JP2015105182A - Medium processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medium processing device causing a medium having been discharged and a medium reversely fed to be separated apart from each other and preventing the medium having been discharged from being fed to a transportation path when returning the medium fed onto a discharge tray to the transportation path.SOLUTION: A printer is provided with a sheet separation member 33 moving to a separation position 33A positioned above a paper discharge tray 7 and a retreat position 33B to which the sheet separation member 33 retreats from the paper discharge tray 7. Driving force of a transportation motor of a sheet transportation mechanism is transmitted to the sheet separation member 33 via a clutch mechanism. The clutch mechanism is brought into a disengaged state when a sheet P is transported in a first direction (direction toward a downstream side of a horizontal transportation path 13) and is brought into an engaged state when the sheet P is transported in a second direction (direction toward an upstream side of the horizontal transportation path 13). At the time of double-sided printing, single-sided printing is completed and, subsequently, the sheet P is transported in the second direction and is fed into a reversing transportation path. In this case, the sheet separation member 33 moves to the separation position 33A, and the sheet P1 having been discharged is prevented from being fed into the horizontal transportation path 13.

Description

  The present invention conveys a sheet-like medium such as recording paper along a conveyance path to perform medium processing such as printing and reading information, and stacks the processed medium on a discharge tray provided at the downstream end of the conveyance path. The present invention relates to a medium processing apparatus.

  In this type of medium processing apparatus, by connecting a reversing conveyance path in the form of a loop that reverses the front and back of the medium to a conveyance path that conveys a sheet-like medium, and conveying the medium along the reversing conveyance path, Some media perform processing such as printing on both sides of the medium. When processing such as printing on both sides of the medium, the medium is once transported until it passes through a medium processing unit such as a print head, and at this time, a part of the medium is discharged from the discharge port at the downstream end of the transport path. It becomes a state. After that, by switching the medium conveyance direction and back feeding, the medium was pulled back into the conveyance path, sent into the reversing conveyance path, the front and back sides were reversed, and processing such as printing was performed on the second surface. After that, discharge from the outlet. The discharged medium is stacked on the discharge tray. Patent Document 1 discloses this type of medium processing apparatus (image forming apparatus).

  The image forming apparatus of Patent Document 1 is provided with a paper discharge tray (discharge tray) from which recording paper (medium) after printing is discharged. A swingable guide plate is provided on the downstream side of the paper discharge roller and above the paper discharge tray. The guide plate moves to a horizontal position that supports the recording paper discharged from the discharge roller to the upper side of the paper discharge tray and a downward position that does not support the recording paper. When the printed recording paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray, the guide plate faces downward. However, after printing on one side of the recording paper, the guide plate is turned sideways when reversed to reverse the recording paper. As a result, the recording paper is prevented from hanging downward on the paper discharge tray, and as a result, the trailing edge of the recording paper is prevented from being lifted obliquely on the upstream side of the paper discharge roller. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the recording paper from being caught by the paper path member during reverse feeding and becoming a paper jam state.

JP 2011-190038 A

  In a printer that performs double-sided printing, as described in Patent Document 1, when printing on one side is completed, a part of the medium is sent onto the discharge tray, and an operation of switching the conveyance direction and returning it to the conveyance path is performed. At this time, if the discharged medium is stacked on the discharge tray, the leading edge of the medium sent out on the discharge tray overlaps the discharged medium, and the discharged medium is adsorbed by static electricity or the like. End up. Therefore, if the medium is fed backwards as it is, the discharged medium is drawn into the transport path in a state where it is drawn and overlapped with the reversely fed medium. For this reason, there is a possibility that problems such as paper jams occur.

  The medium processing apparatus (image forming apparatus) of Patent Document 1 is provided with a guide member that keeps the orientation of the recording paper horizontal at a position immediately after it is ejected from the paper ejection roller onto the paper ejection tray. However, the problem that the recording paper on the paper discharge tray is attracted to the recording paper during double-sided printing (reversely fed recording paper) and brought into the transport path is not recognized in Patent Document 1, and the guide member is not It does not solve such problems.

  That is, in Patent Document 1, when the recording paper is conveyed in the forward direction (direction toward the paper discharge tray), the guide member is directed downward inside the paper discharge tray as shown in FIGS. However, in such a retracted position, there is a possibility that the stacked recording paper that has been discharged and the recording paper that is reversely fed cannot be separated. For example, the trailing edge of the discharged recording paper is scooped up by the guide member, and may be attracted to the recording paper after single-sided printing by static electricity and lifted together. Therefore, the discharged recording paper cannot be separated from the reversely fed recording paper and may be brought together between the paper discharge rollers.

  In view of these points, an object of the present invention is to provide a medium processing apparatus in which a discharge tray for stacking media is provided at the downstream end of a conveyance path, and the conveyance direction is switched during conveyance of the medium onto the discharge tray. When returning to the path, the stacked ejected medium and the reversely fed medium are separated from each other so as not to be brought into the transport path.

