JP2004299803A - Sheet carrier, and sheet processing device having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive sheet carrier for preventing sheet damage caused by degradation of skew on a downstream side carrying member in a sheet matching system of a side register standard. <P>SOLUTION: The sheet carrier comprises a guide member 1 to regulate an end on a sheet 5 side which is disposed in a sheet carrying passage, and an oblique member 2 to allow the carrying direction of the sheet 5 to oblique on the guide member 1 side, and further comprises a guide movement means 4 to move the guide member 1 from the first regulating position to the second regulating position. The embodiment also covers not only the sheet carrier, but also a sheet processing device having the same. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus used in a sheet conveying path in a sheet processing apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a finisher, etc., and more particularly, to a sheet conveying apparatus having a mode for regulating a side end of a sheet in the sheet conveying path, and The present invention relates to an improvement of a sheet processing apparatus using the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, as an example of a sheet processing apparatus such as an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an image signal is formed on a latent image carrier such as a photosensitive drum. Is developed by transferring an image (toner image) obtained by developing the image onto a sheet as a recording material directly or via an intermediate transfer member.
Such an image forming apparatus incorporates a sheet conveying apparatus for performing sheet alignment for correcting a positional shift due to a skew or the like of a sheet being conveyed.
As this type of sheet alignment method, there has been known an alignment method based on a so-called side registration standard, which mainly corrects a sheet conveyance posture based on a side edge (side) of a sheet being conveyed.
[0003]
In the alignment method based on the side registration standard, a skew roll as an aligner is arranged in the sheet conveyance path, a side guide is arranged on the side of the sheet conveyance path, and the sheet being conveyed by the skew roll is used as a side guide. By abutting, the side end of the sheet is aligned with the reference position by the side guide, and the conveying posture of the sheet is corrected.
In such an alignment method based on the side registration standard, the skew roll continues to apply a component force (skew correction force) in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction to the sheet even after the skew correction of the sheet is completed. At the stage where the sheet is nipped by the installed transport roll, a method is employed in which the nip of the skew roll is normally released to maintain good sheet transport performance by the transport roll.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-189355 (Embodiment of the invention, FIG. 8)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described sheet alignment method, when the sheet is nipped by the transport roll, the sheet is affected by the rotation (skew) of the sheet, which is generated by the transport roll, so that the rear end portion of the sheet particularly becomes the side guide. Strong hits may cause damage to the sheet (such as buckling).
[0006]
As prior art that solves such a technical problem, a side guide, a skew roll, a detection sensor that detects a side edge of a sheet, and a direction that is located downstream of the side guide and orthogonal to the conveyance direction are provided. A high-accuracy sheet alignment system that includes a movable transport roll and performs control to move the transport roll in a direction orthogonal to the sheet transport direction (side shift) based on the timing when the detection sensor detects the side of the sheet. Has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).
Here, the sheet is moved in a direction away from the side guides (side shift) while being conveyed by the conveyance rolls, thereby reducing the influence of the rotation (skew) of the sheet generated by the conveyance rolls to a considerable extent. The aim is to prevent damage (buckling, etc.) to the sheet caused by contact with the sheet.
[0007]
However, in such an aspect, since the transport roll in a state where the sheet is nipped is moved (side-shifted) in parallel to the nip line, distortion due to the sheet occurs, and the sheet having the distortion is generated. Is transported by the transport rolls as it is, there is a concern that the skew may be deteriorated. Further, in such an aspect, the mechanism for performing the side shift becomes complicated, which may lead to an increase in cost, and a possibility that the operation of the mechanism may be loosened by performing gear driving or the like. There is also a concern that high-precision sheet alignment may be impaired.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above technical problem, and a sheet transporting apparatus capable of preventing a sheet from being damaged while employing a sheet alignment method based on a side registration, and a sheet provided with the same. A processing device is provided.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the present invention provides a guide member 1 disposed in a sheet conveyance path for regulating an end on a side of a sheet 5 and a skew feeding direction of the sheet 5 skewed toward the guide member 1 side. And a guide moving means 4 for moving the guide member 1 from a first regulating position to a second regulating position. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3 denotes a conveying member for conveying the sheet 5.
[0010]
In such technical means, the guide member 1 is usually provided in parallel with the sheet conveying direction, and is moved by the guide moving means 4.
