JP2005173498A - Sheet object conveyance system and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the capability of sorting sheet objects while suppressing a skew. <P>SOLUTION: A sorting section 30 for sorting and conveying cut recording paper is disposed between an exposure unit for exposing and recording an image to the cut recording paper and a processor for performing development processing. The sorting section 30 is equipped with conveyance roller pairs 113 to 116 respectively independently controlled in such a manner that the cut recording paper can be held between or released and a moving mechanism for moving the conveyance roller pairs 113 to 116 to the sorting direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction. The sorting section 30 sorts the first cut recording paper P1 to a first conveyance path 90 by switching only the conveyance roller pairs 113 and 114 on the left side in the figure. At this time, the conveyance roller pairs 115 and 116 on the right side are ready to accept the second cut recording paper P2 and is switched from the release state to the holding state. The second cut recording paper P2 is sorted to a second conveyance path 92 only by the conveyance roller pairs 115 and 116 existing in the holding state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a conveying device that distributes and conveys sheet bodies supplied at regular intervals into a plurality of rows, an image recording unit that records an image on a sheet-like recording material, and a recording material that is divided into a plurality of rows after image recording The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a sorting and conveying unit that conveys the recording material and a processor unit that performs development processing on the recording materials distributed in a plurality of rows.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-329885

  An image on photosensitive recording paper with digital image data obtained by photoelectrically reading an image recorded on a photographic film, or intensity-modulated recording light based on image data recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card. A printer processor that generates a printed photograph by exposing and developing and drying is widely used. This printer processor has an advantage that image quality can be improved by performing image processing such as color balance correction and sharpness correction.

  In order to efficiently form a large number of printed photographs, Patent Document 1 describes a sorting device that sorts cut recording paper after exposure recording into two rows and conveys them to a processor device. This sorting apparatus includes two pairs of conveyance rollers arranged in the conveyance direction of cut recording paper, and a shift mechanism that shifts the conveyance roller pair in the width direction of the cut recording paper. When the pair of conveying rollers sandwiching the sheet shifts in the width direction, the cut recording sheets are sorted.

  In the sorting apparatus described in Patent Document 1, after the sorting operation, the transport roller pair is shifted in the width direction and returned to the initial position, and then the next cut recording sheet is sorted. For this reason, even if the transport speed is increased for the purpose of increasing the processing capacity or the interval between the cut recording sheets is narrowed, the cut recording sheet cannot be transported until the pair of transport rollers returns to the initial position. This raises the problem that it is difficult to increase the value.

  Such a problem can be solved by lengthening the conveying roller pair so that the cut recording paper can be held even immediately after the sorting operation is performed, but in this case, one end side or the other end of the conveying roller pair that is long in the width direction. The cut recording paper is pinched on the side. That is, a portion where the cut recording paper is sandwiched and a portion where the cut recording paper is not sandwiched can be formed, and the difference in the nip pressure of the conveying roller pair varies across the width direction. As a result, a so-called skew is easily generated in which the cut recording paper is conveyed obliquely.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a sheet body conveying apparatus capable of improving the sheet body sorting ability while suppressing skew, and the cut recording paper after image recording is sorted into a plurality of rows and conveyed. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of increasing the processing capability.

  In order to achieve the above object, a transport apparatus according to the present invention is supplied at regular intervals with transport means comprising three or more pairs of transport rollers arranged along a distribution direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction. A switching unit that switches each conveyance roller pair between a nipping state in which the sheet body is nipped and a release state in which nipping of the sheet body is released, and a moving mechanism that moves the conveying unit in the sorting direction are provided. While the sheet body is nipped and conveyed only by a certain conveying roller pair, the sheet body is moved and carried out in the sorting direction, and the next sheet body is nipped and sorted without moving in the sorting direction.

