JP2017149532A - Sheet conveyance device and image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet conveyance device and an image processing device capable of suppressing occurrence of wrinkle in a sheet without generating any abnormal sound.SOLUTION: An image processing device comprises a rotary member 47 disposed in a transfer passage for transferring a sheet, and oscillated by contacting with the sheet. The rotary member 47 comprises: a shaft part 471 extending in a width direction D3 of the sheet crossing a transfer direction of the sheet; an arm part 472 projecting from the shaft part 471 in a direction perpendicular to the width direction D3, and oscillated by contacting with the sheet; and a pair of roller parts 474, 475, which are arranged on both sides in the width direction D3 of a projecting end 472A of the arm part 472, and inclined toward the outer side in the width direction D3 on the shaft part 471 side, from the arm part 472, and is driven to rotate by contacting with the sheet.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus and an image processing apparatus including the sheet conveying apparatus.

  An image processing apparatus such as a printer includes a sheet conveying apparatus that conveys a sheet. For example, in this type of image processing apparatus, an image based on image data is formed on a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying apparatus. In this type of image processing apparatus, wrinkles may occur in the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying apparatus. On the other hand, an image processing apparatus capable of suppressing the generation of wrinkles by bending the sheet in a convex shape in the width direction of the sheet perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction and pressing the convexly bent sheet against the conveyance roller. Is known as a prior art (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2012-166894 A

  However, in the above-described conventional technology, a large abnormal noise may occur when the sheet bent in a convex shape and the conveying roller come into contact with each other. Further, in the above-described conventional technology, when the sheet is thin paper, the sheet may buckle in the conveyance direction due to contact between the convexly bent sheet and the conveyance roller, and the sheet may be damaged.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet conveying apparatus and an image processing apparatus capable of suppressing the generation of wrinkles in a sheet without causing abnormal noise.

  A sheet conveying apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a conveying member, a conveying path, a rotating member, and a detection sensor. In the conveyance path, the sheet conveyed by the conveyance member moves. The rotating member is disposed in the conveyance path and is rocked by contact with the sheet. The detection sensor detects swinging of the rotating member. The rotating member includes a shaft portion, an arm portion, a detection target, and a pair of roller portions. The shaft portion extends in a width direction of the sheet orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the sheet by the conveyance member. The arm portion protrudes from the shaft portion in a direction orthogonal to the width direction and is rocked by contact with the sheet. The detected element protrudes from the shaft part in a direction different from the arm part, and is detected by the detection sensor. The pair of roller portions are disposed on both sides in the width direction of the projecting ends of the arm portions, and are rotated in contact with the sheet. Each of the pair of roller portions is disposed to be inclined toward the shaft portion side from the arm portion toward the outer side in the width direction.

  An image processing apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes the sheet conveying apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the generation of wrinkles in a sheet without causing abnormal noise.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the first bending portion of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the rotating member of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the rotating member of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of the first bending portion of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a contact state between the pair of roller units and the sheet in the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[Configuration of Image Processing Device 10]
First, the configuration of an image processing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the image processing apparatus 10. For convenience of explanation, the vertical direction D1 is defined with the lower surface of the image processing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 as the bottom surface. Also, the front-rear direction D2 is defined with the left side of the image processing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. Further, a left-right direction D3 is defined with reference to the front of the image processing apparatus 10 in the installed state.

  The image processing apparatus 10 is a printer having a print function for forming an image based on image data. The present invention can also be applied to image processing apparatuses such as scanner apparatuses, facsimile apparatuses, copiers, and multifunction machines.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 10 includes an image forming unit 3 and a sheet conveying unit 4.

  The image forming unit 3 can form an image by electrophotography based on image data input from an information processing apparatus such as an external personal computer. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 3 includes a photosensitive drum 31, a charging roller 32, an optical scanning device 33, a developing device 34, a transfer roller 35, a cleaning device 36, and a fixing device 37. .

  The photosensitive drum 31 has an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface.

  The charging roller 32 charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 31. For example, the charging roller 32 is provided in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 31. A voltage is applied to the charging roller 32 from a power source (not shown). As a result, a discharge is generated between the charging roller 32 and the photosensitive drum 31, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is charged.

