JP2005179019A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording device having improved maintenance quality by allowing easy detection and removal of a recording material jammed on a carrying passage. <P>SOLUTION: The image recording device 1 has a cartridge loaded therein for storing the rolled recording material, wherein the recording material drawn from the cartridge is carried through the carrying passage to an image recording part and images are recorded thereon. On the carrying passage, there are arranged a detecting sensor for detecting the existence or not of the recording material, a cutter part for cutting the recording material and a reference position detecting sensor for detecting the reference position of the recording material near the upstream side of the image recording part. The jamming of the recording material is detected by monitoring whether the recording material on the carrying passage is carried or not from the detecting sensor to the reference position detecting sensor in a preset time. When the jamming is detected, the cutter part is operated to cut the recording material and a warning part warns that the recording material should be removed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for recording an image on a roll-shaped recording material.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image recording apparatus that records an image by exposing a recording material such as a photosensitive material, a cartridge containing a recording material wound in a roll is set, and a predetermined length of recording is performed from the cartridge in a paper feeding / conveying unit. The material is pulled out and cut by the cutter unit, and the recording material is conveyed to perform image recording. When a jam occurs when the recording material is pulled out by the sheet feeding / conveying unit, the cutter unit and the conveying unit are stopped simultaneously with the jam detection, and the operator is notified of the occurrence of the jam on the operation panel.

  If a jam occurs on the paper feed conveyance path, an operator needs to take out a cartridge loaded in the apparatus in order to remove the jammed recording material in order to continue using the apparatus. At that time, since the recording material that has jammed on the paper feeding path is not cut, it is connected to the wound recording material in the cartridge, and it is necessary to pull it out before pulling out the cartridge. Unjamming was not easy.

In addition, when the recording material that has jammed in the paper feeding / conveying section is pulled out from the cartridge loading section, the recording material is torn in the middle, and if it is used without being noticed by the operator, a secondary conveying jam is induced. There is a risk.
JP 05-88271 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide an image recording apparatus that can easily detect and remove a jam of a recording material that has occurred on a conveyance path and improve the maintainability of the apparatus. To do.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image recording apparatus according to the present invention loads a cartridge containing a roll-shaped recording material, conveys the recording material drawn from the cartridge to an image recording unit on a conveyance path, and records an image. In the image recording apparatus, the detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the recording material on the conveyance path, the cutter unit for cutting the recording material, and the reference for detecting the reference position of the recording material in the vicinity of the upstream of the image recording unit And detecting whether or not the recording material has jammed by monitoring whether or not the recording material on the conveyance path has been conveyed from the detection sensor to the reference position detection sensor within a predetermined time. If the jam is detected, the cutter unit is operated to cut the recording material, and the warning unit warns that the recording material needs to be removed. Characterized in that it.

  According to this image recording apparatus, jam detection is performed based on the time from when the recording material pulled out of the cartridge is detected by the detection sensor to when the recording material conveyed on the conveyance path is detected by the reference position detection sensor. When the occurrence of a jam is detected, the cutter unit is operated to cut the recording material, and the warning unit can warn the user that the recording material needs to be removed. It is easy to detect and remove material jams and improve the maintainability of the apparatus. The warning unit can be constituted by a display unit for displaying a warning, a warning sound generating unit for generating a warning sound, a warning light emitting unit for generating a warning sound, or the like.

  In the image recording apparatus, a plurality of the cartridges can be loaded, and a transport roller and a reference position detection sensor provided at a position downstream of a confluence of the transport path from each cartridge have an integrated unit configuration, and an apparatus By making it detachable from the recording material, it is possible to easily remove the recording material that has been jammed and cut by the cutter unit.

  Further, by configuring the conveyance guide for guiding the recording material upstream of the junction point of the conveyance path so as to be detachable, it is possible to easily remove the recording material that is jammed and cut by the cutter unit.

  In addition, when a jam of the recording material is detected, a conveyance roller that holds the recording material, a cover lock mechanism of a loading unit for loading the cartridge, a lock mechanism of a maintenance cover of the apparatus, and a light shielding shutter of the cartridge The warning unit warns that the power supply of the device needs to be shut down after performing the release operation for each of the opening / closing mechanisms. Can be easily done.

