JP2017222515A - Transportation device, image reading device, image formation device and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve detection accuracy for deformation of a document.SOLUTION: A feeding device includes: separation means for separating and transporting a document D in a transportation direction X; and optical path formation means for forming optical paths L5, L6 so that the optical paths L5, L6 for detection units SR5, SR6 for an optical sensor for detecting deformation of the document D passing through the separation means obliquely traverse a transportation passage for the document D in the transportation direction X by angles θ5, θ6 relative to a width direction Y.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport apparatus, an image reading apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a control method.

  A feeding device provided in a copying machine, a scanner, a facsimile machine, or the like is provided with a separation mechanism that prevents a plurality of sheets from being stacked and conveyed and separates and conveys the sheets one by one. With such a separation mechanism, the documents on the document stacking table are continuously fed one by one, and the images can be read sequentially. On the other hand, document bundles that are difficult to separate by stapling or the like may be erroneously stacked on the document stacking table. When such a bundle of documents passes through the separation mechanism, the document may be deformed by a separation action and may be damaged. As a countermeasure, Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus provided with a sensor for detecting an abnormal shape state of a document on a document stacking table. When an abnormal deformation of the bundle of documents bound by this sensor is detected, the conveyance is stopped to prevent the document from being damaged. Patent Document 1 discloses an optical sensor that detects an object blocking an optical path as the above sensor, and the extending direction of the optical path is set to be the width direction of the document.

JP 2004-182449 A

  If an optical sensor is used, deformation of a thin document may not be detected. For example, in the case of a document bundle in which the trailing end side is bound at a plurality of positions in the width direction in the conveying direction, the surface side document tends to float in a substantially wave-like manner in the width direction as a behavior when passing through the separation mechanism. If the raised portion and the optical path of the optical sensor are parallel, the raised portion may not sufficiently shield the optical path, and deformation of the document may not be detected.

  An object of the present invention is to improve the accuracy of detection of document deformation.

According to the present invention,
Separating means for separating and conveying the sheet;
An optical sensor for detecting deformation of the sheet passing through the separating means;
Optical path forming means for forming an optical path so that the optical path of the optical sensor obliquely crosses the sheet conveyance path,
There is provided a conveying apparatus characterized by the above.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the accuracy of detecting the deformation of a document.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an automatic document feeder. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an automatic document feeder. Explanatory drawing of a deformation | transformation detection unit. FIGS. 4A to 4E are diagrams illustrating examples of document binding by stapling. FIGS. (A) And (B) is a figure which shows the modification of a document. (A) And (B) is a figure which shows the modification of a document. The block diagram of a control part. The flowchart which shows the example of control. (A)-(C) are explanatory drawings of the inclination of an optical path.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus includes an image reading device 1 and a recording unit 300 that records an image read by the image reading device 1 on a sheet (recording medium) such as paper.

<Recording section>
In the present embodiment, the recording unit 300 is an image recording unit using electrostatic latent image image formation. The sheets stacked and stored in the upper cassette 100 are separated and fed one by one by the action of the separation claw and the feeding roller 101 and guided to the registration roller 106. Similarly, the lower cassette 102 includes a separation claw and a feed roller 103. From the manual feed guide 104, the sheets are guided to the registration roller 106 via the roller 105 one by one. The deck-type sheet stacking device 108 includes a middle plate 108 a that is moved up and down by a motor or the like. The sheets on the middle plate 108 a are separated and fed one by one by the action of the feeding roller 109 and the separation claw and are conveyed to the conveying roller 110. Led.

  Around the photosensitive drum 112, a developing unit 114, a transfer charging unit 115, and a separation charging unit 116 are arranged to constitute an image forming unit. After the toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 112 is transferred to the sheet conveyed by the registration roller 106, the sheet is conveyed to the fixing device 118 by the conveyance belt 117 to fix the image, and conveyed to the diverter 120 by the conveyance roller 119. Is done.

  When discharging the sheet, the sheet is guided to the discharge roller 121 via the diverter 120 and is conveyed into the sorter 122. The sorter 122 includes a non-sort tray 122a, a sort bin tray 122b, a non-sort tray discharge roller 122c, and a sort bin tray discharge roller 122d. The non-sort tray 122a and the sort bin tray 122b move up and down to sort the sheets one by one. . Note that a discharge tray may be mounted instead of the sorter.

