JP2012148852A - Sheet transport device, sheet transport control method, and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a load relating to correcting skew of transported sheet, to make the transporting condition proper, and to make printing processing proper.SOLUTION: A sheet transport device (2), a sheet transport control method, and printer (20) are disclosed. The sheet transport device has a sheet skew detecting means (4) and a transport means (sheet transporting means 6). The transport means includes a plurality of transport components (61 to 68) in which right and left arranging intervals are different, the control part (8) makes right and left transporting speeds of the transport components different according to the skew of the sheet detected by the sheet skew detecting means.

Description

The present invention relates to a conveyance technique for monitoring skew of captured paper, correcting the skew, and transporting the skew.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printing apparatus, a copying machine, or the like that prints on a sheet, for example, a rod-shaped conveyance roller is used to convey the sheet by contacting the rotated conveyance roller. However, for example, when the paper is not properly installed in the printing apparatus or when the paper is skewed and contacts the transport roller, the paper is transported as it is. If printing is performed on skewed paper as it is or reading for copying is performed, accurate printing and copying cannot be performed. Therefore, it is necessary to correct the position of the sheet in order to print or copy in an appropriate position or direction with respect to the sheet taken in the predetermined printing direction. For this correction, for example, a sheet is abutted against a registration roller while being conveyed by a conveyance roller, or a plurality of conveyance rollers are installed on the left and right sides and rotated at different speeds.

  In order to correct such skew of the paper, for example, a spherical motor installed on the discharge side of the conveying roller and a pressing portion arranged facing the spherical motor are provided, and a spherical surface is detected with respect to the detected inclination and lateral deviation. There is one that corrects the posture of a sheet by driving a motor (for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, there is a technique in which a time difference in tip detection is measured by a plurality of sensors, and rollers installed in parallel on the left and right are rotated and brought into contact with a registration roller based on the measurement result (for example, Patent Document 2).

  Some have a plurality of registration rollers and a plurality of passage detection sensors installed at predetermined intervals in a direction substantially orthogonal to the conveyance direction, and calculate the inclination of the leading edge of the sheet and control the rotation speed of the registration rollers to correct skew feeding. (For example, patent document 3). In addition, a central transfer roll and a pair of end transfer rolls with the end overlapped with the central roll are provided at the center of the conveyance path, and the speed difference between the left and right ends of the end transfer roll depends on the detected skew. (For example, Patent Document 4).

JP-A-8-108954 JP 2008-233446 A JP-A-2005-306608 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-244436

  By the way, although there is means for correcting the direction of the sheet by contacting the supplied sheet with a registration roller or the like, there is a problem that there is a limit to correction for a large skew. For example, when the inclination with respect to the registration roller is large, it is necessary to bend the paper greatly in order to correct it, but in reality, it is not possible to enlarge the paper conveyance path greatly, and it is impossible to make contact. There are problems such as generating wrinkles on the paper at the time of contact, and leading to a paper jam inside the apparatus due to a reaction at the time of contact. Further, in the case where the two contact rollers for transporting the paper are driven with different left and right rotational speeds, the load applied according to the distance from the rotation center of the paper with the paper sandwiched is different. There is a problem that is likely to occur.

  Regarding such demands and problems, Patent Documents 1 to 4 do not disclose or suggest them, and do not disclose or suggest a configuration for solving them.

  Therefore, an object of the paper transport device, the paper transport control method, and the printing apparatus according to the present disclosure is to reduce the load required for correcting the skew of the transported paper and to optimize the transport state.

In addition, the purpose of the paper conveyance device, the paper conveyance control method, and the printing apparatus according to the present disclosure is to optimize printing processing by correcting the skew of the paper.

In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the paper conveyance device, the paper conveyance control method, and the printing apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a paper skew detection unit and a conveyance unit. The transport unit includes a plurality of transport parts having different left and right arrangement intervals, and the control unit varies the left and right transport speeds of the transport parts according to the skew of the sheet detected by the sheet skew detection unit. .

  According to the paper conveyance device, the paper conveyance control method, or the printing apparatus of the present disclosure, any of the following effects can be obtained.

  (1) When skew correction is performed while transporting, by varying the left and right arrangement intervals of a plurality of transport parts, the transport load on the paper is distributed and the occurrence of wrinkles can be suppressed.

  (2) By arranging multiple rollers with different arrangement intervals from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction and taking a large skew correction section, the rotation speed of each conveyance component can be suppressed and appropriate In addition to correcting skew, the occurrence of wrinkles can be suppressed.

  (3) By arranging a plurality of conveying parts having a small contact area with different arrangement intervals, the contact load on the paper can be suppressed.

  (4) By correcting the skew of the paper in an appropriate direction, it is possible to perform printing processing at an appropriate position.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become clearer with reference to the accompanying drawings and each embodiment.

It is a figure which shows the function structural example of the conveying apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a conveyance control process. It is a figure which shows the example of a state which carries out skew correction to the left direction with respect to a conveyance direction. It is a figure which shows the example of a state which carries out skew correction rightward with respect to a conveyance direction. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the printing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a sheet skew detection unit. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the principle of skew detection. It is a figure which shows an example of the principle of skew detection. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a paper transport unit. It is a figure which shows the drive structural example of a conveyance component. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a conveyance component. It is a figure which shows the example of a state of skew correction. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of a printing apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of a conveyance speed setting table. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a sheet conveyance process. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a sheet conveyance process. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a sheet conveyance process. It is a figure which shows the function structural example of the conveying apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a printing apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a sheet conveyance process. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a sheet conveyance process. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a sheet conveyance process. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a sheet conveyance process. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the conveyance components which concern on other embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a state of skew correction. It is a figure which shows the comparative example of a conveying apparatus.

[First Embodiment]

  The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a transport device according to the first embodiment. The configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  The transport device 2 is an example of a paper transport device according to the present disclosure, detects skew of a paper to be transported, corrects the paper to an appropriate direction with respect to the transport direction, and transports the paper. The transport device 2 includes, for example, a sheet skew detection unit 4, a sheet transport unit 6, and a control unit 8.

  The paper skew detection means 4 is an example of a means for detecting the presence or absence of paper supplied to the transport device 2 and detecting skew with respect to the transport direction. The sheet skew detecting means 4 includes, for example, a plurality of sensors, detects that the sheet is disposed at a predetermined position of the transport device 2, and detects the skew of the sheet and its direction from the detection timing between the sensors. Is detected and notified to the control unit 8 side.