  It is preferable that the conveying roller pair in the sandwiched state is in a symmetrical position with respect to the center of the sheet member. Moreover, it is preferable that the driving roller and the nip roller constituting the conveying roller pair are metal rollers.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a printer that records an image on a recording material conveyed at regular intervals, a processor that performs a development process on the recording material on which image recording has been performed, and a printer and the processor. And a transporting device that transports the recording material in a plurality of rows while moving the recording material in the transporting direction and moving the recording material in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transporting direction. A conveying means comprising three or more pairs of conveying rollers arranged along the line, a switching means for switching each conveying roller pair between a nipping state in which the recording material is nipped and a released state in which the recording material is released, and a conveying means. It is equipped with a moving mechanism that moves in the distribution direction, and moves and moves the recording material in the distribution direction while nipping and conveying the recording material only with the pair of conveyance rollers in the nipping state, and the next recording without moving in the distribution direction. Material And performing distribution to sandwich the.

  It is preferable that the conveying roller pair in the sandwiched state is in a symmetrical position with respect to the center of the recording material. Moreover, it is preferable that the driving roller and the nip roller constituting the conveying roller pair are metal rollers. Further, it is preferable that the conveying device is a sorting / conveying unit that is replaceable with the image forming apparatus and has a processing capability corresponding to the output amount of the recording material per unit time.

  According to the present invention, the conveying means composed of three or more pairs of conveying rollers arranged along the distribution direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction, and the nipping state and the sheet body for nipping the sheet members supplied at regular intervals. Switching means for switching each conveying roller pair between the released state for releasing the holding of the sheet and a moving mechanism for moving the conveying means in the sorting direction, and the sheet body is held only by the conveying roller pair in the holding state. While transporting and moving in the sorting direction, the next sheet body is held and moved without moving in the sorting direction, so the sheet body can be distributed while suppressing skew. It becomes possible to improve.

  Further, since the conveying roller pair in the sandwiched state is disposed at a symmetrical position with respect to the center of the sheet member, the sheet member is sandwiched by the pair of conveying rollers evenly with respect to the center of the sheet member. As a result, it is possible to suppress a skew that may occur due to uneven clamping of the sheet body. Further, since the driving roller and the nip roller constituting the conveying roller pair are metal rollers having high wear resistance, the wear amount of the conveying roller pair is reduced. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the nip pressure from fluctuating greatly due to the difference in the usage frequency of the plurality of conveying roller pairs.

  Since the conveying device is a sorting and conveying unit that can be replaced with an image forming apparatus and has a processing capacity corresponding to the output amount of the recording material per unit time, the processing capacity differs only by changing a part of the apparatus. The model can be configured.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of an image forming apparatus embodying the present invention. The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image input device 12, an image processing device 13, a printer 15, and a processor 16. Each unit constituting the image forming apparatus 10 is connected to the control unit 17 via a wiring (not shown), and the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 10 is controlled by the control unit 17.

  The image input device 12 generates image data by photoelectrically reading the projection light of an image recorded on a photographic film using an image sensor such as a CCD image sensor, or recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card. Image data is acquired by reading the image data. This image data is sent to the image processing device 13 and performs predetermined image processing such as color balance correction and density correction. The image data that has been subjected to image processing is sent to a printer and used for exposure recording described later.

  The printer 15 records a latent image with recording light that has been intensity-modulated based on image data while transporting cut recording paper cut to a predetermined length. From the upstream side in the transport direction, the printer 15 A back printing unit 22, a registration unit 24, an exposure unit 26, a sub-scanning receiving unit 28, a sorting unit 30 and a carry-out unit 32 are provided. Each part is provided with a plurality of pairs of conveying rollers including a driving roller and a nip roller along the conveying path of the cut recording paper. The distribution unit 30 is unitized and can be replaced without changing the conveyance speed in the printer 15.

  In the supply unit 20, magazines 20a and 20b for storing a long photosensitive recording paper 34 wound in a roll shape are set. Each magazine 20 a, 20 b is provided with a pair of drawing rollers 21 a, 21 b for pulling out the photosensitive recording paper 34 and transporting it toward the back printing unit 22. In this embodiment, two magazines 20a and 20b are provided. However, the number of magazines may be one, or three or more.

