JP2002046902A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of handling roll paper of different sizes and sorts in which an unwinding mechanism for the roll paper is provided, and in which replacement of the roll paper is easy. SOLUTION: This roll paper 21a is supported to be rotatable by a support part 22b of a first holding flange 22 and a support part 23b of a second holding flange 23 engaged with both ends of it. The second holding flange 23 is provided with a driven gear 25 and a transmission member 24 to transmit torque of the driven gear 25 to the roll paper 21a. The driven gear 25 is connected to a driving force transmitting gear 26 provided in a roll paper housing 2. The driving force transmitting gear 26 is provided on a rotation shaft 27, and it is slidable in the axial direction of the rotation shaft 27. The rotation shaft 27 is connected to a driving force transmitting mechanism 28 including plural gears provided outside the roll paper housing part 2. One of the gears composing the driving force transmitting mechanism 28 is connected to a driving source 29 provided in an image forming device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using roll paper as a sheet on which an image is transferred,
In particular, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of storing a plurality of roll papers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A copier as an example of an image forming apparatus will be described. In a copier which copies an image onto a large sheet of Japanese Industrial Standard A row 0 (A0), A row 1 (A1), etc. Conventionally, roll paper has been used as copy paper. The roll paper wound around the holding shaft is pulled out at the time of copying, cut into a predetermined length, and an image is copied on the cut paper.

[0003] Normally, only the same type of copy paper of the same size is used, but different sizes (for example, A0 size and A1 size) or different types (for example, Plain paper and tracing paper) are used. Therefore, some image forming apparatuses of this type have a plurality of roll paper storage units for storing a plurality of roll papers, and the roll paper to be used is selectively switched as needed.

[0004] By the way, although a plurality of roll paper storage units are provided, the transport path through which the roll paper drawn from each roll paper storage unit is transported is common so that the paper is finally transported to the image forming mechanism. Has been A cutter mechanism for cutting the roll paper is provided on the common transport path. For this reason, it is necessary to rewind the roll paper pulled out from one storage unit into the roll paper storage unit so as not to be in the way when the roll paper is pulled out from another storage unit.

[0005] In view of the above, the roll paper accommodating section is conventionally provided with a structure shown in FIG.
A rewind mechanism as shown in FIG. FIG.
FIG. 9 is an illustrative view showing the structure of a conventional rewinding mechanism of an image forming apparatus using roll paper. The holding shaft 52 is inserted through the roll paper 51a (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6). The holding shaft 52 has a length extending from one side plate to the other side plate of the roll paper storage unit 50, and can be inserted into the widest roll paper that can be mounted. The length of the holding shaft 52 is constant, and when a shorter roll paper 51b (indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 6) is used, the position of the roll paper is adjusted to the center of the holding shaft 52. That is, when a roll paper having a short width is used, the length of the holding shaft 52 is excessively long to hold the roll paper.

The holding shaft 52 has a driven gear 53 at one end, and at one side end of the roll paper container 50, the driven gear 53 has a driving force transmitting mechanism including a plurality of gears. It is connected to a drive source 57 via 56. Therefore, the holding shaft 52 is rotated by the driving force from the driving source 57, and the roll paper 51a or the roll paper 51b fitted thereto is rotated.
Can be rotated, and the roll paper 51a and the roll paper 5 can be rotated.
1b can be rewound.

[0007]