  The sheet conveying unit 6 is an example of a unit that conveys a sheet in a predetermined direction, and includes a plurality of conveying parts 61 to 68, for example. The conveyance parts 61 to 68 are configured by, for example, roller parts having a small contact area with respect to the paper, and are arranged at different left and right arrangement intervals from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction. For example, each of the conveyance parts 61 to 68 is configured to be independently rotatable in the conveyance direction. When the roller surface comes into contact with the paper, the conveyance components are conveyed to the paper in the conveyance direction. Can lead. For example, the conveyance parts 61 to 68 have the same rotation speed and can convey the paper disposed in the conveyance device 2 in a normal direction in the conveyance direction without being inclined. Further, when the sheet skew detection means 4 detects skew, the skew of the sheet can be corrected by changing the transport speeds of the left and right transport components 61 to 68, for example.

In the sheet conveying means 6 shown in FIG. 1, for example, an interval X ₁ between the conveying components 61 and 62, an interval X ₂ between the conveying components 63 and 64, and an interval between the conveying components 65 and 66 in the conveying direction. The interval X ₃ is defined as the interval X ₄ between the conveying parts 67 and 68, and the arrangement interval is set larger toward the downstream side. That is, these arrangement intervals are set to satisfy a relationship of X ₄ > X ₃ > X ₂ > X ₁ . Moreover, these conveyance parts 61-68 are arrange | positioned on the conveyance path | route symmetrically, for example, and are arrange | positioned in what is called a V shape. Therefore, the sheet that has passed through the sheet skew detection means 4 comes into contact with the conveying parts 61 and 62 from the center on the leading end side, and receives a conveying load. Further, in the conveyance direction, the conveyance load is gradually brought into contact with conveyance components having a wide arrangement interval.

  In addition, the number of arrangement | positioning of the conveyance components shown in FIG. 1 is an example, Comprising: It can increase / decrease. The left and right arrangement state is also an example, and in the sheet conveying means 6 shown in FIG. 1, two units are arranged in a row in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. You may arrange. Furthermore, the number of arrangements for each row may be changed.

  The control unit 8 is an example of an operation control unit of the transport apparatus 2 that performs the skew amount calculation of the sheet, the operation control of the sheet transport unit 6, and the skew correction control. Therefore, for example, the control unit 8 grasps the sheet arrangement state based on the detection result received from the sheet skew detection unit 4, calculates the skew amount, and determines the skew direction and the like. Based on the determination result, a transport instruction is output to the paper transport unit 6. This conveyance instruction includes, for example, an operation instruction such as rotating the conveyance parts 61 to 68 at a constant speed or changing the left and right rotation speeds based on the skew amount. In addition, the control unit 8 may be provided with, for example, a time measuring unit that measures the deviation of the detection timing of the sheet by the sheet skew detection unit 4.

  Next, FIG. 2 is referred with respect to the conveyance control process. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the conveyance control process. The processing procedure and processing content shown in FIG. 2 are examples, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  This conveyance control process is an example of the sheet conveyance control method of the present disclosure. The sheet skew detection unit 4 detects that the sheet is arranged at a predetermined position of the conveyance device 2 and is notified to the control unit 8. (Step S1). Further, the skew detection of the disposed sheets is performed by the sheet skew detection means 4 (step S2). In this skew detection, for example, it is detected that the sheet has been transported to the sheet skew detection means 4 side, a shift in detection timing of the sheet by a plurality of sensors, and the like.

  Then, in response to the detection result by the sheet skew detection means 4, the skew amount is calculated (step S3). In the calculation of the skew amount, for example, the skew amount of the sheet is used, for example, as the skew amount of the sheet by using the sheet transport speed, the shift of the sheet detection timing by the sheet skew detection unit 4, the transport speed of the transport components 61 to 68, and the like. The line distance and its angle are calculated.

  The transport operation is controlled based on the calculated skew (step S4). When the skew is not detected, the control unit 8 rotates the transport components 61 to 68 at a constant speed, for example, and moves the paper in parallel with respect to the transport direction. When skew is detected, the control unit 8 changes the transport speed of the left and right transport parts based on the calculated skew angle described above, for example, and normalizes the sheet with respect to the transport direction. Move to rotate. In this case, the rotation speed control of the conveyance component may use, for example, a table in which the rotation speed is set corresponding to the calculated skew angle. Further, in the rotation speed control of the left and right transport parts, for example, the left and right sensors provided in the paper skew detection means 4 may decelerate the transport speed of the transport part on the side where the paper is first detected. Alternatively, the transport amount detected later may be increased (accelerated). Moreover, you may perform both of these.

  Next, an example of skew correction operation will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which skew correction is performed in the left direction with respect to the transport direction, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which skew correction is performed in the right direction with respect to the transport direction. The configuration shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  In the paper transport unit 6 shown in FIG. 3A, the paper 10 is disposed obliquely in the right direction with respect to the transport direction. In this case, the control unit 8 (FIG. 1) receives the detection result of the paper skew detection means 4 (FIG. 1) and recognizes that the left side of the paper 10 precedes the transport direction. Therefore, the control unit 8 decreases the rotation number of the conveyance component on the side where the paper 10 is detected first, or increases the rotation number of the conveyance component on the side where the paper 10 is detected with a delay. That is, relative to the sheet conveying means 6, the conveyance speed by the conveyance components 61, 63, 65, 67 on the right side of the sheet 10 with respect to the conveyance direction is relative to the conveyance speed by the conveyance components 62, 64, 66, 68 on the left side. Make it faster. In this case, for example, the rotation speeds of the right conveyance parts 61, 63, 65, and 67 may be matched, and similarly, the rotation speeds of the left conveyance parts 62, 64, 66, and 68 may be matched.

  Thereby, in the paper transport unit 6 shown in FIG. 3B, the difference in the left and right transport speeds can cause skew correction to the left with respect to the transport direction while transporting the paper 10 in the transport direction. Here, the number of rotations set for the left and right conveying parts 61 to 68, the time for which the number of rotations is changed, and the like are set based on the skew angle, the skew amount calculated from the detection result of the sheet skew detection means 4. do it. Alternatively, the user may arbitrarily set it.

  Further, the sheet 10 shown in FIG. 4 is skewed leftward with respect to the transport direction, that is, the sheet skew detecting means 4 detects the right side of the sheet 10 in advance. In this case, the control unit 8 makes the rotation speed of the left conveyance parts 62, 64, 66, 68 relative to the conveyance direction relative to the rotation speed of the right conveyance parts 61, 63, 65, 67 in the conveyance direction. To make it faster. As a result, it is possible to correct the skew in the right direction while transporting the paper 10 in the transport direction.

  According to such a configuration, when skew correction is performed while transporting, by varying the left and right arrangement intervals of a plurality of transport parts, the transport load on the paper is distributed, and the occurrence of wrinkles can be suppressed. In addition, by arranging a plurality of rollers with different arrangement intervals from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction and taking a large skew correction section, the rotation speed of each conveyance component can be suppressed, and an appropriate skew can be achieved. Line correction can be performed and the occurrence of wrinkles can be suppressed. By arranging a plurality of conveying parts having a small contact area with different arrangement intervals, the contact load on the paper can be suppressed.