  A cutter 36 for cutting the photosensitive recording paper 34 is provided at a position away from the outlets of the magazines 20a and 20b by a predetermined length. The cutter 36 is driven in response to a control signal from the control unit 17 and cuts the photosensitive recording paper 34 drawn out by a predetermined length according to the print size to form a cut recording paper. Instead of providing the cutter 36, a sheet-shaped recording paper formed in a predetermined size in advance may be provided in the supply unit 20, and the sheet-shaped recording paper may be supplied.

  The back print unit 22 includes a back print head 38 that records print information such as a photograph date, print date, frame number, and various IDs on a non-recording surface (a surface opposite to the exposure surface) of cut recording paper. . As the back print head 38, a known print head such as a dot impact head, an inkjet head, or a thermal transfer print head is used.

  The resist unit 24 is arranged in front of and behind the resist roller pair 40 for adjusting the tilt and the width direction position of the cut recording paper in order to prevent the exposure position / angle shift in the exposure unit 26. A plurality of pairs of transport rollers. A known method can be used to adjust the tilt and the width direction position by the registration roller pair 40. For example, the methods described in JP-A-60-153358 and JP-A-11-349191 can be applied. it can.

  The exposure unit 26 includes an exposure unit 42, sub-scanning roller pairs 44 and 46, and a leading edge sensor 45 that detects the passage of cut recording paper, and the operation of the exposure unit 26 is controlled by the control unit 17. The exposure unit 42 is connected to the image processing apparatus 13, and when it is detected that the leading edge of the cut recording paper has passed the leading edge sensor 45, the light beams of red, green and blue whose intensity is modulated based on the image data. The LB is scanned in the main scanning direction (direction perpendicular to the transport direction) to record an image on cut recording paper. The sub-scanning roller pairs 44 and 46 are arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction so as to sandwich the exposure position by the light beam LB, and the cut recording paper is moved at a predetermined speed in the sub-scanning direction (direction parallel to the transport direction). Transport. Note that the nip rollers of the sub-scanning roller pairs 44 and 46 can be switched between a position where the cut recording paper is sandwiched and a position where the cut recording paper is separated from the cut recording paper. It is switched when an edge is detected. This prevents the cut recording paper from being excessively impacted by the leading edge of the cut recording paper hitting the downstream sub-scanning roller pair 46 or the trailing edge coming out of the upstream sub-scanning roller pair 44. be able to.

  The sub-scan receiving unit 28 includes a plurality of roller pairs that hold the leading ends of the cut recording paper that is sent out from the exposure unit 26 during image recording, and is cut recording paper at the same speed as the conveyance speed of the exposure unit 26. Is sent downstream. Each roller pair of the sub-scanning receiving portion 28 is composed of a driving roller and a nip roller capable of releasing the nip, and does not nip the cut recording paper during exposure recording, and the nip roller moves when the exposure recording at the rear end is completed. The cut recording paper is nipped and conveyed. This prevents the conveyance speed from fluctuating due to the leading edge of the cut recording paper hitting.

  The sorting unit 30 sorts the cut recording paper conveyed in a single row into a plurality of rows (two rows in the present embodiment) in the main scanning direction while carrying it at a predetermined first speed. The distribution unit 30 is configured as a replaceable unit, and a component having a capacity corresponding to the processing speed of the image forming apparatus 10 is detachably set. Further, the carry-out unit 32 conveys the cut recording paper sent from the sorting unit 30 at a second speed corresponding to the processing speed of the processor 16 and sends it to the processor 16. Note that the tip detection sensor 48 disposed between the sorting unit 30 and the carry-out unit 32 and the tip detection sensor 50 arranged in the carry-out unit 32 are, for example, photosensors using infrared light, and cut recording. The leading edge of the paper is detected and a detection signal is sent to the control unit 17.

