Separating air blowing device, sheet feeding device and image forming device

Abstract

To provide a separating air blowing device, a sheet feeding device, and an image forming device which prevent unnecessary power consumption when the door of the image forming device is opened during the separating air blowing operation for separating sheets.SOLUTION: Separating air blowing device, sheet feeding device, and image forming apparatus have a sheet placing section on which sheets are placed, separating air blowing means for blowing separating air for separating the sheets placed on the sheet placing section, door open / close detection means for detecting the open / close state of a door, and control means for stopping the operation of the separating air blowing means in response to the door open / close detection means detecting the open state of the door while the separating air blowing means is being driven.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a separating air blowing device that blows separating air for separating sheets placed on the sheet feeder, a sheet feeding device, and an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, image forming devices such as copiers, facsimiles, and printers, and image forming systems equipped with image forming devices, are equipped with sheet feeding devices such as feed cassettes, feed decks, and manual feed units for setting stacks of sheets to be supplied to the image forming unit that forms the image.

[0003] In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for forming images on a variety of sheets, and sheets with smooth surfaces, such as coated paper, are often used as recording materials. When a stack of such smooth-surfaced sheets is set in a sheet feeding device, the sheets may adhere closely to each other, making it difficult to feed them. For this reason, Patent Document 1 proposes a technology in which air is blown onto the sheet stack to lift the sheets, allowing the sheets to be separated while being fed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 4-23747 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] A typical control in a device that blows separating air onto a stack of sheets to separate the sheets and feed the sheets as described in Patent Document 1 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0006] 10, when control for feeding sheets is started in response to a command such as the start of a print job, first in step S101, the operation of blowing loosening air toward the stack of sheets is started, and in step S102, the blowing of loosening air continues until a predetermined time of 10 seconds has elapsed from the start of blowing of loosening air. This predetermined time is set to the time required to loosen the sheets by blowing loosening air and improve adhesion between the sheets, and is not limited to 10 seconds in all cases, but may also be variable.

[0007] When a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of blowing the separating air, in step S103 a feeding operation is started in which a pickup roller or the like feeds sheets to the image forming unit. Then, in step S104, the feeding operation is repeated until the number of sheets to be fed to the image forming unit based on the command of the print job reaches the required number, and when the required number is reached, in step S105 the blowing of the separating air is stopped and this control ends.

[0008] However, if a user opens the door of the image forming apparatus while the blowing of the cleaning air is in progress, the print job will be stopped, but there is a problem in that the fan used to blow the cleaning air will continue to run, resulting in unnecessary power consumption.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a separating air blowing device, a sheet feeding device, and an image forming apparatus that can prevent unnecessary power consumption when the door of the image forming apparatus is opened during separating air blowing operation for separating sheets. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a separating air blowing device, a sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus which have a sheet placing section on which sheets are placed, separating air blowing means for blowing separating air to separate the sheets placed on the sheet placing section, door open / close detection means for detecting the open / close state of a door, and control means for stopping the operation of the separating air blowing means in response to the door open / close detection means detecting the open state of the door while the separating air blowing means is operating. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a separating air blowing device, a sheet feeding device, and an image forming apparatus that can prevent unnecessary power consumption when the door of the image forming apparatus is opened while separating air for separating sheets is being blown. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic front cross-sectional view of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a manual feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is a side view showing a configuration of a manual feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams illustrating states of the manual sheet feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention, depending on whether the right door is open or closed. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing a control system of the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an operation unit in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is a flowchart of the CPU of FIG. 5 showing the procedure of the operation unit of FIG. 6 according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 6 is a flowchart of the CPU 101 in FIG. 5 that executes sheet handling process control according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9]6 is a flowchart of the CPU 101 in FIG. 5 that executes sheet handling process control according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing general sheet handling process control. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the components described in the following embodiments are merely examples, and various conditions such as the configuration, function, dimensions, materials, shape, relative arrangement, etc. of the device to which the present invention is applied can be appropriately modified or changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and are not limited to the following embodiments.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic front cross-sectional view of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] 1, image forming system 600 includes image forming apparatus 200 and a feeding deck 500 connected to image forming apparatus 200. Feeding deck 500 as a sheet feeding device is connected to the right side of image forming apparatus 200 in FIG. 1, and is configured to be able to feed sheets S to image forming apparatus 200.

