EP1791030A1 - Image forming apparatus including sheet transfer unit - Google Patents
Image forming apparatus including sheet transfer unit Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1791030A1 EP1791030A1 EP06255840A EP06255840A EP1791030A1 EP 1791030 A1 EP1791030 A1 EP 1791030A1 EP 06255840 A EP06255840 A EP 06255840A EP 06255840 A EP06255840 A EP 06255840A EP 1791030 A1 EP1791030 A1 EP 1791030A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- sheet
- image forming
- transfer unit
- outer guide
- forming apparatus
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H5/00—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines
- B65H5/36—Article guides or smoothers, e.g. movable in operation
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/50—Auxiliary process performed during handling process
- B65H2301/51—Modifying a characteristic of handled material
- B65H2301/512—Changing form of handled material
- B65H2301/5121—Bending, buckling, curling, bringing a curvature
- B65H2301/51212—Bending, buckling, curling, bringing a curvature perpendicularly to the direction of displacement of handled material, e.g. forming a loop
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
- B65H2404/60—Other elements in face contact with handled material
- B65H2404/61—Longitudinally-extending strips, tubes, plates, or wires
- B65H2404/611—Longitudinally-extending strips, tubes, plates, or wires arranged to form a channel
- B65H2404/6111—Longitudinally-extending strips, tubes, plates, or wires arranged to form a channel and shaped for curvilinear transport path
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
- B65H2404/60—Other elements in face contact with handled material
- B65H2404/69—Other means designated for special purpose
- B65H2404/694—Non driven means for pressing the handled material on forwarding or guiding elements
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2406/00—Means using fluid
- B65H2406/10—Means using fluid made only for exhausting gaseous medium
- B65H2406/11—Means using fluid made only for exhausting gaseous medium producing fluidised bed
- B65H2406/111—Means using fluid made only for exhausting gaseous medium producing fluidised bed for handling material along a curved path, e.g. fluidised turning bar
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2601/00—Problem to be solved or advantage achieved
- B65H2601/20—Avoiding or preventing undesirable effects
- B65H2601/25—Damages to handled material
- B65H2601/254—Permanent deformation
Definitions
- the present invention generally relates to an image forming apparatus including a sheet transfer unit, capable of preventing wrinkles or folds of a sheet during sheet transfer.
- a related-art image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, facsimile machine, etc., employing an ink-jet method or electronographic method is provided with a sheet transfer unit and an image forming unit.
- the sheet transfer unit sends a sheet to and from the image forming unit, and the image forming unit forms an image with toner or ink on the sheet.
- Such a sheet transfer unit has been improved to include a sheet guide-function for smooth sheet transfer.
- the sheet guide sandwichingly guides a sheet from both surface of the sheet.
- FIGs. 1A illustrate one example of a sheet transfer unit for use in the related-art image forming apparatus employing an ink-jet recording method.
- the sheet transfer unit includes an outer guide plate 91, a support point 92, an inner guide plate 93, an electrostatic conveyance belt 94, and an input roller 95.
- the outer guide plate 91 is provided upstream of the input roller 95 in a sheet transfer direction, and swingably fixed by the support point 92.
- the outer guide plate 91 and inner guide plate 93 sandwichingly guide a sheet S that is forwarded to the electrostatic conveyance belt 94.
- the electrostatic conveyance belt 94 transfers the sheet S.
- the input roller 95 facing the electrostatic conveyance belt 94 allows the sheet S to electrostatically adhere to the electrostatic conveyance belt 94.
- the sheet S when a front edge of the sheet S reaches the input roller 95 and the sheet S is being curved or kept curved, the sheet S may be folded or wrinkled due to anisotropy of fibers depending its material.
- the sheet S transferred to the image forming part When the sheet S transferred to the image forming part is folded or wrinkled, the sheet S may not properly adheres to the electrostatic conveyance belt 94.
- the sheet S transferred to the image forming part is wrinkled, a defective image may be produced.
- Such a sheet transfer unit may be used in an image forming apparatus employing an electronographic method, when a long sheet is used.
- the image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism to form an image on a sheet, and a sheet transfer unit configured to transfer a sheet to the image forming mechanism.
- the sheet transfer unit includes an input roller, a sheet conveying member, an outer guide, and a sheet pusher.
- the input roller transfers the sheet into the image forming mechanism.
- the sheet conveying member is mounted at a position opposite to the input roller.
- the outer guide is mounted in a manner swingably movable around a support point at a position along a sheet transfer passage where a sheet transfer direction is changed and the sheet is curved accordingly so as to guide the sheet along an outer surface of the sheet.
- the pusher is mounted at a position opposite to the outer guide relative to the sheet along the sheet transfer passage in the sheet transfer unit and configured to assist a growth of a curve of the sheet by pushing an inner surface of the sheet against the outer guide.
- an image defect resulting from a wrinkle and/or a fold of a sheet may be prevented.
