JP2002361955A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus which can prevent such troubles that a long paper is caught by a part arranged at a position beyond a width of a supply path and interferes with the part. SOLUTION: A pair of longitudinal cutters 91 and 91 for cutting the long paper 17 along a supply direction F are set via the width W of the supply path 80 to both side parts of the supply path 80 for the long paper 17 present between a paper feed roller 26 and registration rollers 36, 37. When a side edge of the long paper 17 is supplied in the supply direction F to exceed the width W of the supply path 80, the side edge part of the long paper 17 is cut by the longitudinal paper 91, and an unnecessary part 17b of the cut long paper 17 is separated by a guide plate 92 and a discharge roller 93 to the outside of the supply path 80.

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 in which a long sheet longer than a regular sheet cut to a predetermined size is supplied to perform an image forming process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, fixed-size paper, small-size postcards, envelopes, and the like have been mainly used in image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers. Paper is increasingly being used.

Incidentally, a general image forming apparatus is designed such that the width of a paper supply path is determined according to the maximum width of the paper to be used. In other words, the width dimension of the supply path is wider than the maximum width of the paper so that trouble such as JAM (paper jam) does not occur even if the paper having the maximum width is supplied. For example, it is sufficient for the standard paper to be wider by about 30 to 40 mm (15 to 20 mm on one side with respect to the center of the width) in consideration of the compactness of the apparatus.

[0004]

However, the situation is different when long paper is used. This situation will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 illustrates a state in which the long paper is supplied obliquely to the supply path (hereinafter, may be referred to as “skew”). Reference numeral 110 denotes a typical transport roller provided on the supply path 120 and configured to transport the long paper 115, and has a cylindrical roller pad 111 and shaft portions 112, 112 at both ends thereof. This transport roller 110
Is a pair of bearings 11 provided on the shaft portions 112, 112.
It is rotatably attached to an apparatus main body (not shown) via the reference numerals 3 and 113. Reference numeral 114 denotes a gear for rotating the transport roller 110, which is fixed to one shaft 112 and connected to a drive mechanism (not shown). Although not shown, outside the supply path 120,
There is a supporting member for supporting the first member 0 and a member protruding toward the supply path 120. For example, if a cutter (not shown) that cuts the long paper 115 in the width direction across the supply path 120 is provided, the supply of the long paper 115 is performed near the downstream side of the cutter in the supply direction F of the long paper 115. There are often members that protrude toward the path 120.

Now, the width W of the supply path 120 is
11, the long paper 115 is supplied obliquely. Since the long paper 115 is long in the supply direction F, once the supply of the long paper 115 proceeds obliquely, the degree of exceeding the width W area of the supply path 120 increases toward the rear end. Go. Then, the side edge portion of the long sheet 115 that exceeds the area of the width W of the supply path 120 is bitten by the bearing 113 or the gear 114, a supporting member that supports the transport roller 110, or the supply path 1.
A trouble may occur due to interference with a member protruding toward 20.

As described above, in the case of long paper, even if the skew is small enough to cause no trouble with regular paper, the paper such as a bearing or a gear disposed at a position beyond the width of the supply path may be used. Troubles, such as biting, are likely to occur. In addition, since the paper caught in the bearings and gears is particularly difficult to remove, the paper often breaks when removing the paper. If the torn paper remains inside the apparatus, the paper is re-used. May cause trouble or damage when activated. To prevent such a problem, it is easily conceivable to set the width of the supply path to be wider. However, it is necessary to increase the size of the apparatus, and furthermore, for a member that projects toward the supply path. Is not a good idea as it gets worse.

In view of the above, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has a problem that a long paper may bite or interfere with a component disposed at a position beyond the width of a supply path. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing the above problem.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises an image forming apparatus for supplying a long sheet longer than a regular sheet and performing an image forming process. Cutters are provided on both sides of the supply path, and the cutter cuts along the supply path a side edge portion of the long sheet exceeding an area defined in the width direction of the supply path.

Further, if a side edge portion of the cut long sheet enters the supply path, a trouble may occur. Therefore, from the viewpoint of removing the side edge portion from the supply path, a guide plate is provided near the cutter. The guide plate is provided to guide the side edge portion of the cut long sheet to the outside of the supply path.

Further, a roller is provided on the guide plate so that the side edge portion can be reliably removed from the supply path, and this roller sends out the side edge portion of the cut long sheet to the outside of the supply path. Has become.

