JP2002211791A - Sheet conveying equipment and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such a problem with the passing of sheet materials through a plurality of sheet conveying routes that the size and cost of sheet conveying equipment are increased if the passing is detected by a detector installed for each sheet conveying route. SOLUTION: This sheet conveying equipment having a first sheet conveying route A and a second sheet conveying route B comprises a rotating member 11 drivingly rotated in one direction by a sheet material S passing through the first sheet conveying route and rotated in the other direction by a sheet material passing through the second sheet conveying route. The passing of the sheet material through either of the first and second sheet conveying routes can be detected by detecting the rotation of the rotating member.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus having a function of detecting that a sheet is being conveyed in a sheet conveying path.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in an image forming apparatus represented by a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile or the like, a sheet material is supplied to the image forming apparatus, and a sheet material on which an image is recorded is selectively sorted into a plurality of trays. 2. Description of the Related Art A sheet processing apparatus (sheet conveying apparatus) for carrying out or stapling a sheet is used.

[0003] These processing apparatuses are configured to be mountable on a plurality of image forming apparatuses having different apparatus heights and conveying speeds. When the processing apparatuses are mounted on image forming apparatuses having different apparatus heights, FIG. As shown in FIG. 4B, a receiving bypass 16 is provided between the image forming apparatus and the sheet discharge path to join the original receiving and conveying path of the processing apparatus, or as shown in FIG. A plurality of receiving conveyance paths having different sizes are provided, and a sheet detector for detecting that the sheet material has passed is provided for each of the receiving conveyance paths.

[0004]

However, FIG.
In each of the processing apparatuses shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the processing apparatus is increased in size or cost.

First, as shown in FIG. 4 (A), a bypass 1 is installed in order to attach the image forming apparatus to an image forming apparatus having a different discharge path height.
In the case of merging by providing 6, the merging point must be arranged downstream by the length of the transport path of the bypass 16, and the entire apparatus becomes large.

Therefore, if priority is given to miniaturization with the bypass system, the bypass becomes a transport path having a sharp bend curve. Since the surface is conveyed while being strongly rubbed in the bypass conveyance path, image peeling may occur.

In the case where a plurality of receiving conveyance paths having different heights are provided and a sheet detector is provided in each of the receiving conveyance paths, the size can be reduced as compared with that shown in FIG. Although a stable transport path can be achieved, there is a problem that the cost is increased.

Further, for example, in the case of a sheet feeding apparatus (sheet conveying apparatus) for an image forming apparatus having a plurality of sheet feeding ports and a conveying path from each of the sheet feeding ports, the synchronization operation of the registration rollers is guaranteed. In order to secure a possible sheet conveyance distance, the conveyance path length after the detection of the passage of the sheet material must be longer than a predetermined length.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the size and cost of a sheet conveying apparatus having a plurality of sheet conveying paths.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a sheet conveying apparatus having a first sheet conveying path and a second sheet conveying path. And a rotating member that is rotated in one direction by a sheet material passing through the second sheet conveying path and is rotated in the other direction by a sheet material passing through the second sheet conveying path. And the passage of the sheet material in any one of the second sheet conveying path.

That is, the passage of the sheet material is detected by detecting the rotation of one rotating member regardless of which of the first and second sheet conveyance paths has passed.
The size and cost can be reduced as compared with the case where a detector for detecting the passage of the sheet material is provided in each of the first and second sheet conveyance paths.

By detecting the rotation of the rotating member using a non-contact type detecting means such as an optical member, the rotation resistance caused by the load for detecting the rotation acts on the rotating member. In addition, it is possible to prevent an unnecessary conveyance resistance from acting on the sheet material that rotationally drives the rotating member.