  The processor 12 includes a development processing unit 60, a drying processing unit 61, a returning unit 62, and a sorter 63. The development processing unit 60 includes a developing tank 70, a bleach-fixing tank 71, a first water-washing tank 73, a second water-washing tank 74, a third water-washing tank 75, and a fourth water-washing tank in order from the upstream side in the conveyance direction (left side in the drawing). A water washing tank 72 including a water washing tank 76 is provided. The developing tank 70 stores a developing solution, the bleach-fixing tank 71 stores a bleach-fixing solution, and the first washing tank 73 to the fourth washing tank 76 store a predetermined amount of washing water. The cut recording paper is transported in the processing tanks 70 to 72 under the driving force of the transport racks provided in the developing tank 70, the bleach-fixing tank 71, and the first to fourth washing tanks 73 to 76, respectively. Thus, development, fixing, and cleaning processes are performed.

  The drying process part 61 is arrange | positioned above each process tank 70-72, and is comprised from the conveyance belt and the ventilation duct. The blower duct blows dry air heated by a heater toward the conveyance belt, and presses the cut recording paper against the conveyance belt. By passing over the air duct in this state, the washing water adhering to the cut recording paper is removed.

  The cut recording paper that has passed through the drying device 61 is sent toward the return unit 62. The reversing unit 62 conveys cut recording paper conveyed in a plurality of rows back to a single row and has a reversing processing capability corresponding to the processing capability of the image forming apparatus 10 (for example, reversing). Fast ones, ones that do not perform a turnback, etc.) are set to be replaceable. The sorter 63 collectively outputs a plurality of cut recording sheets sent from the returning unit 62 for each print job.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the distribution unit 30 includes a moving body 110 that distributes cut recording paper into two rows, and a drive unit 120 that moves the moving body 110 in the main scanning direction. The moving body 110 and the driving unit 120 are disposed inside the frame body 105. Further, when the moving body 110 moves in the main scanning direction, a part of the moving body 110 protrudes from the window portions 106a and 106b formed on the side surfaces 105a and 105b of the frame 105.

  The moving body 110 sandwiches and conveys a long recording paper 111 arranged at a position aligned with the windows 106a and 106b, a support shaft 112 attached to the housing 111 and extending in the main scanning direction, and the cut recording paper. There are four pairs of conveying rollers 113 to 116 for this purpose. As will be described later, each of the conveying roller pairs 113 to 116 includes a driving roller 113a to 116a rotatably attached to the support shaft 112, and a nip roller for sandwiching the cut recording paper between the driving rollers 113a to 116a. It is comprised from 113b-116b, 113c-116c (refer FIG. 5). The casing 111 is formed with a guide plate pair 117 having a gap through which cut recording paper passes. Further, the moving body 110 includes a seamless pipe slide (hereinafter referred to as “pipe slide”) 130 that moves the conveyance roller pairs 113 to 116 in the main scanning direction and a nip that controls nipping release of the cut recording paper by the nip rollers. Release means.

  The drive unit 120 includes a pair of pulleys 122 and an endless belt 124 wound around the pulleys 122. A distribution movement motor 150 is connected to one end of the pulley 122 (not shown), and the pulley 122 rotates via the endless belt 124 by rotating the distribution movement motor 150 forward or reverse. The pulley 122 on the other end side is connected to the housing 111 via a transmission mechanism (not shown), and the moving body 108 moves in the main scanning direction by rotating the pulley 122. Instead of connecting the pulley 122 and the casing 111, the endless belt 124 and the casing 111 may be connected, and the casing 111 may be moved in the main scanning direction as the endless belt 124 rotates. .

  The pipe slide 130 is provided to transmit a driving force for rotating the conveying roller pairs 113 to 116, and is configured by a sleeve 132, a slide bearing 134, and a rotating shaft 138 as shown in FIGS. The The cylindrical sleeve 132 is attached to flanges 119 a and 119 b erected on the lower surface 119 of the housing 111 via a ball bearing 138. In addition, slide bearings 134 are provided on inner peripheral portions of both ends of the sleeve 132.

