JP2008169048A - Paper processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper processing device capable of improving the stability of positioning accuracy of a sheet-like elastic member and maintaining high paper conveyance performance. <P>SOLUTION: The paper processing device comprises a reverse path R3 for reversing a conveyed paper and a branch path for conveying out the reversed paper in a different direction from a conveying-in direction. Paper branching members 8 formed of paper branching mylar are fixed on a reverse path side portion of the branch path branched from the reverse path R3 so that tip portions projecting into the reverse path R3 are elastically deformed in a paper conveying direction to allow passing of the paper in the reverse path R3 when conveying-in of the paper and to block the passing in a counter-conveying-in direction in the reverse path R3 to guide the paper to a branching path side when reversing of the paper. Projecting parts for fixing the paper branching members 8 in a state of being elastically deformed in a direction perpendicular to the paper conveying direction are provided on a stick-on surface to which the paper branching members 8 are stuck. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper processing apparatus that is provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or the like, or is provided separately, and performs predetermined processing on paper, and in particular, an inversion processing function for inverting paper. The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus including

  In a sheet reversing device used in a conventional copying machine, a double-sided image forming apparatus of a printer, a post-processing apparatus after image formation, etc., a means for driving a switching claw with a solenoid or the like is used as a means for switching a transport path of a switched back sheet. It has been.

  On the other hand, as the productivity of the image forming apparatus increases, the paper conveyance speed has been increased and the paper interval during continuous printing has been shortened. For this reason, a sheet-like elastic member such as Mylar is used for switching the conveyance path to prevent the switched-back paper from returning to the carry-in conveyance path and to guide it to the carry-out conveyance path.

  However, in the case of a method using such a mylar, the positional accuracy of the sheet-like elastic member affects the paper conveyance performance. If the sheet-like elastic member has curls, warps, etc., the paper is caught and the paper is caught. Damage may occur, or paper jams may occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus capable of improving the positional accuracy stability of the sheet-like elastic member and maintaining high sheet conveyance performance. There is.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a paper processing apparatus comprising: a reversing path for reversing a paper that has been carried in; and a branching path for carrying out the reversed paper in a direction different from the carrying-in direction. Fixed to the surface on the reverse path side of the portion branched from the reverse path of the path, and when the paper is carried in, the tip protruding into the reverse path is elastically deformed in the paper transport direction to allow the paper to pass through the reverse path, A branch guide unit formed of a sheet-like elastic member that prevents the reverse path from passing in the reverse carry-in direction when the sheet is reversed and guides the sheet to the branch path side, and the branch guide unit is orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction. And holding means for holding in a state elastically deformed in the direction.

  The elastic deformation is imparted by providing a convex portion at the center of the surface to which the branch guide means is fixed. In addition, a cross section of the convex portion in a direction orthogonal to the paper conveyance direction is formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape, and the branch guide means is fixed to about 1/3 to 1/2 of the length in the paper guide direction. The width is set to 1/10 to 1/3 of the length of the branch guide means in the width direction. Furthermore, the height of the convex portion is set to 2 to 4 times the thickness of the branch guide means.

  The sheet-like elastic member is set to have a thickness of 100 to 200 μm, a length and a width of approximately 30 mm, and a plurality of the sheet-like elastic members are arranged in parallel. On the other hand, the convex part is formed with a width of 4 mm to 6 mm and a height of 350 to 500 μm at the center of the fixed surface for fixing the branch guide means.

  In the following embodiments, the reversing path is the reversing path R3, the branching path is branched from the reversing path R3, the pair of carry-out rollers 46, 47, and 50 are provided at the carry-out end, and the branch guide means is the paper branch member. 5, 6 and 8, the sheet-like elastic member corresponds to the sheet branch mylar M, and the holding means for holding the elastically deformed state corresponds to the convex portion M1 and the attaching surface M2, respectively.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the branch guide unit is supported in an elastically deformed state, the positional accuracy stability of the sheet branch unit can be improved, and the sheet conveyance performance can be improved.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a printer apparatus provided with a sheet reversing device as a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the printer apparatus includes an apparatus main body 10, a paper reversing device 40, and a finisher device 60. The paper reversing device 40 is detachably connected to the apparatus main body 10, and the finisher device is further connected to the paper reversing device 40. 60 is detachably connected to form one system. The paper reversing device 40 has a function of switching back the front and back of the transported paper P on which an image has been formed, and the finisher device 60 is predetermined when the paper P sent via the paper reversing device 40 is discharged. Has a function of performing post-processing. In this system, the paper P on which an image is formed by calling from any of the paper cassettes 11a, 11b, and 11c is discharged from the paper discharge tray 12 of the apparatus main body 10, the paper discharge tray 42 of the paper reversing device 40, or the finisher device 60. Paper is discharged to one of the paper trays 62a to 62n. Here, the paper processing device refers to each of the paper reversing device 40 alone, the device in which the paper post-processing device 60 and the paper reversing device 40 are connected, and these are integrated with the device main body 10 of the printer device. For example, the device.

