals of a discharge motor driver for instructing the rotation direction and the exciting phase of the stepping motor via a first signal line and a second signal line, respectively, and a first connection point on the first signal line and a second connection point on the second signal line are connected to two terminals of a cutter motor driver for instructing the rotation direction of the DC motor via a signal line, respectively.

[0019] Thus, since motors with different numbers of control signals are used, such as using a stepping motor as the discharge motor and a DC motor as the cutter motor, some terminals can be shared by the discharge motor driver and the cutter motor driver.

[0020] The image forming apparatus of the present application further includes an encoder for detecting the rotation information of the cutter motor. The third terminal of the control unit is connected to the sleep terminal of the discharge motor driver for shifting the discharge motor driver to a power saving mode via a third signal line, the fourth terminal of the control unit is connected to the fourth terminal of the discharge motor driver for switching the activation / inactivation of the drive control of the discharge motor via a fourth signal line, and the third connection point on the third signal line and the fourth connection point on the fourth signal line are connected to two output terminals of the encoder via a signal line, respectively.

[0021] In this way, since the third terminal and the fourth terminal of the control unit are shared by the discharge motor driver and the encoder, it is possible to further eliminate the shortage of terminals of the control unit.

[0022] Further, the third terminal and the fourth terminal are each a terminal that can be switched between the function of the output terminal and the function of the input terminal. When the control unit controls the discharge motor driver, the functions of the third terminal and the fourth terminal are switched to the function of the output terminal, and when the cutter motor is controlled, the functions of the third terminal and the fourth terminal are switched to the function of the input terminal.

[0023] The encoder outputs the detected rotation information of the cutter motor, while the discharge motor driver inputs the outputs from the third terminal and the fourth terminal of the control unit. Therefore, when controlling the discharge motor driver, the functions of the third terminal and the fourth terminal are switched to the function of the output terminal, and when controlling the cutter motor, the functions of the third terminal and the fourth terminal are switched to the function of the input terminal, so that the third terminal and the fourth terminal of the control unit can be shared by the discharge motor driver and the encoder.

[0024] Also, the fifth terminal of the control unit is connected to the current input terminal of the discharge motor driver via the fifth signal line, and the sixth terminal of the control unit is connected to the current input terminal of the cutter motor driver via the sixth signal line. When the control unit drives the discharge motor, it outputs a current from the fifth terminal toward the current input terminal of the discharge motor driver and does not output a current from the sixth terminal to the current input terminal of the cutter motor driver. When driving the cutter motor, it does not output a current from the fifth terminal to the current input terminal of the discharge motor driver and outputs a current from the sixth terminal to the current input terminal of the cutter motor driver.

[0025] Thus, when driving the discharge motor, the discharge motor driver is set to an operable state and the cutter motor driver is set to an inoperable state, and when driving the cutter motor, the discharge motor driver is set to an inoperable state and the cutter motor driver is set to an operable state. Therefore, it is possible to drive the discharge motor and the cutter motor exclusively.

[0026] The image forming apparatus of the present application further includes a first logic circuit disposed on a first signal line on the discharge motor driver side from a first connection point, which allows a control signal to pass from a first terminal to the discharge motor driver when a signal input to the first logic circuit is in a first state, and does not allow the control signal to pass from the first terminal to the discharge motor driver when the signal input to the first logic circuit is in a second state; a second logic circuit disposed on a second signal line on the discharge motor driver side from a second connection point, which allows a control signal to pass from a second terminal to the discharge motor driver when a signal input to the second logic circuit is in a first state, and does not allow the control signal to pass from the second terminal to the discharge motor driver when the signal input to the second logic circuit is in a second state; a third logic circuit disposed on a connection line between the first connection point and the cutter motor driver, which allows a control signal to pass from the first terminal through the first connection point to the cutter motor driver when a signal input to the third logic circuit is in a first state, and does not allow the control signal to pass from the first terminal through the first connection point to the cutter motor driver when the signal input to the third logic circuit is in a second state; and a fourth logic circuit disposed on a connection line between the second connection point and the cutter motor driver, which allows a control signal to pass from the second terminal through the second connection point to the cutter motor driver when a signal input to the fourth logic circuit is in a first state, and does not allow the control signal to pass from the second terminal through the second connection point to the cutter motor driver when the signal input to the fourth logic circuit is in a second state. The control unit outputs a signal in the first state to the first logic circuit and the second logic circuit respectively when driving the discharge motor, and outputs a signal in the second state to the third logic circuit and the fourth logic circuit respectively; when driving the cutter motor, the control unit outputs a signal in the second state to the first logic circuit and the second logic circuit respectively, and outputs a signal in the first state to the third logic circuit and the fourth logic circuit respectively.

[0027] Thus, when driving the discharge motor, signals in the first state are output to the first logic circuit and the second logic circuit respectively, and signals in the second state are output to the third logic circuit and the fourth logic circuit respectively. Therefore, the control signals from the first terminal and the second terminal of the control unit are directly transmitted from the first logic circuit and the second logic circuit to the discharge motor driver. In contrast, the control signals from the first terminal and the second terminal of the control unit are not transmitted from the third logic circuit and the fourth logic circuit to the cutter motor driver. Therefore, in this case, although the discharge motor driver can perform drive control on the discharge motor, the cutter motor driver cannot perform drive control on the cutter motor. Thus, it is possible to reliably and exclusively drive the discharge motor and the cutter motor.

[0028] On the other hand, when driving the cutter motor, signals in the second state are output to the first logic circuit and the second logic circuit respectively, and signals in the first state are output to the third logic circuit and the fourth logic circuit respectively. Therefore, the control signals from the first terminal and the second terminal of the control unit are not transmitted from the first logic circuit and the second logic circuit to the stepping motor driver MD3. In contrast, the control signals from the first terminal and the second terminal of the ASIC 105 are directly transmitted from the third logic circuit and the fourth logic circuit to the DC motor driver MD4. Therefore, in this case, although the DC motor driver MD4 can perform drive control on the cutter motor 106, the stepping motor driver MD3 cannot perform drive control on the discharge motor 109. Thus, it is possible to reliably and exclusively drive the discharge motor 109 and the cutter motor 106.

[0029] Further, the image forming apparatus of the present application further includes a fifth logic circuit disposed on the third signal line on the discharge motor driver side from the third connection point, which allows a control signal to pass from the third terminal to the discharge motor driver when the signal input to the fifth logic circuit is in the first state, and does not allow the control signal to pass from the third terminal to the discharge motor driver when the signal input to the fifth logic circuit is in the second state; a sixth logic circuit disposed on the fourth signal line on the discharge motor driver side from the fourth connection point, which allows a control signal to pass from the fourth terminal to the discharge motor driver when the signal input to the sixth logic circuit is in the first state, and does not allow the control signal to pass from the fourth terminal to the discharge motor driver when the signal input to the sixth logic circuit is in the second state; a seventh logic circuit disposed on the connection line between the third connection point and the encoder, which enables the input of the rotation information of the cutter motor from the encoder to the third terminal when the signal input to the seventh logic circuit is in the first state, and disables the input of the rotation information of the cutter motor from the encoder to the third terminal when the signal input to the seventh logic circuit is in the second state; and an eighth logic circuit disposed on the connection line between the fourth connection point and the encoder, which enables the input of the rotation information of the cutter motor from the encoder to the fourth terminal when the signal input to the eighth logic circuit is in the first state, and disables the input of the rotation information of the cutter motor from the encoder to the fourth terminal when the signal input to the eighth logic circuit is in the second state. The control unit, when driving the discharge motor, further outputs signals in the first state to the fifth logic circuit and the sixth logic circuit respectively, and outputs signals in the second state to the seventh logic circuit and the eighth logic circuit respectively. When driving the cutter motor, the control unit outputs signals in the second state to the fifth logic circuit and the sixth logic circuit respectively, and outputs signals in the first state to the seventh logic circuit and the eighth logic circuit respectively. This is the feature of the present invention.

[0030] Thus, when driving the discharge motor 109, further, signals in the first state are respectively output to the fifth logic circuit and the sixth logic circuit, and signals in the second state are respectively output to the seventh logic circuit and the eighth logic circuit. Therefore, the control signals from the third terminal and the fourth terminal of the ASIC 105 are directly transmitted from the fifth logic circuit and the sixth logic circuit to the stepping motor driver MD3. On the contrary, the input of the rotation information of the cutter motor from the encoder to the third terminal and the fourth terminal of the control unit is made impossible by the seventh logic circuit and the eighth logic circuit. Therefore, in this case, although the discharge motor driver can perform drive control on the discharge motor, the cutter motor driver cannot perform drive control on the cutter motor. Thus, it is possible to surely and exclusively drive the discharge motor and the cutter motor.

[0031] On the other hand, when driving the cutter motor 106, signals in the second state are respectively output to the fifth logic circuit and the sixth logic circuit, and signals in the first state are respectively output to the seventh logic circuit and the eighth logic circuit. Therefore, the control signals from the third terminal and the fourth terminal of the ASIC 105 are cut off by the fifth logic circuit and the sixth logic circuit and are not transmitted to the stepping motor driver MD3. On the contrary, the input of the rotation information of the cutter motor from the encoder 113 to the third terminal and the fourth terminal of the ASIC 105 is made possible through the seventh logic circuit and the eighth logic circuit. Therefore, in this case, although the cutter motor driver can perform drive control on the cutter motor, the discharge motor driver cannot perform drive control on the discharge motor. Thus, it is possible to surely and exclusively drive the cutter motor and the discharge motor.

[0032] Further, the apparatus main body has a first discharge path for discharging the sheet to the outside of the apparatus main body via a cutter position on the downstream side of the fixing unit in the sheet conveyance direction, a second discharge path for discharging the sheet to the outside of the apparatus main body without passing through the cutting position, and a re-conveyance path for conveying the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit back toward the image forming unit. The discharge rollers include a first discharge roller and a second discharge roller that rotate in a first direction to discharge the sheet to the outside of the apparatus main body through the first discharge path, and a third discharge roller that rotates in a first direction to discharge the sheet to the outside of the apparatus main body through the second discharge path. The third discharge roller rotates in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction, to convey the sheet toward the re-conveyance path. Further, the control unit uses the conveyance unit to convey the sheet through the image forming unit and the fixing unit and then convey it toward the second discharge path. When the sheet reaches a predetermined inversion position in the second discharge path, the control unit rotates the third discharge roller in the second direction to convey the sheet to the re-conveyance path. The sheet conveyed through the re-conveyance path passes through the image forming unit and the fixing unit again and is conveyed toward the first discharge path. This is a conveyance control. After conveying the sheet until the cutting position of the sheet reaches the cutter position, the control unit controls the first discharge roller and the second discharge roller to stop the conveyance of the sheet, moves the moving blade from the initial position in the cutting direction to cut the stationary sheet, controls the first discharge roller and the second discharge roller to drive them to discharge the cut sheet to the outside of the apparatus main body, and then returns the moving blade to the initial position.

[0033] Accordingly, even when cutting a sheet with images formed on both sides, when driving the cutter motor, the discharge motor is not driven, so the sheet can be cut in a state where the sheet is surely stopped. Conversely, when driving the discharge motor, the cutter motor is not driven, so the sheet is not conveyed during cutting of the sheet. Therefore, the cutting accuracy of the sheet is further improved.

[0034] The image forming apparatus of the present application includes an apparatus main body having a sheet conveyance path, a cutter having a moving blade disposed at a cutter position in the conveyance path, the cutter cutting the sheet by moving the moving blade in a cutting direction intersecting the sheet conveyance direction, a conveyance unit that conveys the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction along the conveyance path, the conveyance unit having a discharge roller that is located downstream of the cutter position in the sheet conveyance direction and discharges the sheet on the conveyance path to the outside of the apparatus main body, a discharge motor that transmits a driving force for rotationally driving the discharge roller, a cutter motor that transmits a driving force for the moving blade to move in the cutting direction to the cutter, a discharge motor driver that controls the driving of the discharge motor, a cutter motor driver that controls the driving of the cutter motor, and a control unit. The control unit outputs a plurality of control signals from a plurality of terminals of the control unit to the discharge motor driver, and outputs a control signal to the cutter motor driver using some of the plurality of terminals.

[0035] Accordingly, since the cutter motor driver is controlled using some of the plurality of terminals used to control the discharge motor driver, it is possible to eliminate the shortage of terminals of the control unit.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0036]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0037] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0038] (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration of a multifunction printer (MFP: Multi-Function Peripheral) 1 according to the first embodiment of the present application. The multifunction printer 1 is an example of an image forming apparatus and has functions such as a printing function, a copying function, and a scanning function. Note that, as the multifunction printer, a facsimile function may be added to these functions. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 1, the vertical direction and the front-rear direction of the multifunction printer 1 are defined. Also, the side closer to the paper surface is defined as the left, and the side farther from the paper surface is defined as the right.