  The slide bearing 134 is connected to the rotating shaft 138 via a ball bearing 135. The rotation shaft 138 is fixed to a frame body 92 (see FIG. 2), and a rotation transmission member 139 including a bearing and a shaft portion is screwed. The bearing portion of the rotation transmission member 139 is engaged with a pair of grooves 132 a formed in the sleeve 132, and transmits the rotation of the rotation shaft 138 to the sleeve 132. Further, as the casing 110 moves in the main scanning direction, the rotation transmitting member 139 moves in the main scanning direction along the groove 132a of the sleeve 132 and contacts the end of the groove 132a. Never get out of it.

  A gear 118 is attached to the support shaft 112 that supports the drive rollers 113a to 116a. The gear 118 meshes with a gear 135 attached to the slide bearing 134. One end of the rotating shaft 138 that engages with the slide bearing 134 is connected to the transport motor 152 via a gear 154 (see FIG. 2). When the conveyance motor 152 rotates in response to the drive signal from the control unit 17, the rotation shaft 138 rotates and is further transmitted to the support shaft 112 via the gears 118 and 135, and the drive rollers 113a to 116a rotate. As a result, the conveyance roller pairs 113 to 116 nipping and conveying the cut recording paper P.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the nip release mechanism 140 of the distribution unit 30, and four sets of nip release mechanisms 140 corresponding to each of the nip rollers 113 b to 116 b are arranged in the main scanning direction. Since the configuration of each nip release mechanism is the same, only the nip release mechanism corresponding to the nip rollers 113b and 113c on the left side in the drawing will be described in detail below.

  The nip release mechanism 140 includes a holding frame 142 that rotatably holds the nip rollers 113b and 113c, and a fixing member 143 that rotatably supports the holding frame 142. Both side surfaces of the fixing member 143 are inserted through guide shafts 145 fixed to the casing 111. When the casing 111 shifts in the main scanning direction, the fixing member 143 that holds the nip rollers 113b and 113c moves in the main scanning direction. Shift to.

  A side portion on one end side of the holding frame 142 is bent at a substantially right angle to form a pair of engaged portions 142a. A support shaft 146 is inserted through the engaged portion 142 a, and the support shaft 146 is attached to the side surface of the fixing member 143. As a result, the holding frame 142 is rotatably supported by the fixing member 143. Further, a driven member 147 is rotatably supported between the engaged portions 142a. The driven member 147 engages with a guide member 148 described later to switch the nip rollers 113b and 113c to a released state. The side portion on the other end side of the holding frame 142 is bent in a direction opposite to the engaged portion 142a to form a pair of shaft support portions 142b. A rotating shaft 149 a that supports one nip roller 113 b and a rotating shaft 149 b that supports the other nip roller 113 c are provided side by side in the longitudinal direction of the holding frame 142 in the shaft support portion 142 b.

  The guide member 148 disposed on the back portion of the holding frame 142 has a slope that engages with the driven member 147. Further, the guide member 148 is movable in the direction indicated by an arrow D1 in the drawing by receiving a motor drive (not shown), and the inclined surface of the guide member 148 and the driven member 147 are engaged, and the holding frame 142 is moved to the arrow. It rotates in the direction indicated by D2. That is, the guide member 148 and the driven member 147 form a linear cam mechanism for rotating the holding frame 142.

  When the cut recording paper P is sorted and moved, the control unit 17 holds only the one necessary for transporting the cut recording paper P among the four transport roller pairs 113 to 116, and transports other than that. For the roller pair, the corresponding guide member 148 is driven to switch to the released state. Further, when it is not necessary to distribute the cut recording paper P, the control unit 17 drives the guide members 148 corresponding to all the conveyance roller pairs 113 to 116 to switch to the release state, thereby cutting the cut recording paper P. Go through.