  The apparatus main body 10 is detachably mounted with an image forming unit 13 that can form a monochrome or color image on the paper P and a fixing unit 14 that fixes the formed image on the paper P. As shown in the enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 2, the image forming unit 13 forms a conveyance path R1 so that the image carrying belt 15 conveys the paper P obliquely upward (transverse direction), and the carrying belt. The writing unit 16 scans the laser light L on the peripheral surfaces of the photosensitive drums 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17B arranged in parallel in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black along the line 15, and performs optical writing. An electrostatic latent image is formed. The formed electrostatic latent image is developed with toner by the developing units 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18B, and the toner image is transferred to one side of the paper P conveyed by the image carrying belt 15. The transferred image on the paper P is fixed by the fixing unit 14. The fixing unit 14 presses the pressure roller 19 heated by the built-in heater against the endless belt 20, and rotates in a pressed state to fix the toner image on the paper P received from the carrier belt 15.

  The writing unit 16 irradiates a two-stage polygon scanner 16a with laser light L emitted from a laser diode (not shown) based on the received image data for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. Deflection is performed by the group 16b, and electrostatic latent images are written by scanning the photosensitive drums 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17B.

  The sheet P is called by the calling roller 21 shown on the front end side of the sheet cassettes 11 a to 11 c for loading and storing sheets of different sizes, that is, on the right side in FIG. Separated and fed. The paper thus separated and fed is delivered to the registration roller pair 25 in front of the image forming unit 13 via the conveyance path R1 by the conveyance roller pair 23 and the grip roller pair 24. The sheet fed from the registration rotor pair 25 to the image forming unit 13 side and formed through the fixing unit 14 is discharged from the upper portion of the apparatus main body 10 via the conveyance path R1 by the branch roller pair 26 and the conveyance roller pair 23. The paper is delivered to the paper roller pair 27, and the paper is discharged and stacked on the paper discharge tray 12 with the front and back turned upside down so that the image surface formed immediately before faces downward.

  Note that the paper P from the paper cassette 11c is transferred from the grip roller pair 24 to the registration roller pair 25 using a conveyance roller pair 29 described later. The apparatus main body 10 is provided with an openable / closable manual feed tray on the right side surface in the drawing, from which paper P can be directly supplied to the registration roller pair 25, and the open / closed tray is opened below the manual feed tray. A door is provided so that the jammed paper P can be removed when calling.

  Further, the apparatus main body 10 includes a pair of grip rollers on the conveyance path R1 via a re-conveyance path R2 including a conveyance roller pair 28 and a conveyance roller pair 29 of the double-side conveyance apparatus provided in parallel below the image carrier belt 15. By passing the paper to the image forming unit 13 and the registration roller pair 25, the paper P can be conveyed again to the image forming unit 13 to form an image. This re-carrying path R2 is carried out by switching the conveyance direction of the paper P on which the image is formed on one side by the image forming unit 13 by switching a branch claw (not shown) arranged on the downstream side of the branch roller pair 26. The pair of rollers 30 carries out the paper P from the carry-out port 31 opened on the left side surface of the apparatus main body 10 to the paper reversing device 40 which is an external device, and the paper reversing device 40 reverses the front and back of the paper P. By carrying in from a carry-in entrance 32 that opens below 31, the pair of conveyance rollers 28 of the double-sided conveyance device receives it.