  In order to solve the above problems, a medium processing apparatus of the present invention includes a medium processing unit that performs a predetermined process on a sheet-like medium, a medium conveyance path that passes through a medium processing position by the medium processing unit, and the medium A discharge tray for receiving the medium discharged from the transfer path, a medium transfer mechanism for transferring the medium in a first direction from the medium processing unit toward the discharge tray, and a second direction opposite to the first direction. And a medium separation member that moves to a separation position above the discharge tray and a retreat position that is retracted to the outside of the discharge tray. The medium separation member conveys the medium in the second direction. When the operation is performed, it is located at the separation position.

  In the present invention, as described above, when the medium is conveyed in the second direction, the medium separation member is located above the discharged medium stacked in the discharge tray. For this reason, the medium in the middle of being discharged from the outlet of the medium conveying path to the discharge tray and the stacked discharged medium can be separated by the medium separation member, and the medium that has been discharged is returned to the medium that is pulled back in the second direction. It is possible to avoid being attracted and drawn into the medium conveyance path in an overlapped state. Therefore, when a part of the medium is once discharged onto the discharge tray, and then the transport direction is switched and returned to the medium transport path, the ejected medium is brought into the medium transport path and a paper jam, etc. Inconvenience can be prevented.

  In the present invention, it is desirable that a neutralizing member is attached to the medium separation member. If it does in this way, the static electricity of a medium can be neutralized and it can control that the discharged medium is attracted to the medium pulled back to the medium conveyance way by static electricity.

  In the present invention, the medium processing unit is a print head, and includes a reversing conveyance path that reverses the front and back of the medium conveyed in the second direction and returns the medium to the medium processing position, and the medium separation member Transports the medium in the first direction and prints it on one side, then transports it in the second direction and sends it to the reversing transport path to reverse the front and back, and then prints on the other side When performing duplex printing and performing the duplex printing, when the medium is transported in the second direction, it is desirable that the medium spacing member is located at the spacing position. In this way, when the medium is reversely fed and reversed after single-sided printing, it is possible to avoid problems such as paper jams and defective printing due to the medium on the transport tray being brought into the transport path.

  Here, the medium separation member can be configured to move to the separation position and the retreat position based on the rotation of a swing shaft disposed below the outlet to the discharge tray of the medium conveyance path. In this way, the medium separation member can be moved to the separation position and the retracted position with a simple structure.

  In this case, it has a clutch mechanism which interrupts transmission of the driving force of the conveyance motor with which the medium conveyance mechanism is provided to the swing shaft, and the clutch mechanism has the medium in the first direction by the conveyance motor. It can be configured to be in a disconnected state when rotating in the transport direction, and in a connected state when the transport motor is rotating in the direction of transporting the medium in the second direction. In this case, it is not necessary to use a dedicated drive source for moving the medium separation member. Further, it is not necessary to switch the control depending on the conveyance direction of the medium. Therefore, the structure and control can be simplified, and the cost increase can be suppressed.

  Alternatively, the medium separation member can be configured to reciprocate in a linear direction between the separation position and the retracted position by a driving force of a solenoid. In this way, the operation space of the medium separation member can be reduced, and the drive source can be reduced in size. Therefore, it is easy to secure an installation space for the medium separation member and its drive mechanism.

  According to the present invention, the medium extending above the discharge tray from the outlet of the medium conveyance path and the stacked discharged medium can be separated by the medium separation member and discharged to the medium pulled back in the second direction. It can be avoided that the medium is adsorbed and drawn into the medium conveyance path in an overlapped state. Therefore, when a part of the medium is once discharged onto the discharge tray and then the conveying direction is switched and returned to the medium conveying path, the discharged medium is brought into the conveying path and is inconvenient such as a paper jam. Can be prevented.

1 is an external perspective view of a printer according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied as viewed from the front. FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the printer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main part of the paper transport mechanism as viewed from the rear side of the printer. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a sheet separating member. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the mechanism which moves a paper separation member. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the printer. FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a sheet separating member according to a second embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
Embodiments of a medium processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the present invention is applied to a printer for double-sided printing, but the present invention is also applicable to medium processing apparatuses other than printers such as scanners and facsimiles.

(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an ink jet printer (hereinafter simply referred to as “printer”) according to Embodiment 1 when viewed from the front. The printer 1 (medium processing apparatus) has a rectangular parallelepiped printer main body 2 that is long in the printer width direction X as a whole. A concave portion 4 is formed in the central portion of the back surface of the printer main body 2, and the reversing unit 3 is attached thereto. The reversing unit 3 can be opened at the rear Y2 in the front-rear direction Y of the printer with the lower end portion in the up-down direction Z of the printer as the center.

  A paper cassette mounting portion 5 is provided on the front surface of the printer main body portion 2. The paper feed cassette mounting unit 5 is open to the front Y <b> 1 in the front-rear direction Y of the printer in the lower part of the printer vertical direction Z on the front surface of the printer body 2. A paper feed cassette 6 (supply unit) is detachably attached to the paper feed cassette mounting unit 5 from the front. A paper discharge tray 7 is attached to the upper side of the paper cassette mounting unit 5. The paper discharge tray 7 projects substantially horizontally from the front Y1 of the printer. A rectangular paper discharge port 8 is formed on the upper side of the paper discharge tray 7.