In a conventional image forming apparatus having a rewinding mechanism, in order to replace roll paper, a long and heavy holding shaft is taken out, and a roll paper having a large width with respect to the holding shaft is taken out. (The shaft length is about 1 m). This operation was very time consuming and labor intensive because the roll paper itself was quite heavy. In particular, when a roll paper having a short width is attached, a holding shaft that is considerably long with respect to the width of the roll paper must be fitted to the roll paper, and the workability is poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a rewinding mechanism capable of handling a plurality of sizes and types of roll paper and easily replacing the roll paper.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus having a plurality of roll paper storage units, wherein the stored roll paper is selectively pulled out. In an image forming apparatus that cuts a sheet to a predetermined length and transfers an image onto the sheet, a first sheet that is fitted to one end of the sheet and is rotatably held in one end of the sheet.
Holding flange, a driven gear to which the driving force is transmitted, and a transmission member connected to the driven gear and transmitting the rotational force of the driven gear to the roll paper, fitted to the other end of the roll paper, A second holding flange for rotatably holding the roll paper, a rotating shaft extending in parallel with the axial direction of the roll paper and rotated by a driving force from a driving source provided in the image forming apparatus; A drive that is slidable in the axial direction of the rotary shaft, can stop at a predetermined position in the axial direction of the rotary shaft, meshes with the driven gear of the second holding flange, and rotates together with the rotary shaft. And a driving force transmitting means including a force transmitting gear.

In this image forming apparatus, the roll paper is
The first holding flange and the second holding flange are fitted and held from both ends. Therefore, it is not necessary to fit the long holding shaft on the roll paper, and the work of replacing the roll paper is easy. Since the roll paper is rotatably held by the first holding flange and the second holding flange, the roll paper can be freely pulled out when the paper is used, such as during copying. A driving source provided in the image forming apparatus applies a rotating force to the roll paper via a driving force transmission unit including a rotating shaft and a driving force transmission gear, a driven gear provided on a second holding flange, and a transmission member. be able to. Thereby, the roll paper selected from the plurality of roll paper storage units and pulled out to the transport path is rewound to the roll paper storage unit so as not to be in the way when the roll paper is pulled out from another roll paper storage unit. It is possible. Although the positions of the first holding flange and the second holding flange change depending on the width of the roll paper, the driving force transmission gear can slide in the axial direction of the rotating shaft extending in parallel with the axial direction of the roll paper. Therefore, it is possible to move in accordance with the position of the second holding flange and mesh with a driven gear provided on the second holding flange. That is, each roll paper storage unit can store roll papers of different sizes, and can perform the above-described rewinding on the stored roll paper.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a case wherein each of the roll paper accommodating portions is provided with an engaged portion for positioning and fixing the first holding flange and the second holding flange. 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the first holding flange and the second holding flange each include an engagement portion that can be engaged with the engaged portion. 3. It is a forming device. The first holding flange and the second holding flange are engaged by the engaging portions provided on the first holding flange and the second holding flange and the engaged portions provided on the roll paper accommodating portion. Can be fixed at a predetermined position in the roll paper storage section. It is possible to provide a plurality of sets of engaged portions in the roll paper storage unit according to the width of the roll paper. This makes it possible to store roll paper of different widths in one roll paper storage unit.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is an illustrative sectional view showing the overall structure of a copying machine as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The copier 1 is provided from a roll paper storage unit 2 for storing roll paper, a transport mechanism 3 for feeding paper to the image forming mechanism 5, an optical system 4 for reading a document, and an optical system 4. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism 5 for forming an image based on light and transferring the image to a sheet, and a fixing device 6 for fixing the image transferred to the sheet.

The roll paper accommodating section 2 has a three-stage configuration, and includes an upper roll paper accommodating section 2A, a middle roll paper accommodating section 2B, and a lower roll paper accommodating section 2C. In this example,
For example, A0 size plain paper, A1 size plain paper, and A0 size tracing paper are stored from the upper stage to the lower stage. Each roll paper storage unit 2
Roll paper is pulled out from the bottoms of A, 2B, and 2C, and the leading end thereof is held between conveyance rollers 7A, 7B, and 7C in the middle of conveyance paths D1A, D1B, and D1C, respectively. With respect to the transport rollers 7A, 7B, and 7C, a transport path D2 extending vertically is provided on the side opposite to the side where the roll paper storage sections 2A, 2B, and 2C are provided, and the transport paths D1A, D1B, and D1C. Merges with the transport route D2 at junctions JA, JB, and JC, respectively. A transport roller 9 is provided above the transport path D2. Merging point JA
A cutter mechanism 10 for cutting the roll paper is provided between the feed roller 9 and the transport roller 9.