  The optical scanning device 33 forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31. Specifically, the optical scanning device 33 irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 charged by the charging roller 32 with light based on the image data.

  The developing device 34 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 using toner. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the developing device 34 includes a developing roller 341 that supplies toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 31. The developing device 34 is supplied with toner from a toner container 34 </ b> A that can be attached to and detached from the image forming unit 3.

  The transfer roller 35 transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 by the developing device 34 to the sheet S supplied from the sheet conveying unit 4. The transfer roller 35 is provided in contact with the photosensitive drum 31.

  The cleaning device 36 cleans the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 after the transfer of the toner image by the transfer roller 35. For example, the cleaning device 36 includes a blade-shaped cleaning member that removes toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31, and a conveyance screw that conveys the toner removed by the cleaning member to a toner storage container (not shown).

  The fixing device 37 melts and fixes the toner image transferred to the sheet S by the transfer roller 35 on the sheet S. For example, the fixing device 37 includes a fixing roller 371 and a pressure roller 372 as shown in FIG. The fixing roller 371 is provided in contact with the pressure roller 372 and heats the toner image transferred to the sheet S to fix it on the sheet S. The pressure roller 372 presses the sheet S that passes through the nip formed with the fixing roller 371.

  The sheet conveying unit 4 supplies the sheet S to the image forming unit 3. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the sheet conveyance unit 4 includes a conveyance path 40, a paper feed cassette 41, a pickup roller 42, a feed roller 43 </ b> A, a retard roller 43 </ b> B, a registration roller 44, a discharge roller 45, and a paper discharge. A tray 46 is provided. The sheet conveying unit 4 includes a rotating member 47, a detection sensor 48, and an urging unit 49 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Here, the sheet conveying section 4 is an example of a sheet conveying apparatus in the present invention.

  The conveyance path 40 is a movement path of the sheet S formed between the paper feed cassette 41 and the paper discharge tray 46. For example, the conveyance path 40 is formed by a pair of conveyance guide members provided in the housing of the image processing apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the conveyance path 40 is provided on the rear side in the front-rear direction D <b> 2 in the housing of the image processing apparatus 10. The transport path 40 includes a first curved portion 40A that guides the sheet S, which is transported from the paper feed cassette 41 in the backward direction of the front-rear direction D2, to the upward direction of the vertical direction D1. The conveyance path 40 includes a second curved portion 40B that guides the sheet S conveyed in the upward direction of the vertical direction D1 by the fixing roller 371 and the pressure roller 372 of the fixing device 37 in the forward direction of the front-rear direction D2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a feed roller 43 </ b> A, a retard roller 43 </ b> B, a registration roller 44, and a discharge roller 45 are arranged in the conveyance path 40. The feed roller 43A, the registration roller 44, and the discharge roller 45 convey the sheet S along the conveyance direction D4 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the photosensitive drum 31, the transfer roller 35, and the fixing device 37 are arranged in the conveyance path 40. For example, the photosensitive drum 31 and the transfer roller 35 convey the sheet S along the conveyance direction D4 shown in FIG. 1 when the driving force generated by a motor (not shown) is transmitted and rotated. Further, the fixing roller 371 and the pressure roller 372 of the fixing device 37 convey the sheet S along the conveyance direction D4 shown in FIG. 1 by rotating by driving force generated by a motor (not shown).

  That is, in the image processing apparatus 10, the sheet S is conveyed along the conveyance path 40 by the feed roller 43 </ b> A, the registration roller 44, the discharge roller 45, the photosensitive drum 31, the transfer roller 35, the fixing roller 371, and the pressure roller 372. Is done. Here, the feed roller 43A, the registration roller 44, the discharge roller 45, the photosensitive drum 31, the transfer roller 35, the fixing roller 371, and the pressure roller 372 are examples of the conveying member in the present invention.

  The paper feed cassette 41 accommodates a sheet S on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the paper feed cassette 41 is provided at the bottom of the housing of the image processing apparatus 10. For example, the sheet feeding cassette 41 stores sheet materials such as paper, coated paper, postcards, envelopes, and OHP sheets.

