JP5476812B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, and more particularly to an image recording apparatus capable of recording an image on both sides of a recording sheet and sorting the recording sheet when discharged.

  2. Description of the Related Art As an image recording apparatus capable of sorting recording paper, there is an image recording apparatus configured so that a discharge roller for discharging recording paper can be moved in the axial direction. In this image recording apparatus, the recording paper is nipped at the home position where the discharge roller discharges the recording paper to the reference discharge position. When the discharge roller determines that the recording paper is to be discharged to the sorting discharge position, the discharge roller moves to a shift position where the recording paper can be discharged to the sorting discharge position, and discharges the recording paper (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

  As an image recording apparatus capable of recording an image on both sides of a recording sheet, there is an apparatus that nips the recording sheet twice with a discharge roller until the recording sheet is discharged. First, after the recording of the image by the printer unit on one side of the recording paper is finished, the image is niped by the discharge roller (this is the first nip). At this time, the discharge roller rotates reversely with respect to the case of discharging the recording paper, and guides the recording paper to the double-sided path for conveying the recording paper from the downstream position to the upstream position. The recording paper conveyed to the upstream position of the printer unit records an image even on the side on which no image is recorded, and the recording of the image on both sides is completed. The recording paper on which the image recording on both sides is completed is nipped by a discharge roller (second nip) and discharged (for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2007-112597 A JP 2005-47643 A

  However, there is a problem when the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 is applied to the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 to form an image recording apparatus that can record and sort images on both sides of the recording paper. Arise.

  This is because, in an image recording apparatus in which the image recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 is applied to the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, images are recorded on both sides and discharged to a sorting discharge position. This is because troubles such as a paper jam may occur when an image is recorded on the printer.

Specifically, the recording paper as described above is nipped by the discharge roller after the recording on one side by the printer unit (this is the first nip). Here, since the recording paper is discharged to the sorting discharge position, the discharge roller moves to the shift position after the first nip. This is because, in the image recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the recording paper is nipped to the discharge roller, the discharge roller moves to the shift position when it is determined that the recording paper is discharged to the sorting position. It is to do.

If the discharge roller is rotated in reverse in this state, the recording paper is not correctly guided to the double-sided path, and trouble such as paper jam occurs. In the image recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, the movement of the discharge roller is not assumed. Therefore, the recording paper cannot be guided to the double-sided path from the discharge roller moved to the shift position.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of recording an image on both sides of a recording sheet and sorting the recording sheet when discharged.

In order to achieve the above object, an image recording apparatus of the present invention includes a recording paper conveyance path for conveying recording paper, and a printer that is disposed at a predetermined position of the recording paper conveyance path and records an image on the recording paper. And a roller that is disposed at a downstream end of the recording paper conveyance path and nips the recording paper, and discharges the recording paper from a home position that is a position for discharging the recording paper to a reference discharging position. A discharge roller provided so as to be movable to a shift position that is a position for discharging the recording paper, and the recording paper on which images are recorded on both sides by the printer unit are disposed downstream of the printer unit in the recording paper transport path. a duplex path for conveying the position to the upstream position, the recording to the recording paper by the printer unit is made, and the recording paper is discharged to the sort discharge position the home position When it is determined that an image is recorded on only one side by the printer unit while being nipped by the discharge roller, the discharge roller is reversely rotated to guide the duplex path, and both sides of the printer unit And a controller that discharges the recording paper after moving the discharge roller to the shift position when it is determined that an image is recorded.

  Further, the control unit moves the discharge roller to the home position after discharging the recording paper to the discharge roller.

  According to the image recording apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately process recording paper on which images are recorded on both sides and discharged to the sorting discharge position. This is because when it is determined that an image is recorded on only one side while being nipped by the discharge roller, the discharge roller located at the home position is not moved to the shift position. In this state, the discharge roller is rotated in the reverse direction with respect to the case of discharging the recording paper, so that it can be guided to the double-sided path. Therefore, it is possible to record an image on the surface of a recording sheet on which no image is recorded (recording images on both sides is realized). Further, when it is determined that both sides of the recording paper are nipped by the discharge roller and an image is recorded on both sides, the discharge roller located at the home position moves to the shift position. Therefore, it is possible to discharge the recording paper on which images are recorded on both sides to the sorting discharge position (sorting can be performed).