[0016] In Fig. 1, 201 is an image forming apparatus main body, and 201A is an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet. 202 is an image reading device that is installed horizontally above the image forming apparatus main body 201, and a discharge space V for discharging sheets is formed between this image reading device 202 and the image forming apparatus main body 201.

[0017] An operation unit 730 configured with a touch panel or the like capable of displaying a screen is disposed above the image forming apparatus main body 201.

[0018] Image forming unit 201A, which serves as an image forming means, is a four-drum full-color system. Image forming unit 201A includes a laser scanner 210 and four process cartridges 211Y, 211M, 211C, and 211K that form toner images in four colors: yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Each process cartridge 211Y, 211M, 211C, and 211K includes a photosensitive drum 212Y, 212M, 212C, or 212K, a charging device 213Y, 213M, 213C, or 213K, and a developing device 214Y, 214M, 214C, or 214K. Image forming unit 201A also includes an intermediate transfer unit 201B disposed above process cartridges 211Y, 211M, 211C, and 211K, and a fixing unit 201D. Reference numeral 215 denotes a toner cartridge for supplying toner to the developing devices 214Y, 214M, 214C, and 214K.

[0019] Intermediate transfer unit 201B includes intermediate transfer belt 216 wound around drive roller 216a and tension roller 216b. Primary transfer rollers 219Y, 219M, 219C, and 219K are provided inside intermediate transfer belt 216 and contact intermediate transfer belt 216 at positions facing photosensitive drums 212Y, 212M, 212C, and 212K, respectively. Intermediate transfer belt 216 rotates in the direction of arrow X by drive roller 216a, which is driven by a drive unit (not shown).

[0020] Then, the negative-polarity toner images of each color on the photosensitive drum are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 216 by the primary transfer roller 219 in a multilayer manner. A secondary transfer roller 217 that transfers the color image formed on the intermediate transfer belt onto the sheet S is provided opposite the drive roller 216a of the intermediate transfer unit 201B. A secondary transfer section 201C is formed between the intermediate transfer belt 216 and the secondary transfer roller 217. A fixing section 201D having a pressure roller 220a and a heating roller 220b is provided above the secondary transfer roller 217. A first pair of discharge rollers 225a, a second pair of discharge rollers 225b, and a double-sided reversing section 201E are provided above and to the left of the fixing section 201D. The double-sided reversing section 201E is provided with a reversing roller pair 222 that can rotate forward and backward, a re-conveyance path R that transports the sheet with an image formed on one side thereof again to the image forming section 201A, and the like.

[0021] A sheet feeding unit 230 that feeds set sheets S to the image forming section 201A is provided at the bottom of the image forming apparatus main body 201. The sheet feeding unit 230 includes a feeding cassette 1 that stores sheets S, and a sheet feeding section 507 that feeds the sheets S stored in the feeding cassette 1. The sheet feeding section 507 as a sheet feeding device includes a pickup roller 2, and a feed roller 3 and a retard roller 4 as a separation means that separates sheets S that have been fed from the pickup roller 2 and have been fed in a multi-fed state.

[0022] 1 of the image forming apparatus main body 201 is provided with a manual feed device 235 as a sheet feeding device for feeding a set manual feed sheet S to the image forming section 201A. The manual feed device 235 has a manual feed tray 5 as a sheet loading section for loading the sheet S, and similarly to the sheet feeding unit 230, has a manual sheet feeding section 506 as a feeding means including a pickup roller 501, and a feed roller 502 and a retard roller 503 for separating the sheet S fed from the pickup roller 501.

[0023] 1 of the image forming apparatus main body 201, below the manual feed device 235, there is provided a feed deck 500 that feeds the set sheets S to the image forming unit 201A. The manual feed device 235 will be described in detail later.

[0024] Next, the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 200 will be described. First, image information of an original is read by the image reading device 202. After image processing, the image information is converted into an electrical signal and transmitted to the laser scanner 210 of the image forming unit 201A. In the image forming unit 201A, the surface of the photosensitive drum 212, the surface of which is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by the charger 213, is sequentially exposed to laser light. As a result, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black electrostatic latent images are sequentially formed on the photosensitive drums 212Y, 212M, 212C, and 212K of the process cartridges 211Y, 211M, 211C, and 211K, respectively.