  Further, when performing duplex copying and multiple copying, the sheet after fixing is branched by the diverter 120 and conveyed by the conveying roller 201. In the case of duplex copying, the intermediate tray 200 passes through the belts 202 and 204, the pass 206, and the discharge roller 205. To be discharged. In the case of multiple copying, the sheet is discharged to the intermediate tray 200 by the diverter 203. The intermediate tray 200 includes half-moon rollers 209 and 210 for feeding sheets, a separation roller pair 211, and conveyance rollers 213, 214 and 215 for conveying the sheets to the registration rollers 106.

<Image reading device>
The configuration of the image reading apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 in addition to FIG. FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of the image reading apparatus 1. The image reading apparatus 1 includes an automatic document feeding device (hereinafter referred to as a feeding device) 2 as a sheet conveying device and a reading device 150 that reads a document conveyed by the feeding device 2. The feeding device 2 is provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to the reading device 150.

  The reading device 150 includes a reading unit 151, a document table glass 156, and a platen glass 157. The reading device 150 can select a normal reading mode and a flow reading mode as a document reading mode. The document table glass 156 constitutes a light transmission unit for the normal reading mode, and the platen glass 157 is a flow reading mode. Constituting a light transmission unit for use.

  The normal reading mode is a mode in which the document placed on the platen glass 156 is scanned and the image is read by moving the reading unit 151 in the sub-scanning direction H under the platen glass 156. The flow reading mode is a mode in which the reading unit 151 is stopped at a reading position below the platen glass 157 and the image is read while the document is conveyed so as to pass over the platen glass 157.

  The reading unit 151 is, for example, a contact image sensor, and includes a line sensor arranged in the main scanning direction orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction H. The reading device 150 includes a guide member 152 such as a shaft extending in the sub-scanning direction H as a guide structure of the reading unit 151, and the reading unit 151 can reciprocate in the sub-scanning direction H along the guide member 152.

  The reading device 150 includes a belt transmission mechanism as a drive mechanism that moves the reading unit 151. More specifically, a driving pulley 153 and a driven pulley 154 that are spaced apart in the sub-scanning direction H are provided, and a belt 155 is wound around them. The driving pulley 153 is rotated by a motor 153a, and the belt 155 travels by the rotation of the driving pulley 153. A reading unit 151 is attached to the belt 155, and the reading unit 151 moves as the belt 155 travels.

<Feeding device>
The feeding device 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. The feeding device 2 conveys a sheet (original) to be read in the flow reading mode. In the following description, the upstream side and the downstream side are referred to based on the sheet conveyance direction.

  3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams showing the internal configuration of the feeding device 2. The feeding device 2 includes a stacking unit 30 on which sheets are stacked. The document D to be read is loaded on the stacking surface 30 a of the stacking unit 30.

  The pickup roller 31 conveys the document D stacked on the stacking unit 30 from the uppermost document D to the separation unit 32. The feeding device 2 is provided with a lifting mechanism for the pickup roller 31, and is lowered as shown in FIG. The uppermost document D is conveyed to the separation unit 32 by the rotation of the pickup roller 31. Except when paper is fed, it is raised as shown in FIG. A known mechanism can be used as such a lifting mechanism.

  The separation unit 32 is disposed on the downstream side with respect to the pickup roller 31 and is a unit that separates and conveys the originals stacked on the stacking unit 30 one by one. In the case of the present embodiment, the separation unit 32 includes a feed roller 32a and a retard roller (separation member) 32b that is pressed against the feed roller 32a. The feed roller 32a is rotationally driven and conveys the document downstream. The retard roller 32b is provided with a torque limiter, and rotates with the feed roller 32a when a certain load is applied. When the originals are conveyed to the separation unit 32 in an overlapping state, the retard roller 32b does not follow the feed roller 32a, the original on the feed roller 32a side is conveyed, and the sheet on the retard roller 32b side is not conveyed. As a result, the originals are separated and conveyed one by one.

  As the configuration of the separation unit 32, a configuration in which a driving force is input to the retard roller 32b via a torque limiter to reversely rotate, or a configuration using another separation member such as a separation pad instead of the retard roller 32b can be adopted. It is.

  The retard roller 32b is rotatably supported by the holder 23. The holder 23 includes a main body portion 23a and a support portion 23b connected to the main body portion 23a and to which the retard roller 32b is attached. A coil spring 24 is interposed between the main body portion 23a and the support portion 23b, and the retard roller 32b is pressed against the feed roller 32a by the urging force of the coil spring 24.

