Patent Publication Number: US-2020301333-A1

Title: Image forming apparatus and operation method thereof

Description:
FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image forming apparatus and an operation method. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral (MFP) form an image on a sheet. Hereinafter, an image forming on a sheet maybe referred to as “printing.” The sheet mentioned here includes not only general printing paper but also envelopes, paper with integrated circuit (IC) chips, overhead projector (OHP) sheet, special processed paper (for example, laminated paper and waterproof paper) and the like. 
     During printing performed by the image forming apparatus, the sheet may be blocked in the image forming apparatus. Hereinafter, blocking of the sheet in the image forming apparatus maybe referred to as “jamming.” When jamming occurs, the sheet blocked in the image forming apparatus (hereinafter “jammed sheet”) may need to be removed by a user from the image forming apparatus. Depending on a jamming spot in the image forming apparatus, toner which is not fixed (hereinafter referred to as “unfixed toner”) may be formed on the jammed sheet in some cases. 
     In the related art, removed jammed sheets were generally discarded by the user. On the other hand, toner which can be decolored by heating (hereinafter referred to as “decoloring toner”) may be used in some cases. In printing performed with such decoloring toner, the user may decolor the decoloring toner on the removed jammed sheets and reuse the decolored sheets. For example, to decolor the decoloring toner, the user may feed the removed jammed sheet to mechanisms such as a decoloring device that decolors decoloring toner (hereinafter referred to as “decoloring unit”). At this time, depending on a method of feeding sheet to the decoloring unit, the unfixed toner on the jammed sheet fed to the decoloring unit may contact paper feeding roller (pickup roller) of the decoloring unit and may be attached to the paper feeding roller. When the unfixed toner is attached to the paper feeding roller, sheets to be fed may slip and therefore sheet feeding may not be properly performed. 
     It is not easy for the user to determine whether toner on the jammed sheet is unfixed toner. Further, when duplex printing is performed, it is not easy to determine which surfaces of the jammed sheet has unfixed toner. Thus, it may be difficult for the user to know whether any of the jammed sheets can be fed to the decoloring unit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exterior view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printer. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the image forming apparatus. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating a display example of a first notification. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating a display example of a second notification. 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram illustrating a display example of a third notification. 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An exemplary embodiment provides an image forming apparatus and a notification method capable of notifying a user of an appropriate countermeasure method when jamming occurs. 
     In general, according to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image transfer device, an image fixing device disposed downstream with respect to the image transfer device in a sheet conveying direction, one or more sheet sensors disposed along a sheet conveying path, a control panel, and a controller. The image fixing device is configured to fix a toner image transferred onto a sheet by the image transfer device. The controller is configured to determine whether or not a jammed sheet is at least partially positioned between the image transfer device and the image fixing device based on a detection result of the one or more sheet sensors. The controller is further configured to control the control panel to display different procedures to handle the jammed sheet, depending on the determination whether or not the jammed sheet is at least partially positioned between the image transfer device and the image fixing device. 
     Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus and a notification method according to embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exterior view of an image forming apparatus  100  according to a first embodiment. The image forming apparatus  100  is, for example, a multifunction peripheral. The image forming apparatus  100  includes a display  110 , a control panel  120 , a printer  130 , a sheet accommodation unit  140 , a finisher  150 , and an image reading unit  200 . 
     The image forming apparatus  100  forms an image on a sheet using, for example, a developer such as toner. As the toner, there are toner which cannot be decolored (hereinafter referred to as “non-decoloring toner”) and decoloring toner. An image formed with decoloring toner on a sheet is decolored at a temperature equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature. The sheet may be any object as long as the image forming apparatus  100  can form an image on a surface of the object. 
     The display  110  is, for example, an image display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic electro-luminescence (EL) display. The display  110  displays various kinds of information regarding the image forming apparatus  100 . The various kinds of information mentioned here include not only information used to present an operation screen, a state of a printing process, and the like to a user but also information used to notify the user an appropriate countermeasure method, for example, when jamming occurs. 
     The control panel  120  includes a plurality of buttons. The control panel  120  receives an operation from the user. The control panel  120  outputs a signal suitable for the operation performed by the user to a control unit of the image forming apparatus  100 . The display  110  and the control panel  120  may be configured as an integrated touch panel. 