Further, the first and second sheet conveying paths have a portion where the first sheet conveying path and the second sheet conveying path merge with each other, and the first and second sheet conveying paths are upstream of the merging portion in the sheet conveying direction. By providing a rotating member to
It is possible to secure a sufficient sheet transport distance from the detection of the passage of the sheet material (when the rotating member is driven by the sheet material) to the time when the transport rollers downstream therefrom and the guide means for switching the transport direction operate. Becomes

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a partial configuration of a sheet reversing apparatus (sheet conveying apparatus) according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In the image forming apparatus, when the sheets on which the image formation is completed are sequentially stacked with the image side up, the sheets are stacked in the reverse order of the image formation. In order to stack the sheets in the same order as the image formation, the sheet reversing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the vicinity of the sheet discharge ports H and L of the image forming apparatus, and the sheet reversal is carried out by the sheet reversing apparatus. The paper is discharged and loaded so that the image is turned upside down.

The image forming system is configured as a whole by connecting the sheet reversing device to the image forming apparatus.

In FIG. 1, a sheet transport path (first sheet transport path) A receives a sheet material S discharged from a sheet discharge port L of an image forming apparatus A (indicated by a circle A in the figure). We accept from mouth and guide to sheet reversal part. Further, a sheet conveying path (second sheet conveying path) B having a receiving port at a position higher than the sheet conveying path A is provided at a position higher than the sheet discharging port L of the image forming apparatus A.
The sheet material S discharged from the sheet discharge port H of the image forming apparatus B (indicated by a circle B in the figure) is received and guided to a sheet reversing unit.

The sheet conveying path A and the sheet conveying path B join each other near the sheet reversing section.

The sheet reversing section is provided with triple rollers 8, 9, and 10 which are always rotating.
A flapper (guide means) 52 is provided downstream of 9.

The flapper 52 is swung about an axis 52a by an actuator (not shown), and can be selectively switched between a position indicated by a solid line and a position indicated by a broken line in FIG.
At the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. 1, the flapper 52 guides the sheet material S to the switchback path 59 in the sheet transport path constituting the sheet reversing unit. Further, at the position indicated by the solid line, the conveyed sheet material is guided to a face-up discharge path 60 for discharging the sheet material with the image surface facing upward without reversing the sheet material.

A sheet detecting lever (rotating member) 11 rotatably mounted on a support shaft 13 provided in the apparatus main body at a position between the sheet conveying path A and the sheet conveying path B.
And a photo sensor 12 for detecting the rotation of the sheet detection lever 11. Sheet detection lever 11
A light-shielding portion is formed at the end on the photosensor 12 side, and this light-shielding portion enters and exits between the light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion of the photosensor 12 by rotation of the lever 11.

This sheet reversing processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus A
1, the sheet material S discharged from the image forming apparatus A passes through the sheet conveyance path A, and the leading end of the sheet material S pushes the sheet detection lever 11 to move from the broken line position to the solid line position in FIG. Rotate clockwise.

When the light blocking state of the photo sensor 12 is switched to the light receiving state by the rotation of the sheet detecting lever 11, a control circuit (not shown) controls the sheet material S
Alternatively, it is detected that the sheet has been carried into the sheet conveying path B.

Upon detection that the leading end of the sheet material S has passed through the sheet transport path, the actuator (not shown) causes the flapper 52 to swing (position change) from the broken line position to the solid line position in the figure.

At this time, the leading end of the flapper 52 rotates from the nip of the carry-in roller 8 to the nip of the carry-out roller 10, and the rear end of the sheet material S moves from the nip of the carry-in roller 8 to the nip of the carry-out roller 10. Also perform smooth delivery.

The sheet material S is pushed toward the reverse feed roller 57 by the lowering operation of the flapper 52. The roller 58 provided on the flapper 52 at the solid line position is
The sheet material S comes into pressure contact with the reverse feed roller 57 and
The sheet is conveyed in the opposite direction toward the rollers 9 and 10 between the roller 58 and the roller 58.

The sheet material S carried out by the rollers 9 and 10 is guided to a reversing step downstream thereof.

When the sheet reversing device is connected to the image forming apparatus B, the sheet material S discharged from the image forming apparatus B passes through the sheet conveying path B, and the leading end of the sheet material S The detection lever 11 is pushed and rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1 from the position indicated by the broken line.