  The holder 23 is supported so as to be swingable in the direction of the arrow d2 about the shaft 23c. The feeding device 2 includes a drive unit 25 that can separate the feed roller 32a and the retard roller 32b. The drive unit 25 includes a motor 25a and a cam 25b rotated by the motor 25a, and the holder 23 swings around the shaft 23c by the rotation of the cam 25b. Normally, the holder 23 is maintained at a position where the retard roller 32b is pressed against the feed roller 32a. When a paper jam or the like occurs, the drive unit 25 rotates the holder 23 counterclockwise in FIG. Is separated from the feed roller 32a. This makes it easy to pull out a jammed document to the stacking unit 30 side.

  The conveyance unit 33 is disposed on the downstream side with respect to the separation unit 32 and conveys a sheet passing through the separation unit 32. The transport unit 33 includes registration rollers 33a and 33b, which are transport rollers, and press to form a nip portion. One of the registration rollers 33a and 33b is a driving roller, and the other is a driven roller. By skewing the leading edge of the document against the nip portion while the registration rollers 33a and 33b are stopped, the skew of the document can be corrected.

  The platen roller 35 is disposed so as to face the platen glass 157. A lead roller pair 36 is disposed on the upstream side of the platen roller 35, and a lead roller pair 37 is disposed on the downstream side. The document passing through the transport unit 33 is transported by the lead roller pair 36, the platen roller 35, and the lead roller pair 37 so as to pass over the platen glass 157.

  The reverse discharge roller pair 38 conveys the document passing through the lead roller pair 37 to the discharge unit 39. The document is stacked on the discharge unit 39. A flapper 34 is provided between the read roller pair 37 and the reverse discharge roller pair 38 to switch the conveyance path.

  Next, the detection units SR1 to SR7 included in the feeding device 2 will be described. The detection unit SR1 is a registration sensor arranged in front of the transport unit 33 between the separation unit 32 and the transport unit 33, and may be called a registration sensor. The detection unit SR1 includes a flag 11a that is rotatable about a shaft 11c, and an optical sensor (photo interrupter) that detects the rotation of the flag 11a. The flag 11a is urged clockwise in FIG. 3 by a spring (not shown). When the document reaches the transport unit 33, the flag 11 a is pushed by the document and rotates to detect that the document has reached the transport unit 33. Then, based on the detection result of the detection unit SR1, the transport unit 33 is controlled to correct the skew of the document. Specifically, the rotation of the transport unit 33 is stopped until a predetermined time elapses after the detection unit SR1 detects the document. Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the skew feeding of the document is corrected by controlling the conveyance unit 33 to rotate and carry it.

  The detection units SR2 and SR3 are sensors having the same configuration as the detection unit SR1. The detection unit SR2 is a lead sensor that detects that the leading edge of the document has passed the lead roller pair 36. Based on the detection result of the detection unit SR2, the reading start / end of the reading unit 151 is controlled. The detection unit SR3 is a discharge sensor that detects that the leading edge of the document has reached before the flapper 34.

  The detection unit SR4 is a sensor that detects double feed of a document, and may be referred to as a double feed detection sensor. The detection unit SR4 detects double feeding of documents on the downstream side of the sheet conveyance position of the separation unit 32 and on the upstream side of the sheet conveyance position of the conveyance unit 33. In the present embodiment, the detection unit SR4 is an ultrasonic sensor, and a transmitter 14a and a receiver 14b are arranged so as to sandwich the conveyance path RT1. When the double feeding is detected by the detection unit SR4, the conveyance of the document D is stopped.

  The detection units SR5 and SR6 are sensors that detect deformation of the sheet, and may be referred to as deformation detection sensors. Details thereof will be described later. The detection unit SR7 is disposed immediately after the nip portion of the separation unit 32, and is a post-separation sensor that detects that the front end of the document has passed through the separation unit 32. The detection unit SR7 can be, for example, a sensor having the same configuration as the detection unit SR1.

  The feeding device 2 includes a main body 20 and a cover member 21. The cover member 21 covers the above-described components such as the pickup roller 31, the separation unit 32, or the transport unit 33 from the upper side. The cover member 21 is connected to the main body portion 20 via a hinge portion 22, and is rotatable in the direction of an arrow d1 with the hinge portion 22 as a rotation center. Thereby, the inside of the feeding device 2 can be opened and closed by the rotation of the cover member 21, and maintenance can be performed when a paper jam or the like occurs. The cover member 21 supports a pickup roller 31, a feed roller 32a, and the like, and these also move together with the cover member 21 when the cover member 21 is opened. As a result, the maintainability is further improved.