[0039] The multifunction machine 1 includes an image forming unit 2 and an image reading unit 9. The image forming unit 2 uses the electrophotographic method and has the function of forming an image on the sheet S. The case where the image forming unit 2 has the function of forming a monochrome image on the sheet S is exemplified. The present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the image forming unit 2 may have the function of forming a full-color image on the sheet S.

[0040] The image reading unit 9 reads an image formed on a medium such as a sheet of paper, and has an image reading sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) method or a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) method, and a moving mechanism for moving the image reading sensor. The image reading unit 9 reads the image formed on the medium under the control of the ASIC 105.

[0041] The image forming unit 2 includes a main body 20, a conveyance unit 3, a process unit 4, a fixing unit 6, and a cutter 10.

[0042] The main body 20 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and has a front cover 21, a supply tray 31, a discharge tray 22, a conveyance path 201, and a re-conveyance path 202. The front cover 21 is attached to the front surface of the main body 20 in an openable and closable state. The supply tray 31 is attached to the lower part of the main body 20 in a detachable state. The sheet S is placed on the supply tray 31. The sheet S is a standard sheet such as A4 size. The sheet S is, for example, a paper medium such as plain paper or thick paper, but is not limited thereto and may be an OHP film. The discharge tray 22 is provided at the upper part of the main body 20, and the sheet S on which an image is formed is placed on the discharge tray 22.

[0043] The conveyance path 201 is a path for conveying the sheet S placed on the supply tray 31 in the conveyance direction toward the discharge tray 22 via the process unit 4. The conveyance path 201 branches from the branch position D1 into a first discharge path 201A and a second discharge path 201B. Therefore, the sheet S conveyed via the process unit 4 is discharged to the discharge tray 22 via the first discharge path 201A and also discharged to the discharge tray 22 via the second discharge path 201B.

[0044] The re-conveyance path 202 is a path for conveying the sheet S with an image formed on one surface in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction and then conveying it again toward the process unit 4. The re-conveyance path 202 starts from the connection position D2 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction from the branch position D1 on the second discharge path 201B and ends at the merging position J on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the pre-registration sensor SE1 in the conveyance path 201.

[0045] The conveyance unit 3 includes a pickup roller 33, a separation roller 34, a registration roller 35, conveyance rollers 36, a first discharge roller 85, a second discharge roller 86, a third discharge roller 87, a flapper 88, re-conveyance rollers 38 and 39, a main motor 108 (see FIG. 3), and a discharge motor 109 (see FIG. 4).

[0046] The pickup roller 33 picks up the sheet S in the supply tray 31 pushed upward by the sheet pressing plate 32 and conveys it toward the conveyance path 201. The separation roller 34 separates the sheets S picked up by the pickup roller 33 one by one.

[0047] The registration roller 35 is arranged upstream of the process unit 4 in the conveyance path 201. After aligning the direction of the front end of the sheet S, the registration roller 35 conveys the sheet S toward the process unit 4. The conveyance roller 36 conveys the sheet S after passing through the fuser 6 toward the first discharge roller 85 or the third discharge roller 87.

[0048] The first discharge roller 85 and the second discharge roller 86 are arranged in the first discharge path 201A. The first discharge roller 85 is arranged at a position upstream of the cutter position where the cutter 10 is arranged, and the second discharge roller 86 is arranged at a position downstream of the cutter position.

[0049] The first discharge roller 85 rotates by the driving force from the discharge motor 109 (see FIG. 3). A first driven roller 85' is arranged at a position facing the first discharge roller 85 with the first discharge path 201A interposed therebetween. The first driven roller 85' rotates in a driven manner as the first discharge roller 85 rotates. The second discharge roller 86 also rotates by the driving force from the discharge motor 109. A second driven roller 86' is arranged at a position facing the second discharge roller 86 with the first discharge path 201A interposed therebetween. The second driven roller 86' rotates in a driven manner as the second discharge roller 86 rotates.

[0050] The first discharge roller 85 and the second discharge roller 86 discharge the sheet S to the discharge tray 22 by rotating to convey the sheet S in the conveyance direction. The rotation for conveying the sheet S in the conveyance direction corresponds to a counterclockwise rotation about the left-right direction of the main body 20 as the axis.

[0051] On the other hand, the third discharge roller 87 is arranged in the second discharge path 201B. The third discharge roller 87 rotates by the driving force from the discharge motor 109 (see FIG. 3). A third driven roller 87' is arranged at a position facing the third discharge roller 87 with the second discharge path 201B interposed therebetween. The third driven roller 87' rotates in a driven manner as the third discharge roller 87 rotates. The third discharge roller 87 discharges the sheet S to the discharge tray 22 by rotating to convey the sheet S in the conveyance direction. Also, the third discharge roller 87 conveys the sheet S to the re-conveyance path 202 by rotating in a direction opposite to the rotation for conveying the sheet S in the conveyance direction. The rotation in a direction opposite to the rotation for conveying the sheet S in the conveyance direction corresponds to a clockwise rotation about the left-right direction of the main body 20 as the axis.

[0052] On the re-conveying path 202, re-conveying rollers 38 and 39 are arranged. The re-conveying rollers 38 and 39 convey the sheet S conveyed to the re-conveying path 202 toward the process unit 4. By re-conveying the sheet S with image formation performed on one surface thereof via the re-conveying path 202 toward the process unit 4 by the re-conveying rollers 38 and 39, it is possible to perform image formation on both surfaces of the sheet S.

[0053] The process unit 4 forms an image on the sheet S and is housed within the main body 20. The process unit 4 has a drum cartridge 5 and a laser unit 7. The drum cartridge 5 has a photosensitive drum 51, a toner storage section 57, a supply roller 56, a developing roller 55, a charger 52, a transfer roller 53, and a pinch roller 54. The drum cartridge 5 can be removed from the main body 20 by opening the front cover 21. The pinch roller 54 of the drum cartridge 5 faces the registration roller 35. The pinch roller 54 rotates following the rotation of the registration roller 35 and conveys the sheet S together with the registration roller 35.

[0054] The photosensitive drum 51 rotates by the driving force from the main motor 108 (see FIG. 3) to convey the sheet S in the conveying direction, thereby conveying the sheet S in the conveying direction. In the photosensitive drum 51, the rotation for conveying the sheet S in the conveying direction is a clockwise rotation about the left-right direction of the main body 20 as the axis. Toner is stored in the toner storage section 57. The supply roller 56 supplies the toner in the toner storage section 57 to the developing roller 55. The charger 52 is a scorotron type charger and uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 51. Note that the charger 52 may be a charging roller.

[0055] A transfer roller 53 is arranged at a position facing the photosensitive drum 51. The transfer roller 53 forms a transfer nip TN between itself and the photosensitive drum 51 in the conveying path 201. Note that a transfer belt may be used instead of the transfer roller 53.

[0056] The main body 20 has a laser unit 7 at the upper part inside thereof. The laser unit 7 has a polygon mirror 131 (see FIG. 3), a laser light emitting part 132 (see FIG. 3), a polygon motor 133 (see FIG. 3), a lens, a reflecting mirror, etc. not shown. The laser unit 7 exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 by causing laser light (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) based on image data emitted from the laser light emitting part 132 to be scanned at high speed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 51.

[0057] The surface of the photosensitive drum 51 is exposed by the laser unit 7, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image based on the image data. The developing roller 55 forms a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 by supplying toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 51.

[0058] A transfer voltage is applied to the transfer roller 53 by a high-voltage power supply board 112 (see FIG. 3). The transfer roller 53 transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 to the sheet S passing through the transfer nip TN by conveying the sheet S between the transfer roller 53 and the photosensitive drum 51. In this way, image formation on the sheet S is performed.

[0059] A fixing device 6 is arranged on the downstream side of the process unit 4 in the conveyance path 201. The fixing device 6 has a heating roller 61, a pressure roller 62, and a heater 63. The heating roller 61 is an example of a heating rotating body and heats the sheet S. The pressure roller 62 is an example of a pressure rotating body, forms a nip N with the heating roller 61, and presses the sheet S. The pressure roller 62 rotates to convey the sheet S in the conveyance direction by the driving force of the main motor 108. In the pressure roller 62, the rotation for conveying the sheet S in the conveyance direction is a counterclockwise rotation about the left-right direction of the main body 20 as the axis. The heater 63 is, for example, a halogen heater and heats the heating roller 61.

[0060] The fixing device 6 heats the sheet S by the heating roller 61 and rotates the pressure roller 62, and conveys the sheet S while pressing it with the heating roller 61 and the pressure roller 62, thereby fixing the image formed on the sheet S by the process unit 4 to the sheet S.

[0061] Note that the fixing device 6 is configured to include the heating roller 61, the pressure roller 62, and the heater 63, but is not limited thereto. For example, the fixing device 6 may be configured to include a heater, a nip plate that receives radiant heat from the heater, a heating belt that rotates around the nip plate, and a pressure roller.

[0062] Also, the fixing device 6 may be configured to include a substrate on which a heat generation pattern is formed, a belt that rotates around the substrate, and a pressure roller, and the substrate and the belt are in contact with the pressure roller. Further, the fixing device 6 may be configured to include a heating roller, a heater, and a pressure belt.

[0063] At the cutter position between the first discharge roller 85 and the second discharge roller 86 in the first discharge path 201A, a cutter 10 is disposed. The multifunction machine 1 stops the rotation of the first discharge roller 85 and the second discharge roller 86 so that the cutting position on the sheet S reaches the cutter position. With the rotation of the first discharge roller 85 and the second discharge roller 86 stopped, the multifunction machine 1 cuts the sheet S using the cutter 10.

[0064] Figure 2 shows the schematic configuration of cutter 10. As shown in Figure 2, cutter 10 has a cutter frame 11, a slide rail 12, a fixed blade 13, a sheet passing portion 14, a moving blade 15, a slide holder 16, and a cutter motor 106. The cutter frame 11 extends in the axial direction. The slide rail 12 is a rail that extends axially and is formed on the cutter frame 11. The fixed blade 13 is a flat blade that extends axially and is fixed to the cutter frame 11. The sheet passing portion 14 is a space through which the sheet S formed on the cutter frame 11 passes. In this embodiment, the sheet passing portion 14 is formed between the slide rail 12 and the fixed blade 13. The moving blade 15 is a disc-shaped blade and is rotatably fixed to the slide holder 16.

[0065] The slide holder 16 engages with the slide rail 12 and is attached to the cutter frame 11 so as to be slidable along the slide rail 12. When the cutter motor 106 is driven to rotate forward, the slide holder 16 slides from one side in the axial direction (for example, the right side wall side of the main body 20) to the other side (for example, the left side wall side of the main body 20). When the cutter motor 106 is driven to rotate in reverse, the slide holder 16 slides from the other side in the axial direction to one side. The left side wall is an example of the first side wall, and the right side wall is an example of the second side wall. The slide holder 16 is movable from the initial position shown by the solid line in Figure 2 to the cutting completion position shown by the dashed line. When the slide holder 16 moves along the slide rail 12 to the cutting completion position when the sheet S is at the cutter position, one sheet S is sandwiched between the fixed blade 13 and the moving blade 15 and cut into two sheets. After discharging the cut sheet S to the discharge tray 22, the slide holder 16 is returned from the cutting completion position to the initial position before starting the cutting of the next sheet S. However, not limited to this, the slide holder 16 may be returned from the cutting completion position to the initial position after cutting the sheet S and before starting the conveyance toward the discharge tray 22. After cutting the sheet S, the multi-function machine 1 discharges the sheet S cut into two sheets to the discharge tray 22 by rotating the first discharge roller 85 and the second discharge roller 86 for a predetermined time.

[0066] Next, the control configuration of the multifunction machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the multifunction machine 1 further includes an ASIC 105, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, an NVRAM 104, a pre-registration sensor SE1, a post-registration sensor SE2, a discharge sensor SE3, an operation panel PA, a communication interface (I / F) 130, a low-voltage power supply board 110, a sensor group 91, motor drivers MD1 to MD4, a flapper solenoid 89, and a flapper switching circuit 90. The ASIC 105, ROM 102, RAM 103, NVRAM 104, motor drivers MD1 to MD4, and flapper switching circuit 90 are mounted on the main board 100.

[0067] The ASIC 105 is equipped with a CPU 101. The CPU 101 performs overall control of each part of the multifunction machine 1. The ASIC 105 is an example of a control unit and is electrically connected to the ROM 102, RAM 103, NVRAM 104, motor drivers MD1 to MD4, electromagnetic clutch 107, pre-registration sensor SE1, post-registration sensor SE2, discharge sensor SE3, operation panel PA, communication I / F 130, fixing unit 6, laser unit 7, sensor group 91, and flapper switching circuit 90.