  The front surface of the printer above the paper discharge port 8 is an operation surface 9. On the operation surface 9, a power switch 9a and a plurality of status display lamps 9b are arranged. Rectangular opening / closing lids 10 a and 10 b are attached to the front surface of the printer on both sides of the paper discharge tray 7 and the paper discharge port 8. When these opening / closing lids 10a and 10b are opened, an ink cartridge mounting portion (not shown) is opened, and the ink cartridge (not shown) can be replaced.

(Internal structure)
FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing the internal configuration of the printer. Inside the printer main body 2, a main body side conveyance path 11 for conveying the paper P (medium) from the paper feed cassette 6 to the paper discharge tray 7 is formed. The main body-side transport path 11 includes a paper supply path 12 that extends obliquely upward from the rear end portion of the printer front-rear direction Y in the paper feed cassette mounting portion 5 toward the printer rear Y2 and curves to the printer front Y1, and the paper supply path 12 A horizontal conveyance path 13 (medium conveyance path) extending substantially horizontally from the front end of the curved portion to the front Y1 of the printer and reaching the discharge tray 7 is provided.

  The paper supply path 12 is a conveyance path that supplies the paper P having a predetermined size stored in the paper cassette 6 in a stacked state to the horizontal conveyance path 13. A paper feed roller 15 driven by a paper feed motor 54 (see FIG. 6) is disposed above the rear end portion of the paper feed cassette 6. The paper feed roller 15 has a shape in which a part of the outer peripheral surface is cut out by a plane parallel to the rotation axis 15a. The paper P stored in the paper feed cassette 6 is sent out to the paper supply path 12 every time the paper feed roller 15 is driven to rotate once.

  In the paper supply path 12, a retard roller 16, an intermediate roller 17, and a driven roller 18 are arranged. The retard roller 16 constitutes a sheet separating mechanism that separates and conveys the sheets P one by one when the plurality of sheets P are fed out by the sheet feeding roller 15 in an overlapping state. The sheets P separated one by one are sent to the horizontal conveyance path 13 via the nip position between the intermediate roller 17 and the driven roller 18.

  In the horizontal conveyance path 13, the paper detection lever 20, the paper feed roller pair 21, the print head 22 (medium processing unit), and the first paper discharge roller are sequentially arranged from the upstream side in the paper conveyance direction (that is, the printer rear Y2 side). A pair 23 and a second paper discharge roller pair 24 are arranged. The print head 22 is an inkjet head, and a platen 25 is disposed at a position facing the nozzle surface with a certain gap. The platen 25 is mounted on the upper part of the platen unit 30 disposed in the range from the paper detection lever 20 to the second paper discharge roller on the lower side of the horizontal conveyance path 13. The paper sent from the paper supply path 12 to the horizontal transport path 13 is sent to the paper feed roller pair 21 while pushing up the paper detection lever 20 by the transport force of the intermediate roller 17. The paper P sent to the paper feed position B by the paper feed roller pair 21 is transported toward the first paper discharge roller pair 23 via the print position A (medium processing position) by the print head 22. The paper P sent to the first paper discharge roller pair 23 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 7 via the first paper discharge roller pair 23 and the second paper discharge roller pair 24.

  The paper feed roller pair 21 includes a paper feed roller 21a and a driven roller 21b. A friction layer in which inorganic particles are dispersed is formed on the surface of the paper feed roller 21a. The first paper discharge roller pair 23 includes a first paper discharge roller 23a and a driven roller 23b, and the second paper discharge roller pair 24 includes a second paper discharge roller 24a and a driven roller 24b. The intermediate roller 17, the paper feed roller 21a, the first paper discharge roller 23a, and the second paper discharge roller 24a are driven by a conveyance motor 42 (see FIG. 3) via a driving force transmission mechanism 41 (see FIG. 3) described later. Power is transmitted. The rotation direction of the transport motor 42 is switched between forward and reverse directions by a control unit 51 (see FIG. 6) described later. When the transport motor 42 rotates in the forward direction, the paper P is transported along the paper supply path 12 and the horizontal transport path 13 in the first direction FF from the paper feed cassette 6 toward the paper discharge port 8. On the other hand, when the transport motor 42 rotates in the reverse direction, the paper P is transported in the second direction BF opposite to the first direction FF.

  On the other hand, a reversing conveyance path 14 that draws a loop in the vertical direction Z of the printer is formed inside the reversing unit 3. The downstream portion of the sheet supply path 12 is a common path 19 with the reversing conveyance path 14. The common path 19 is a curved path extending along the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate roller 17. After the trailing edge of the paper P in the horizontal transport path 13 is sent from the paper supply path 12 to the horizontal transport path 13, the paper P is fed back in the second direction BF returning to the upstream side (the printer rear Y2 side). Then, the paper P is fed into the reversing conveyance path 14.