[0025] Thereafter, the electrostatic latent images are developed and visualized with toner of each color by developing units 214Y, 214M, 214C, and 214K, and the toner images of each color on the photosensitive drums 212Y, 212M, 212C, and 212K are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 216 by primary transfer biases applied to primary transfer rollers 219Y, 219M, 219C, and 219K. As a result, a color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 216.

[0026] Meanwhile, the sheet S fed by the feed rollers 3 of the sheet feeding unit 230 is conveyed to a pair of registration rollers (hereinafter referred to as the registration roller pair) 240 consisting of a drive roller and a driven roller. At this time, the driving of the registration roller pair 240 is stopped, and the leading edge of the sheet S abuts against the registration roller pair 240. As a result, the leading edge of the sheet S is made to follow the registration roller pair 240. Thereafter, as the feed rollers 3 continue to convey the sheet S, a flexure (loop) is formed in the sheet S, and when a predetermined loop amount is reached, the registration roller pair 240 is driven. As a result, the skew of the sheet S is corrected by the registration roller pair 240, and the sheet S with the corrected skew is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion 201C by the registration roller pair 240.

[0027] Subsequently, in the secondary transfer section 201C, the toner images are transferred all at once onto the sheet S by a secondary transfer bias applied to the secondary transfer roller 217. Then, the sheet S onto which the toner images have been transferred is transported to the fixing section 201D, where the toners of the various colors are melted and mixed by heat and pressure, and are fixed onto the sheet S as a color image.

[0028] After this, the sheet S with the image fixed thereon is discharged into the discharge space V by a first discharge roller pair 225a and a second discharge roller pair 225b provided downstream of the fixing section 201D, and is stacked on a stacking section 223 formed on the bottom surface of the discharge space V.

[0029] When forming images on both sides of the sheet S, after the image on the first side is fixed, the sheet S is conveyed to a re-conveyance path R by a pair of reversing rollers 222 and conveyed again to the image forming unit 201A.

[0030] Next, the manual feeder 235 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the manual feeder 235, and Figure 3 is a side view showing the configuration of the manual feeder 235.

[0031] 2 and 3, the manual feed device 235 includes a manual feed tray 5 as a sheet storage unit, and a manual sheet feed unit 506 that feeds sheets and separates overlapped sheets.

[0032] The manual sheet feeding unit 506 includes a pickup roller 501 as a feeding roller that contacts the top sheet of the sheet stack and feeds the top sheet. The manual sheet feeding unit 506 also includes a feed roller 502 and a retard roller 503 as a separating unit that separates the sheet S fed from the pickup roller 501.

[0033] In addition, in the manual feed device 235, downstream of the feed roller 502 in the sheet feeding direction, a pull-out roller 504 is arranged to pull out the sheet S from the feed roller 502 and feed it to the image forming apparatus main body 201, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0034] Furthermore, a feed sensor 505 serving as a sheet detection unit is disposed between the feed roller 502 and the pull-out roller 504 in the sheet feeding direction, that is, downstream in the feeding direction of the manual sheet feeding unit 506. This feed sensor 505 detects the passage of the sheet S by outputting a signal depending on the presence or absence of the sheet S.

[0035] The manual feed tray 5 also includes a manual feed tray base 515 and a lifter plate 514 as a sheet support portion that supports and stacks a sheet bundle consisting of a plurality of sheets S. The lifter plate 514 also includes a sheet detection sensor 401 that detects the presence or absence of sheets S, making it possible to determine whether or not a sheet bundle has been placed on the lifter plate 514. The height position of the lifter plate 514 is controlled by a lifting mechanism (not shown) in accordance with the amount of sheets S stacked on it.

[0036] The manual feed tray 6 is also provided with side edge regulating plates 511 and 512. The side edge regulating plates 511 and 512 regulate the positions of the widthwise ends (side edges of the sheets) of the sheets S set on the lifter plate 514.