  According to the image recording apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to easily detect and remove the jam of the recording material that has occurred on the conveyance path, and to improve the maintainability of the apparatus.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the entire image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a view of the inside of the image recording apparatus of FIG. 1 as viewed from the front side. FIG. 3 is a plan view of an essential part of a feeding unit including a pair of conveyance rollers and a cutter unit of the image recording apparatus of FIG. FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view showing a main part of the feeding unit shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image recording apparatus 1 includes an exposure unit 11 that exposes a sheet-like recording material to form an image, and a developing unit 21 that develops the exposed recording material.

  The exposure unit 11 displays various kinds of information, and also displays a buzzer sound to warn about the occurrence of jamming of the recording material provided near the display unit 2 and the display unit 2 for operation of the entire apparatus. A warning sound generating unit 48 that generates an alarm sound such as a light emitting diode 49 that is provided in the vicinity of the display unit 2 and that also includes a light emitting diode (LED) that flashes red light, yellow light, etc. for warning, First and second loading sections 12 and 12 'capable of loading a cartridge 13 containing recording paper, which is a sheet-shaped recording material wound inside, in a roll form after the paper feed covers 3 and 4 are opened, and an apparatus And an opening / closing door 5a provided so as to be opened and closed during maintenance by grasping the handle 5b from the front surface.

  Further, the paper feed covers 3 and 4 and the open / close door 5a of the loading sections 12 and 12 'of the exposure unit 11 have a known lock mechanism for preventing them from being accidentally opened during operation of the apparatus.

  The development unit 21 includes an upper panel 6 that can be opened and closed for maintenance, and a replenishment panel 7 that is provided on the front surface so as to be opened and closed for replenishment of a developing solution or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the exposure unit 11 of the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has a dedicated recording material (hereinafter referred to as “recording paper”) housed in a roll shape. Loading sections 12 and 12 ′ for loading and storing the cartridge 13, first conveyance roller pairs 40 and 41 for feeding recording paper from the cartridge 13 loaded in the loading sections 12 and 12 ′ to the rotary drum 10, and the first A feeding unit 14 including two conveying roller pairs 42 and the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the feeding unit 14 is further disposed between the first conveyance roller pair 40 and the second conveyance roller pair 42 and guides the recording paper being conveyed. A guide member 45, a second guide member 46 disposed between another pair of first transport rollers 41 and a second transport roller pair 42 for guiding recording paper being transported, and a first transport roller A cutter unit 43 disposed between the pair 40 and the inlet side of the first guide member 45; a cutter unit 44 disposed between the first transport roller pair 41 and the second guide member 46; Is provided. The conveyance path by the first guide member 45 and the conveyance path by the second guide member 46 merge at the second conveyance roller pair 42.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a light-shielding shutter opening / closing mechanism 13a is provided at the recording paper drawer opening at the bottom of the cartridge 13, and is always closed to prevent fogging and is opened when the recording paper is pulled out. It has become. Further, a detection sensor 51 and a detection sensor 52 are respectively arranged in the vicinity of the exit of the recording paper from each cartridge 13 of the loading sections 12 and 12 ′, and the detection sensors 51 and 52 can be constituted by reflection type or transmission type optical sensors, Detects the presence or absence of recording paper.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, a reference position detection sensor 58 and a relatively narrow driven roller 47 are arranged at the reference position near the downstream side of the second conveying roller pair 42. The reference position detection sensor 58 detects the recording paper at the reference position and uses it as a reference for measuring the length of the recording paper. The reference position detection sensor 58 can be composed of a reflection type or transmission type optical sensor, and detects the leading edge or trailing edge of the recording paper.

  The relatively narrow driven roller 47 is driven to rotate as the recording paper moves, and the rotary encoder 54 is coaxially connected to the driven roller 47 as shown by the broken lines in FIGS. 3 and 8, so that the recording paper moves. Thus, the rotation amount of the driven roller 47 rotating can be detected, and the length of the recording paper passing through the second conveying roller pair 42 and passing the driven roller 47 can be measured based on the detected rotation amount.

  Further, the driven roller 53 on the downstream side of the driven roller 47 is arranged so as to be rotated by the rotation of the rotary drum 10, and the recording paper conveyed from the second conveying roller pair 42 and the driven roller 47 is connected to the driven roller 53. It is sandwiched between the rotating drum 10 and wound around the outer periphery of the rotating drum 10.

  The first and second conveying roller pairs 40, 41, and 42 are rotationally driven by a pulse motor that operates in accordance with an input operation pulse signal, and are rotationally driven by a pulse motor 56 (FIG. 6) to sandwich the recording paper between the rollers. Then transport.

