JP2009023794A - Paper conveying device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper conveying device capable of easily performing jam treating with a simple mechanism and an image forming apparatus equipped with the paper conveying device. <P>SOLUTION: A storage part 271 is disposed at the position where the paper can be stocked and accessed from the front surface. A switching part 230 selectively switches a paper conveying destination from a conveying path to the storage part 271 side. A first detection part 241 is disposed at the upstream side with respect to the switching part 230 in the conveying path. A second detection part 242 is disposed at the downstream side with respect to the switching part 230 in the conveying path. First conveying means 211, 212 are disposed at the upstream side with respect to the first detection part 241 in the conveying path. Second conveying means 221, 222 are disposed at the downstream side with respect to the second detection part 242 in the conveying path. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus that conveys a sheet from a sheet feeding unit to a sheet discharging unit, and an image forming apparatus including the sheet conveying apparatus.

  When a jam occurs in the paper transport device, it is necessary to operate the paper transport device according to a predetermined procedure in order to handle the jam, which is troublesome and cumbersome.

Therefore, when a jam occurs, the door is opened as the conveyance path opening means to open the conveyance path, and the user removes the jammed paper from the paper conveyance device. There has been proposed a purge processing technique for forcibly automatically discharging a sheet when the sheet still remains in the conveyance path (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-158666 A

  However, in the prior art described in Patent Document 1, the user must remove the jammed paper every time a jam occurs.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a paper transport device that can easily perform jam processing with a simple mechanism, and an image forming apparatus including the paper transport device.

  The paper transport device of the present invention includes a storage unit, a switching unit, a first detection unit, a second detection unit, a first transport unit, a second transport unit, and a control unit. The storage section is arranged at a position where paper can be stocked and accessible from the front. The switching unit selectively switches the paper transport destination from the transport path to the storage unit. The first detection unit is disposed on the upstream side of the switching unit in the conveyance path. The second detection unit is disposed on the downstream side of the switching unit in the conveyance path. The first transport unit is disposed upstream of the first detection unit in the transport path. The second transport unit is disposed on the downstream side of the second detection unit in the transport path. The control unit switches the sheet conveyance destination to the storage unit side when a sheet conveyance abnormality occurs when the sheet is detected by the first detection unit and not detected by the second detection unit. To control.

  In this configuration, when a sheet conveyance abnormality occurs when the sheet is detected by the first detection unit and not detected by the second detection unit, the sheet conveyance destination is switched to the storage unit side by the switching unit. Then, the abnormal conveyance sheet is conveyed to the storage unit by the first conveyance unit. Therefore, if the paper transport device of the present invention is provided in a place where a paper transport abnormality is likely to occur, the trouble of removing the transport abnormal paper by opening the transport path every time a paper transport abnormality occurs can be saved. Since the storage unit is disposed at a position accessible from the front surface, it is easy to remove the paper accumulated in the storage unit. Further, since the storage portion has a space for storing sheets, the sheets may be removed when the sheets are collected to some extent.

  The paper conveying apparatus according to the present invention can easily perform jam processing with a simple mechanism.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a paper transport device and an image forming apparatus including the paper transport device according to the best embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a reading unit 180, an image forming unit 160, a paper feeding unit 170, and a paper conveying device 200.

  The reading unit 180 reads image information on a sheet placed on the reading unit 180.

  The image forming unit 160 forms an image on the conveyed paper.

  The paper feed unit 170 feeds paper one by one from the paper feed tray or the manual feed tray.

  The paper transport apparatus 200 includes a moving unit 260 and a waste toner box 270.

  The moving unit 260 does not require a special mechanism, uses a general drawer mechanism, and can move to the front side.

  The waste toner box 270 is a place for storing waste toner generated at each location in the printing process.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a CPU 110, a RAM 120, a ROM 130, an HDD 140, a paper conveyance device 200, an image forming unit 160, a paper feeding unit 170, a reading unit 180, a first detection sensor 241 and a second detection sensor 242. . The CPU 110 corresponds to the control unit of the present invention.

  The CPU 110 generally controls the RAM 120, the HDD 140, the paper conveyance device 200, the image forming unit 160, the paper feeding unit 170, and the reading unit 180.

  The RAM 120 is used as a working area for the CPU 110.

  The ROM 130 stores a program for causing the CPU 110 to execute.

  The HDD 140 stores print data spools and analyzed print data.

  The paper transport device 200 transports paper from the paper feed unit to the paper discharge unit.

  The first detection sensor 241 and the second detection sensor 242 are provided for detecting a paper conveyance abnormality.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the sheet conveying device and a processing method when a jam occurs. The sheet transport apparatus 200 includes transport rollers 211 and 212, a first detection sensor 241, a moving unit 260, and a waste toner box 270. The transport rollers 211 and 212 correspond to the first transport unit of the present invention.

  The transport rollers 211 and 212 transport the paper 250 to the downstream side of the transport path.

  The first detection sensor 241 detects the presence or absence of the paper 250 and the jam of the paper 250.

  The moving unit 260 supports the conveyance rollers 221 and 222, the gate 230, and the second detection sensor 242. The transport rollers 221 and 222 correspond to the second transport unit of the present invention. The gate 230 corresponds to the switching unit of the present invention. The moving unit 260 does not require a special mechanism, uses a general drawer mechanism, and can move to the front side.

  The transport rollers 221 and 222 transport the paper 250 to the downstream side of the transport path.

  The gate 230 selectively switches the transport destination of the paper 250 from the transport path to the paper storage unit 271 side. The gate 230 can swing around the shaft 231.