[0037] These side edge restricting plates 511, 512 are provided with separating air blowing sections 511A, 512A, respectively, which serve as separating air blowing means for blowing separating air to stacked sheets to perform sheet separating processing. The separating air blowing section 511A of the side edge restricting plate 511 has a fan 511b driven by a fan motor 511M shown in Fig. 5 and a blowing nozzle 511a that guides the separating air blown from the fan 511b and blows it from the side of the sheet stack as shown by arrow A in Fig. 3. Similarly, the separating air blowing section 512A of the side edge restricting plate 512 has a fan 512b driven by a fan motor 512M shown in Fig. 2 and a blowing nozzle 512a that guides the separating air blown from the fan 512b and blows it from the side of the sheet stack as shown by arrow B in Fig. 3. In addition, the side end regulating plates 511, 512 are provided with floating suppression plates 511c, 512c near the blowing nozzles 511a, 512a to prevent the sheet S onto which the loosening air is blown from floating up and climbing over the side end regulating plates 511, 512.

[0038] The right door 301, indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 1, can be opened to the lower right side of FIG. 1. When the right door 301 is open, the job is stopped. FIG. 4 shows the state of the manual feeder 235 depending on whether the right door 301 is open or closed. Compared to the state in FIG. 4(A) where the right door 301 is closed, when the right door 301 is open as shown in FIG. 4(B), the angle of the manual feeder 235 changes, and the posture of the sheets placed thereon also changes. Therefore, the adhesion between the sheets may return, and it may be necessary to perform the sheet separation process again before feeding the sheets, even if the sheet separation process has already been completed.

[0039] The front door 302, indicated by the dashed line in Fig. 1, can be opened toward the front of Fig. 1. When it is open, the job stops. However, unlike the right door 301, opening the door does not change the angle of the manual feed device 235, and the posture of the sheets placed on it does not change. Therefore, there is no change in the adhesion force between the sheets, and if the sheet separation process has already been completed, there is no need to perform the sheet separation process again before feeding the sheets.

[0040] Next, a description will be given of the configuration of the control system in the image forming system 600. Figure 5 is a circuit block diagram showing the control system of the image forming system.

[0041] 5, a control unit 100 according to this embodiment is provided in an image forming apparatus 200 and includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, and a RAM 103. The control unit 100 is a control unit that controls the image forming apparatus 200, the feeding deck 500, and the manual feeding device 235. The control unit 100 is connected to a host device 900 and an operation unit 730, and performs signal processing and sequence control for various process devices while exchanging information with them. The host device 900 is an external device such as a personal computer, an image scanner, or a facsimile machine.

[0042] The control unit 100 is also connected to a fan control unit 402 that controls the driving of the fan motors 511M and 512M, a feed motor 520 that drives the pickup roller 501, a feed sensor 505, an operation unit 730, and a sheet detection sensor 401. The control unit 100 is also connected to a front door open / close detection sensor 236 and a right door open / close detection sensor 237.

[0043] The fan control unit 402 controls the drive of the fan motors 511M and 512M that drive the fans 511b and 512b, respectively, while simultaneously detecting a malfunction. The determination of whether a malfunction has occurred is made by counting the rotation speeds of the fans 511b and 512b and determining whether the rotation speeds have reached the intended speeds.

[0044] The front door open / close detection sensor 236 is a sensor provided on the front door 302 of the image forming apparatus main body 201 for detecting the open / close state of the front door 302. On the other hand, the right door open / close detection sensor 237 is a sensor provided on the right door 301 for detecting the open / close state of the right door 301. The sensors for detecting the open / close state of these doors may be any type capable of detecting the open / close state, and may be a photosensor, a microswitch, or the like.

[0045] Setting of sheet information such as the paper size, paper type, and basis weight of the sheets set in the manual feed tray 6 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0046] Fig. 6 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of an operation unit 730 in the image forming apparatus of Fig. 1. In Fig. 6, the paper type of sheets is set from the operation unit 730. As shown in Fig. 6(A), the operation unit 730 is provided with a start key 702 for starting the image forming operation, a stop key 703 for interrupting the image forming operation, numeric keys 704 to 712 and 714 for setting numbers etc., an ID key 713, a clear key 715, a reset key 716, etc. Also provided is a display unit 720 with a touch panel formed on the top, which is capable of displaying soft keys on the screen.