- the ink-jet image forming apparatus 100 includes a sheet transfer unit 10 and a carriage 20.
- the sheet transfer unit 10 includes an outer guide plate 1, an inner guide plate 2, and an electrostatic conveyance belt 3.
- the carriage 20 includes a guide rod 21, a guide stay (not shown), and an ink-jet recording head (not shown).
- the carriage 20 further includes a main scanning motor (not shown), a timing belt, a driving pulley (not shown), and a driven pulley (not shown).
- the sheet transfer unit 10 forwards a sheet toward the carriage 20 that is an image forming mechanism.
- the outer guide plate 1 and the inner guide plate 2 face each other and are provided upstream of the electrostatic conveyance belt 3 in a sheet transfer direction.
- the outer guide plate 1 and the inner guide plate 2 guide the sheet, which is described in detail later.
- the electrostatic belt 3 is a sheet conveying member, and transfers the sheet by using electrostatic effect.
- the carriage 20 is movably supported by the guide rod 21 and guide stay.
- the carriage 20 is movable in a main scanning direction by the main motor by way of the timing belt.
- the ink-jet recording head discharges ink droplets to form an image on a surface of the sheet.
- the timing belt spans between the driving pulley and driven pulley.
- the ink-jet recording head mounted on the carriage 20 that moves in the main scanning direction discharges ink droplets on the sheet transferred in a sheet transfer direction as a sub-scanning direction.
- the ink-jet image forming apparatus 100 is described above as an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the present invention may be applied to an image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic method such as a copying machine, a printer, facsimile machine, and a multifunction peripheral (MFP).
- an electrophotographic method such as a copying machine, a printer, facsimile machine, and a multifunction peripheral (MFP).
- MFP multifunction peripheral
- the sheet transfer unit 10 is described in detail, referring to FIGs. 3A and 3B.
- the sheet transfer unit 10 includes an input roller 4.
- the outer guide plate 1 includes a support point 5.
- the inner guide plate 2 includes a support point 6.
- the sheet transfer unit 10 further includes a pair of rollers 7 provided downstream of the outer guide plate 1 and inner guide plate 2.
- the outer guide plate 1 guides a sheet S from an outside of an arc of the sheet S.
- the inner guide plate 2 includes a curved guide surface facing the outer guide plate 1, and may serve as a sheet pusher, in addition to guiding the sheet S from an inside of the arc.
- the sheet S is transferred in a direction of an arrow A (sheet transfer direction).
- the outer guide plate 1 is swingably fixed by the support point 5 provided at an edge of the outer guide plate 1 that is opposite to a side of the input roller 4 (an upstream edge in the sheet transfer direction).
- the inner guide plate 2 is swingably fixed by the support point 6 provided at one edge of the inner guide plate 2 that is opposite to the side of the input roller 4.
- the input roller 4 facing the electrostatic conveyance belt 3 allows the sheet S to electrostatically adhere to the electrostatic conveyance belt 3.
- the pair of rollers 7 transfers the sheet S to the outer guide plate 1 and inner guide plate 2.
- the outer guide plate 1 and inner guide plate 2 are held at a waiting position shown in full line in Fig. 3A and enough space for transferring the sheet S is kept between them.
- the outer guide plate 1 swingably moves around the support point 5 to further curve the sheet S.
- the inner guide plate 2 swingably moves around the support point 6 to push the sheet S to the outer guide plate 1 and compulsorily retain the sheet to a side of the outer guide plate 1. As a result, the sheet S is stretched.
- the inner guide plate 2 serves as the sheet pusher, and may prevent folds and wrinkles of the sheet S caused by anisotropy of fibers or the like.
- the above sheet transfer unit 10 may be used as a sheet transfer unit in which the sheet transfer direction is curved and the sheet is accordingly curved.
- FIGs. 4A and 4B illustrate a sheet transfer unit 10a according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- the sheet transfer unit 10a includes an outer guide plate 1, an inner guide plate 21, a blower 23, an electrostatic conveyance belt 3, an input roller 4, and a pair of rollers 7.
- the outer guide plate 1 includes a support point 5.
- the inner guide plate 21 includes at least one vent 22 to an extent that a sheet transferring function is not affected.
- the outer guide plate 1, the electrostatic transfer belt 3, the input roller 4, the support point 5, and the pair of rollers 7 function similarly to corresponding parts of the sheet transfer unit 10 of FIGs. 3A and 3B.
- the inner guide plate 21 guides a sheet S from an inside of an arc of the sheet S.
- the blower 23 applies wind pressure to the sheet S through the vent 23.
- the outer guide plate 1 is held at a waiting position shown in full line in Fig. 4A until the sheet S reaches the input roller 24.
- the outer guide plate 1 swingably moves around the support point 5 to further curve the sheet S. Simultaneously, the blower 23 is driven to apply wind pressure to the sheet S through the vent 22.
