JP2000255839A - Device for truing-up side edge of sheet material - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for truing-up side edge which has a simple structure, and is capable of attaining truing-up side edge positively and positioning in the cross direction of a sheet body as reference to the center of the sheet body. SOLUTION: This device 140 for truing-up of side edge is provided with a pair of rollers 130, 132 disposed along a plate 138 and opened/closed flexibly, a pawl 134 for truing-up of side edge which is disposed between a pair of rollers 130, 132 and pushes a recording sheet toward the center in the cross direction thereof, and a displacing mechanism displacing the pawl 134 for truing-up side edge. The displacing mechanism consists of a rack 190 mounted on members 188a, 188b for truing-up side edge movable in the cross direction of the recording sheet and a pinion 184 engaged with the rack 190 and rotated by a motor 182a, and the pawl 134 for truing-up side edge is fixed on the members 188a, 188b for truing-up side edge.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet width adjusting device applied to a sheet conveying device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a sheet conveying device is provided with a positioning device for positioning the sheet in the width direction. The positioning device is provided with a positioning plate provided along a conveying direction of the sheet member for determining a position of one side end of the sheet member, and a pressing member for pressing the sheet member against the positioning plate. It consists of a device. For example, when the positioning device is used for reading or recording an image, there is an advantage that an image can be accurately read or recorded at a desired position.

[0003]

However, in the above-described positioning device, since the positioning of the sheet is performed with reference to one side end of the sheet, different sizes of the recording device are used. When a sheet body is used, the right and left balance of the pressure applied to the roller differs depending on the size of the sheet body, and there is a possibility that an accurate position in the width direction of the conveyed sheet body may not be secured. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages, has a simple structure, and performs positioning in the width direction of a sheet with reference to the center position of the sheet. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet body width shifting device capable of securing an accurate position in the width direction of a sheet body conveyed by a subsequent roller.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a sheet-width adjusting device for positioning a sheet in a width direction, which is disposed on an entrance side of the sheet-width adjusting device. Openable and closable entrance-side roller pair, and the exit side of the sheet body width shifting device, the openable and closable exit-side roller pair disposed at a lower position than the entrance-side roller pair, and the entrance-side roller pair. A guide member that forms a conveyance path of the sheet body to the exit-side roller pair, and the entrance-side roller pair,
And a pressing means disposed between the pair of outlet-side rollers and pressing the sheet member toward the center from both end portions (the invention according to claim 1).

The holding means includes a set of holding members, racks respectively attached to the holding members, a pinion that meshes with the rack, and a driving device for rotating the pinion. (The invention of claim 2).

[0007] With this configuration, it is possible to obtain a sheet width shifting device having a simple structure.

Further, the width of the sheet member can be surely adjusted by forming the pressing member into a substantially rectangular cross section (the invention according to claim 3).

Further, the coefficient of friction of the fixed roller in the pair of inlet rollers and / or the lower roller of the pair of outlet rollers is set to a value smaller than that of rubber. Invention). Specifically, the fixed roller in the inlet roller pair and / or the lower roller in the outlet roller pair are formed of polyacetal resin (the invention according to claim 5). For this reason, it is possible to accurately adjust the width of the sheet body.

[0010]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for shifting the width of a sheet member according to the present invention.

[0011] In the image recording apparatus of the present embodiment,
A dry system is employed in which an image recording medium on which a latent image is formed by irradiating a laser beam is developed (developed) into the latent image by using a dry developing method without using a processing liquid. .

The dry developing method includes the following (1) to
It is possible to adopt the method (4).

(1) A method of transferring a latent image onto an image receiving material by superposing the photosensitive material on which the latent image has been formed on the image receiving material and heating (pressing simultaneously, if necessary) (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. JP-A-5-113629, JP-A 8-
No. 62803, JP-A-9-152705, JP-A-9-258404, JP-A-9-61978, JP-A-10-71740, Japanese Patent Application No. 10-9
0181, Japanese Patent Application No. 10-13326, and Japanese Patent Application No. 10-18172).

(2) A system in which a latent image is visualized by superposing a photosensitive material on which a latent image is formed with a processing material and heating the same (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-274295, Japanese Patent Application No. 10-1998) No. 17192).

(3) After forming a latent image on a photosensitive material having a photosensitive layer in which silver halide acting as a photocatalyst, silver salt acting as an image forming substance, a reducing agent for silver ions, and the like are dispersed in a binder, A method of visualizing a latent image by heating this photosensitive material to a predetermined temperature {for example,
"The heat-processed silver system (Thermally Proces
sed Silver Systems) "[B. By Shely,
Imaging Processes and Materials Neblette 8
Plate, Sturge, V.E. Walwor
th), A. Edited by Shepp, page 2, 1996
Year], Research Disclosure 17029 (1978
Year), EP803764A1, EP803765A1
No., JP-A-8-212521.