[0068] The ROM 102 stores various control programs and various settings for controlling the multifunction machine 1. The single-sided sheet printing and cutting process and the double-sided sheet printing and cutting process, which will be described later with reference to FIGS. 6 to 11, are included in the control program.

[0069] The RAM 103 is used as a work area where various control programs are read out and a storage area for temporarily storing image data included in a job. The CPU 101 controls each part of the multifunction machine 1 while storing the processing results in the RAM 103 or NVRAM 104 according to the control programs read from the ROM 102 and the signals output from various sensors.

[0070] The operation panel PA has, for example, a touch panel in which a touch pad and a display are integrally formed, and a key button section. The operation panel PA receives a user's operation and outputs the received information to the ASIC 105. The user can, for example, instruct the cutting of the sheet after image formation on the multifunction machine 1 by operating the operation panel PA.

[0071] The motor driver MD1 is connected to a polygon motor 133 that rotationally drives the polygon mirror 131 of the laser unit 7, and controls the driving of the polygon motor 133 according to a control signal from the ASIC 105.

[0072] The motor driver MD2 is connected to the main motor 108, and controls the driving of the main motor 108 according to a control signal from the ASIC 105. The main motor 108 outputs a driving force to the pickup roller 33, the registration roller 35, the conveyance roller 36, the re-conveyance rollers 38, 39, the pressure roller 62, and the drum cartridge 5. When the ASIC 105 drives the main motor 108 to rotate forward via the motor driver MD2, a driving force is transmitted to the conveyance roller 36, the pressure roller 62, the photosensitive drum 51, the developing roller 55, the pickup roller 33, and the registration roller 35 by the output of the main motor 108. Then, the conveyance roller 36, the pressure roller 62, the photosensitive drum 51, the developing roller 55, the pickup roller 33, and the registration roller 35 rotate to convey the sheet S in the conveyance direction.

[0073] On the other hand, even when the ASIC 105 drives the main motor 108 to rotate reversely via the motor driver MD2, the driving force is not transmitted to the conveyance roller 36, the pressure roller 62, the drum cartridge 5, the pickup roller 33, and the registration roller 35.

[0074] Further, by driving the main motor 108 forward, the ASIC 105 transmits a driving force to the re-conveyance rollers 38 and 39, causing the re-conveyance rollers 38 and 39 to rotate in a direction to convey the sheet S toward the process unit 4. In the re-conveyance rollers 38 and 39, the rotation for conveying the sheet S toward the process unit 4 is a clockwise rotation about the left-right direction of the main body 20 as the axis. On the other hand, even when the ASIC 105 drives the main motor 108 in reverse, a driving force is transmitted to the re-conveyance rollers 38 and 39, causing the re-conveyance rollers 38 and 39 to rotate in a direction to convey the sheet S toward the process unit 4.

[0075] The motor driver MD3 is, for example, a stepping motor driver, and controls the driving of the discharge motor 109, which is, for example, a stepping motor, according to a control signal from the ASIC 105. The discharge motor 109 transmits a driving force to the first discharge roller 85, the second discharge roller 86, and the third discharge roller 87. When the ASIC 105 drives the discharge motor 109 forward via the stepping motor driver MD3, the first discharge roller 85, the second discharge roller 86, and the third discharge roller 87 rotate in a direction to convey the sheet S in the conveyance direction. In the first discharge roller 85, the second discharge roller 86, and the third discharge roller 87, the rotation for conveying the sheet S in the conveyance direction is a counterclockwise rotation about the left-right direction of the main body 20 as the axis, which is an example of the first rotation. Thereby, the sheet S is discharged to the discharge tray 22 via the first discharge path 201A or the second discharge path 201B. On the other hand, by driving the discharge motor 109 in reverse, the ASIC 105 rotates the third discharge roller 87 in a direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the sheet S. In the third discharge roller 87, the rotation in a direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the sheet S is a clockwise rotation about the left-right direction of the main body 20 as the axis, which is an example of the second rotation. Thereby, the sheet S being conveyed through the second discharge path 201B is conveyed in a direction opposite to the conveyance direction and is conveyed toward the re-conveyance path 202.

[0076] The motor driver MD4 is, for example, a DC motor driver, and controls the driving of a cutter motor 106 composed of, for example, a DC motor according to a control signal from the ASIC 105. When the ASIC 105 drives the cutter motor 106 to rotate forward via the DC motor driver MD4, the slide holder 16 moves the moving blade 15 in the width direction of the sheet S to cut the sheet S. The encoder 113 is attached to the rotating shaft of the cutter motor 106 and outputs a signal according to the rotation of the cutter motor 106. The ASIC 105 receives the signal output from the encoder 113 and acquires the rotation direction, rotation position, and rotation speed of the cutter motor 106 based on the received signal. Thereby, the ASIC 105 can know at which position on the slide rail 12 the slide holder 16 is, that is, at which axial position the moving blade 15 is.

[0077] The flapper switching circuit 90 switches the position of the flapper 88 between a first position (position 88A indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) and a second position (position 88B indicated by a solid line in FIG. 1) by switching the direction of the current flowing through the flapper solenoid 89 according to a control signal from the ASIC 105. The first position 88A is a position where the sheet S conveyed by the conveying roller 36 is guided to the second discharge path 201B. Also, the first position 88A is a position where the sheet S in the second discharge path 201B is guided to the re-conveying path 202. The second position 88B is a position where the sheet S conveyed by the conveying roller 36 is guided to the first discharge path 201A.

[0078] The electromagnetic clutch 107 is controlled by the ASIC 105. When the ASIC 105 turns on the electromagnetic clutch 107, the driving force of the main motor 108 is transmitted to the pickup roller 33, while when the ASIC 105 turns off the electromagnetic clutch 107, the driving force of the main motor 108 is not transmitted to the pickup roller 33.

[0079] The pre-registration sensor SE1 is a sensor that is arranged upstream of the registration roller 35 in the conveyance path 201 and detects the passage of the sheet S. As the pre-registration sensor SE1, a sensor having an actuator that swings when the sheet S abuts, an optical sensor, or the like can be used. The pre-registration sensor SE1 outputs an on signal when the sheet S is passing and an off signal when the sheet S is not passing. The detection signal from the pre-registration sensor SE1 is output to the ASIC 105.

[0080] The post-registration sensor SE2 is a sensor that is arranged upstream of the fixing device 6 in the conveyance path 201, specifically, between the registration roller 35 and the transfer roller 53, and detects the passage of the sheet S. The post-registration sensor SE2 has the same configuration as the pre-registration sensor SE1. The detection signal from the post-registration sensor SE2 is output to the ASIC 105.

[0081] The discharge sensor SE3 is arranged between the fixing device 6 and the conveyance roller 36 in the conveyance path 201 and detects the passage of the sheet S. The discharge sensor SE3 has the same configuration as the pre-registration sensor SE1. The detection signal from the discharge sensor SE3 is output to the ASIC 105.

[0082] The sheet sensor SE4 (see FIG. 1) is arranged between the cutter position and the second discharge roller 86 and detects the passage of the sheet S. The sheet sensor SE4 has the same configuration as the pre-registration sensor SE1. The sheet sensor SE4 is one of the sensors included in the sensor group 91. In addition to the sheet sensor SE4, the sensor group 91 includes a round blade presence / absence sensor 91A that detects whether the moving blade 15 is installed on the slide holder 16. Each detection signal from each sensor included in the sensor group 91 is output to the ASIC 105.

[0083] The communication I / F 130 is connected to a network such as a LAN, enabling connection to an external device such as a PC in which a driver for the multifunction machine 1 is incorporated. The CPU 101 can receive a print job via the communication I / F 130. The print job includes various types of information necessary for forming an image on the sheet S, such as image data for image formation, the size and type of the sheet S used for image formation, and information on whether to cut the sheet S.

[0084] The low-voltage power supply board 110 includes an AC-DC converter (not shown), converts the input AC voltage (for example, commercial AC 100V) into a DC voltage (for example, DC 24V) by the AC-DC converter, and outputs it to the main board 100 and the high-voltage power supply board 112. The main board 100 includes a DC-DC converter (not shown), supplies the input DC 24V as it is to the motor drivers MD1 to MD4, or converts the input DC 24V into a lower DC voltage (for example, DC 3.3V) by the DC-DC converter and supplies it as a power supply voltage to the ASIC 105 and the like. The high-voltage power supply board 112 boosts the DC 24V from the low-voltage power supply board 110 and applies high-voltage charging voltage, developing voltage, and transfer voltage to the charger 52, the developing roller 55, and the transfer roller 53, respectively.

[0085] Figure 4 shows a part of the control configuration of Figure 3 extracted and shown in detail. As shown in Figure 4, the stepping motor driver MD3 is controlled by seven control signals. Therefore, the seven input terminals IN1 to IN7 of the stepping motor driver MD3 are connected to the seven terminals SLEEP, DIR, USM0, USM1, VREF1, ENB, and STEP of the ASIC 105 via seven signal lines SL1 to SL7, respectively.

[0086] The terminal SLEEP outputs a control signal of either H / L and indicates whether to shift the stepping motor driver MD3 to the power-saving mode. When H is output from the terminal SLEEP, the stepping motor driver MD3 shifts to the power-saving mode, and when L is output from the terminal SLEEP, the stepping motor driver MD3 shifts to the non-power-saving mode.

[0087] Terminal DIR outputs a control signal of either H / L and indicates the rotation direction of the discharge motor 109 to the stepping motor driver MD3. When L is output from terminal DIR, the stepping motor driver MD3 rotates the discharge motor 109 forward. On the other hand, when H is output from terminal DIR, the stepping motor driver MD3 rotates the discharge motor 109 in reverse.

[0088] Terminals USM0 and USM1 also output a control signal of either H / L respectively, and indicate the excitation phase of the discharge motor 109 to the stepping motor driver MD3. As the excitation phases, there are typically single-phase excitation, two-phase excitation, and 1-2 phase excitation. However, in this embodiment, W1-2 phase excitation and 2-2 phase excitation are used.

[0089] When L and H are output from terminals USM0 and USM1 respectively, the stepping motor driver MD3 drives the discharge motor 109 with W1-2 phase excitation. On the other hand, when L and L are output from terminals USM0 and USM1 respectively, the stepping motor driver MD3 drives the discharge motor 109 with 2-2 phase excitation.

[0090] Terminal VREF1 is connected to the current input terminal IN5 of the stepping motor driver MD3 and switches to output / stop the current toward the current input terminal IN5. Also, terminal ENB outputs a control signal of either H / L and indicates the enable / disable of the discharge motor 109 to the stepping motor driver MD3. When H is output from terminal ENB, the stepping motor driver MD3 enables the discharge motor 109. On the other hand, when L is output from terminal ENB, the stepping motor driver MD3 disables the discharge motor 109. Furthermore, terminal STEP outputs a STEP signal. The stepping motor driver MD3 controls the driving of the discharge motor 109 according to this STEP signal.

[0091] A connection point CP1 provided on a signal line SL2 connecting a terminal DIR of the ASIC 105 and an input terminal IN2 of the stepping motor driver MD3 is connected to an input terminal PH of the DC motor driver MD4 via a signal line SL11. Also, a connection point CP2 provided on a signal line SL3 connecting a terminal USM0 of the ASIC 105 and an input terminal IN3 of the stepping motor driver MD3 is connected to an input terminal EN of the DC motor driver MD4 via a signal line SL12. That is, the terminal DIR and the terminal USM0 of the ASIC 105 are shared by the stepping motor driver MD3 and the DC motor driver MD4. Further, a terminal VREF2 of the ASIC 105 and a current input terminal IN11 of the DC motor driver MD4 are connected via a signal line SL8.

[0092] The DC motor driver MD4 is controlled by three control signals input via the signal lines SL11, SL12, and SL8. Specifically, the DC motor driver MD4 controls the rotation direction of the cutter motor 106, specifically, forward rotation / reverse rotation / stop, by control signals of either H / L input to the input terminals PH and EN, respectively. Also, the DC motor driver MD4 enables / disables the cutter motor 106 by a control signal indicating output / stop input to the current input terminal IN11. Specifically, when a signal is output from the terminal VREF2, the DC motor driver MD4 enables the cutter motor 106, and when the signal from the terminal VREF2 is stopped, the DC motor driver MD4 disables the cutter motor 106.

[0093] When H and L are input from the terminals DIR and USM0 of ASIC105 to the input terminals PH and EN of the DC motor driver MD4, the DC motor driver MD4 drives the cutter motor 106 to rotate forward. Also, when L and H are input from the terminals DIR and USM0 of ASIC105 to the input terminals PH and EN of the DC motor driver MD4, the DC motor driver MD4 drives the cutter motor 106 to rotate in reverse. Further, when L and L are input from the terminals DIR and USM0 of ASIC105 to the input terminals PH and EN of the DC motor driver MD4, the DC motor driver MD4 stops the cutter motor 106.