  The cutter units 43 and 44 in FIG. 3 are located in the vicinity of the downstream side of the first conveying roller pair 40 and 41 and in the vicinity of the inlet sides of the first guide member 45 and the second guide member 46, respectively. The paper is cut into a predetermined length at a predetermined timing.

  As described above, the detection sensor 51, the conveyance roller pair 40, the cutter unit 43, and the first guide member 45 are arranged in order from the upstream side at the lower portion of the loading unit 12, and independently constitute a conveyance path. . Similarly, a detection sensor 52, a conveyance roller pair 41, a cutter unit 44, and a second guide member 46 are arranged in order from the upstream side at the lower portion of the loading unit 12 ′ to independently form another conveyance path. Yes. These two transport paths are joined by the second transport roller pair 42, and the reference position detection sensor 58 and the driven roller 47 are disposed on the downstream side of the second transport roller pair 42.

  The exposure unit 11 further rotates for main scanning while vacuum-sucking and holding the recording sheet conveyed from the conveying roller pair 42, passing through the driven roller 47, and fed to the driven roller 53 to the outer peripheral surface. A rotating drum 10 that rotates in the direction R, an optical unit 16 that records an image by exposing a recording paper on the rotating drum 10 with a light beam such as LED light or laser light, and the optical unit 16 for sub-scanning. The sub-scanning unit 17 that conveys in the scanning direction (perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2), the peeling member 18 a that peels off the recording paper on the rotary drum 10 after image recording, and the separated recording paper are guided to the conveyance roller pair 55. The guide part 15 to be provided. The exposed recording paper is conveyed to the developing unit 21 through the outlet 19 and the connecting portion 19a.

  The developing unit 21 of the image recording apparatus 1 in FIG. 2 performs wet development on the recording paper after exposure sent from the exposure unit 11, and includes a developing unit 23 that performs development processing of the recording paper and a fixing that performs fixing processing. Unit 24, stabilizing unit 25 that performs stabilization processing, drying unit 26 that performs drying processing, discharging unit 27 that discharges the dried recording paper to the outside by a pair of conveyance rollers 27 a, and the discharged recording paper is integrated And an accumulating unit 28.

  3 will be further described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a front view of the cutter unit of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a top view of the main part of the cutter unit of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cutter unit 43 rotates while moving in the width direction T of the recording paper S in FIG. 5 or in the opposite direction T ′ to rotate the recording paper linearly in the width direction. The recording paper S extending in the width direction of the recording paper S is arranged so as to be sandwiched between the cutter 43a, the motor 43c that rotationally drives the rotary cutter 43a, and the rotary cutter 43a. And a linear fixing portion 43b.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the recording sheet S enters the inlet 43 d of the cutter unit 43 from the upstream conveying roller pair 40, exits from the outlet 43 e, and is conveyed to the inlet 45 a of the first guide member 45. . The length of the recording paper S that has passed through the first guide member 45 and is further transported between the rotating drum 10 and the driven roller 53 by the second transport roller 42 but passed through the transport roller pair 42. 3 is measured by the rotary encoder 54 in FIG. 3, and when the recording paper S reaches a predetermined length, the conveyance by the conveyance roller pair 40, 42 is stopped, and the rotary cutter unit 43a in FIG. The recording sheet S is cut linearly in the width direction while moving in one direction in the direction T or T ′ from the side.

  The other cutter unit 44 is configured in the same manner as the cutter unit 43, and the rotary cutter unit is rotationally driven by a motor 44a (FIG. 6) to cut the recording paper from the second loading unit 12 '.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the guide plate 45a constituting the first guide member 45 of the feeding section 14 is attached with a screw 45b as shown by a broken line in the drawing, and can be removed as shown by a solid line in the drawing. is there. Moreover, the 2nd guide member 46 of the feeding part 14 is attached with the screw 46a as shown with the broken line of a figure, and can be removed like the solid line of a figure. When the recording paper is jammed, a part or all of the first guide member 45 and the second guide member 46 are removed by screws 45b and 46a, so that the recording paper cut by the cutter portions 43 and 44 can be easily obtained. Can be removed.

  FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a control system of the image recording apparatus 1 of FIG. The control unit 50 of the image recording apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 6 includes a central processing unit (CPU) and the like, from detection of the recording paper by the detection sensor 51 or 52 to detection of the recording paper by the reference position detection sensor 58. When the reference position detection sensor 58 does not detect the recording paper within a predetermined time, it is determined that a jam (conveyance failure) has occurred on the recording paper upstream of the reference position detection sensor 58. ing.