(4) Photosensitivity comprising a thermoresponsive microcapsule containing a colorless electron-donating dye, a compound having an electron acceptor and a polymerizable vinyl monomer in the same molecule, and a photopolymerization initiator. A method using a light- and heat-sensitive recording material provided with a heat-sensitive recording layer (see, for example, JP-A-4-249251), or a heat-responsive microcapsule containing a colorless electron-donating dye, an electron-accepting compound, A method using a light and heat sensitive recording material provided with a light and heat sensitive recording layer containing a polymerizable vinyl monomer and a photopolymerization initiator (see, for example, JP-A-4-21252).

In the methods (1) and (2), a small amount of water may be added to the photosensitive material in order to promote the visualization of the latent image formed on the photosensitive material.

In the present embodiment, the above (1) to (1)
The light-sensitive material and the light- and heat-sensitive recording material used in the method (4) are collectively referred to as a heat-developable light-sensitive material.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an image recording apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment.

In the upper left portion of the front (operation surface) of the apparatus main body 12 of the image recording apparatus 10, a touch panel 14 having an operation section for operating the image recording apparatus 10 and a monitor function is provided. A door 16 is provided below the touch panel 14 on the front of the apparatus main body 12. By opening the door 16, a sheet supply unit 22, which will be described later, which is disposed inside the apparatus main body 12,
Maintenance can be performed on the front transport unit 24, the image recording unit 26, the transfer unit 28, the heat development unit 30, and the discharge unit 34.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image recording apparatus 10.

The image recording apparatus 10 includes a recording sheet (sheet) 20 as an image recording medium made of a photothermographic material.
, A sheet feeding unit 22, a front conveying unit 24, an image recording unit 26, a transfer unit 28, a heat developing unit 30, and a discharging unit 34 provided in the order of the conveying paths. Also,
The image recording apparatus 10 has a control unit 36 for controlling the operations of the sheet supply unit 22, the pre-conveyance unit 24, the image recording unit 26, the transfer unit 28, the heat development unit 30, and the discharge unit 34.

A chamber 42 is formed at a substantially central portion inside the apparatus main body 12 using light shielding plates 40a to 40c.
The sheet supply unit 22 is provided in the chamber 42. The chamber 42 is divided into an upper chamber 42a and a lower chamber 42b by a light shielding plate 40b.
The lower chamber 42b is provided with a lower loading portion 44b and a lower sheet portion 46b.

Magazines 48a and 48b are detachably mounted on the upper loading section 44a and the lower loading section 44b, respectively.
Each contains a plurality of recording sheets 20.

Usually, the recording sheets 20 of different sizes are stored in the magazines 48a and 48b, respectively. For example, the magazine 48a has an H-cut (half-cut) size (3
The recording sheet 20 of 5.4 cm × 43.0 cm) or B4 size is accommodated, and the magazine 48 b accommodates the recording sheet 20 of 6 pieces (20.3 cm × 25.4 cm).

As shown in FIG. 1, the door 16 provided on the front of the apparatus main body 12 has magazine mounting holes 50a, 50b.
Are formed, and these magazine mounting holes 50a, 50
The magazines 48a and 48b are attached to and detached from the upper loading section 44a and the lower loading section 44b via the b.

On the front side of the magazines 48a and 48b, shutter insertion holes 52a and 52b are formed, respectively. Through these shutter insertion holes 52a and 52b, light-shielding shutters 54a and 54b shown in FIG. Are mounted on the upper surfaces of the magazines 48a and 48b, respectively.

The upper and lower sheets 46a and 46b provided at the upper right portion of the upper and lower chambers 42a and 42b respectively have suction plates 60a and 60b which can enter the magazines 48a and 48b, respectively. Have. Suction cup 6
Displacement means (not shown) for displacing the suction discs 60a, 60b is connected to 0a, 60b.

A roller pair 90 is disposed downstream of the suction plate 60a in the upper sheet portion 46a.
A roller pair 92 is disposed downstream of the roller 0. A passage hole 94 communicating with the lower chamber 42b is formed near the downstream side of the roller pair 92 in the light shielding plate 40b.