[0094] Returning to FIG. 4, a connection point CP3 provided on a signal line SL1 connecting the terminal SLEEP of ASIC105 and the input terminal IN1 of the stepping motor driver MD3 and the output terminal OUT2 of the encoder 113 are connected via a signal line SL13. Also, a connection point CP4 provided on a signal line SL6 connecting the terminal ENB of ASIC105 and the input terminal IN6 of the DC motor driver MD4 and the output terminal OUT1 of the encoder 113 are connected via a signal line SL14. That is, the terminals SLEEP and ENB of ASIC105 are shared by the stepping motor driver MD3 and the encoder 113. However, since the encoder 113 outputs two output signals ENC1 and ENC2 from two output terminals OUT1 and OUT2, ASIC105 needs to use the terminals SLEEP and ENB as input terminals instead of output terminals in order to detect the output signals ENC1 and ENC2 from the encoder 113. That is, the terminals SLEEP and ENB of ASIC105 are terminals that can switch between the function as an output terminal and the function as an input terminal.

[0095] ASIC105 acquires the rotation direction, rotation position, and rotation speed of the cutter motor 106 based on two output signals ENC1 and ENC2 from two output terminals OUT1 and OUT2 of the encoder 113.

[0096] A circuit 120A consisting of a transistor Q1 and two resistors R1 and R2 is connected to the GPIO terminal of the ASIC 105 via a signal line SL9. In this circuit 120A, the base of the transistor Q1 is connected to the GPIO terminal via the resistor R1, the base and the emitter of the transistor Q1 are connected via the resistor R2, and the emitter of the transistor Q1 is grounded. Further, the collector of the transistor Q1 is connected to the grid of the FET1 included in the circuit 120B.

[0097] The circuit 120B is a circuit consisting of an FET1 and a diode D1, and the diode D1 is connected between the source and the drain of the FET1. The drain of the FET1 is connected to the power supply terminal VM of the DC motor driver MD4, and the source of the FET1 is connected to the output side of the low-voltage power supply board 110.

[0098] The circuit 120A and the circuit 120B constitute an on-off circuit 120 that switches whether to supply DC24V from the low-voltage power supply board 110 to the power supply terminal VM of the DC motor driver MD4. Specifically, when the ASIC 105 outputs H from the GPIO terminal, the transistor Q1 of the circuit 120A turns on, the FET1 of the circuit 120B turns on between the drain and the source, and DC24V from the low-voltage power supply board 110 is supplied to the power supply terminal VM of the DC motor driver MD4. Conversely, when the ASIC 105 outputs L from the GPIO terminal, the transistor Q1 of the circuit 120A turns off, the FET1 of the circuit 120B turns off between the drain and the source, and the supply of DC24V from the low-voltage power supply board 110 to the power supply terminal VM of the DC motor driver MD4 is stopped.

[0099] As described above, the position of the flap 88 is switched between the first position 88A and the second position 88B by the flap switching circuit 90 switching the direction of the current flowing through the flap solenoid 89 according to the control signal from the ASIC 105.

[0100] Figure 5 shows the association between the input / output signals of each terminal of the ASIC 105 and the operations of the discharge motor 109 and the cutter motor 106. The "Control" items include "Discharge motor forward drive", "Discharge motor reverse drive", "Discharge motor stop", "Cutter motor forward drive", "Cutter motor reverse drive", and "Cutter motor stop". The control items in Figure 5 are executed by the CPU 101 controlling the input / output signals of each terminal in the control processes shown in Figures 6 to 10 described later.

[0101] <Forward drive of the discharge motor> As shown in the "Forward drive of the discharge motor" of the "Control" item in Figure 5, the CPU 101 outputs each control signal of (common terminal) SLEEP = L; (common terminal) DIR = L; (common terminal) USM0 = L; USM1 = H; VREF1 = output; (common terminal) ENB = H; STEP = on (STEP signal output); VREF2 = stop; GPIO = off from the ASIC 105.

[0102] The stepping motor driver MD3 shifts to the non-power-saving mode by the control signal of (common terminal) SLEEP = L. The stepping motor driver MD3 drives the discharge motor 109 forward by the control signal of (common terminal) DIR = L, and drives the discharge motor 109 in W1-2 phase excitation by the control signals of (common terminal) USM0 = L and USM1 = H.

[0103] Then, the stepping motor driver MD3 has current input to the current input terminal IN5 by the control signal of VREF1 = output, and enables the drive of the discharge motor 109 by the control signal of (common terminal) ENB = H. The stepping motor driver MD3 outputs a STEP signal from the terminal STEP to the discharge motor 109.

[0104] On one hand, a control signal of (common terminal) DIR = L is input to the input terminal PH of the DC motor driver MD4, and a control signal of (common terminal) USM0 = L is input to the input terminal EN of the DC motor driver MD4. However, since a control signal of VREF2 = stop is input to the current input terminal IN11 of the DC motor driver MD4, the DC motor driver MD4 disables the cutter motor 106.

[0105] Furthermore, the CPU 101 outputs a control signal of GPIO = off from the terminal GPIO of the ASIC 105. Then, the on-off circuit 120 is in the off state, and DC24V is not supplied from the low-voltage power supply board 110 to the power supply terminal VM of the DC motor driver MD4. Therefore, the DC motor driver MD4 stops operating. Even if control signals with other values are input to the input terminals PH, EN, and current input terminal IN11 of the DC motor driver MD4, the DC motor driver MD4 keeps the cutter motor 106 in a stopped state.

[0106] The "Exhaust motor forward drive" in the "Control" item of the control items in FIG. 5 is executed when the CPU 101 outputs corresponding control signals from the ASIC 105 at S48 in FIG. 5 and S70 in FIG. 8, which will be described later.

[0107] <Exhaust motor reverse drive> As shown in the "Exhaust motor reverse drive" of the "Control" item in FIG. 5, the CPU 101 outputs control signals of (common terminal) SLEEP = L; (common terminal) DIR = H; (common terminal) USM0 = L; USM1 = L; VREF1 = output; (common terminal) ENB = H; STEP = on (STEP signal output); VREF2 = stop; GPIO = off from the ASIC 105.

[0108] The stepping motor driver MD3 shifts to the non-power-saving mode according to the control signal of (common terminal) SLEEP = L. The stepping motor driver MD3 drives the exhaust motor 109 in reverse according to the control signal of (common terminal) DIR = H, and drives the exhaust motor 109 based on two-phase excitation according to the control signals of (common terminal) USM0 = L and USM1 = L.

[0109] Then, the stepping motor driver MD3 has current input to the current input terminal IN5 according to the control signal of VREF1 = output, and enables the drive of the discharge motor 109 according to the control signal of (common terminal) ENB = H. The stepping motor driver MD3 outputs a STEP signal from the terminal STEP to the discharge motor 109.

[0110] Since VREF2 = stop is input to the current input terminal IN11 of the DC motor driver MD4, the DC motor driver MD4 disables the cutter motor 106. Since the CPU101 outputs a control signal of GPIO = off from the terminal GPIO of the ASIC105, even if control signals of other values are input to the input terminals PH, EN, and current input terminal IN11 of the DC motor driver MD4, the DC motor driver MD4 keeps the cutter motor 106 stopped.

[0111] The "discharge motor reverse drive" in the "control" item of the control items in FIG. 5 is executed by the CPU101 outputting corresponding control signals from the ASIC105 at S92 in FIG. 10 described later.

[0112] <Discharge motor stop> As shown in the "discharge motor stop" of the "control" item in FIG. 5, the CPU101 outputs each control signal of (common terminal) SLEEP = H; (common terminal) DIR = L; (common terminal) USM0 = L; USM1 = H; VREF1 = stop; (common terminal) ENB = L; STEP = off (STEP signal output stop), VREF2 = stop; GPIO = off from the ASIC105.

[0113] The stepping motor driver MD3 does not have current input to the current input terminal IN5 according to the control signal of VREF1 = stop, and disables the drive of the discharge motor 109 according to the control signal of (common terminal) ENB = L.

[0114] Since CPU 101 outputs a control signal of GPIO = OFF from the terminal GPIO of ASIC 105, as described above, the on-off circuit 120 is in the off state, and the DC motor driver MD4 stops operating. The DC motor driver MD4 stops the cutter motor 106.

[0115] For the control item "Exhaust motor stop" in the "Control" item of FIG. 5, as shown in S62 and S74 of FIG. 8 to be described later, CPU 101 outputs the corresponding control signals from ASIC 105 to execute it.

[0116] <Cutter motor forward drive> As shown in "Cutter motor forward drive" in the "Control" item of FIG. 5, CPU 101 outputs control signals of (common terminal) DIR = H; (common terminal) USM0 = L; VREF1 = stop; STEP = OFF (STEP signal output stop); VREF2 = output; GPIO = ON from ASIC 105.

[0117] The stepping motor driver MD3 invalidates the drive of the exhaust motor 109 because no current is input to the current input terminal IN5 due to the control signal of VREF1 = stop.

[0118] Since CPU 101 outputs a control signal of GPIO = ON from the terminal GPIO of ASIC 105, as described above, the on-off circuit 120 is in the on state, and the DC motor driver MD4 operates.

[0119] Since CPU 101 outputs control signals of the terminals DIR = H and USM0 = L of ASIC 105, the DC motor driver MD4 drives the cutter motor 106 forward.

[0120] For the control item "Cutter motor forward drive" in the "Control" item of FIG. 5, as shown in S64 of FIG. 8 to be described later, CPU 101 outputs the corresponding control signals from ASIC 105 to execute it.

[0121] <Cutter motor reverse drive> As shown in "Cutter Motor Reverse Drive" under the "Control" item in Figure 5, the CPU 101 outputs each control signal of (Common Terminal) DIR = L; (Common Terminal) USM0 = H; VREF1 = Stop; STEP = Off (STEP signal output stopped); VREF2 = Output; GPIO = On from the ASIC 105.

[0122] The stepping motor driver MD3 invalidates the drive of the discharge motor 109 by the control signal of VREF1 = Stop, through which no current is input to the current input terminal IN5. The DC motor driver MD4 is operating due to the control signal of GPIO = On.

[0123] Since the CPU 101 outputs the control signals of the ASIC 105 terminals DIR = L, USM0 = H, the DC motor driver MD4 drives the cutter motor 106 in the forward rotation.

[0124] The "Cutter Motor Reverse Drive" under the "Control" item in Figure 5 is executed by the CPU 101 outputting the corresponding control signals from the ASIC 105 at S222 and S24 in Figure 6, which will be described later.

[0125] <Cutter Motor Stop> As shown in "Cutter Motor Stop" under the "Control" item in Figure 5, the CPU 101 outputs each control signal of (Common Terminal) DIR = L; (Common Terminal) USM0 = L; VREF1 = Stop; STEP = Off (STEP signal output stopped); VREF2 = Stop; GPIO = Off.

[0126] The stepping motor driver MD3 invalidates the drive of the discharge motor 109 by the control signal of VREF1 = Stop, through which no current is input to the current input terminal IN5.

[0127] Since the CPU 101 outputs the control signal of GPIO = Off from the GPIO terminal of the ASIC 105, as described above, the on - off circuit 120 is in the off state, and the DC motor driver MD4 stops operating. The DC motor driver MD4 stops the cutter motor 106.

[0128] In FIG. 5, for the control item “Control” item “Cutter motor stop”, as shown in S68 of FIG. 8 described later, the CPU 101 outputs corresponding control signals from the ASIC 105 to execute it.

[0129] Hereinafter, the control process executed by the multifunction machine 1 configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10.

[0130] <Single-sided sheet printing and cutting process> FIG. 6 shows the procedure of the single-sided sheet printing and cutting process executed by the ASIC 105, particularly the CPU 101. This single-sided sheet printing and cutting process is started when the multifunction machine 1 receives a print job or a print command including an instruction to print (image formation) on one side of the sheet S and an instruction to cut the sheet S printed on one side. Hereinafter, in the description of each process, the step will be denoted as “S”.

[0131] In FIG. 6, first, the CPU 101 turns on the heater 63 (S10) and controls the heater 63 so that the heating roller 61 reaches the target temperature. Next, after the CPU 101 outputs a control signal for driving the main motor 108 forward to the motor driver MD2 (S12), it outputs a control signal to the flapper switching circuit 90 and switches the direction of the current flowing through the flapper solenoid 89 to switch the flapper 88 to the second position 88B (S14). Thereby, the flapper 88 guides the sheet S conveyed by the conveying roller 36 to the first discharge path 201A where the cutter 10 is provided.