     The printer  130  forms an image on a sheet based on image information generated by the image reading unit  200  or image information received via a communication path. The printer  130  forms an image by, for example, a process to be described below. An image forming unit of the printer  130  forms an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductive drum based on the image information. The image forming unit of the printer  130  forms a visible image by attaching a developer to the electrostatic latent image. As described above, there is toner as a specific example of the developer. A transfer unit of the printer  130  transfers the visible image to a sheet. A fixing unit of the printer  130  fixes the visible image to the sheet by heating and pressurizing the sheet. The sheet on which the image is formed may be a sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodation unit  140  or may be a manually input sheet. 
     When duplex printing is performed to form images on both surfaces of a sheet, the front and the rear surfaces, the printer  130  forms an image on one of the surfaces of the sheet and then forms an image on the other surface. Hereinafter, of the front surface and the rear surface, a surface on which printing is first performed on the sheet is referred to as a first surface and a surface on which printing is performed after the first surface is referred to as a second surface. 
     The sheet accommodation unit  140  accommodates sheets to be used in image forming by the printer  130 . A sheet on which an image is formed by the printer  130  is discharged to the finisher  150 . 
     The image reading unit  200  obtains image information of a reading target based on brightness and darkness of light. The image reading unit  200  records the image information. The recorded image information may be transmitted to another information processing apparatus via a network. The recorded image information may be formed as an image on a sheet by the printer  130 . 
     Hereinafter, a configuration of the printer  130  will be described. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the printer  130 . 
     The sheet accommodation unit  140  includes a plurality of paper feeding cassettes  20 A,  20 B, and  20 C. The paper feeding cassettes  20 A,  20 B, and  20 C each accommodate sheets (S) with sizes and types set in advance. The paper feeding cassettes  20 A,  20 B, and  20 C include pickup rollers  21 A,  21 B, and  21 C, respectively. The pickup rollers  21 A,  21 B, and  21 C extract sheets one by one from the paper feeding cassettes  20 A,  20 B, and  20 C, respectively. The pickup rollers  21 A,  21 B, and  21 C each supply the extracted sheet to a transport path  15 . 
     The transport path  15  transports a sheet in the printer  130  and the sheet accommodation unit  140 . The transport path  15  includes transport roller  23  and register roller  24 . The transport path  15  transports a sheet supplied from any of the pickup rollers  21 A,  21 B, and  21 C to the register roller  24 . The register roller  24  transports the sheet according to a timing at which a transfer unit  28  of the printer  130  to be described below transfers a toner image to a surface of the sheet. The transport roller  23  causes a leading end of the sheet in a transport direction to enter a nip N of the register roller  24 . The transport roller  23  aligns the position of the leading end of the sheet in the transport direction by curving the sheet. The register roller  24  transports the sheet to the transfer unit  28  side after the leading end of the sheet sent from the transport roller  23  is aligned at the nip N. 
     The printer  130  includes image forming units  25 K and  25 D, an exposure unit  26 , an intermediate transfer belt  27 , the transfer unit  28 , a fixing unit  29 , and a detection unit  30 . Each of the image forming units  25 K and  25 D forms a toner image to be transferred to the sheet. Each of the image forming units  25 K and  25 D includes a photoconductive drum  25   a . Further, each of the image forming units  25 K and  25 D includes a development device  25   b  that selectively supplies toner to the surface of the respective photoconductive drum  25   a . The development device  25   b  of the image forming unit  25 K accommodates non-decoloring toner. The development device  25   b  of the image forming unit  25 D accommodates decoloring toner. The decoloring toner is formed as an image by the image forming unit  25 D that has a configuration similar to the configuration of the image forming unit  25 K. 
     The exposure unit  26  faces the photoconductive drum  25   a  of each of the image forming units  25 K and  25 D. The exposure unit  26  radiates laser light based on image data to the surface of the photoconductive drum  25   a  of each of the image forming units  25 K and  25 D. The exposure unit  26  forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductive drum  25   a  of each of the image forming units  25 K and  25 D by radiating the laser light. Each development device  25   b  develops the electrostatic latent image by supplying toner to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of each photoconductive drum  25   a . Each development device  25   b  forms (develops) a toner image by attaching the charged toner to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of each photoconductive drum  25   a . The development device  25   b  of the image forming unit  25 K develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductive drum  25   a  using black toner. The development device  25   b  of the image forming unit  25 D develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductive drum  25   a  using decoloring toner. 