  Next, an operation example of the feeding device 2 in the flow reading mode will be described. The document D placed on the stacking unit 30 by the user is drawn into the machine by the pickup roller 31 and conveyed to the separation unit 32. The separation unit 32 separates the plurality of documents D into single documents one by one and transports them to the transport unit 33.

  When the leading edge of the document D is detected by the detection unit SR1, the leading edge of the document D transported by the separation unit 32 is brought into contact with the transport unit 33 that has stopped rotating, and the skew of the document D is corrected. In addition to measuring the skew correction timing of the document D, the detection unit SR1 measures the timing of feeding the next document by the pickup roller 31 according to the detection of the trailing edge of the document D, and detects the leading and trailing edges of the document D. It can also be used to determine the size of the document D according to the edge detection timing.

  The original D whose skew has been corrected is conveyed to the lead roller pair 36. Reading of an image by the reading unit 151 is started at a reading timing based on the detection of the leading edge of the document D by the detection unit SR2. At this time, the document D is read by the reading unit 151 while being conveyed from the upper surface of the platen glass 157 with the amount of lifting regulated by the platen roller 35 that rotates at a predetermined rotation speed.

  The document D is conveyed by the pair of read rollers 36 and 37 while the image is read by the reading unit 151. When only one side of the document D is read, the document D on which the image has been read is conveyed to the reverse discharge roller pair 38 by the read roller pair 37 and discharged to the discharge unit 39.

  When both sides of the document D are read, after reading the first side, the reverse discharge roller pair 38 that is discharging the document D is stopped, and then rotated in the reverse direction to pull the document D back into the apparatus. Then, the flapper 34 switches the conveyance path to the reverse conveyance path RT2 to send the document D again to the conveyance path RT1, and reads the second surface by the reading unit 151 in the same procedure. Thereafter, it is discharged to the discharge unit 39 in the same manner as in single-sided reading.

<Sheet deformation detection>
In the case of the present embodiment, the detection units SR5 and SR6 are arranged so as to detect the deformation of the original, particularly the lift, which occurs when the original bundle bound by the staple or the like passes through the separation unit 32. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the detection units SR5 and SR6. In the drawing, an arrow X indicates the document transport direction (passage direction of the transport path RT1), and an arrow Y indicates the width direction of the transport path RT1. The lift of the sheet refers to a deformation in the height direction of the sheet surface of the separation unit 32 on the feed roller 32a side. The detection units SR5 and SR6 are arranged to detect the sheet at a position higher in the height direction of the sheet surface on the side of the feed roller 32a than the position where the sheet is normally conveyed, of the feed roller 32a and the retard roller 32b. Therefore, it is detected that the sheet conveyed by the separation unit 32 is in a state different from the normal conveyance state.

  The detection unit SR5 is a sensor that detects the deformation of the sheet passing through the separation unit 32 at a position downstream of the sheet conveyance position of the separation unit 32 and upstream of the sheet conveyance position of the conveyance unit 33. That is, the detection position of the detection unit SR5 is provided at a position downstream of the sheet conveyance position of the separation unit 32 and upstream of the sheet conveyance position of the conveyance unit 33. In the present embodiment, the detection unit SR5 detects the deformation of the sheet at a position closer to the separation unit 32 than the transport unit 33. Thereby, the deformation | transformation of the sheet | seat which generate | occur | produces downstream from the sheet conveyance position of the separation unit 32 can be detected earlier.

  The detection unit SR6 is a sensor that detects deformation of the sheet passing through the sheet conveyance position of the separation unit 32 at a position upstream of the sheet conveyance position of the separation unit 32. That is, the detection position of the detection unit SR6 is provided at a position upstream of the sheet conveyance position of the separation unit 32. In the case of the present embodiment, the detection unit SR6 is arranged to detect sheet deformation at a position upstream of the sheet conveyance position of the pickup roller 31. Therefore, it is possible to detect the deformation of the sheet occurring upstream of the sheet conveying position of the separation unit 32 earlier. Note that the detection unit SR6 may be arranged upstream of the separation unit 32 and downstream of the pickup roller 31, or may be added at this position.

  In the present embodiment, the detection units SR5 and SR6 are transmissive optical sensors. The detection unit SR5 includes a light emitting unit 15a and a light receiving unit 15b. The light emitting unit 15a and the light receiving unit 15b are arranged on one side and the other side in the width direction Y of the transport path RT1, and face each other. The light emitting unit 15a and the light receiving unit 15b are arranged to be separated from each other by a width larger than the width of the maximum size document. The optical path L5 from the light emitting section 15a to the light receiving section 15b is set so as to cross the transport path RT1. In the present embodiment, the optical path L5 is set in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction Y. The reason for the inclination will be described later.

