Image forming apparatus

Abstract

In the event of a malfunction, the system will appropriately determine which paper feed device should be detached. [Solution] The printer 1 comprises a printer body 2 having an image forming unit 6 for forming an image on paper, and a paper feeder 3 attached to the printer body 2 for supplying paper to the image forming unit 6. The printer body 2 has a first control unit 20 for controlling the image forming function, and the paper feeder 3 has a second control unit 25 for controlling the paper feeding function. The second control unit 25 stores identification information for identifying the paper feeder 3 in advance, and the first control unit 20 is communicably connected to the second control unit 25, receives the identification information of the paper feeder 3 from the second control unit 25, and determines which paper feeder 3 is attached to the printer body 2 based on the identification information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a paper feeding device that supplies paper.

Background Art

[0002] The image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus main body having an image forming section that forms an image on paper; and a paper feeding device attached to the apparatus main body and configured to supply the paper toward the image forming section. The paper feeding device may fail independently of the apparatus main body, and the image forming apparatus can operate only with non-failed devices by disconnecting the failed paper feeding device.

[0003] For example, according to Patent Document 1, an image forming apparatus includes a control section that generates control signals for controlling devices, and a communication section that transmits the control signals and receives response signals to the control signals. The control section detects a failure based on a failure signal indicating the failure of the device, and classifies the failure into a first category, a second category, and a third category. When detecting a failure, the control section restarts the device. When the failure is classified into the first category, the control section communicates with the device after restarting to confirm whether the device operates normally, and disconnects communication with the device if the device does not operate normally. When the failure is classified into the second category, the control section requests a user whether to perform the confirmation. When the failure is classified into the third category, the control section disconnects communication with the device without performing the confirmation.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Some image forming machines have a disconnection function that disconnects the paper feeder if a malfunction in the paper feeder is detected a predetermined number of times (for example, twice) consecutively, as restarting the paper feeder can sometimes resolve the issue. However, in image forming machines that use any of multiple paper feeders, problems arise regarding the disconnection of the paper feeders. For example, in an image forming machine equipped with a first paper feeder and a second paper feeder, if the paper source is set to the first paper feeder, a malfunction is detected in the first paper feeder, and then the paper source is changed to the second paper feeder, and a malfunction is detected in the second paper feeder, the disconnection function will disconnect the second paper feeder because it has detected two consecutive paper feeder malfunctions. Thus, image forming machines may disconnect paper feeders that should not be disconnected, so it is necessary to limit the disconnection function.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to appropriately determine which paper feed device should be detached in the event of a malfunction, taking the above circumstances into consideration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention provides an image forming apparatus comprising: an apparatus body having an image forming unit for forming an image on paper; and a paper feeding device attached to the apparatus body for supplying the paper to the image forming unit, wherein the apparatus body has a first control unit for controlling the image forming function, and the paper feeding device has a second control unit for controlling the paper feeding function, the second control unit stores identification information for identifying the paper feeding device in advance, the first control unit is communicably connected to the second control unit, receives the identification information for the paper feeding device from the second control unit, and determines which paper feeding device is attached to the apparatus body based on the identification information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately determine which paper feed device should be detached in the event of a malfunction. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a printer according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure schematically shows an example of a second storage unit of a paper feed device in a printer according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This flowchart shows an example of the operation in which the first control unit of the printer body recognizes the paper feed device to which it is attached in a printer according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This flowchart shows an example of the operation of the paper feed device detachment function by the first control unit of the printer body in a printer according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] First, the overall configuration of the printer 1 (image forming apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 1. For the sake of convenience in the following explanation, the front side of the paper in Figure 1 will be referred to as the front side of the printer 1. The arrows L, R, U, and Lo, as appropriate in each figure, indicate the left, right, top, and bottom sides of the printer 1, respectively.

[0011] The printer 1 comprises a roughly box-shaped printer body 2 (device body), a paper feeder 3 for supplying paper is provided at the bottom of the printer body 2, and a paper output tray 4 is provided at the top of the printer body 2. In this embodiment, multiple paper feeders 3 are provided for the printer 1, and one of the multiple paper feeders 3 is attached to the printer body 2 of the printer 1.