     The image forming units  25 K and  25 D each transfer (primarily transfer) the toner images charged on the surfaces of the respective photoconductive drums  25   a  to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt  27 . The image forming units  25 K and  25 D each supplies a transfer bias to the toner images of the respective photoconductive drums  25   a  at primary transfer positions at which primary transfer rollers and the intermediate transfer belt  27  come into contact with each other. The image forming units  25 K and  25 D each transfer the toner images of respective colors on the respective photoconductive drums  25   a  to overlap each other on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt  27 . The image forming unit  25 K forms a non-decoloring toner image by transferring the toner image to overlap on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt  27 . The image forming unit  25 D transfers a decoloring toner image to the intermediate transfer belt  27 . 
     The transfer unit  28  includes a support roller  28   a  and a secondary transfer roller  28   b  interposing the intermediate transfer belt  27  and a sheet from both sides in the thickness direction. A position at which the support roller  28   a  and the secondary transfer roller  28   b  face each other is a secondary transfer position. The support roller  28   a  has a function as a counter electrode of the secondary transfer roller  28   b . The transfer unit  28  transfers the toner images charged on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt  27  to the surface of the sheet by supplying the transfer bias corresponding to a transfer current to the secondary transfer position. 
     The remaining toner on the intermediate transfer belt  27  not transferred to the sheet by the transfer unit  28  is cleaned by a cleaning unit  271 . The cleaning unit  271  causes the tip of a blade to contact and pressures the intermediate transfer belt  27  to scrape the toner off the intermediate transfer belt  27 . The cleaning unit  271  may bring a charged brush into contact with the intermediate transfer belt  27 . 
     The fixing unit  29  is disposed downstream from the transfer unit  28  in a transport direction along the transport path  15  which is a transport path of a sheet. For the upstream and downstream sides mentioned here, a position to which a sheet arrives earlier in the transport path  15  in which a sheet is transported from each of the paper feeding cassettes  20 A,  20 B, and  20 C to the finisher  150  is referred to as an upstream side and a position to which the sheet arrives later relatively than the upstream side position is referred to as a downstream side. The fixing unit  29  fixes the toner images to the sheet at a fixing temperature in a normal operation mode. The fixing unit  29  decolors the decoloring toner formed on the sheet at a decoloring temperature higher than the fixing temperature in a decoloring mode. Here, the decoloring temperature is a temperature of the fixing unit  29  sufficient to decolor the decoloring toner formed on the sheet. The decoloring temperature is higher than a temperature above which the decoloring toner is decolored and is determined according to a thermal capacity of the sheet or a passing speed of the sheet in the fixing unit  29 . As the fixing unit  29 , for example, an induction heating (IH) heater including a heated member generating heat by an alternating-current magnetic field can be used. By using the IH heater, it is possible to easily control the temperature of the fixing unit  29 . 
     A pair of paper feeding rollers  68  and a pair of paper discharge rollers  69  discharge the sheet on which an image is formed to the finisher  150  through a discharge port  61 . A duplex printing device  70  is provided below the exposure unit  26 . The duplex printing device  70  reverses the sheet passing through the fixing unit  29  and sends the sheet to the transport roller  23  again, according to a first-in first-out (FIFO) scheme. The duplex printing device  70  includes a temporary accumulation unit  71 , a transport path  72 , a pickup roller  73 , and paper feeding rollers  77  and  78 . The temporary accumulation unit  71  temporarily accumulates (stacks) the sheet. The transport path  72  branches the sheet passing through the fixing unit  29  from the transport path  15  and guides the sheet to the temporary accumulation unit  71 . The pickup roller  73  sequentially extracts the sheets accumulated in the temporary accumulation unit  71  one by one. The paper feeding rollers  77  and  78  feed the extracted sheet to the transport roller  23  through a transport path  74 . A distribution gate  76  is provided in a branch portion between the transport path  15  and the transport path  72 . The distribution gate  76  selectively distributes the sheet to the transport path  15  leading to the discharge port  61  or the transport path  72  of the duplex printing device  70 . 
