JP2000226130A - Paper separating method, paper carrier device and ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent generation of chattering noise, tip bending of paper and the like by separating loaded paper on a carrier path just after paper feeding. SOLUTION: By loading paper on a paper feeding tray 1 and rotating and driving a paper feeding roller 2, paper loaded on the paper feeding tray 1 is delivered. At this time, plural sheets of paper P1, P2, P3... are simultaneously delivered, but paper on an uppermost side is moved to front and down sides because tips of paper P1, P2, P3... contact an arc-shaped carrier path 3 and plural sheets of paper P1, P2, P3... are separated. This action may be compared to an action in which an uppermost paper falls up to a most distant place when plural sheets of paper on an arc-shaped bank are made to follow and fall by gravity and is a separating system using the arc-shaped bank.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet separating method, a sheet conveying apparatus, and an ink jet recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image recording apparatus (image forming apparatus) such as a printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, etc., sheets loaded on a sheet cassette or a sheet tray are fed and automatically recorded on a recording section (image section). Paper feeder for feeding the sheet to the forming section). Conventionally, this paper transport apparatus has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-225237,
As described in JP-A-537, JP-A-63-42642, JP-A-5-51829, etc., paper loaded on a paper cassette or a paper tray mounted substantially horizontally is 2. Description of the Related Art There has been known an apparatus in which a sheet is separated and fed one by one by a sheet feeding roller or a sheet feeding roller, and the fed sheet is transported upward through a transport path curved upward.

In such a paper transport apparatus, the stacked papers are separated by a separation claw method using a separation claw (see JP-A-2-225237) or a friction separation method using a friction pad. (See Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-51829, etc.). Each of these sheet separation methods is a method in which the stacked sheets are separated and fed one by one.

[0004]

However, in the above-described system using the separation claw, it is difficult to reliably separate and feed the paper and feed the paper, and the leading end is bent by the separation claw. There is a defect such as being performed.

Further, in the friction separation method using a friction pad which is generally adopted, chattering noise occurs between the friction pad and the paper when the paper is separated, and the leading end of the paper is broken. There are inconveniences. In addition, particularly when special glossy paper or the like is used like an ink jet recording apparatus, a large conveyance force is required when separating and conveying the special paper because of its high frictional force. Further, since it is necessary to apply a certain desired pressure to the sheet, a component for applying pressure to the separating friction material is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a sheet separating method and a sheet separating apparatus capable of efficiently separating and conveying without generating abnormal noise and an ink jet recording apparatus. .

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet separating method for separating and transporting stacked sheets, wherein the stacked sheets are fed immediately after the sheet is fed. And a separation path.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet transporting apparatus for separating and transporting stacked sheets of paper, wherein a sheet feeding roller for feeding the stacked sheets downward and an arc immediately after the sheet feeding rollers. And an arc-shaped conveyance path having a shape that depicts the shape of a circle. The paper is separated by the arc-shaped conveyance path.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the sheet transport device according to the second aspect.
Wherein the rib member forming the arc-shaped transport path is provided at least partially in the width direction of the paper.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the sheet transport device according to the second aspect.
Alternatively, in the paper transporting device according to the third aspect, at least a part of the arc-shaped transporting path is configured such that a surface that contacts the paper is formed of a friction member.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the sheet transport device according to the second aspect.
In any one of the paper transport devices of any one of (1) to (4), a paper pressing member that presses the sheet toward the arc-shaped transport path facing the arc-shaped transport path is provided.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the sheet transport device according to the fifth aspect.
And a biasing means for biasing the sheet pressing member toward the arc-shaped transport path.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the sheet transport device according to the fifth aspect.
Alternatively, in the paper transport device according to the sixth aspect, a low friction member that reduces frictional resistance with paper is provided on a surface of the paper pressing member that faces the arc-shaped transport path.

According to the present invention, there is provided a paper transport apparatus comprising:
Alternatively, in the paper transport device of 6, the roller is provided on a surface of the paper pressing member facing the arc-shaped transport path.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet transport device according to the fifth aspect.
In any one of the sheet conveying devices of any one of the above-described embodiments, the sheet pressing member is arranged at a position where the sheet does not contact the sheet feed roller when the sheet is conveyed by the conveying roller.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus comprising:
10. A recording apparatus for recording an image by feeding and transporting stacked paper sheets by a paper transport apparatus and ejecting ink droplets from a recording head having a plurality of nozzles, wherein the paper transport apparatus is any of the claims 2 to 9. Such a paper transport device was adopted.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a main part configuration diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a paper conveying device to which the paper separating method according to the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged main part explanatory view for explaining the operation.