  The pickup roller 42 carries out the sheet S located at the top of the sheets S stored in the sheet feeding cassette 41 to the conveyance path 40. As shown in FIG. 1, the pickup roller 42 is provided above the rear end in the front-rear direction D <b> 2 of the paper feed cassette 41.

  The feed roller 43 </ b> A sends the sheet S carried out to the conveyance path 40 by the pickup roller 42 to the registration roller 44. As shown in FIG. 1, the feed roller 43 </ b> A is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction D <b> 4 from the first curved portion 40 </ b> A and the registration roller 44 in the transport path 40. The retard roller 43B is provided in contact with the feed roller 43A below the feed roller 43A. Here, the feed roller 43A is an example of the second roller in the present invention.

  The registration roller 44 sends the sheet S sent by the feed roller 43A to the transfer position P1 (see FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 1, the registration roller 44 is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction D4 from the transfer position P1 in the transport path 40 and downstream in the transport direction D4 from the first bending portion 40A. Here, the registration roller 44 is an example of a first roller in the present invention.

  The discharge roller 45 discharges the sheet S on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 37 to the discharge tray 46. As shown in FIG. 1, the discharge roller 45 is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction D4 from the second curved portion 40B in the transport path 40.

  The sheet S on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 3 is discharged to the paper discharge tray 46.

  In the image forming unit 3, an image is formed on the sheet S conveyed by the sheet conveying unit 4 according to the following procedure. First, the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential by the charging roller 32. Next, the light scanning device 33 irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 with light based on the image data. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31.

  The electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is developed (visualized) as a toner image by the developing device 34. The toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductive drum 31 is conveyed to the transfer position P1 by the transfer roller 35 by the photoconductive drum 31 rotating along the rotation direction D5 shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, the sheet conveying unit 4 supplies the sheet S to the transfer position P1 in parallel with the image forming operation by the image forming unit 3. Specifically, the sheet feeding cassette 41 lifts the sheet S stored in the sheet feeding cassette 41 to a contact position with the pickup roller 42 using a lift plate (not shown) provided at the bottom of the sheet feeding cassette 41. . The pickup roller 42 carries the uppermost sheet S lifted up to the contact position to the conveyance path 40. The sheet S carried out to the conveyance path 40 by the pickup roller 42 is sent to the registration roller 44 by the feed roller 43A via the first curved portion 40A.

  The registration roller 44 sends the sheet S to the transfer position P1 in synchronization with the timing at which the toner image is conveyed to the transfer position P1 by the photosensitive drum 31. For example, in the image processing apparatus 10, the sheet S sending timing by the registration rollers 44 is set by a control unit (not shown). For example, the control unit sets the sheet S delivery timing by the registration roller 44 based on the detection timing of the sheet S by the detection sensor 48 described later. Then, the registration roller 44 sends the sheet S to the transfer position P1 based on the sending timing set by the control unit. As a result, the toner image conveyed by the photosensitive drum 31 is transferred to the surface of the sheet S sent to the transfer position P1 at the sending timing, and an image is formed on the sheet S. The toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is removed by the cleaning device 36. Here, the transfer position P1 is an example of an image forming position in the present invention.

  The sheet S on which the toner image is transferred at the transfer position P 1 is sent to the fixing device 37 by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 31 and the transfer roller 35. In the fixing device 37, the toner image transferred to the sheet S is heated and compressed by the fixing roller 371 and the pressure roller 372. As a result, the toner image is fused and fixed on the sheet S. The sheet S on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 37 is sent to the discharge roller 45 through the second curved portion 40B by the rotation of the fixing roller 371 and the pressure roller 372. The discharge roller 45 discharges the sheet S after image formation sent from the fixing device 37 to the paper discharge tray 46.