  Further, according to the image recording apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to nip a recording sheet on which an image has been recorded by the printer unit, following the discharged recording sheet, to a discharge roller positioned at the home position. Accordingly, if necessary, the recording paper can be guided to a double-sided path or discharged to a sorting discharge position, and the same effect as described above can be exhibited.

1 is a functional block diagram of an image recording apparatus 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the vicinity of discharge rollers 41 and. The recording paper sorting by the discharge rollers 41 and 42 will be described. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the image recording device 1, and is a figure which shows the first half part. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the image recording apparatus 1, and is a figure which shows a latter half part.

  Hereinafter, an image recording apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The image recording apparatus 1 has both a function for recording images on both sides of a recording sheet and a function for sorting recording sheets on which images are recorded. The image recording apparatus 1 can be configured as a combined machine of copying and facsimile, a copying machine having only a document copying function, or the like.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the image recording apparatus 1 will be described based on FIG. 1 and with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 as appropriate. The printer controller 11 (which is a control unit of the present invention) receives information from a recording paper detection sensor 28 described later, and controls the printer unit 31 and the like. The printer controller 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 12 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13. The CPU 12 is a main component of the printer controller 11, and determines control to be performed on the printer unit 31 and the like based on a program stored in the RAM 13 and information detected by the recording paper detection sensor 28 and the like.

  The paper feed roller 20 conveys recording paper from a recording paper tray (not shown) to the recording paper conveyance path 21 based on control from the printer controller 11. The recording paper transport path 21 is a path for transporting recording paper. Based on the control from the printer controller 11, the registration roller 22 supplies the recording sheet to the printer unit 31 one by one at a timing suitable for recording an image on the recording sheet by the printer unit 31.

The printer unit 31 is provided at a predetermined position in the recording paper conveyance path 21. It operates under the control of the printer controller 11, and includes a printer head 23, a photosensitive drum 24, a transfer roller 25, a heat roller 26, and a press roller 27. In the printer unit 31, the printer head 23 emits light corresponding to the image to be recorded on the recording paper based on the control from the printer controller 11. The photosensitive drum 24 is irradiated with light emitted from the printer head 23 to form an image to be recorded on the recording paper. Then, an image is recorded on a recording sheet nipped between the photosensitive drum 24 and the transfer roller 25.

  The heat roller 26 incorporates a heater such as a halogen lamp. The recording sheet is nipped between the heat roller 26 and the press roller 27, whereby the recorded image is fixed.

  The recording paper detection sensor 28 is provided for detecting the recording paper. The heat roller 26 and the press roller 27 are disposed between the discharge rollers 41 and 42. The recording paper detection sensor 28 is turned on when the recording paper is detected, and the information is sent to the printer controller 11. Further, when the recording paper is not detected, it is turned off, and the information is also sent to the printer controller 11. Information sent to the printer controller 11 is used when controlling the discharge rollers 41 and 42 described later.

  The discharge roller 41 is driven by a drive source 43 controlled by the printer controller 11. Then, after the recording paper is nipped between the subordinately rotating discharge rollers 42, it is rotated and discharged onto a discharge tray 91 shown in FIG. Note that, as will be described later, the discharge roller 41 can be rotated in the reverse direction as compared with the case where the recording paper is discharged to the discharge tray 91. Further, the discharge rollers 41 and 42 are configured to be movable in the axial direction by a shift mechanism 44 controlled by the printer controller 11 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

  The position detection sensor 45 is disposed near the discharge rollers 41 and 42 (see FIG. 2). The position detection sensor 45 detects the positions of the discharge rollers 41 and 42 configured to be movable in the axial direction, and sends the information to the printer controller 11.

  The double-sided path 51 is used when the recording paper is a recording paper on which images are recorded on both sides. The double-sided path 51 conveys the recording paper from the downstream position to the upstream position of the printer unit 31 in the recording paper conveyance path 21. The double-sided pass roller 52 is disposed in the double-sided pass 51. Further, the turning claw 53 is provided in the vicinity of the junction with the double-sided path 51 on the downstream side of the printer unit 31 in the recording paper conveyance path 21.