- the blower 23 serves as a sheet pusher and may prevent folds and wrinkles of the sheet S caused by anisotropy of fibers or the like. Further, by using the blower 23 as the pusher, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 may be simplified.
- FIGs. 5A and 5B illustrate a sheet transfer unit 10b according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- the sheet transfer unit 10b includes an outer guide plate 1, an inner guide plate 32, an electrostatic conveyance belt 3, an input roller 4, and a pair of input rollers 7.
- the outer guide plate 1 includes a support point 5 and at least one guide roller 31.
- the inner guide plate 32 includes at least an opening 33.
- the outer guide plate 1, the inner guide plate 32, the electrostatic conveyance belt 3, the input roller 4, the support point 5, and the pair of rollers 7 function similarly to corresponding parts of the sheet transfer unit 10a illustrated in FIGs. 4A and 4B.
- the guide roller 31 is integrated to the outer guide plate 1, and includes a cylindrical roller for supporting a sheet S that is sandwiched between the cylindrical roller and the outer guide plate 1.
- the guide roller 31 rotates with a load that is light enough not to burden a sheet transfer part such as the electrostatic conveyance belt 4.
- the opening 33 is for the guide roller 31 to pass through the inner guide plate 32.
- the outer guide plate 1 is held at a waiting position shown in full line in Fig. 5A until the sheet S reaches the input roller 4.
- the outer guide plate 1 swingably moves around the support point 5 to further curve the sheet S.
- the guide roller 31 supporting a sheet S from an inside of the curved sheet S moves in conjunction with the outer guide plate 1.
- the guide roller 31 lifts up and compulsorily retains the sheet S to a side of the outer guide plate 1.
- the sheet S is stretched. Therefore, the guide roller 31 serves as a sheet pusher, and may prevent folds and wrinkles of the sheet S caused by anisotropy of fibers or the like.
- respective control systems are not necessary when the pusher, e.g. the guide roller 31, is moved in conjunction with the outer guide plate 1, and/or is integrated to the outer guide plate 1. As a result, cost for the image forming apparatus 100 may be reduced.
- FIGs. 6A and 6B illustrate a sheet transfer unit 10c including at least one guide roller 41 that is separated from an outer guide plate 1. Other than that, the sheet transfer unit 10c has a similar configuration to the sheet transfer unit 10b illustrated in FIGs. 5A and 5B. Although independently provided, the guide roller 41 similarly functions to the guide roller 31 of the sheet transfer unit 10b.
- the pusher e.g. the guide roller 41
- the pusher may be moved according to degree of the curve of the sheet.
- FIGs. 7A and 7B illustrate a sheet transfer unit 10d according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- the sheet transfer unit 10d includes an outer guide plate 1, an inner guide plate 32, an electrostatic conveyance belt 3, an input roller 4, and a pair of rollers 7.
- the outer guide plate 1 includes a support point 5 and a guide plate 51.
- the inner guide plate 32 includes an opening 33.
- the outer guide plate 1, the inner guide plate 32, the electrostatic conveyance belt 3, the input roller 4, the support point 5, and the pair of rollers 7 function similarly to corresponding parts of the sheet transfer unit 10a illustrated FIGs. 4A and 4B.
- the guide plate 51 is integrated to the outer guide plate 1, and includes a curved guide surface.
- the curved guide surface faces the outer guide plate 1, and is disposed so that a sheet S is sandwiched between the guide surface and the outer guide plate 1.
- the opening 33 is for the guide plate 51 to pass through the inner guide plate 32.
- the outer guide plate 1 is held at a waiting position shown in full line in Fig. 7A until the sheet S reaches the input roller 4.
- the outer guide plate 1 swingably moves around the support point 5 to further curve the sheet S.
- the guide plate 51 supporting a sheet S from an inside of the curve of the sheet S moves in conjunction with the outer guide plate 1.
- the guide plate 51 lifts up and compulsorily retains the sheet S to a side of the outer guide plate 1. As a result, the sheet S is stretched. Therefore, the guide plate 51 serves as a sheet pusher and may prevents folds and wrinkles of the sheet S caused by anisotropy of fibers or the like.
- FIGs. 8A and 8B illustrate a sheet transfer unit 10e including a plurality of guide plates 51a. Other than that, the sheet transfer unit 10e has a similar configuration to the sheet transfer unit 10d illustrated in FIGs. 7A and 7B.
- the supporting point 5 of the outer guide plate 1 is provided at the upstream edge of the outer guide plate 1 in the sheet transfer direction.
- the support point 5 may be provided at a downstream edge of the outer guide plate 1 in the sheet transfer direction.
- FIGs. 9A and 9B illustrate a sheet transfer unit 10f.
- the sheet transfer unit 10f includes an outer guide 61, a support point 62, an electrostatic transfer belt 3, an input roller 4, and a pair of rollers 7.