In this recording apparatus, a sheet tray 1 for stacking sheets is disposed at an angle. Paper tray 1
Is preferably 45 ° or more in order to reliably separate the paper in the arc-shaped conveyance path 3 described later.
In particular, it is preferable to set the angle to 70 ° to 80 °.

In the vicinity of the lower end of the paper feed tray 1, a paper feed roller 2 for feeding the paper stacked on the tray 1 downward.
Has been arranged. Immediately after the paper feed roller 2 on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction, a conveyance path member 4 forming a substantially semicircular conveyance path (arc-shaped conveyance path) 3 curved downward.
Has been arranged.

A transport roller 5 for transporting a sheet is disposed downstream of the transport path member 4 on the transport path, and a pressure roller 6 pressed against and abutted on the transport roller 5 is disposed. Further, a printing section 7 is arranged downstream of the transport roller 5 in the sheet transport path.

In the printing unit 7, a carriage 9 is slidably mounted on guide rods 8, 8 which are horizontally mounted on left and right side plates (not shown), and yellow (Y) and cyan ( C), magenta (M), black (B
k) A recording head 10 composed of an inkjet head having nozzles for ejecting ink droplets of each color is mounted with the ink droplet ejection direction facing downward. The carriage 9
Each ink tank (ink cartridge) for supplying each color ink to the recording head 10 is replaceably mounted.

The transport roller 5 and the pressure roller 6
Guide the paper fed at a predetermined feed angle from between
A printing receiving member 11 for defining a gap between the printing head 10 and the printing head 10 is disposed to face the printing head 10 of the printing unit 7.

Further, on the downstream side of the recording head 10 in the paper transport direction, a paper discharge roller 12 for feeding out the paper on which recording has been completed in the paper discharge direction, and a spur roller 13 for pressing the paper that rotates with the paper discharge roller 12 And a paper discharge tray 14 is provided at the most downstream side in the paper transport direction.

Next, the sheet separating / conveying operation of the recording apparatus having the above-mentioned configuration will be described with reference to FIG. The paper loaded on the paper feed tray 1 is sent out by loading the paper on the paper feed tray 1 and rotating the paper feed roller 2. At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of sheets P1, P2, P3... Are sent out at the same time, but the leading edge of the sheets P1, P2, P3. Are moved forward and downward, and the plurality of sheets P1, P2, P3,... Are separated as shown in FIG. This effect is the same as that in which a plurality of sheets are made to follow an arc-shaped bank and dropped by its own weight, the uppermost sheet falls as far as possible, and is a separation method using an arc-shaped bank.

The uppermost sheet P1 of the sheets separated in the arcuate conveyance path 3 is fed into the nip portion between the conveyance roller 5 and the pressure roller 6 by the rotation of the sheet feeding roller 2, and is conveyed by the conveying roller. The rotation of the roller 5 causes the feed angle to be defined by the pressure roller 6 and is sent out onto the print receiving member 11. After the required printing is performed by the print unit 7, the paper passes between the paper discharge roller 12 and the spur 13. The paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 14. At this time,
The other sheets P2, P3,... Below the sheet 21 remain in the arc-shaped conveyance path 3 and are not conveyed.

As described above, there are a paper feed roller for feeding the stacked papers downward, and an arcuate transport path having a shape that draws an arc immediately after the paper feed roller, and the paper is separated by the arcuate transport path. By doing so, unusual noise such as chattering noise at the time of separation does not occur, the leading end of the paper is not broken, and glossy paper dedicated to inkjet having a high coefficient of friction can be efficiently transported.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory perspective view of the transport path member, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory view for explaining the operation. In the present embodiment, the arc-shaped transport path 3 is a transport path member 4
a, and an arc-shaped conveyance path 3b formed by a plurality of rib members 4b. Rib member 4
Although b is provided in at least a part of the width direction of the sheet, it may be provided in the entire width direction without using the transport path member 4a.

Since at least a part of the arc-shaped transport path 3 is formed by the plurality of rib members 4b having the sheet separating effect as described above, the sheet P4 is slightly moved between the rib members 4b due to the stiffness of the sheet as shown in FIG. Sinking can be performed, and more stable paper separation can be performed.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of the ink jet recording apparatus. In the present embodiment, at least a part of the arc-shaped conveyance path 3 that comes into contact with the sheet is the friction member 1.
5. The arc-shaped transport path 3 includes the arc-shaped transport path 3 by the rib member 4b in the second embodiment.
Those using b at least in part are preferred.