Further, the first regulating position and the second regulating position of the guide member 1 moved by the guide moving means 4 may be any positions regulating the side edges of the sheet 5, and the regulating positions are usually The position varies depending on the sheet size, the registration method (center registration, corner registration), and the like, but may be a fixed position.
Further, the movement to the first restriction position is usually performed after once moving to the reference position, but the reference position may be the same as the first restriction position. Here, the positioning to the reference position may be performed electrically using, for example, a motor as a drive source and a sensor.For example, a motor as a drive source and a torque limiter as overload prevention means may be used. It may be used and performed mechanically.
Note that the moving direction of the guide member 1 is generally a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, but if the side end of the sheet 5 is regulated to be parallel to the sheet conveying direction, for example, the guide member 1 obliquely moves in the sheet conveying direction. Direction (parallel movement).
[0011]
The skew member 2 in this embodiment may be in a mode in which the transport direction of the sheet 5 is fixedly determined, or in a mode in which the transport direction changes following the movement of the sheet 5.
Further, the guide moving means 4 only needs to move the guide member 1, but may move the skew member 2 together with the guide member 1.
[0012]
Furthermore, when this aspect is considered as a control system, the guide member 1 is moved from the first regulation position to the second regulation position when the conveyed sheet 5 reaches the guide member 1. It is only necessary to understand that the apparatus has the guide control means 6 for controlling the guide moving means 4.
As a specific example of the guide control means 6, a sensor 7 is provided, which controls the guide moving means 4 to perform predetermined processing based on information from the sensor 7, and furthermore, the conveyed sheet 5 is After passing through, the guide moving means 4 is controlled to return the guide member 1 from the second restriction position to the reference position.
That is, as the guide control means 6, based on the passage timing of the sheet 5 detected by the sensor 7, the movement start timing of the guide member 1 from the first restriction position to the second restriction position and the movement start timing from the second restriction position Any device may be used as long as it determines the timing of starting the movement to the reference position and controls the guide moving means 4 so that the guide member 1 performs the movement operation.
[0013]
The guide moving means 4 also moves the skew member 2 along with the movement of the guide member 1, and the guide control means 6 controls the guide moving means 4 so that the guide member 1 It is preferable to control so that the member 2 and the member 2 are linked.
Further, the guide control means 6 controls the guide moving means 4 so that only the guide member 1 of the guide member 1 and the skew member 2 is moved, and also releases the nip of the skew member 2. Can also be controlled.
[0014]
Here, the sensor 7 is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 1, and may be in the area of the guide member 1, a portion that does not hinder sheet conveyance, or an upstream side of the guide member 1.
The number of the sensors 7 is not limited to one, but may be plural. Further, the same sensor 7 may be used as the sensor 7 for detecting the leading end and the trailing end of the sheet 5, or another sensor may be used. May be performed.
Note that the detection method of the sensor 7 is not limited to optical means, and other electromagnetic means, for example, detection of a change in capacitance or the like may be used.
[0015]
Further, the present invention is not limited to the sheet conveying device, but also applies to a sheet processing device incorporating the same. In this case, according to the present invention, a sheet processing apparatus having a sheet processing unit in the sheet transport path may include the above-described sheet transport apparatus in the sheet transport path.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
◎ Embodiment 1
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating Embodiment 1 of the sheet processing apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.
In FIG. 1, the sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is an image forming apparatus employing a so-called tandem type intermediate transfer system, and includes an image forming unit 21 in which an image forming module 30 is housed, and an image forming unit 21. A sheet supply unit 22 that supplies recording sheets (not shown) such as paper to the image forming unit 21 in a parallel arrangement, and a sheet that is arranged in parallel with the image forming unit 21 and in which an image is formed by the image forming unit 21. And a post-processing unit 23 for performing post-processing.
[0017]
In the present embodiment, the image forming unit 21 forms an image on which each color component toner image (for example, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K)) is formed by, for example, an electrophotographic method. The image forming module 30 includes a plurality of photosensitive drums 31 (specifically, 31Y, 31M, 31C, and 31K) that form and carry toner images of respective color components. The respective color component toner images formed at 31 are sequentially primary-transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 40, and the respective color component toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 40 are secondarily transferred onto the recording sheet supplied from the sheet supply unit 22 by the secondary transfer roll 50. The image is transferred and guided to the fixing device 60.