  Next, the rotating member 47, the detection sensor 48, and the urging unit 49 of the sheet conveying unit 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the rotating member 47 is arranged in the first posture. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the rotating member 47. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the rotation shaft 474A of the roller unit 474 and the rotation shaft 475A of the roller unit 475 shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the rotating member 47 is arranged in the second posture. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a contact state between the sheet S and the roller unit 474 and the roller unit 475 when the rotating member 47 is disposed in the second posture. 3 and 4, the left-right direction D3 is defined with reference to the state in which the rotating member 47 is attached to the image processing apparatus 10. In FIG. 6, the reference plane X is indicated by a one-dot chain line.

  The rotation member 47 is disposed in the conveyance path 40 and is rocked by contact with the sheet S. Specifically, the rotating member 47 is disposed in the first bending portion 40 </ b> A provided at a position between the feed roller 43 </ b> A and the registration roller 44 in the conveyance path 40. Here, the first bending portion 40A is an example of the bending portion in the present invention.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the first bending portion 40A is formed by an outer conveyance guide 40C and an inner conveyance guide 40D. The inner conveyance guide 40D forms a road surface on the upper front side of the first curved portion 40A, and has an opening 40F in a central portion 40G (see FIG. 6) in the left-right direction D3 in the conveyance path 40. Further, the outer conveyance guide 40C forms a road surface on the lower rear side of the first curved portion 40A, and has an opening 40E in the central portion 40G in the left-right direction D3 in the conveyance path 40.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotating member 47 includes a shaft portion 471, an arm portion 472, a detected element 473, a pair of roller portions 474 and 475, a pair of roller support portions 476 and 477, and a pair of reinforcements. Ribs 478 and 479 are provided.

  The shaft portion 471 extends at a position outside the transport path 40 and extends in the width direction of the sheet S (left and right direction D3 in FIG. 2) orthogonal to the transport direction D4 of the sheet S by the feed roller 43A and the registration roller 44. It is done. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the shaft portion 471 is disposed at an outer position on the inner conveyance guide 40D side of the first bending portion 40A. The shaft portion 471 is rotatably supported by a bearing (not shown) provided in the housing of the image processing apparatus 10.

  The arm portion 472 protrudes from the shaft portion 471 in a direction orthogonal to the width direction (left-right direction D3) of the sheet S and is rocked by contact with the sheet S. As shown in FIG. 2, the arm portion 472 is disposed from the shaft portion 471 toward the first bending portion 40A. For example, the arm portion 472 is disposed in the central portion 40G (see FIG. 6) in the width direction (left-right direction D3) of the sheet S in the conveyance path 40.

  When the rotating member 47 is not in contact with the sheet S, as shown in FIG. 2, the arm portion 472 is arranged in a first posture that crosses the inside of the conveyance path 40 from the inner conveyance guide 40D. Specifically, in the state in which the rotating member 47 is disposed in the first posture, the arm portion 472 is supported by the edge on the front side of the opening 40F or the edge on the front side of the opening 40E. Further, in the state where the rotating member 47 is arranged in the first posture, the protruding end 472A of the arm portion 472 is exposed to the outside of the conveyance path 40 from the opening 40E.

  The rotating member 47 is swung along the swing direction D6 by contact with the sheet S conveyed by the feed roller 43A and the registration roller 44. Thereby, the rotation member 47 is arrange | positioned in the 2nd attitude | position which the arm part 472 opens the conveyance path 40, as FIG. 5 shows. Specifically, in the state where the rotating member 47 is disposed in the second posture, the projecting end 472A of the arm portion 472 is inside the transport path 40 and is separated from the inner surface of the outer transport guide 40C by a predetermined distance. Placed in a different position. When the rotation member 47 is disposed in the second posture, the sheet S conveyed by the feed roller 43A and the registration roller 44 moves between the outer conveyance guide 40C and the protruding end 472A of the arm portion 472.

  In addition, the arm part 472 may be arrange | positioned in the position different from the center part 40G (refer FIG. 6) of the left-right direction D3 in the conveyance path 40. FIG. In this case, the opening 40E and the opening 40F are provided at positions corresponding to the arrangement positions of the arm portions 472 in the left-right direction D3 in the transport path 40.