As described above, the friction member 15 is
Is provided, the leading end of the sheet that has reached the arc-shaped transport path 3 is subjected to resistance by the friction member 15, so that a stronger separating force is received, and stable separation can be performed even with a sheet having a small thickness. it can.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of the ink jet recording apparatus. In the present embodiment, the paper feed roller is a half-moon-shaped paper feed roller 16, and a paper pressing member 17 having an arcuate surface for pressing a sheet toward the arcuate transport path 3 facing the arcuate transport path 3 is supported by a support shaft 17 a. It is arranged so as to be swingable.

Therefore, the paper pressing member 17 is urged to swing in the direction of arrow A by its own weight, and is in contact with the arc-shaped transport path 3. Here, when the sheet is fed between the arc-shaped transport path 3 and the sheet pressing member 17, the sheet curled at the leading end is also pressed by the sheet pressing member 17 against the arc-shaped transport path 3, and The sheet is separated and transported under the force (separation force).

As described above, by disposing the sheet pressing member for pressing the sheet on the arc-shaped conveyance path side, the sheet having a curled leading end can be separated stably.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged explanatory view of a main part of the ink jet recording apparatus. In the present embodiment, a spring 18 is provided as urging means for urging the sheet pressing member 17 in the fourth embodiment to the arc-shaped conveyance path 3 side.

Since the sheet pressing member 17 is urged to swing in the direction of arrow A by the spring 18 in this manner, the sheet pressing member 17 moves the sheet P5 sent to the arc-shaped transport path 3.
The paper P5 is pressed against the arc-shaped transport path 3 by the spring urging force while being lifted in the direction of arrow B. As a result, it is possible to stably separate the paper even if the paper is strongly stiff.

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged explanatory view of a main part of the ink jet recording apparatus. In the present embodiment, a low friction member 19 for reducing frictional resistance with a sheet is provided on the arc-shaped surface side of the sheet pressing member 17 of the fifth embodiment facing the arc-shaped conveyance path 3.

Since the low friction member 19 is provided on the contact surface of the sheet pressing member 17 with the sheet as described above, even if the sheet P6 comes into contact with the sheet pressing member 17 when the sheet P6 is conveyed, the friction of the low friction member 19 is reduced. The resistance is small and the possibility of damaging the surface of the sheet P6 (which becomes the printing surface) is extremely reduced, so that the printing quality can be improved.

Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is an enlarged explanatory view of a main part of the ink jet recording apparatus, and FIGS. 10 and 11 are explanatory views for explaining the operation. In the present embodiment, a roller 2 for reducing the frictional resistance with the sheet is provided on the side of the sheet pressing member 17 of the fifth embodiment facing the arc-shaped conveyance path 3.
0 is provided rotatably.

Since the roller 20 is provided on the contact surface of the sheet pressing member 17 with the sheet, the leading end of the sheet P7 contacts the roller 20 and pushes up the roller 20 in the direction of arrow B as shown in FIG. As a result, a pressure is applied between the roller 20 and the arc-shaped conveyance path 3, and the sheet P7 is separated here. Furthermore,
When the sheet P7 is conveyed, as shown in FIG. 11, the sheet P7 pulled by the conveying roller 5 further presses up the sheet pressing member 17 and comes into contact with the roller 20 while being pressed by the spring 18 so as to be conveyed. .

At this time, since the roller 20 is in contact with the printing surface of the paper P7, the frictional resistance with the paper P7 is reduced, and the printing surface of the paper P7 is not damaged, and the printing quality is reduced. improves.

Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of the ink jet recording apparatus. In the present embodiment, the paper presser 17 is arranged so that the paper P does not contact the paper feed roller 2 even when the paper P8 is pulled by the transport roller 5. Note that such a configuration can be applied to each embodiment using the paper pressing member 17.

Therefore, when the paper P is transported by the transport roller 5, there is no contact resistance with the paper feed roller 2, so that good transport can be performed and good printing quality can be obtained. .

In each of the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to an ink jet recording apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to an ink jet recording apparatus used as an image forming (recording) apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, a copying apparatus, and a plotter. The present invention can be applied to paper conveyance in various recording apparatuses (image forming apparatuses) such as a laser printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, and the like that do not use an inkjet head as a recording head.