[0018]
In the present embodiment, a charger (not shown) for charging the photosensitive drum 31 around each photosensitive drum 31, a laser exposure unit 33 for writing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 31, and each color component A developing unit 34 that contains toner and visualizes the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 31; a primary transfer roll 35 that transfers each color component toner image on the photosensitive drum 31 to the intermediate transfer belt 40; Electrophotographic devices such as a cleaner 36 for removing residual toner and the like on the drum 31 are sequentially arranged.
The intermediate transfer belt 40 is circulated and transported by being stretched by a plurality (five in this example) of stretching rolls 41 to 45. For example, the stretching roll 41 is used as a driving roll, and other stretching rolls are used. The suspension rolls 42 to 45 are driven rollers, and any of the suspension rolls 42 to 45, for example, the suspension roll 43 is made to function as a tension roll for applying tension to the intermediate transfer belt 40. Things.
In the present embodiment, a portion of the intermediate transfer belt 40 facing the tension roll 44 is set as a secondary transfer portion, and a secondary transfer roll is provided on the surface side of the secondary transfer portion of the intermediate transfer belt 40. The transfer bias 50 is applied between the secondary transfer roll 50 and the tension roll 44 (functioning as a backup roll) facing the secondary transfer roll 50.
[0019]
Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the sheet supply unit 22 has multiple (three in this example) sheet supply trays 71 to 73, and the sheet supply trays 71 and 72 While sheets made of different plain papers are accommodated, the lowermost large-capacity sheet supply tray 73 accommodates special sheets including sheets having high bending rigidity such as coated paper and cardboard.
In the present embodiment, the sheet supply trays 71 and 72 have feed rolls 74 and 75 on the opposite side of the image forming unit 21, and the sheet supply tray 73 has feed rolls 76 on the image forming unit 21 side. ing.
The sheet transport path from the sheet supply trays 71 and 72 is configured as a bypass transport path 77.
On the other hand, the sheet transport path from the sheet supply tray 73 is configured as a direct transport path 78, and the direct transport path 78 and the bypass transport path 77 are connected to a merge transport path 79, and the recording sheet is fed to the outlet 80. To the image forming unit 21 side.
[0020]
A plurality of paired transport rolls 81 are provided at predetermined intervals on the bypass transport path 77, the direct transport path 78, and the merge transport path 79 of the sheet supply unit 22.
Further, in a portion of the unit case 220 of the sheet supply unit 22 opposite to the image forming unit 21, a cover 100 that opens and closes facing the bypass conveyance path 77 is provided.
The cover 100 is rotatable, for example, using the back side of the unit case 220 as a rotation fulcrum, and rotatably holds a driven roll 81b of the paired transport rolls 81 (81a, 81b). At the time of opening, the drive roll 81a and the driven roll 81b of the transport roll 81 are separately arranged.
In the present embodiment, a connection conveyance path 101 extending in the horizontal direction toward the opposite side of the image forming unit 21 is formed in a horizontal conveyance path portion of the bypass conveyance path 77 of the sheet supply unit 22. For example, in a mode in which another sheet supply unit (not shown) is disposed adjacent to the sheet supply unit 22, the connection conveyance path 101 receives a recording sheet supplied from another sheet supply unit and returns to the bypass conveyance path 77. , Or as a recording sheet insertion section by manual feeding of the sheet supply unit 22.
[0021]
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an image reading unit 24 and a user operation unit 25 are disposed above the sheet supply unit 22.
The image reading unit 24 is for optically reading an image of a document placed on a document table, and includes, for example, a light source, a reflecting mirror, an imaging lens, a CCD sensor, and the like.
[0022]
Further, in the present embodiment, the post-processing unit 23 has an entrance opening 231 at a position of the unit case 230 corresponding to the recording sheet outlet 211 opened in the unit case 210 of the image forming unit 21, and An outlet opening 232 is opened at the position of the unit case 230 on the opposite side of the forming unit 21.
Note that a sheet discharge tray 233 is attached to the unit case 230 corresponding to the outlet opening 232.
Further, an inclined conveying path 234 is provided between the inlet opening 231 and the outlet opening 232 in an oblique direction. The inclined conveying path 234 is branched into two on the way, and each of the branched conveying paths has an up-curl. Curling devices 235 and 236 for straightening and down-curling are provided.
The inclined transport path 234 is provided with an appropriate number (three in this example) of paired transport rollers 237.