  As described above, the image recording apparatus 1 is configured. Here, the image recording apparatus 1 performs image recording (single-sided and double-sided) on the recording paper and sorting of the recording paper on which the image is recorded by the operation described below.

  First, the operation when an image is recorded on only one side of a recording sheet will be described with reference to FIG. The recording paper is supplied to the printer unit 31 via the paper supply roller 20 and the registration roller 22. In the printer unit 31, an image is recorded on one side of a recording sheet. Thereafter, the recording paper is nipped by the discharge rollers 41 and 42 and then discharged.

  Next, the operation when images are recorded on both sides of the recording paper will be described with reference to FIG. The recording paper is processed in the same manner as when an image is recorded on one side. After the image is recorded on one side by the printer unit 31, the recording paper is nipped by the discharge rollers 41 and 42. Thereafter, the discharge rollers 41 and 42 rotate reversely to the case where the recording paper is discharged under the control of the printer controller 11. At this time, the turning claw 53 is moved under the control of the printer controller 11 to close the recording paper conveyance path 21 side and open the double-sided path 51 side. As a result, the recording paper is guided to the double-sided path 51.

The recording sheet guided to the duplex path 51 is conveyed to the upstream side of the printer unit 31 by a duplex path roller 52 controlled by the printer controller 11. Then, the printer unit 31 records the image on the surface on which the image of the recording paper is not recorded. The recording paper on which images are recorded on both sides is again nipped by the discharge rollers 41 and 42 and then discharged.

Next, the operation when the recording paper 81 and the recording paper 82 are sorted will be described with reference to FIG. The sorting of the recording paper 81 and the recording paper 82 is divided into a reference discharge position 83 (in the case of the recording paper 81) and a sorting discharge position 84 (in the case of the recording paper 82) of the discharge tray 91. Is done.

When the recording paper 81 and the recording paper 82 are discharged, they are first nipped by the discharge rollers 41 and 42 located at the home position 85. Thereafter, the recording paper 81 is discharged to the reference discharge position 83 of the discharge tray 91 without the discharge rollers 41 and 42 moving (while being in the home position 85). On the other hand, the recording paper 82 is discharged to the sorting discharge position 84 of the discharge tray 91 after the discharge rollers 41 and 42 move to the shift position 86.

  Hereinafter, processing when images are recorded on both sides of the recording paper in the image recording apparatus 1 and sorting will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Here, A, B, and C in FIG. 4 are respectively connected to A, B, and C in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the recording paper 81 is discharged to the reference discharge position 83, and the recording paper 82 is discharged to the sorting discharge position 84.

  In step S <b> 101, the printer unit 31 records an image on one side of the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 under the control of the printer controller 11.

  In S102, the printer controller 11 determines whether or not the discharge rollers 41 and 42 are located at the home position 85 shown in FIG. When the position detection sensor 45 detects that the discharge rollers 41 and 42 are located at the home position 85 (YES in S102), the process proceeds to S104. On the other hand, when it is detected that the discharge rollers 41 and 42 are not located at the home position 85 (positioned at the shift position 86) (NO in S102), the process proceeds to S103.

  As will be described later, the discharge rollers 41 and 42 are normally located at the home position 85 at the stage after the end of S101. Therefore, if it is determined in S102 that the discharge rollers 41 and 42 are not located at the home position 85, some trouble has occurred.

  In S <b> 103, the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 is nipped by the discharge rollers 41 and 42 and discharged to the discharge tray 91 by the control from the printer controller 11. This is because some trouble has occurred as described above. In the printer unit 31, the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 on which an image is recorded is discharged to the discharge tray 91 in an emergency evacuation manner, thereby preventing further trouble (paper jam or the like). Thereafter, the printer controller 11 displays error information on a liquid crystal display (not shown) provided in the image recording apparatus 1 and ends the process.

  In S104, the printer controller 11 determines whether or not the recording paper detection sensor 28 is off. The recording paper detection sensor 28 is turned on when the presence of the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 is detected. If the presence of the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 is not detected, it is turned off. If the recording paper detection sensor 28 is off (YES in S104), the process proceeds to S105. On the other hand, when the recording paper detection sensor 28 is not off (on) (NO in S104), the process returns to S104. That is, it waits for the recording paper detection sensor 28 to be turned off.