[0044]

As described above, according to the paper separating method of the first aspect, the stacked papers are separated on the transport path immediately after the paper is fed. No chattering noise or breakage of the leading edge of the paper is generated, and glossy paper can be efficiently separated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet transporting device having a sheet feeding roller for feeding out stacked sheets of paper downward, and an arcuate conveying path having an arc shape immediately after the sheet feeding roller.
Since the paper is separated along the arc-shaped transport path, chattering noise and breakage of the leading edge of the paper do not occur, and glossy paper and the like can be separated and transported efficiently.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the rib member forming the arc-shaped transport path is provided at least partially in the width direction of the sheet. Sinks between the rib members, and more stable separation and conveyance can be performed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the paper transport apparatus of the second or third aspect, at least a part of the arc-shaped transport path has a surface in contact with the paper formed by a friction member. Therefore, even a thin sheet can be stably separated and conveyed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the paper transporting apparatus of any one of the second to fourth aspects, a paper pressing member for pressing a sheet toward the arcuate transporting path opposite to the arcuate transporting path is provided. Therefore, even a sheet having a curled leading end can be stably separated and conveyed.

According to the paper transport device of the sixth aspect, in the paper transport device of the fifth aspect, the urging means for urging the paper pressing member toward the arcuate transport path is provided, so that the leading end is curled. The paper can be separated stably even when the paper is strong as described above.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sheet transporting apparatus of the fifth or sixth aspect, a low friction member for reducing frictional resistance with the sheet is provided on a surface of the sheet pressing member opposed to the arcuate transport path. Since the paper holding member is provided, the paper pressing member is less likely to damage the printing surface of the paper, and the image quality is improved.

According to the paper transport device of the eighth aspect, in the paper transport device of the fifth or sixth aspect, the rollers are provided on the surface of the paper pressing member facing the arc-shaped transport path, so that the paper pressing member is capable of holding the paper. Damage to the printing surface is reduced, and the image quality is improved.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the paper transporting apparatus according to any one of the fifth to eighth aspects, when the paper is transported by the transport roller, the paper is held at a position where the paper does not contact the paper feed roller. Because it was configured to arrange the members,
The printing surface of the paper is not damaged by the feeding roller, the conveyance resistance can be reduced, and the image quality can be improved.

According to the ink jet recording apparatus of the tenth aspect, the stacked paper is fed and conveyed by the paper conveying apparatus of any one of the second to ninth aspects, and ink droplets are ejected from a recording head having a plurality of nozzles. Since an image is recorded by performing this, it is possible to obtain an ink jet recording apparatus that does not generate chattering noise or breakage of the leading end and can efficiently convey even dedicated paper.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main part configuration diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory view of a main part used for describing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective explanatory view of a main part showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a main part configuration diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a main part configuration diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged configuration diagram of a main part showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a main part configuration diagram showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a main part configuration diagram showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a main part configuration diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus showing an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... paper feed tray, 2, 16 ... paper feed roller, 3, 3a, 3b
... Arc-shaped transport path, 4, 4a transport path member, 4b rib member, 5 transport roller, 6 pressure roller, 7 printing section, 1
0: recording head, 15: friction member, 17: paper holding member, 18: spring, 19: low friction member, 20: roller.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A sheet separating method for separating and conveying stacked sheets, wherein the stacked sheets are separated on a conveying path immediately after sheet feeding. 2. A sheet feeding device for separating and feeding stacked sheets of paper, wherein the sheet feeding roller feeds the stacked sheets of paper downward, and an arc-shaped conveyance having an arc shape immediately after the sheet feeding rollers. A sheet conveying device, wherein the sheet is separated by the arcuate conveying path. 3. The sheet conveying device according to claim 2, wherein a rib member forming the arcuate conveying path is provided at least in a part of the sheet in the width direction. 4. The sheet conveying device according to claim 2, wherein at least a part of the arc-shaped conveying path has a surface in contact with the sheet formed of a friction member. 5. The sheet conveying device according to claim 2, further comprising a sheet pressing member that presses the sheet toward the arcuate path along the arcuate path. Transport device. 6. The sheet conveying device according to claim 5, further comprising: an urging unit for urging the sheet pressing member toward the arcuate conveying path. 7. The sheet conveying device according to claim 5, wherein a low friction member for reducing frictional resistance with a sheet is provided on a surface of the sheet pressing member opposed to the arc-shaped conveying path. Paper transport device. 8. The sheet conveying device according to claim 5, wherein a roller is provided on a surface of the sheet pressing member facing the arcuate conveying path. 9. The sheet conveying device according to claim 5, wherein the sheet pressing member is arranged at a position where the sheet does not contact the sheet feed roller when the sheet is conveyed by a conveying roller. A paper transport device characterized by the above-mentioned. 10. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image by feeding and transporting stacked paper by a paper transport apparatus and ejecting ink droplets from a recording head having a plurality of nozzles, wherein the paper transport apparatus is configured so that the paper transport apparatus is configured as described above. Items 2 to 9
An ink jet recording apparatus, which is the paper transport apparatus according to any one of the above.