[0023]
The sheet transport path in the image forming unit 21 guides the sheet supplied from the sheet supply unit 22 to the secondary transfer portion, and then passes the sheet through the transport belt 84 and the fixing device 60 and discharges the sheet to the post-processing unit 23 side. In addition to the path, a path is provided for reversing the sheet sent from the fixing device 60 and returning the sheet to the secondary transfer portion again.
[0024]
Further, as a sheet returning mechanism used in the present embodiment, the recording sheet sent from the fixing device 60 is transported by an appropriate number of transport rolls 86 along a loop-shaped return path 85. A reversing unit (in the present example, using the lower space in the post-processing unit 23) 87 is provided in the middle of the path 85, and the sheet is reversed through the reversing unit 87.
A part of the return path 85 uses the space in the sheet supply unit 22 and is connected to the merging conveyance path 79.
[0025]
Here, the sheet aligning device 82 before reaching the secondary transfer portion, which is a feature of the present invention, extends in the sheet transport direction in the transport path of the sheet 14 and regulates the sheet side end, as shown in FIG. A side guide 11 and a plurality (three in this example) of paired cross trawls (skew rolls) 12 that skew the sheet conveyance direction toward the side guide 11 are provided.
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 81 denotes a pair (two pairs in this example) of transport rollers disposed upstream of the sheet aligning device 82, and reference numeral 83 denotes downstream of the sheet aligning device 82. This is a paired resist roll. Reference numeral 300 denotes a swing roll in which two rolls having different diameters are mounted on the same shaft, and the sheet 14 turns the sheet 14 toward the center of the conveyance path (the direction opposite to the side guide 11 arranged in the sheet conveyance path). Reference numeral 301 denotes a width detection sensor that detects the width of the conveyed sheet 14.
[0026]
In the present embodiment, the side guide 11 is moved by the guide moving mechanism 15 along the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, and receives the sheet 14 as the first regulating position and the sheet as the second regulating position. It is configured to be freely movable between a transport position 14 and an initialization position as a reference position that temporarily stops before reaching the receiving position.
[0027]
Next, details of the guide moving mechanism 15 will be described with reference to FIG.
In the figure, a guide moving mechanism 15 fixes a side guide 11 that regulates a side end of a sheet 14 conveyed to a guide table 302, and a tip of a shaft 304 mounted on a drive motor 303 disposed on the guide table 302. A pinion gear 305 is provided on the shaft 306 of the cross trol 12, and the gear 307 is meshed with the pinion gear 305.
Further, the guide moving mechanism 15 is provided with a step motor 308 (two in this example) as a drive source for moving the guide table 302, and a shaft of the step motor 308 has a pinion (not shown). And a rack (not shown) fixed to the guide table 302. Further, the guide table 302 is biased in the opposite direction to the sheet conveying path, and a spring 309 for eliminating backlash between the rack and the pinion is provided.
In FIG. 4, only two sets of the cross trols 12 are shown, and one set is omitted. In the same figure, reference numeral 17 denotes a path sensor for detecting the conveyed sheet 14, and reference numeral 310 denotes a position sensor for determining an initialization position α of the guide table 302. In the figure, β indicates a receiving position, and γ indicates a transport position.
[0028]
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the cross trol 12 and the registration roll 83 release the nip at a predetermined timing via the nip release mechanisms 18 and 19, respectively.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a main part of the nip release mechanism 18. The engaging piece a 312 and the engaging piece b 314 mounted on the shaft 311 of the cross trol 12 are rotatably supported by the rotating shaft 313. ing. The tip of the engagement piece b314 urged toward the bearing 315 by a spring (not shown) is in pressure contact with the bearing 315. A motor shaft 317 is fixed to a part of the core cam 316.
[0029]
Further, in the present embodiment, a control device 16 including, for example, a microcomputer system is provided. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the control device 16. In this figure, a path sensor 17 and a position sensor 310 are connected to a CPU 322 of the control device 16 via an input interface 321. The CPU 322 is connected to a RAM 323 and a ROM 324 as storage devices. The CPU 322 is connected to the guide moving mechanism 15 and the nip release mechanisms 18 and 19 via an output interface 325. As described above, the control device 16 captures various input signals including the path sensor 17 and the position sensor 310 through the input interface 321 and executes a predetermined program (such as a sheet alignment program), and A predetermined control signal is transmitted to the nip release mechanisms 18 and 19 via the output interface 325.
[0030]
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus (mainly the sheet conveying apparatus) according to the present embodiment will be described.