The light shielding plate 40c has a passage hole 98 communicating with the outside of the lower chamber 42b. In FIG. 2, guide plates 102a and 102b provided so as to extend from the vicinity of the right side of the passage hole 94 of the light shielding plate 40b to the vicinity of the right side of the passage hole 98 of the light shielding plate 40c.
The recording sheet 20 is formed by guide plates 104a and 104b provided so as to extend from near the left side of the passage hole 94 at 0b to near the left side of the passage hole 98 at the light shielding plate 40c.
Are formed so as to form a bulged space.

The guide plates 102a and 102b are directly connected, and the guide plates 104a and 104b are
6 are provided continuously. That is, the roller pair 106
Is arranged downstream of the suction plate 60b in the lower sheet portion 46b.

In this case, the roller pair 92 is configured as a light-shielding roller that prevents light from entering the upper chamber 42a through the passage hole 94. The roller pair 106
The guide plate 10 passes through the passage hole 94 or the passage hole 98.
The light that has entered the expanded space formed by the guide plates 104a and 104b and the guide plates 104a and 104b further
The lower chamber 42b is configured as a light blocking roller that prevents the lower chamber 42b from entering the lower loading portion 44b.

On the downstream side of the sheet supply unit 22, that is, in the lower right part inside the apparatus main body 12, the front transport unit 24 is provided.
Is provided. The front transport unit 24 includes a roller pair (entrance-side roller pair) 130 disposed near the passage hole 98,
A roller pair (exit roller pair) 132 disposed downstream of the roller pair 130, and these roller pairs 130 and 132
And a width shifting claw (pressing member) 134 disposed therebetween. A displacement mechanism 136 for displacing the width shifting claw 134 in the width direction of the recording sheet 20 is provided on the width shifting claw 134.
Are connected. The front transport unit 24 includes a plate (guide member) 13 along the transport path of the recording sheet 20.
8 are arranged.

As shown in FIG. 3, the roller pairs 130, 13
2, width shifting claw 134, displacement mechanism 136 and plate 1
Reference numeral 38 denotes one width shifting device 140 for positioning the recording sheet 20 in the width direction.

The plate 138 is inclined at least 20 ° with respect to the horizontal plane so that the inlet side is higher than the outlet side. As shown in FIG. 4, the roller pairs 130 and 132 are arranged along holes 141a and 141b formed in the plate 138, respectively. Note that the interval at which the roller pairs 130 and 132 are disposed depends on the recording sheet 2.
It is set to be shorter than the length of 0.

The plate 138 includes the plate 1
38 and the contact area between the recording sheet 20 and the recording sheet 2
A groove or the like (not shown) is formed so as to be 80% or less of the surface area of 0. This prevents the recording sheet 20 from sticking to the plate 138 due to the influence of static electricity or the like, and also prevents the recording sheet 20 from sticking to the plate 138.
This is to reduce the frictional force generated between

As shown in FIG. 3, the width adjusting device 140 includes:
Support members 142a, 1 provided parallel to each other
42b. The upper roller (fixed-side roller) 130a that forms the roller pair 130 and the upper roller 132a that forms the roller pair 132 are respectively a bearing member 144 and a bearing member 146 attached to the support members 142a and 142b. It is rotatably supported by. Further, pulleys 148 and 150 are attached to one ends of the rollers 130a and 132a, respectively.
As also shown in FIG.
4 is connected to a pulley 156 attached to a rotating shaft (not shown).

The roller 130a is provided with the roller 13a.
A one-way clutch (not shown) is attached so that 0a does not rotate in the reverse direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, a lower roller (movable roller) 130b constituting the roller pair 130, and
The lower roller 132b of the roller pair 132 is rotatably supported by a bearing member 158 and a bearing member 160 attached to the support members 142a and 142b, respectively. In this case, the bearing member 158 and the bearing member 160 are formed by the roller 130b and the roller 132b, respectively.
The support members 142a and 142b are attached to the support members 142a and 142b so that the support members 142a and 142b can move toward and away from the support member 32a. Further, the bearing members 144 and 158, and the bearing members 146 and 160, respectively,
They are connected by a spring member 162.

The roller 130a is made of a material having a small coefficient of friction such as POM (polyacetal resin).
On the other hand, the roller 130b is formed of a material having a large friction coefficient such as rubber. The roller 132a is made of a material having a large friction coefficient such as rubber, while the roller 132b is made of a material having a small friction coefficient such as POM.

As described above, when the roller 130a is formed of a material having a small friction coefficient, the recording sheet 20 and the roller
Since the frictional force generated between them is reduced, it is possible to avoid the disadvantage that the width cannot be accurately adjusted. Further, by forming the roller 132b from a material having a small friction coefficient, the recording sheet 2
0 is prevented from being largely returned in the upstream direction.
There is no concern that the width adjustment cannot be performed accurately.

