JP2005206285A - Carrying roller pressing releasing mechanism and image recoding device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a carrying roller pressing releasing mechanism of simple structure capable of releasing/resetting pressing of a pair of carrying rollers when a carrying failure of the sheet-like material by the pair of carrying rollers is generated and capable of easily eliminating the sheet-like material, and to provide an image recording device. <P>SOLUTION: In this carrying roller pressing releasing mechanism, one end part 68 of at least one of a first roller shaft 63 of a first roller 61 and a second roller shaft 64 of a second roller 62 of a pair of carrying rollers 42 is provided with a forcibly widening member 71 for widening a shaft-to-shaft distance between the first roller shaft and the second roller shaft, and when the forcibly widening member is pushed into the axial direction S of the roller, at least one of the first roller shaft and the second roller shaft is moved to widen the shaft-to-shaft distance L at the end thereof. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a pressure release mechanism and an image recording apparatus for a conveyance roller that conveys a sheet-like material with the sheet-like member interposed therebetween.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image recording apparatus or the like, a pressure release mechanism that releases a pressure between a pair of conveyance rollers in preparation for a case where a sheet-like recording medium is conveyed between a pair of conveyance rollers and conveyance failure such as a jam occurs on the recording medium. Is provided. Such a conventional pressure release mechanism is of a lever type or an arm type that expands the roller end from the lateral direction. The release lever is operated manually or by an electric motor (see Patent Document 1 below), or the arm is operated by a solenoid. (See Patent Document 2 below).

As described above, the conventional pressure releasing mechanism for the pair of conveying rollers is performed by electrically or manually operating a release lever or arm, which has a complicated structure and a large number of parts. Moreover, the return from the release requires a predetermined procedure for the return and is troublesome.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-199105 JP-A-6-314006

  In the present invention, in view of the above-described problems of the related art, when a conveyance failure of a sheet-like body due to a conveyance roller pair occurs, it is possible to easily release and return the pressure bonding of the conveyance roller pair with a simple structure. An object of the present invention is to provide a conveyance roller pressure release mechanism and an image recording apparatus that can easily remove a sheet-like body.

  In order to achieve the above object, the transport roller pressure release mechanism according to the present invention includes a first roller shaft of the first roller of the pair of transport rollers and a second roller shaft of the second roller at the end of the first roller. A spreading member is provided to widen the distance between the shaft and the second roller shaft, and the first roller shaft and the second roller shaft are formed by pushing the spreading member in the axial direction of the roller. At least one of them moves to increase the distance between the axes at the end.

  According to this conveyance roller pressure release mechanism, when the spreading member is pushed in the axial direction of the roller, at least one of the first roller shaft and the second roller shaft moves at the end portion to widen the distance between the axes. Can be easily released with a simple structure, and the sheet-like member can be easily removed when a conveyance failure of the sheet-like member due to the pair of conveying rollers occurs.

  In the state where the first roller and the second roller are relatively biased and pressed by the biasing member in the transport roller press-release mechanism, the pushing by the spreading member resists the biasing force by the biasing member. Can be configured to be done.

  Further, an eccentric portion is provided on the spreading member, and when the spreading member is pushed in, at least one of the end portions of the first roller shaft and the second roller shaft moves relative to the eccentric portion. Thus, the distance between the axes can be increased.

  In addition, a spiral groove is formed in at least one of the end portions of the first roller shaft and the second roller shaft, and after increasing the distance between the shafts, the rollers rotate to rotate the spiral shape. The roller can be moved so that the end-to-axis distance is restored by rotating the end portion in which the groove is formed in the expanding member. As a result, when the inter-axis distance is increased for removing the sheet-like body, the pressure return of the conveying roller pair can be automatically performed with a simple structure.

  The first roller shaft and the second roller shaft are rotatably supported by a bearing provided on a support member, and support the roller shaft when the roller shaft moves so as to increase the distance between the shafts. The support member may be provided with a long hole so that the bearing is movable.

  An image recording apparatus according to the present invention is an image recording apparatus for recording an image by winding a sheet-like recording material on a rotating drum, wherein the conveying roller pair for conveying the recording material has the above-described conveying roller pressure release mechanism. Features.

  According to this image recording apparatus, it is possible to easily release / return the pressure-bonding of the conveying roller pair with a simple structure. Therefore, when a conveyance failure occurs during conveyance of the sheet-like recording material, the recording material is removed. Can be easily performed.