Now, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, assuming that a sheet is sent out from one of the sheet supply trays 71 or 72 of the sheet supply unit 22, the sheet is sent through the bypass conveyance path 77 and the merged conveyance path 79 and is sent out. The sheet is sent from the image forming unit 80 to the image forming unit 21 side, and is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion via the conveying roll 81, the swing roll 300, the cross roll 12, and the registration roll 83.
In this state, the color toner image formed by the image forming module 30 is transferred to the sheet, and the transferred sheet passes through the fixing device 60 and is conveyed to the post-processing unit 23 side.
Then, on the post-processing unit 23 side, the sheet is conveyed through the inclined conveyance path 234. In this process, for example, after any one of the curling devices 235 and 236 under the condition where the sheet is curled. Processing (curl correction) is performed, and the sheet is discharged to the sheet discharge tray 233.
[0031]
In such an operation process, attention is paid to the sheet alignment method before reaching the secondary transfer portion, which is a feature point of the present invention, and its operation will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, the width of the conveyed sheet 14 is detected by the width detection sensor 301, and after passing through the conveyance roll 81, the leading edge of the conveyed sheet 14 enters the side guide 11. In order to ensure that it does not come into contact with the side guide 11 at times, the sheet is once conveyed obliquely toward the center of the conveyance path by the swing roll 300.
Then, the sheet guide edge reaches the sheet aligning device 82, and the sheet side end is regulated by the side guide 11 displaced from the initialization position α to the receiving position β.
As shown in FIG. 4, the control device 16 confirms that the sheet 14 has been set at the receiving position β by a signal from the position sensor 17, and performs predetermined control on the guide moving mechanism 15. Accordingly, the guide moving mechanism 15 moves the side guide 11 from the receiving position β to the conveying position γ, and the sheet 14 is conveyed toward the registration roll 83.
In the present embodiment, the cross trol 12 is configured to move simultaneously with the side guide 11. Further, although the initialization position α and the receiving position β are different positions, they may be the same position.
[0032]
Here, FIGS. 7 to 10 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the sheet alignment method in the present embodiment.
FIG. 7 shows a procedure for setting the guide table 302 on which the side guide 11 and the cross trawl 12 are disposed so that the side guide 11 is at the initialization position α.
When the power is turned on, the control device 16 checks the output signal of the position sensor 310, and if there is an output signal, turns on the step motor 308 and moves the guide table 302 for a predetermined time in the direction opposite to the sheet conveying path. . If there is no output signal from the position sensor 310, the process proceeds to step S4 (steps S1 to S3).
The guide table 302 once moved in the direction opposite to the sheet conveyance path moves toward the once-turned sheet conveyance path and continues the operation of the step motor 308 until the output of the position sensor 310 can be confirmed (step S4 to S6).
In other words, the movement of the guide table 302 to the initialization position α is performed by temporarily moving the guide table 302 in a direction opposite to the sheet conveying path and then returning to the initialization position α due to backlash of the drive system and error correction of the position sensor 310. Is working. As a result, the side guide 11 is once set to the initialization position α.
[0033]
8 to 10 show a procedure relating to the sheet alignment method in the present embodiment.
When printing is started, the control device 16 determines the number of drive pulses of the two step motors 308 based on information such as the sheet size and the sheet width in order to move the side guide 11 to the receiving position β (step S1). S11).
The step motor 308 moves toward the center of the sheet conveying path by the determined number of drive pulses, and the side guide 11 reaches the receiving position β (steps S12 and S13).
Then, the conveyance of the sheet 14 is started, the stepping motor 308 is turned off, and whether or not the sheet 14 has arrived at the side guide 11 is confirmed by the leading edge detection signal of the sheet 14 by the path sensor 17. The roll nip before and after the side guide 11 is released (steps S14 to S17).
[0034]
Therefore, the control device 16 determines the number of drive pulses of the step motor 308 for moving the side guide 11 from the receiving position β to the transport position γ (side shift) based on information such as a sheet size and a sheet width. (Step S18).
Next, the step motor 308 is turned on, the side shift is performed to a predetermined position, and the step motor 308 is turned off (steps S19 to S21).
After the path sensor 17 detects the passage of the rear end of the sheet 14, it performs nip processing of the rolls before and after the side guide 11 and prepares for the next conveyed sheet 14 based on information such as the sheet size and the sheet width. The number of drive pulses of the step motor 308 for moving to the receiving position β is determined (steps S22 to S24).