[Second Embodiment]

  Next, FIG. 5 is referred about 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing apparatus according to the second embodiment. The configuration shown in FIG. 5 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  The printing apparatus 20 is an example of a printing apparatus according to the present disclosure, and includes a printing operation unit 22 and lower housing units 24 and 26 as illustrated in FIG. , And a transport mechanism for transporting the paper with its orientation corrected. The print operation unit 22 is, for example, a functional unit that prints characters, images, and the like on the paper 10, and includes conveyance rollers 28 and 30, a process unit 32, a fixing unit 34, a discharge unit 36, a controller unit 38, and a mechanical control unit 40. I have. The lower housing unit 24 is, for example, a paper 10 supply function unit, and includes a paper cassette 42, a paper skew detection unit 44, and a paper transport unit 46. Further, the lower housing portion 26 includes a paper cassette 48, for example.

  The transport rollers 28 and 30 are an example of a unit that receives the paper 10 from the lower housing unit 24 side to the print operation unit 22 side and transports the paper 10 to the print path 50 side. The transport rollers 28 and 30 guide, for example, the front and back surfaces of the paper 10 while being guided to the process unit 32 side.

  The process unit 32 is an example of an image transfer function unit that transfers characters, images, and the like to the paper 10. For example, the process unit 32 receives a print image from image data received by the controller unit 38 from the external computer 52 connected to the printing apparatus 20. Generate and transfer. The process unit 32 transfers, for example, a drum 54 that generates an electrostatic latent image from image data, and a toner image generated with toner, which is an example of a coloring material, on the drum 54. And a roller 56.

  The fixing unit 34 is an example of a fixing unit that fixes the toner image on the paper 10, and includes, for example, a heating roller 58 and a pressure roller 70. A heating roller 58 heats the toner image. The pressure roller 70 pressurizes the heated toner image toward the paper 10 and fixes it to the paper 10. After the fixing, the sheet 10 is discharged from the discharge unit 36 to the outside of the printing apparatus 20.

  The controller unit 38 is an example of a print function of the process unit 32, the fixing unit 34, and the like, and a control function unit that transmits and receives operation control instructions and state information to and from the mechanical control unit 40. The control part 8 of (FIG. 1) is comprised. For example, the controller unit 38 receives a print instruction or print data from the computer 52 that is an externally connected device, and executes print control.

  The mechanical control unit 40 is an example of a mechanism control unit that is controlled by the controller unit 38 and executes mechanism operation control of the process unit 32, the fixing unit 34, the paper skew detection unit 44, the paper transport unit 46, and the like. 2 (FIG. 1) is configured. The mechanical control unit 40 includes, for example, a sheet skew calculation unit 72 configured therein, and calculates a skew amount, an angle, and the like of the sheet 10 from a detection result from the sheet skew detection unit 44, and calculates the calculation. An operation control instruction based on the result is output to the paper transport unit 46 side.

  The sheet skew detection unit 44 is configured to convey the sheet 10 taken from the sheet cassettes 42 and 48 serving as sheet feeding means in a predetermined direction and direction on the conveyance path 74 in the lower housing unit 24. This is an example of sheet skew detection means for monitoring The sheet skew detection unit 44 detects, for example, a shift amount due to skew of the sheet 10 conveyed by a non-contact sensor or the like, information on time of conveyance, and the like, and detects a sheet skew calculation unit 72 of the mechanical control unit 40. Notify

  The paper transport unit 46 is an example of a transport unit that transports the paper 10 to the transport rollers 76 and 78 side while correcting the skew of the skewed paper 10 according to an instruction from the mechanical control unit 40. For example, the paper transport unit 46 is configured to be able to rotate the paper left and right with respect to the transport direction, so that the transport components 61 to 68 that contact the back side of the paper 10 and the transport components 601 to 601 that contact the front side of the paper 10 are used. 608. The sheet 10 whose skew has been corrected by the sheet conveying unit 46 is taken in by the conveying rollers 76 and 78 and guided to the printing operation unit 22 side.

  The paper cassettes 42 and 48 are an example of a unit that stores the paper 10 that is a printing material and holds it in a predetermined position. In the lower housing portion 24, a paper drawing portion 80 for drawing the paper 10 in the paper cassette 42 onto the transport path 74 is installed. In addition, the lower housing portion 26 is provided with a paper drawing portion 82 for drawing the paper 10 in the paper cassette 48 onto the transport path 74.

  (1) Paper skew detection unit 44

  Next, with reference to FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the sheet skew detection unit, FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the principle of skew detection, and FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the principle of skew detection. The configurations, detection states, detection procedures, and the like illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8 are examples, and are not limited thereto.

  The sheet skew detection unit 44 illustrated in FIG. 6 includes, for example, an optical sensor 90 that detects the sheet 10 in a non-contact manner with respect to the sheet 10 conveyed on the conveyance path 74 (FIG. 5). The optical sensor 90 includes, for example, a light emitting unit 92 in which a plurality of measurement points A and B (FIG. 7) are arranged on the front side of the paper 10 in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and a light receiving unit 94 is provided on the back side. I have. Then, the sheet 10 is conveyed, and it is detected that the sheet 10 blocks the light from the optical sensor 90, and the presence of the sheet 10 is determined.

  The plurality of measurement points A and B set in the optical sensor 90 are set at an interval L, for example, on a straight line in the right and left orthogonal directions with respect to the transport direction. In the conveyance process of the paper 10 shown in FIG. 7, for example, the leading edge of the paper 10 is conveyed in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, and there is no skew. In this case, the light receiving unit 94 of the optical sensor 90 simultaneously detects light blocking at the measurement point A and the measurement point B. That is, the time difference t between the detection timings of the measurement point A and the measurement point B is 0, and in this case, the skew amount N is determined to be 0.

  In the sheet skew detection unit 44 shown in FIG. 8, for example, the measurement point A first detects the light block, and the measurement point B detects the light block after a predetermined time t has elapsed. The predetermined time t, which is the time difference between the light blocking detection timings, indicates the time from when the measurement point A detects the leading edge of the paper 10 until the measurement point B detects the leading edge of the paper 10. Thus, since the light at the measurement point A is blocked first, and the light at the right measurement point B is blocked later, the sheet 10 is skewed to the right with respect to the transport direction. The left side of is conveyed in advance.

When the skew is detected, the skew amount N is calculated in order to obtain the skew correction angle θ for correcting the skew. Here, the skew amount N indicates the distance traveled by the paper 10 during the time difference of the light blocking detection timing. Therefore, the skew amount N [mm] is calculated from the conveyance speed V [mm / sec] and the time difference t [sec].
N [mm] = V [mm / sec] × t [sec] (1)

Next, the skew correction angle θ is obtained from the skew amount N and the arrangement interval L of the measurement points. For example, when using trigonometric functions,
Skew correction angle θ = tan ⁻¹ (N / L) (2)

It becomes.