Each of the roller 130b and the roller 132b is provided with one plate-shaped displacement member (cam member) 16 via bearing members 163a and 163b.
4 are connected so as to be substantially parallel to the support members 142a and 142b. A long hole (bearing means) 166 is formed in the displacement member 164, and an eccentric shaft 168 fixed to one end of a rotating shaft 170 rotatably supported by the supporting members 142a and 142b is formed in the long hole 166. Supported. The rotating shaft 170 has pinion gears 172, 1
A rotating shaft (not shown) of the motor 176 is connected via the 74.

The position of the long hole 166 is determined by each bearing member 163.
The point at which the line connecting the lines a and 163b intersects with the perpendicular to the line from the long hole 166 is defined as a reference point O, and the distance L1 between the reference point O and the bearing member 163a is defined as the reference point O and the reference point O. The distance L2 between the bearing member 163b and about 1
/ 2 times.

The nip force of the roller pair 130 on the entrance side in the width shifting device 140 is reduced by the roller pair 132 on the exit side.
The nip force is set to be smaller than the nip force.
Such setting can be performed, for example, by changing the elastic coefficient of each spring member 162.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.
42a and 142b are brought into contact with a bearing member 158 supporting the roller 130b, so that the roller 130b
A stopper member 178 that prevents the roller from being separated from the roller 130a by a predetermined distance or more is fixed.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
When the rotary shaft 6 is driven to rotate the rotary shaft 170 rightward in FIG. 6, the eccentric shaft 168 moves to the right in FIG. Accordingly, the displacement member 164 moves to the bearing member 1.
6, the roller 130b is displaced in a direction away from the roller 130a against the elastic force of the spring member 162, with the 63b as a fulcrum. When the rotation shaft 170 is further rotated, the bearing member 158
78 and the displacement of the roller 130b is prevented (see FIG. 5). When the rotation shaft 170 is further rotated from this state, the displacement member 164 rotates leftward in FIG. 6 with the bearing member 163a as a fulcrum, and accordingly, the roller 132b is displaced in a direction away from the roller 132a.

That is, the width adjusting device 140 has a function as a nip mechanism for sequentially opening and closing the roller pairs 130 and 132, that is, for sequentially moving the rollers 130b and 132b toward or away from the rollers 130a and 132a. It also has.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
A motor (drive device) 182 is fixed to the base material 180 fixed so as to straddle the 42a and 142b. The pinion 18 is provided on the rotation shaft 182a of the motor 182.
4 is attached.

The support member 142a, 142b
A pair of rails 186a, 186,
b is attached. And these rails 186
a and 186b include a pair of substantially L-shaped width shifting members 1
88a and 188b are arranged to be able to move forward and backward. Rails 186a, 186 at the width shifting members 188a, 188b
A rack 190 that meshes with the pinion 184 is formed integrally with the portion along the line b. Also, the width shifting member 1
At a portion orthogonal to the rails 186a, 186b of the plates 88a, 188b, a width shifting claw 134 is formed integrally with the plate 138 so as to protrude to the upper surface side of the plate 138 through the cutouts 141c, 141d. I have.

That is, the motor 182 and the pinion 18
4, the rack 190 and the like constitute a displacement mechanism 136 of the width shifting claw 134. In addition, the pressing member for the sheet body may be described as including the width shifting claw 134 and the displacement mechanism 136.

The inner surface of the width shifting claw 134 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in cross section in order to surely shift the width of the recording sheet 20.

In the present embodiment, the displacement mechanism 136
Is configured using the pinion 184 and the rack 190, but the displacement mechanism 136 may be configured using a timing belt, a solenoid, or the like instead.

As shown in FIG. 2, near the roller pair 132 on the downstream side of the roller pair 132,
A straightening roller 194 for correcting the zero transport direction is provided.

An image recording section 26 for forming a latent image on the recording sheet 20 is provided on the downstream side of the front transport section 24, that is, on the lower left portion inside the apparatus main body 12. The image recording unit 26 includes a first roller pair 200 and a second roller pair 202 that are driven to rotate in synchronization with each other.
202 is openable and closable. In this case, the first and second roller pairs 200 and 202 form a sub-scanning mechanism 204 that conveys the recording sheet 20 in the sub-scanning direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2).