[0035]
The determined number of pulses determines the moving direction of the side guide 11 based on the current pulse information, and drives the stepping motor 308. At this time, since the movement of the side guide 11 to the receiving position β temporarily passes through the initialization position α, the number of backlash elimination pulses is calculated, and the step motor 308 is operated (steps S25 to S27).
The side guide 11 that has once reached the initialization position α moves to the receiving position β, and the second sheet 14 starts (steps S28 to S30).
[0036]
The nip release mechanism in the present embodiment is the same as the nip release mechanism 18 (see FIG. 5) of the cross trol 12, and is fixed to the shaft 317 by rotating the shaft 317 of the motor. The eccentric cam 316 rotates, and the engaging piece b 314 pressed against the bearing 315 is displaced to the left in the drawing. The displacement of the engagement piece b314 pushes the engagement piece a312 upward in the drawing, whereby the nip of the cross trol 12 is released.
[0037]
As described above, the conveyed sheet 14 once enters the side guide 11 at the receiving position β, and after being restricted at the sheet 14 side end, moves to the conveying position γ to the registration roll 83 as it is (side shift). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the sheet from being damaged by the conventional method.
[0038]
◎ Embodiment 2
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main part of the sheet conveying apparatus according to the second embodiment.
In the figure, the basic configuration of the sheet conveying apparatus is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, but the configuration of the guide moving mechanism 15 for determining the initialization position α of the side guide 11 is different from that of the first embodiment. Has become. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0039]
In FIG. 11, the guide moving mechanism 15 includes a step motor 308 provided with a torque limiter 330 and a locking member 331 (two used in this example) for locking the guide table 302. Note that the position sensor 310 provided in the first embodiment is not provided.
Particularly, in the present embodiment, the position of the initialization position α of the side guide 11 is related to the movement of the torque limiter 330 connected to the step motor 308 and the movement of the guide table 302 from the initialization position α in the direction opposite to the sheet conveying path. This is performed by a locking member 331 that stops.
[0040]
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a procedure for setting the side guide 11 to the initialization position α in the present embodiment.
When the power is turned on, the step motor 308 is driven, and the side guide 11 moves in a direction opposite to the sheet conveying path. Then, after the specified time has elapsed, the side guide 11 stops at the initialization position α (steps S41 and S42).
In the present embodiment, the side shift procedure of the side guide 11 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described. Also in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, backlash of the drive system is removed.
In the present embodiment, the initialization position α may be the same as the receiving position β, and the method of moving the side guide 11 to the receiving position β and the transport position γ is the same as in the first embodiment. Have done the same.
[0041]
◎ Embodiment 3
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main part of the sheet conveying apparatus according to the third embodiment.
In the figure, the basic configuration of the sheet conveying device is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, but a guide moving mechanism 15 that moves only the side guide 11 without interlocking the side guide 11 and the cross troller 12 is implemented. This is different from the first embodiment.
Further, a control device (not shown) controls a nip release mechanism (not shown) that releases the nip of the cross trol 12.
The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0042]
In FIG. 13, a guide moving mechanism 15 is provided with a cross trol 12 fixed to a fixing member (not shown) so that only the side guide 11 is moved.
In the present embodiment, the procedure for setting the side guide 11 to the initialization position α is the same as in the first embodiment.
[0043]
FIG. 14 to FIG. 16 are flowcharts showing a procedure according to the sheet alignment method in the present embodiment.
When printing is started, the control device 16 determines the number of drive pulses of the two step motors 308 based on information such as the sheet size and the sheet width in order to move the side guide 11 to the receiving position β (step S1). S51).
The step motor 308 moves toward the center of the sheet conveying path by the determined number of drive pulses, and the side guide 11 reaches the receiving position β (steps S52 and S53).
Then, conveyance of the sheet 14 is started, the drive motor 303 is turned on, the step motor 308 is turned off, and it is confirmed whether or not the sheet 14 has arrived at the side guide 11 by the leading edge detection signal of the sheet 14 with the path sensor 17. After the lapse of the prescribed time, the nip between the rolls before and after the cross trol 12 and the side guide 11 is released (steps S54 to S59).
[0044]
Therefore, the control device 16 determines the number of drive pulses of the step motor 308 for moving the side guide 11 from the receiving position β to the transport position γ (side shift) based on information such as a sheet size and a sheet width. (Step S60).
