JP2014085376A - Contact separation mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contact separation mechanism that has a simple configuration and is able to press a recording medium to an area between a transfer roller and an image carrier according to the characteristic of the recording medium, is able to form a predetermined gap between the transfer roller and the image carrier, and is able to finely adjust the gap during the formation thereof.SOLUTION: A contact separation mechanism comprises: developer conveyance means E20 that conveys a developer image developed on an image carrier; a recording medium P that comes into contact with a transfer roller B and transfers the developer image conveyed by the developer conveyance means E20; a mounting member 100 with the transfer roller B mounted thereon; first adjusting means that sets the transfer roller B at an arrangement height such that an interval between the recording medium P and the developer conveyance means E20 has a predetermined distance; second adjusting means 300 that is mounted on the mounting member 100 and finely adjusts the arrangement position of the transfer roller B; restricting means 400 that restricts the movement of the mounting member 100; and connecting means 500 that connects the first adjusting means 200 and the mounting member 100.

Description

  The present invention provides a transfer roller so that the distance between the recording medium having an uneven surface, in particular, paper, film, or natural or artificial fabric, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, etc., and the belt of the developer image carrier is a predetermined distance. The present invention relates to an approach / separation mechanism set at an arrangement position.

  Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3 are apparatuses for recording an image on a recording medium having irregularities on the surface such as paper, film, or natural or artificial fabric, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, or knitted fabric (knit).

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 show, as shown in FIG. 2 of Patent Document 1 and FIG. 1 of Patent Document 2, a winding roller around which a cloth serving as a recording medium is wound in advance, and a cloth fed out from the winding roller. The take-up roller that winds up the fabric conveys the fabric to an ink jet head and ejects ink onto the fabric to form an image on the fabric.

  Since the configuration of Patent Document 1 is a configuration in which ink is applied to a recording medium, a gap is required between the inkjet head and the recording medium. In addition, the characteristics of the recording medium, for example, those having irregularities such as a knitted fabric (knit), may cause uneven color or distorted images to be output on the surface of the recording medium, resulting in a decrease in quality. there were.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3 of Patent Document 2, there is a configuration in which the recording medium is pulled uniformly so as not to cause unevenness. However, when the recording medium is wide, the unwinding roller and the winding roller become longer in the width direction, so the bending of the unwinding roller and the winding roller and the expansion / contraction of the recording medium that occurs during conveyance occur, and these are adjusted. Difficult to do.

  There exists patent document 3 in order to solve this problem. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the structure of Patent Document 3 is that a laser beam 12 from a laser oscillator 1 is divided into two beams by a half mirror 101. Are modulated by the image information output from the computer by the modulator 3 and reflected on the same surface of the rotating mirror 5 with the other beam whose optical path is bent by the fixed mirror 102 and the detection beam 103, respectively. Scanning is performed as an exposure beam 12.

  The detection surface beam 103 is further bent by the fixed mirror 104 in the light receiving direction of the plurality of beam detectors 18. The detection beam 103 is converted into a beam position signal by each beam position detector 18, and the timing of the input signal to the modulator 3 is corrected to form a high-quality electrostatic latent image. Is transferred onto the fabric and fixed.

JP 7-101121 A JP 2009-235588 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 52-18893

  However, since Patent Document 3 is configured to press the recording medium against the drum (D, D ′) by the transfer rollers (117, 117 ′) as shown in FIG. 18, it corresponds to the characteristics of the recording medium. Therefore, it is difficult to make the image output quality constant.

  For example, when the recording medium has a smooth surface such as satin or silk, the quality can be improved by pressing the recording medium against the transfer rollers (117, 117 ′) against the drum (D, D ′).

  Furthermore, when the recording medium is uneven, such as a knitted fabric (knit), when the recording medium is pressed between the transfer rollers (117, 117 ′) and the drum (D, D ′), the recording medium is recessed. The portion becomes a gap, and the transfer of the developer at that portion (the state in which the developer adheres to the recording medium) becomes worse. As a result, the concave portion of the recording medium lacks clarity, and the quality of the image transferred to the recording medium is degraded.

  In such a recording medium, the developer is embedded in the concave portion of the recording medium from the drum (D, D ′), and the developer is uniformly transferred onto the surface of the recording medium, thereby solving the problem. It is desirable to form a certain gap between (117, 117 ′) and the drum (D, D ′).