  Here, the detection process in the state where the sheet 10 is skewed to the right side is illustrated, but the detection process may be performed with the same processing contents when the sheet 10 is skewed to the left side.

  (2) Paper transport unit 46

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 9, 10, 11, and 12, the configuration of the paper transport unit will be described. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a paper transport unit, FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a drive configuration example of a transport component, FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a transport component, and FIG. 12 is a state of skew correction. It is a figure which shows an example. The configuration illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 12 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

The sheet conveyance unit 46 illustrated in FIG. 9 is an example of a conveyance unit. For example, on the back side of the sheet 10, a plurality of conveyances with different left and right arrangement intervals from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction are performed. Components 61 to 68 are provided, and conveyance components 601 to 608 are provided on the front side of the sheet 10 at opposing positions. The conveying parts 61 to 68 and 601 to 608 are constituted by, for example, spherical roller parts having a small contact area with the paper 10, and the arrangement intervals X _{1 to} X ₄ are gradually increased from the upstream side toward the downstream side. It is arranged in a so-called substantially V shape.

  Each of the conveying parts 61 to 68 and 601 to 608 is configured to be able to rotate independently, for example, and as described above, the rotation number is increased or decreased with respect to the detected skew amount, and the balance is achieved. Thus, the conveyance direction of the sheet can be corrected.

  The conveying parts 61 to 68 and 601 to 608 shown in FIG. 10 are arranged to face the conveyed sheet 10 on the front and back surfaces, for example. Each of the conveying parts 61 to 68 and 601 to 608 may include, for example, a driving motor 100, a clutch transmission gear 102, and a belt 104 as driving means.

  The drive motor 100 is an example of power generation means for rotating the conveyance parts 61 to 68 and 601 to 608. For example, the drive motor 100 may be operated / stopped or accelerated / decelerated in accordance with an operation instruction from the mechanical control unit 40.

  The clutch speed change gear 102 is an example of means for maintaining the rotational power of the drive motor 100 at a predetermined rotational speed or adjusting and transmitting the rotational power. In the skew correction process of the paper 10, the rotation speed of the conveying component may be controlled by controlling the rotation speed of the clutch transmission gear 102. For example, when the rotation speed can be adjusted on the drive motor 100 side, the clutch transmission gear 102 may be omitted.

  The belt 104 is an example of a unit that transmits the rotational power obtained from the drive motor 100 to the conveyance parts 61 to 68 and 601 to 608. The power transmission function obtained from the drive motor 100 may be configured by combining the clutch transmission gear 102 and the belt 104.

  In addition, it is good also as a structure which shares the one drive motor 100, the clutch transmission gear 102, and the belt 104 with several conveyance components.

  The conveying parts 61 to 68 and 601 to 608 include a spherical roller 110, fixed frames 112 and 114, and a plurality of guide rollers 116, as shown in FIG. 11A, for example. For example, the fixed frames 112 and 114 are fixed from above and below in a state in which the spherical roller 110 exposes a contact portion with respect to the paper 10, and a guide roller 116 is provided at a contact portion with the spherical roller 110 on the inner side. It is arranged. The guide roller 116 may exhibit a bearing function for reducing and fixing the contact resistance between the fixed frames 112 and 114 and the spherical roller 110, for example.

  FIG. 11B is a diagram showing the spherical roller 110 viewed from the direction in which it contacts the paper 10. In the fixed frame 114, for example, a hole 118 for exposing a part of the spherical roller is formed. A plurality of guide rollers 116 in contact with the spherical roller 110 are arranged around the hole 118 on the inner side of the fixed frame 114. As a result, the conveying parts 61 to 68 and 601 to 608 can contact only the contact of the exposed spherical roller 110 with the paper 10. Further, the spherical roller 110 is not displaced by the guide roller 116 disposed inside the fixed frames 112 and 114. Thereby, for example, since the spherical roller 110 does not receive frictional resistance or the like due to contact with the fixed frames 112 and 114, the rotational power added to the spherical roller 110 can be transmitted to the paper 10 without waste.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the sheet conveying unit 46 including the conveying parts 61 to 68 and 601 to 608 varies the rotation speeds of the left and right conveying parts with respect to the sheet 10 in which skew feeding is detected. To correct the skew. In this skew correction, for example, as described above, the transport speed of the transport component on the side on which the paper 10 has been detected is reduced by the detection by the skew detection unit 44, or the transport component on the side detected later is detected. The conveyance speed may be increased. Or both of these may be performed. That is, the left and right relative rotational speeds are made different.

  When the skew correction is executed, the left and right transport operations between the transport components 61 to 68 and 601 to 608 are linked. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the conveyance parts 61, 63, 65, and 67 on the right side with respect to the conveyance direction uniformly increase the rotation speed. Similarly, the left conveyance parts 62, 64, 66, and 68 uniformly reduce the rotational speed. In this case, the difference between the relative rotational speeds set for the left and right transport parts is set to a minimum. Further, by arranging the conveying parts 61 to 68 and 601 to 608 in a substantially V shape, the sheet 10 conveyed to the sheet conveying unit 46 is gradually moved in the left-right direction of the sheet from the front center side of the sheet 10. The transport force increases. As a result, the left and right conveying force with respect to the paper 10 is minimized, so that wrinkles generated on the paper 10 can be suppressed. In addition, since the angle of the sheet 10 is not changed suddenly, an error or the like during skew correction can be suppressed.

  Next, referring to FIG. 13, FIG. 14, and FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the printing apparatus, FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the printing apparatus, and FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conveyance speed setting table. The configuration shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  The printing apparatus 20 includes, for example, a controller unit 38, a mechanical control unit 40, a paper skew detection unit 44, an operation panel unit 144, a power supply unit 146, and the like. The controller unit 38 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 130, a data transmission / reception unit 132, a storage unit 134, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 142, a timer 143, and the like. The CPU 130 is an example of an arithmetic processing unit, and performs operation control of the transport device 2 and the printing device 20 by executing arithmetic processing of a processing program stored in the storage unit 134, for example.

  The data transmission / reception unit 132 is an example of a communication unit with the external computer 52 or the like, and is connected by, for example, wired or wireless. Data for printing can be transmitted and received between the controller unit 38 and the external computer 52. The external computer 52 connected to the data transmission / reception unit 132 may be, for example, a PC (Personal Computer) or a device on an external communication network that transmits / receives a print instruction, data to be printed, or the like. Further, the printing apparatus 20 may be connected to an operation control program, a conveyance control program, a database storing print information, or the like.