[0047] When the user presses the "Paper Selection" button on the display unit 720 shown in FIG. 6(A), the CPU 101 in FIG. 5 causes the screen to transition to the paper feed stage selection screen shown in FIG. 6(B).

[0048] 7, CPU 101 first selects which sheet storage unit to set the sheet settings for in step S201. Here, the manual feed tray is selected and the "Next" button is pressed. When the "Next" button is pressed, CPU 101 proceeds from step S202 to step S203, and transitions to the paper size setting screen shown in FIG. 6C. Here, when the A3 size set in the manual feed tray is selected and the "Next" button is pressed, CPU 101 proceeds from step S204 to S205, and transitions to the basis weight and paper type setting screen shown in FIG. 6D. Here, when the basis weight and paper type of the sheet set in the sheet storage unit are selected and the "OK" button is pressed, CPU 101 transitions from step S206 to step S207. In step S207, this sheet information is saved in RAM 103, and transitions to the initial screen of FIG. 6A, and the sheet registration process is completed.

[0049] After setting the sheet information, pressing the start key 702 on the operation unit 30 starts the job, and a sheet is fed from the selected sheet storage unit.

[0050] It is not necessary to set the sheet information every time before starting a job. For example, if you have placed plain A3 paper in the manual feed tray and executed a job, and then want to execute a job to feed plain A3 paper from the manual feed tray again, you can do so by simply pressing the start key 702.

[0051] Next, the sheet handling process control of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of Figures 8 and 9 executed by the CPU 101 shown in Figure 5. Figures 8 and 9 are flowcharts of the sheet handling process and sheet feeding control executed by the CPU 101.

[0052] When the start key 702 on the operation unit 730 is pressed to instruct execution of a job, the CPU 101 determines in step S801 whether the next sheet is to be fed from the manual feed device 235. The job information is received by the CPU 101 from the host device 900 before starting execution of the flowcharts of Figures 8 and 9, and is saved in the RAM 103. The job information includes the feeding order and feeding destination.

[0053] If the next sheet is to be fed from the manual feeder 235, the process proceeds to step S805; if the next sheet is to be fed from a sheet feeder other than the manual feeder 235, the process proceeds to step S802.

[0054] In step S802, it is determined whether any of the doors of the image forming apparatus main body 201 is open. This determination is made using the front door open / close detection sensor 236 and the right door open / close detection sensor 237. If any of the doors is open, the process proceeds to step S821, and if all of the doors are closed, the process proceeds to step S803. Note that even if any of the doors is open, the job to be processed will not be canceled until a cancellation instruction is given, and will be resumed after all of the doors are closed.

[0055] In step S803, sheet feeding from a sheet feeding unit other than the manual feeding device 235 and image forming operation are performed, and the process proceeds to step S804.

[0056] In step S804, it is determined whether or not there is a request for the next sheet. If there is a request for the next sheet, the process returns to step S801, and if there is no request for the next sheet, the execution of the job operation is terminated.

[0057] If it is determined in step S801 that the next sheet is to be fed from the manual feed device 235 and the process proceeds to step S805, it is determined in step S805 whether a separation completion flag, which is an indicator of whether sheet separation processing is required, is ON. The separation completion flag is a variable stored in RAM 103. If the separation completion flag is ON, this indicates that separation has been completed and a sheet can be immediately fed from the manual feed device 235, and if the separation completion flag is OFF, this indicates that sheet separation processing is required before feeding the sheet. The initial value is OFF. If the separation completion flag is ON, the process proceeds to step S815, and if the separation completion flag is OFF, the process proceeds to step S806.

[0058] In step S806, the sheet separating process is started (fan motors 511M and 512M start to be driven). When the sheet separating process is performed by blowing separating air onto the sheets, the upper several to several tens of sheets of the sheet stack are separated and floated, as shown in FIG. 3, and the adhesion between those sheets is reduced. However, although the number of sheets that float varies depending on the positions of blowing nozzles 511a and 512a and the positions of floating suppression plates 511c and 512c, the number of sheets that float in one operation of blowing separating air is limited to several to several tens of sheets. The floated sheets can be fed by manual sheet feed unit 506 without double feeding. If all the floated sheets have been fed from manual sheet feed unit 506, the sheet separating process must be performed again.