First and second roller pairs 200 and 202
Between them, a guide plate 206 and a pressing roller 208 for pressing the recording sheet 20 against the guide plate 206 are arranged. The pressing roller 208 is configured to be vertically displaceable so as to press the recording sheet 20 by its own weight. Such a pressing roller 2
By providing 08, it is possible to prevent the recording sheet 20 from becoming loose or the like.

On the upper side of the sub-scanning mechanism 204, an optical system 210 for irradiating the recording sheet 20 conveyed in the sub-scanning direction with a laser beam L in the main scanning direction (a direction substantially orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction). Is provided. In this case, the optical system 2
10, the second roller pair 202 and the pressing roller 20
8 is irradiated with the laser light L.

The optical system 210 has a wavelength of 66 as a light source.
It has two semiconductor lasers of 0 nm and an output of 30 mW. The laser lights output from these semiconductor lasers are multiplexed and further deflected by a rotary polygon mirror, and then converted as laser light L via an fθ lens. Scanning is performed on the recording sheet 20. In this case, the beam diameter of the laser light L is set to 100 μm, and the pitch in the sub-scanning direction is 25 μm.
Is set to Then, the laser light L is applied four times,
Scanning is performed on the recording sheet 20 based on the same image information. That is, an image (latent image) having a width of one pixel is formed on the recording sheet 20 by scanning the laser light L four times in the main scanning direction while shifting the position in the sub-scanning direction by 25 μm.

On the back side of the recording sheet 20 as viewed from the optical system 210, a sensor 212 for detecting the position of the leading end of the recording sheet 20 is provided. A lens 214 for correcting a shift in the irradiation direction of the laser light L is disposed above the sensor 212 along the irradiation direction of the laser light L.

A transfer section 28 is provided on the downstream side of the image recording section 26, that is, on the left side inside the apparatus main body 12. The transfer unit 28 is provided near the downstream side of the second roller pair 202 in the image recording unit 26.
A pair of guide plates 220a and 220b are provided. Of the guide plates 220a and 220b, the guide plate 220a disposed outside is openable and closable about the rotation shaft 220c as a fulcrum. Therefore, even when the recording sheet 20 is jammed between the guide plates 220a and 220b, the recording sheet 2
0 can be easily taken out.

A pair of rollers 221 is arranged downstream of the guide plates 220a and 220b, and a pair of guide plates 222a and 222b is arranged further downstream. Of the guide plates 222a and 222b, the guide plate 222a disposed outside is freely openable and closable about the rotation shaft 222c as a fulcrum. For this reason, the guide plates 222a, 22
Even when the recording sheet 20 is jammed during 2b, the recording sheet 20 can be easily taken out.

Two pairs of rollers 223 and 224 are disposed downstream of the guide plates 222a and 222b. A one-way clutch (not shown) for restricting rotation of the roller pairs 223 and 224 is connected to a rotation shaft (not shown) of the roller pairs 223 and 224. Roller pair 2
A cleaning roller 225 is disposed downstream of the cleaning roller 24.

On the downstream side of the transfer section 28, that is, on the upper left portion inside the apparatus main body 12, heat for developing the latent image on the recording sheet on which the latent image is formed (thermal development) is used. A developing unit 30 is provided. This heat developing section 30
Are four plate heaters 230 arranged on the same circumference.
a to 230d. These plate heaters 23
The inner surfaces 232a to 232d of Oa to 230d are formed in a substantially circular arc shape in cross section, and the conveying path of the recording sheet 20 is configured to be circumferential along the inner surfaces 232a to 232d.

Three pressing rollers 234 are in contact with the inner surfaces 232a to 232d of the plate heaters 230a to 230d, respectively. Also, the plate heater 230
A pair of rollers 236 is arranged near the upstream side of a, and a pair of rollers 238 is arranged near the downstream side of the plate heater 230d. Further, a roller pair 240 is disposed downstream of the roller pair 238.

A sensor unit 242 for measuring the density of the image recorded on the recording sheet 20 is disposed at a position spaced a predetermined distance downstream from the roller pair 240.
The sensor unit 242 includes a light emitting element 242a and a light receiving element 242b. Further, the sensor unit 242 is connected to a displacement mechanism (not shown), and it is possible to change an arrangement position of the recording sheet 20 along the conveyance path by the displacement mechanism. In this case, the position of the sensor unit 242 can be adjusted so that the density of the image is measured after the recording sheet 20 is sufficiently cooled.

The heat developing section 30 includes an exhaust fan 243.
Is arranged. A fan is not provided in an area where the sheet supply unit 22, the front conveyance unit 24, the image recording unit 26, and the transfer unit 28 are arranged. For this reason,
Generation of dust and the like is avoided.