  According to the conveyance roller pressure release mechanism of the present invention, when a conveyance failure of the sheet-like body due to the conveyance roller pair occurs, the pressure release of the conveyance roller pair can be easily released and returned with a simple structure. It is possible to easily remove the body.

  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 conveying rollers and a cutting unit of the image recording apparatus of 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 types of information and displays a display unit 2 including a touch panel capable of inputting information for operation of the entire apparatus, and a recording sheet which is a sheet-like recording material wound inside in a roll shape. First and second loading sections 12 and 12 ′ that can be loaded with the accommodated cartridge 13 after the paper feed covers 3 and 4 are opened, and an open / close door that can be opened and closed by grasping the handle 5b from the front of the apparatus. 5a.

  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 is loaded with and accommodates a dedicated cartridge 13 containing recording paper, which is a sheet-like recording material wound in a roll. Loading sections 12 and 12 ′, and a first conveyance roller pair 40 and 41 and a second conveyance roller pair 42 that feed recording paper from the cartridge 13 loaded in the loading sections 12 and 12 ′ to the drum 10. A feeding unit 14 including:

  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.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an outlet sensor 51 and an outlet sensor 52 are arranged in the vicinity of the outlet of the recording paper from each cartridge 13 of the loading sections 12 and 12 ′, and the outlet sensors 51 and 52 are reflective or transmissive optical sensors. It detects the presence or absence of recording paper.

  Further, a relatively narrow driven roller 47 is disposed in the vicinity of the downstream side of the second conveying roller pair 42, and is driven to rotate as the recording paper moves. The driven roller 53 is arranged so as to be rotated by the rotation of the drum 10, and the recording paper conveyed from the second conveying roller pair 42 and the driven roller 47 is sandwiched between the driven roller 53 and the drum 10. And wind around the outer periphery of the drum 10.

  Further, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 3, the rotary encoder 54 is coaxially connected to the driven roller 47, and detects the rotation amount of the driven roller 47 that rotates by the movement of the recording paper, and based on the detected rotation amount. The length of the recording paper that has passed through the second conveying roller pair 42 and passed through the driven roller 47 can be measured.

  The first and second transport roller pairs 40, 41, and 42 are rotationally driven by a pulse motor that operates based on the input operation pulse signal, and the second transport roller pair 42 is rotated by a pulse motor (not shown). Driven.

  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.

  The exposure unit 11 further rotates for main scanning while vacuum-sucking and holding the recording paper conveyed from the conveying roller pair 42, passing through the reference roller 47, and fed to the driven roller 53 to the outer peripheral surface. A drum 10 that rotates in a direction R, an optical unit 16 that exposes a recording beam on the drum 10 with a light beam such as LED light or laser light, and the optical unit 16 in the sub-scanning direction (see FIG. 2). A sub-scanning unit 17 that conveys the recording paper on the drum after image recording, and a guide unit 15 that guides the separated recording paper to the conveyance roller pair 55. . 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. A unit 24, a stabilization unit 25 that performs a stabilization process, a drying unit 26 that performs a drying process, and a discharge unit 27 that discharges the dried recording paper to the outside by a pair of conveyance rollers 27a and the like.

  Next, the conveyance roller pressure release mechanism provided on the conveyance roller pair 42 in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the main part of the conveying roller pair 42 of FIGS. 2 and 3 as viewed from the upper surface side of the apparatus. 5 is a front view of the support member of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the conveying roller pair 42 includes a driving roller 61 made of a rubber material or the like and rotating with the roller shaft 63, and a driven roller 62 made of a resin material or the like and rotated with the roller shaft 64. And the driven roller 62 are pressed against each other by a pressing spring 69. The drive roller 61 is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown), and the driven roller 62 is driven to rotate and is conveyed with the recording paper sandwiched between both rollers 61 and 62.

  A bearing 65 for rotatably supporting the roller shaft 63 and a bearing 66 for rotatably supporting the roller shaft 64 are attached to the support member 70 in the exposure unit 11 of FIG. A pressure-bonding spring 69 is disposed on the front surface side of the bearings 65 and 66 and urges the driving roller 61 and the driven roller 62 to be pressed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the support member 70 is formed with a hole 63 a for attaching the bearing 65 and a long hole 64 a for attaching the bearing 66. When moved in the direction T of FIGS. 4 and 5 against the urging force of the crimping spring 69, it can be moved to the moving position of the dashed line in the figure in the elongated hole 64a.

