JP2012144303A - Sheet conveying device, and image forming apparatus including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

In a sheet conveying apparatus including a sheet conveying path that sequentially receives sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus and is formed by guide members facing each other with a predetermined width, the sheet conveying resistance in the conveying path is reduced and bending is reduced. And a sheet conveying apparatus capable of saving space, and an image forming apparatus including the sheet conveying apparatus.
A conveyance device includes a portion in which a sheet conveyance path formed by guides that sequentially receive sheets P discharged from an image forming apparatus and face each other with a predetermined width is curved. A pair of auxiliary members 602 and 602 are provided that are movable along the transport path in the transport path. The guide auxiliary member 602 is provided with a rotatable roller 602 a at a portion in contact with the paper P. Further, this roller is a low friction material and prevents an increase in the conveyance load on the paper P due to the roller itself. That is, by guiding a portion having a high conveyance resistance, the conveyance resistance of the sheet is reduced and bending is reduced.
[Selection] Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus or a sheet conveying apparatus that is attached to an image forming apparatus or the like and receives and conveys a sheet (recording paper) discharged from the apparatus.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer or a color image copying machine using an electrophotographic method, generally, image data input from a personal computer or an image input apparatus is exposed by a laser or the like to an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum. On the other hand, an electrostatic latent image is formed, and after developing the toner by the developing device, the image is transferred to the paper, and then the image is fixed and discharged by melting the toner on the paper by the heating roller type fixing device. It has been.

  Devices that automate operations by connecting post-processing devices such as staplers, punch holes, sorting (collation), bookbinding, folding, etc., to such image forming apparatuses are also provided. As a post-processing apparatus having such a function, an apparatus having a transport device for transporting a recording medium to a post-processing unit is known.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a conveyance device including a sheet deflection correcting unit that forcibly holds a sheet having a deflection in a conveyance path on an outer guide member by a guide member movable in the deflection direction from the inside of the deflection. It is disclosed. Further, Patent Document 2 includes a rotating roller on a guide surface outside the curved conveying path, a shaft support member that can freely support the axis of the rotating roller in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, and friction resistance during sheet conveyance. A conveying apparatus having a reduced size is disclosed.

  However, in the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the bending of the sheet is forcibly held, there is a possibility that the conveyance load becomes large and the conveyance becomes unstable. In the invention disclosed in Patent Document 2, the roller that reduces the frictional resistance during sheet conveyance does not move in the sheet conveyance direction. Therefore, even when the point at which the frictional resistance increases depending on the sheet size or the like, the roller contacts the sheet at a fixed position. Therefore, the frictional resistance cannot be reduced efficiently, and if the point where the frictional resistance increases and the roller position do not match, the conveyance of the sheet may be unstable.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and provides a sheet conveying apparatus capable of reducing sheet conveying resistance in a conveying path, reducing bending, and saving space, and an image forming apparatus including the sheet conveying apparatus. The purpose is to do.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet conveying apparatus including a sheet conveying path formed by guide members that sequentially receive sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus and face each other with a predetermined width. A guide auxiliary member is provided that is movable along the transport path in the transport path having a curved portion.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the sheet conveying apparatus according to the first aspect, the conveying paths are all curved paths.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the sheet conveying apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the guide auxiliary member can enter and exit the conveying path.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the sheet conveying apparatus according to the first or third aspect, the moving speed or moving distance of the guide auxiliary member is variable.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the sheet conveying apparatus includes means for detecting a sheet state, and the means for detecting the sheet state is the image. A means for receiving different information depending on a sheet to be printed, which is transmitted from a transmitting means for transmitting sheet information of the forming apparatus, and determines a moving speed or a moving distance of the guide auxiliary member based on the information received by the means for detecting the sheet state. It is characterized by making it different.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the sheet information is a sheet size.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the sheet information is a sheet thickness.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in the sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the guide auxiliary member is a rotatable roller.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the guide auxiliary member is a low friction material.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the conveyance path includes a sheet position detecting unit, and the movement distance of the guide auxiliary member is set according to the sheet position. It is characterized by making it different.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, the conveying path has a curved path, and the movement locus of the guide auxiliary member is larger than a curved path curvature. Features.

  A sheet folding apparatus according to a twelfth aspect includes the sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects.