A heat insulating material 244 is provided on the inner wall surface of the apparatus main body 12 so as to surround the heat developing section 30.
By providing the heat insulating material 244 in this manner, heat from the plate heaters 230a to 230d can
Is not transmitted to the recording sheet 20 discharged onto the discharge tray 292.

A discharge section 34 is provided on the downstream side of the heat developing section 30, that is, on the upper right portion inside the apparatus main body 12.

The discharge section 34 has a roller pair 250 and a movable guide plate 252 disposed downstream of the roller pair 250 for switching the transport path. The movable guide plate 252 is connected to a drive device (not shown) such as a solenoid, and is driven to rotate within a predetermined range around the rotation shaft 253 by the drive device.

Downstream of the movable guide plate 252, a first guide plate 254 constituting one transport path (lower transport path) of the recording sheet 20 and the other transport path (upper transport path) of the recording sheet 20. A second guide plate 256 that constitutes a (conveyance path) is disposed.

A roller pair 260 is disposed at a position downstream of the first guide plate 254 and close to a first discharge port 258 formed on the right side wall of the apparatus main body 12. Hereinafter, the direction from the roller pair 260 to the later-described first discharge tray 290 via the first discharge port 258 is referred to as a first discharge direction a.

The second guide plate 256 is formed in a curved shape, and its downstream end is located in a protruding portion 262 formed in the upper right corner of the apparatus main body 12. At a position on the downstream side of the second guide plate 256 and close to a second discharge port 266 formed on the left side wall of the protrusion 262,
A roller pair 268 is provided. Hereinafter, the roller pair 268
From the second discharge tray 292 through the second discharge port 266.
Is referred to as a second discharge direction b.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
The recording sheet 2 discharged from the first discharge port 258 is located at a position below the first discharge port 258 on the right side wall of the recording sheet 2.
A first discharge tray 290 that accommodates 0 is attached. In addition, as shown in FIG.
A second discharge tray 292 is formed integrally with the apparatus main body 12 on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 12 on the downstream side of the apparatus.

The control section 3 is provided at the bottom inside the apparatus main body 12.
6 are provided. The control unit 36 includes the control device 31
0 and a power supply device 312. The control unit 3
6 includes a cooling fan 31 for the power supply 312.
4 are arranged.

The image recording apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment
Basically, it is configured as above,
The operation and effect will be described.

First, the magazines 48a and 48b containing the recording sheets 20 are mounted on the upper loading section 44a and the lower loading section 44b, respectively (see FIG. 2). Then, based on the instruction to the touch panel 14, the magazine 48
The recording sheet 20 is taken out from either one of the recording sheets 20a and 48b.

Magazine 48 mounted on upper loading section 44a
In a, by driving a displacement means (not shown) connected to the suction disk 60a, the suction disk 60a enters the magazine 48a and sucks the recording sheet 20.
Then, the recording sheet 20 is supplied to the roller pair 90 by driving the displacement means.

The recording sheet 20 is conveyed by a pair of rollers 90 and is supplied to a pair of rollers 92. Further, the recording sheet 20 is conveyed by the roller pair 92,
Through the guide plates 102a, 10a in the lower chamber 42b.
2b and the guide plates 104a and 104b.

On the other hand, in the magazine 48b mounted on the lower loading section 44b, by driving a displacement means (not shown) connected to the suction disk 60b, the suction disk 60b is driven.
b enters the magazine 48b and sucks the recording sheet 20. Then, the recording sheet 20 is supplied to the roller pair 106 by driving the displacement unit, and is sent downward between the guide plates 102a and 102b and the guide plates 104a and 104b by the roller pair 106.

Guide plates 102a, 102b and guide plate 1
04a, 104b, the recording sheet 20 sent between
The toner is supplied to the roller pair 130 constituting the front transport unit 24 through the passage hole 98.

As shown in FIG. 7A, when the recording sheet 20 is supplied to the roller pair 130, the roller pair 130 and the roller pair 132 are both closed and the motor 1
54, the recording sheet 2 is moved in the forward direction
0 is transported to the downstream side (see FIG. 3). At this time, with the rotation of the roller pair 130, the recording sheet 20 is moved along the plate 138 by the roller pair 132.
Transported to the side.

As shown in FIG. 7B, when the recording sheet 20 is supplied to the roller pair 132, the displacement member 164 is rotated rightward in FIG. 6 around the bearing member 163b by the driving of the motor 176. , The roller pair 130 is opened (see FIGS. 3 and 6). That is, the roller 130b supported at one end of the displacement member 164 is displaced away from the roller 130a. Then, with the driving of the motor 154, the roller pair 132 is rotated in the reverse direction (the direction in which the recording sheet 20 is transported to the upstream side).