  Therefore, a configuration is required in which the recording medium is pressed between the transfer roller and the image carrier, or a certain gap is formed between the transfer roller and the image carrier, depending on the characteristics of the recording medium. . In addition, this gap is likely to change depending on the characteristics of the recording medium, and the transfer efficiency fluctuates due to a slight change in the gap. For this reason, fine adjustment of the gap is also required.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an image carrier that carries an image, a recording medium that contacts the transfer roller and transfers an image formed on the image carrier. , An attachment member to which the transfer roller is attached, a first adjusting means for setting the transfer roller to an arrangement position so that a distance between the recording medium and the image carrier is a predetermined distance, and an attachment member, A second adjusting means for finely adjusting the arrangement position; a restricting means for restricting the movement of the mounting member; and a connecting means for connecting the first adjusting means and the mounting member. A first pin that pivotally supports the top of the connecting means and the top of the mounting member, a second pin that connects one end of the first adjusting means, a third pin that connects to the mounting section, and a transfer roller on the image carrier side. And a biasing means for biasing

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the first adjusting means includes a first driving means and a converting means for converting the rotational force of the first driving means into a linear motion, and the converting means is connected to the connecting means. It is characterized by being. Next, the invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that the converting means is a rod having one end connected to the first driving means and the other end connected to the connecting means.

  Further, in the invention according to claim 4, the first drive means includes a first drive part and a first transmission part that transmits the driving force of the first drive part to the conversion means. A first drive shaft connected to the first drive unit; first transmission means for transmitting rotation of the first drive shaft; and a connecting shaft connected to one end of a rod provided in the first transmission means. The first transmission means is made of a thin disk member, the connecting shaft is arranged at an eccentric position when viewed from the first drive shaft, and the first transmission means, the rod, and the connecting shaft constitute a link mechanism. It is characterized by.

  Furthermore, the invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the second adjustment means includes a second drive means attached to one end side of the attachment member, and a second transmission means for transmitting the drive force of the second drive means. The second drive means comprises a second drive source and a second drive shaft, and the second transmission means comprises a drive roller connected to the second drive shaft and a driven roller arranged eccentrically with respect to the transfer roller. And a belt stretched between the driving roller and the driven roller, and the moving position of the driving roller is brought into contact with and separated from the transfer roller to finely adjust the arrangement position of the transfer roller.

  According to the present invention, the recording medium that contacts the transfer roller and transfers the image formed on the image carrier, the mounting member to which the transfer roller is attached, and the distance between the recording medium and the image carrier are set to a predetermined distance. A first adjusting means for setting the transfer roller to the arrangement position, a second adjusting means attached to the attachment member for fine adjustment of the arrangement position of the transfer roller, a regulation means for restricting the movement of the attachment member, It comprises connecting means for connecting the adjusting means and the mounting member.

  Furthermore, the connecting means has a substantially triangular shape, a first pin that pivotally supports the top of the connecting means and the top of the mounting member, a second pin that connects one end of the first adjusting means, and a third pin that connects to the mounting part By urging means for urging the transfer roller toward the image carrier, the recording medium can be pressed between the transfer roller and the image carrier in a simple configuration according to the characteristics of the recording medium, A certain gap can be formed between the transfer roller and the image carrier.

  Further, the second adjusting means is composed of second driving means attached to one end side of the attaching member, and second transmission means for transmitting the driving force of the second driving means. The second drive means is a second drive source and a second drive shaft, and the second transmission means is a drive roller connected to the second drive shaft, a driven roller arranged eccentric to the transfer roller, and a drive roller. It consists of a belt stretched around a driven roller. By rotating the driven roller so as to be in contact with and away from the transfer roller, and finely adjusting the arrangement position of the transfer roller, the gap can be finely adjusted in response to a slight change in the gap.

Schematic of the apparatus to which the contacting / separating mechanism of this invention is applied. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the arrow in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an image forming apparatus to which the contact / separation mechanism of the present invention is applied.

  This apparatus feeds the recording medium P by the feeding section C, sends the fed recording medium P to the image forming section E by the transport section D, and then transfers the image to the recording medium P by the transfer section I. The image transferred to the recording medium P is fixed by the fixing unit H, and the recording medium P is taken up by the winding unit G. The recording medium P has irregularities on the surface of paper, film or natural or artificial fabric, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, knitted fabric (knit) or the like.

  The feeding portion C and the fixing portion H are adjusted so that the tensile force of the recording medium P is constant. Specifically, when a force (F1) stronger than the grip force (F) of the pair of rollers is applied to the feeding portion C, the conveyed recording medium P is pulled toward the fixing portion H, and this recording medium It is adjusted so that a strong tension acts on P.

  When the control means (not shown) detects this state via the detection means (not shown), the control means increases (fastens) the feeding amount (speed) of the recording medium P in the feeding section C. The pulling force of the recording medium P becomes the grip force (f) of the pair of rollers.