  An image forming apparatus according to a thirteenth aspect includes the sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects and / or the sheet folding apparatus according to the twelfth aspect.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the sheet conveyance resistance by reducing the sheet conveyance resistance by guiding the high conveyance resistance portion with the guide auxiliary member.

1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Z-folding operation diagram in the apparatus of FIG. FIG. 2 is a half-folded view of the apparatus. FIG. 2 is a three-fold operation diagram of the apparatus. The figure which shows the structure and operation | movement outline | summary of a guide auxiliary member used for the apparatus of FIG. Configuration diagram of a guide auxiliary member used in the apparatus of FIG. The figure which shows the structure of the guide auxiliary member of the structure different from FIG. 7 based on Example 2 of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention include the following. However, the present invention is not based on the following embodiment and examples described later, and various modifications can be made.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, a sheet conveyance path formed by guide members that sequentially receive sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus and face each other with a predetermined width is provided, and the inside of the conveyance path is along the conveyance path. And a movable guide auxiliary member. Then, by guiding a portion having a high conveyance resistance with the guide auxiliary member, it is possible to reduce the conveyance resistance of the sheet and reduce bending.

  Further, all the transport paths are curved paths. Thus, it is possible to arrange the conveyance path in a space-saving manner, reduce the sheet conveyance resistance, and reduce the bending.

  Further, the guide auxiliary member is allowed to enter and exit the transport path. Thus, it is possible to project only when the conveyance resistance is high, efficiently reduce the conveyance resistance, and reduce bending.

  The guide auxiliary member is variable in moving speed or moving distance. As a result, it is possible to efficiently reduce the conveyance resistance at a position where the conveyance resistance becomes high and to reduce the bending.

  The sheet conveying apparatus includes means for detecting a sheet state, the means for detecting the sheet state receives information transmitted from the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus has transmission means for transmitting sheet information to be printed. Then, the information sent from the image forming apparatus differs depending on the sheet information to be printed, so that the moving speed or moving distance of the guide auxiliary member is made different. As a result, it is possible to efficiently reduce the conveyance resistance at a position where the conveyance resistance becomes high, and to reduce the bending.

  The sheet information is a sheet size. As a result, it is possible to reduce the conveyance resistance according to the sheet size and reduce the bending.

  The sheet information is the sheet thickness. As a result, it is possible to reduce the conveyance resistance according to the sheet thickness and reduce the bending.

  The guide auxiliary member is a rotatable roller. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the conveyance resistance to the sheet by the guide auxiliary member and to reduce the bending.

  The guide auxiliary member is a low friction material. As a result, it is possible to reduce the conveyance resistance to the sheet by the guide auxiliary member and to reduce the bending.

  A sheet position detection unit is provided in the conveyance path, and the movement distance of the guide auxiliary member is varied according to the sheet position. As a result, it is possible to efficiently reduce the conveyance resistance to the sheet and reduce the bending.

  The conveyance path has a curved path, and the movement path of the guide auxiliary member is made larger than the curved path curvature. As a result, it is possible to configure the guide auxiliary member in the previous period with an inexpensive configuration, to reduce the conveyance resistance to the sheet, and to reduce the deflection.

Embodiments of a sheet conveying apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a system configuration in which sheet folding apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention are connected. As shown in the figure, the system is largely a sheet folding apparatus 1000 having a sheet conveying apparatus 1500 configured and operated according to the present invention, an image forming apparatus 2000 such as a copying machine, and post-processing such as stapling on sheets. And a sheet post-processing device 3000 to be performed.

  FIG. 2 is an overall layout diagram of a sheet folding apparatus 1000 provided with a sheet conveying apparatus according to the present invention. Based on FIG. 2 which shows the structure of this sheet folding apparatus 1000, it demonstrates for each folding operation | movement. In addition, this structure enables each folding operation of Z-folding, bi-folding, outer tri-folding, and inner tri-folding.

<Z-fold>
Details are shown in FIG.
The paper P received from the main body is guided by the inlet switching claw 400 to the first stopper conveyance path 102 provided with the conveyance device. The leading edge of the paper P is abutted against the first stopper 301 in the first stopper conveyance path 102 and bent, and the first folding is performed at the first nip formed by the first folding roller 201 and the second folding roller 202.