At this time, the motor 182 is driven to rotate the pinion 184 counterclockwise in FIG.
Width shift members 188a and 188b having a rack 190 meshing with the pinion 184
Displaced along the directions 6a and 186b toward each other. Then, the recording sheet 20 placed on the plate 138 is moved toward the center by the width moving claws 134 provided on the width moving members 188a and 188b.
In this case, the position of the inner surface of the width shifting claw 134 is set to be within ± 1 mm in the width direction with respect to the position of the side end of the recording sheet 20.

When the width of the recording sheet 20 has been shifted, the pinion 184 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 3 by the motor 182, and the width shifting members 188a and 188b are displaced in directions away from each other.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG.
6 drives the displacement member 164 into the bearing member 163b.
6, the roller pair 130 is closed (see FIGS. 3 and 6). That is, the roller 130b supported at one end of the displacement member 164 is displaced toward the roller 130a,
Contact with a. Then, with the driving of the motor 154, the roller pair 132 is rotated in the forward direction, and the recording sheet 20 is conveyed to the downstream side.

As shown in FIG. 7D, the recording sheet 20
When supplied to the first pair of rollers 200 constituting the sub-scanning mechanism 204 via the correction roller 194, the displacement member 164 rotates rightward in FIG. 6 with the bearing member 163b as a fulcrum with the driving of the motor 176. The roller pair 130 is opened (see FIGS. 3 and 6). That is, the roller 130b supported at one end of the displacement member 164 is
Displaced in the direction away from a. And the bearing member 15
8 contacts the stopper member 178, the displacement member 164
6 rotates left in FIG. 6 with the bearing member 163a as a fulcrum, whereby the roller pair 132 is opened. That is, the roller 1 supported on the other end of the displacement member 164
32b is displaced away from the roller 132a.

The recording sheet 20 has a pair of rollers 132
When the paper passes through the correction roller 194 provided on the downstream side of the printer, the transport direction is corrected in a predetermined direction according to the inclination angle of the correction roller 194.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first roller pair 200
The recording sheet 20 supplied to the first and second roller pairs 202 and 202 is further sent to a second roller pair 202 and rotated and driven in synchronization with each other.
It is transported in the sub-scanning direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2). At this time, the recording sheet 20 is pressed against the guide plate 206 by the pressing roller 208.

When the recording sheet 20 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by the first and second roller pairs 200 and 202, the laser light L from the optical system 210 is applied to the recording sheet 20.
Is irradiated in the main scanning direction to form a latent image on the recording sheet 20. At this time, the position of the leading end of the recording sheet 20 is confirmed by the sensor 212 that detects the laser light L from the optical system 210 via the lens 214.

The recording sheet 20 on which the latent image has been formed in the image recording section 26 is conveyed by the second pair of rollers 202, and guide plates 220a and 220 constituting the transfer section 28.
The roller is sent to the roller pair 221 via b. Further, the recording sheet 20 is conveyed by a roller pair 221 and passes through guide plates 222a and 222b to form two roller pairs 223 and 22.
4 sequentially.

A one-way clutch is connected to a rotating shaft (not shown) of the pair of rollers 223 and 224, and the rotation of the pair of rollers 223 and 224 is regulated by the one-way clutch.

The recording sheet 20 that has passed through the pair of rollers 223 and 224 is sent to the heat developing unit 30 after dust and the like are removed by the cleaning roller 225.

The recording sheet 20 is sequentially supplied to the plate heaters 230a to 230d by the roller pair 236. At this time, the recording sheet 20 is
Is pressed down by the plate heaters 230a to 230d, and is thermally developed by the heat from the plate heaters 230a to 230d. Then, the recording sheet 20 after the heat development is conveyed to the downstream side via the roller pairs 238 and 240.

In this case, the conveying speed of the recording sheet 20 by the pressing roller 234 is adjusted to be higher than the conveying speed by the pair of rollers 223 and 224. This is because the recording sheet 20 has the plate heaters 230a-230
This is for avoiding being pressed between d and the pressing roller 234. A one-way clutch (not shown) is connected to the pair of rollers 223 and 224.
By the action of this one-way clutch, the roller pair 22
The transfer of the recording sheet 20 from 3, 224 to the thermal developing unit 30 is performed smoothly.