  The storage unit 134 is an example of a storage unit for data and programs used in the printing apparatus 20. For example, the storage unit 134 includes a program storage unit 136 and a data storage unit 138. The storage unit 134 may be configured by, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory). The program storage unit 136 is an example of a unit that stores, for example, an operation control program for the printing apparatus 20 or the conveyance apparatus 2, and includes, for example, a print control program, a conveyance control program, a skew amount calculation program, a skew correction program, and the like. Should be stored. The data storage unit 138 is an example of a unit that stores data used for print processing. For example, print data received from the external computer 52 or the conveyance speed for executing skew correction of the sheet 10 to be conveyed is used. What is necessary is just to store the setting table 140 grade | etc.,.

  The program storage unit 136 and the data storage unit 138 may be configured by, for example, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) that can be electrically rewritten.

  Further, the print control program, the conveyance control program, the conveyance speed setting table 140, and the like are not limited to those stored in the program storage unit 136, the data storage unit 138, and the like. For example, one stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a magnetic disk, flexible disk, optical disk, or magneto-optical disk may be used. Furthermore, a program or the like may be read from a server or database on the network and used.

  The RAM 142 constitutes a work area for executing, for example, a print control program, a conveyance control program, and the like stored in the storage unit 134. The CPU 130 performs calculation processing of these control programs, and thereby conveyance processing and printing are performed. Processing is executed.

  The timer 143 is an example of a means for measuring the elapsed time, and for example, at a plurality of measurement points A and B of the paper skew detection unit 44, a time lapse due to a detection timing shift of the optical sensor 90 with respect to the skewed paper 10. Detect time.

  The mechanical control unit 40 is connected to the controller unit 38 and the sheet skew detection unit 44, and receives power supply from the power supply unit 146 to control the operation of the functional components of the transport device 2 and the printing device 20. Then, as shown in FIG. 14, the mechanical control unit 40 receives the control instruction from the controller unit 38, and corrects the skew in the drive motor 100 of the paper transport unit 46 based on the calculation result of the paper skew calculation unit 72. Output instructions. Further, the mechanical control unit 40 outputs a print control instruction to the process unit 32, the fixing unit 34, the paper drawing units 80 and 82, and the like.

  The sheet skew detection unit 44 transmits detection information such as the presence / absence of the sheet 10 detected by the sensor and a time difference in detection timing to the mechanical control unit 40 side.

  The operation panel unit 144 is configured by, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display device and the like, and is controlled by the controller unit 38 to display control information and the like.

  The power supply unit 146 is a unit that is controlled by the controller unit 38 and supplies power to the functional units such as the drive motor 100 and the process unit 32 through the mechanical control unit 40.

  Further, in the skew correction process of the transport device, for example, the rotational speed of the drive motor 100 may be determined with respect to the calculated skew correction angle θ using the transport speed setting table 140 shown in FIG. In the transport speed setting table 140, for example, the transport components 61 to 68 installed on the left and right with respect to the transport direction are set as the A group and the B group, respectively. Then, the roller speed value 162 of the A group and the roller speed value 164 of the B group may be determined with respect to the calculated skew correction angle θ value 160. The relative speed difference between the A group roller speed and the B group roller speed set in the transport speed setting table 140 can be corrected by skewing the paper 10 until it passes through the paper transport unit 46, for example. The minimum value is set. That is, in order to apply a minimum conveyance load to the sheet 10 in order to correct skew, for example, a conveyance load section from the conveyance parts 61 and 62 on the upstream side of the sheet conveyance unit 46 to the conveyance parts 67 and 68 on the downstream side. The relative speed difference may be set in consideration of the length and the passing time.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 16, FIG. 17, and FIG. 16 to 18 are flowcharts illustrating an example of the sheet conveyance process. The processing procedures and processing contents shown in FIGS. 16 to 18 are examples, and the present invention is not limited to these. In addition, the letters a to c in the flowchart indicate the connector of the flowchart.

  This sheet conveyance process is an example of the sheet conveyance control method of the present disclosure, and detects the skew of the conveyed sheet and calculates the skew amount and the correction angle. Then, the left and right transport speeds of the paper transport unit 46 are adjusted to correct the skew of the paper 10 and transport it to the print operation unit 22 side.

  Accordingly, the skew detection of the paper is started in accordance with the start of feeding of the paper 10. This start timing may be linked to, for example, a print start instruction from the external computer 52 or the like, and activates the optical sensor 90 including the light emitting unit 92 and the light receiving unit 94 of the paper skew detection unit 44. At the start of printing, as initialization of the optical sensor 90, it is determined whether or not light reception from the light emitting unit 92 is normal (step S11). For example, if the light receiving unit 94 cannot receive light (NO in step S11), it is determined that there is an abnormality in the transport device, an error is displayed, and printing is stopped (step S12).

  When the light is normally received (YES in step S11), the drawing of the paper 10 is started. Then, it is transported until it is detected that light is blocked at either or both of the measurement points A and B of the optical sensor 90 and the sheet 10 reaches the sheet skew detection unit 44 (step S13). When the sheet 10 is detected (YES in step S13), it is determined whether or not the detection is simultaneously performed at the measurement points A and B (step S14), and when it is determined that the detection is simultaneously performed at the measurement points A and B (in step S14). (YES), all the spherical rollers 110 provided in the paper transport unit 46 are rotated at a constant speed (step S15). In this case, since the fetched sheet 10 has no skew, it is conveyed without correcting skew.

  If the measurement points A and B are not detected at the same time (NO in step S14), it is determined that skew has occurred in the captured paper 10, and the process proceeds to determination of the direction of skew. Therefore, for example, it is determined whether or not the sheet 10 is detected at the measurement point A (step S16). For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the measurement point A is set on the left side with respect to the transport direction. Therefore, when the measurement point A first detects the sheet 10 (YES in step S16), it can be determined that the sheet 10 is skewed to the right as in the sheet 10 of FIG. Next, the process waits until the measurement point B detects the paper 10 (NO in step S17), and the timer 143 measures the elapsed time (detection time) of the detection timing deviation (step S18).

  When the sheet 10 is detected at the measurement point B (YES in step S17), the skew amount N (distance) and the skew correction angle (θ) are calculated, and the left and right transport speeds of the transport parts are adjusted (step S19). . In this calculation process, for example, the above-described equations (1) and (2) (FIG. 8) may be used. Then, with respect to the calculated skew correction angle (θ), for example, with reference to the conveyance speed setting table 140, the rotation speeds of the A group and the B group of the sheet conveyance unit 46 are made different. In this case, for example, the speed on the A group side may be reduced, the speed on the B group side may be increased, or both may be performed.

  When the paper 10 is transported to the printing operation unit 22 that is the transport destination, it is confirmed whether or not the next paper is printed (step S20). If there is no paper, the operation of the transport device is terminated. If there is a next print sheet and a print instruction (YES in step S20), the processing from step S13 is repeated.