  When the first folding is formed, the first bending assisting member 401 is operated to uniformly bend the sheet P toward the folding roller. After the first folding is completed, the sheet is conveyed from the first relay conveyance path 103 to the second stopper conveyance path 104, and the leading end of the paper P is abutted against the second stopper 302 in the second stopper conveyance path 104 to be bent, and the third folding is performed. A second fold is performed at the second nip formed by the roller 203 and the fourth folding roller 204, and the Z-folding is completed at the second relay conveyance path 105.

  When the second folding is formed, the second bending assisting member 402 is operated as in the first time. After the folding is completed, the paper passes through the third stopper transport path 106 and is transported to the downstream machine by the paper discharge transport roller 112.

  In the Z-folding mode, the third stopper 303 is not used, and therefore is in a position retracted from the third stopper conveyance path 106.

<Folded>
Details are shown in FIG.
The paper P received from the main body is formed by the first folding roller 201 and the second folding roller 202 without entering the first stopper conveyance path 102 by the entrance switching claw 400 and the first bending assisting member 401. It passes through one nip and is guided to the second stopper conveyance path 104 through the first relay conveyance path 103.

  The front end of the paper P is abutted against the second stopper 302 in the second stopper conveyance path 104 and bent, and the first fold is performed at the second nip formed by the third folding roller 203 and the fourth folding roller 204, Folding is completed on the second relay conveyance path 105.

  At the time of forming the first folding, the second bending assisting member 402 is operated to bend the paper P uniformly toward the folding roller. After the folding is completed, the paper passes through the third stopper transport path 106 and is transported to the downstream machine by the paper discharge transport roller 112.

  In the two-fold mode, the third stopper 303 is not used, and therefore is in a position retracted from the third stopper conveyance path 106.

<Three outside, three inside>
Details are shown in FIG.
The paper P received from the main body is formed by the first folding roller 201 and the second folding roller 202 without entering the first stopper conveyance path 102 by the entrance switching claw 400 and the first bending assisting member 401. It passes through one nip and is guided to the second stopper conveyance path 104 through the first relay conveyance path 103.

  The front end of the paper P is abutted against the second stopper 302 in the second stopper conveyance path 104 and bent, and the first fold is performed at the second nip formed by the third folding roller 203 and the fourth folding roller 204, The first folding is completed on the second relay conveyance path 105.

  After completion of the first folding, the sheet is conveyed to the third stopper conveying path 106, and the leading end of the paper P is abutted against the third stopper 303 in the third stopper conveying path 106 to be bent, and the fifth folding roller 205 and the sixth folding roller The second fold is performed at the third nip formed by 206, and the inner tri-fold and the outer tri-fold are completed in the stacker conveyance path 107. After the folding is completed, the paper P is stored in the stacker portion by the stacker discharge conveyance roller 113.

  The stacker unit 500 includes a front end fence 550, a rear end fence 540, and a discharge tray 501 that moves up and down. The paper discharge tray 501 is fixed to a support member, and the support member is connected to the drive shaft via a timing belt pulley. Further, a gear (not shown) is fitted to the drive shaft, and is connected to a DC motor via the gear. The paper tray 501 is moved up and down by the rotation of the DC motor. The paper discharge tray 501 moves up and down each time the paper P is discharged.

  Further, the front end fence 550 is movable in the paper transport direction according to the size of the paper P to be discharged. The tip fence 550 is provided with a rack 551 and operates by rotation of the tip fence movable motor 221.

<First and second stopper transport path>
Details are shown in FIG.
As described above, the first stopper transport path 102 and the second stopper transport path 104 are provided in the transport device 1500, respectively. Hereinafter, the second stopper conveyance path 102 will be described, but the first stopper conveyance path has the same configuration. The conveyance path is a curved path 104, which prevents an increase in the size of the machine due to the conveyance path.

  When the paper P enters the curved path, the detection means 601 detects the leading edge of the paper P, and when the paper P is transported to a position where it can be guided by the guide auxiliary member 602, the guide auxiliary member 602 appears and disappears in the transport path. Sheet paper P conveyance guide is started.