Further, if the side edge portion of the long sheet removed from the supply path remains inside the apparatus main body, a trouble may be caused. Therefore, the side edge portion should not be left inside the apparatus main body. A through-hole is provided from the end of the guide plate to the outside of the apparatus main body, and a side edge portion of the cut long sheet is discharged from the through-hole to the outside of the apparatus main body.

[0012] Further, in order to cut the side edge portion of the long sheet beyond the area defined in the width direction of the supply path at an early stage,
For example, a sending unit that sends out a long sheet toward the image forming unit where the image forming process is performed is provided in the supply path,
The cutter may be provided upstream of the delivery means with respect to the supply path.

If the side edge portion of the long sheet is always cut, the sheet after image formation is stabilized at a constant width, so that the width of the supplied long sheet is larger than the width of the area. Is also preferably wide.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are external perspective views of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment, and FIG. 4 shows a setting procedure of a long paper mode. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an arrangement of a vertical cutter for cutting a side edge portion of long paper,
FIG. 6 is a diagram of FIG. 5 viewed from the right.

This image forming apparatus is a copying machine. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of the image forming apparatus, which has a contact glass 2 on which an original to be copied is placed. 3
Is an automatic document feeder (ADF), whose rear end is rotatably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 1 via hinge mechanisms 4 and 4, and as shown in FIG.
It is designed to be able to stand still from a distance. The automatic document feeder 3 is provided with a feeder 90, 91 is a document placing table on which a copy document is placed, and 92 is a guide for regulating the copy document in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. An ADF contact glass 93 is provided on the side of the contact glass 2. Then, at the bottom of the automatic document feeder 3, A
A slit 94 is provided at a position corresponding to the DF contact glass 93, and the original is read by an exposure optical system (not shown) when the original passes through the slit 94. An original mat 95 is provided at a position corresponding to the contact glass 2 on the side of the slit 94. Reference numeral 5 denotes an operation panel for inputting copy information and the like.

A front cover 6 has a hinge mechanism 7 at the lower end,
7 and rotatably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 1 so that when opened to the near side, it is held substantially horizontally projecting forward. Reference numeral 8 denotes a toner cartridge, and 9 denotes a toner collection tank.

Below the front cover 6, two upper and lower paper cassettes 10 and 11 are provided. These are for automatically feeding fixed-size paper cut to a predetermined size, and are attached to the image forming apparatus main body 1 so as to be able to freely enter and exit in the front-rear direction. In addition, above the front cover 6,
A copy storage unit 13 for storing the copy discharged from the discharge unit 12 is provided.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a manual paper feed unit, and a manual tray 15
have. The manual feed tray 15 is rotatably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 1 via a support shaft (not shown) at the base end, and is in a state of protruding substantially horizontally toward the side as shown in FIG. , Which can stand almost vertically and in close contact with the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 1.

The long paper 17 is supplied to a paper feed port 25 via a manual feed tray 15. The long paper 17 may be cut into an appropriate length or may be rolled in the length direction. When the long paper 17 is attached, a sensor 23 (not shown) for detecting the attachment is provided, and this sensor 23 is connected to a control circuit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus main body 1.

The description will be continued with reference to FIG. A paper feed roller 26 is provided in a paper feed port 25 of the manual paper feed unit 14, and a lift plate 27 and a separating mechanism 28 are provided below the paper feed roller 26. The lift plate 27 is rotated by a drive mechanism (not shown) with the left end in the figure as a fulcrum, and comes into contact with and separates from the outer peripheral portion of the paper feed roller 26. The discarding mechanism 28 includes a friction pad 29, a solenoid 30, and a link 31 connecting these components.

The friction pad 29 is formed of a material having a high coefficient of friction. One end of the friction pad 29 is rotatably attached to the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus via a support shaft 32, and is in contact with the outer peripheral portion of the paper feed roller 26. It is designed to be separated. Note that the friction pad 29 is urged in a direction in contact with the paper feed roller 26 via a spring (not shown).

A support portion 33 is provided at the other end of the friction pad 29. One end of the link 31 is rotatably attached to the support portion 33 via a pin 34. The solenoid 30 is fixed to the image forming apparatus main body 1 with the movable iron core 30a facing upward.
The other end of the link 31 is rotatably mounted via the link 5. When the solenoid 30 is energized, the movable iron core 30a is retracted, and the link 31 causes the friction pad 29 to feed the feed roller 2
6. Rotate in the direction away from 6.