  The winding unit G rewinds the recording medium P on which the image is fixed. Similarly to the feeding unit C, the winding unit G is configured so that the tensile force of the recording medium P of the fixing unit H is constant.

  In this case, when a strong tension acts on the recording medium P to be rewound and a force (f2) stronger than the gripping force (f) of the pair of rollers is applied, the amount of rewinding of the recording medium P in the feeding portion C ( By reducing (slowing) the speed), the rewinding force of the recording medium P of the feeding portion C of the recording medium P becomes the gripping force (f) of the pair of rollers. As described above, the conveyance of the recording medium P is performed by adjusting the feeding unit C and the winding unit G based on the gripping force and the conveyance speed of the fixing unit H.

  The conveyance unit D conveys the recording medium P fed from the feeding unit C to the transfer unit I and the fixing unit H. The conveyance unit D includes a loop belt D10 (endless belt), a drive unit D20, and a driven roller D30.

  The transport unit D is attached to a housing (not shown), and is stretched over the belt D10 in a tensioned state by the drive unit D20 and the driven roller D30. The drive unit D20 includes two rollers, and a suction portion D40 described later is provided on one roller side.

  The belt D10 is provided with an adsorbing part D40 and a charge eliminating part D50. The suction part D40 is applied with a predetermined voltage to suck the recording medium P onto the belt D10 of the transport part D, and is arranged on the feeding part C side. The suction unit D40 moves the recording medium P toward the image forming unit E and the fixing unit H while holding the recording medium P on the belt D10, and extends the wrinkles of the recording medium P on the belt D10.

  The neutralization unit D50 is configured so that the recording medium P is easily separated from the belt D10 when the recording medium P to which the image (developer image formed on the developer image carrier E20) is transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit H. In addition, static elimination is performed so that the image is not broken.

  For this reason, the static eliminating unit D50 is disposed above the portion where the recording medium P adsorbed on the belt D10 is separated from the belt D10, that is, above the driven roller D30. The static elimination unit D50 is a corona charger, and includes a corona wire D51, a corona house covering the corona wire D51, and D52, and a predetermined bias is applied thereto.

  The image forming unit E forms an image to be transferred to the recording medium P. The image forming unit E includes an image forming unit E10 corresponding to each color and a developer image carrier E20 that conveys an image formed by each image forming unit E10 to the transfer unit I side.

  In the image forming unit E10, yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black BK are arranged in parallel from the top. Around the image carrier E11, a charge removing unit (not shown) for removing residual charges on the image carrier E11 and a charging unit (not shown) for charging the surface of the image carrier E11 to a specific polarity are charged. The image bearing member E11 includes an exposure unit (not shown) for forming an electrostatic latent image, and a developing device E12 that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier E11 with a developer.

  Supply of toner of each color is performed by a toner cartridge. In this embodiment, even if color mixing occurs, in order to make it less conspicuous, they are arranged in the order of yellow, magenta M, cyan C, and black BK in the order of the developer transport direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and black BK, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y may be used.

  The developer image carrier E20 corresponds to the image carrier A, and conveys the developer images formed by the image forming means E10 for each color to the recording medium P side. The developer image carrier E20 includes a loop belt E21 (endless belt), a drive unit E22, a driven roller E23, and a proximity roller E24.

  The belt E21 is stretched in a tensioned state by the driving roller E22, the driven roller E23, and the proximity roller E24. In the belt E21, transfer means (Y, M, C, Bk) corresponding to the image forming means E10 (Y, M, C, Bk) of each color are arranged.

  The drive unit E20 includes four rollers. The proximity roller E24 is provided between the two rollers of the drive unit E20 so that the developer image formed by the transfer means (Y, M, C, Bk) of each color on the belt E21 is easily transferred to the recording medium P. Projecting to the transfer part I side.

  The transfer unit I transfers the developer image transferred to the developer image carrier E20 to the recording medium P, and is attached to a housing (not shown). The transfer unit I includes a transfer roller B and a contact / separation mechanism of the present invention that supports the transfer roller B.

  The transfer roller B always contacts the back surface of the belt D10, brings the recording medium P close to the belt E21 of the developer image carrier E20, and a transfer bias in which the DC component or the DC component is superimposed on the recording medium P. Is connected to a power source 700 for applying.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the contact / separation mechanism includes a pair of sets, and includes an attachment member 100, a first adjustment unit 200, a second adjustment unit 300, a regulation unit 400, and a connection unit 500.