At the time of image formation, for example, the roll paper storage section 2B
When using the A1 size plain paper roll paper stored in the printer, the roll paper whose leading end is drawn out to the transport roller 7B is fed by the transport roller 7B, reaches the transport path D2 from the junction JB, and moves upward. Is carried. When a necessary portion is fed to the image forming mechanism 5 via the transport roller 9, the roll paper is cut by the cutter mechanism 10. The sheet on which the image has been formed by the image forming mechanism 5 is separated from the fixing device 6.
Through the copier 1. The A1 size plain paper roll paper remaining in the copying machine 1 is returned to the roll paper storage unit 2B by the rewinding mechanism, and the leading end of this roll paper is placed between the junction JB and the transport roller 7B. It is adjusted to come.

Next, the A stored in the roll paper storage section 2C
When the 0-size tracing paper roll paper is used, the A0-size tracing paper roll paper drawn from the roll paper storage unit 2C to the transport path D1C is fed by the transport roller 7C, and the junction JC It is further transported to the transport route D2. When a necessary portion is fed to the image forming mechanism 5 via the transport roller 9, the roll paper is cut by the cutter mechanism 10. The paper sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming mechanism 5 is carried out of the copying machine 1 via the fixing device 6. A remaining in copier 1
The roll paper of the zero-size tracing paper is returned by the rewind mechanism toward the roll paper storage unit 2C, and is adjusted so that the leading end of the roll paper is located between the junction JC and the transport roller 7C. .

If rewinding is not performed after using A1 size plain paper roll paper, the roll paper storage unit 2
A1 size plain paper is present on the transport paths D1B and D2 from B to the cutter mechanism 10. At this time, the A1-size plain paper roll paper existing in the transport path D2 above the junction JB becomes an obstacle when the next A0-size tracing paper roll paper is fed. That is, A above the junction JB in the transport route D2
Since the roll paper of 1 size plain paper and the roll paper of tracing paper for A0 size are commonly used parts, after using one, make the state where no roll paper exists in this part, and then use the other. There is a need to. Similarly, a portion above the junction JA in the transport path D2 is a portion commonly used by A0 size plain paper roll paper, A1 size plain paper roll paper, and A0 size tracing paper roll paper. When changing the size or type of paper to be used, it is necessary to feed the paper to be used next after the previously used paper does not exist. For this reason, each of the roll paper storage sections 2A, 2A
B and 2C require a mechanism for rewinding the accommodated roll paper.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view for explaining a roll paper rewinding mechanism provided in the copying machine 1 of FIG. The roll paper 21a (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2) is sandwiched between a first holding flange 22 on the right and a second holding flange 23 on the left. The first holding flange 22 includes:
Flat side plate 22a and rotatable cylindrical support 22b
And The second holding flange 23 includes a flat side plate 23a and a rotatable cylindrical support portion 23b.
The support portion 22b and the support portion 23b are fitted to the roll paper 21a from both sides, and the roll paper 21a is rotatably supported in a state in which both side ends of the roll paper 21a are in contact with the side plates 22a and 23a.

The second holding flange 23 further includes a driven gear 25 and a transmission member 24 for transmitting the rotational force of the driven gear 25 to the roll paper 21a. The driven gear 25 is connected to a driving force transmission gear 26 provided in the roll paper storage unit 2. The driving force transmission gear 26 is provided on the rotating shaft 27 and is slidable in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 27. The rotation shaft 27 is connected to a driving force transmission mechanism 28 including a plurality of gears provided outside the roll paper storage unit 2. One of the gears constituting the driving force transmission mechanism 28 is connected to a driving source 29 provided in the copying machine. Therefore, the driving force transmitting gear 26, the rotating shaft 27, and the driving force transmitting mechanism 28 constitute driving force transmitting means for transmitting the driving force of the driving source 29 to the driven gear 25 of the second holding flange 23. Thus, by applying a driving force from the driving source 29, the rotation of the roll paper 21a can be controlled, and the roll paper 21a can be controlled.
Can be performed.