  The detected element 473 is provided on the rotating member 47 and rotates according to a change in the posture of the rotating member 47. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the detected element 473 is provided so as to protrude from the shaft portion 471 in a direction different from the arm portion 472. For example, the detected element 473 is provided so as to protrude from the shaft portion 471 in the direction opposite to the protruding direction of the arm portion 472.

  For example, the detected element 473 is disposed at the first position P2 shown in FIG. 2 when the rotating member 47 is in the first posture. Further, the detected element 473 is disposed at the second position P3 shown in FIG. 5 when the rotating member 47 is in the second posture.

  The detection sensor 48 detects the presence or absence of the sheet S in the first bending portion 40A by detecting the swing of the rotating member 47 due to contact with the sheet S. Specifically, the detection sensor 48 can detect the detected element 473 disposed at the first position P2 when the rotating member 47 is in the first posture (see FIG. 2). For example, the detection sensor 48 is an optical sensor such as a light transmission type photo interrupter capable of detecting the detection target 473 at the first position P2.

  Specifically, the detection sensor 48 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit that are provided to face each other in the left-right direction D3 across the first position P2. The light receiving unit of the detection sensor 48 outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the presence or absence of the detected element 473 at the first position P2. An electrical signal output from the detection sensor 48 is input to the control unit (not shown). The control unit controls the rotation of the registration roller 44 based on the electric signal input from the detection sensor 48. Further, the control unit may detect the occurrence of a jam (paper jam) in the transport path 40 based on an electric signal input from the detection sensor 48.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the pair of roller portions 474 and 475 are disposed on both sides in the left and right direction D3 of the projecting end 472A of the rotating member 47, and are driven to rotate in contact with the sheet S.

  Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the rotating member 47 includes a pair of roller support portions 476 and 477 that extend from the protruding end 472A of the arm portion 472 in a direction away from each other along the left-right direction D3. . The roller unit 474 is rotatably supported by the roller support unit 476. In addition, the roller unit 475 is rotatably supported by the roller support unit 477.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the pair of roller portions 474 and 475 are disposed outside the first curved portion 40 </ b> A on the outer conveyance guide 40 </ b> C side in a state where the rotating member 47 is disposed in the first posture. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the pair of roller portions 474 and 475 are disposed inside the first bending portion 40 </ b> A in a state where the rotating member 47 is disposed in the second posture.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the rotation member 47 is a pair of roller support portions 476 and 477 that extend from the outer end portions of the pair of roller support portions 476 and 477 toward the center portion 472 </ b> B in the protruding direction of the arm portion 472. Reinforcing ribs 478 and 479 are provided. Thereby, the rigidity of the rotating member 47 having the pair of roller support portions 476 and 477 is improved. Further, the pair of reinforcing ribs 478 and 479 constitute a contact surface with which the sheet S abuts together with the upstream ends of the pair of roller support portions 476 and 477 in the swing direction D6 (see FIG. 2). Thereby, it is avoided that the leading edge of the sheet S in contact with the rotating member 47 in the conveyance direction D4 contacts the pair of roller support portions 476 and 477 and the conveyance of the sheet S is hindered.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, each of the pair of roller portions 474 and 475 is disposed to be inclined toward the shaft portion 471 from the arm portion 472 toward the outside in the left-right direction D3. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4, in the rotation shaft 474A of the roller portion 474, the outer end portion 474B is disposed closer to the shaft portion 471 than the inner end portion 474C. Further, in the rotation shaft 475A of the roller portion 475, the outer end portion 475B is disposed closer to the shaft portion 471 than the inner end portion 475C.

  Therefore, when the rotation member 47 is disposed in the second posture (see FIG. 5), the roller unit 474 has a left-right direction in which the rotation shaft 474A is orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction D4 as shown in FIG. The sheet S is brought into contact with the posture inclined with respect to D3. In addition, when the rotating member 47 is disposed in the second posture (see FIG. 5), the roller portion 475 has a left-right direction in which the rotation shaft 475A is orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction D4 as shown in FIG. The sheet S is brought into contact with the posture inclined with respect to D3.