  A first reversing transport roller pair 31 and a second reversing transport roller pair 32 are arranged in the reversing transport path 14. The reversing unit 3 includes a reversing transport motor 39 (see FIG. 6) that drives the driving roller of the first reversing transport roller pair 31 and the driving roller of the second reversing transport roller pair 32. The sheet P sent to the reversing transport path 14 is sent to the common path 19 via the first reversing transport roller pair 31 and the second reversing transport roller pair 32. Then, it passes through the nip position between the intermediate roller 17 and the driven roller 18 and is fed again into the horizontal conveyance path 13. By passing through the loop-shaped reversing conveyance path 14, the paper P is returned to the horizontal conveyance path 13 with the front and back sides reversed. The printer 1 performs double-sided printing by reversing the front and back of the paper P through the reversing conveyance path 14.

(Driving force transmission mechanism)
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main part of the paper transport mechanism of the printer body 2 as seen from the rear side of the printer. The paper transport mechanism 40 (medium transport mechanism) is a mechanism that transports the paper P in the main body-side transport path 11, and includes the above-described retard roller 16, intermediate roller 17, and driven roller 18 (not shown in FIG. 3). , A paper feed roller pair 21, a first paper discharge roller pair 23, a second paper discharge roller pair 24, and the like. The paper transport mechanism 40 includes a transport motor 42 and a driving force transmission mechanism 41, which are driving sources. The driving force transmission mechanism 41 includes a belt pulley mechanism 43, a first gear mechanism 44, a clutch mechanism 45, and the like. ing.

  The belt pulley mechanism 43 transmits the driving force of the transport motor 42 to the paper feed roller 21a and the first paper discharge roller 23a. The belt pulley mechanism 43 has a first pulley 43a attached to the output shaft of the transport motor 42, a second pulley 43b fixed coaxially to the drive shaft of the paper feed roller 21a, and coaxial to the drive shaft of the first paper discharge roller 23a. A third pulley 43c fixed to the three pulleys, and a timing belt 43d spanning the three pulleys. By the belt pulley mechanism 43, the paper feed roller 21a and the first paper discharge roller 23a rotate in the same direction at the same speed.

  The first gear mechanism 44 is a train wheel composed of a first gear 44a, a transmission gear 44b, and a second gear 44c. The first gear 44a is fixed to the roller shaft of the first paper discharge roller 23a, and the second gear 44c is fixed to the roller shaft of the second paper discharge roller 24a. The first gear mechanism 44 transmits the driving force transmitted to the first paper discharge roller 23a to the second paper discharge roller 24a, and causes the first paper discharge roller 23a and the second paper discharge roller 24a to move in the same direction and at the same speed. Rotate.

  When the transport motor 42 rotates in the forward direction, the belt pulley mechanism 43 causes the paper feed roller 21a and the first paper discharge roller 23a to rotate in the forward feed direction, and the second paper discharge roller 24a also rotates in the forward feed direction. The paper P at the paper feed position B is conveyed in the first direction FF. When the transport motor 42 rotates in the reverse direction, the paper feed roller 21a and the first paper discharge roller 23a rotate in the reverse feed direction, and the second paper discharge roller 24a also rotates in the reverse feed direction, so that the paper feed position The B paper P is conveyed in a second direction BF opposite to the first direction FF.

  The clutch mechanism 45 transmits the driving force of the conveyance motor 42 to the intermediate roller 17 when the conveyance motor 42 rotates in the forward direction, and drives the conveyance motor 42 when the conveyance motor 42 rotates in the reverse direction. The transmission of force to the intermediate roller 17 is interrupted. The clutch mechanism 45 is configured using a planetary gear mechanism. When the paper P is fed from the paper supply path 12 to the horizontal transport path 13, the transport motor 42 is rotated in the forward direction. At this time, since the clutch mechanism 45 is in a connected state, the driving force of the transport motor 42 is transmitted to the intermediate roller 17, and the intermediate roller 17 rotates in the same direction as the paper feed roller 21a. Accordingly, the paper P is transported by the intermediate roller 17 in the paper supply path 12 and sent to the horizontal transport path 13. On the other hand, when the paper P in the horizontal transport path 13 is fed back in the second direction BF, the transport motor 42 rotates in the reverse direction. At this time, the clutch mechanism 45 is in a disconnected state. Accordingly, the paper P is reversely fed by the conveyance force of the paper feed roller 21a arranged in the horizontal conveyance path 13. When the reversely fed paper P returns to the paper supply path 12, the intermediate roller 17 rotates following the transported paper P.