  The optical path L5 is also set at a position spaced 30 to 40 mm above the sheet conveyance surface of the conveyance path RT1. As a result, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of a document that is being conveyed normally. In the present embodiment, the optical path is provided 30 to 40 mm above the conveyance surface. However, the numerical value is not limited to this value as long as the document that is normally conveyed is not erroneously detected.

  In the present embodiment, the detection unit SR6 is configured in the same manner as the detection unit SR5. The detection unit SR6 includes a light emitting unit 16a and a light receiving unit 16b. The light emitting unit 16a and the light receiving unit 16b are arranged on one side and the other side in the width direction Y of the stacking unit 30, and face each other. The light emitting unit 16a and the light receiving unit 16b are arranged to be separated from each other by a width larger than the width of the maximum size document. The optical path L6 from the light emitting unit 16a to the light receiving unit 16b is set so as to cross the stacking surface 30a of the stacking unit 30. In the present embodiment, the optical path L6 is set in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction Y. The reason for the inclination will be described later.

  The optical path L6 is set at a position spaced upward from the stacking surface 30a, and is set at a position higher than the upper limit height of the stacked documents. As a result, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of a document that is being conveyed normally.

  Next, a modification of the document that can be detected by the detection units SR5 and SR6 will be described. First, the types of original bundles bound by stapling and modified examples thereof will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 (A) to 6 (E) and FIGS. 7 (A) to 8 (B). In FIGS. 6A to 6E, the arrows indicate the document conveyance direction.

  FIG. 6A illustrates a bundle of documents bound by a plurality of staples ST along the edge on the rear end side in the conveyance direction. FIG. 7A illustrates the behavior when such a document bundle passes through the separation unit 32. The document bundle with the trailing end bound is conveyed by the document D (surface document) on the feed roller 32a side by the separation action by the separation unit 32 on the leading end side, and the conveyance of the document D on the retard roller 32b side is stopped. To do. For this reason, the rear end side of the original bundle bound by the staple ST is floated in a loop shape. In this example, since the original bundle is bound by a plurality of staples ST along the edge, the rear end side of the original bundle floats up substantially uniformly in the width direction. Such deformation can be detected by the detection unit SR6.

  FIG. 6B illustrates an original bundle in which one corner is bound by a staple ST on the rear end side in the conveyance direction. FIG. 7B illustrates the behavior when such a document bundle passes through the separation unit 32. The document bundle with the trailing end bound is conveyed by the document D (surface document) on the feed roller 32a side by the separation action by the separation unit 32 on the leading end side, and the conveyance of the document D on the retard roller 32b side is stopped. To do. For this reason, the rear end side of the original bundle bound by the staple ST is floated in a loop shape. In this example, since the original bundle is bound by the staple ST at one corner, the rear end side of the original bundle floats unevenly in the width direction, and the staple ST side rises higher. Such deformation can be detected by the detection unit SR6.

  FIG. 6C illustrates an original bundle bound by a plurality of staples ST along the edge at the leading end side in the conveyance direction. FIG. 8A illustrates the behavior when such a document bundle passes through the separation unit 32. The document bundle with the leading end bound tends to start the separation action by the separation unit 32 after the staple ST has passed through the separation unit 32. Further, between the originals is not constrained on the rear end side of the original bundle. Therefore, on the downstream side of the separation unit 32, the leading end side of the document bundle bound by the staple ST is lifted in a loop shape. In this example, since the original bundle is bound by a plurality of staples ST along the edge, the leading end side of the original bundle floats up substantially in a wave shape in the width direction. Such deformation cannot be detected by the detection unit SR6. However, in this embodiment, this deformation can be detected by the detection unit SR5 or the detection unit SR4.

  FIG. 6D illustrates an original bundle in which one corner is bound with a staple ST on the leading end side in the conveyance direction. FIG. 8B illustrates the behavior when such a document bundle passes through the separation unit 32. Similar to the examples of FIGS. 6C and 8A, the leading end side of the document bundle bound by the staple ST floats in a loop shape on the downstream side of the separation unit 32. In this example, since the original bundle is bound to the staple ST at one corner, the leading end side of the original bundle floats unevenly in the width direction. The staple ST side rises higher. Such deformation cannot be detected by the detection unit SR6. The detection unit SR4 may detect this deformation, but depending on the deformation mode, the document D may not overlap at the detection position of the detection unit SR4 and may not be detected. However, in the present embodiment, this deformation can be detected by the detection unit SR5.