     When images are formed on both surfaces of a sheet, the sheet passing through the fixing unit  29  is guided to the transport path  72  by the distribution gate  76  and is sequentially stacked in the temporary accumulation unit  71 . The sheet temporarily accumulated in the temporary accumulation unit  71  is extracted to the pickup roller  73  sequentially from the lowermost sheet among the stacked sheets. The extracted sheet is reversed in the transport path  74 . After the sheet is reversed, the sheet is sent to the transport roller  23 . After the sheet is adjusted by the transport roller  23 , the sheet is transported to the transfer unit  28  again. The transfer unit  28  transfers a toner image to a surface different from the surface of the sheet on which the image is first formed. The fixing unit  29  fixes the toner image to the sheet at the fixing temperature. The sheet which passed through the fixing unit  29  is discharged from the discharge port  61  to the finisher  150  via the pair of paper feeding rollers  68  and the pair of paper discharge rollers  69 . 
     The detection unit  30  is a sensor that detects a position of a jammed sheet (hereinafter referred to as a “remaining position”) remaining in the transport path  15  inside the image forming apparatus  100  when jamming occurs. The detection unit  30  is located, for example, at each spots of the transport path  15  where the sheet is drawn into the transfer unit  28  and where the sheet is discharged from the fixing unit  29 . The detection unit  30  is, for example, a sensor that includes a sensor lever. When a transported sheet passes the detection unit  30 , the sensor lever is pushed by the leading end of the sheet. Thus, the detection unit  30  can detect that the transported sheet arrived up to the position where the detection unit  30  is located. 
     The printer  130  can also reverse the front surface and the rear surface of a sheet in which images are formed on the both surfaces and discharge the sheet to the finisher  150 . In this case, the distribution gate  76  guides the sheet in which the images are formed on the both surfaces to the transport path  72 . Thus, the sheet is accumulated in the temporary accumulation unit  71  and the sheet is fed to the transport roller  23  along the transport path  74  again. The printer  130  does not form an image on the sheet in which the images are formed on the both surfaces. The sheet passes through the transfer unit  28  and the fixing unit  29  without forming an image, and is discharged from the discharge port  61  to the finisher  150  via the pair of paper feeding rollers  68  and the pair of paper discharge rollers  69 . 
     Hereinafter, a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus  100  will be described. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus  100 . The image forming apparatus  100  includes a communication unit  101 , a processor  102 , a storage unit  103 , the display  110 , the control panel  120 , the printer  130 , the sheet accommodation unit  140 , the finisher  150 , a temperature detection unit  160 , and the image reading unit  200 . As the configurations of the display unit  110 , the control panel  120 , the printer  130 , the sheet accommodation unit  140 , the finisher  150 , and the image reading unit  200  have been described, the description thereof will not be repeated. 
     The communication unit  101  is a network interface. The communication unit  101  communicates with an external information processing apparatus via a communication path. The information processing apparatus is, for example, a personal computer, a server, or the like. 
     The processor  102  is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU). When the processor  102  is the CPU, the processor  102  operates as a control unit by reading a program from a memory and executing the program. The control unit controls each unit of the image forming apparatus  100 . The processor  102  receives a printing job via the communication unit  101  or the control panel  120 . The printing job is job data instructing to form an image on a sheet. The processor  102  controls each unit such that image data based on the printing job is formed as an image on the sheet. 
     The processor  102  functions as a notification control unit that controls a notification to a user. The processor  102  performs a notification, for example, by causing a notification unit such as the display  110  to display information. The processor  102  may be configured to output information to, for example, an output device such as an external display device instead of outputting the information to the notification unit included in the image forming apparatus  100 . In this case, the processor  102  outputs information indicating a notification to the external output device. 
     The notification mentioned here also includes, for example, a notification for presenting an appropriate countermeasure method to a user when jamming occurs. The processor  102  performs a notification to the user, for example, by causing the display  110  to display text information. The processor  102  may be configured to perform output according to other output methods of, for example, displaying a notification image, outputting a notification sound, or causing a notification lamp to emit light instead of causing the notification unit to display the text information. 