[0012] Inside the printer body 2, an exposure unit 5 is provided below the paper output tray 4, and below the exposure unit 5, an image forming unit 6 is provided to form an image on the paper. The image forming unit 6 is rotatably mounted on a photoreceptor drum 7, which is an image carrier, and around the photoreceptor drum 7, a charging unit, a developing unit connected to a toner container, a transfer roller, and a cleaning unit are arranged along the rotation direction of the photoreceptor drum 7.

[0013] Inside the printer body 2, a paper transport path 10 is provided. At the upstream end of the transport path 10, a transfer section 12, consisting of a photosensitive drum 7 and transfer rollers, is provided. At the downstream end of the transport path 10, a fuser section 13 is provided, and at the downstream end of the transport path 10, a paper discharge section 14 is provided near the paper discharge tray 4.

[0014] Inside the printer body 2 is a first control unit 20 that controls the image formation function. The first control unit 20 is the main computer of the printer 1 and is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), etc. The first control unit 20 is connected to a first storage unit 21 which is composed of a non-volatile EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), etc., that stores data and programs.

[0015] The first control unit 20 is connected to each component of the printer 1 and controls each component by executing calculations based on control programs and control data stored in the first storage unit 21. In this embodiment, in particular, the first storage unit 21 stores identification information of the paper feed device 3 attached to the printer body 2. Furthermore, the first control unit 20 can execute a control program that has a disconnection function to disconnect the paper feed device 3 if it detects a failure of the same paper feed device 3 a predetermined number of times (for example, twice) in a row.

[0016] The paper feed device 3 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 23 for storing paper, a paper feed roller 24 provided for each of the plurality of paper feed cassettes 23 for supplying paper from each paper feed cassette 23 to the transport path 10, and a second control unit 25 for controlling the paper feed function of the paper feed device 3.

[0017] The second control unit 25 is a computer for the paper feed device 3, independent of the first control unit 20 of the printer 1, and is composed of a CPU and the like. The second control unit 25 is equipped with a second storage unit 26, which is composed of a non-volatile ROM or the like for storing data and programs.

[0018] The second control unit 25 is connected to each component of the printer 1, and controls each component by executing arithmetic processing based on the control programs and control data stored in the second storage unit 26.

[0019] Next, the image forming operation of the printer 1 will be described. The printer 1 starts the image forming operation when image data is input from an external computer or the like and a print start instruction is given. In the image forming operation, first, after the charging unit of the image forming section 6 charges the photoreceptor drum 7, the exposure unit 5 exposes the photoreceptor drum 7 according to the image data, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor drum 7. Then, the developing unit of the image forming section 6 develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drum 7 with toner, and a toner image is formed on the photoreceptor drum 7.

[0020] On the other hand, the sheet supplied from the paper feeding device 3 is conveyed on the conveyance path 10 to the transfer unit 12, and the toner image on the photoreceptor drum 7 is transferred to the sheet. The sheet to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 13, and the toner image is fixed to the sheet. The sheet with the fixed toner image is discharged from the paper discharge unit 14 to the paper discharge tray 4.

[0021] When the printer 1 performs the image forming operation in this manner, the first control unit 20 of the printer main body 2 transmits a control signal instructing paper feeding or the like to the paper feeding device 3, and the second control unit 25 of the paper feeding device 3 controls the paper feeding device 3 to perform paper feeding or the like in response to the control signal from the first control unit 20.

[0022] Note that the second control unit 25 transmits a response signal to the first control unit 20 when the paper feeding device 3 can operate normally in response to the control signal from the first control unit 20. On the other hand, the second control unit 25 transmits a failure signal to the first control unit 20 when a failure occurs in the paper feeding device 3 and the paper feeding device 3 cannot operate normally. At this time, the second control unit 25 transmits identification information unique to the paper feeding device 3 together with the failure signal.

[0023] Next, we will explain how to write programs and data to the second storage unit 26 of the paper feed device 3.

[0024] For example, a business that writes programs and data connects a personal computer to a circuit board equipped with the second control unit 25, and uses this personal computer to write programs and data to the second storage unit 26 through the circuit board. The second storage unit 26 stores a paper feeding function program that realizes the paper feeding function of the paper feed device 3, as well as identification information unique to the paper feed device 3.