When the light blocking state of the photo sensor 12 is switched to the light receiving state by the rotation of the sheet detection lever 11 in the same manner as when the sheet material passes through the sheet conveying path A, a control circuit (not shown) causes the sheet material S to move to the sheet conveying path. A or sheet transport path B
It is detected that it was carried in.

Upon detecting that the leading edge of the sheet material S has passed through the sheet conveying path, the image forming apparatus A sends the sheet material S
Is guided to the reversing step downstream of the rollers 9 and 10 in the same manner as when the sheet is carried in.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the sheet material S
The sheet material S can be detected by detecting the rotation of the sheet detection lever 11 regardless of whether the sheet has passed through any one of the sheet conveyance paths A and B, so that the sheet conveyance paths A and B can be detected.
It is possible to reduce the size and cost of the apparatus as compared with the case where a detector for detecting the passage of the sheet material S is provided for each of them.

Since the rotation of the lever 11 is detected in a non-contact manner using the photo sensor 12, the rotation of the lever 1 is prevented.
The rotation resistance caused by the load for detecting the rotation of 1 does not act on the lever 11, and it is possible to prevent the sheet material S pushing the lever 11 from exerting an unnecessary conveyance resistance.

Here, if the distance X between the leading end position of the sheet material S at the time when the carry-in is detected and the leading end of the flapper 52 is not sufficient, the leading end of the sheet will be moved before the posture changing operation of the flapper 52 is completed. 52, the normal transfer switching cannot be performed.

However, in the present embodiment, while being mountable to a plurality of image forming apparatuses A and B having different discharge heights,
It is possible to secure a sufficient distance X for completing the change of the attitude of the flapper 52. Further, the conveyance path at the junction of the sheet conveyance path A and the sheet conveyance path B can be set to be the shortest, and the size and cost can be further reduced.

Further, as in the present embodiment, by providing sheet conveyance paths A and B which are reception conveyance paths corresponding to the heights of the discharge ports of a plurality of types of image forming apparatuses which can be connected, a sharp bending curve can be obtained. Since it is not necessary to provide a bypass having a conveyance path, the apparatus can be downsized. Problems such as image peeling can be avoided.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 2 shows a partial configuration of a sheet reversing apparatus (sheet conveying apparatus) according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The basic structure of the sheet reversing apparatus according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the configuration for detecting the passage of the sheet material in the sheet conveying path.

In FIG. 2, a support shaft 13 is located at a position between the sheet conveying path A and the sheet conveying path B in the apparatus main body.
A sheet detection board (rotating member) 14 exposed in both sheet conveying paths A and B is rotatably attached to the support shaft 13.

The sheet detection board 14 has a large number of transmission holes formed in the circumferential direction thereof, and rotates between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the photo sensor 12.

A rotatable backup roller 15 is provided on a side of each sheet conveying path facing the detection board 14 and is in pressure contact with the sheet detection board 14.

The sheet material S is carried in from the sheet conveying path A or the sheet conveying path B, and the detection plate 14 and the backup roller 1
When the nip 5 is reached, the sheet material S is rotationally driven by the friction with the detection board 14.

When the sheet material S is carried in from the image forming apparatus A, the sheet detection board 14 is driven to rotate clockwise in FIG. The detection board 14 is driven to rotate counterclockwise.

In any case, when the sheet material S is carried in, the photo sensor 12 repeats light reception and light shielding from a stable state of light reception or light shielding. Can be.

As described above, in this embodiment, the sheet material S
When the sheet passes through any one of the sheet conveyance paths A and B, the passage of the sheet material S can be detected by detecting the rotation of the sheet detection board 14, so that the sheet material S is supplied to each of the sheet conveyance paths A and B. It is possible to reduce the size and cost of the device as compared with the case where a detector for detecting the passage of is provided.