  Accordingly, the paper P on which the image is formed on one side by being transported from any of the paper cassettes 11 a to 11 c to the image forming unit 13 is reversed by the paper reversing device 40 and can be transported again to the image forming unit 13. As a result, an image can be formed on the back surface of the paper P and the image can be formed on both sides without inverting the front and back of the paper P in the apparatus main body 10. Thus, by eliminating the need for a switchback mechanism for reversing the front and back of the paper P in the apparatus main body 10, the photosensitive drums 17Y to 17B can be arranged in parallel, and the paper cassettes 11b and 11c are arranged. Is possible. Further, a manual feed tray and an opening / closing cover (not shown) can be provided on the front end side (the above-described right side in the drawing) of the paper cassettes 11a to 11c. At this time, after the image of the even page (for example, the second page) is formed on one side of the paper P, the image of the odd page (for example, the first page) is formed on the surface opposite to the image forming surface of the paper P. By forming on the (back side), the paper P to be discharged onto the paper discharge roller pair 27 at the top of the apparatus main body 10 can be stacked in the page order.

  On the other hand, the sheet reversing device 40 is provided along the reversing path R3 and the reversing path R3 for reversing the sheet carried from the apparatus main body 10 and carrying it out to the apparatus main body side 10 or to the finisher 60 side. The upper reversing roller pair 43 and the lower reversing roller pair 44 are provided, and a branch for switching the face-up transport path R4 for carrying out to the paper discharge tray 42 and the reversing path R3 and the face-up transport path R4. A nail 48 is provided. Further, a pair of carry-out rollers 47 that are carried out to the finisher 60 side, a pair of carry-out rollers 46 that are carried out to the apparatus body 10 side, and a pair of paper discharge rollers 49 that carry out the paper to the paper discharge tray 42 are provided at the carry-out ends of the respective paths. ing. Details of the sheet reversing device 40 will be described later.

  The sheet reversing device 40 guides the sheet P carried out from the carry-out port 31 of the apparatus main body 10 so that the upper reversing roller pair 43 receives the paper P and descends downward from the leading end along the reversing path R3. Pass to pair 44. The lower reversing roller pair 44 reverses and switches back at the timing of pinching the rear end of the paper P, and switches the transport direction with a paper branching member described later, thereby passing the paper P with the front and back reversed to the carry-out roller pair 46. The paper is transferred from the carry-in port 32 of the apparatus main body 10 to the conveyance roller pair 28 of the double-side conveyance device on the re-conveyance path R2. Therefore, the front and back of the paper P can be reversed and returned into the apparatus main body 10 by a compact switchback in the vertical direction by the paper reversing apparatus 40 connected to the outside of the apparatus main body 10. At this time, the paper P carried out from the carry-out port 31 of the apparatus main body 10 via the carrying route R1 may be carried into the re-carrying route R2 located below the carrying route R1 from the carry-in port 32 opened downward. Therefore, the transport path of the paper P to be circulated does not intersect, and the transport of the next paper P from the transport outlet 31 can be started before the transport of the paper P to the transport inlet 32 is completed. Thus, it is possible to carry out and carry in the paper P continuously without opening a large space (between papers) between the previous and next paper P to be transported.

  The sheet reversing device 40 reverses and switches back at the timing when the upper reversing roller pair 43 pinches the rear end of the sheet P, and switches the conveyance direction with a sheet branching member described later, thereby reversing the sheet P with the front and back reversed. The carry-out roller pair 47 is carried into the finisher device 60 from the carry-in port 63. The finisher device 60 receives the paper P that has been carried in from the carry-in port 63 and is sorted by the number of print copies, for example, according to the post-designation processing at the time of paper discharge. The sheets 65n are discharged to the sheet discharge trays 62a to 62n, so that the sheets P whose front and back are reversed by the sheet reversing device 40 can be stacked in the page order. Therefore, it is possible to stack the sheets P arranged in the page order on the paper discharge trays 62a to 62n without constructing a mechanism for switching the sheets P back to the finisher device 60 and reversing the front and back.