  In the present embodiment, the linear cam mechanism is used as the nip releasing means, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and can be configured using, for example, a sorter or a solenoid.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the cut recording sheets distributed in two rows in the distribution unit 30 are sent to the carry-out unit 32 and divided into two parts with the conveyance center CL in between, the first and second conveyance paths 90. , 92 are conveyed toward the processor 16 respectively. The first transport path 90 is provided with nip roller pairs 80a and 82a and speed control roller pair 84a from the upstream side in the transport direction, and the second transport path 92 is provided with nip roller pairs 80b and 80b from the upstream side in the transport direction. 82b and a speed control roller pair 84b are provided. Further, on the downstream side of the speed regulating roller pair 94a, 94b, a carry-out roller pair 86 is disposed over the respective conveyance paths 90, 92. The roller pairs provided in the conveyance paths 90 and 92 are controlled independently of each other and independently convey the cut recording paper.

  When any of the recording paper detection sensors 48a to 48c arranged between the sorting unit 30 and the carry-out unit 32 detects that the leading end of the cut recording paper has passed, the control unit 17 drives the sorting movement motor 150. Thus, the conveying roller pairs 113 to 116 are moved in the main scanning direction. When the leading edge of the cut recording paper is detected by the recording paper detection sensors 50a to 50c, the conveying speed is reduced according to the processing speed of the processor 16 by the speed adjusting roller pair 84a and 84b. That is, in the image forming apparatus 10, the cut recording paper is, for example, at a first speed of 100 (mm / sec) on the conveyance path from the back printing unit 22 to the nip roller pairs 80 a, 80 b, 82 a, 82 b in the carry-out unit 32. Conveyed and decelerated to a second speed of 45.3 (mm / sec) by the pair of speed control rollers 84a and 84b. At that time, upon receiving a signal from the control unit 17, the nip roller pairs 80a, 80b, 82a, 82b are switched to a release state in which the nipping conveyance of the cut recording paper is released.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. When the printing is instructed, the control unit 17 pulls out the recording paper 34 from the magazines 20a and 20b loaded in the supply unit 20 by a predetermined length, and drives the cutter 36 to form cut recording paper. In the cut recording paper, predetermined information such as photographing information is recorded in the back printing unit 22, and then the skew and the width direction position are adjusted in the registration unit 24. The cut recording paper that has passed through the registration unit 24 is conveyed to the exposure unit 26, and an image is scanned and exposed by the light beam LB modulated based on the image data.

  The cut recording paper on which image recording has been completed passes through the sub-scan receiving unit 28 and is sent to the distribution unit 30. In the sorting unit 30, when the cut recording paper has a width that can be sorted, the sorting moving motor 150 is driven to sort the cut recording paper into either the first transport path 90 or the second transport path 92. At this time, since the pipe slide 130 having a small frictional resistance is used, conveyance (sorting) in the main scanning direction and conveyance in the sub-scanning direction can be performed simultaneously, and sorting can be performed at high speed.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the cut recording paper has a width that can be sandwiched between two transport roller pairs, the leading cut recording paper P1 is sandwiched between the two transport roller pairs 113 and 114 on the left side in the drawing. . Then, the cut recording paper P1 is moved in the main scanning direction while being transported in the sub-scanning direction, and the cut recording paper P1 is fed into the first transport path 90 (see FIG. 7). While the cut recording paper P1 is distributed, the two left-hand conveyance roller pairs 115 and 116 that do not contribute to the distribution are in a released state, so that the drive rollers 115a and 116a and the nip rollers 115b and 116b come into contact with each other, and the conveyance roller pair 113 and No influence is exerted on the holding of the cut recording paper P1 by 114. Accordingly, there is no difference in nip pressure between the conveying roller pairs 113 and 114, and skew can be suppressed.