Further, since the rotation of the sheet detection panel 14 is detected in a non-contact manner by using the photo sensor 12, the rotation resistance caused by the load for detecting the rotation of the sheet detection panel 14 is applied to the sheet detection panel 14. It is possible to prevent an unnecessary conveyance resistance from acting on the sheet material S for driving the sheet detection board 14 to rotate.

Further, also in this embodiment, while being mountable to a plurality of image forming apparatuses A and B having different discharge heights,
It is possible to secure a sufficient distance X for completing the change of the attitude of the flapper 52. Further, the conveyance path at the junction of the sheet conveyance path A and the sheet conveyance path B can be set to be the shortest, and the size and cost can be further reduced.

Also in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to provide a bypass having a transport path having a sharply curved curve, so that the apparatus can be reduced in size and troubles such as defective transport by the bypass can be prevented. Can be avoided.

(Third Embodiment) In the first and second embodiments, the sheet reversing apparatus having a plurality of receiving conveyance paths from the image forming apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Absent.

FIG. 3 shows a partial configuration of a sheet feeding device (sheet conveying device) according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This sheet supply device is a device that supplies a sheet material S to an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus through two sheet conveying paths A and B.

By providing a sheet feeding device in the image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus as one system is configured as a whole.

The sheet conveying path A is a conveying path from a cassette sheet feeding port arranged below the apparatus, and the sheet conveying path B is a conveying path from a manual sheet feeding tray arranged on the right side of the apparatus. .

When the user selects the cassette sheet feeding, the cassette sheet feeding roller 20 descends and rotates, and conveys the sheet material S located on the upper side of the cassette to the retard roller 21 pair. The sheet material S is separated by the pair of retard rollers 21, and only the uppermost sheet material S is guided to the transport roller 22.

The sheet material S passes through the sheet conveying path A, and the leading end of the sheet material S pushes a sheet detecting lever (rotating member) 31 to rotate clockwise in FIG. 1 from a position shown by a broken line to a position shown by a solid line. Let it.

When the light blocking state of the photo sensor 32 is switched to the light receiving state by the rotation of the sheet detecting lever 31, the control circuit (not shown) controls the sheet material S to move the sheet conveying path A
Alternatively, it is detected that the sheet has been carried into the sheet conveying path B.

After the detection of the passage of the leading edge of the sheet material S, the control circuit is stopped to synchronize the image on the photosensitive drum (not shown) in the image forming section with the leading edge position of the sheet material S. The registration roller 23 starts rotating at a predetermined timing, and the sheet material S is guided to the image forming process.

Next, when the user selects manual feeding, the sheet material S separated and fed by the manual feeding roller 24 and the pad 25 passes through the sheet conveying path B, and the leading end of the sheet material S moves the lever 11. Press to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 3 from the broken line position.

When the light blocking state of the photo sensor 32 is switched to the light receiving state by the rotation of the sheet detecting lever 31, a control circuit (not shown) determines that the sheet material S has been carried into the sheet conveying path A or the sheet conveying path B. To detect. The control circuit guides the sheet material S to the image forming process in the same manner as when the sheet material S is carried in from the sheet conveyance path A.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the sheet material S
When the sheet passes through any one of the sheet conveyance paths A and B, the passage of the sheet material S can be detected by detecting the rotation of the sheet detection lever 31, so that the sheet conveyance paths A and B can be detected.
It is possible to reduce the size and cost of the apparatus as compared with the case where a detector for detecting the passage of the sheet material S is provided for each of them.

Further, since the rotation of the sheet detection lever 31 is detected in a non-contact manner by using the photo sensor 32, the rotation resistance caused by the load for detecting the rotation of the sheet detection lever 31 acts on the lever 31. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an unnecessary conveyance resistance from acting on the sheet material S pressing the lever 31.

Further, in the present embodiment, while having the sheet conveying paths A and B which are conveying paths from the two sheet feeding ports, the sheet material S in the sheet conveying paths A and B is detected from the passage detection position. The sheet conveyance distance Y to the registration roller 23 is
The distance is secured as a sufficient distance that can guarantee the synchronization operation of the registration roller 23.