  Further, the sheet reversing device 40 switches the conveyance direction of the paper P carried out from the carry-out port 31 of the apparatus main body 10 to the conveyance path R4 side above the reversing roller pair 43 by the branching claw 48, and the paper discharge roller pair 49 as it is. Thus, the sheet P can be discharged and stacked on the discharge tray 42 with the surface on which the image is formed facing up without turning the sheet P upside down. Therefore, for example, when manually feeding OHP or the like, if the paper discharge tray 42 is designated as a paper discharge destination, there is no load applied when curving and reversing, so the quality of the image formed on the surface is degraded. The sheet can be discharged and stacked on the sheet discharge tray 42 without being caused to occur.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the paper P can be reversed in a compact manner by switching back and forth in the vertical direction without using the space in the apparatus main body 10 by using a mechanism for switching the paper P back and reversing the front and back. The reversing device 40 can be used as the apparatus main body 10 and the finisher device 60 to perform an operation using a reversing operation. As a result, a plurality of types of paper P are called from the paper cassettes 11a to 11c and conveyed across the apparatus main body 10 while color images are formed on both sides of the paper P by the photosensitive drums 17Y to 17B of each color arranged side by side. Can be formed, and the paper P can be discharged and stacked at any page order and at any position. Therefore, the versatility and convenience of the printer device can be improved without unnecessarily increasing the size of the entire device.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer apparatus showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, the same parts as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

  In FIG. 3, the apparatus main body 10 passes the paper P, which is called from the paper cassette 11a by the calling roller 21 and the separation paper feed roller pair 22 and separated and fed, into the slit 33 opened on the placement surface of the paper cassette 11b. Then, a slit 34 is provided on the bottom surface on which the paper cassette 11a is placed, and the paper cassette 11d can be stacked together with the calling roller 21 and the separation paper feed roller pair 22. It is like that.

  When the sheet cassette 11d is added to the apparatus main body 10, the sheet reversing device 40 does not correspond to the carry-in port 63 of the finisher device 60, so that the lower reversing roller pair 44 holds the rear end of the sheet P. At the same time, the sheet is reversed and switched back, and the conveyance direction is switched by a sheet branching member, which will be described later, so that the sheet P with the unloading roller pair 50 reversed can be carried into the finisher device 60 from the carry-in entrance 63. It has become. Details of the sheet reversing device 40 will be described later.

  Thus, in this embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, even if the paper cassettes 11d are stacked and added, the paper P with the front and back reversed can be delivered to the finisher device 60. The sheets P can be discharged and stacked in the page order on the discharge trays 62a to 62n. Therefore, the finisher device 60 is not disabled due to the addition of the sheet cassette 11d to the apparatus main body 10.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the upper reversing roller pair 43 and the lower reversing roller pair 44 of the sheet reversing device 40 and the carry-out roller pairs 46 and 50 are separately driven. Driven by a motor. Thereby, before the carry-in of the paper P to the carry-in port 32 is completed, the carry-out of the next paper P from the carry-out port 31 can be started. Further, by incorporating a one-way clutch in the pair of carry-out rollers 46, 47, 50, the sheet P that has come off from the pair of reverse rollers 43, 44 is conveyed by the pair of conveyance rollers 28 of the double-sided conveyance device inside the apparatus body 10 and the finisher device 60. After the pair of rollers 64 is nipped, the driving direction of the pair of reverse rollers 43 and 44 is driven in the direction opposite to the conveying direction of the paper P, so that the paper P can be carried out and carried in continuously.

  Further, it is possible to make a difference between the conveyance speed when the paper P is carried out from the carry-out port 31 of the apparatus main body 10 and the conveyance speed when the paper P is carried in from the carry-in ports 32 and 63, and further a paper reversing device. By setting the conveyance speed of the paper P by 40 to be higher than the conveyance speed from the carry-out port 31 of the apparatus main body 10 and setting it to be equal to or slower than the carry-in speed to the carry-in ports 32 and 63, the stop time of the paper P A large gap (inter-paper) can be generated between the preceding and succeeding sheets P without increasing the sheet, and the leading and trailing edges of the sheet P can be detected reliably without collision between the switched-back sheet and the succeeding sheet. Thus, it is possible to realize switching of the conveyance path.