[0132] Next, the CPU 101 executes an image forming process (S16). FIG. 7 shows the detailed procedure of the image forming process. In FIG. 7, first, the CPU 101 executes a pickup command (S40). Thereby, the CPU 101 turns on the electromagnetic clutch 107. When the electromagnetic clutch 107 is turned on, as described above, the driving force of the main motor 108 is transmitted to the pickup roller 33, so that the sheet S in the supply tray 31 is picked up and conveyed toward the conveyance path 201.

[0133] Next, the CPU 101 waits until the post-registration sensor SE2 switches from off to on (S42: NO). As described above, the post-registration sensor SE2 is disposed between the registration roller 35 and the transfer roller 53 in the transport path 201, and outputs an on signal when the sheet S is passing therethrough, and outputs an off signal when the sheet S is not passing therethrough. Therefore, in S42, the CPU 101 waits until the post-registration sensor SE2 detects the leading edge of the sheet S. Then, when the post-registration sensor SE2 detects the leading edge of the sheet S (S42: YES), the CPU 101 starts image formation on the sheet S (S44). Note that the image formation may be started on the occasion other than the post-registration sensor SE2 detecting the leading edge of the sheet S. The image formation may be performed so that the toner image formed by the photoreceptor drum 51 is correctly transferred to the image formation position of the sheet S.

[0134] Next, the CPU 101 waits until the discharge sensor SE3 switches from off to on (S46: NO). As described above, the discharge sensor SE3 is disposed between the fixing device 6 and the transport roller 36 in the transport path 201, and outputs an on signal when the sheet S is passing therethrough, and outputs an off signal when the sheet S is not passing therethrough. Therefore, in S46, the CPU 101 waits until the discharge sensor SE3 detects the leading edge of the sheet S. Then, when the discharge sensor SE3 detects the leading edge of the sheet S (S46: YES), the CPU 101 drives the discharge motor 109 to rotate forward (S48). The process of S48 is the process of "forward rotation drive of the discharge motor" which is the item of "control" in FIG. 5. With the forward rotation drive of the discharge motor 109, the first discharge roller 85 and the second discharge roller 86 transport the sheet S in the transport path 201A in the transport direction.

[0135] The CPU 101 waits until a predetermined time elapses (S50: NO). When the predetermined time elapses (S50: YES), the CPU 101 finishes image formation (S52) and ends the image formation process. The "predetermined time" in S50 is, for example, the time from when the discharge sensor SE3 detects the leading edge of the sheet S in the conveyance direction until the trailing edge of the sheet S passes through the transfer nip TN (see FIG. 1).

[0136] Returning to FIG. 6, next, the CPU 101 executes a sheet cutting process (S18). FIG. 8 shows the detailed procedure of the sheet cutting process. In FIG. 8, first, the CPU 101 waits until the sheet S conveyed by the first discharge roller 85 and the second discharge roller 86 reaches the sheet stop position (S60: NO). The sheet stop position is, for example, the position where the center of the sheet S reaches the cutter position of the cutter 10 when cutting the sheet S at the center in the conveyance direction. Note that the position where the center of the sheet S reaches the cutter position of the cutter 10 is the position where the sheet S has passed through the fuser 6, and the trailing edge of the sheet S is not nipped by the fuser 6. The CPU 101 determines whether the sheet S has reached the sheet stop position by, for example, counting the number of steps of the discharge motor 109 starting from when the leading edge of the sheet S is detected based on the detection result of the sheet sensor SE4. When the sheet S reaches the sheet stop position (S60: YES), the CPU 101 stops driving the discharge motor 109 (S62). The process of S62 is the process of "discharge motor stop" which is an item of "control" in FIG. 5. With the stop of the discharge motor 109, the conveyance of the sheet S by the first discharge roller 85 and the second discharge roller 86 also stops.

[0137] The CPU 101 moves the slide holder 16 from the initial position toward the cutting position (forward path) by driving the cutter motor 106 forward (S64). The process of S64 is the process of "forward driving of the cutter motor" which is an item in the "Control" of FIG. 5. As a result, the cutter motor 106 causes the slide holder 16 to slide and move from one side in the axial direction (for example, the right side wall side of the main body 20) toward the other side (for example, the left side wall side of the main body 20). Therefore, the slide holder 16 starts to move from the initial position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 toward the cutting completion position shown by the broken line.

[0138] Next, the CPU 101 waits until the slide holder 16 reaches the cutting completion position (S66: NO). The CPU 101 determines whether the slide holder 16 has reached the cutting completion position based on the signals input from the two terminals SLEEP and ENB of the ASIC 105, that is, the two output signals ENC1 and ENC2 from the encoder 113. As described above, the CPU 101 can acquire the rotation direction, rotation position, and rotation speed of the cutter motor 106 based on the output signals ENC1 and ENC2 from the encoder 113. Therefore, it can know at which position in the axial direction the moving blade 15 is based on the acquired information.

[0139] When the slide holder 16 reaches the cutting completion position (S66: YES), the CPU 101 stops the cutter motor 106 (S68). The process of S68 is the process of "stopping the cutter motor" which is an item in the "Control" of FIG. 5. This means that the cutting of the sheet S by the cutter 10 is completed.

[0140] The CPU 101 drives the discharge motor 109 forward (S70). The process of S70 is the process of "forward driving of the discharge motor" which is an item in the "Control" of FIG. 5. With the forward driving of the discharge motor 109, the first discharge roller 85 and the second discharge roller 86 rotate, and the sheet S cut by the cutter 10 is conveyed toward the discharge tray by the first discharge roller 85 and the second discharge roller 86.

[0141] Next, the CPU 101 waits until the discharge of the sheet S cut by the first discharge roller 85 and the second discharge roller 86 is completed (S72: NO). Here, as a method for determining whether or not the discharge of the cut sheet S is completed, for example, a method of determining whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed after the process of S70, that is, the time required for the discharge of the cut sheet S to be completed has elapsed, or a method of counting the number of steps of the discharge motor 109 after the process of S70 and determining whether or not the number of steps is equal to or greater than the number of steps required for the discharge of the cut sheet S to be completed can be considered.

[0142] Next, the CPU 101 stops the drive of the discharge motor 109 (S74) in the same manner as in S62 above, and then ends the sheet cutting process. The process of S74 is the process of "discharge motor stop" which is an item of "control" in FIG. 5.

[0143] Returning to FIG. 6, the CPU 101 determines whether or not there is printing of the next sheet for the job being executed (S20). In this determination, if there is printing of the next sheet (S20: YES), the CPU 101 reversely drives the cutter motor 106 to move the slide holder 16 from the cutting position toward the initial position (return path) (S22). The process of S22 is the process of "cutter motor reverse drive" which is an item of "control" in FIG. 5. After moving the slide holder 16 to the initial position (S22), the process returns to S16 above, and the processes after S16 are continuously executed.

[0144] On the other hand, if there is no printing of the next sheet (S20: NO), the CPU 101 outputs a control signal to the flapper switching circuit 90 and switches the direction of the current flowing through the flapper solenoid 89 to switch the flapper 88 to the first position 88A (S24). As a result, the flapper 88 switches from the position guiding the sheet S toward the first discharge path 201A to the position guiding the sheet S toward the second discharge path 201B. Then, in the same manner as in S22, the CPU 101 reversely drives the cutter motor 106 to move the slide holder 16 from the cutting position toward the initial position (return path) (S26). After the process of S26, the CPU 101 turns off the heater 63 (S28), outputs a control signal for stopping the main motor 108 to the motor driver MD2 (S30), and then ends the single-sided sheet printing and cutting process.

[0145] <Double-sided sheet printing and cutting process> FIG. 9 shows the procedure of the double-sided sheet printing and cutting process executed by the ASIC 105, particularly the CPU 101. This double-sided sheet printing and cutting process is started when the multifunction machine 1 receives a print job or a print command including an instruction to print (image formation) on both sides of the sheet S and an instruction to cut the sheet S printed on both sides. Since FIG. 9 is configured by partially modifying the single-sided sheet printing and cutting process of FIG. 6, in FIG. 9, the same reference numerals are given to the same processes as in FIG. 6, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

[0146] The flapper 88 is in the first position 88A as the initial position and is in a position to guide the sheet S toward the second discharge path 201B. The CPU 101 omits the process of S14 in FIG. 6 and executes the processes of S10, S12, and S16. The CPU 101 conveys the sheet S toward the second discharge path 201B using the conveyance unit 3. The image formation process of S16 indicates the process of forming an image on the first side of the sheet S. Then, the CPU 101 executes a sheet inversion process (S80). FIG. 10 shows the detailed procedure of the sheet inversion process. In FIG. 10, first, the CPU 101 waits until the sheet S reaches the inversion position (S90: NO). The CPU 101 determines whether the sheet S has reached the inversion position by determining whether the rear end of the sheet S in the conveyance direction has reached the inversion position. For example, the CPU 101 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed after the discharge sensor SE3 detects the front end of the sheet S in the conveyance direction.

[0147] Then, when the sheet S reaches the inversion position (S90: YES), the CPU 101 drives the discharge motor 109 in reverse (S92). The process of S92 is the process of "discharge motor reverse drive" which is an item of "control" in FIG. 5. With the reverse drive of the discharge motor 109, the third discharge roller 87 rotates in the direction opposite to the rotation for transporting the sheet S in the transport direction, so that the sheet S is transported toward the retransport path 202. The sheet S transported to the retransport path 202 is transported toward the process unit 4 by the retransport rollers 38 and 39.

[0148] The CPU 101 waits until the post-registration sensor SE2 switches from off to on in the same manner as in S42 (see FIG. 7) (S94: NO). Then, when the post-registration sensor SE2 detects the leading edge of the sheet S (S94: YES), the CPU 101 ends the sheet inversion process.

[0149] Returning to FIG. 9, the CPU 101 switches the flapper 88 to the second position 88B in the same manner as in S14 (S82). Thereby, the flapper 88 guides the sheet S transported by the transport roller 36 to the first discharge path 201A where the cutter 10 is provided.

[0150] Next, the CPU 101 executes image forming processing (second side) (S84). FIG. 11 shows the detailed procedure of the image forming processing (second side) for forming an image on the second side of the sheet S transported via the retransport path 202. The image forming processing (second side) is configured by omitting the processes of S40 and S42 included in the image forming processing of FIG. 7. Therefore, during the process of FIG. 11, the same processes as those included in the image forming processing of FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted. The reason for configuring the image forming processing (second side) by omitting the processes of S40 and S42 included in the image forming processing of FIG. 7 is that the sheet S to be printed is the sheet S that has been printed on the first side via the retransport path 202, and it is not necessary to pick up a new sheet S from the supply tray 31, and the process of S42 has already been executed in S94 (see FIG. 10) and there is no need to execute it repeatedly.

[0151] Returning to FIG. 9, the CPU 101 executes the process of S18 in FIG. 6. By the sheet cutting process of S18, the sheet S on which images are formed on each of the first surface and the second surface is cut by the cutter 10. Then, in the determination of S20, if there is printing of the next sheet in the job being executed (S20: YES), the CPU 101 executes the process of S22 similar to S22 in FIG. 6, and in the same manner as S24 (see FIG. 6), after switching the flapper 88 to the first position 88A (S86), the process returns to S16 above, and the processes after S16 are continuously executed.

[0152] On the other hand, in the determination of S20, if there is no printing of the next sheet in the job being executed (S20: NO), the CPU 101 executes the processes of S24 to S30 similar to the processes of S24 to S30 in FIG. 6, and then ends the sheet double-sided printing cutting process.

[0153] As described above, the multifunction machine 1 of the present embodiment includes an image forming unit that forms an image on the sheet S, a heating roller 61, and a pressure roller 62 that forms a nip N with the heating roller 61, a fixing device 6 that fixes the image formed on the sheet S to the sheet S, a main body 20 having a conveyance path 201 for the sheet S, and a cutter 10 having a moving blade 15 disposed at a cutter position downstream of the fixing device 6 in the sheet conveyance direction in the conveyance path 201. The cutter 10 cuts the sheet S by moving the moving blade 15 in a cutting direction that intersects the sheet conveyance direction, a conveyance unit 3 that conveys the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction along the conveyance path 201, and the conveyance unit 3 having discharge rollers 85 to 87 that are located downstream of the cutter position in the sheet conveyance direction and discharge the sheet on the conveyance path 201 to the outside of the main body 20, a discharge motor 109 that transmits a driving force for rotationally driving the discharge rollers 85 to 87, a cutter motor that transmits a driving force for moving the moving blade 15 in the cutting direction to the cutter 10, a stepping motor driver MD3 that controls the driving of the discharge motor 109, a DC motor driver MD4 that controls the driving of the cutter motor 106, and an ASIC 105. The ASIC 105 controls the stepping motor driver MD3 to stop the discharge motor 109, and uses the DC motor driver MD4 to move the moving blade 15 in the cutting direction. When the stepping motor driver MD3 is controlled to drive the discharge motor 109, the DC motor driver MD4 is used to stop the cutter motor 106.