- the outer guide plate 61 is swingably fixed by the support point 62 and includes a guide plate 51.
- the support point 62 is provided at an edge of the outer guide plate 61 that is a downstream side in the sheet transfer direction indicated by an arrow A.
- the sheet transfer unit 10f has a similar configuration to the sheet transfer unit 10d illustrated in FIGs. 7A and 7B.
- the outer guide plate 1 is held at a waiting position shown in full line in Fig. 9A until a sheet S, which is transferred by the pair of rollers 7, reaches the input roller 4.
- the outer guide plate 61 swingably moves around the support point 62 to further curve the sheet S.
- the guide plate 51 supporting a sheet S from an inside of the curve of the sheet S moves in conjunction with the outer guide plate 1.
- the guide plate 51 lifts up and compulsorily retains the sheet S to a side of the outer guide plate 61. As a result, the sheet S is stretched. Therefore, the guide plate 51 serves as a sheet pusher and may prevents folds and wrinkles of the sheet S caused by anisotropy of fibers or the like.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention generally relates to an image forming apparatus including a sheet transfer unit, capable of preventing wrinkles or folds of a sheet during sheet transfer.
- In general, a related-art image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, facsimile machine, etc., employing an ink-jet method or electronographic method is provided with a sheet transfer unit and an image forming unit. In such an image forming apparatus, the sheet transfer unit sends a sheet to and from the image forming unit, and the image forming unit forms an image with toner or ink on the sheet.
- Such a sheet transfer unit has been improved to include a sheet guide-function for smooth sheet transfer. The sheet guide sandwichingly guides a sheet from both surface of the sheet.
- FIGs. 1A illustrate one example of a sheet transfer unit for use in the related-art image forming apparatus employing an ink-jet recording method.
- As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the sheet transfer unit includes an
outer guide plate 91, asupport point 92, aninner guide plate 93, anelectrostatic conveyance belt 94, and aninput roller 95. Theouter guide plate 91 is provided upstream of theinput roller 95 in a sheet transfer direction, and swingably fixed by thesupport point 92. Theouter guide plate 91 andinner guide plate 93 sandwichingly guide a sheet S that is forwarded to theelectrostatic conveyance belt 94. Theelectrostatic conveyance belt 94 transfers the sheet S. Theinput roller 95 facing theelectrostatic conveyance belt 94 allows the sheet S to electrostatically adhere to theelectrostatic conveyance belt 94. When a front edge of the sheet S reaches theinput roller 95, theouter guide plate 91 is swung so that space between theinner guide plate 93 and theouter guide plate 91 is enlarged. The enlarged space allows the sheet S to be curved. Therefore, a transfer load of the sheet S to theelectrostatic conveyance belt 94 is reduced. - However, as shown in Fig. 1B, when a front edge of the sheet S reaches the
input roller 95 and the sheet S is being curved or kept curved, the sheet S may be folded or wrinkled due to anisotropy of fibers depending its material. When the sheet S transferred to the image forming part is folded or wrinkled, the sheet S may not properly adheres to theelectrostatic conveyance belt 94. When the sheet S transferred to the image forming part is wrinkled, a defective image may be produced. Such a sheet transfer unit may be used in an image forming apparatus employing an electronographic method, when a long sheet is used. - This patent specification describes an image forming apparatus that may prevent wrinkles and/or folds of a sheet when the sheet is curved during sheet transfer. In one example, the image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism to form an image on a sheet, and a sheet transfer unit configured to transfer a sheet to the image forming mechanism. The sheet transfer unit includes an input roller, a sheet conveying member, an outer guide, and a sheet pusher. The input roller transfers the sheet into the image forming mechanism. The sheet conveying member is mounted at a position opposite to the input roller. The outer guide is mounted in a manner swingably movable around a support point at a position along a sheet transfer passage where a sheet transfer direction is changed and the sheet is curved accordingly so as to guide the sheet along an outer surface of the sheet. The pusher is mounted at a position opposite to the outer guide relative to the sheet along the sheet transfer passage in the sheet transfer unit and configured to assist a growth of a curve of the sheet by pushing an inner surface of the sheet against the outer guide.
- According to the above image forming apparatus, an image defect resulting from a wrinkle and/or a fold of a sheet may be prevented.