  FIG. 6E illustrates an original bundle in which the side in the conveyance direction is bound with the staple ST. The behavior when such a document bundle passes through the separation unit 32 is the same as the example shown in FIG. 8B, and this deformation can be detected by the detection unit SR5.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, by providing the detection unit SR5, it is possible to detect a document bundle whose front end side is bound in the transport direction more quickly.

<Inclination of optical path>
The reason why the optical path L5 and the optical path L6 are inclined will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 (A) to 11 (C). FIG. 11A is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the arrangement of the light emitting units 15a and 16a and the light receiving units 15b and 16b.

  In the present embodiment, the light emitting unit 15a and the light receiving unit 15b are arranged at different positions shifted in the transport direction X and face each other in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction Y. Therefore, the optical path L5 is inclined with respect to the width direction Y in the transport direction X by an angle θ5. Similarly, the light emitting unit 16a and the light receiving unit 16b are arranged at different positions shifted in the transport direction X and face each other in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction Y. Therefore, the optical path L6 is inclined in the transport direction X by the angle θ6 with respect to the width direction Y.

  When the end in the transport direction is bound by a plurality of staples ST along the edge as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6C, it is shown in FIGS. 7A and 8A. As described above, the end portion of the original bundle floats up substantially uniformly in the width direction, and the surface direction of the raised original D becomes nearly parallel to the width direction Y. When the optical paths L5 and L6 are set parallel to the width direction Y, if the original D is thin, the original D and the light on the optical path do not sufficiently interfere with each other. In some cases, the bound document bundle may pass. On the other hand, by inclining the optical paths L5 and L6 with respect to the width direction Y, the detection ranges of the detection units SR5 and SR6 are widened, and the raised document D and the light on the optical path can sufficiently interfere with each other. As a result, it is possible to improve the accuracy of detecting the deformation of the document regardless of the thickness of the document.

  11B schematically shows a case where the optical path L6 is parallel to the width direction Y, and FIG. 11C schematically shows a case where the optical path L6 is inclined with respect to the width direction Y. As shown in FIG. 11B, if the optical path L6 is parallel to the width direction Y, the surface direction of the document D that is lifted by binding and the optical path L6 are close to parallel, and light on the optical path is transmitted to the document. Even if D is blocked, the document D that has been stapled may be passed without being detected. By tilting the optical path L6 as shown in FIG. 11C, the surface direction of the document D and the optical path L6 intersect so that the light on the optical path is easily blocked by the document D. Thus, the detection accuracy of the deformation of the document D can be improved regardless of the thickness, and the transport of the bound document can be stopped more accurately.

Although the optical path L6 has been described in FIGS. 11B and 11C, the same applies to the optical path L5. The angle θ5 and the angle θ6 may be different or the same. If the angles θ5 and θ6 are too small, improvement in detection accuracy is low, and if it is too large, there may be a disadvantage in sensor layout. Therefore, the angle θ5 and the angle θ6 can be set to angles within a range of 1 degree to 45 degrees, for example.
At this time, a lens (not shown) for inclining the optical paths L5 and L6, or a structure for supporting or arranging the light emitting units 15a and 16a and the light receiving units 15b and 16b so as to incline the optical paths L5 and L6, and the optical path forming means To do.

  In the present embodiment, the direction in which the optical paths L5 and L6 are inclined with respect to the width direction Y is the conveyance direction X. However, the direction may be the vertical direction, and is a direction inclined in both the conveyance direction X and the vertical direction. Also good. In the present embodiment, both the optical paths L5 and L6 are inclined, but only one of them may be inclined. Note that, as shown in FIG. 7, in order not to erroneously detect the deformation of the sheet when the end portion of the original bundle is bound by a plurality of staples ST, the optical path L6 of the detection unit SR6 is simply inclined. It's okay.

<Control>
The control system provided in the feeding device 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The control circuit of the feeding device 2 is configured around the control unit 40. The control unit 40 is, for example, a microcomputer including a CPU, a memory that stores programs executed by the CPU and data, and an interface with an external device. The detection units SR1 to SR7 and the like are connected to the input port of the control unit 40. The output port is connected to a motor 44, a pick lowering solenoid 41, a paper feed clutch 42, a registration clutch 43, and the like. The motor 44 includes various motors. The various motors include, for example, motors serving as driving sources such as a pickup roller 31, a feed roller 32a, a registration roller 33a or 33b, a motor 25a, and the like. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the pickup roller 31, the feed roller 32a, and the registration rollers 33a or 33b are driven by a common transport motor.