The roll paper 21a is connected to the first holding flange 2
It is fitted and held from both ends by the second and second holding flanges 23. Therefore, since it is not necessary to fit the long holding shaft on the roll paper, the replacement work of the roll paper is easy. When roll paper of different widths is used, the roll paper is attached so that the center of the roll paper is always at the same position. In FIG. 2, the arrangement in the case where the roll paper 21b having a smaller width is used is shown by a chain line. The center position of the narrow roll paper 21b is the same as the center position of the roll paper 21a when the wide roll paper 21a is used. The first holding flange 22 and the second holding flange 23 are fixed by narrowing the interval between them, as the width of the roll paper is reduced. Second
As the position of the holding flange 23 is changed, the driving force transmission gear 26 slides on the rotating shaft 27 and is aligned with the driven gear 25 of the second holding flange 23.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative perspective view showing the structure of the first holding flange 22 constituting the rewinding mechanism of the copying machine 1 of FIG. At a substantially central portion of the side plate 22a, a rotatable substantially cylindrical support portion 22b is provided. Side plate 2
At the bottom of 2a, two projecting engagement portions 22c are provided. At one end of the side plate 22a, an auxiliary engaging portion 22d, which is a hook-shaped projection facing downward, is provided. Side plate 22
a is provided in the upper part of the handle 22 so that the handle 22
e is formed.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative perspective view showing the structure of the second holding flange 23 constituting the rewinding mechanism of the copying machine 1 of FIG. At a substantially central portion of the side plate 23a, a rotatable substantially cylindrical support portion 23b is provided. Side plate 2
At the bottom of 3a, two projecting engagement portions 23c are provided. At one end of the side plate 22a, an auxiliary engaging portion 23d, which is a hook-shaped projection facing downward, is provided. Side plate 23
a is provided on the upper part of the handle 23 so that the handle 23
e is formed. A transmission member 24 including two transmission gears 24a and 24b is provided on a side of the side plate 23a opposite to the support portion 23b. The transmission gear 24a is
a of the transmission gear 24b,
It is located diagonally below the transmission gear 24a (on the side end where the auxiliary engagement portion 23d exists). The transmission member 24 further includes a side plate 23.
and a rotating shaft 24c that penetrates through a and connects the supporting portion 23b and the transmission gear 24a. A driven gear 25 is provided further obliquely below the transmission gear 24b (on the side end where the auxiliary engagement portion 23d exists). The lower end of the driven gear 25
It exists below the lower end of the side plate 23a. The transmission gear 24a and the transmission gear 24b mesh with each other, and the transmission gear 24b and the driven gear 25 mesh with each other.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative perspective view showing the structure of the roll paper container 2 of the copying machine 1 shown in FIG. At the bottom of the roll paper storage unit 2, an engaged portion 31 which is a plurality of holes arranged in two rows in the longitudinal direction of the roll paper storage unit 2 is provided. Each of the holes forming the engaged portion 31 is a set of two holes existing in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the roll paper storage unit 2, and a plurality of these holes are formed. A similar engaged portion is formed on the side end opposite to the side end shown in FIG.

A rotation shaft 27 is provided near the front end of the bottom of the roll paper container 2 in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the roll paper container 2. The rotating shaft 27 is provided with a driving force transmission gear 26 that can slide in the axial direction and can be stopped at a predetermined position on the rotating shaft. A driving force transmission mechanism 28 is provided on the side plate 2 a of the roll paper storage unit 2. Driving force transmission mechanism 28
Is provided with four transmission gears 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d meshing side by side from the lower front portion of the side plate 2a to the upper rear side. The rotating shaft 27 passes through the side plate 2a and
8a. Above the rotating shaft 27, an engagement auxiliary plate 32 extending from one side end to the other side end of the roll paper container 2 is provided.
Are arranged facing up and down.