  The second detection sensor 242 detects the presence / absence of the sheet 250 and the jam of the sheet 250.

  The waste toner box 270 supports the paper storage unit 271 and the waste toner bottle 272. The paper storage unit 271 is a place for storing jammed paper. The waste toner bottle 272 is a place for temporarily storing waste toner. The waste toner box 270 is disposed at a position accessible from the front surface. By disposing at this position, the paper stored in the paper storage unit 271 can be taken out from the space for replacing the waste toner box 270. Therefore, the stored paper can be easily removed.

  FIG. 3A is a diagram in which the sheet 250 is detected only by the first detection sensor 241. When the paper 250 is jammed at this position, the gate 230 is switched so as to guide the paper 250 toward the paper storage portion 271 as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4A is a diagram in which the sheet 250 is detected by both the first detection sensor 241 and the second detection sensor 242. When the paper 250 is jammed at this position, the conveyance rollers 211, 212, 221, and 222 are rotated forward, and the paper 250 is conveyed to the position shown in FIG. After the sheet 250 is conveyed to the position shown in FIG. 4B, the user can pull out the moving unit 260 and perform jam processing.

  FIG. 4B is a diagram in which the sheet 250 is detected only by the second detection sensor 242. When the paper 250 is jammed at this position, the rotation of the conveying rollers 221 and 222 stops and the paper 250 stays at this position. Therefore, the user can pull out the moving unit 260 and perform jam processing.

  If the paper 250 is jammed when the paper 250 is not detected by both the first detection sensor 241 and the second detection sensor 242, the paper 250 remains in the jammed position. The user opens the conveyance path opening means such as a door corresponding to the jammed position to open the conveyance path, and removes the sheet 250.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing detection and handling of paper jam in the paper transport device. When a jam is detected by the first detection sensor 241 (S10), it is determined whether a jam is detected by the second detection sensor 242 (S20). If the jam is not detected by the second detection sensor 242, the jammed paper is moved to the paper storage unit 271 (S30). When a jam is detected in S20, the jammed paper is moved so that the upstream end of the jammed paper reaches the moving unit 260 (S40). If no jam is detected in S10, it is determined whether the second detection sensor 242 has detected a jam (S50). If a jam is detected in S50, the conveyance of the jammed paper is stopped (S60). If no jam is detected in S50, the process is terminated.

  If the paper remains in the conveyance path even after processing the jammed paper, the CPU 110 controls the residual paper to be conveyed to the paper storage unit 271. By this control, it is possible to suppress the sheet from remaining in the conveyance path, and it is possible to prevent the jam from recurring when the sheet conveyance path 200 is redriven.

  In the present embodiment, the first transport unit and the second transport unit are illustrated as transport rollers, but other types such as a belt-type transport unit and an air-type transport unit may be used. Depending on the application and form of the paper transport apparatus 200, it can be used properly.

  The first detection sensor 241 and the second detection sensor 242 of the present embodiment may be optical sensors or contact sensors. The form is not limited as long as a paper conveyance abnormality can be detected.

  The paper transport apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment can be applied to any location of the image forming apparatus 100. It is effective when applied to a place where a paper conveyance abnormality is likely to occur, for example, a place where the conveyance path is curved.

  The storage unit that is a place for storing jammed paper in the present embodiment is the paper storage unit 271 as an example, but may be a replacement space such as supplies or image forming parts. The storage unit may be provided in any location as long as the same effect as that when the jammed paper is stored in the paper storage unit 271 can be obtained.

  Finally, the description of the above-described embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above embodiments but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the paper conveying apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the paper conveying apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart when a paper conveyance abnormality is detected in the paper conveyance device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

110-CPU (control unit)
200-paper transport device 211, 212-transport roller (first transport means)
221 and 222-conveying rollers (second conveying means)
230-gate (switching unit)
241-first detection sensor (first detection unit)
242-second detection sensor (second detection unit)
271-Paper storage unit (storage unit)

Claims (7)

A storage unit that can stock paper and is accessible from the front,
A switching unit that selectively switches the paper transport destination from the transport path to the storage unit;
A first detection unit disposed upstream of the switching unit in the transport path;
A second detection unit disposed downstream of the switching unit in the transport path;
First conveying means disposed on the upstream side of the first detection unit in the conveying path;
Second conveying means disposed on the downstream side of the second detection unit in the conveying path;
When a paper conveyance abnormality occurs when the paper is detected by the first detection unit and not detected by the second detection unit, the switching unit switches the paper conveyance destination to the storage unit side. A control unit for controlling
A sheet conveying apparatus comprising:   The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a moving unit that supports the switching unit, the second detecting unit, and the second conveying unit and is capable of moving to the front side.   The control unit is configured to detect the first conveyance unit and the first conveyance unit when a conveyance error of the sheet occurs when the sheet is detected by the first detection unit and the second detection unit. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 2, further controlling so that an upstream end of the sheet is forwarded to the moving unit by a conveying unit.   In the case where a sheet conveyance abnormality occurs when the sheet is not detected by the first detection unit and is detected by the second detection unit, the control unit causes the second conveyance unit to move the sheet to the sheet. The paper conveyance device according to claim 1, further controlling to stop the conveyance of the paper.   The paper conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper stocked in the storage unit can be taken out from a space for replacing a waste toner box.   The paper transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit further controls to transport a part of the paper remaining in the transport path to the storage unit.   An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet conveying device according to claim 1.

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