  If the detected point is not the measurement point A (NO in step S16), it can be determined that the sheet 10 is skewed to the left. In this case, the processing of the measurement points A and B may be performed in reverse, and the time of measurement timing deviation until the paper 10 is detected at the measurement point A is counted (NO in step S21, step S22). The calculation process may be performed based on the measured time. The processes in steps S23 and S24 may be performed in the same manner as steps S19 and S20.

  According to such a configuration, when skew correction is performed while transporting, by varying the left and right arrangement intervals of a plurality of transport parts, the transport load on the paper is distributed, and the occurrence of wrinkles can be suppressed. In addition, by arranging a plurality of rollers with different arrangement intervals from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction and taking a large skew correction section, the rotation speed of each conveyance component can be suppressed, and an appropriate skew can be achieved. Line correction can be performed and the occurrence of wrinkles can be suppressed. By arranging a plurality of conveying parts having a small contact area with different arrangement intervals, the contact load on the paper can be suppressed. By correcting the skew of the paper in an appropriate direction, it is possible to perform a printing process at an appropriate position.

  [Advantages and features of the first and second embodiments]

  (1) In this paper transport device, paper transport control method, and printing apparatus, the inclination of paper transport is calculated using detection of a light source, and a plurality of independent spherical rollers arranged in a substantially V shape are respectively controlled. Use to correct the paper tilt. The mechanical control unit that drives and controls the spherical roller for paper conveyance calculates a skew correction angle based on the measured paper position information from the paper skew detection unit, and calculates the drive rotational speed necessary for the spherical roller of the paper conveyance unit. Instruct. This makes it possible to increase the amount of skew that can be corrected with respect to the conventional configuration in which the sheet is brought into contact with the stopped registration roller. In addition, wrinkles can be prevented from being generated in a configuration in which two sets of rod-shaped rollers are driven at different speeds on the left and right.

  (2) In the paper skew detection unit, for example, two measurement points are set, and the paper inclination is detected based on the detection time difference.

  (3) The sheet skew detection unit is configured to hold the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit, and when the sheet passes through this portion, the light is blocked and the position of the sheet end surface is recognized.

  (4) The sheet conveying unit arranges a plurality of spherical rollers in a substantially V shape, and conveys the sheet at a constant speed and without correction in both the A group and the B group when there is no skew. If there is skew, the roller speed is varied with respect to the skew direction, and the skew of the paper 10 is corrected.

  (5) With this paper transport device, paper transport control method, and printing apparatus, it is possible to improve the print quality and reduce the skew occurrence rate of the product to substantially zero.

  (6) According to the present invention, accurate skew correction can be performed without depending on the amount of skew, and generation of wrinkles can be achieved by minimizing the load on the paper caused by skew correction. Can be suppressed, and the print quality can be improved. Further, as a device accompanying paper conveyance, for example, it can be used for a copying machine, a FAX, or the like in addition to a laser printer and a dot impact printer.

[Third Embodiment]

  Next, FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 are referred about 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the transport apparatus according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the printing apparatus. 19 and 20, the same parts as those in FIGS. 1 and 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The transport device 200 is an example of a transport device according to the present disclosure, and includes a paper skew detection unit 4, a paper transport unit 6, and a control unit 8 that detect skew of the captured paper 10, and a paper transport unit. 6 is provided with second sheet skew detection means 202 at the transport destination. The sheet skew detection unit 202 is an example of a skew monitoring unit for the sheet 10 that has been transported with the skew correction performed by the sheet transport unit 6. Therefore, the sheet skew monitoring unit is connected to the control unit 8, for example, and again performs the skew detection processing on the conveyed sheet 10. If skew is detected again in this skew detection processing, for example, the detection result is output to the control unit 8. The control unit 8 receives this detection result and outputs an instruction to cause the paper transport unit 6 to perform re-transport.

  In response to this re-conveying instruction, the sheet conveying unit 6 rotates the conveying parts 61 to 68 in the opposite direction, for example, and returns the sheet 10 to the upstream side in the conveying direction to correct skew again.

  For example, a printing apparatus 210 shown in FIG. 20 may be configured as such a re-transport function. The printing apparatus 210 is an example of a printing apparatus according to the present disclosure, and includes a transport apparatus 200 having the re-transport function. The transport apparatus 200 includes, for example, a second paper skew detection unit 212 at the transport destination of the paper transport unit 46. The sheet skew detection unit 212 is connected to the sheet skew calculation unit 72 of the mechanical control unit 40, and monitors the sheet 10 corrected for skew. When the skew remains or exceeds the allowable amount, the process moves to the re-transport process.

  The configuration of the sheet skew detection unit 212 and its skew detection processing may be configured in the same manner as the skew detection unit 44 described above, and the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 21, FIG. 22, FIG. 23, and FIG. 21 to 24 are flowcharts illustrating an example of the sheet transport process. The processing contents, processing procedures, and the like shown in FIGS. 21 to 24 are examples, and are not limited thereto. Characters a to d in the flowchart indicate connectors.

  This paper transport process is an example of the paper transport control method of the present disclosure. Therefore, the operations of the paper skew detection unit A44 and the paper skew detection unit B212 are started in accordance with the paper supply. As described above, the operations of the light emitting unit 92 and the light receiving unit 94 of the optical sensor 90 are started. If the light reception from the light emitting unit 92 of the paper skew detection unit A44 or the paper skew detection unit B212 is not normal (NO in step S41, NO in step S43), an error is displayed and the operation of the printing apparatus 210 is terminated. (Step S42, Step S44).

  If the light reception from the light emitting unit 92 of the paper skew detection unit A44 and the paper skew detection unit B212 is normal (YES in step S41, YES in step S43), the conveyance process is started. The processing of skew detection of the sheet 10, calculation of the skew amount and skew correction angle, and rotation speed control (steps S45 to S51, steps S55 to 57) of the sheet transport unit 46 are the above-described steps S13 to S19. Steps S21 to S23 (FIGS. 16, 17, and 18) may be performed.

  Next, as the skew correction monitoring process, when the conveyed sheet 10 is detected at the measurement point A and the measurement point B by the sheet skew detection unit B212 (YES in step S52), the detection is performed at the measurement point A and the measurement. It is determined whether or not the point B is simultaneous (step S53). If it is detected at the same time (YES in step S53), or if it is within the predetermined allowable range, it is determined that the skew correction is appropriate, and the sheet 10 is conveyed to the print operation unit 22 as it is, and the next sheet is conveyed. It is determined whether or not there is (step S54). If there is a next print sheet and a print instruction (YES in step S54), the processing from step S45 is repeated. If there is no next sheet (NO in step S54), the conveyance process is terminated.

  If the measurement points A and B are not detected at the same time (NO in step S53), the skew correction is not appropriate. Therefore, the spherical roller 110 is rotated backward to return the paper 10 to the paper transport unit 46 side (step S61), and again. The process of step S45 is repeated.