[0025] First, the personal computer determines the storage area of ​​the second storage unit 26 as shown in Figure 2, including a boot area related to the startup of the paper feed device 3 and a main area for storing the paper feed function program. Furthermore, it determines an ID area within the main area for storing identification information. Then, the personal computer writes the paper feed function program, compiled into a binary file such as a bin file using simple source code in C language or similar, to the main area of ​​the second storage unit 26.

[0026] For example, a binary file containing a boot area and a main area including an ID area, determined by a personal computer, is used to write a pre-created main binary file, in which the paper feed function program is written to the main area, to the second storage unit 26. This main binary file may be, for example, one that has been created in advance and stored in the first storage unit 21 of the printer 1, and issued by the first control unit 20 of the printer 1.

[0027] Furthermore, the personal computer compiles the identification information created with similar source code and writes the resulting binary file for identification information to the ID area of ​​the second storage unit 26. For example, the personal computer creates identification information for the paper feed device 3 using the line number, date, and time.

[0028] The line number is the number of the setting line for configuring the paper feed function program and identification information, and is a number unique to each personal computer. The date and time are the date and time when the identification information is set, and may be the date and time when the identification information is created or the date and time when the identification information is written. For example, if the line number is "A23", the date is "2024 / 7 / 31", and the time is "11:29:30", the identification information will be set to "A232024731112930", and a binary file {'A','2','3','2','0','2','4','7','3','1','1','1','2','9','3','0'} will be created. Since it is not possible to configure two boards within one second on the same personal computer, the identification information will be created without duplication.

[0029] Furthermore, the personal computer combines the binary file for identification information with the main binary file written to the second storage unit 26, thereby writing the binary file for identification information to the ID area of ​​the main binary file. As a result, the paper feeding function program in the main binary file will contain identification information specific to the paper feed device 3.

[0030] Next, the operation by which the first control unit 20 of the printer body 2 of printer 1 recognizes the paper feed device 3 attached to the printer body 2 will be explained with reference to the flowchart in Figure 3.

[0031] First, when power is turned on to the printer 1, the first control unit 20 sends a confirmation signal to the paper feed device 3 to check whether or not the paper feed device 3 is attached to the printer body 2 (step S1).

[0032] When the paper feed device 3 receives a confirmation signal from the first control unit 20, the second control unit 25 of the paper feed device 3 sends a response signal to the printer body 2 to indicate that the paper feed device 3 is attached to the printer body 2 (step S2). At this time, the second control unit 25 also sends identification information of the paper feed device 3 to the printer body 2 (step S3). Figure 3 illustrates an example in which the second control unit 25 sends identification information separately from the response signal, but the second control unit 25 may also send a response signal that includes the identification information.

[0033] When the first control unit 20 receives identification information from the second control unit 25 of the paper feed device 3, it checks whether the same identification information is stored in the first storage unit 21 (step S4).

[0034] If the same identification information is stored in the first storage unit 21 (step S4: Yes), the first control unit 20 can determine that there has been no change to the paper feed device 3 attached to the printer body 2 (step S5).

[0035] On the other hand, if the same identification information is not stored in the first storage unit 21 (step S4: No), the first control unit 20 can determine that there has been a change in the paper feed device 3 attached to the printer body 2 and that it has been replaced with a different paper feed device 3 (step S6). In this case, the first control unit 20 rewrites the first storage unit 21 with the identification information, i.e., the new identification information (step S7).

[0036] Next, an example of the operation of the paper-feeding device 3's detachment function by the first control unit 20 of the printer body 2 of printer 1 will be explained with reference to the flowchart in Figure 4.

[0037] First, when the first control unit 20 receives a fault signal containing identification information from the paper feeder 3 in response to a control signal to the paper feeder 3 (step S11), it determines that this is the first time a fault has been detected in the paper feeder 3 (step S12), and stores the identification information added to the fault signal as the first fault information (step S13).

[0038] Next, if the first control unit 20 receives a series of fault signals including identification information from the paper feeder 3 in response to a control signal to the paper feeder 3 (step S14: Yes), it compares the identification information of the received fault signals with the identification information of the paper feeder 3, which is the first fault information (step S15). If the first control unit 20 does not receive a series of fault signals from the paper feeder 3 (step S14: No), it may reset the identification information stored as the first fault information (step S16).