[0154] Thus, in the multifunction machine 1 of the present embodiment, when driving the cutter motor 106, the discharge motor 109 is not driven, so that the sheet S is surely stopped and the sheet S is cut. Conversely, when driving the discharge motor 109, the cutter motor 106 is not driven, so that the sheet S is not conveyed during the cutting of the sheet S. Therefore, the cutting accuracy of the sheet S is further improved.

[0155] After the sheet S passes through the fixing device 6, when the ASIC 105 controls the stepping motor driver MD3 to stop the discharge motor 109 and uses the DC motor driver MD4 to move the cutter 10 in the cutting direction, and then controls the stepping motor driver MD3 to drive the discharge motor 109, the ASIC 105 executes control to stop the cutter motor using the DC motor driver MD4. Therefore, in the multifunction device 1 of the present embodiment, after the toner image is appropriately heat-fixed to the sheet S by the fixing device 6, the sheet S can be cut by the cutter 10.

[0156] Further, the moving blade 15 moves in the cutting direction from the initial position. When the ASIC 105 moves the moving blade 15 in the cutting direction from the initial position by the driving force of the cutter motor 106 to cut the sheet S, the ASIC 105 controls the stepping motor driver MD3 to stop the discharge motor 109, and then controls the DC motor driver MD4 to drive the cutter motor 106 to move the moving blade 15 in the cutting direction from the initial position to cut the sheet S. Then, the ASIC 105 controls the stepping motor driver MD3 to drive the discharge motor 109 to discharge the cut sheet S to the outside of the main body 20. Thereafter, the ASIC 105 controls the DC motor driver MD4 to drive the cutter motor 106 to return the moving blade 15 to the initial position.

[0157] Thus, when the moving blade 15 is moved in the cutting direction from the initial position by the driving force of the cutter motor 106 to cut the sheet S, the discharge motor 109 is stopped when the cutter motor 106 is driven, and the cutter motor 106 is stopped when the discharge motor 109 is driven. Therefore, the sheet S is cut while being surely stopped, and the sheet S is not conveyed during the cutting of the sheet S. Accordingly, the cutting accuracy of the sheet S is further improved.

[0158] Also, the ASIC 105 outputs a plurality of control signals from a plurality of terminals SLEEP, DIR, USM0, USM1, VREF1, ENB, STEP of the ASIC 105 toward the stepping motor driver MD3, and outputs a control signal toward the DC motor driver MD4 using some of the plurality of terminals DIR, USM0 among the plurality of terminals SLEEP, DIR, USM0, USM1, VREF1, ENB, STEP.

[0159] Thus, since the DC motor driver MD4 is controlled using some of the plurality of terminals DIR, USM0 among the plurality of terminals SLEEP, DIR, USM0, USM1, VREF1, ENB, STEP used to control the stepping motor driver MD3, it becomes possible to eliminate the shortage of terminals of the ASIC 105.

[0160] In particular, in the multifunction device 1 having the fixing device 6, since there are many control targets such as the motor driver MD1 that drives the polygon motor 133 of the laser unit 7, the main motor 108, the motor driver MD3, the motor driver MD4, and the flapper switching circuit 90, eliminating the shortage of terminals of the ASIC 105 is particularly effective.

[0161] Also, the plurality of terminals SLEEP, DIR, USM0, USM1, VREF1, ENB, STEP of the ASIC 105 are connected to the stepping motor driver MD3 by a plurality of signal lines SL1 to SL7, and some of the signal lines SL2, SL3 among the plurality of signal lines SL1 to SL7 that connect some of the terminals DIR, USM0 among the plurality of terminals SLEEP, DIR, USM0, USM1, VREF1, ENB, STEP and the stepping motor driver MD3 are connected to the DC motor driver MD4 by connection lines SL11, SL12 at connection points CP1, CP2 on some of the signal lines SL2, SL3.

[0162] In this way, among a plurality of terminals SLEEP, DIR, USM0, USM1, VREF1, ENB, STEP, some terminals DIR, USM0 and some signal lines SL2, SL3 among a plurality of signal lines SL1 to SL7 connecting the stepping motor driver MD3 are connected to the DC motor driver MD4 by connection lines SL11, SL12. Therefore, some terminals DIR, USM0 can be shared by the stepping motor driver MD3 and the DC motor driver MD4.

[0163] Further, the multifunction device 1 further includes an on-off circuit 120 for turning on and off the supply of the power voltage to the DC motor driver MD4. The on-off circuit 120 and the ASIC 105 are connected by a signal line SL9. When driving the discharge motor 109, the ASIC 105 uses the on-off circuit 120 to turn off the supply of the power voltage to the DC motor driver MD4. When driving the cutter motor 106, the ASIC 105 uses the on-off circuit 120 to turn on the supply of the power voltage to the DC motor driver MD4.

[0164] In this way, when driving the discharge motor 109, the supply of the power voltage to the DC motor driver MD4 is turned off using the on-off circuit 120. When driving the cutter motor 106, the supply of the power voltage to the DC motor driver MD4 is turned on using the on-off circuit 120. Therefore, the supply of the power voltage to the DC motor driver MD4 can be turned on only when it is desired to drive the cutter motor 106. On the other hand, when driving the discharge motor 109, the supply of the power voltage to the DC motor driver MD4 is turned off. Therefore, when driving the discharge motor 109, the cutter motor 106 can be surely stopped.

[0165] Further, the discharge motor 109 is a stepping motor, the cutter motor 106 is a DC motor, and the terminals DIR and USM0, which are part of the ASIC 105, are connected to two terminals IN2 and IN3 of the stepping motor driver MD3 for instructing the rotation direction and excitation phase of the stepping motor via the signal lines SL2 and SL3, respectively. At the same time, the first connection point on the signal line SL2 and the second connection point on the signal line SL3 are connected to two terminals PH and EN of the DC motor driver MD4 for instructing the rotation direction of the DC motor via the signal lines, respectively. This is the feature.

[0166] In this way, by using a stepping motor as the discharge motor 109 and a DC motor as the cutter motor 106, motors with different numbers of control signals are used, so that some terminals DIR and USM0 can be shared by the stepping motor driver MD3 and the DC motor driver MD4.

[0167] Further, the multifunction device 1 further includes an encoder for detecting the rotation information of the cutter motor 106. The terminal SLEEP of the ASIC 105 is connected to the terminal IN1 of the stepping motor driver MD3 for shifting the stepping motor driver MD3 to the power saving mode via the signal line SL1. The terminal ENB of the ASIC 105 is connected to the input terminal IN6 of the stepping motor driver MD3 for switching the activation / inactivation of the drive control of the discharge motor 109 via the signal line SL6. The connection point CP3 on the signal line SL1 and the fourth connection point CP4 on the signal line SL6 are connected to two output terminals of the encoder 113 via the signal lines, respectively. This is the feature.

[0168] In this way, by sharing the terminals SLEEP and ENB of the ASIC 105 with the stepping motor driver MD3 and the encoder, it is possible to further eliminate the shortage of terminals of the ASIC 105.

[0169] Also, the terminal SLEEP and the terminal ENB are each a terminal that can be switched between the function of an output terminal and the function of an input terminal. When the ASIC 105 controls the stepping motor driver MD3, it switches the functions of the terminal SLEEP and the terminal ENB to the function of the output terminal, and when it controls the cutter motor 106, it switches the functions of the terminal SLEEP and the terminal ENB to the function of the input terminal.

[0170] The encoder 113 outputs the detected rotation information of the cutter motor 106, while the stepping motor driver MD3 inputs the outputs from the terminals SLEEP and ENB of the ASIC 105. Therefore, when controlling the stepping motor driver MD3, by switching the functions of the terminal SLEEP and the terminal ENB to the function of the output terminal, and when controlling the cutter motor 106, by switching the functions of the terminal SLEEP and the terminal ENB to the function of the input terminal, it becomes possible to share the terminals SLEEP and ENB of the ASIC 105 between the stepping motor driver MD3 and the encoder.

[0171] Also, the terminal VREF1 of the ASIC 105 is connected to the current input terminal IN5 of the stepping motor driver MD3 via the signal line SL5, and the terminal VREF2 of the ASIC 105 is connected to the current input terminal IN11 of the DC motor driver MD4 via the signal line SL8. When the ASIC 105 drives the discharge motor 109, it outputs a current from the terminal VREF1 toward the current input terminal IN5 of the stepping motor driver MD3 and does not output a current from the terminal VREF2 to the current input terminal IN11 of the DC motor driver MD4. When it drives the cutter motor 106, it does not output a current from the terminal VREF1 toward the current input terminal IN5 of the stepping motor driver MD3 and outputs a current from the terminal VREF2 to the current input terminal IN11 of the DC motor driver MD4.

[0172] Thus, when driving the discharge motor 109, the stepping motor driver MD3 is set to an operable state and the DC motor driver MD4 is set to an inoperable state. When driving the cutter motor 106, the stepping motor driver MD3 is set to an inoperable state and the DC motor driver MD4 is set to an operable state. Therefore, it is possible to drive the discharge motor 109 and the cutter motor 106 exclusively.

[0173] Further, the main body 20 has a first discharge path 201A for discharging the sheet S to the outside of the main body 20 via a cutter position on the downstream side of the fixing device 6 in the sheet conveyance direction, a second discharge path 201B for discharging the sheet to the outside of the main body 20 without passing through the cutter position, and a re-conveyance path 202 for conveying the sheet S that has passed through the fixing device 6 back toward the image forming unit 2. The discharge rollers 85 to 87 include a first discharge roller 85 and a second discharge roller 86 that rotate in a first direction to discharge the sheet to the outside of the main body 20 through the first discharge path 201A, and a third discharge roller 87 that rotates in a first direction to discharge the sheet to the outside of the main body 20 through the second discharge path 201B. The third discharge roller 87 rotates in a second direction, which is the reverse of the first direction, to convey the sheet S toward the re-conveyance path 202. Furthermore, the ASIC 105 uses the conveyance unit 3 to convey the sheet S toward the second discharge path 201B after the sheet S has passed through the image forming unit 2 and the fixing device 6 (S16). When the sheet S reaches a predetermined inversion position in the second discharge path 201B (S90: YES), the third discharge roller 87 is rotated in the second direction (S92) to convey the sheet S to the re-conveyance path 202. The sheet S conveyed via the re-conveyance path 202 is passed through the image forming unit 2 and the fixing device 6 again and conveyed toward the first discharge path 201A (S84). After the sheet S is conveyed until the cutting position of the sheet S reaches the cutter 10 position (S60: YES), the first discharge roller 85 and the second discharge roller 86 are controlled to stop the conveyance of the sheet S (S62). The moving blade 15 is moved from the initial position in the cutting direction to cut the stopped sheet S (S64, S66). The first discharge roller 85 and the second discharge roller 86 are driven, and the first discharge roller 85 and the second discharge roller 86 are controlled to discharge the cut sheet S to the outside of the main body 20 (S70, S72). After that, the moving blade 15 is returned to the initial position (S22, S26). This is the feature.

[0174] Thus, even when cutting the sheet S with images formed on both sides, when driving the cutter motor 106, the discharge motor 109 is not driven, so that the sheet S can be cut in a state where the sheet S is surely stopped. Conversely, when driving the discharge motor 109, the cutter motor 106 is not driven, so that the sheet S is not conveyed during cutting of the sheet S. Therefore, the cutting accuracy of the sheet S is further improved.

[0175] (Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present application will be described. Since this embodiment is configured by changing a part of the control configuration (see FIG. 4) of the multifunction machine 1 described in the first embodiment, the description will focus on the changed part, and the description of the other parts will be omitted as appropriate.

[0176] FIG. 12 shows a part of the control configuration of the multifunction machine according to this embodiment in detail, and corresponds to FIG. 4 of the first embodiment. As can be seen by comparing FIG. 12 and FIG. 4, in the control configuration of FIG. 4, DC24V was constantly supplied from the low-voltage power supply board 110 to the power supply terminal VM of the stepping motor driver MD3, whereas in the control configuration of FIG. 12, the DC24V supplied from the low-voltage power supply board 110 to the power supply terminal VM of the stepping motor driver MD3 can be turned on and off by an on-off circuit 121 composed of a circuit 121A and a circuit 121B. The configuration of the on-off circuit 121 is the same as the configuration of the on-off circuit 120, so the description of the configuration of the on-off circuit 121 will be omitted. In this embodiment, the on-off circuit 120 is connected to the terminal GPIO2 of the ASIC105 via the signal line SL9, and the on-off circuit 121 is connected to the terminal GPIO2 of the ASIC105 via the signal line SL10.