  The pick lowering solenoid 41 is a solenoid for lowering the pickup roller 31, and the pickup roller 31 is urged to the raised position by a spring (not shown). It abuts on the original D loaded on the paper 30. The paper feed clutch 42 is an electromagnetic clutch that intermittently connects the driving force of the transport motor to the feed roller 32 a and the pickup roller 31. The registration clutch 43 is an electromagnetic clutch that intermittently drives the driving force of the conveyance motor to the registration rollers 33a or 33b.

  An example of paper feed control executed by the control unit 40 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, an example of control when the document D is fed from the stacking unit 30 to the downstream side of the transport unit 33 is illustrated.

When the user sets a document on the stacking unit 30 and starts feeding, drive setting is performed in S1. Here, the pickup lowering solenoid 41 is driven to lower the pickup roller 31 so as to contact the uppermost document D stacked on the stacking unit 30. In addition, the feeding clutch 42 is connected to transmit the driving force of the carry motor to the pickup roller 31 and the feed roller 32a, and feeding is started.
It is set to a time during which it is possible to detect an abnormality such as a document not being conveyed normally due to a conveyance failure or the like.

  If the predetermined time T1 has not elapsed since the start of feeding (No in S2), the process waits until the predetermined time elapses. If the predetermined time T1 has elapsed from the start of feeding (YES in S2), it is determined in S3 whether or not the post-separation sensor SR7 has detected a document that has reached the separation unit 32.

  If the document SR is not detected by the sensor SR7 after separation (No in S3), it is determined that the document is not normally conveyed, the process proceeds to S15, the paper feed clutch 42 is turned off, and the conveyance motor to the feed roller 32a is disconnected. Cut off the transmission of driving force. Thereby, the conveyance of the document D by the separation unit 32 is stopped. Thereafter, in S16, the user is notified of the occurrence of an error. At this time, notification to the user can be performed by voice or display on a display.

  When the post-separation sensor SR7 detects a document (YES in S3), the process proceeds to S4. In S4, the drive of the pick lowering solenoid 41 is stopped and the pickup roller 31 is raised.

  Next, in S5, it is determined whether or not the deformation of the document D is detected by the deformation detection sensor SR5. If not detected (No in S5), the process proceeds to S6. If detected (Yes in S5), the document is determined to be a stapled document such as a staple, and the process proceeds to S15 to stop conveying the document. In S6, it is determined whether or not the double feed of the document D is detected by the double feed detection sensor SR4. If double feed is not detected (No in S6), the process proceeds to S7. If double feed is detected (Yes in S6), the multi-feed cannot be separated by the stapled document such as a staple or the separation unit 32. The process proceeds to S15, and the conveyance of the document is stopped. In S7, it is determined whether or not the deformation of the document D is detected by the deformation detection sensor SR6. If not detected (No in S7), the process proceeds to S8. If deformation is detected (Yes in S7), the document is determined to be a stapled document such as a staple, and the process proceeds to S15 to stop conveying the document.

  In S8, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time T2 has elapsed after the post-separation sensor SR7 detects the document. The predetermined time T2 at this time is set to a time during which it is possible to detect an abnormality such as a conveyance failure or the like that the document is not normally conveyed before the document reaches the registration sensor SR1 after the separation sensor SR7 detects the document. The

  If the predetermined time T2 has not elapsed since the separation sensor SR7 detected the document (No in S8), the process waits until the predetermined time elapses. If the predetermined time T2 has elapsed after the separation sensor SR7 detects the document, it is determined in S9 whether the registration sensor SR1 has detected the document.

  If no document is detected by the registration sensor SR1 (No in S9), it is determined that the document is not normally conveyed, and the process proceeds to S15 to stop conveying the document. When the registration sensor SR1 detects a document (Yes in S9), the process proceeds to S10. In S10, after elapse of time necessary for skew correction, the registration clutch 43 is connected and the driving force of the transport motor is transmitted to the registration rollers 33a or 33b to transport the document D. As described above, when the registration sensor SR1 detects that the original has reached the registration rollers 33a or 33b, the registration clutch 43 is turned on and the registration rollers 33a or 33b are rotated after a predetermined time has elapsed, whereby the original is skewed. The skew can be corrected even when transported.

  In S11, it is determined whether or not the deformation of the document D is detected by the deformation detection sensor SR6. If not detected, the process proceeds to S12, and if detected, the process proceeds to S15. In S12, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the registration clutch 43 is connected in S10. The predetermined time T3 at this time is a time during which the document is sufficiently conveyed by the registration rollers 33a or 33b, and the document is normally conveyed due to a conveyance failure before the document passes through the position of the sensor SR7 after separation. It is set to a time when an abnormality such as not being detected can be detected.