     For example, the processor  102  causes the notification unit such as the display  110  to output another notification according to the remaining position of the jammed sheet detected by the detection unit  30 . The processor  102  performs a first notification, for example, when the remaining position of the jammed sheet detected by the detection unit  30  is not a position that is a downstream side from the transfer unit  28  and an upstream side from the fixing unit  29  in the transport path  15  (hereinafter referred to as a “predetermined position”). The processor  102  also performs a second notification different from the first notification, for example, when the remaining position of the jammed sheet detected by the detection unit  30  is the predetermined position. 
     As described above, the predetermined position is a position which is a downstream side from the transfer unit  28  and an upstream side from the fixing unit  29  in the transport path  15 . Accordingly, when jamming occurs and the remaining position of the jammed sheet is the predetermined position, it is a state in which toner is transferred to the jammed sheet, but the toner is not fixed. In addition, when jamming occurs and the remaining position of the jammed sheet is a position which is upstream from the predetermined position in the transport path  15 , it is a state in which toner is not transferred to the sheet. When jamming occurs and the remaining position of the sheet is a position which is downstream from the predetermined position in the transport path  15 , it is a state in which toner is transferred to the jammed sheet and the toner is fixed. 
     The storage unit  103  is any of various memories such as a hard disk drive (HDD) and a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The storage unit  103  stores various kinds of data to be used by the processor  102  to perform a process and programs executed by the processor  102 . The temperature detection unit  160  is a temperature sensor. The temperature detection unit  160  detects the temperature of the fixing unit  29 . 
     Hereinafter, an operation example of the image forming apparatus  100  will be described. 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the image forming apparatus  100 . An operation illustrated in the flowchart starts when the processor  102  receives a printing job via the communication unit  101  or the control panel  120 . 
     The processor  102  starts a process for printing based on the printing job (ACT  101 ). The processor  102  monitors presence or absence of jamming. The processor  102  recognizes presence or absence of jamming based on whether information indicating the jamming is acquired from the detection unit  30 . When the jamming is not detected (NO in ACT  102 ) and the printing ends (YES in ACT  103 ), the operation of the image forming apparatus  100  illustrated in the flowchart of  FIG. 4  ends. 
     When the jamming is not detected (NO in ACT  102 ) and the printing does not end (NO in ACT  103 ), the processor  102  continues to monitor the presence or absence of jamming. When the jamming is detected (YES in ACT  102 ), the processor  102  specifies the position of the jammed sheet. The processor  102  specifies the position of the jammed sheet based on the information acquired from the detection unit  30 . When the position of the jammed sheet is not the predetermined position (NO in ACT  104 ), the processor  102  causes the display  110  to display the first notification (ACT  105 ). Then, the operation of the image forming apparatus  100  illustrated in the flowchart of  FIG. 4  ends. 
     Conversely, when the position of the jammed sheet is the predetermined position (YES in ACT  104 ), the processor  102  causes the display  110  to display the second notification (ACT  106 ). Then, the operation of the image forming apparatus  100  illustrated in the flowchart of  FIG. 4  ends. 
     Display examples of the above-described first and second notifications at the time of performing printing using the decoloring toner are illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , respectively. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating a display example of a first notification. As illustrated, for example, a sentence “Jamming has occurred. Please remove the sheet.” is displayed on the display  110  for the first notification.  FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating a display example of a second notification. As illustrated, for example, a sentence “Jamming has occurred. Please remove the sheet. Please set printed surface downwards when decoloring the collected sheet.” is displayed on the display  110  for the second notification. 
     As described above, for example, the second notification is text information in which the sentence “Please set printed surface downwards when decoloring the collected sheet.” are additionally indicated in the first notification. In a general decoloring unit (for example, a decoloring device), pickup rollers (for example, the pickup rollers  21 A,  21 B, and  21 C) feeding a sheet come into contact with the sheet from the upper side of the sheet to draw the sheet to a transport path. Accordingly, “set printed surface downwards” means that the jammed sheet is set so that the printed surface faces a direction opposite to a direction toward the pickup rollers of the decoloring unit. 