[0059] In step S807, it is determined whether it is time to end the sheet separating process. The timing for ending the sheet separating process refers to whether the time required to blow separating air until the adhesion between the sheets is reduced has elapsed. In this embodiment, the time is set to 5 seconds as an example, but it may be changed depending on the sheet basis weight and paper type that are preset. If it is time to end the sheet separating process, the process proceeds to step S808, and if it is not time to end the sheet separating process, the process proceeds to step S811.

[0060] In step S808, since it is determined in step S807 that it is time to end the sheet handling process, the handling completion flag stored in the RAM 103 is turned ON, and in step S809 the sheet handling process is stopped and the process proceeds to step S810.

[0061] In step S810, the sheet feed number counter stored in the RAM 103 is cleared to 0. The sheet feed number counter is a variable that counts how many sheets have been fed since the separation completion flag was set. The sheet feed number counter counts the number of sheets fed and compares it with a threshold value to determine the timing to perform the sheet separation process again.

[0062] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S807 that it is not yet time to end the sheet handling process, the process proceeds to step S811, where it is determined whether the target door has been opened. The target door is a door that should stop the sheet handling process when it is opened. In this embodiment, the target door is the right door 301. When the right door 301 is open, the angle of the manual feeder 235 changes, preventing proper sheet handling even if the sheet handling process is continued. In other words, the door affects the operation of the sheet handling process. On the other hand, the front door 302 is a door that does not change the angle of the manual feeder 235 when it is opened, allowing the sheet handling process to continue. In other words, the front door 302 does not affect the operation of the sheet handling process. Therefore, the front door is not the target door. The right door open / close detection sensor 237 is used to determine whether the target door has been opened. If the target door is open, the process proceeds to step S812 to stop the sheet handling process (stop driving the fan motors 511M and 512M), and if the target door is not open, the process returns to step S807 to continue the sheet handling process.

[0063] If the sheet handling process is stopped in step S812, the process proceeds to step S813, where it is determined whether the target door has closed. To determine whether the target door has closed, the right door open / close detection sensor 237 is used. If the target door has closed, the process returns to step S806, where the sheet handling process is performed again, and if the target door is open, the process proceeds to step S814.

[0064] In step S814, it is determined whether the job has been canceled. Whether the job has been canceled is determined by whether the stop key 703 has been pressed. If the job has been canceled, execution of the job operation is terminated, and if the job has not been canceled, the process returns to step S813, where it is determined whether the target door has been closed.

[0065] When the sheet handling process is completed, the handling completion flag is turned ON, and the process proceeds to step S815, a determination is made as to whether any door is open, similar to step S802. If any door is open, the process proceeds to step S821, and if all doors are closed, the process proceeds to step S816.

[0066] In step S816, the sheet is fed from the manual feed device 235 and an image forming operation is performed, and the process proceeds to step S817.

[0067] In step S817, the sheet feed number counter stored in the RAM 103 is incremented, and the process proceeds to step S818.

[0068] In step S818, it is determined whether the sheet feed counter has reached a threshold number (predetermined number). In this embodiment, the threshold number is set to 10 sheets, but this may be changed based on the sheet basis weight and paper type that are preset. If the number is 10 sheets or more, the process proceeds to step S819; if the number is less than 10 sheets, the process proceeds to step S820.

[0069] In step S819, the separation completion flag stored in the RAM 103 is turned OFF. By turning OFF the separation completion flag, the next time sheets are fed from the manual sheet feed device 235, sheet separation processing can be performed.

[0070] In step S820, it is determined whether or not there is a request for the next sheet. If there is a request for the next sheet, the process returns to step S801, and if there is no request for the next sheet, the execution of the job operation is terminated.

[0071] When the process proceeds from step S815 to step S821, it is determined in step S821 whether the target door is open. The target door is the target door determined in step S811. To determine whether the target door is open, the right door open / close detection sensor 237 is used. If the target door is open, the process proceeds to step S822, and if the target door is not open, the process proceeds to step S823.

[0072] In step S822, the separation completion flag stored in the RAM 103 is turned OFF. By turning OFF the separation completion flag, the sheet separation process can be performed the next time sheets are fed from the manual feed device 235 because the target door has opened.