  If the predetermined time has not elapsed since the registration clutch 43 was turned on (No in S12), the document conveyance by the registration rollers 33a or 33b is continued until the predetermined time T3 has elapsed. If the predetermined time T3 has elapsed since the registration clutch 43 was turned on (Yes in S12), the process proceeds to S13, where it is determined whether the post-separation sensor SR7 is turned off and the document D is no longer detected. If the sensor SR7 after separation has detected the document D even after the predetermined time T3 has elapsed (No in S13), it is determined that the document has not been transported normally, and the process proceeds to S15 to stop transporting the document. . When the sensor SR7 after separation does not detect the document D when the predetermined time T3 has elapsed (Yes in S13), if the job has not ended (No in S14), the process returns to S1 and the next document D Proceed to paper feeding. When the job is finished (No in S14), the document feeding operation is finished.

  In S15, the conveyance of the document may be stopped by stopping the conveyance motor or by separating the retard roller 32b from the feed roller 32a by the drive unit 25. In S15, not only the conveyance of the document D by the separation unit 32 but also the sheet conveyance of the entire apparatus may be stopped. At that time, instead of stopping the sheet conveyance of the entire apparatus all at once, the conveyance operation may be stopped in order from the configuration related to the sheet conveyance. Further, when the conveyance of the document D by the separation unit 32 is stopped, if there is a sheet that is normally conveyed downstream from the conveyance position of the separation unit 32, the sheet conveyance of the entire apparatus is performed after the sheet is discharged. May be configured to stop.

  The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus executes the program. It is a process to read and execute.

2 feeding device, 30 loading unit, 32 separation unit, SR1-SR7 detection unit, 40 control unit, L5 optical path, L6 optical path

Claims (12)

Separating means for separating and conveying the sheet;
An optical sensor for detecting deformation of the sheet passing through the separating means;
Optical path forming means for forming an optical path so that the optical path of the optical sensor obliquely crosses the sheet conveyance path,
A conveying apparatus characterized by that. It is a conveying apparatus of Claim 1, Comprising:
The optical path forming unit forms an optical path so as to be inclined in the sheet conveying direction with respect to a width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction by the separating unit.
A conveying apparatus characterized by that. It is a conveying apparatus of Claim 1 or Claim 2, Comprising:
The optical path forming unit forms an optical path so as to be inclined in a height direction with respect to a width direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction by the separating unit.
A conveying apparatus characterized by that. It is a conveying apparatus of Claim 1, Comprising:
The optical sensor includes a light emitting means and a light receiving means,
The light emitting means is disposed on one side in the width direction of the transport path,
The light receiving means is disposed on the other side in the width direction of the transport path,
The light emitting means and the light receiving means are arranged at positions shifted in the sheet conveying direction,
A conveying apparatus characterized by that. It is a conveying apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4, Comprising:
The optical path forming means forms an optical path upstream of the separating means in the sheet conveying direction;
A conveying apparatus characterized by that. It is a conveying apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4, Comprising:
The optical path forming means forms an optical path downstream of the separating means in the sheet conveying direction;
A conveying apparatus characterized by that. It is a conveying apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4, Comprising:
Two optical sensors are provided,
The optical path of one of the optical sensors is set on the upstream side of the separating unit in the sheet conveyance direction,
The optical path of the other optical sensor is set downstream of the separating means in the sheet conveying direction.
A conveying apparatus characterized by that. It is a conveying apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 7, Comprising:
The optical sensor detects the lifting of the sheet in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction.
A conveying apparatus characterized by that. It is a conveyance apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 8, Comprising:
The optical path is set at a position spaced upward from the transport surface of the transport path,
A conveying apparatus characterized by that. A transport apparatus according to claim 1;
Reading means for reading an image of a sheet conveyed by the conveying device,
An image reading apparatus. An image reading apparatus according to claim 10;
Image forming means for forming an image read by the image reading device on a recording medium,
An image forming apparatus. A control method for a conveying device,
The transfer device
Separating means for separating and conveying the sheet;
An optical sensor for detecting deformation of the sheet passing through the separating means;
An optical path forming means for forming an optical path so that the optical path of the optical sensor obliquely crosses the sheet conveyance path;
The control method is:
Including a step of stopping conveyance of the separating means when the optical sensor detects deformation of the sheet,
A control method characterized by that.