Next, the step motor 308 is turned on, the side shift is performed to a predetermined position, and the step motor 308 is turned off (steps S61 to S63).
Next, nip processing of the rolls before and after the side guide 11 is performed, the drive motor 303 is turned on, and after the path sensor 17 detects the passage of the rear end of the sheet 14, the sheet size, The number of drive pulses of the step motor 308 for moving to the next receiving position β is determined based on information such as the sheet width (steps S64 to S67).
[0045]
The determined number of pulses determines the moving direction of the side guide 11 based on the current pulse information, and drives the stepping motor 308. At this time, since the movement of the side guide 11 to the receiving position β temporarily passes through the initialization position α, the number of backlash elimination pulses is calculated, and the step motor 308 is operated (steps S68 to S70).
The side guide 11 that has once reached the initialization position α moves to the receiving position β, and the second sheet 14 starts (steps S71 to S73).
In the present embodiment, when the side guide 11 moves to the transport position after receiving the sheet 14 at the receiving position β, it is necessary to release the nip of the cross troller 12, and the procedure described above is adopted. I have.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in the sheet registration method based on the side registration, after the sheet is once regulated by the guide member, the sheet is moved in the direction crossing the sheet conveyance direction as it is, and the sheet is moved downstream from the guide member. Since the sheet is guided to a certain conveying member, it is possible to prevent the distortion due to the sheet from being generated and to prevent the skew of the conveying member from deteriorating.
Further, according to the present invention, since the movement of the guide member can be realized with a simple structure, an inexpensive sheet processing apparatus having high-accuracy registration performance can be easily provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a sheet conveying apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating Embodiment 1 of an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main part of the sheet conveying apparatus according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating Embodiment 1 as a moving unit of the sheet conveying device.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main part of a nip release mechanism according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a setting operation to an initialization position in the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the sheet alignment method according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the sheet alignment method according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the sheet alignment method according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing Embodiment 2 as a moving unit of the sheet conveying device.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a setting operation to an initialization position in the second embodiment.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing Embodiment 3 as a moving unit of the sheet conveying device.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a sheet alignment method according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a sheet alignment method according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a sheet alignment method according to the third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Guide member, 2 ... Skew member, 3 ... Conveying member, 4 ... Guide moving means, 5 ... Sheet, 6 ... Guide control means, 7 ... Sensor

Claims (11)

In a sheet conveying device having a guide member that regulates a sheet side end disposed in a sheet conveying path and a skew member that skews a sheet conveying direction toward the guide member side,
A sheet conveying device comprising a guide moving means for moving the guide member from a first regulating position to a second regulating position. The sheet conveying device according to claim 1,
After the sheet conveyed in the sheet conveying path reaches the guide member, the guide member has a guide control means for controlling the guide moving means so as to move the guide member from the first regulation position to the second regulation position. A sheet conveying device characterized by the above-mentioned. The sheet conveying device according to claim 1,
The sheet conveying device, wherein the guide moving unit moves the skew member in accordance with the movement of the guide member. The sheet conveying device according to claim 1,
The sheet conveying device, wherein the guide moving means moves only the guide member. The sheet conveying device according to claim 1,
The sheet conveying device, wherein the guide moving means moves the guide member in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction. The sheet conveying device according to claim 2,
The guide moving means also moves the skew member in accordance with the movement of the guide member, and the guide control means controls the guide moving means so as to interlock the guide member and the skew member. A sheet conveying device, characterized in that: The sheet conveying device according to claim 2,
A sheet conveying device, wherein the guide moving means moves only the guide member, and the guide control means controls the guide moving means and controls so as to release the nip of the skewing member. The sheet conveying device according to claim 1,
The sheet conveyance device, wherein the guide control means controls the guide member to move once to a reference position and then to a first restriction position. The sheet conveying device according to claim 1,
The sheet conveying device includes a sensor for recognizing a position of a sheet to be conveyed, determines a movement start timing of the guide member based on a sensor output, and controls the guide moving unit. The sheet conveying device according to claim 5,
The sheet conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the guide moving unit transmits a driving force from a driving source provided with the overload preventing unit to a guide member via a driving position mechanism. In a sheet processing apparatus that processes sheets in a sheet processing unit,
A sheet processing apparatus comprising the sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1 arranged in a sheet conveying path.

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