[0039] Then, if the identification information received this time is the same as the identification information for the first failure (Step S15: Yes), the first control unit 20 determines that a failure has been detected for the same paper feed device 3 twice in a row (Step S17), and disconnects the paper feed device 3 (Step S18).

[0040] On the other hand, if the identification information received this time is different from the identification information of the first failure (step S15: No), the first control unit 20 can determine that the paper feed device 3 has been changed, so it proceeds to step S12 and determines that this is the first time a failure has been detected for the paper feed device 3 (step S12), and stores the identification information received this time as the first failure information without disconnecting the paper feed device 3 (step S13).

[0041] In this embodiment, as described above, the printer 1 comprises a printer body 2 (device body) having an image forming unit 6 that forms an image on paper, and a paper feed device 3 attached to the printer body 2 that supplies paper to the image forming unit 6. The printer body 2 has a first control unit 20 that controls the image forming function, and the paper feed device 3 has a second control unit 25 that controls the paper feeding function. The second control unit 25 stores identification information to identify the paper feed device 3 in advance, and the first control unit 20 is communicably connected to the second control unit 25, receives the identification information of the paper feed device 3 from the second control unit 25, and determines which paper feed device 3 is attached to the printer body 2 based on the identification information.

[0042] As a result, the printer 1 can determine which paper feeder 3 is installed and whether the paper feeder 3 has been changed, without requiring the paper feeder 3 to be equipped with an ID chip or the like with identification information. Therefore, the printer 1 can determine whether a faulty paper feeder 3 is installed consecutively, and can appropriately determine which paper feeder 3 should be disconnected in the event of a malfunction without restricting the disconnection function.

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the printer 1 has a first control unit 20 that has a function to detach the paper feed device 3. When it detects a malfunction in the paper feed device 3, it identifies the malfunctioning paper feed device 3 using identification information and detaches it.

[0044] This allows the printer 1 to appropriately determine which paper feed device 3 should be detached based on the identification information, and to detach the paper feed device 3.

[0045] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in the printer 1, the first control unit 20 is connected to a non-volatile first storage unit 21, and the second control unit 25 is equipped with a non-volatile second storage unit 26. The second control unit 25 is configured to write identification information to the second storage unit 26 when writing a program having a paper feeding function to the second storage unit 26, and the first control unit 20 writes the identification information of the paper feed device 3 received from the second control unit 25 to the first storage unit 21.

[0046] As a result, printer 1 can add identification information to the paper feeder 3 with a simple configuration without having to equip the paper feeder 3 with an ID chip or the like that with the identification information attached to it, and the printer body 2 can appropriately store the identification information of the attached paper feeder 3 and determine which paper feeder 3 is attached.

[0047] In this embodiment, the case in which the configuration of the present invention is applied to a monochrome printer 1 has been described, but in other different embodiments, the configuration of the present invention can also be applied to other image forming devices such as color printers, copiers, facsimile machines, and multifunction devices, as long as they are equipped with a paper feed device 3. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1. Printer (image forming apparatus) 2. Printer unit (device body) 3. Paper feed device 4. Paper output tray 5. Exposure area 6 Image forming unit 7. Photoconductor drum 10. Transport Route 11 Paper feed section 12 Transfer section 13 Fixing section 14 Paper output section 20 First Control Unit 21 1st memory section 23 Paper feed cassette 24 Paper feed rollers 25 Second Control Unit 26 2nd memory section

Claims

1. A device body having an image forming unit that forms an image on paper, The apparatus comprises a paper feeder attached to the main body of the apparatus, which supplies the paper toward the image forming section, The main body of the apparatus has a first control unit that controls the image forming function, The paper feeding device has a second control unit that controls the paper feeding function, The second control unit pre-stores identification information for identifying the paper feed device, The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the first control unit is communicably connected to the second control unit, receives the identification information of the paper feeder from the second control unit, and determines which paper feeder is attached to the main body of the apparatus based on the identification information.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first control unit has a function for detaching the paper feed device, and when it determines that the paper feed device is malfunctioning, it identifies the malfunctioning paper feed device using the identification information and detaches it.

3. The first control unit is connected to a non-volatile first storage unit, The second control unit is equipped with a non-volatile second storage unit, The second control unit is configured to write the identification information to the second storage unit when writing the program having the paper feeding function to the second storage unit, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the first control unit writes the identification information of the paper feeder received from the second control unit to the first storage unit.

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