  As shown in FIG. 8, after the cut recording paper P <b> 1 is distributed, the next cut recording paper P <b> 2 is distributed to the second transport path 92. In the state immediately after the cut recording paper P1 is sorted, the two right-hand conveyance roller pairs 115 and 116 are in a symmetrical position with respect to the conveyance center CL. The control unit 17 switches the conveyance roller pairs 115 and 116 to the nipping state and sets the other conveyance roller pairs 113 and 114 to the released state. The cut recording paper P2 can be distributed to the second transport path 92 by moving in the main scanning direction while holding the cut recording paper P2 with equal pressing force by the transport roller pairs 115 and 116 (FIG. 9). .

  In the state immediately after the cut recording paper P2 is sorted, the two left-hand conveyance roller pairs 113 and 114 are in a symmetrical position with respect to the conveyance center CL. The control unit 17 switches the conveyance roller pairs 113 and 114 to the nipping state and sets the other conveyance roller pairs 115 and 116 to the released state. In this state, the next cut recording paper P3 is clamped and distributed to the first transport path 90. Thereafter, by repeating the same operation, cut recording sheets supplied in a single row are distributed into two rows.

  When the cut recording paper is wide and cannot be divided into two rows, all the roller pairs are switched to the released state, and the cut recording paper is passed through. This prevents the conveyance speed from fluctuating or skewing from being held between the roller pair when passing through the allocating unit 30.

  The cut recording paper P distributed into a plurality of rows is decelerated from, for example, 100 (mm / sec) to 45.3 (mm / sec) by the pair of speed control rollers 84 a and 84 b of the carry-out unit 32 and is sent to the processor 16. . As a result, the speed is adjusted to match the processing capacity of the processor 16. The processor 16 performs processing such as development and fixing on the exposed cut recording paper to form a printed photograph, which is dried by a drying processing unit and sent to a returning unit. In the case of being distributed to a plurality of rows, it is returned to a single row by the return portion and sent to the sorter 63. The sorter 63 collects a plurality of cut recording sheets for each print job and outputs them to the outside of the image forming apparatus 10.

  In the sorting unit 30 according to the above embodiment, since there are four transport roller pairs, when the width of the cut recording paper to be sorted is large, the transport roller pair used for sorting with respect to the center of the cut recording paper. Are no longer arranged symmetrically. In the example of FIG. 6, when the width of the cut recording sheet increases, the left three pairs of conveying rollers 113 to 115 come into contact with the cut recording sheet, so that the sheet is asymmetric with respect to the center of the cut recording sheet (conveyance center CL). Become. In this case, since the nipping of the cut recording paper becomes non-uniform and skew is likely to occur, it is preferable to increase the number of conveying roller pairs as shown in FIG. In the sorting unit 200 shown in FIG. 9, eight pairs of conveying rollers are provided. Even in the state after the first cut recording paper P1 has been sorted, there are four pairs with respect to the center of the next cut recording paper P2. Since the two conveying roller pairs 201 to 204 are disposed symmetrically, the nipping of the cut recording paper P2 can be made uniform.

  When the sorting unit 200 shown in FIG. 9 is used, the number of times the cut recording paper is sorted and conveyed differs among the eight conveyance roller pairs. For example, since the pair of conveying rollers at both ends is used less frequently for sorting and conveying cut recording paper, wear on the outer peripheral portion of the roller is small. On the other hand, since the central conveying roller pair is frequently used for sorting and conveying, wear on the outer peripheral portion of the roller is large. For this reason, it is preferable that the driving roller and the nip roller constituting the conveying roller pair are metal rollers having high wear resistance.

  In the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the distribution unit 30 and the return unit 62 can be exchanged as a unit with the conveyance speed of the cut recording paper in the printer 15 and the processor 16 being constant. The control unit 17 can adjust the recording paper cutting interval (cut recording paper conveyance interval), the sorting speed in the sorting unit 30, and the returning speed in the returning unit 62. As a result, it is possible to configure the image forming apparatus 10 according to the required output amount by selecting the distributing unit 30 and the returning unit 62 or adding a software change of the control unit 17. Become.