(Output tray and paper separation member)
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the sheet separating member, and is a partial vertical cross-sectional view showing a portion of the printer 1 on the front Y1 side. A second paper discharge roller pair 24 is provided at the downstream end of the horizontal conveyance path 13, and the rear end of the paper discharge tray 7 is located on the Y1 front side of the printer with respect to the second paper discharge roller pair 24. The paper discharge tray 7 is provided with a paper receiving surface 71 that extends with a certain width in the longitudinal direction Y of the printer. The sheet receiving surface 71 includes a horizontal receiving surface 71a extending horizontally inside the printer main body 2 and an inclined receiving surface 71b extending obliquely upward from the horizontal receiving surface 71a toward the printer front Y1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, side frame portions 72a and 72b are formed on both edges of the inclined receiving surface 71b in the printer width direction X, and a front frame portion 72c is formed on the edge of the inclined receiving surface 71b on the printer front Y1 side. Is formed. These side frame portions 72a and 72b and the front frame portion 72c surround the inclined receiving surface 71b from three directions. A projecting portion 73 that projects upward is formed at the center of the inclined receiving surface 71b in the printer width direction X. The protruding portion 73 is formed with an inclined surface 73a having a larger inclination than the inclined receiving surface 71b. The inclined surface 73a is connected to an intermediate position in the printer front-rear direction Y of the inclined receiving surface 71b.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a rear frame portion 72d is provided at the end of the horizontal receiving surface 71a on the printer rear Y2 side. The rear frame portion 72d is positioned below the bottom surface of the platen unit 30, and is positioned closer to the printer front Y1 side than the second paper discharge roller pair 24 disposed at the exit of the horizontal conveyance path 13. Yes. On the bottom side of the discharge tray 7, a gap surrounded by the lower end portions of the side frame portions 72a and 72b, the front frame portion 72c, and the rear frame portion 72d is formed, and reinforcing ribs and the like are disposed here. Yes.

  The second paper discharge roller pair 24 is disposed at the outlet of the horizontal conveyance path 13 to the paper discharge port 8. The paper P that has passed through the nip portion between the second paper discharge roller 24a and the driven roller 24b is discharged above the rear end of the horizontal receiving surface 71a and conveyed to the printer front Y1 side. When the trailing edge of the paper P passes through the second paper discharge roller pair 24, the paper P discharging operation is completed. The discharged paper P1 (see FIG. 4) falls on the paper receiving surface 71 or on the top of the discharged paper P1 stacked thereon. Accordingly, the discharged paper P1 is sequentially stacked and accumulated on the paper discharge tray 7.

  Below the outlet of the horizontal conveyance path 13, a paper separation member 33 is disposed that can support the paper P that is being discharged from the horizontal conveyance path 13 from the lower side above the paper discharge tray 7. Yes. More specifically, a swing shaft 34 extending in the printer width direction X is disposed below the second paper discharge roller pair 24, and one end of a flat sheet-like sheet separating member 33 is attached to the swing shaft 34. ing. The swing shaft 34 is supported by the unit frame of the platen unit 30 in a rotatable state.

  The paper separating member 33 rotates by rotating the swing shaft 34, so that a separation position 33A (a position indicated by a solid line in FIGS. 2 and 4) horizontally extending from the swing shaft 34 to the printer front Y1 side, and the swing shaft 34. It is possible to move to a retreat position 33B (a position indicated by a broken line in FIG. 4) extending downward. The paper separating member 33 is in a horizontal posture above the end of the paper discharge tray 7 on the printer rear Y2 side at the separating position 33A. On the other hand, at the retreat position 33B, the posture is downward on the rear Y2 side of the printer with respect to the rear frame portion 72d of the discharge tray 7 and is retracted to the outside of the discharge tray 7. Note that the shape of the sheet separating member 33 is not limited to a flat plate shape. As the swing shaft 34 rotates, the sheet separating member 33 is positioned above the sheet discharge tray 7 and toward the printer rear Y2 side of the sheet discharge tray 7. Any shape that can move to the retracted position may be used. The rear frame portion 72 d of the paper discharge tray 7 has a shape that does not interfere with the swinging paper separation member 33.

  A neutralizing cloth 37 (static eliminating member) is attached to the surface of the paper separating member 33. In the present embodiment, the neutralizing cloth 37 is in the form of a neutralizing tape having an adhesive surface on the back surface, and is affixed to the surface of the paper spacing member 33. The neutralizing cloth 37 may be affixed to only a part of the surface of the sheet spacing member 33 or may be affixed to the entire surface. The neutralizing cloth 37 is formed by forming a fiber material including conductive short fibers into a sheet shape, and more specifically, is obtained by impregnating a non-woven fabric formed with ultrafine fibers into a sheet shape with a conductive polymer. In addition, it can also be set as the form which woven conductive short fiber in the form different from a nonwoven fabric, for example, a woven fabric or a knitted fabric. The neutralizing cloth 37 woven with the short fibers of the conductive member has many cross-sections where charges are likely to concentrate like a so-called needle tip electrode or the like, and can generate countless corona discharges with low charges. It has a non-contact static elimination function that removes the electric charge on the contacted object by corona discharge.

  5A and 5B are explanatory views schematically showing a mechanism for moving the paper separation member 33. FIG. 5A shows a state in which the paper separation member 33 is moved to the separation position 33A, and FIG. 5B shows a paper separation member. The state where 33 is moved to the retreat position 33B is shown. The sheet separating member 33 is swung by a driving force of a conveyance motor 42 that is a common drive source with the sheet conveyance mechanism 40. As described above, the paper transport mechanism 40 includes the first gear mechanism 44 that synchronously rotates the first paper discharge roller pair 23 and the second paper discharge roller pair 24, but the transmission gear 44 b of the first gear mechanism 44. And a swing mechanism 34 is provided with a clutch mechanism 35.