  6 measures the amount of rotation of the driven roller 47 by the rotary encoder 54, calculates the length of the recording paper, controls the cutter motors 43 and c44a, and controls the cutter paper 43 and 44 to feed the recording paper to a predetermined length. Cut it up. When it is determined that a jam has occurred as described above, the recording paper is cut.

  Further, the control unit 50 controls the operation of each of the conveying roller pairs 40, 41, and 42 by controlling the pulse motor 56, and the display unit 2 based on the detection result of the occurrence of the jam of the recording paper as described above. , By controlling the warning sound generating unit 48 and the warning light emitting unit 49, generating an alarm sound from the warning sound generating unit 48, flashing the warning light emitting unit 49, and displaying the fact on the display unit 2; Warn about the occurrence of jam on the recording paper.

  Next, the operation of the image recording apparatus 1 of FIGS. 1 to 6 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, when image data is input from the outside to the image recording apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 (S01), for example, the recording paper is pulled out from the cartridge 13 of the loading unit 12 (S02), and the leading edge of the recording paper is detected by the detection sensor 51 ( (S03), the recording paper is conveyed by the conveying roller pair 40 (S04).

  The recording paper is transported through the first guide member 45 and further transported toward the rotary drum 10 by the second transport roller pair 42. At this time, a reference disposed near the downstream side of the second transport roller pair 42 is used. Whether or not the position detection sensor 58 has detected the recording paper within a predetermined time is monitored (S05). If it cannot be detected, it is determined that a jam has occurred in the recording paper, and the motor 43c is activated in the cutter unit 43 to cause a jam. The recording paper is cut (S06), the display unit 2 is displayed that a jam has occurred, an alarm sound is generated from the warning sound generating unit 48, and the warning light emitting unit 49 blinks to emit a warning ( S07).

  The display unit 2 also includes a pair of conveying rollers 40 or 42 holding the recording paper, a cover lock mechanism of the paper feed cover 3 of the loading unit 12, a lock mechanism of the open / close door 5 a for maintenance, and light shielding of the cartridge 13. After the shutter opening / closing mechanism 13a is released, it is displayed that it is necessary to turn off the apparatus power.

  After the user turns off the apparatus power (S08), the user opens the paper feed cover 3 or the opening / closing door 5a, removes the cartridge 13, or removes part or all of the first guide member 45 and the second guide member 46. Then, the jammed paper is released by removing the recording paper causing the jammed paper (S09). Then, by closing the paper feed cover 3 and the open / close door 5a and turning on the apparatus power, the image recording apparatus returns to an operable state (S10).

  Then, the recording paper is newly transported from the cartridge 13 of the loading unit 12 or 12 'and transported toward the rotary drum 10 (S11). The recording paper is conveyed between the rotating drum 10 and the driven roller 53, wound around the rotating drum 10, and a suction blower (not shown) is operated to make the inside of the rotating drum 10 have a negative pressure to rotate the recording paper. Vacuum suction is performed on the outer peripheral surface of the drum 10 and the recording paper on the rotary drum 10 is exposed to light from the optical unit 16 based on the image data (S12). During this exposure, the rotary drum 10 is rotated in the rotation direction R to perform main scanning, and the optical unit 16 is sub-scanned by the sub-scanning unit 17 to perform image recording on the recording paper.

  After the above-described image recording, the peeling member 18 a approaches the rotating drum 10 and peels the recording paper from the rotating drum 10, and then guides the recording paper to the guide unit 15. When the recording sheet S is conveyed while being guided by the guide unit 15 and reaches the conveying roller pair 53, the recording sheet is sent to the outlet 19 by the conveying roller pair 53 and further sent to the connection unit 19 a between the developing unit 21. . Next, in the developing unit 21, the developing unit 23, the fixing unit 24, the stabilizing unit 25, and the drying unit 26 perform each developing process on the exposed recording paper sent from the outlet 19 through the connection unit 19a (S13). The recording paper on which the image has been recorded is discharged from the discharge unit 27 by the conveying roller pair 27a and the like, and is stacked on the stacking unit 28 outside the apparatus (S14).