  The mounting member 100 is made of a thin plate-like member, and a central top portion 110 is pivotally supported, one end viewed from the top portion 110 is connected to the transfer roller B, and the other end is a second driving unit of the second adjusting unit 300 described later. 310 is attached. Furthermore, an abutting portion 120 that abuts on a regulating means 400 described later is provided on one end side of the mounting member 100.

  The first adjusting means 200 moves the second adjusting means 300 described later to a predetermined height.

  The first adjustment unit 200 includes a first drive unit 210 and a conversion unit 220 that converts the rotational force of the first drive unit 210 into a linear motion. Further, the first drive unit 210 includes a first drive shaft 230 connected to the first drive unit 210 and a first transmission unit 240 that transmits the rotation of the first drive shaft 230.

  The first transmission means 240 is made of a thin disk member, and is attached to the first drive shaft 230 at an eccentric position. The first transmission means 240 is provided with conversion means 220 described later.

  As described above, the conversion unit 220 transmits the drive of the first drive unit 210 to the first transmission unit 240 and converts the rotation of the first transmission unit 240 into a linear motion. The conversion unit 220 includes a rod having one end connected to the first drive unit 210 and the other end connected to the connection unit 500.

  The first transmission means 240, the rod 220, and the first drive shaft 230 constitute a link mechanism. With this configuration, when the first transmission means 240 is rotated via the first drive shaft 230, the conversion means 220 shifts in the direction of arrow a, and the top portion 110 is caused by the weight of the mounting member 100 and the urging force of the urging means 600. The mounting member 100 swings in the direction of the arrow b around the center, and the second adjusting means 300 moves to a predetermined height. The movement of the second adjustment unit 300 is performed until the contact part 120 contacts the regulating unit 400.

  When further rotating from this state (returning to the state of FIG. 2), the conversion means 220 shifts in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow a, and the other end of the conversion means 220 pushes up the connecting means 500, thereby restricting means. The contact between 400 and the contact portion 120 is released, and the second adjustment means 300 is moved downward from a predetermined height.

  The connecting means 500 is a thin plate-like member having a substantially triangular shape. The top 510 is pivotally supported together with the top 110 of the mounting member 100 by a first pin 511, and one end is converted by a second pin 512. The other end is connected to the mounting member 100 by a third pin 513.

  The connecting means 500 is provided with a housing portion 520 that houses a biasing means 600 that biases the attachment member 100 toward the proximity roller E24. In addition, a cradle 130 for receiving the urging means 600 is provided at the position of the mounting member 100 facing the housing portion 520.

  The biasing means 600 is set when the mounting member 100 is moved to a predetermined height by the first adjusting means 200 after the transfer roller B is set to a predetermined position by the second adjusting means described later, or the belt D10. It absorbs shocks generated when the recording medium is conveyed.

  The second adjustment unit 300 finely adjusts the arrangement position of the transfer roller B, that is, the interval between the recording medium P and the belt E21 of the developer image carrier E20 by a predetermined distance. And two transmission means 320.

  The second adjusting unit 300 includes a second driving unit 310 attached to one end side of the mounting member 100 and a second transmission unit 320 that transmits the driving force of the second driving unit 310. The second drive unit 310 includes a second drive source 311 and a second drive shaft 312 and is directly connected to the drive roller 321 of the second transmission unit 320.

  The second transmission means 320 includes a driving roller 321 connected to the second driving shaft 312, a driven roller 322 connected to the transfer roller B, and a belt 323 stretched between the driving roller 321 and the driven roller 322.

  The driven roller 322 is attached to the transfer roller B. A connecting shaft 330 is provided at an eccentric position of the driven roller 322. The transfer roller B is pivotally supported on the connecting shaft 330. With this configuration, with the rotation of the driven roller 322, the transfer roller B is displaced up and down (arrow c), and the fine adjustment of the interval between the recording medium P and the belt E21 of the developer image carrier E20 is performed.

  Furthermore, the belt tension is adjusted by a tension roller. The tension roller is moved along an adjustment groove 140 provided in the attachment member 100 to adjust the tension of the belt.

  The interval between the recording medium P and the belt of the developer image carrier E20 is detected by a detection unit (not shown), and the second adjustment unit 300 is operated based on the detection result, and this interval is set to a predetermined distance. Adjust so that The distance between the recording medium P and the belt E21 of the developer image carrier E20 is determined according to the characteristics of the recording medium P.

  The operation of the contacting / separating mechanism of the present invention will be described based on the above configuration. This operation is performed in the order of the second adjustment unit 300 and the first adjustment unit 200.

  First, the second drive source 311 is operated to rotate the second drive shaft 312. This rotation is transmitted to the drive roller 321 and the belt rotates in the direction of arrow d. Furthermore, the driven roller 322 rotates with the rotation of the belt.