When the roll paper is mounted, the support portion 22b of the first holding flange 22 and the second
With the support portion 23b of the holding flange 23
The engaging portion 23c of the second holding flange 23 is engaged with the engaged portion 31 of the roll paper container 2. At this time, the roll paper is located on the opposite side of the second holding flange 23 from the side plate 2 a side of the roll paper storage unit 2. At the same time, the auxiliary engagement portion 23d is engaged with the engagement auxiliary plate 32 of the roll paper storage portion 2.

Similarly, the engaging portion 22c of the first holding flange 22 is engaged with the engaging portion 22c of the roll paper storage portion 2 on the side opposite to the side end illustrated in FIG. The auxiliary engagement portion 22d is engaged with the engagement auxiliary plate 32.
These operations are performed on the handle 22 of the first holding flange 22.
e or the handle 23e of the second holding flange 23. Thus, the roll paper is rotatably held at a predetermined position of the roll paper storage unit 2 in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the roll paper storage unit 2. At this time, the driving force transmission gear 2
6 is aligned so as to mesh with the driven gear 25 of the second holding flange 23.

The holes of the engaged portion 31 are selected from a predetermined set corresponding to the width of the roll paper. This makes it possible to store roll papers of different sizes in one roll paper storage unit. When a driving force is applied to the transmission gear 28d from the driving source 29 provided in the copying machine 1, the driving force is driven by the driving force transmission mechanism 28, the rotating shaft 27, the driving force transmission gear 26, and the second holding flange 23. It is transmitted to the roll paper via the gear 25 and the transmission member 24. That is, the rotating shaft 27, the driving force transmitting gear 26, and the transmitting gears 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d constitute driving force transmitting means for transmitting the driving force from the driving source 29 to the driven gear 25 of the second holding flange 23. ing. Therefore, the driving source 2
The rotation of the roll paper can be controlled by the driving force from the roll 9, and the roll paper can be rewound. Further, as described above, since the driving force transmission gear 26 can be adjusted to a predetermined position, the rotation of the roll paper can be similarly controlled for roll paper of a plurality of widths,
Rewinding and the like can be performed.

The above is an example of the embodiment of the present invention, and various design changes can be made within the scope of matters described in the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an illustrative sectional view showing the overall structure of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view for explaining a roll paper rewinding mechanism of the copying machine according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustrative perspective view showing a structure of a first holding flange constituting a rewinding mechanism of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an illustrative perspective view showing the structure of a second holding flange constituting the rewinding mechanism of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an illustrative perspective view showing the structure of a roll paper accommodating section of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an illustrative view showing the structure of a conventional rewinding mechanism of an image forming apparatus using roll paper.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copier 2 Roll paper storage part 21a, 21b Roll paper 22 First holding flange 22a Engaging part 23 Second holding flange 23a Engaging part 24 Transmission member 25 Follower gear 26 Driving force transmission gear 27 Rotating shaft 28 Driving force Transmission mechanism 29 Drive source 31 Engaged part

Claims (2)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus having a plurality of roll paper storage units, selectively pulling out the stored roll paper, cutting the roll paper into a predetermined length, and transferring an image onto the roll paper storage unit. A first holding flange fitted to one end of the roll paper and rotatably holding the roll paper; a driven gear to which a driving force is transmitted; and a driven gear connected to the driven gear. A second holding flange fitted to the other end of the roll paper for rotatably holding the roll paper, and extending parallel to the axial direction of the roll paper, and A rotating shaft which is rotated by a driving force from a provided driving source, and which is provided on the rotating shaft, is slidable in the axial direction of the rotating shaft, and can be stopped at a predetermined position in the axial direction of the rotating shaft; Mesh with the driven gear of the second holding flange, and A driving force transmitting means comprising a driving force transmission gear that rotates together with the rotating shaft,
An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. A case in which each of the roll paper accommodating portions has an engaged portion for positioning and fixing the first holding flange and the second holding flange. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the holding flange and the second holding flange is provided with an engagement portion capable of engaging with the engaged portion. 3.