  In S104, the reason for waiting for the recording paper detection sensor 28 to be turned off is that when the recording paper detection sensor 28 is not OFF, the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 is nipped between the heat roller 26 and the press roller 27. there is a possibility. If the discharge rollers 41 and 42 are moved in the axial direction in this state, troubles such as tearing of the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 may occur. Therefore, it is necessary to wait for the recording paper 81 or 82 to pass through the nip by the heat roller 26 and the press roller 27 and to be nipped only by the discharge rollers 41 and 42.

  In S <b> 105, the printer controller 11 determines whether it is necessary to guide the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 to the double-sided path 51. When it is determined that the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 needs to be guided to the double-sided path 51 (YES in S105), the process proceeds to S106. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no need to guide the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 to the double-sided path 51 (NO in S105), the process proceeds to S107.

  Here, as described above, the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 is for recording images on both sides by the printer unit 31. Therefore, if it is determined that the printer unit 31 has recorded an image on only one side, the process proceeds to S106. On the other hand, when it is determined that both sides of the image are recorded by the printer unit 31, the process proceeds to S107.

  In S <b> 106, the discharge rollers 41 and 42 are rotated reversely to the case where the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 is discharged to the discharge tray 91 by the control from the printer controller 11. At this time, the discharge rollers 41 and 42 are located at the home position 85 as determined in S102. Further, the turning claw 53 is moved by the control from the printer controller 11 so as to close the recording paper conveyance path 21 side and open the double-sided path 51 side (see FIG. 1). As a result, the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 is guided to the double-sided path 51.

  The recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 guided to the duplex path is conveyed upstream of the printer unit 31 (upstream of the registration roller 22) by the duplex path roller 52 controlled by the printer controller 11. Thereafter, returning to S101, the printer unit 31 records an image on the surface of the recording paper 81 or 82 on which the image has not been recorded.

  In step S <b> 107, the printer controller 11 determines whether it is necessary to move (shift) the discharge rollers 41 and 42 in the axial direction by the shift mechanism 44. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the discharge rollers 41 and 42 at the home position 85 shown in FIG. If it is determined that movement to the shift position 86 is necessary (YES in S107), the process proceeds to S108. On the other hand, if it is determined that movement to the shift position 86 is unnecessary (NO in S107), the process proceeds.

  Here, as described above, the recording paper 81 is discharged to the reference discharge position 83, and the recording paper 82 is discharged to the sorting discharge position 84 (see FIG. 3). Therefore, when the recording paper 81 is discharged to the discharge tray 91, it is not necessary to move the discharge rollers 41 and 42 to the shift position 86 by the shift mechanism 44, and NO is determined in S107. On the other hand, when the recording paper 82 is discharged to the discharge tray 91, the shift mechanism 44 needs to move the discharge rollers 41 and 42 to the shift position 86, and YES is determined in S107.

  In S <b> 108, the discharge rollers 41 and 42 are moved to the shift position 86 under the control of the printer controller 11.

  In step S <b> 109, the printer controller 11 determines whether the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 has been separated from the discharge rollers 41 and 42. This is because the printer controller 11 counts the time from when the recording paper detection sensor 28 shown in FIG. 1 transits from on (recording paper is detected) to off (recording paper is not detected). Then, the printer controller 11 determines whether or not the counted time has reached a predetermined time. That is, when the counted time reaches a predetermined time, the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 is regarded as being separated from the discharge rollers 41 and 42.

  When it is determined that the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 has moved away from the discharge rollers 41 and 42 (YES in S109), the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 is completely discharged, and the process proceeds to S110. On the other hand, when it is determined that the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 is not separated from the discharge rollers 41 and 42, the process returns to S109. That is, it waits for the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 to move away from the discharge rollers 41 and 42.

  Here, in S111 described later, the discharge rollers 41 and 42 at the shift position 86 are moved (returned) to the home position 85. If the discharge rollers 41 and 42 are returned from the shift position 86 to the home position 85 while the recording paper 82 is being discharged, the recording paper 82 cannot be correctly discharged to the sorting discharge position 84. Therefore, it is necessary to wait for the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 to move away from the discharge rollers 41 and 42 as described above.