[0177] FIG. 13 shows the correspondence between the input / output signals of each terminal of the ASIC105 in FIG. 12 and the operations of each motor, and corresponds to FIG. 5 of the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is different from FIG. 5 in that a control signal output from the terminal GPIO1 is added. The terminal GPIO2 in FIG. 13 corresponds to the terminal GPIO in FIG. 5.

[0178] In FIG. 13, although there are cases where the control signal output from terminal GPIO1 and the control signal output from terminal GPIO2 are both output as off simultaneously from both terminals GPIO1 and GPIO2, there are no cases where they are both output as on simultaneously. This is because it is necessary to exclusively perform the drive control of the discharge motor 109 and the drive control of the cutter motor 106. When performing the drive control of the discharge motor 109, the CPU 101 outputs on from terminal GPIO1 and outputs off from terminal GPIO2. The stepping motor driver MD3 becomes operable by the supply of DC24V from the low-voltage power supply board 110 to the power supply terminal VM of the stepping motor driver MD3. The supply of DC24V from the low-voltage power supply board 110 to the power supply terminal VM of the DC motor driver MD4 is turned off, and the DC motor driver MD4 is inoperable.

[0179] Conversely, when performing the drive control of the cutter motor 106, the CPU 101 outputs off from terminal GPIO1 and outputs on from terminal GPIO2. When the supply of DC24V from the low-voltage power supply board 110 to the power supply terminal VM of the stepping motor driver MD3 stops, the stepping motor driver MD3 becomes inoperable. The DC motor driver MD4 becomes operable by the supply of DC24V from the low-voltage power supply board 110 to the power supply terminal VM of the DC motor driver MD4.

[0180] Even with the control configuration of the first embodiment, the ASIC 105 can exclusively perform the drive of the discharge motor 109 and the drive of the cutter motor 106. In the control configuration of this embodiment, by adding the on-off circuit 121, when it is desired to stop the stepping motor driver MD3, the supply of DC24V from the low-voltage power supply board 110 to the power supply terminal VM of the stepping motor driver MD3 is turned off to surely stop the operation of the stepping motor driver MD3.

[0181] As described above, the multifunction machine 1 further includes an on-off circuit 121 that turns on and off the supply of the power voltage to the stepping motor driver MD3, and an on-off circuit 120 that turns on and off the supply of the power voltage to the DC motor driver MD4. The on-off circuit 121 and the on-off circuit 120 are respectively connected to the ASIC 105 by signal lines SL10 and SL9. When driving the discharge motor 109, the ASIC 105 turns on the supply of the power voltage to the stepping motor driver MD3 using the on-off circuit 121 and turns off the supply of the power voltage to the DC motor driver MD4 using the on-off circuit 120. When driving the cutter motor 106, the ASIC 105 turns off the supply of the power voltage to the stepping motor driver MD3 using the on-off circuit 121 and turns on the supply of the power voltage to the DC motor driver MD4 using the on-off circuit 120. This is the characteristic feature.

[0182] In this way, when driving the discharge motor 109, the supply of the power voltage to the DC motor driver MD4 is turned off using the on-off circuit 120. When driving the cutter motor 106, the supply of the power voltage to the stepping motor driver MD3 is turned off using the on-off circuit 121. Therefore, when driving the discharge motor 109, the cutter motor 106 is not driven, and when driving the cutter motor 106, the discharge motor 109 is not driven. Thus, it becomes possible to surely drive the discharge motor 109 and the cutter motor 106 exclusively.

[0183] (Third Embodiment) Next, the third embodiment of the present application will be described. Since this embodiment is configured by changing a part of the control configuration (see FIG. 4) of the multifunction machine 1 described in the first embodiment, the description will focus on the changed part, and the description of the other parts will be omitted as appropriate.

[0184] FIG. 14 shows in detail a part of the control configuration of the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 4 of the first embodiment. As can be seen by comparing FIG. 14 with FIG. 4, it is possible to select whether to input control signals from four terminals SLEEP, DIR, USM0, and ENB shared by the stepping motor driver MD3, the DC motor driver MD4, and the encoder 113 to the four input terminals IN1, IN2, IN3, and IN6 of the stepping motor driver MD3 and the two input terminals PH and EN of the DC motor driver MD4. Also, it is different in that it is possible to select whether to input output signals ENC1 and ENC2 from the output terminals OUT1 and OUT2 of the encoder 113 to the terminals SLEEP and ENB of the ASIC 105.

[0185] In FIG. 14, signal lines SL1, SL2, SL3, and SL6 for connecting the four input terminals IN1, IN2, IN3, and IN6 of the stepping motor driver MD3 are arranged at four terminals SLEEP, DIR, USM0, and ENB of the ASIC 105, respectively. On the signal lines SL1, SL2, SL3, and SL6 on the side of the stepping motor driver MD3 from the connection points CP1, CP2, CP3, and CP4, three-state buffers 124A to 124D are arranged, respectively. And the control input terminals of each of the three-state buffers 124A to 124D are connected to the terminal GPIO1 of the ASIC 105.

[0186] Also, three-state buffers 124E and 124F are arranged on the signal lines SL11 and SL12 connecting each of the connection points CP1 and CP2 to the input terminals PH and EN of the DC motor driver MD4. Furthermore, three-state buffers 124G and 124H are arranged on the signal lines SL13 and SL14 connecting each of the connection points CP3 and CP4 to the output terminals OUT1 and OUT2 of the encoder 113. And the control input terminals of each of the three-state buffers 124E to 124H are connected to the terminal GPIO2 of the ASIC 105.

[0187] The terminals GPIO1 and GPIO2 of the ASIC 105 are controlled to be turned on / off as shown in FIG. 13 in the second embodiment. Being turned on indicates an H control signal, and being turned off indicates an L control signal. That is, when the ASIC 105 wants to drive the discharge motor 109, it outputs on (=H) from the terminal GPIO1 and outputs off (=L) from the terminal GPIO2. Conversely, when the cutter motor 106 wants to be driven, it outputs on (=H) from the terminal GPIO2 and outputs off (=L) from the terminal GPIO1.

[0188] When any of the three-state buffers 124A to 124H receives an on (=H) input at the control input terminal, it outputs the input signal as it is. When an off (=L) input is received at the control input terminal, it enters a high-impedance state and the input signal is not output. Therefore, when the ASIC 105 outputs on (=H) from the terminal GPIO1, the control signals from the four terminals SLEEP, DIR, USM0, and ENB of the ASIC 105 are directly input to the stepping motor driver MD3 via the signal lines SL1, SL2, SL3, and SL6. Three-state buffers are not arranged on the signal lines SL4, SL5, and SL7 that connect the remaining three terminals USM1, VREF1, and STEP of the ASIC 105 to the three terminals IN4, IN5, and IN7 of the stepping motor driver MD3. The outputs from the three terminals USM1, VREF1, and STEP of the ASIC 105 are directly input to the three terminals IN4, IN5, and IN7 of the stepping motor driver MD3. As a result, the stepping motor driver MD3 becomes operable and controls the driving of the discharge motor 109.

[0189] When ASIC105 outputs ON (=H) from terminal GPIO1, as described in the second embodiment, since it does not output ON (=H) from terminal GPIO2, it outputs OFF (=L) from terminal GPIO2. As a result, the control signal from terminal DIR of ASIC105 is cut off by the 3-state buffer 124F and is not input to the input terminal PH of the DC motor driver MD4. Similarly, the control signal from terminal USM0 of ASIC105 is also cut off by the 3-state buffer 124E and is not input to the input terminal EN of the DC motor driver MD4. Furthermore, the output signals ENC1 and ENC2 from the output terminals OUT1 and OUT2 of the encoder 113 are also cut off by the 3-state buffers 124G and 124H and are not input to the terminals SLEEP and ENB of ASIC105. As a result, the DC motor driver MD4 becomes inoperable and does not perform drive control of the cutter motor 106.

[0190] On the other hand, when ASIC105 outputs ON (=H) from terminal GPIO2, the control signal from terminal DIR of ASIC105 is directly input to the input terminal PH of the DC motor driver MD4 via the connection point CP1 and the signal line SL11, and the control signal from terminal USM0 of ASIC105 is directly input to the input terminal EN of the DC motor driver MD4 via the connection point CP2 and the signal line SL12. Since no 3-state buffer is arranged on the signal line SL8 connecting the terminal VREF2 of ASIC105 and the current input terminal IN11 of the DC motor driver MD4, the control signal from terminal VREF2 is directly input to the current input terminal IN11 of the DC motor driver MD4. Furthermore, the output signal ENC1 from the encoder 113 is input to the terminal SLEEP of ASIC105 via the signal line SL13 and the connection point CP3, and the output signal ENC2 from the encoder 113 is input to the terminal ENB of ASIC105 via the signal line SL14 and the connection point CP4. As a result, the DC motor driver MD4 becomes operable and performs drive control of the cutter motor 106.

[0191] When ASIC105 outputs on (=H) from terminal GPIO2, since it does not output on (=H) from terminal GPIO1, it outputs off (=L) from terminal GPIO1. As a result, the control signals from the four terminals SLEEP, DIR, USM0, and ENB of ASIC105 are cut off by the three-state buffers 124A to 124D and are not input to the input terminals IN1, IN2, IN3, and IN6 of the stepping motor driver MD3. Thereby, the stepping motor driver MD3 becomes inoperable and does not perform drive control of the discharge motor 109.

[0192] In this way, when driving the discharge motor 109, ASIC105 makes the stepping motor driver MD3 operable and the DC motor driver MD4 inoperable by outputting on / off control signals from terminals GPIO1 and GPIO2. When driving the cutter motor 106, ASIC105 makes the stepping motor driver MD3 inoperable and the DC motor driver MD4 operable. Therefore, it is possible to drive the discharge motor 109 and the cutter motor 106 exclusively.

[0193] In the third embodiment of the present application, when driving the discharge motor 109, ASIC105 outputs H signals to the three-state buffers 124A, 124B, 124C, and 124D, and outputs L signals to the three-state buffer 124E and the three-state buffer 124, respectively. ASIC105 outputs L signals to the three-state buffer 124G and the three-state buffer 124H, respectively. In this case, although the stepping motor driver MD3 can perform drive control on the discharge motor 109, the DC motor driver MD4 cannot perform drive control on the cutter motor 106. Therefore, it is possible to surely drive the discharge motor 109 and the cutter motor 106 exclusively.

[0194] On the one hand, when driving the cutter motor 106, L signals are output to the 3-state buffers 124A, 124B, 124C, and 124D respectively, and H signals are output to the 3-state buffer 124E and the 3-state buffer 124F respectively. The ASIC 105 outputs H signals to the 3-state buffer 124G and the 3-state buffer 124H respectively. In this case, although the DC motor driver MD4 can perform drive control on the cutter motor 106, the stepping motor driver MD3 cannot perform drive control on the discharge motor 109. Therefore, it is possible to reliably and exclusively drive the discharge motor 109 and the cutter motor 106.

[0195] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

[0196] (1) In each of the above embodiments, the multifunction machine 1 is cited as an example of an image forming apparatus. However, the image forming apparatus is not limited to the multifunction machine 1, and may be a single printer or a copying machine. In each of the above embodiments, the multifunction machine 1 having the fixing device 6 is cited. However, the image forming apparatus may be an inkjet printer.

[0197] (2) In each of the above embodiments, the detection positions where the pre-registration sensor SE1, the post-registration sensor SE2, the discharge sensor SE3, and the sheet sensor SE4 detect the passage of the sheet S substantially coincide with the installation positions of the respective sensors. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and sensors in which the installation position of the sensor and the detection position of the sheet S are separated may be used.

[0198] (3) In each of the above embodiments, the sheet sensor SE4 is disposed between the cutter position and the second discharge roller 86. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it may be disposed between the first discharge roller 85 and the cutter position.