  The clutch mechanism 35 includes a planetary gear mechanism. The clutch mechanism 35 includes a sun gear 35a to which the rotation of the transmission gear 44b of the first gear mechanism 44 is transmitted, and a planet carrier 35b that is coaxially supported with the sun gear 35a and is rotatable relative to the sun gear 35a. And a planetary gear 35c that is rotatably supported by the planet carrier 35b and meshes with the sun gear 35a, and an intermediate gear 35d that transmits the rotation of the planetary gear 35c to the swing shaft 34. A drive gear 34 a that meshes with the intermediate gear is coaxially attached to the swing shaft 34.

  When the transport motor 42 rotates in the reverse direction, that is, when the paper P is transported in the second direction BF, the transmission gear 44b of the first gear mechanism 44 is rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. Rotate to. At this time, in the clutch mechanism 35, the planetary carrier 35b rotates clockwise by the rotation of the sun gear 35a, so that the planetary gear 35c meshes with the intermediate gear 35d, and the clutch mechanism 35 enters the connected state. Accordingly, at this time, the rotation of the sun gear 35a is transmitted to the drive gear 34a via the planetary gear 35c and the intermediate gear 35d. As a result, the swing shaft 34 rotates clockwise, and the paper separation member 33 is lifted and moved to the separation position 33A. The sheet separation member 33 is restricted from rotating above the separation position 33A by a stopper (not shown). Further, a mechanism that idles the swing shaft 34 when the rotation of the sheet separation member 33 is restricted (for example, when the torque more than a certain level is applied) is provided between the sheet separation member 33 and the swing shaft 34. Built-in mechanism). With such a configuration, the sheet separating member 33 is stopped at the separating position 33A while the sheet P is being conveyed in the second direction BF.

  When the transport motor 42 rotates in the forward direction, that is, when the paper P is transported in the first direction FF, the transmission gear 44b of the first gear mechanism 44 rotates clockwise as shown in FIG. Rotate in the direction. At this time, in the clutch mechanism 35, the planetary carrier 35b rotates counterclockwise by the rotation of the sun gear 35a, so that the planetary gear 35c is released from the intermediate gear 35d and the meshing thereof is released, and the clutch mechanism 35 is in the disconnected state. Become. Since the swing shaft 34 is supported in a freely rotatable state, the sheet separating member 33 is rotated downward by its own weight and moves to the retreat position 33B.

(Control system)
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the printer 1. The control system of the printer 1 is mainly configured by a control unit 51 including a CPU. On the input side of the control unit 51, a communication unit 52 that connects an external device such as a computer and the printer 1 so as to communicate with each other, and a paper detector 53 are connected. The paper detector 53 has a front edge or a rear edge of the paper P based on the paper detection lever 20 (see FIG. 2) being pushed up by the paper P conveyed in the first direction FF and the second direction BF along the horizontal conveyance path 13. Is detected to have passed the paper detection position C (see FIG. 2). On the output side of the control unit 51, the print head 22, the paper feed motor 54, the transport motor 42, the reverse transport motor 39, and the like are connected. The communication unit 52 inputs print data supplied from an external device to the control unit 51, and the control unit 51 performs printing based on the print data.

  When printing on the paper P based on the print data, the control unit 51 causes the paper P of the paper feed cassette 6 to be first along the main body side conveyance path 11 (the paper supply path 12 and the horizontal conveyance path 13). A cueing operation for positioning the leading portion of the paper P at the printing position A by the print head 22 is performed in the direction FF. When the cueing operation is completed, the print head 22 is driven while being moved in the printer width direction X to eject the ink onto the paper P, and the paper P is fed by the transport amount corresponding to the print resolution specified by the print data. The transport operation for transporting in the first direction FF is repeated alternately. When printing on the paper P is completed, the paper P is further conveyed in the first direction FF and discharged onto the paper discharge tray 7. Alternatively, when performing double-sided printing on the paper P, the paper P is transported in the second direction BF and sent to the reverse transport path 14 to reverse the front and back, and sent again to the horizontal transport path 13 to perform printing on the back surface. Further, the paper P is conveyed in the first direction FF and discharged onto the paper discharge tray 7.

  As described above, the sheet separating member 33 moves to the retreat position 33B when the sheet P is conveyed in the first direction FF. Accordingly, when the printed paper P is completely discharged from the horizontal conveyance path 13 onto the paper discharge tray 7 (that is, when printing on both sides is completed during single-sided printing and double-sided printing). The sheet separating member 33 is retracted from the sheet discharge tray 7. Therefore, the sheet separating member 33 does not prevent the discharged sheets P1 from being stacked. Further, when the paper P is conveyed in the second direction BF, the paper separation member 33 is moved to the separation position 33A. Accordingly, when printing on one side is completed during duplex printing, the sheet P with its rear end nipped by the second paper discharge roller pair 24 is conveyed in the second direction BF into the horizontal conveyance path 13. When the paper is pulled back, the discharged paper P1 stacked on the paper discharge tray 7 and the paper P to be pulled back are separated by the paper separation member 33.