  Since the drive roller 322 is directly connected to the transfer roller B in an eccentric state, the transfer roller B shifts in the arrow direction c. With this operation, the setting of the predetermined position of the transfer roller B is completed.

  This setting is performed by the first adjusting means 200 described later when the mounting member 100 swings in the direction of arrow b with the top 110 as a fulcrum, or the transfer roller B approaches or contacts the belt E21 of the developer image carrier E20. It shifts in the direction of pressing.

  Next, the first drive unit 210 is driven to transmit the rotation of the first drive shaft 230 to the first transmission unit 240. The rotation of the first drive shaft 230 transmitted to the first transmission unit 240 is transmitted to the conversion unit 220. At this time, one end of the conversion means 220 (rod) is pivotally supported at an eccentric position when viewed from the first drive shaft 230, and thus operates as a link mechanism.

  When the first transmission means 240 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the conversion means 220 moves from the predetermined position in the direction of arrow a (forward) or in the direction of reverse arrow a (backward).

  By this operation, when the first transmission means 240 moves in the direction of arrow a (advance) from a predetermined position, the conversion means 220 operates in the direction of arrow a, and the mounting member 100 is moved until the contact portion 120 abuts against the regulation means 400. The second adjustment means 300 (attachment member 100) moves to a predetermined height by swinging in the direction of arrow b.

  At this time, the shock generated when the contact portion 120 hits the regulating means 400 is absorbed by the urging means 600.

  Further, when the conversion means 220 is moved in the reverse arrow a direction (retracted) from the predetermined position, the mounting member 100 is moved in the reverse arrow b direction with the top portion 110 as a fulcrum (direction in which the transfer roller B is separated from the belt E21 of the developer image carrier E20) ).

  As described above, with the simple configuration of the first adjusting unit 200 and the second adjusting unit 300, the recording medium P is placed between the transfer roller B and the belt E21 of the developer image carrier E20 according to the characteristics of the recording medium P. Or a predetermined gap can be formed between the transfer roller B and the belt E21 of the developer image carrier E20.

  In particular, the second adjusting means 300 biases the vibration generated when the recording medium P is conveyed when the recording medium P is placed on the belt D10 or the recording medium P having a difference in surface irregularities is conveyed. Therefore, the gap can be finely adjusted in response to a slight change caused according to the characteristics of the recording medium P.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Attachment member 200 1st adjustment means 300 2nd adjustment means 400 Control means 500 Connection means A Image carrier (E20 Developer image carrier)
B Transfer roller P Recording medium

Claims (5)

An image carrier for carrying an image;
A recording medium that contacts the transfer roller and transfers the image formed on the image carrier;
An attachment member to which the transfer roller is attached;
First adjusting means for setting an arrangement height of the transfer roller so that a distance between the recording medium and the image carrier is a predetermined distance;
A second adjustment means attached to the attachment member for finely adjusting the arrangement position of the transfer roller;
Restricting means for restricting movement of the mounting member;
A connecting means for connecting the first adjusting means and the mounting member;
The connecting means has a substantially triangular shape, a first pin that pivotally supports the top of the connecting means and the top of the mounting member, a second pin that connects one end of the first adjusting means, and a third pin connected to the mounting part. An approach / separation mechanism comprising a pin and an urging means for urging the transfer roller toward the image carrier. The first adjusting means comprises a first driving means and a converting means for converting the rotational force of the first driving means into a linear motion,
The contact / separation mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the converting means is connected to connecting means.  The contact / separation mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the converting means is a rod having one end connected to the first driving means and the other end connected to the connecting means. The first drive means comprises a first drive part and a first transmission part for transmitting the driving force of the first drive part to the conversion means,
The first transmission means includes a first drive shaft connected to the first drive unit, a first transmission means for transmitting rotation of the first drive shaft, and a rod provided in the first transmission means. Consisting of a connecting shaft connected to one end,
The first transmission means is a thin disk member,
The connecting shaft is disposed at an eccentric position when viewed from the first drive shaft;
4. The contact / separation mechanism according to claim 2, wherein a link mechanism is constituted by the first transmission means, the rod, and the connecting shaft. The second adjusting means comprises a second driving means attached to one end side of the attachment member, and a second transmission means for transmitting the driving force of the second driving means,
The second drive means comprises a second drive source and a second drive shaft,
The second transmission means includes a driving roller connected to the second driving shaft, a driven roller arranged eccentrically with respect to the transfer roller, and a belt stretched between the driving roller and the driven roller.
The contact / separation mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the arrangement position of the transfer roller is finely adjusted by moving the driven roller to and from the transfer roller.