  Here, the roller portion 474 has a force F1 along the conveyance direction D4 from the sheet S conveyed along the conveyance direction D4 at the contact position P4 with the sheet S shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 (see FIG. 6). Receive. Thereby, the roller part 474 is rotated along the rotation direction D7 shown by FIG.3 and FIG.5. That is, the roller portion 474 is rotated along the rotation direction D7 by the component force F11 (see FIG. 6) along the direction orthogonal to the rotation shaft 474A included in the force F1. The roller S 474 is rotated along the rotation direction D7, whereby the sheet S is stretched toward the outside in the right direction in the left-right direction D3 of the conveyance path 40.

  On the other hand, the roller portion 475 receives a force F2 along the transport direction D4 from the sheet S transported along the transport direction D4 at the contact position P5 with the sheet S shown in FIG. Thereby, the roller part 475 is rotated along the rotation direction D8 shown by FIG. That is, the roller portion 475 is rotated along the rotation direction D8 by the component force F21 (see FIG. 6) along the direction orthogonal to the rotation shaft 475A included in the force F2. By rotating the roller unit 475 along the rotation direction D8, the sheet S is stretched toward the outside in the left direction in the left-right direction D3 of the conveyance path 40. Thereby, the sheet S is stretched to both sides in the left-right direction D3, and the generation of wrinkles in the sheet S is suppressed.

  For example, the pair of roller portions 474 and 475 include a central portion 40G in the left-right direction D3 of the transport path 40 and are arranged in a positional relationship that is plane-symmetric with respect to a reference plane X that is orthogonal to the shaft portion 471 of the rotating member 47. The Thereby, the force that the sheet S receives from each of the pair of roller portions 474 and 475 is equalized, and the inclination or meandering of the sheet S is avoided.

  Note that the greater the inclination angle of the rotation shaft 474A with respect to the left-right direction D3 in the roller portion 474 and the inclination angle of the rotation shaft 475A with respect to the left-right direction D3 in the roller portion 475, the greater the force that the sheet S is stretched to both sides in the left-right direction D3. Become. When the force received by the sheet S increases, the effect of suppressing the generation of wrinkles is improved, but the load received by the sheet S increases. Therefore, the inclination angle of the rotation shaft 474A with respect to the left-right direction D3 in the roller portion 474 and the inclination angle of the rotation shaft 475A with respect to the left-right direction D3 in the roller portion 475 are set to appropriate values in consideration of the durability of the sheet S. It is desirable.

  Further, the pair of roller portions 474 and 475 may be arranged such that the outer end portion of each rotation shaft is upstream of the swinging direction D6 from the inner end portion. Specifically, in FIG. 4, in the rotation shaft 474A of the roller portion 474, the outer end portion 474B may be disposed upstream of the swinging direction D6 from the inner end portion 474C. Further, in the rotation shaft 475A of the roller portion 475, the outer end portion 475B may be arranged upstream of the swinging direction D6 from the inner end portion 475C.

  When the arm portion 472 is swung by a predetermined reference angle or more by contact with the sheet S, the biasing portion 49 biases the arm portion 472 in a direction opposite to the swinging direction D6 by the sheet S. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the urging portion 49 is supported at one end by the casing of the image processing apparatus 10, and the other end can contact the arm portion 472 of the rotating member 47. It is the coil spring provided in. The urging portion 49 may be a torsion coil spring attached to the shaft portion 471 of the rotating member 47.

  The urging portion 49 urges the rotating member 47 in the direction opposite to the swing direction D6 when the rotating member 47 is rotated by the reference angle from the first posture. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the urging portion 49 is disposed when the rotating member 47 is rotated in the swing direction D <b> 6 by the contact with the sheet S and arranged in the second posture. The arm portion 472 of the rotating member 47 is urged in the direction opposite to the swing direction D6. Accordingly, the pair of roller portions 474 and 475 are pressed against the sheet S when the rotating member 47 is disposed in the second posture. Therefore, when the rotating member 47 is disposed in the second posture, it is avoided that the outer end portions of the pair of roller portions 474 and 475 are lifted from the sheet S and the effect of suppressing the generation of wrinkles is reduced. The The urging unit 49 may not be provided in the sheet conveying unit 4.