(Main effects of Embodiment 1)
As described above, in the printer 1 of the first embodiment, when the paper P is conveyed in the second direction BF, the paper separation member 33 is positioned above the paper discharge tray 7. For this reason, the paper P in the middle of discharge extending from the outlet of the horizontal conveyance path 13 to the upper side of the paper discharge tray 7 and the stacked discharged paper P1 can be separated by the paper separation member 33, and the second direction BF It can be avoided that the discharged paper P1 is attracted to the paper P drawn back and drawn into the horizontal conveyance path 13 in an overlapped state. Accordingly, when a part of the paper P is once discharged onto the paper discharge tray 7, and then the transport direction is switched and returned to the horizontal transport path 13, the discharged paper P1 is brought into the horizontal transport path 13. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of inconvenience such as paper jam. Thereby, it is possible to suppress paper jams, printing defects, and the like during double-sided printing.

  In the first embodiment, the paper separation member 33 is moved in synchronization with the transport direction of the paper P by a transport motor 42 that is a drive source of the paper transport mechanism 40. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide an independent drive source, and the cost is low.

  Further, in the first exemplary embodiment, the neutralizing cloth 37 is attached to the paper separating member 33. Therefore, static electricity is removed from the discharged paper P1 located below the paper separating member 33 and the discharged paper P1 located below the paper separating member 33 by the neutralizing function. The paper is less likely to be attracted. Therefore, it is possible to more surely prevent the discharged paper P1 from being drawn into the horizontal conveyance path 13 and causing a paper jam or printing failure.

(Embodiment 2)
Since the printer of the second embodiment is configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment except for the paper separation member 33 and its driving means, only different configurations will be described. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a sheet separating member according to the second embodiment. The sheet separating member 133 according to the second embodiment is a plate-like member extending in the front-rear direction Y of the printer. The sheet separating member 133 is supported by a guide member (not shown) provided on the unit frame of the platen unit 30 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction Y of the printer. The sheet separation member 133 reciprocates in a linear direction between a separation position 133A that protrudes from the side surface of the platen unit 30 on the front Y1 side of the printer onto the paper discharge tray 7 and a retreat position 133B that is retracted into the platen unit 30. As in the first embodiment, the sheet separating member 133 is attached with a neutralizing cloth 137 on a part or the whole of the surface thereof.

  A solenoid 135 is disposed below the sheet separation member 133. In the second embodiment, the sheet separating member 133 is driven by a solenoid 135 that is an independent drive source. The solenoid 135 includes a plunger 135a that moves in the longitudinal direction Y of the printer. One end of a coil spring 136 is engaged with the tip of the plunger 135a, and the other end of the coil spring 136 is engaged with the end of the paper separating member 133 on the printer rear Y2 side. When the plunger 135a of the solenoid 135 is protruded to the front Y1 side of the printer, the paper separation member 133 is pulled out to the front Y1 side of the printer via the coil spring 136, and the separation position is protruded from the platen unit 30 to the upper side of the paper discharge tray 7. Move to 133A. On the other hand, when the plunger 135a is pulled to the rear Y2 side of the printer, the sheet separating member 133 moves to the rear Y2 side of the printer via the coil spring 136 and is pulled into the platen unit 30 and moves to the retreat position 133B. Note that when the plunger 135a is retracted with the protruding direction of the plunger 135a opposite to that in FIG. 7, the sheet separating member 133 protrudes toward the front Y1 of the printer, and when the plunger 135a is protruded, the sheet separating member 133. Can be configured to be drawn.

  The control unit 51 drives and controls the solenoid 135 in conjunction with the rotation direction of the transport motor 42. Specifically, when the transport motor 42 rotates in the forward direction, the sheet separating member 133 is moved to the retracted position 133B by pulling the plunger 135a toward the printer rear Y2. When the transport motor 42 rotates in the reverse direction, the paper separating member 133 is moved to the separating position 133A by causing the plunger 135a to protrude toward the front Y1 of the printer. By such control, the sheet separating member 133 can be operated as in the first embodiment. Accordingly, as in the first embodiment, when the paper P partially discharged onto the discharge tray 7 is fed back in the second direction BF, the discharged paper P1 is transported together with the paper P to be fed back along the horizontal transport path. 13 is effective in that it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a paper jam or a printing defect. In the second embodiment, since the solenoid 135 is used as a drive source, it can be configured to be small and compact, and has a space-saving configuration. Therefore, installation is easy, and incorporation into the platen unit 30 is also easy.

  In the second embodiment, the sheet separating member 133 can be moved independently of the transport motor 42. Therefore, when performing duplex printing, the sheet separation member 133 is moved according to the conveyance direction of the sheet P as described above, and when performing single-side printing only, the sheet separation member 133 is moved regardless of the conveyance direction of the sheet P. You may make it not move from retraction position 133B. For example, when the paper P is once reversely fed at a predetermined transport position for skew removal, the paper separating member 133 may not be moved from the retreat position 133B.