Above the friction pad 29, the long paper 17
Is provided. In the cutter 50, a moving body that supports a disk-shaped blade rotatably around a center point travels in the width direction of the long paper 17 and cuts the long paper 17 in the same direction. This cutter 50
The registration rollers 36 and 37 are provided above and are opposed to each other so as to sandwich the sheet transport path, and the rollers 36 are rotationally driven by a drive mechanism (not shown). A registration switch 38 for detecting the passage of the sheet is provided below these, and the control circuit drives the registration roller 36 according to a signal given from the registration switch 38.

Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, both sides of the supply path 80 for the long paper 17 between the paper feed roller 26 and the registration rollers 36 and 37 are provided with the long paper. A pair of vertical cutters 91, 91 for cutting 17 along the supply direction F are provided with a width W of the supply path 80 therebetween. The vertical cutter 91 includes a disk-shaped blade 91a and the blade 9a.
The center shaft 91b is rotatably supported by the image forming apparatus main body 1 via a bearing (not shown). Therefore, when the side edge of the long sheet 17 is supplied in the supply direction F beyond the width W of the supply path 80, that is, when the side edge portion of the long sheet 17 The blade 91a of 91 cuts the side edge portion of the long sheet 17 while rotating. Then, the long paper 17 is separated into an appropriate portion 17a supplied to the registration rollers 36 and 37 and an unnecessary portion 17b. The width of the supply path 80 is determined by the registration rollers 36, 3
7 is almost equal to the width.

In the vicinity of the vertical cutters 91, 91,
Guide plates 92 and 92 and discharge rollers 93 and 93 are provided to guide the unnecessary portion 17b of the long sheet 17 to the outside of the supply path 80. The guide plate 92 includes two opposing guide plates 92a and 92b. One end of the guide plate 92 is directed toward the supply path 80, and the other end is connected to an opening 94 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 1. The discharge roller 93 includes a cylindrical roller 93a having a part of the peripheral surface exposed in a gap between the two guide plates 92a and 92b, and a central shaft 9 of the roller 93a.
3b, the center shaft 91b is rotatably supported by the image forming apparatus main body 1 via a bearing (not shown),
It is connected to a drive mechanism (not shown). Therefore, the unnecessary portion 17b of the long sheet 17 is assisted by the rotation of the discharge roller 93 and passes through the gap between the two guide plates 92a and 92b.
The sheet is sent out of the image forming apparatus main body 1 through the opening 94.

As described above, the vertical cutters 91 and 91 are moved with respect to the registration rollers 3 with respect to the feeding direction F of the long paper 17.
6 and 37, the width of the supply path 80 exceeds the width W of the bearings and gears normally provided at both ends of the registration rollers 36 and 37 even if the long paper 17 is skewed. This is for cutting the side edge portion of the long sheet 17 before the side edge portion bites.

Although not shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a support member for supporting the registration rollers 36 and 37 and a member protruding toward the supply path 80 exist outside the supply path 80. ing. For example, the cutter 50 that cuts the long sheet 17 in the width direction across the supply path 80 is provided above and near the paper feed roller 26. There are members that protrude.

Returning to FIG. 3, the description will be continued. An image forming unit 39 is provided above the registration rollers 36 and 37. The image forming unit 39 includes a photosensitive drum 40 on the surface of which a toner image is formed, and a cleaning unit 41, a charger 42, a developing unit 43, a transfer roller 44, and the like disposed around the photosensitive drum 40 along the rotation direction. are doing.

A fixing unit 45 is provided above the image forming unit 39. The fixing unit 45 has a pair of rollers 46 and 47 which are arranged opposite to each other so as to sandwich the paper transport path. The fixing unit 45 sandwiches the paper between them and pressurizes and heats the paper to transfer the paper onto the paper. The toner image is melted and fixed on paper.

Above the fixing section 45, the discharge section 12 is provided. The discharge unit 12 has a pair of discharge rollers 48 and 49 that are arranged to face each other with the paper conveyance path therebetween.
The paper is sandwiched between 8, 49 and discharged into the copy storage unit 13.

In this embodiment, when the long paper 17 is attached, the attachment is performed by a sensor 23 (not shown).
Is detected, the mode is automatically shifted to the long paper mode suitable for the image forming process on the long paper.
The content of the long paper mode is, specifically, three elements such as not performing detection of JAM using the registration switch 38 or lengthening the detection time, not dividing the image memory, and not operating the separation mechanism 28. Consists of These will be described in detail below.