A sensor unit 242 is disposed downstream of the roller pair 240. The light emitting element 242a and the light receiving element 242b constituting the sensor unit 242 measure the density of the image recorded on the recording sheet 20. You. Then, the recording sheet 2 that has passed through the sensor unit 242
“0” is sent to the discharge unit 34.

While the recording sheet 20 supplied to the roller pair 250 of the discharge section 34 is being conveyed by the roller pair 250, the conveyance path is switched by a movable guide plate 252 provided downstream thereof. When the movable guide plate 252 is shifted downward, the recording sheet 20 is in the first position.
When the movable guide plate 252 is shifted upward, the recording sheet 20 is sent to the upper transport path along the second guide plate 256. Can be

The recording sheet 20 sent to the lower conveying path
Is supplied to the roller pair 260 via the first guide plate 254, and the first discharge port 258 is supplied by the roller pair 260.
Sent to Then, the first discharge port 258
Are discharged along the discharge direction a of the first discharge port 258.
Is stored in a first discharge tray 290 provided below the printer.

On the other hand, the recording sheet 20 sent to the upper conveyance path is moved along the second guide plate 256 by a pair of rollers 268.
Supplied to Then, the sheet is sent to the second discharge port 266 by the roller pair 268, and is discharged onto the second discharge tray 292 from the second discharge port 266 in the second discharge direction b.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the width adjusting device 140 is disposed between the pair of rollers 130 and 132 disposed along the plate 138 and the pair of rollers 130 and 132, and Width shifting members 188a and 188b having width shifting claws 134 for pushing in the center direction;
A pinion 184 is engaged with a rack 190 provided on the width shift members 188 a and 188 b and rotated by a motor 182. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the width adjusting device 140 having a simple structure.

Further, since the recording sheet 20 can be positioned with reference to the central portion in the width direction, an accurate position in the width direction of the recording sheet 20 can be ensured downstream of the width shifting device 140. Can be.

Further, the rollers 130a and 13
2b is formed of a material having a small coefficient of friction (such as POM), so that these rollers 130a and 132
Since the influence of the frictional force generated between the recording sheet 20 and the recording sheet 20 is reduced, the recording sheet 20 can be accurately positioned.

[0101]

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for shifting a sheet width.
It is mainly constituted by an inlet-side roller pair and an outlet-side roller pair, and pressing means for pressing the sheet member from both side end portions toward the center. For this reason, the structure is simple, and a reliable width shifting operation is performed. Further, by positioning the sheet body in the width direction with reference to the center position of the sheet body, the sheet conveyed by the subsequent roller is used. According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a sheet body width shifting device capable of securing an accurate position in the body width direction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the image recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a width shifting device included in the image recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the width shifting device shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partially omitted cross-sectional view showing an enlarged main part of the width shifting device shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the width shifting device shown in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 7A to 7D are explanatory views showing operation steps of the width shifting device shown in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image recording device 12 ... Device main body 20 ... Recording sheet 130, 132 ... Roller pair 130a, 130b, 132a, 132b ... Roller 134 ... Width adjustment pawl 136 ... Displacement mechanism 138 ... Plate 140 ... Width adjustment device 142a, 142b ... Support Members 144, 146, 158, 160, 163a, 163b
... bearing member 162 ... spring member 164 ... displacement member 166 ... long hole 168 ... eccentric shaft 178 ... stopper member 184 ... pinion 186a, 186b ... rail 188a, 188b ...
Width adjustment member 190: Rack 194: Straightening roller

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A width adjusting device for a sheet body for positioning a sheet body in a width direction, wherein a pair of openable and closable entrance-side rollers disposed on an entrance side of the width adjusting device for the sheet body; An openable and closable outlet roller pair disposed at a position lower than the inlet roller pair on the outlet side of the sheet width shifting device; and conveying the sheet member from the inlet roller pair to the outlet roller pair. A guide member that forms a path, and a pressing unit that is disposed between the entrance-side roller pair and the exit-side roller pair, and that presses the sheet body toward the center from both end portions. Width adjustment device for sheet. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing means includes: a set of pressing members; racks respectively attached to the pressing members; a pinion that meshes with the rack; and a pinion for rotating the pinion. And a driving device for the sheet member. 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said pressing member is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in cross section. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a coefficient of friction of a fixed roller in the inlet roller pair and / or a lower roller of the outlet roller pair is: A sheet width adjusting device, wherein the value is set to a value smaller than that of rubber. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixed roller in the pair of inlet rollers and / or the lower roller of the pair of outlet rollers are made of polyacetal resin. An apparatus for shifting a sheet body, wherein the apparatus is formed.