≪Paper reversing device≫
A paper reversing device as a paper processing device applied to the first and second embodiments will be described.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of the sheet reversing device 40 and the printer device 10 connected to the apparatus main body 10. In FIG. 4, the branching claw 48 is driven by a solenoid (not shown) in order to switch the paper P carried out from the carry-out port 31 of the printer apparatus main body 10 between the upper face-up conveyance path R4 and the lower reverse path R3. In the default state, the branching claw 48 is positioned upward as shown in FIG. 4, and guides the paper P toward the reversing path R3. The reversing path R3 has a branch path to the pair of carry-out rollers 47 and 50 to the finisher device 60 and to the pair of carry-out rollers 46 to the printer apparatus main body 10, and the paper branch members 5, 6, and 8 are at the respective path branch points. Is provided. In the vicinity of the paper discharge roller pair 49 and the carry-out roller pairs 47 and 50, paper discharge sensors 1, 9, and 7 are provided to detect the leading and trailing edges of the paper discharged from the paper reversing device 40.

  The paper carried into the printer apparatus main body 10 from the paper reversing device 40 is detected by the double-sided conveyance sensor 3 of the double-sided conveyance apparatus installed inside the printer apparatus main body 10. A reversing sensor 4 is disposed in the vicinity of the lower reversing roller pair 44, and the reversing sensor 4 detects the leading edge of the paper P that is transported down the reversing path R3. The switchback timing is determined for each of the carry-out rollers 46, 47, 50). The determination of the timing is performed by the CPU of a control circuit (not shown) processing according to a program written in the ROM. Information from each of the sensors 1, 3, 4, 7, and 9 is processed and stored in a RAM (not shown), and the CPU uses the RAM as a work area based on the information stored in the RAM. The process is executed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the sheet branching members 5, 6, and 8 are made of a substantially square-shaped Mylar M having a side of approximately 30 mm, and are symmetrically about the center in the sheet transport direction and are first and second in the direction perpendicular to the sheet transport direction. In the second embodiment, seven are arranged. At the path branch point, the Mylar M is fixed to the upper conveyance guide (surface on the reverse path side of the carry-out path) by the double-sided tape, and the tip of the Mylar M is conveyed by the opposite guide on the carry-in path (reverse path R3) side. Set to overlap the ribs. The length of the fixed part of this mylar is, for example, 12 mm to 15 mm.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an operation when the paper P is re-fed from the paper reversing device 40 to the printer apparatus main body 10.

  In the figure, after the reversing sensor 4 detects the leading edge of the sheet P that has been conveyed down the reversing path R3, the lower reversing roller 44 conveys the sheet P until the trailing edge of the sheet falls below the leading edge position of the sheet branching member 5. . With the rear end of the paper reaching below the front end position of the paper branching member 5, the lower reverse roller 44 is reversely rotated to switch back the paper P. The paper P is guided by the right side surface of the paper branching member 5 and conveyed to the carry-out roller 46. The inversion timing is as described above.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation when the paper P is carried out from the paper reversing device 40 to the finisher device 60 in the first embodiment.

  In the drawing, after the reversing sensor 4 detects the leading edge of the sheet P that has been conveyed down the reversing path R3, the reversing rollers 43 and 44 descend and convey until the trailing edge of the sheet falls below the leading edge position of the sheet branching member 8. To do. With the rear end of the paper reaching below the front end position of the paper branching member 8, the reverse rollers 43 and 44 are rotated in the reverse direction to switch back the paper. The paper is guided to the left side surface of the paper branching member 8 and conveyed to the carry-out roller 47 side. The inversion timing is as described above.

  FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the operation when the paper P is carried out from the paper reversing device 40 to the finisher device 60 in the second embodiment.

  In the figure, after the reversing sensor 4 detects the leading edge of the sheet P that has been conveyed down the reversing path R3, the lower reversing roller 44 conveys the sheet P until the trailing edge of the sheet falls below the leading edge position of the sheet branching member 6. . With the trailing edge of the paper at a position intermediate between the leading edge position of the paper branching member 6 and the leading edge position of the paper branching member 5, the lower reverse roller 44 is rotated reversely to switch the paper P. The paper P is guided by the left side surface of the paper branching member 6 and conveyed to the carry-out roller 47. The inversion timing is as described above.