- A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
- FIGs. 1A and 1B are illustrations of a related-art sheet transfer unit;
- FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a major part of an ink-jet image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
- FIG. 3A and 3B are illustrations of a sheet transfer unit included in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 2;
- FIGs. 4A and 4B are illustrations of another sheet transfer unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
- FIGs. 5A and 5B are illustrations of another sheet transfer unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
- FIGs. 6A and 6B are illustrations of another sheet transfer unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
- FIGs. 7A and 7B are illustrations of another sheet transfer unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
- FIGs. 8A and 8B are illustrations of another sheet transfer unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and
- FIGs. 9A and 9B are illustrations of another sheet transfer unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- In describing preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner. Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, particularly to FIG. 2, an ink-jet
image forming apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described. - As illustrated in FIG. 2, the ink-jet
image forming apparatus 100 includes asheet transfer unit 10 and acarriage 20. Thesheet transfer unit 10 includes anouter guide plate 1, aninner guide plate 2, and anelectrostatic conveyance belt 3. Thecarriage 20 includes aguide rod 21, a guide stay (not shown), and an ink-jet recording head (not shown). Thecarriage 20 further includes a main scanning motor (not shown), a timing belt, a driving pulley (not shown), and a driven pulley (not shown). - The
sheet transfer unit 10 forwards a sheet toward thecarriage 20 that is an image forming mechanism. Theouter guide plate 1 and theinner guide plate 2 face each other and are provided upstream of theelectrostatic conveyance belt 3 in a sheet transfer direction. Theouter guide plate 1 and theinner guide plate 2 guide the sheet, which is described in detail later. Theelectrostatic belt 3 is a sheet conveying member, and transfers the sheet by using electrostatic effect. - The
carriage 20 is movably supported by theguide rod 21 and guide stay. Thecarriage 20 is movable in a main scanning direction by the main motor by way of the timing belt. The ink-jet recording head discharges ink droplets to form an image on a surface of the sheet. The timing belt spans between the driving pulley and driven pulley. The ink-jet recording head mounted on thecarriage 20 that moves in the main scanning direction discharges ink droplets on the sheet transferred in a sheet transfer direction as a sub-scanning direction. - Although the ink-jet
image forming apparatus 100 is described above as an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the present invention may be applied to an image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic method such as a copying machine, a printer, facsimile machine, and a multifunction peripheral (MFP). - The
sheet transfer unit 10 is described in detail, referring to FIGs. 3A and 3B. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, thesheet transfer unit 10 includes aninput roller 4. Theouter guide plate 1 includes asupport point 5. Theinner guide plate 2 includes asupport point 6. Thesheet transfer unit 10 further includes a pair ofrollers 7 provided downstream of theouter guide plate 1 andinner guide plate 2. - The
outer guide plate 1 guides a sheet S from an outside of an arc of the sheet S. Theinner guide plate 2 includes a curved guide surface facing theouter guide plate 1, and may serve as a sheet pusher, in addition to guiding the sheet S from an inside of the arc. The sheet S is transferred in a direction of an arrow A (sheet transfer direction). Theouter guide plate 1 is swingably fixed by thesupport point 5 provided at an edge of theouter guide plate 1 that is opposite to a side of the input roller 4 (an upstream edge in the sheet transfer direction). Theinner guide plate 2 is swingably fixed by thesupport point 6 provided at one edge of theinner guide plate 2 that is opposite to the side of theinput roller 4. Theinput roller 4 facing theelectrostatic conveyance belt 3 allows the sheet S to electrostatically adhere to theelectrostatic conveyance belt 3. - When the sheet S is fed into the
image forming apparatus 100, the pair ofrollers 7 transfers the sheet S to theouter guide plate 1 andinner guide plate 2. Until the sheet S reaches theinput roller 4, theouter guide plate 1 andinner guide plate 2 are held at a waiting position shown in full line in Fig. 3A and enough space for transferring the sheet S is kept between them. When a front edge of the sheet S reaches theinput roller 4, theouter guide plate 1 swingably moves around thesupport point 5 to further curve the sheet S. Simultaneously, theinner guide plate 2 swingably moves around thesupport point 6 to push the sheet S to theouter guide plate 1 and compulsorily retain the sheet to a side of theouter guide plate 1. As a result, the sheet S is stretched. Therefore, theinner guide plate 2 serves as the sheet pusher, and may prevent folds and wrinkles of the sheet S caused by anisotropy of fibers or the like. The abovesheet transfer unit 10 may be used as a sheet transfer unit in which the sheet transfer direction is curved and the sheet is accordingly curved. - FIGs. 4A and 4B illustrate a