  As described above, according to the image recording apparatus of the present embodiment, jam detection is performed based on the time from detection of the recording paper by the detection sensor 51 or 52 to detection by the reference position detection sensor 58. The occurrence of jam can be accurately detected with a simple configuration. When the occurrence of a jam is detected, the cutter unit 43 or 44 is operated to cut the recording paper, and then a warning is given to the user that it is necessary to remove the jammed recording paper. The jammed recording paper is not connected to the wound recording paper in the cartridge 13, and it is not necessary to pull out the cartridge 13 before taking out the cartridge 13 from the loading sections 12, 12 ′. The maintainability of the apparatus is improved.

  Further, when the recording paper that has jammed in the feeding section 14 such as the first guide member 45 and the second guide member 46 is pulled out from the loading sections 12 and 12 ′, the recording paper is cut, and Since the nipping state of the conveyance roller pair 40 or 41 is released, it is possible to prevent the recording paper from being broken in the middle and remaining in the feeding unit 14 as it is and causing a secondary conveyance jam.

  When a jam of the recording paper is detected, the locks of the feed rollers 3 and 4 of the loading sections 12 and 12 'for loading the cartridge 13 and the conveying roller pairs 40, 41 and 42 holding the recording paper are also provided. After the release operation of the mechanism, the locking mechanism of the opening / closing door 5a on the front of the apparatus and the light-shielding shutter opening / closing mechanism 13a of the cartridge 13, the user is urged to warn the user that the apparatus power is to be shut down by displaying a warning on the display unit 2, etc. Since the user can actually execute the releasing operation without forgetting it, it is possible to easily deal with the occurrence of the jam.

  As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. For example, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 8, the second conveyance roller pair 42 and the reference position detection sensor 58 are integrally formed in a unit 59 so that the apparatus can be attached to and detached from the apparatus in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. Good. Thereby, when the recording paper is jammed in the vicinity of the second conveyance roller pair 42, the recording material cut by the cutter units 43 and 44 can be easily removed.

  In addition, as a warning unit for jam occurrence, the display unit 2, the warning sound generation unit 48, and the warning light emitting unit 49 issue a warning. However, any two or any one may issue a warning. Of course.

1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of an entire image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is the figure which looked at the inside of the image recording device of FIG. 1 from the front side. FIG. 3 is a plan view of main parts of a feeding unit including a pair of conveyance rollers, a cutter unit, and the like of the image recording apparatus of FIG. 2. It is a front view of the cutter part of FIG. It is a principal part top view of the cutter part of FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the image recording apparatus 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image recording apparatus 1 of FIGS. 1 to 6. It is a principal part top view which expands and shows the feeding part of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image recording device 2 ... Display part 3, 4 ... Paper feed cover 5a ... Opening / closing door 10 ... Rotating drum (image recording part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Exposure unit 12, 12 '... Loading part 13 ... Cartridge 13a ... Shading shutter opening / closing mechanism 14 ... Feeding part 16 ... Optical unit (image recording part)
21 ... Developing units 40, 41, 42 ... Conveying roller pairs 43, 44 ... Cutter 45 ... First guide member 46 ... Second guide member 48 ... Warning sound generated Unit 49... Warning light emitting unit 50... Control unit 51, 52 .. detection sensor 58... Reference position detection sensor 59.

Claims (4)

In an image recording apparatus that loads a cartridge containing a roll-shaped recording material and transports the recording material drawn from the cartridge to an image recording unit on a transport path to perform image recording.
A detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of a recording material, a cutter unit that cuts the recording material, and a reference position detection sensor that detects a reference position of the recording material in the vicinity of the upstream of the image recording unit are disposed on the conveyance path. And
The recording material jam is detected by monitoring whether the recording material on the transport path is transported from the detection sensor to the reference position detection sensor within a predetermined time, and the jam is detected. In this case, the cutter unit is operated to cut the recording material, and the warning unit warns that the recording material needs to be removed. A plurality of the cartridges can be loaded, and the transport roller and the reference position detection sensor provided at a position downstream of the confluence of the transport path from each cartridge have an integrated unit configuration and can be detached from the apparatus. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a conveyance guide that guides the recording material to a position upstream of a junction point of the conveyance path is configured to be detachable. When a jam of the recording material is detected, a conveyance roller holding the recording material, a cover lock mechanism of a loading section for loading the cartridge, a lock mechanism of a maintenance cover of the apparatus, and a light shielding shutter opening / closing mechanism of the cartridge 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the warning unit warns that the apparatus power supply must be shut down after performing the release operation for each of the above.

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