  A spreading member 71 made of a resin material such as polyacetal or polyethylene is attached to an end 67 of the roller shaft 63 of the driving roller 61 and an end 68 of the roller shaft 64 of the driven roller 62. The pushing and spreading member 71 is held by the holding portion 75 a by a retaining member 75 attached to the support member 70 to prevent it from coming off.

  The spreading member 71 includes a circular through-hole 72 in which the end 67 of the roller shaft 63 is rotatably fitted, and an eccentric through-hole 73 in which the end 68 of the roller shaft 64 is rotatably fitted. .

  The through-hole 73 is positioned on the arc portion 73a and the arc portion 73a that is rotatably contacted when the driving roller 61 and the driven roller 62 are in a pressure-bonded state and the end portion 68 of the roller shaft 64 is in the normal position of the solid line in FIG. A circular eccentric part 73c having a central axis p '(indicated by a broken line in FIG. 4) at a position eccentric to the rotation center axis p of the roller shaft 64 when rotating, and from the arc part 73a to the eccentric part 73c. And a tapered portion 73b inclined so as to transition.

  A spiral groove 68 a is formed at the end 68 of the roller shaft 64. Further, a spiral groove 67a is also formed at the end 67 of the roller shaft 63, and when the roller shafts 63 and 64 rotate in the through holes 72 and 73 when the spreading member 71 is pushed in, the spiral groove 67a is formed. The groove 67a, 68a acts such that the spreading member 71 returns to its original position.

  A knob 74 connected to an end 67 of the roller shaft 63 by a small-diameter shaft 74a in the through hole 72 is disposed at a position protruding from the outer surface of the spreading member 71, and the driving roller 61 is manually rotated to rotate the knob 74. Can be rotated.

  The operation of the transport roller pressure release mechanism of FIGS. 4 and 5 will be described. When the spreading member 71 is at the solid line position in FIG. 4, the conveying roller pair 42 is in a state in which the driving roller 61 and the driven roller 62 are pressure-bonded and can be conveyed with the recording paper interposed therebetween. In this state, when the recording paper causes a conveyance failure such as a jam, the rotation of the driving roller 61 is stopped, and the opening / closing door 5a is opened by grasping the handle 5b from the front of the apparatus in FIG. 71 is pushed into the retaining member 75 in the pushing direction S of FIG.

  The end portion 67 of the roller shaft 63 and the end portion 68 of the roller shaft 64 are relatively moved by the pushing of the spreading member 71, and the end portion 67 enters the through hole 72 of the spreading member 71 and the end portion 68. Enters the through hole 73 of the spreading member 71. At this time, since the end 67 on the drive roller 61 side linearly enters the circular through hole 72, the rotation center axis b of the roller shaft 63 does not move.

  On the other hand, the end portion 68 on the driven roller 62 side moves from the arc portion 73a of the through hole 73 to the eccentric portion 73c so as to slide on the tapered portion 73b. When the end portion 68 is positioned at the circular eccentric portion 73c in this manner, the rotation center axis p of the roller shaft 64 coincides with the central axis p ′ of the eccentric portion 73c as shown by the broken line in FIG. Therefore, the distance L between the rotation centers of the rotation center axis b of the roller shaft 63 and the rotation center axis p of the roller shaft 64 is widened to become L ′, and the driven rollers 62 are driven at the ends 67 and 68. Move away from the roller 61.

  As described above, when a conveyance failure such as a jam of the recording paper occurs in the conveyance roller pair 42, the pressure-removal of the conveyance roller pair 42 is released, and the recording paper can be easily removed from the front side of the apparatus. . Note that when the recording paper is removed, the drive roller 61 can be manually rotated by the knob 74, so that the recording paper can be easily removed.

  Next, when the processing of the conveyance failure such as a jam is completed, the spreading member 71 can be easily returned to the original position by manually pulling the spreading member 71 and returning it to the direction S 'opposite to the pushing direction S. Further, even if the returning operation of the spreading member 71 is not performed, it can be automatically returned by rotating the driving roller 61.

  That is, when the driven roller 62 is rotated while the driven roller 62 is separated from the drive roller 61 at the end portions 67 and 68 and the driven roller 62 is also rotated, the end portions 67 and 68 are located in the through hole 72 and the through hole 73. A frictional force that rotates in the eccentric portion 73c and returns the expanding member 71 in the direction S ′ while the spiral grooves 67a and 68a of the end portions 67 and 68 are in contact with the inner surfaces of the through hole 72 and the eccentric portion 73c acts. Let The frictional force acting between the grooves 67a and 68a and the inner surfaces of the through-hole 72 and the eccentric portion 73c moves the spreading member 71 so as to be automatically pushed back in the direction S ′. 67 and 68 automatically return to the original positions in FIG.