  In S110, the printer controller 11 determines whether or not the discharge rollers 41 and 42 are located at the home position 85 (see FIG. 3). This is performed based on the positions of the discharge rollers 41 and 42 detected by the position detection sensor 45 shown in FIGS. When it is determined that the discharge rollers 41 and 42 are located at the home position 85 (YES in S110), the process proceeds to S112. On the other hand, if it is determined that the home position 85 is not located, the process proceeds to S111.

  In step S <b> 111, the discharge rollers 41 and 42 are returned to the home position 85 under the control of the printer controller 11. Here, the reason for returning the discharge rollers 41 and 42 to the home position 85 is to appropriately process the next recording sheet.

  In S112, it is determined whether or not image recording by the printer unit 31 for all pages of the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 has been completed. If it is determined that the printer unit 31 has finished recording an image on all pages of the recording paper 81 or 82 (YES in S112), the process ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that the image recording by the printer unit 31 for all the pages of the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 is not completed (NO in S112), the process returns to S101.

  As described above, in the image recording apparatus 1, the recording paper 82 on which images are recorded on both sides and needs to be discharged to the sorting discharge position 84 has finished recording the image only on one side, and the discharge rollers 41, When nipped by 42, the discharge rollers 41 and 42 are positioned at the home position 85. Further, when the discharge rollers 41 and 42 are rotated reversely to the case of discharging the recording paper 82 to the discharge tray 91 and guided to the double-sided path 51, the discharge rollers 41 and 42 are located at the home position 85. Accordingly, the recording paper 82 is appropriately guided to the double-sided path 51 without causing trouble such as paper jam.

  Further, even when the recording paper 82 finishes recording images on both sides and is nipped by the discharge rollers 41 and 42, the discharge rollers 41 and 42 are located at the home position 85. After nipping the recording paper 82, the discharge roller 41 and the discharge roller 42 move to the shift position 86, and discharge the recording paper 82 to the sorting discharge position 84 (discharge tray 91). Based on the above, the recording paper 82 is appropriately sorted. Therefore, the image recording apparatus 1 can record images on both sides of the recording paper and can sort the recording paper at the time of ejection.

  The configuration of the image recording apparatus 1 is only one aspect of the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, by allowing the discharge roller 41 and the discharge roller 42 to move to a shift position (second shift position) different from the shift position 86, it is possible to sort the recording paper into three.

  Further, a discharge detection sensor (not shown) may be provided in the vicinity of the discharge rollers 41 and 42. The discharge detection sensor is turned on when the recording paper is nipped between the discharge rollers 41 and 42, and sends the information to the printer controller 11. Further, when the recording paper is not nipped between the discharge rollers 41 and 42, it is turned off, and the information is sent to the printer controller 11.

  When this discharge detection sensor is provided, the printer controller 11 determines whether or not the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 is separated from the discharge rollers 41 and 42 by using the discharge detection sensor in S109 of FIG. To do. Specifically, the printer controller 11 determines that the recording paper 81 or the recording paper 82 has moved away from the discharge rollers 41 and 42 when the information sent from the discharge detection sensor transitions from on to off.

  The image recording apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to a copying machine and a facsimile machine, a copying machine, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,101 Image recording apparatus Image recording apparatus 11 Printer controller 21 Recording paper conveyance path 31 Printer part 41, 42 Discharge roller discharge roller 43 Drive source 44 Shift mechanism 45 Position detection sensor 51 Double-sided path 53 Turning claw

Claims (2)

A recording paper conveyance path for conveying the recording paper;
A printer unit disposed at a predetermined position on the recording paper conveyance path, and a printer unit that records an image on the recording paper, and a roller that is disposed at a downstream end of the recording paper conveyance path, and discharges the paper after nipping the recording paper. A discharge roller provided movably from a home position that is a position for discharging the recording paper to a reference discharge position to a shift position that is a position for discharging the recording paper to a sorting discharge position;
A duplex path for conveying the recording sheet on which images are recorded on both sides by the printer unit from a downstream position to an upstream position of the printer section in the recording sheet conveyance path;
Recording to the recording paper by the printer unit is made, and the at sorting the recording paper is discharged to the discharge position is nipped in the discharging roller in the home position state, the image by one-side only the printer recording If it is determined that the image is recorded by the printer unit on both sides, the discharge roller is moved to the shift position. And a controller for discharging the recording paper.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit moves the discharge roller to the home position after the discharge roller discharges the recording paper.

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