[0199] (4) In the third embodiment above, a 3-state buffer is used as an example of a logic circuit. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a bus switch may be used.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0200] 1... Multifunction machine (image forming apparatus), 2... Image forming unit, 3... Conveyor unit, 6... Fuser (fixing unit), 20... Main body (apparatus main body), 61... Heating roller (heating rotating body), 62... Pressure roller (pressing rotating body), 63... Heater, 85... First discharge roller (discharge roller), 86... Second discharge roller (discharge roller), 87... Third discharge roller (discharge roller), 88... Flapper, 88A... First position, 88B... Second position, 89... Flapper solenoid, 90... Flapper switching circuit, 101... CPU, 102... ROM, 103... RAM, 104... NVRAM, 105... ASIC (control unit), 106... Cutter motor, 108... Main motor, 109... Discharge motor, 110... Low voltage power supply board, 120... On-off circuit (second on-off circuit), 121... On-off circuit (first on-off circuit), 201... Conveyor path, 201A... First discharge path, 201B... Second discharge path, 202... Re-conveyor path, MD3... Stepping motor driver (discharge motor driver), MD4... DC motor driver (cutter motor driver), S... Sheet, SE1... Pre-registration sensor, SE2... Post-registration sensor, SE3... Discharge sensor, SE4... Sheet sensor, SL1... Signal line (third signal line), SL2... Signal line (first signal line), SL3... Signal line (second signal line), SL4... Signal line, SL5... Signal line (fifth signal line), SL6... Signal line (fourth signal line), SL7... Signal line, SL8... Signal line (sixth signal line), SL9... Signal line, SL10... Signal line SL11... Signal line, SL12... Signal line, SL13... Signal line, SL14... Signal line, CP1... Connection point (first connection point), CP2... Connection point (second connection point), CP3... Connection point (third connection point), CP4... Connection point (fourth connection point), SLEEP... Terminal (third terminal), DIR... Terminal (first terminal), USM0... Terminal (second terminal), USM1... Terminal, VREF1... Terminal (fifth terminal), ENB... Terminal (fourth terminal), VREF2... Terminal (sixth terminal), IN1... Input terminal, IN2... Input terminal, IN3... Input terminal, IN4... Input terminal, IN5... Current input terminal, IN6... Input terminal (ENB terminal), IN7... Input terminal, IN11... Current input terminal, PH... Input terminal, EN... Input terminal, 124A... 3-state buffer (fifth logic circuit), 124B... 3-state buffer (first logic circuit), 124C... 3-state buffer (second logic circuit), 124D... 3-state buffer (sixth logic circuit),124E… 3-state buffer (4th logic circuit), 124F… 3-state buffer (3rd logic circuit), 124G… 3-state buffer (7th logic circuit), 124H… 3-state buffer (8th logic circuit).

Claims

1. An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, A fixing unit that has a heating rotator and a pressure rotator that forms a nip with the heating rotator, and fixes the image formed on the sheet to the sheet, An apparatus main body having a conveyance path for the sheet, A cutter having a moving blade disposed at a cutter position downstream of the fixing unit in the sheet conveyance direction in the conveyance path, the cutter cutting the sheet by moving the moving blade in a cutting direction intersecting the sheet conveyance direction, A conveyance unit that conveys the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction along the conveyance path, the conveyance unit having a discharge roller that is located downstream of the cutter position in the sheet conveyance direction and discharges the sheet on the conveyance path to the outside of the apparatus main body, A discharge motor that transmits a driving force for rotationally driving the discharge roller, A cutter motor that transmits a driving force for moving the moving blade in the cutting direction to the cutter, A discharge motor driver that controls the driving of the discharge motor, A cutter motor driver that controls the driving of the cutter motor, A control unit, Comprising, The control unit, Moves the moving blade in the cutting direction using the cutter motor driver with the discharge motor stopped by controlling the discharge motor driver, When controlling the discharge motor driver to drive the discharge motor, stops the cutter motor using the cutter motor driver, An image forming apparatus characterized by the above.

2. The moving blade moves in the cutting direction from an initial position, The control unit, When cutting the sheet by moving the moving blade in the cutting direction from the initial position by the driving force of the cutter motor, Controls the discharge motor driver to stop the discharge motor, Thereafter, controls the cutter motor driver to drive the cutter motor to move the moving blade in the cutting direction from the initial position to cut the sheet, Thereafter, controls the discharge motor driver to drive the discharge motor to discharge the cut sheet to the outside of the apparatus main body, Thereafter, controls the cutter motor driver to drive the cutter motor to return the moving blade to the initial position, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The control unit, Output a plurality of control signals from a plurality of terminals of the control unit toward the discharge motor driver, Output a control signal toward the cutter motor driver using some of the plurality of terminals, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that.

4. The plurality of terminals of the control unit are connected to the discharge motor driver by a plurality of signal lines, Among the plurality of signal lines connecting the part of the plurality of terminals and the discharge motor driver, a part of the signal lines are connected to the cutter motor driver by a connection line at a connection point on the part of the signal lines, The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that.

5. Furthermore, A first on-off circuit for turning on and off the supply of the power voltage to the discharge motor driver, A second on-off circuit for turning on and off the supply of the power voltage to the cutter motor driver, Comprising, The first on-off circuit and the second on-off circuit are respectively connected to the control unit by signal lines, The control unit, When driving the discharge motor, turn on the supply of the power voltage to the discharge motor driver using the first on-off circuit, and turn off the supply of the power voltage to the cutter motor driver using the second on-off circuit, When driving the cutter motor, turn off the supply of the power voltage to the discharge motor driver using the first on-off circuit, and turn on the supply of the power voltage to the cutter motor driver using the second on-off circuit, The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that.

6. Furthermore, An on-off circuit for turning on and off the supply of the power voltage to the cutter motor driver, Comprising, The on-off circuit and the control unit are connected by a signal line, The control unit, When driving the discharge motor, turn off the supply of the power voltage to the cutter motor driver using the on-off circuit, When driving the cutter motor, turn on the supply of the power voltage to the cutter motor driver using the on-off circuit, The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that.

7. The discharge motor is a stepping motor, The cutter motor is a DC motor, The first terminal and the second terminal, which are part of the control unit, are connected to two terminals of the discharge motor driver for instructing the rotation direction and the excitation phase of the stepping motor via a first signal line and a second signal line, respectively. At the same time, a first connection point on the first signal line and a second connection point on the second signal line are connected to two terminals of the cutter motor driver for instructing the rotation direction of the DC motor via a signal line, respectively. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that.

8. Furthermore, An encoder for detecting the rotation information of the cutter motor, is provided, The third terminal of the control unit is connected to the sleep terminal of the discharge motor driver for shifting the discharge motor driver to a power saving mode via a third signal line. The fourth terminal of the control unit is connected to the ENB terminal of the discharge motor driver for switching the activation / deactivation of the drive control of the discharge motor via a fourth signal line. A third connection point on the third signal line and a fourth connection point on the fourth signal line are connected to two output terminals of the encoder via a signal line, respectively. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that.

9. The third terminal and the fourth terminal are each a terminal that can be switched to either the function of an output terminal or the function of an input terminal. The control unit, When controlling the discharge motor driver, switch the functions of the third terminal and the fourth terminal to the function of the output terminal. When controlling the cutter motor, switch the functions of the third terminal and the fourth terminal to the function of the input terminal. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that.

10. The fifth terminal of the control unit is connected to the current input terminal of the discharge motor driver via a fifth signal line. The sixth terminal of the control unit is connected to the current input terminal of the cutter motor driver via a sixth signal line. The control unit, When driving the discharge motor, output a current from the fifth terminal to the current input terminal of the discharge motor driver, and do not output a current from the sixth terminal to the current input terminal of the cutter motor driver. When driving the cutter motor, do not output a current from the fifth terminal to the current input terminal of the discharge motor driver, and output a current from the sixth terminal to the current input terminal of the cutter motor driver. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that.

11. Furthermore, a first logic circuit disposed on the first signal line on the discharge motor driver side from the first connection point, the first logic circuit being configured to allow a control signal to pass from the first terminal toward the discharge motor driver when a signal input to the first logic circuit is in a first state, and to prevent the control signal from passing from the first terminal toward the discharge motor driver when the signal input to the first logic circuit is in a second state; a second logic circuit disposed on the second signal line on the discharge motor driver side from the second connection point, the second logic circuit being configured to allow a control signal to pass from the second terminal toward the discharge motor driver when a signal input to the second logic circuit is in a first state, and to prevent the control signal from passing from the second terminal toward the discharge motor driver when the signal input to the second logic circuit is in a second state; a third logic circuit disposed on the connection line between the first connection point and the cutter motor driver, the third logic circuit being configured to allow a control signal to pass from the first terminal through the first connection point toward the cutter motor driver when a signal input to the third logic circuit is in a first state, and to prevent the control signal from passing from the first terminal through the first connection point toward the cutter motor driver when the signal input to the third logic circuit is in a second state; a fourth logic circuit disposed on the connection line between the second connection point and the cutter motor driver, the fourth logic circuit being configured to allow a control signal to pass from the second terminal through the second connection point toward the cutter motor driver when a signal input to the fourth logic circuit is in a first state, and to prevent the control signal from passing from the second terminal through the second connection point toward the cutter motor driver when the signal input to the fourth logic circuit is in a second state; comprising wherein the control unit when driving the discharge motor, outputs signals in the first state to the first logic circuit and the second logic circuit, respectively, and outputs signals in the second state to the third logic circuit and the fourth logic circuit, respectively; when driving the cutter motor, outputs signals in the second state to the first logic circuit and the second logic circuit, respectively, and outputs signals in the first state to the third logic circuit and the fourth logic circuit, respectively. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, characterized by the above.

12. Furthermore, A fifth logic circuit arranged on the third signal line on the discharge motor driver side from the third connection point, which allows a control signal to pass from the third terminal toward the discharge motor driver when the signal input to the fifth logic circuit is in the first state, and does not allow the control signal to pass from the third terminal toward the discharge motor driver when the signal input to the fifth logic circuit is in the second state; A sixth logic circuit arranged on the fourth signal line on the discharge motor driver side from the fourth connection point, which allows a control signal to pass from the fourth terminal toward the discharge motor driver when the signal input to the sixth logic circuit is in the first state, and does not allow the control signal to pass from the fourth terminal toward the discharge motor driver when the signal input to the sixth logic circuit is in the second state; A seventh logic circuit arranged on the connection line between the third connection point and the encoder, which enables the input of the rotation information of the cutter motor from the encoder to the third terminal when the signal input to the seventh logic circuit is in the first state, and disables the input of the rotation information of the cutter motor from the encoder to the third terminal when the signal input to the seventh logic circuit is in the second state; An eighth logic circuit arranged on the connection line between the fourth connection point and the encoder, which enables the input of the rotation information of the cutter motor from the encoder to the fourth terminal when the signal input to the eighth logic circuit is in the first state, and disables the input of the rotation information of the cutter motor from the encoder to the fourth terminal when the signal input to the eighth logic circuit is in the second state; Comprising The control unit When driving the discharge motor, further outputs signals in the first state to the fifth logic circuit and the sixth logic circuit respectively, and outputs signals in the second state to the seventh logic circuit and the eighth logic circuit respectively. When driving the cutter motor, outputs signals in the second state to the fifth logic circuit and the sixth logic circuit respectively, and outputs signals in the first state to the seventh logic circuit and the eighth logic circuit respectively. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that.

13. The apparatus main body A first discharge path for discharging the sheet to the outside of the apparatus main body via a cutter position downstream of the fixing unit in the sheet conveyance direction, a second discharge path for discharging the sheet to the outside of the apparatus main body without passing through the cutter position, and a re-conveyance path for conveying the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit again toward the image forming unit. The discharge rollers include a first discharge roller and a second discharge roller that rotate in a first rotation direction to discharge the sheet to the outside of the apparatus main body through the first discharge path, and a third discharge roller that rotates in the first rotation direction to discharge the sheet to the outside of the apparatus main body through the second discharge path. The third discharge roller rotates in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction to convey the sheet toward the re-conveyance path. Furthermore, the control unit uses the conveyance unit to convey the sheet through the image forming unit and the fixing unit and then toward the second discharge path. When the sheet reaches a predetermined inversion position in the second discharge path, the third discharge roller is rotated in the second rotation direction to convey the sheet to the re-conveyance path. The sheet conveyed through the re-conveyance path is passed through the image forming unit and the fixing unit again and then conveyed toward the first discharge path. This is a conveyance control. After conveying the sheet until the cutting position of the sheet reaches the cutter position, the first discharge roller and the second discharge roller are controlled to stop the conveyance of the sheet. The moving blade is moved from the initial position in the cutting direction to cut the stopped sheet. After controlling the first discharge roller and the second discharge roller to drive and discharge the cut sheet to the outside of the apparatus main body, the moving blade is returned to the initial position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that.

14. An apparatus main body having a sheet conveyance path, a cutter having a moving blade disposed at a cutter position on the conveyance path, the cutter cutting the sheet by moving the moving blade in a cutting direction intersecting the sheet conveyance direction, a conveyance unit for conveying the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction along the conveyance path, the conveyance unit being located downstream of the cutter position in the sheet conveyance direction and having a discharge roller for discharging the sheet on the conveyance path to the outside of the apparatus main body. A discharge motor that transmits a driving force for rotationally driving the discharge roller; A cutter motor that transmits a driving force for moving the moving blade in the cutting direction to the cutter; A discharge motor driver that controls the driving of the discharge motor; A cutter motor driver that controls the driving of the cutter motor; A control unit; Comprising; The control unit; Outputs a plurality of control signals from a plurality of terminals of the control unit toward the discharge motor driver respectively; Outputs a control signal toward the cutter motor driver using a part of the plurality of terminals; An image forming apparatus characterized by the above.

Images