sheet transfer unit 10a according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Thesheet transfer unit 10a includes anouter guide plate 1, aninner guide plate 21, ablower 23, anelectrostatic conveyance belt 3, aninput roller 4, and a pair ofrollers 7. Theouter guide plate 1 includes asupport point 5. Theinner guide plate 21 includes at least onevent 22 to an extent that a sheet transferring function is not affected. - The
outer guide plate 1, theelectrostatic transfer belt 3, theinput roller 4, thesupport point 5, and the pair ofrollers 7 function similarly to corresponding parts of thesheet transfer unit 10 of FIGs. 3A and 3B. Theinner guide plate 21 guides a sheet S from an inside of an arc of the sheet S. Theblower 23 applies wind pressure to the sheet S through thevent 23. Theouter guide plate 1 is held at a waiting position shown in full line in Fig. 4A until the sheet S reaches the input roller 24. When a front edge of the sheet S reaches theinput roller 4, theouter guide plate 1 swingably moves around thesupport point 5 to further curve the sheet S. Simultaneously, theblower 23 is driven to apply wind pressure to the sheet S through thevent 22. - Therefore, the sheet S is pushed to the
outer guide plate 1 and is compulsorily retained to a side of the outer guide plate. As a result, the sheet S is stretched. Therefore, theblower 23 serves as a sheet pusher and may prevent folds and wrinkles of the sheet S caused by anisotropy of fibers or the like. Further, by using theblower 23 as the pusher, the configuration of theimage forming apparatus 100 may be simplified. - FIGs. 5A and 5B illustrate a
sheet transfer unit 10b according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Thesheet transfer unit 10b includes anouter guide plate 1, aninner guide plate 32, anelectrostatic conveyance belt 3, aninput roller 4, and a pair ofinput rollers 7. Theouter guide plate 1 includes asupport point 5 and at least oneguide roller 31. Theinner guide plate 32 includes at least anopening 33. - The
outer guide plate 1, theinner guide plate 32, theelectrostatic conveyance belt 3, theinput roller 4, thesupport point 5, and the pair ofrollers 7 function similarly to corresponding parts of thesheet transfer unit 10a illustrated in FIGs. 4A and 4B. - The
guide roller 31 is integrated to theouter guide plate 1, and includes a cylindrical roller for supporting a sheet S that is sandwiched between the cylindrical roller and theouter guide plate 1. Theguide roller 31 rotates with a load that is light enough not to burden a sheet transfer part such as theelectrostatic conveyance belt 4. Theopening 33 is for theguide roller 31 to pass through theinner guide plate 32. - The
outer guide plate 1 is held at a waiting position shown in full line in Fig. 5A until the sheet S reaches theinput roller 4. When a front edge of the sheet S reaches theinput roller 4, theouter guide plate 1 swingably moves around thesupport point 5 to further curve the sheet S. Theguide roller 31 supporting a sheet S from an inside of the curved sheet S moves in conjunction with theouter guide plate 1. Theguide roller 31 lifts up and compulsorily retains the sheet S to a side of theouter guide plate 1. As a result, the sheet S is stretched. Therefore, theguide roller 31 serves as a sheet pusher, and may prevent folds and wrinkles of the sheet S caused by anisotropy of fibers or the like. Further, respective control systems are not necessary when the pusher, e.g. theguide roller 31, is moved in conjunction with theouter guide plate 1, and/or is integrated to theouter guide plate 1. As a result, cost for theimage forming apparatus 100 may be reduced. - Although the
guide roller 31 of FIGs. 5A and 5B is integrated to theouter guide plate 1, theguide roller 31 may be independently provided. FIGs. 6A and 6B illustrate asheet transfer unit 10c including at least oneguide roller 41 that is separated from anouter guide plate 1. Other than that, thesheet transfer unit 10c has a similar configuration to thesheet transfer unit 10b illustrated in FIGs. 5A and 5B. Although independently provided, theguide roller 41 similarly functions to theguide roller 31 of thesheet transfer unit 10b. - When the pusher, e.g. the
guide roller 41, is separated from theouter guide plate 1, the pusher may be moved according to degree of the curve of the sheet. - FIGs. 7A and 7B illustrate a
sheet transfer unit 10d according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Thesheet transfer unit 10d includes anouter guide plate 1, aninner guide plate 32, anelectrostatic conveyance belt 3, aninput roller 4, and a pair ofrollers 7. Theouter guide plate 1 includes asupport point 5 and aguide plate 51. Theinner guide plate 32 includes anopening 33. - The
outer guide plate 1, theinner guide plate 32, theelectrostatic conveyance belt 3, theinput roller 4, thesupport point 5, and the pair ofrollers 7 function similarly to corresponding parts of thesheet transfer unit 10a illustrated FIGs. 4A and 4B. - The
guide plate 51 is integrated to theouter guide plate 1, and includes a curved guide surface. The curved guide surface faces theouter guide plate 1, and is disposed so that a sheet S is sandwiched between the guide surface and theouter guide plate 1. Theopening 33 is for theguide plate 51 to pass through theinner guide plate 32. - The
outer guide plate 1 is held at a waiting position shown in full line in Fig. 7A until the sheet S reaches theinput roller 4. When a front edge of the sheet S reaches theinput roller 4, theouter guide plate 1 swingably moves around thesupport point 5 to further curve the sheet S. Theguide plate 51 supporting a sheet S from an inside of the curve of the sheet S moves in conjunction with theouter guide plate 1. Theguide plate 51 lifts up and compulsorily retains the sheet S to a side of theouter guide plate 1. As a result, the sheet S is stretched. Therefore, theguide plate 51 serves as a sheet pusher and may prevents folds and wrinkles of the sheet S caused by anisotropy of fibers or the like. - Although the