     As described above, in the printing using the decoloring toner, a user may decolor the fixed or unfixed decoloring toner transferred to the collected jammed sheet and reuse the decolored sheet. In these cases, the jammed sheet is fed to the decoloring unit (for example, a decoloring device). At this time, when the jammed sheet is set in the decoloring unit so that a surface (printed surface) on which unfixed toner is ridden faces a direction in which the surface comes into contact with the pickup rollers of the decoloring unit, the unfixed toner is attached to the pickup rollers of the decoloring unit during feeding of the sheet. Thus, the fed sheet slips and thus is not normally fed in some cases. Accordingly, when the position of the jammed sheet is the predetermined position, it is necessary for the user to set the jammed sheet in the decoloring unit so that the printed surface faces a direction opposite to the direction toward the pickup rollers of the decoloring unit. 
     As described above, the image forming apparatus  100  according to the first embodiment performs, for example, the second notification illustrated in  FIG. 6  when the position of the jammed sheet is the predetermined position. In this way, the image forming apparatus  100  according to the first embodiment can notify an appropriate countermeasure method to the user when jamming occurs. 
     Not only in the printing using the decoloring toner but also in printing using non-decoloring toner, the processor  102  may change the notification depending on whether or not the position of the jammed sheet is the predetermined position. In this case, for example, in the first notification in printing using non-decoloring toner, the processor  102  causes the display  110  to display the sentence “Jamming has occurred. Please remove the sheet.” On the other hand, in the second notification in printing using non-decoloring toner, the processor  102  causes the display  110  to display the sentence “Jamming has occurred. Please remove the sheet. Be careful to not touch printed surface since toner is not fixed.”, for example. 
     In the printing using non-decoloring toner, the removed jammed sheet is not set in the decoloring unit. However, even in the printing using non-decoloring toner, for example, the user can recognize whether the non-decoloring toner on the jammed sheet is unfixed toner by changing the notification depending on whether the position of the jammed sheet is the predetermined position. Thus, the image forming apparatus  100  can prompt a notice so that the user does not touch the unfixed toner. 
     Second Embodiment 
     As described above, in the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus  100  performs different notifications depending on whether or not the position of the sheet is the predetermined position. In the second embodiment to be described below, an image forming apparatus  100  performs different notifications depending on whether or not jamming occurs during simplex printing or during duplex printing. When jamming occurs during duplex printing, the image forming apparatus  100  performs different notifications depending on whether jamming occurs during printing of the first surface or during printing of the second surface. 
     The configuration of the image forming apparatus  100  according to the second embodiment is basically common to the configuration of the image forming apparatus  100  according to the first embodiment described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 . Accordingly, in the following description, only different aspects between the configuration of the image forming apparatus  100  according to the second embodiment and the configuration of the image forming apparatus  100  according to the first embodiment will be described. 
     The processor  102  causes the notification unit to output different notifications according to the position of a jammed sheet detected by the detection unit  30 . For example, when the position of the jammed sheet detected by the detection unit  30  is not the predetermined position, the processor  102  performs the first notification. When the position of the jammed sheet detected by the detection unit  30  is the predetermined position, the processor  102  performs the second notification different form the first notification, or a third notification different from the first notification and the second notification. Specifically, for example, when the first surface is being printed in the simplex printing or the duplex printing, the processor  102  performs the second notification. Conversely, for example, when the second surface is being printed in the duplex printing, the processor  102  performs the third notification. 
     Hereinafter, an operation example of the image forming apparatus  100  will be described. 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the image forming apparatus  100  according to the second embodiment. An operation illustrated in the flowchart starts when the processor  102  receives the printing job via the communication unit  101  or the control panel  120 . Since the operation of ACT  201  to ACT  203  illustrated in  FIG. 7  is common to the operation of ACT  101  to ACT  103  illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the description thereof will not be repeated. 
     When jamming is detected (YES in ACT  202 ), the processor  102  specifies the position of the jammed sheet. The processor  102  specifies the position of the jammed sheet based on the information acquired from the detection unit  30 . When the position of the jammed sheet is not the predetermined position (NO in ACT  204 ), the processor  102  causes the display  110  to display the first notification (ACT  205 ). Then, the operation of the image forming apparatus  100  illustrated in the flowchart of  FIG. 7  ends. 