First, will be described. When the leading end of the sheet in the conveyance direction reaches the registration switch 38, the registration switch 38 is turned on.
8 turns OFF. The time from ON to OFF is determined by the size of the sheet, and when the time exceeds a predetermined time, the control circuit determines that double feeding has occurred and stops the operation. Such a process is possible because a gap is generated between the sheets when the fixed form paper is transported continuously.
Since the long paper is continuous, the registration switch 38 remains ON unless cut, and a malfunction occurs if the determination is made in the same length of time as in the case of regular paper. Therefore, in the long paper mode, whether such processing is performed or not
Or, the detection time is extended to prevent malfunction.

Next, will be described. When forming an image on a fixed-size sheet, the CPU of the control circuit temporarily develops the data read from the scanner into the bitmap memory. In this bitmap memory, original data is developed while securing an area for each page, but in the long paper mode, the CPU eliminates the division of the area for each page and sets the entire memory as one area. We are trying to secure.

Next, will be described. Judgment mechanism 2
Reference numeral 8 designates a friction pad 29 which presses the paper overlapping with the paper feed roller 26 to prevent the paper in contact with the friction pad 29 from being conveyed by the action of the friction pad 29 having a high friction coefficient. It separates two sheets of paper. In the case of long paper, double feed does not occur,
In the long paper mode, the friction pad 29
6 away from it.

It should be noted that even when the long paper 17 is attached, the user can operate the paper feed cassette 1 on the operation panel 5.
When 0 or 11 is selected, the paper is fed from the paper feed cassettes 10 and 11 without shifting to the long paper mode. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the long paper 17 is attached (step # 10), and the sensor 23
Is turned on (step # 20), the CPU reads whether or not the paper feed cassettes 10 and 11 are selected and input on the operation panel 5 (step # 30).

If the paper cassettes 10 and 11 have been selected, the CPU selects a cassette paper feeding procedure (step # 40) and starts copying (step # 70). If the paper feed cassettes 10 and 11 have not been selected in step # 30, the CPU selects a manual paper feed processing procedure (step # 50), and then shifts to the long paper mode described above (step # 30). 60), copying is started (step # 70). Then, when the copy is completed (step # 80), this flow ends.

Next, a case where copying is actually performed will be described. First, the long paper 17 is attached and the manual feed tray 1
5 into the paper feed port 25. When a long copy document is set on the document table 91 and the print button on the operation panel 5 is pressed, the copy document is sent in the lengthwise direction, and the exposure optics placed below the ADF contact glass 93 is exposed. The image of the original is read by the system. Further, the lift plate 27 rotates upward to press the long paper 17 against the paper feed roller 26, and the paper feed roller 26 rotates to draw the leading end of the long paper 17 into the image forming apparatus main body 1. At this time, the friction pad 29 is separated from the paper feed roller 26.

The leading end of the long sheet 17 rises in the transport path, passes through a registration switch 38, and passes through the registration roller 3
It stops between 6 and 37. In the image forming section 39, the surface of the photosensitive drum 40 is charged by the charger 42, the photosensitive drum 40 rotates, and the reflected light of the image of the copy document read by the exposure optical system is reflected by the photosensitive drum 40. The electrostatic latent image of this image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 40. Then, the developing unit 43 applies toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 40 to develop the electrostatic latent image.

When a predetermined time elapses after the long sheet 17 stops, the registration rollers 36 and 37 rotate to rotate the long sheet 17.
Rises again. When passing between the photosensitive drum 40 and the transfer roller 44, the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 40 is transferred onto the long sheet 17. Then, the long paper 17
Reaches the fixing unit 45, is pressed and heated between the rollers 46 and 47, and thereby the toner image is melted and fixed on the long paper 17. Then, the long paper 17 on which the image is formed reaches the discharge unit 12 and is discharged by the discharge rollers 48 and 49.
Is discharged to the copy storage unit 13.

The long sheet 17 is cut in the width direction by the cutter 50 at the time when the long sheet 17 is conveyed by a predetermined length. When a new copy document is set on the document table 91 and the print button is pressed, the above-described operation is repeated to perform the next copy.

On the other hand, although this does not particularly hinder the copying operation, the long sheet 17 is skewed and its side edge portion is in the supply path 80.
When the width W exceeds the width W, the side edge portion is cut by the vertical cutter 91, and the cut unnecessary portion 17b is discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body 1 from the opening 94 by the guide plate 92 and the discharge roller 93. Is done.