  As described above, in the image processing apparatus 10, a pair of roller portions 474 and 475 that rotate in contact with the sheet S are provided on the arm portion 472 of the rotating member 47 used for detecting the presence or absence of the sheet S in the conveyance path 40. ing. Accordingly, the sheet S is bent in a convex shape in the width direction (left-right direction D3) of the sheet S, and the generation of wrinkles is suppressed by pressing the convexly bent sheet S against the registration roller 44 or the like. In comparison, generation of wrinkles in the sheet S can be suppressed without causing abnormal noise.

  Further, in the image processing apparatus 10, generation of wrinkles in the sheet S is suppressed by using an existing configuration for detecting the presence or absence of the sheet S in the conveyance path 40. Therefore, the configuration of the image processing apparatus 10 is simplified because it is not necessary to separately provide a configuration for suppressing the occurrence of wrinkles in the sheet S.

  The rotating member 47 may be disposed in the second bending portion 40B of the conveyance path 40. In this case, the second bending portion 40B is an example of the bending portion of the present invention. Further, the rotation member 47 may be disposed at a position other than the first bending portion 40A and the second bending portion 40B in the transport path 40.

3 Image forming unit 4 Sheet conveying unit 10 Image processing apparatus 40 Conveying path 40A First bending unit 41 Paper feed cassette 42 Pickup roller 43A Feed roller 43B Retard roller 44 Registration roller 45 Discharging roller 46 Discharging tray 47 Rotating member 471 Shaft 472 Arm part 473 Detected element 474, 475 Roller part 476, 477 Roller support part 478, 479 Reinforcement rib 48 Detection sensor 49 Energizing part

Claims (7)

A conveying member;
A conveyance path along which a sheet conveyed by the conveyance member moves;
A rotating member disposed in the conveying path and rocked by contact with the sheet;
A detection sensor for detecting the swing of the rotating member,
The rotating member is
A shaft portion extending in the width direction of the sheet perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the sheet by the conveyance member, and protrudes from the shaft portion in a direction orthogonal to the width direction, and is rocked by contact with the sheet. An arm part, a detection element that protrudes from the shaft part in a direction different from the arm part, is detected by the detection sensor, and is arranged on both sides in the width direction of the protruding end of the arm part, and is in contact with the sheet A pair of roller parts that are driven and rotated,
Have
Each of the pair of roller portions is a sheet conveying device that is disposed to be inclined toward the shaft portion side from the arm portion toward the outer side in the width direction.   The pair of roller portions are arranged at the projecting ends of the arm portions in a positional relationship that is symmetrical with respect to a reference plane that includes a central portion in the width direction in the conveyance path and that is orthogonal to the shaft portion of the rotating member. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1.   The urging portion for urging the arm portion in a direction opposite to the oscillating direction by the seat when the arm portion is oscillated by a predetermined reference angle or more by contact with the seat. The sheet conveying apparatus according to 1 or 2. The conveyance path has a curved portion constituted by an inner conveyance guide and an outer conveyance guide,
The rotating member is rotatably supported on the outer side of the curved portion on the inner conveyance guide side, and when the rotating member is not in contact with the sheet, the arm portion moves from the inner conveyance guide in the conveyance path. The sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sheet conveying device is disposed in a transverse posture and the pair of roller portions are disposed outside the curved portion on the outer conveyance guide side. The rotating member is
A pair of roller support portions that extend from the projecting ends of the arm portions in directions away from each other along the width direction and rotatably support the pair of roller portions;
The sheet conveyance according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: a pair of reinforcing ribs extending from an outer end portion of each of the pair of roller support portions toward a central portion in a protruding direction of the arm portion. apparatus.   An image processing apparatus comprising the sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1. An image forming unit that forms an image based on image data on the sheet;
The conveying member is
A first roller provided on the upstream side in the transport direction from the image forming position by the image forming unit in the transport path;
A second roller provided on the upstream side in the transport direction from the first roller in the transport path,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the rotating member is disposed at a position between the first roller and the second roller in the conveyance path.

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