  Since the sheet branching members 8, 6 and 5 are arranged so as to obliquely block the descending conveyance path of the reversing path R3, the sheet P to be conveyed downward is guided by the sheet branching members 8, 6, and 5 at the path branching point. In addition, the sheet branching member is bent and the process proceeds. The bent sheet branching members 8, 6, 5 are restored after the rear end of the sheet P has passed, and the switched-back sheet P is guided to the carry-out conveyance path to the finisher device 60 or the apparatus body 10. For this reason, if the amount of overlap between the leading end positions of the sheet branching members 8, 6 and 5 and the conveying ribs of the opposing guides in the descending conveying path (reversing path R3) is too large, the conveying load of the sheet P to be conveyed descending becomes large. Therefore, the paper P deflects the paper branching members 8, 6, and 5 and cannot enter, causing jamming. On the other hand, if the overlap amount is too small, it becomes impossible to stably guide the switched-back paper to the carry-out conveyance path, and in the case of curled or wavy paper, the paper is caught by the paper branching members 8, 6, 5. Damage such as scratches or breakage may occur, or jams may occur.

  In the case of the sheet branching members 5, 6, and 8 having a substantially square shape with a side of about 30 mm in this embodiment, for example, Mylar M having a thickness of 100 μm to 200 μm can be used. For example, when the Mylar M having a thickness of 125 μm is used, the overlap amount of the leading end of the paper branch Mylar M and the conveying rib of the opposing guide is 2 to 2.5 mm when the paper branch Mylar M is an ideal plane. It is good to set to. However, since the Mylar M has curls and warps, the overlap amount is not stable, and the Mylar tip tends to rise with respect to the attachment surface, so the overlap amount tends to decrease.

  For this reason, as can be seen from the perspective view showing the state of the mylar M and the mylar mounting portion constituting the paper branching members 5, 6 and 8 in FIG. 8, the sticking surface M1 of the paper branch mylar M is set to a simple plane. First, the convex portion M2 is formed in the center of the pasting surface M1 in the width direction, and the spine is put in the center of the pasted paper branch mylar M to be corrected by applying the stiffness, in other words, held in an elastically deformed state. This prevents warping of the tip of Mylar M. By doing so, it is possible to obtain a stable overlap amount between the leading end of the sheet branch mylar M and the conveyance rib of the opposing guide, and the conveyance performance of the sheet reversing device 40 can be improved.

  The degree of correction with respect to the sheet branch mylar M can be adjusted by the width and height dimensions of the convex portion M2 of the attaching surface M1. The cross-sectional shape of the convex portion M2 may be a substantially trapezoidal shape or a substantially arc shape. However, in the case of the same width and height dimensions, the trapezoidal shape is more effective in correcting the sheet branch mylar than the arc shape due to the effect of the edge of the convex portion M2. Further, when the width dimension of the convex portion M2 is narrowed, the same correction effect cannot be obtained unless the height is increased as compared with the case where the width is wide.

  However, when correction is performed by providing the convex portion M2 on the affixing surface M1 of the sheet branch mylar M in this way, the front end position of the sheet branch mylar M is more relative to the affixed surface than when the ideal plane is used. It becomes higher and shifts in the direction of decreasing overlap amount. Further, the front end of the sheet branch mylar M is also slightly arc-shaped, and the center portion is higher than both end portions. Therefore, the size of the convex portion M2 is wider and the correction effect becomes larger as the height is increased, but the overlap amount between the sheet branch mylar and the conveying rib of the opposing guide is reduced, and the sheet conveying performance is deteriorated. It will be. Therefore, the width of the convex portion M2 is preferably set to a size of 1/10 to 1/3 with respect to the entire width of the sheet branch mylar M. Further, it is desirable that the height of the convex portion M2 is set in the range of 2 to 4 times the thickness of the sheet branch mylar M. As described above, in order to obtain almost the same correction effect, there is a possibility of a plurality of settings depending on the combination of the width and height of the convex portion M2, but it is determined by other factors which combination is selected. Can do.