guide plate 51 of thesheet transfer unit 10d is one continuous plate, a plurality ofguide plates 51 may be provided. FIGs. 8A and 8B illustrate asheet transfer unit 10e including a plurality ofguide plates 51a. Other than that, thesheet transfer unit 10e has a similar configuration to thesheet transfer unit 10d illustrated in FIGs. 7A and 7B. - In the sheet transfer units explained above, the supporting
point 5 of theouter guide plate 1 is provided at the upstream edge of theouter guide plate 1 in the sheet transfer direction. Alternatively, thesupport point 5 may be provided at a downstream edge of theouter guide plate 1 in the sheet transfer direction. - FIGs. 9A and 9B illustrate a
sheet transfer unit 10f. Thesheet transfer unit 10f includes anouter guide 61, asupport point 62, anelectrostatic transfer belt 3, aninput roller 4, and a pair ofrollers 7. Theouter guide plate 61 is swingably fixed by thesupport point 62 and includes aguide plate 51. Thesupport point 62 is provided at an edge of theouter guide plate 61 that is a downstream side in the sheet transfer direction indicated by an arrow A. Other than that, thesheet transfer unit 10f has a similar configuration to thesheet transfer unit 10d illustrated in FIGs. 7A and 7B. - Similarly to the
sheet transfer unit 10d, theouter guide plate 1 is held at a waiting position shown in full line in Fig. 9A until a sheet S, which is transferred by the pair ofrollers 7, reaches theinput roller 4. When a front edge of the sheet S reaches theinput roller 4, theouter guide plate 61 swingably moves around thesupport point 62 to further curve the sheet S. Theguide plate 51 supporting a sheet S from an inside of the curve of the sheet S moves in conjunction with theouter guide plate 1. Theguide plate 51 lifts up and compulsorily retains the sheet S to a side of theouter guide plate 61. As a result, the sheet S is stretched. Therefore, theguide plate 51 serves as a sheet pusher and may prevents folds and wrinkles of the sheet S caused by anisotropy of fibers or the like. - Numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure of this patent specification may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
- This patent specification is based on
Japanese patent application, No. JP2005-338455 filed on November 24, 2005
Claims (12)
- An image forming apparatus (100) which includes:an image forming mechanism (20) to form an image on a sheet; anda sheet transfer unit (10) configured to transfer a sheet to the image forming mechanism (20) and havingan input roller (4) to transfer the sheet into the image forming mechanism (20), anda sheet conveying member (3) mounted at a position opposite to the input roller (4),an outer guide (1) mounted in a manner swingably movable around a support point (5) at a position along a sheet transfer passage where a sheet transfer direction is changed and the sheet is curved accordingly so as to guide the sheet along an outer surface of the sheet, wherein a curve of the sheet is grown when a leading edge of the sheet collides with the input roller (4), the image forming apparatus (100) being characterized by comprising:a sheet pusher (2, 23, 31, 51) mounted at a position opposite to the outer guide (1) relative to the sheet along the sheet transfer passage in the sheet transfer unit (10) and configured to assist a growth of the curve of the sheet by pushing an inner surface of the sheet against the outer guide (1).
- An image forming apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the outer guide (61) of the sheet transfer unit (10f) is configured to swingably movable around a support point (62) provided a downstream edge of the outer guide (61) in the sheet transfer direction.
- An image forming apparatus (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sheet pusher (2, 51) of the sheet transfer unit (10) is at least one plate-like shaped member having a curved surface facing the outer guide (1).
- An image forming apparatus (100) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the sheet pusher (2, 31, 51) of the sheet transfer unit (10) is configured to be movable from an inside of the curve of the sheet to the outer guide (1).
- An image forming apparatus (100) according to claim 4, wherein the sheet pusher (2) of the sheet transfer unit (10) is configured to be movable in conjunction with the outer guide (1).
- An image forming apparatus (100) according to Claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein the sheet pusher (2) of the sheet transfer unit (10) is configured to be swingably movable around a support point (6).
- An image forming apparatus (100) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the sheet pusher (31, 51) of the sheet transfer unit (10a, 10d) is integrated with the outer guide (1).
- An image forming apparatus (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet transfer unit (10a) further comprises:an inner guide (21) mounted at a position opposite to the outer guide (1) and configured to guide the inner surface of the sheet.
- An image forming apparatus (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet pusher (23) of the sheet transfer unit (10a) comprises a blower for applying wind pressure to the sheet from the inside of the curve of the sheet.
- An image forming apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the sheet pusher (31) of the sheet transfer unit (10b) comprises at least one cylindrical roller configured to move perpendicularly to the sheet transfer direction along the inner surface of the sheet.
- An image forming apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sheet pusher (41) of the sheet transfer unit (10c) is separate from the outer guide (1).