  The skew correction monitoring process (steps S58 to S60) may be performed in the same manner as steps S52 to S54.

  According to such a configuration, the skew detection process is performed again on the sheet subjected to the skew correction, and if the skew is not corrected in an appropriate state, the transport process is performed again. Can be optimized and the printing accuracy can be improved.

[Other Embodiments]

  (1) In the above-described embodiment, the printing apparatuses 20 and 210 are shown as devices including the transport apparatus 2, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any device that takes in the paper 10 and transports it to a predetermined position in an appropriate direction may be used. For example, the device may be used for a copying machine, a FAX, or the like.

  (2) Although the transport speed setting table 140 based on the calculated angle is used for setting the speed difference between the transport components 61 to 68 in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the rotational speed between the spherical rollers 110 may be set based on the detected skew amount, the transport distance and the speed difference of the skew correction section, and the time for operating the transport components 61 to 68.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the transport speed setting table 140 indicates that the transport speed difference is set in consideration of the distance to which the transport load is applied. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a predetermined speed difference is set. Then, the operation time corresponding to the calculated skew amount may be controlled. Further, this rotation time may be changed according to the size, thickness, material, etc. of the paper 10, for example.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the conveyance components 61 to 68 of the conveyance device 2 or the sheet conveyance unit 46 have been described as bringing one spherical roller 110 into contact with the sheet 10, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the conveyance parts 61 to 68 shown in FIG. 25, for example, a plurality of conveyance rollers 220 and 222 may be connected by a belt 224. Then, as shown in FIG. 26, two sets of the belt 224 may be provided for each of the left and right groups so as to contact the paper 10. For example, the sheet conveying unit 46 includes a belt 224A constituting the A group conveying parts 62, 64, 66, 68 on the left side in the conveying direction, and a B group conveying parts 61, 63 on the right side in the conveying direction. , 65 and 67 are provided. Further, as described above, the conveying parts 602, 604, 606, and 608 and the conveying parts 601, 603, 605, and 607 are arranged in a substantially V shape with respect to the belt 224A and the belt 224B through the paper 10. . According to such a configuration, the contact area can be increased with respect to the transport direction, and the contact area can be reduced with respect to the orthogonal direction. The conveyance parts 601 to 608 and the left and right belts 224A and 224B can increase the conveyance force in the conveyance direction, and even when the rotation speed is changed by skew correction, the load applied in the orthogonal direction to the sheet 10 is increased. Since it can be reduced, no wrinkle is generated.

  (5) In the above embodiment, the presence / absence of the supplied paper 10 and the calculation of the skew correction angle are detected at the position on the leading end side in the conveyance direction of the paper 10, but are not limited thereto. For example, detection may be performed on the terminal side of the paper 10 moving in the transport direction. Alternatively, detection may be performed using one or both ends of the side surface of the sheet with respect to the transport direction. That is, any position may be detected as long as the sheet is present and its inclination angle can be detected.

  [Comparative Example]

  Next, FIG. 27 will be referred to for a comparative example of a conventional transport apparatus. FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a comparative example of the transfer device.

  27 transports, for example, long bar-shaped transport rollers 302 and 304 that are orthogonal to the transport direction in contact with the paper 10. For example, the transport rollers 302 and 304 rotate in the transport direction at a constant speed to transport the paper 10 with a transport load. If the rotational speeds of the transport rollers 302 and 304 are varied, the transport load on the paper 10 is different, and the paper 10 is wrinkled or damaged. Therefore, it is difficult to adjust the rotation speed during conveyance.

  Further, since the rotation direction and rotation speed of the transport rollers 302 and 304 are constant, as shown in FIG. 27A, when the captured paper 10 is properly arranged, it can be transported properly. Appropriate printing can be performed. On the other hand, the sheet 10 shown in FIG. 27B shows a case where the sheet 10 is taken into the conveying device 300 in a skewed state. In this case, the transport apparatus 300 cannot correct the skew and transports it to the transport destination as it is. In addition to performing a printing process or the like on the skewed paper 10, for example, a paper jam may occur in the printing apparatus or a print head or the like may be damaged.

  In order to solve such a problem, the conveyance device 300 needs to be configured to correct skew. For example, if a skew correction mechanism is provided before or after the conveyance device 300, the conveyance device 300 or printing The apparatus will be enlarged. Further, in a configuration using a registration roller or the like that abuts the paper 10 as the skew correction mechanism, the skew amount that can be corrected is limited and insufficient.

  In addition, for example, in the case of using rod-shaped rollers having different left and right speeds instead of the transport rollers 302 and 304, the contact area from the transport direction to the orthogonal direction is large with respect to the paper 10, so If the conveying speed is varied, there is a problem that wrinkles are likely to occur.

  It is obvious that such inconveniences and problems are solved by the above-described embodiment.

  Next, the following additional notes will be disclosed with respect to the embodiment including the above-described examples. The present invention is not limited to the following supplementary notes.

(Supplementary Note 1) Paper skew detection means for detecting skew with respect to the conveyance direction of the supplied paper;
Conveying means for conveying the paper by a plurality of conveying parts with different left and right arrangement intervals from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction;
A control unit that varies the left and right transport speeds of the transport parts with respect to the skew of the paper detected by the paper skew detection means;
A sheet conveying apparatus comprising:

(Supplementary Note 2) The sheet skew detection means includes a plurality of sensors in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, and determines whether or not the sensor simultaneously detects the sheet for the conveyed sheet, When the sensor does not detect the paper at the same time, the control unit decelerates the transport speed of the transport component on the sensor side that has detected the paper first, or the transport on the sensor side that has detected the paper later. The sheet conveying apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein either one or both of the increase in the conveying speed of the parts is executed.

(Additional remark 3) It has a time measuring means which time-measures the detection time difference of the said paper skew detection means produced by skew of the said paper conveyed,
The control unit calculates at least one of a skew distance or a skew angle from a difference between a transport speed and a detection time measured by the time measuring unit, and based on the skew distance or the skew angle, left and right of the transport component is calculated. The sheet conveying apparatus according to appendix 1 or 2, wherein a conveying speed difference and a conveying time are determined.

(Additional remark 4) The said conveyance component was comprised by the roller component which made the contact area with respect to the said paper small, The paper conveyance apparatus of Additional remark 1, 2 or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned.

(Additional remark 5) The said conveying means has arrange | positioned the said conveyance component in the substantially V shape toward the downstream from the upstream of the conveyance direction, The paper conveying apparatus of Additional remark 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.

(Supplementary note 6) The control unit according to any one of Supplementary notes 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the control unit controls the conveyance component in conjunction with a conveyance operation for each right and left in a conveyance direction. Paper transport device.

(Appendix 7) The transport means includes a plurality of drive motors that rotate the transport component,
4. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the control unit performs rotation control of each of the drive motors according to the detected skew of the sheet.