  In this embodiment, the sheet branch mylar M has a substantially square shape with a side of about 30 mm (the length of the fixed portion is 12 to 15 mm) and a thickness of 125 μm. However, the width of the convex portion M2 is 4 to 6 mm and is high. By setting the thickness to 350 μm to 500 μm, the sheet branch mylar M can be brought into a sufficiently corrected state (elastically deformed state), and a sufficient margin for the sheet conveyance performance can be obtained. For example, when the height of the convex portion M2 is 550 μm, the overlap amount of the leading end of the sheet branch mylar M and the conveying rib of the opposing guide, which is set to 2.1 mm with the sheet branch mylar M set as an ideal plane, is reduced to about 1.7 mm. As a result, the margin for the transport performance of the switched-back paper is reduced. On the other hand, when the height of the convex portion M2 is set to 300 μm, the correction effect of the paper branch mylar M is obtained in the initial state, but the correction effect disappears as the paper is passed, and the leading edge of the paper branch mylar M rises. Occurs and becomes unstable over time. On the other hand, if the height of the convex portion is 200 μm or less, a sufficient correction effect cannot be obtained even in the initial state.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the paper branching members 5, 6, and 8 are elastically deformed in the paper transport direction, and the branch guide unit is supported in a state of being elastically deformed in a direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction. The positional accuracy stability of the branch members 5, 6, and 8 can be improved, and the paper conveyance performance can be improved.

  Since the sheet branch mylar M is elastically deformed by providing the convex portion M2 at the center of the affixing surface M1 of the sheet branch mylar M in this way, the positions of the sheet branch members 5, 6, and 8 can be easily configured. Accuracy stability can be improved and paper conveyance performance can be improved.

  Further, since the cross section of the convex portion M2 in the direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction is formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape, the paper branch members 5, 6, and 8 can be easily elastically deformed so as to exhibit desired characteristics. Can do. At that time, it is not necessary to increase the height and width of the convex portion M2, and the margin of the sheet conveyance performance can be sufficiently maintained by bringing the position of the branch guide means closer to the set position.

  Furthermore, by setting the width dimension and height dimension of the convex portion M2 within the appropriate dimension ranges as described above, it is possible to sufficiently correct the sheet branching means and to provide a sufficient margin for the sheet conveyance performance. Can be secured.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer device including a paper reversing device as a paper processing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a main part enlarged view showing an image forming unit of the printer apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a schematic block diagram of the printer apparatus provided with the paper inversion apparatus as a paper processing apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is an enlarged view of the sheet reversing device according to the first and second embodiments connected to the apparatus main body. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state when a sheet is carried out to a branch path from a reverse path to a transport path R2. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state when a sheet is unloaded from a reverse path to a finisher in the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state when a sheet is unloaded from a reversing path to a finisher in the second embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the state of the mylar as a paper branch part member, and its attachment part.

Explanation of symbols

1, 3, 4, 7, 9 Sensor 5, 6, 8 Paper branch member (paper branch Mylar M)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 (Printer) apparatus main body 13 Image forming unit 14 Fixing unit 15 Image carrier unit 16 Writing unit 17Y, 17M, 17C, 17B Photosensitive drum 40 Paper reversing device 43 Upper reversing roller pair 44 Lower reversing roller pair 48 Branch claw 60 Finisher Device M (paper branch) Mylar M1 Pasting surface M2 Convex P Paper R1 Transport route R2 Re-transport route R3 Reverse route R4 Face-up transport route

Claims (5)

In a paper processing apparatus provided with a reversing path for reversing a paper that has been carried in, and a branching path for carrying out the reversed paper in a direction different from the carrying-in direction,
It is fixed to the surface on the reverse path side of the portion branched from the reverse path of the branch path,
When the paper is carried in, the tip protruding into the reversing path is elastically deformed in the paper conveying direction to allow the paper to pass through the reversing path, and when the paper is reversed, the reversing path is prevented from passing in the anti-carrying direction,
Branch guide means formed from a sheet-like elastic member for guiding paper to the branch path side;
Holding means for holding the branch guide means in a state of being elastically deformed in a direction perpendicular to the paper conveyance direction;
A sheet processing apparatus comprising:   2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic deformation is imparted by providing a convex portion at a center of a surface to which the branch guide means is fixed.   In the branch guide means, approximately 1/3 to 1/2 of the length in the sheet guide direction is fixed, and the width of the convex portion is set to 1/10 to 1/3 of the length in the width direction of the branch guide means. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is provided.   The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the height of the convex portion is set to be 2 to 4 times the thickness of the branch guide means.   The sheet-like elastic member has a thickness of 100 to 200 µm, a length and a width of about 30 mm, and a plurality of the sheet-like elastic members are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval. Paper processing equipment.

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