  The guide auxiliary member 602 is movable in the conveyance direction of the paper P, and moves to a position where the conveyance resistance increases according to the paper size and thickness obtained from the main body, thereby reducing the conveyance resistance. Since the position where the conveyance resistance is increased changes depending on the leading end position of the paper P, the guide auxiliary member 602 moves in accordance with the change. Further, it is controlled to move at a speed corresponding to the moving speed of the position where the conveyance resistance is increased. The guide auxiliary member 602 operates until the leading edge of the paper P abuts against the second stopper 302 to assist the conveyance of the paper P. This prevents the sheet P from being bent before the leading end of the sheet P hits the second stopper 302.

FIG. 7 is an operation outline and configuration diagram of the guide auxiliary member.
The guide auxiliary member 602 is provided with a rotatable roller 602 a at a portion in contact with the paper P. Further, this roller is a low friction material and prevents an increase in the conveyance load on the paper P due to the roller itself.

  A roller 602a of the guide auxiliary member 602 is provided in the support member 602b. The support member 602b can swing from the motor 603 via the gear 604 and moves along the guide hole 605 formed in the side plate. 602a moves in the transport direction. The movement miracle of the roller 602a of the guide auxiliary member 602 is larger than the curved outer peripheral diameter of the curved guide plate, and enters and exits the conveyance path according to the movement amount in the conveyance direction.

<Example 2>
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a guide auxiliary member having a configuration different from that of FIG. 7 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The eccentric cam 702 is operated by the rotation of the motor 701, whereby the link 703 is pushed, and the roller 602a moves around the rotation shaft 704. Here, a compression spring 705 is provided in the link 703 so as to apply pressure to the roller 602a.

102: first stopper transport path 103: first relay transport path 104: second stopper transport path 105: second relay transport path 106: third stopper transport path 107: stacker transport path 112: paper discharge transport roller 113: stacker discharge Paper conveying roller 201: first folding roller 202: second folding roller 203: third folding roller 204: fourth folding roller 205: fifth folding roller 206: sixth folding roller 221: front end fence movable motor 301: first stopper 302: Second stopper 303: Third stopper 400: Entrance switching claw 401: First deflection assisting member 402: Second deflection assisting member 500: Stacker portion 501: Paper discharge tray 540: Rear end fence 550: Front end fence 551: Rack 601: Detection means 602: Guide auxiliary member 602a: Roller 602b: Support member 603: Motor 6 4: gear 605: guide hole 701: Motor 702: eccentric cam 703: Link 704: rotary shaft 705: compression spring 1000: the sheet folding device 1500: a sheet conveying apparatus 2000: the image forming apparatus 3000: sheet post

JP 2007-145440 A JP 2007-182262 A

Claims (13)

  In a sheet conveying apparatus including a sheet conveying path that sequentially receives sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus and is formed by guide members facing each other with a predetermined width, the sheet is conveyed along a conveying path having a curved portion. A sheet conveying apparatus comprising a movable guide auxiliary member. In the sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1,
The sheet conveying apparatus is characterized in that all the conveying paths are curved paths. In the sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide auxiliary member can enter and exit the conveying path. In the sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1 or 3,
A sheet conveying apparatus characterized in that the moving speed or moving distance of the guide auxiliary member is variable. In the sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The sheet conveying device includes means for detecting a sheet state,
The means for detecting the sheet state is a means for receiving different information depending on a sheet to be printed, transmitted from a transmitting means for transmitting sheet information of the image forming apparatus.
A sheet conveying apparatus characterized in that a moving speed or a moving distance of the auxiliary guide member is varied according to information received by the means for detecting the sheet state. In the sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The sheet conveying apparatus, wherein the sheet information is a sheet size. In the sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The sheet conveying apparatus, wherein the sheet information is a sheet thickness. In the sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The sheet conveying apparatus, wherein the guide auxiliary member is a rotatable roller. In the sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The sheet auxiliary device is characterized in that the guide auxiliary member is a low friction material. In the sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A sheet position detecting means in the conveying path;
A sheet conveying apparatus, wherein the movement distance of the auxiliary guide member is varied according to a sheet position. In the sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
The sheet conveying apparatus, wherein the conveying path has a curved path, and a movement locus of the guide auxiliary member is larger than a curved path curvature.   A sheet folding apparatus comprising the sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1. An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet conveying device according to claim 1 and / or the sheet folding device according to claim 12.