- A sheet transfer unit (10) configured to transfer a sheet along a sheet transfer passage and includes:a sheet conveying member (3) mounted at a position opposite to the input roller (4);an input roller (4) to transfer the sheet into the image forming mechanism (20); andan outer guide (1) mounted in a manner swingably movable around a support point (5) at a position along the sheet transfer passage where a sheet transfer direction is changed and the sheet is curved accordingly so as to guide the sheet along an outer surface of the sheet, wherein a curve of the sheet is grown when a leading edge of the sheet collides with the input roller (4), the sheet transfer unit (10) being characterized by comprising:a sheet pusher (2, 23, 31, 51) mounted at a position opposite to the outer guide (1) relative to the sheet along the sheet transfer passage in the sheet transfer unit (10) and configured to assist a growth of the curve of the sheet by softly pushing an inner surface of the sheet against the outer guide (1).
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2005338455A JP4689444B2 (en) | 2005-11-24 | 2005-11-24 | Sheet material conveying apparatus and image forming apparatus |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1791030A1 true EP1791030A1 (en) | 2007-05-30 |
EP1791030B1 EP1791030B1 (en) | 2011-02-02 |
Family
ID=37742353
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP06255840A Not-in-force EP1791030B1 (en) | 2005-11-24 | 2006-11-15 | Image forming apparatus including sheet transfer unit |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1791030B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4689444B2 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE497610T1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE602006019936D1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20170158445A1 (en) * | 2014-05-28 | 2017-06-08 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Print medium buffering |
CN106956948A (en) * | 2017-02-15 | 2017-07-18 | 江门市金伦纸业有限公司 | The leading mechanism of one kind printing paper processing equipment |
CN114380086A (en) * | 2022-01-20 | 2022-04-22 | 武汉绎方信息工程有限公司 | Paper turnover paper feeding assembly and jet printing equipment |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2013014403A (en) * | 2011-07-04 | 2013-01-24 | Seiko Epson Corp | Recording apparatus |
JP6528715B2 (en) * | 2016-04-19 | 2019-06-12 | 京セラドキュメントソリューションズ株式会社 | Original sheet conveying device |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4823159A (en) * | 1985-04-25 | 1989-04-18 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Image forming apparatus |
US5362041A (en) * | 1992-04-16 | 1994-11-08 | Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. | Sheet registering unit for an image forming apparatus |
JP2002207259A (en) * | 2001-01-12 | 2002-07-26 | Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd | Image forming device |
JP2004099204A (en) * | 2002-09-05 | 2004-04-02 | Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd | Positioning conveyance mechanism for sheet body |
US20040094892A1 (en) * | 2002-11-18 | 2004-05-20 | Akinobu Kuramoto | Deskew mechanism and method |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH0537794U (en) * | 1991-10-14 | 1993-05-21 | 株式会社リコー | Conveyor equipment such as copying machines |
JPH0891625A (en) * | 1994-09-29 | 1996-04-09 | Fuji Xerox Co Ltd | Sheet guide device |
JPH1059581A (en) * | 1996-08-13 | 1998-03-03 | Canon Inc | Sheet material carrying device, and image recorder |
JP3680510B2 (en) * | 1997-08-08 | 2005-08-10 | コニカミノルタビジネステクノロジーズ株式会社 | Document feeder |
-
2005
- 2005-11-24 JP JP2005338455A patent/JP4689444B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2006
- 2006-11-15 DE DE602006019936T patent/DE602006019936D1/en active Active
- 2006-11-15 AT AT06255840T patent/ATE497610T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2006-11-15 EP EP06255840A patent/EP1791030B1/en not_active Not-in-force
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4823159A (en) * | 1985-04-25 | 1989-04-18 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Image forming apparatus |
US5362041A (en) * | 1992-04-16 | 1994-11-08 | Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. | Sheet registering unit for an image forming apparatus |
JP2002207259A (en) * | 2001-01-12 | 2002-07-26 | Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd | Image forming device |
JP2004099204A (en) * | 2002-09-05 | 2004-04-02 | Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd | Positioning conveyance mechanism for sheet body |
US20040094892A1 (en) * | 2002-11-18 | 2004-05-20 | Akinobu Kuramoto | Deskew mechanism and method |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20170158445A1 (en) * | 2014-05-28 | 2017-06-08 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Print medium buffering |
US10301129B2 (en) * | 2014-05-28 | 2019-05-28 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Print medium buffering |
CN106956948A (en) * | 2017-02-15 | 2017-07-18 | 江门市金伦纸业有限公司 | The leading mechanism of one kind printing paper processing equipment |
CN114380086A (en) * | 2022-01-20 | 2022-04-22 | 武汉绎方信息工程有限公司 | Paper turnover paper feeding assembly and jet printing equipment |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE602006019936D1 (en) | 2011-03-17 |
JP4689444B2 (en) | 2011-05-25 |
ATE497610T1 (en) | 2011-02-15 |
EP1791030B1 (en) | 2011-02-02 |
JP2007145440A (en) | 2007-06-14 |
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