(Supplementary note 8) The sheet conveyance device according to supplementary note 1, 2 or 3, wherein the control unit sets a difference in conveyance speed between right and left of the conveyance component to a minimum based on the detected skew.

(Supplementary Note 9) The sensor includes a light emitting unit that emits light with respect to a measurement point;
A light receiving portion that captures light emitted from the light emitting portion,
The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit determines that the sheet is detected when the light to the light receiving unit is blocked.

(Additional remark 10) Furthermore, it has the skew monitoring means which monitors skew of the said paper after passing the said conveyance means,
10. The sheet transport apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 9, wherein the transport unit returns the sheet to a transport start position when the skew monitoring unit detects the skew.

(Appendix 11) Detecting skew in the transport direction of the supplied paper,
For the detected skew of the sheet, the left and right transport speeds of a plurality of transport parts arranged at different left and right disposition intervals are controlled from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction. A paper transport control method.

(Supplementary note 12) For a plurality of sensors provided in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, it is determined whether or not the sensors have simultaneously detected the sheet with respect to the conveyed sheet,
If the sensor does not detect the paper at the same time, at least the reduction in the conveyance speed of the conveyance component on the sensor side that detected the paper first, or the conveyance speed of the conveyance component on the sensor side that detected the paper later. 12. The paper transport control method according to appendix 11, wherein any one or both of the increases are executed.

(Supplementary Note 13) Time difference is detected by a time measuring means caused by skewing of the conveyed paper,
Calculate at least one of the skew distance and the skew angle from the conveyance speed and the detection time difference,
13. The paper conveyance control method according to appendix 11 or 12, wherein a conveyance speed difference and a conveyance time between the left and right of the conveyance component are determined based on the skew distance or the skew angle.

(Appendix 14) Further, the skew of the paper after conveyance is monitored,
14. The sheet conveyance control method according to any one of appendices 10 to 13, wherein when the skew of the sheet after conveyance is detected, the sheet is returned to a conveyance start position.

(Supplementary Note 15) Paper skew detection means for detecting skew with respect to the conveyance direction of the paper taken in from the paper supply means;
Conveying means for conveying the paper by a plurality of conveying parts with different left and right arrangement intervals from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction;
A control unit that varies the left and right transport speeds of the transport parts with respect to the skew of the paper detected by the paper skew detection means;
A printing apparatus comprising:

(Supplementary Note 16) The sheet skew detection means includes a plurality of sensors in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and determines whether the sensor has detected the sheets at the same time for the captured sheets. When the sensor does not detect the paper at the same time, the control unit decelerates the transport speed of the transport component on the sensor side that has detected the paper first, or the transport on the sensor side that has detected the paper later. The printing apparatus according to appendix 15, wherein either or both of an increase in the conveying speed of the component are executed.

(Supplementary Note 17) A timing unit that counts the detection time difference of the sheet skew detection unit caused by the skew of the captured sheet is provided.
The control unit calculates at least one of a skew distance or a skew angle from a difference between a transport speed and a detection time measured by the time measuring unit, and based on the skew distance or the skew angle, left and right of the transport component is calculated. The printing apparatus according to appendix 15 or 16, wherein a conveyance speed difference and a conveyance time are determined.

(Supplementary note 18) The printing apparatus according to supplementary note 15, wherein the conveyance means arranges the plurality of conveyance components in a substantially V shape from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction.

(Additional remark 19) The said control part is equipped with the conveyance speed setting table which set the conveyance speed difference of the right and left of the said conveyance components to the minimum based on the detected skew feeding, Additional remark 15, 16 or 17 characterized by the above-mentioned. The printing apparatus as described.

(Supplementary note 20) Further, it includes a skew monitoring means for monitoring the skew of the sheet after passing through the transport means,
The printing apparatus according to any one of appendices 15 to 19, wherein the transport unit returns the sheet to a transport start position when the skew monitoring unit detects the skew.

As described above, the preferred embodiments of the paper transport device, the paper transport control method, and the printing device have been described, but the present invention is not limited to the above description, and is described in the claims. Of course, various modifications and changes can be made by those skilled in the art based on the gist of the invention disclosed in the embodiments for carrying out the invention, and such modifications and changes are included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

2, 200 Conveying device 4, 202 Paper skew detection means 6 Paper conveying means 61-68, 601-608 Conveying parts 8 Control unit 10 Paper 20, 210 Printing device 22 Printing operation unit 24 Lower casing unit 26 Lower casing Body part 28, 30 Conveying roller 32 Process part 34 Fixing part 36 Ejecting part 38 Controller part 40 Mechanical control part 42, 48 Paper cassette 44, 212 Paper skew detecting part 46 Paper conveying part 50 Printing path 52 Computer 72 Paper skew calculating part 74 Conveyance path 76, 78, 220, 222 Conveyance roller 80, 82 Paper drawing portion 90 Optical sensor 92 Light emitting portion 94 Light receiving portion 100 Drive motor 102 Clutch speed change gear 104, 224 Belt 110 Spherical roller 112 Fixed frame 114 Fixed frame 116 Guide roller 118 holes 130 CPU
132 Data Transmission / Reception Unit 134 Storage Unit 136 Program Storage Unit 138 Data Storage Unit 140 Transport Speed Setting Table 142 RAM
143 timer

Claims (6)

A paper skew detection means for detecting skew with respect to the transport direction of the supplied paper;
Conveying means for conveying the paper by a plurality of conveying parts with different left and right arrangement intervals from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction;
A control unit that varies the left and right transport speeds of the transport parts with respect to the skew of the paper detected by the paper skew detection means;
A sheet conveying apparatus comprising:   The paper skew detection means includes a plurality of sensors in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and determines whether the sensor has detected the paper at the same time for the transported paper. When not detecting the paper at the same time, the control unit at least decelerates the transport speed of the transport component on the sensor side that detected the paper earlier, or the transport speed of the transport component on the sensor side that detected the paper later The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the increase is executed.   The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveying component is configured by a roller component having a small contact area with the sheet. Furthermore, a skew monitoring means for monitoring skew of the paper after passing through the transport means,
4. The paper transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport unit returns the paper to a transport start position when the skew monitoring unit detects the skew. Detect skew in the transport direction of the supplied paper,
For the detected skew of the sheet, the left and right transport speeds of a plurality of transport parts arranged at different left and right disposition intervals are controlled from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction. A paper transport control method. A sheet skew detecting means for detecting skew with respect to the transport direction of the paper taken in from the sheet feeding means;
Conveying means for conveying the paper by a plurality of conveying parts with different left and right arrangement intervals from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction;
A control unit that varies the left and right transport speeds of the transport parts with respect to the skew of the paper detected by the paper skew detection means;
A printing apparatus comprising:

Images