In the sheet feeding apparatus as in the present embodiment, the sheet conveying paths A and B for the sheet material S are formed by using the sheet detection board and the photo sensor described in the second embodiment.
May be detected.

In each of the above embodiments, the case where the passage of the sheet material S is detected by detecting the rotation of the levers 11 and 31 or the detection plate 14 by the photo sensors 12 and 32 has been described. Alternatively, the rotation of the levers 11, 31 or the detection board 14 may be detected in a non-contact manner.

Further, the present invention can be applied to a sheet material on which an image is recorded and discharged from an image forming apparatus is selectively sorted and delivered to a plurality of trays, or a sheet material is stapled.

[0064]

As described above, according to the present invention,
No matter which one of the first and second sheet conveyance paths has passed,
Since the passage of the sheet material can be detected by detecting the rotation of the two rotating members, compared with the case where a detector for detecting the passage of the sheet material is provided in each of the first and second sheet conveyance paths. Thus, downsizing and cost reduction can be achieved.

If the rotation of the rotating member is detected by using a non-contact type detecting means, the rotation resistance caused by the load for detecting the rotation does not act on the rotating member. It is possible to prevent the unnecessary conveyance resistance from acting on the sheet member that rotationally drives the rotating member.

In the case where the first sheet transport path and the second sheet transport path have a part where they are joined to each other, the first and second sheet transport paths are upstream of the part where they are joined in the sheet transport direction. If the rotating member is provided on the side, the time from when the passage of the sheet material is detected (when the rotating member is driven by the sheet material) to when the conveying roller downstream therefrom and the guide means for switching the conveying direction are operated. A sufficient sheet conveyance distance can be secured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial configuration diagram of a sheet reversing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial configuration diagram of a sheet reversing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial configuration diagram of a sheet feeding device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial configuration diagram of a conventional sheet processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A, B Sheet conveyance path Circled A, B Image forming apparatus 11, 31 Detection lever 12, 32 Photo sensor 14 Detection board 15 Backup roller 16 Bypass 20 Cassette feed roller 23 Registration roller 24 Manual feed roller H Image forming apparatus A Discharge port L Discharge port of image forming apparatus B

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tsuyoshi Waratani 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Masayoshi Fukatsu 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon (72) Inventor Atsushi Ogata 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) 3F048 AA02 AA04 AA05 AB01 BA05 BB02 BB10 CA03 CC04 DA06 DC06 DC09 DC10 EB22 3F101 LA02 LA05 LA07 LB03

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A sheet conveying device having a first sheet conveying path and a second sheet conveying path, wherein the sheet conveying apparatus is driven to rotate in one direction by a sheet material passing through the first sheet conveying path. A rotating member that is rotated in the other direction by a sheet material passing through the second sheet conveying path; and detecting one of the first and second sheet conveying paths by detecting rotation of the rotating member. A sheet conveying device for detecting passage of a sheet material in a sheet. 2. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation of the rotating member is detected by a detecting unit that does not contact the rotating member. 3. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the detecting unit optically detects the rotation of the rotating member. 4. The first sheet conveying path and the second sheet conveying path have a portion where they merge with each other, and the sheet in the first and second sheet conveying paths is larger than the merging portion. The sheet conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating member is provided on an upstream side in a conveying direction. 5. The sheet according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sheet conveying paths are conveying paths for sheet materials discharged from different image forming apparatuses. Transport device. 6. A sheet material that has passed through the first sheet transport path and a sheet material that has passed through the second sheet transport path are selected for a plurality of sheet transport paths connected to the sheet transport paths. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a guide unit that guides the sheet to be guided. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sheet conveying paths are conveying paths for supplying a sheet material from different sheet material stacking units. Sheet conveying device. 8. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet material, and conveying the sheet material discharged from the image forming apparatus or supplying the sheet material to the image forming apparatus.
An image forming system, comprising: the sheet conveying device according to any one of (1) to (7).