Since the vertical cutters 91 and 91 are provided on both sides of the supply path 80 for the long paper 17, one of the side edges of the long paper 17 is inclined by the width W of the supply path 80. Is not limited to the case where the long paper 17 having a width larger than the width W of the supply path 80 is supplied in advance.
Similar effects can be obtained. At this time, since the side edge portion of the long sheet 17 is always cut, the sheet after image formation is stabilized at a constant width, and the appearance of the contour is improved.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made to the above embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, a vertical cutter that cuts a side edge portion of a long sheet may be disposed anywhere on the supply path as long as the side edge portion of the long sheet exceeding the width of the supply path can be cut obliquely. A similar effect can be obtained even if the user inputs ON on the operation panel 5 instead of the automatic operation in which the sensor 23 detects attachment of the long sheet and is turned ON.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus in which a long sheet longer than a regular sheet is supplied and an image forming process is performed, cutters are provided on both sides of a supply path of the long sheet. Since the cutter cuts the side edge portion of the long sheet beyond the area defined in the width direction of the supply path along the supply path, the cutter is disposed at a position beyond the area. It is possible to prevent a problem that the long paper bites into or interferes with the parts.

A guide plate is provided near the cutter,
Since the guide plate guides the side edge portion of the cut long sheet to the outside of the supply path, the side edge portion can be excluded from the supply path. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the side edge portion from entering the supply path, and the occurrence of troubles is reduced.

Further, a roller is provided on the guide plate, and the roller sends out the side edge portion of the cut long sheet to the outside of the supply path. Can be eliminated.

Further, a through-hole is provided to penetrate from the end of the guide plate to the outside of the apparatus main body, and the side edge portion of the cut long sheet is discharged from the through-hole to the outside of the apparatus main body. In addition, the side edge portion can be prevented from remaining inside the apparatus main body, and there is no possibility of causing a trouble.

Further, a feeding means for feeding the long sheet toward the image forming section where the image forming process is performed is provided in the supply path, and the cutter is provided on the upstream side of the feeding means with respect to the supply path. Therefore, the side edge portion of the long sheet exceeding the area defined in the width direction of the supply path can be cut at an early stage, and it is possible to suppress wasteful use of the sheet and toner.

If the width of the supplied long sheet is wider than the width of the above-mentioned area, the side edge portion of the long sheet is always cut, so that the sheet after image formation is constant. The width is stable and the contour looks better.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the image forming apparatus of FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a setting procedure of a long paper mode.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a vertical cutter for cutting a side edge portion of long paper.

FIG. 6 is a view of FIG. 5 viewed from the right side.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a long sheet is supplied obliquely.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Image Forming Apparatus Main Body 14 Manual Feed Unit 15 Manual Feed Tray 17 Long Paper 26 Feed Roller 36, 37 Registration Roller 80 Supply Path 91 Vertical Cutter 92 Guide Plate 93 Discharge Roller 94 Opening F Feeding Direction W of Long Paper 17 Road 80 width

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) B65H 35/08 B65H 35/08 G03G 15/00 518 G03G 15/00 518 F term (Reference) 2C058 AB16 AE02 AF04 AF37 AF51 LA02 LA18 LA33 LA36 LA39 LA43 LB10 LB17 LB41 LC10 2H072 CA01 CB03 GA05 HA03 JA02 JA04 3C021 FA01 3F049 AA07 DA14 LA02 LA07 LB03 3F101 FA01 FB00 FC18 LA02 LA07 LB03

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus in which a long sheet longer than a standard sheet is supplied to perform an image forming process, a cutter is provided on both sides of a supply path of the long sheet. An image forming apparatus, wherein a side edge portion of the long sheet exceeding a region defined in a width direction is cut along the supply path. 2. A guide plate is provided near the cutter,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide plate guides a side edge portion of the cut long sheet to the outside of the supply path. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a roller is provided on the guide plate, and the roller feeds a side edge portion of the cut long sheet out of the supply path. . 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a through-hole penetrating from the end of said guide plate to the outside of the apparatus main body is provided, and a side edge portion of said cut long sheet is discharged from said through-hole to the outside of said apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: 5. A feeding means for feeding the long sheet to an image forming section where an image forming process is performed, the feeding path being provided, and the cutter being upstream of the feeding means with respect to the feeding path. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided on a side of the image forming apparatus. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a width of the long sheet to be supplied is wider than a width of the area.