  For example, instead of the sorting unit 30 having four pairs of conveying rollers, a sorting unit 300 having two pairs of roller pairs 301 and 302 may be set. In this case, since the cut recording paper is conveyed while being distributed by the two roller pairs 301 and 302, it is necessary to return the roller pair 301 and 302 to the initial position after the distribution, and therefore the distribution speed is reduced. Since the number of pairs is small, it can be manufactured at low cost. For this reason, when the processing capability required by the image forming apparatus 10 is not so high, the image forming apparatus 10 can be provided at low cost by using the distribution unit 300 having two pairs of rollers.

  In the above embodiment, the printer processor has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other types of image forming apparatuses such as a thermal printer, a thermal transfer printer, and an ink jet printer may be used. It is possible to apply. The present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus that directly records an image with projection light from a film. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the recording paper is described as an example. However, any type of sheet-like recording material can be applied as long as images and characters can be recorded.

1 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a distribution unit of the image forming apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows roughly the mechanism which rotationally drives the conveyance roller pair of a distribution part. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a pipe slide roughly. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a nip cancellation | release mechanism. It is a top view which shows roughly the structure of the conveyance path from a distribution part to a carrying-out part. It is a top view which shows roughly the structure of the conveyance path from a distribution part to a carrying-out part. It is a top view which shows roughly the structure of the conveyance path from a distribution part to a carrying-out part. It is a top view which shows the example of the distribution part which increased the number of roller pairs. It is a top view which shows the example of the distribution part which reduced the number of roller pairs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 15 Printer 16 Processor 17 Control part 30,200,300 Sorting part 32 Unloading part 113-116,201-204,301,302 Conveyance roller pair 113a-116a Drive roller 113b-116b, 113c-116c Nip roller 140 Nip release mechanism

Claims (7)

In the transport device that transports the sheet bodies in a plurality of rows, while transporting the sheet bodies supplied at regular intervals in the transport direction, moving the sheet bodies in a sorting direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction,
Each conveying roller pair between a conveying means composed of three or more pairs of conveying rollers arranged along the distribution direction, and a nipping state in which the sheet member is nipped and a releasing state in which the nipping of the sheet member is released. Switching means for switching between, and a moving mechanism for moving the transport means in the distribution direction,
The conveying means moves the sheet body in the allocating direction while nipping and conveying the sheet body only by the conveying roller pair in the nipping state, and nips the next sheet body without moving in the allocating direction. A transport device characterized by performing sorting.   The conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveying roller pair in the sandwiched state is in a symmetrical position with respect to a center of the sheet member.   The conveying roller pair includes a driving roller driven by a motor, and a nip roller movable between a clamping position for clamping the sheet body between the driving roller and a release position for releasing the clamping of the sheet body. The conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving roller and the nip roller are metal rollers. A printer that records an image on a recording material conveyed at a fixed interval, a processor that performs development processing on the recording material on which image recording has been performed, and a printer that is disposed between the printer and the processor. In an image forming apparatus comprising: a transport device that transports the recording material in a plurality of rows by transporting the recording material in a plurality of rows while transporting in the transport direction and moving in a sorting direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction.
The conveyance device includes a conveyance unit including three or more pairs of conveyance rollers arranged in the distribution direction, and a nipping state in which the recording material is nipped and a release state in which the nipping of the recording material is released. Switching means for switching each pair of transport rollers, and a moving mechanism for moving the transport means in the sorting direction,
The conveying means moves and moves the recording material in the sorting direction while nipping and transporting the recording material only by the pair of conveying rollers in the clamping state, and holds the next recording material without moving in the sorting direction. An image forming apparatus that performs sorting.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pair of conveying rollers in the sandwiched state are in symmetrical positions with respect to a center of the recording material.   The conveyance roller pair includes a driving roller driven by a motor, a nip roller movable between a nipping position for nipping the recording material between the driving roller and a release position for nipping the recording material. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the driving roller and the nip roller are metal rollers.   The transfer device is a sorting and transfer unit that can be exchanged for the image forming apparatus, and has a processing capability corresponding to the output amount of the recording material per unit time. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above.

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