  In the second embodiment, during double-sided printing, not only when the paper P is conveyed in the second direction BF, but also during the period until the printing on the first printed surface is completed, the paper separating member 133 is used. It can also be projected to the separation position 133A. In this way, the sheet separating member 133 can support the sheet P after the single-sided printing from the lower side when the operation of discharging the sheet P halfway is performed. Therefore, the discharged paper P1 and the paper P to be pulled back can be separated more reliably.

  In the first and second embodiments, the sheet separation member 33 (133) is supported by the unit frame of the platen unit 30, but the sheet separation member 33 (133) is supported by another support member such as an apparatus frame of the printer 1. You may comprise so that it may support.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer (medium processing apparatus), 2 ... Printer main-body part, 3 ... Reversing unit, 4 ... Recessed part, 5 ... Paper feed cassette mounting part, 6 ... Paper feed cassette, 7 ... Paper discharge tray (discharge tray), 8 ... Paper discharge port, 9 ... operation surface, 9a ... power switch, 9b ... status display lamp, 10a, 10b ... opening / closing lid, 11 ... main body side conveyance path, 12 ... paper supply path, 13 ... horizontal conveyance path (medium conveyance path) , 14 ... Reverse transfer path, 15 ... Feed roller, 15a ... Rotating axis, 16 ... Retard roller, 17 ... Intermediate roller, 18 ... Driven roller, 19 ... Common path, 20 ... Paper detection lever, 21 ... Paper feed roller 21a ... paper feed roller, 21b ... driven roller, 22 ... print head (medium processing unit), 23 ... first paper discharge roller pair, 23a ... first paper discharge roller, 23b ... driven roller, 24 ... second discharge Paper 24a ... second discharge roller, 24b ... driven roller, 25 ... platen, 30 ... platen unit, 31 ... reversing transport roller pair, 32 ... reversing transport roller pair, 33 ... paper separating member (medium separating member) ), 33A: Separation position, 33B: Retraction position, 34 ... Swing shaft, 34a ... Drive gear, 35 ... Clutch mechanism, 35a ... Sun gear, 35b ... Planetary carrier, 35c ... Planetary gear, 35d ... Intermediate gear, 37 ... Static elimination cloth (static elimination member), 39... Reverse conveyance motor, 40... Paper conveyance mechanism (medium conveyance mechanism), 41... Driving force transmission mechanism, 42... Conveyance motor, 43 ... belt pulley mechanism, 43 a. ... second pulley, 43c ... third pulley, 43d ... timing belt, 44 ... first gear mechanism, 44a ... first gear, 44b ... transmission gear, 44c ... 1 gear, 45 ... clutch mechanism, 51 ... control unit, 52 ... communication unit, 53 ... paper detector, 54 ... paper feed motor, 71 ... paper receiving surface, 71a ... horizontal receiving surface, 71b ... inclined receiving surface, 72a, 72b ... side frame part, 72c ... front frame part, 72d ... back frame part, 73 ... projecting part, 73a ... inclined surface, 133 ... paper separation member (medium separation member), 133A ... separation position, 133B ... retraction position, 135 ... Solenoid, 135a ... Plunger, 136 ... Coil spring, 137 ... Static elimination cloth (static elimination member), A ... Printing position, B ... Paper feed position, C ... Paper detection position, BF ... Second direction, FF ... First direction , P ... paper (medium), P1 ... ejected paper (medium), X ... printer width direction, Y ... printer longitudinal direction, Y1 ... printer front, Y2 ... printer rear, Z ... printer vertical direction

Claims (6)

A medium processing unit for performing predetermined processing on a sheet-like medium;
A medium conveyance path passing through a medium processing position by the medium processing unit;
A discharge tray for receiving the medium discharged from the medium conveyance path;
A medium transport mechanism for transporting the medium in a first direction from the medium processing unit toward the discharge tray and in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
A separation position above the discharge tray, and a medium separation member that moves to a retreat position retracted to the outside of the discharge tray,
The medium processing apparatus, wherein the medium separation member is located at the separation position when the medium is conveyed in the second direction.   The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a neutralization member is attached to the medium separation member. The medium processing unit is a print head;
A reversing conveyance path for reversing the front and back of the medium conveyed in the second direction and returning it to the medium processing position;
Double-sided printing in which the medium is transported in the first direction and printed on one side, then transported in the second direction and sent to the reversing transport path to reverse the front and back, and then printed on the other side And
3. The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the medium is conveyed in the second direction during the duplex printing, the medium separation member is positioned at the separation position. .   2. The medium separation member moves to the separation position and the retraction position based on rotation of a swing shaft disposed below an outlet to the discharge tray of the medium conveyance path. 4. The medium processing apparatus according to any one of items 3 to 3. A clutch mechanism for interrupting transmission of the driving force of a transport motor included in the medium transport mechanism to the swing shaft;
The clutch mechanism is in a disconnected state when the transport motor rotates in the first direction to transport the medium, and the transport motor rotates in the second direction to transport the medium. The medium processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the medium processing apparatus is in a connected state when the recording medium is connected.   The medium processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the medium separation member reciprocates in a linear direction between the separation position and the retraction position by a driving force of a solenoid.

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