[0073] In step S823, it is determined whether all doors are closed. To determine whether all doors are closed, the front door open / close detection sensor 236 and the right door open / close detection sensor 237 are used. If all doors are closed, the job operation is resumed. If all doors are closed, the process proceeds to step S804 described above, and if any door is open, the process proceeds to step S824.

[0074] In step S824, it is determined whether the job has been canceled. If the job has been canceled, the job operation is terminated, and if the job has not been canceled, the process returns to step S821.

[0075] As described above, according to the sheet handling process control of this embodiment, if the door opens during the sheet handling process and the effectiveness of the sheet handling process is impaired, the sheet handling process is stopped. This makes it possible to reduce unnecessary power consumption. On the other hand, if the effectiveness of the sheet handling process is not impaired, the sheet handling process continues, so that the sheet handling process is not required the next time sheets are fed, thereby shortening the time until sheet feeding. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 5...Manual feed tray 506...Manual sheet feeder 100...Control unit 200...Image forming apparatus 201...Image forming apparatus main body 201A...Image forming section 235...Manual feeder 236...Front door open / close detection sensor 237...Right door open / close detection sensor 301...Right door 302...Front door 506...Manual sheet feeder 511A, 512A... Air blowing section

Claims

1. a sheet placement section for placing a sheet; a separating air blowing means for blowing separating air for separating the sheets placed on the sheet placing section; a door open / close detection means for detecting whether the door is open or closed; a control means for stopping the operation of the cleaning air blowing means in response to the door open / close detection means detecting an open state of the door while the cleaning air blowing means is being driven; A separating air blowing device comprising:

2. 2. The cleaning air blowing device according to claim 1, wherein the control means stops the operation of the cleaning air blowing means in response to the door opening / closing detection means detecting the open state of the door while the cleaning air blowing means is being driven, in the case where the door opening / closing detection means detects the open state of the door and then detects the closed state of the door while the cleaning air blowing means is being driven, and it is necessary to drive the cleaning air blowing means again.

3. 2. The cleaning air blowing device according to claim 1, wherein the door open / close detection means detects the open / closed states of the first door and the second door, and when the door open / close detection means detects that the first door is open while the cleaning air blowing means is being driven, the door open / close detection means stops the drive of the cleaning air blowing means, but when the door open / close detection means detects that the second door is open, the door open / close detection means does not stop the drive of the cleaning air blowing means.

4. 2. The cleaning air blowing device according to claim 1, wherein the door open / close detection means detects the open / closed states of a first door that affects the operation of the cleaning air blowing means and a second door that does not affect the operation of the cleaning air blowing means, and when the door open / close detection means detects that the first door is open while the cleaning air blowing means is being driven, the door open / close detection means stops the drive of the cleaning air blowing means, but when the door open / close detection means detects that the second door is open, the door open / close detection means does not stop the drive of the cleaning air blowing means.

5. 2. The separating air blowing device according to claim 1, wherein the control means has an index indicating whether or not operation of the separating air blowing means is necessary, and drives the separating air blowing means when the index indicates that operation of the separating air blowing means is necessary.

6. 2. The separating air blowing device according to claim 1, wherein the control means has an indicator that indicates whether operation of the separating air blowing means is necessary, and when the door open / close detection means detects that the door is open while operation of the separating air blowing means is complete, the control means sets the indicator to a state that indicates operation of the separating air blowing means is necessary.

7. 2. The separating air blowing device according to claim 1, wherein the control means has an indicator that indicates whether operation of the separating air blowing means is necessary, and in a state where operation of the separating air blowing means is completed, the control means changes the indicator to a state that indicates operation of the separating air blowing means in response to a feeding means that feeds sheets placed on the sheet placing section feeding a predetermined number of sheets.

8. The separating air blower according to any one of claims 1 to 7, a feeding means for feeding the sheets separated by the separating air blowing device; A sheet feeding device comprising:

9. The separating air blower according to any one of claims 1 to 7, a feeding means for feeding the sheets separated by the separating air blowing device; an image forming means for forming an image on the sheet fed by the feeding means; An image forming apparatus comprising:

10. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising the door.

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