  Note that the spiral groove may be formed in either one of the end portions 67 and 68. However, since the frictional force acts on both ends, the end portions 67 and 68 can be restored more smoothly. Done.

  As described above, according to the image recording apparatus of the present embodiment, when a conveyance failure such as a jam occurs on the recording paper by the conveyance roller pair 42, the driving roller 61 of the driven roller 62 is pressed by pushing the spreading member 71. Thus, it is possible to easily remove the recording paper that has caused the conveyance failure.

  Even if the operator forgets to return the driven roller 62 from the press release state to the press release state after removing the recording paper, when the driving roller 61 is rotated after the device is returned, the end portions 67 and 68 have spiral shapes. By rotating the roller shafts 63 and 64 provided with the grooves 67a and 68a, the expanding member 71 returns to the original position and can automatically return to the roller press-bonded state. For this reason, the conveyance failure of the recording paper due to forgetting to return the spreading member 71 can be prevented.

  As described above, the best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. For example, in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pushing member 71 is configured to move the roller shaft 64 of the driven roller 62, but may be configured to move the roller shaft 63 of the driving roller 61, You may comprise so that both roller shafts 63 and 64 may be moved.

  Further, the conveyance roller pressure release mechanism according to the present embodiment is provided in the conveyance roller pair 42 arranged immediately upstream of the rotary drum 10 of the image recording apparatus 1 in FIG. 2, but the other conveyance roller pairs 40, 41, 55 are provided. Of course, it may be provided.

  Further, the conveyance roller pressure release mechanism according to the present embodiment is not limited to an image recording apparatus that forms an image by winding a recording sheet around a rotary drum 10 as shown in FIGS. Of course, the present invention can be applied to other devices.

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 a main part of a feeding unit including a pair of conveyance rollers, a cutting unit, and the like of the image recording apparatus of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a main part of the conveying roller pair 42 in FIGS. 2 and 3 as viewed from the upper surface side of the apparatus. It is the figure which looked at the supporting member of FIG. 4 from the front.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image recording apparatus 5a Opening / closing door 10 Drum 11 Exposure unit 21 Development unit 42 Conveying roller pair 61 Drive roller (1st roller)
62 Followed roller (second roller)
63 Roller shaft (first roller shaft)
64 Roller shaft (second roller shaft)
64a Long hole 65 Bearing 66 Bearing 67 End portion 67a Spiral groove 68 End portion 68a Spiral groove 70 Support member 71 Expanding member 72 Through hole 73 Through hole 73a Arc portion 73b Taper portion 73c Eccentric portion 75 Retaining member 75a Holding part L Distance between axes R Direction of rotation S Push direction (axial direction)
S 'Opposite direction of pushing direction S

Claims (6)

For increasing the inter-axis distance between the first roller shaft and the second roller shaft at at least one end of the first roller shaft of the first roller and the second roller shaft of the second roller of the pair of transport rollers. Providing a spreading member,
When the pushing and spreading member is pushed in the axial direction of the roller, at least one of the first roller shaft and the second roller shaft moves so as to widen the distance between the shafts at the end portion. Roller pressure release mechanism. 2. The pressing by the pushing and expanding member is performed against the biasing force by the biasing member in a state where the first roller and the second roller are relatively biased and pressed by the biasing member. Conveyance roller pressure release mechanism. When the eccentric member is provided with an eccentric portion and the expansion member is pushed in, at least one of the end portions of the first roller shaft and the second roller shaft moves relative to the eccentric portion. The conveyance roller pressure release mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inter-axis distance is increased. A spiral groove is formed in at least one of the end portions of the first roller shaft and the second roller shaft, and after the distance between the shafts is increased, the rollers rotate to rotate the spiral groove. The conveyance roller pressure-release releasing mechanism according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the roller moves so that the end of the shaft rotates in the spreading member to return the distance between the axes. The first roller shaft and the second roller shaft are rotatably supported by a bearing provided on a support member, and the roller shaft supports the roller shaft when the roller shaft moves so as to increase the distance between the shafts. The transport roller pressure release mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a long hole is provided in the support member so that the bearing can move. 6. An image recording apparatus for recording an image by winding a sheet-shaped recording material on a rotating drum, wherein the conveying roller pair for conveying the recording material comprises the conveying roller pressure release mechanism according to claim 1. An image recording apparatus comprising:

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