     When the position of the jammed sheet is the predetermined position (YES in ACT  204 ) and the printing is not the duplex printing (that is, the printing is the simplex printing) (NO in ACT  206 ), the processor  102  causes the display  110  to display the second notification (ACT  207 ). Then, the operation of the image forming apparatus  100  illustrated in the flowchart of  FIG. 7  ends. 
     When the position of the jammed sheet is the predetermined position (YES in ACT  204 ) and the printing is the duplex printing (YES in ACT  206 ), the processor  102  determines whether the first surface is being printed or the second surface is being printed. When the first surface is being printed (NO in ACT  208 ), the processor  102  causes the display  110  to display the second notification (ACT  207 ). Then, the operation of the image forming apparatus  100  illustrated in the flowchart of  FIG. 7  ends. 
     When the second surface is being printed (YES in ACT  208 ), the processor  102  causes the display  110  to display the third notification (ACT  209 ). Then, the operation of the image forming apparatus  100  illustrated in the flowchart of  FIG. 7  ends. 
     Since display examples of the above-described first and second notifications during printing using the decoloring toner are common to the display examples illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , respectively, the description thereof will not be repeated. A display example of the above-described third notification during printing using the decoloring toner is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram illustrating a display example of the third notification. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , for example, a sentence “Jamming has occurred. Please remove the sheet.” is displayed on the display  110  for the first notification. On the other hand, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , for example, a sentence “Jamming has occurred. Please remove the sheet. Please discard the collected sheet.” is displayed on the display  110  in the third notification. 
     As described above, for example, the third notification is text information in which the sentence “Please discard the collected sheet.” are indicated in addition to the first notification. As described above, the image forming apparatus  100  according to the second embodiment performs, for example, the third notification illustrated in  FIG. 8  when the position of the jammed sheet is the predetermined position and the printing is the printing of the second surface in the duplex printing. 
     When the position of the jammed sheet is the predetermined position and jamming occurs during the printing of the second surface in the duplex printing, it is a state in which fixed toner is on the first surface of the jammed sheet and unfixed toner is on the second surface of the jammed sheet. In this case, since the toner is transferred to both surfaces of the sheet, it is not easy for the user to determine which surface is the first surface and which surface the second surface. 
     Thus, the user may erroneously set the sheet so that the surface (the second surface) on which the unfixed toner is formed faces a direction in which the surface comes into contact with the pickup roller of the decoloring unit. In this case, the unfixed tonner is attached to the pickup roller of the decoloring unit during feeding. The fed sheet slips and thus may not be normally fed. 
     As described above, the image forming apparatus  100  according to the second embodiment performs, for example, a notification for prompting the user to discard the jammed sheet when the position of the jammed sheet is the predetermined position and jamming occurs during the printing of the second surface in the duplex printing. The image forming apparatus  100  performs, for example, the second notification illustrated in  FIG. 6  when the position of the jammed sheet is the predetermined position and jamming occurs during the simplex printing or the printing of the first surface in the duplex printing. This is because, in this case, it is easy for the user to determine the surface on which the unfixed toner is formed since the toner is formed on only one surface of the sheet. In this way, the image forming apparatus  100  according to the second embodiment can notify an appropriate countermeasure method to the user when jamming occurs. 
     Third Embodiment 
     As described above, in the second embodiment, the image forming apparatus  100  performs the different notifications depending on whether or not the position of a sheet is the predetermined position. In the second embodiment, the image forming apparatus  100  performs different notifications depending on whether jamming occurs during simplex printing or duplex printing. In the second embodiment, when jamming occurs during the duplex printing, the image forming apparatus  100  performs different notifications depending on whether the jamming occurs during the printing of the first surface or the jamming occurs during the printing of the second surface. 
     In the third embodiment to be described below, the image forming apparatus  100  further performs different notifications depending on whether jamming occurs in printing using decoloring toner or jamming occurs in printing using non-decoloring toner. 
     The configuration of the image forming apparatus  100  according to the third embodiment is basically common to the configuration of the image forming apparatus  100  according to the first embodiment described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 . Accordingly, in the following description, only different aspects between the configuration of the image forming apparatus  100  according to the third embodiment and the configuration of the image forming apparatus  100  according to the first embodiment will be described. 
     The processor  102  performs different notifications according to the position of the jammed sheet detected by the detection unit  30 . For example, when the position of the jammed sheet detected by the detection unit  30  is not the predetermined position, the processor  102  performs the first notification. When the position of the jammed sheet detected by the detection unit  30  is the predetermined position, the processor  102  performs the second notification different from the first notification, or the third notification different from the first notification and the second notification. Specifically, when jamming occurs in printing using non-decoloring toner, the processor  102  performs the third notification. 
     When the jamming occurs in printing using decoloring toner, the processor  102  performs the second notification or the third notification. Specifically, when the first surface is being printed in the simplex printing or the duplex printing, the processor  102  performs the second notification. When the second surface is printed in the duplex printing, the processor  102  performs the third notification. 
     Hereinafter, an operation example of the image forming apparatus  100  will be described. 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the image forming apparatus  100  according to the third embodiment. An operation illustrated in the flowchart starts when the processor  102  receives the printing job via the communication unit  101  or the control panel  120 . Since the operation of ACT  301  to ACT  303  illustrated in  FIG. 9  is common to the operation of ACT  101  to ACT  103  illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the description thereof will not be repeated. 
     When jamming is detected (YES in ACT  302 ), the processor  102  specifies the position of the jammed sheet. The processor  102  specifies the position of the jammed sheet based on the information acquired from the detection unit  30 . When the position of the jammed sheet is not the predetermined position (NO in ACT  304 ), the processor  102  causes the display  110  to display the first notification (ACT  305 ). Then, the operation of the image forming apparatus  100  illustrated in the flowchart of  FIG. 9  ends. 
     When the position of the jammed sheet is the predetermined position (YES in ACT  304 ), the processor  102  determines whether printing is using decoloring toner or non-decoloring toner. When the printing is not using the decoloring toner (is using the non-decoloring toner) (NO in ACT  306 ), the processor  102  causes the display  110  to display the third notification (ACT  310 ). Then, the operation of the image forming apparatus  100  illustrated in the flowchart of  FIG. 9  ends. 
     When the printing is using decoloring toner (YES in ACT  306 ) and the printing is not the duplex printing (that is, the printing is the simplex printing) (NO in ACT  307 ), the processor  102  causes the display  110  to display the second notification (ACT  308 ). Then, the operation of the image forming apparatus  100  illustrated in the flowchart of  FIG. 9  ends. 
     When the printing is using the decoloring toner (YES in ACT  306 ) and the printing is the duplex printing (YES in ACT  307 ), the processor  102  determines whether the first surface is being printed or the second surface is being printed. When the first surface is being printed (NO in ACT  309 ), the processor  102  causes the display  110  to display the second notification (ACT  308 ). Then, the operation of the image forming apparatus  100  illustrated in the flowchart of  FIG. 9  ends. 
     When the second surface is being printed (YES in ACT  309 ), the processor  102  causes the display  110  to display the third notification (ACT  310 ). Then, the operation of the image forming apparatus  100  illustrated in the flowchart of  FIG. 9  ends. 
     For example, the display examples illustrated in  FIGS. 5, 6, and 8  can be used as the above-described first notification, second notification, and third notification, respectively. 
     As described above, the image forming apparatus  100  according to the third embodiment performs, for example, the third notification illustrated in  FIG. 9  when jamming occurs in the printing using the non-decoloring toner and the position of the jammed sheet is the predetermined position. That is, in this case, the image forming apparatus  100  performs a notification for prompting the user to discard the jammed sheet. This is because when the toner on the jammed sheet is non-decoloring toner and unfixed toner, the jammed sheet may not be decolored and reused and an object (for example, the inside of the image forming apparatus  100 , the body of the user, or the like) coming into contact with the unfixed toner is likely to become dirty. In this way, the image forming apparatus  100  according to the third embodiment can notify the user of an appropriate countermeasure method when jamming occurs. 
     According to at least one of the above-described embodiments, by including the processor  102  that performs different notifications depending on whether or not the position of the jammed sheet is the predetermined position, the user can be notified of the appropriate countermeasure method when jamming occurs. 
     While certain embodiments have been described these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms: furthermore various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein maybe made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.