JP2532293Y2 - OHP sheet interleaf sheet feeder - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an OHP sheet supply apparatus for OHP sheets, and more particularly, to an OHP sheet on which images are formed by an image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to an OHP sheet interleaf sheet supply device capable of supplying a paper sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art OHP
Sheets, that is, sheets for overhead projectors, are composed of a transparent synthetic resin sheet or film, and are usually used as slide manuscripts at conferences, research presentations, briefing sessions, etc. by copying image information with a copying machine. .
When a plurality of OHP sheets are stacked, an interleaf sheet (a soft thin paper, sometimes simply referred to as an interleaf sheet) is usually interposed between the OHP sheets for surface protection.

[0003] However, the operation of interposing the slip sheets one by one between the OHP sheets in this way is very inefficient. On the other hand, a copying machine capable of performing this operation automatically has already been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-599).
71, and JP-A-2-22677). In this copying machine, after the image information is copied on the OHP sheet, it is supplied to overlap the interleaf sheet. In order to supply the interleaf sheet using the copy / conveyance path of the OHP sheet, the copier is supplied. OHP while feeding paper sheets
It is necessary to stop copying of the sheet, and there is a problem that the copying ability of the OHP sheet is reduced (specifically, about １ ／).

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an
An HP sheet transport path, an interleaf sheet transport path that merges downstream with the transport path, an interleaf sheet storage cassette, and an OHP sheet discharge port of the image forming apparatus.
First for transporting the HP sheet to the OHP sheet transport path
Transport means, transport control means for transporting the interleaf sheets one by one from the interleaf sheet storage cassette through the interleaf sheet transport path, and merging at a merging position so as to overlap the conveyed OHP sheet; OHP superimposed
O comprising discharge means for discharging sheets and interleaf sheets
It is an interleaf sheet feeding device for HP sheets.

That is, the interleaf sheet supply device for OHP sheets according to the present invention is attached to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine. The interleaf sheet supply device includes an OHP sheet conveyance path for conveying the OHP sheet discharged after the image formation, and a (first) conveyance unit,
In addition, an interleaf sheet storage cassette is built-in, and an interleaf sheet transport path and (second) transport control means are provided, so that the interleaf sheet is advanced during the transport of the OHP sheet so that the OHP sheet can be overlaid and discharged. This eliminates the need to transport the slip sheet into the image forming apparatus, thereby preventing the image formation of the image forming apparatus from being stopped and lowering the image forming ability. The operation of inserting the interleaf sheet can be performed efficiently.

The timing (control) at which the interleaving sheets are merged at the merging position so as to be superimposed on the OHP sheet is as follows.
This can be achieved by providing a passage detection switch for the sheet near (before or after) the first conveyance means, and operating the second conveyance means based on a passage detection signal from the detection switch. Alternatively, the interleaving sheet can be made to wait before the merging position, and the approach of the OHP sheet can be sensed by a suitably installed sensing switch, and the merging timing can be set.

Here, as the first conveying means and the discharging means, a belt pair can be used in addition to the roller pair.
As the second conveying means, it is preferable to use a paper feed roller for taking out the interleaf sheets one by one from the interleaf sheet storage cassette and a pair of rollers for conveying the taken out interleaf sheet. In such a case, it is necessary to further install a roller pair or a belt pair.

Further, the present invention provides an OHP sheet conveying path, an interleaving sheet conveying path that joins the conveying path on the downstream side, an interleaving sheet storage cassette, and an opposing OHP sheet discharge port of the image forming apparatus. Then, the OHP sheet is
A first conveying means for supplying to the HP sheet conveying path, and a high-speed conveying of the supplied OHP sheet through the OHP sheet conveying path to form an interval of at least one interleaving sheet between the OHP sheet and a subsequent OHP sheet; Intermediate conveyance means for conveying, and conveyance control means for conveying the interleaf sheets one by one from the interleaf sheet storage cassette through the interleaf sheet conveyance path, and interrupting the interval of the OHP sheets at the merging position at a high speed; Provided is an OHP sheet interleaf sheet feeding apparatus comprising a discharge means for sequentially discharging an OHP sheet and an interleaf sheet at a high speed.

That is, in this invention, an intermediate conveying means for pulling a conveyed OHP sheet at a high speed is provided in the middle of the OHP sheet conveying path, and one or more slip sheets are provided between the OHP sheet and a succeeding OHP sheet. By interleaving the slip sheet while the gap is being formed and interrupting the gap, the OHP sheet and the slip sheet can be discharged alternately without overlapping, but at a high speed. The image forming of the OHP sheet and the inserting operation of the slip sheet can be efficiently performed without lowering the image forming ability.

Here, as the intermediate conveying means, similarly to the first conveying means and the discharging means, a belt pair can be used in addition to the roller pair. Also, this intermediate transport means, like the discharge means, is faster (more than twice) faster than the first transport means.
The sheet needs to be moved. Therefore, it is preferable that the friction coefficient of the latter is larger than that of the former so that the OHP sheet can be moved with priority on the latter even if it is sandwiched by both the first transporter and the intermediate transporter.

The timing (control) at which the interleaving sheets are merged at the merging position in order to interrupt the interleaving sheets at a high speed between the OHP sheets is determined by setting a sheet passage detection switch near (before or after) the first conveying means. Provided by operating the second transport means based on the passage detection signal from the detection switch.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this. First, in FIG. 1, F denotes a copying machine as an image forming apparatus, and a detailed configuration will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 7, but reference numeral 12 denotes a pair of discharge rollers for a copied OHP sheet.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an OHP sheet interleaf sheet feeding device which forms an OHP sheet transport path S1 and an interleaf sheet transport path S2 which joins the transport path on the downstream side, and is installed adjacent to the copying machine F. The main body 2 is provided. In this main body, a slip sheet storage cassette 8 and a discharge tray 11 are detachably installed. Furthermore, the main body 2 is OHP
The discharge roller pair 1 of the copying machine F is located upstream of the sheet conveying path S1.
OHP sheet transport roller pair 3 as first transport roller means arranged adjacent to and adjacent to the paper feed roller 2, and a paper feed roller 7 and an interleaf sheet transport path S attached to an interleaf sheet storage cassette 8.
2 includes a pair of interleaf sheet transport rollers 13 and a pair of discharge rollers 10 disposed therein.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a guide plate constituting the OHP sheet transport path S1, reference numerals 5, 6, and 9 denote guide plates constituting the slip sheet transport path S2, and reference numeral 14 detects passage of the OHP sheet. A detection switch (micro switch) 15 is a control circuit. Next, the operation of the OHP sheet interleaf sheet supply device 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

One OHP copied by copying machine F
When the sheet is discharged from the discharge roller pair 12 and grasped by the OHP sheet conveyance roller pair 3, the control circuit 15 interlocks (synchronizes) with the OHP sheet conveyance operation based on a detection signal from the detection switch 14 and feeds the sheet. The rollers 7 and then the conveying roller pair 13 are operated. Then, one slip sheet is inserted from the slip sheet storage cassette 8 into the slip sheet transport path S.
2 to a position where it joins the OHP sheet transport path S1 (18, 19 in FIG. 3).

On the other hand, the OHP sheet is directed to the merging position on the OHP sheet conveying path S1 by the OHP sheet conveying roller pair 3 at substantially the same speed (0.35 m / s) as the discharge speed by the discharge roller pair 12 of the copying machine F. Has been transported. Thus, the interleaf sheet merges so that the leading ends of both sheets are aligned with the lower side of the OHP sheet, and then the two sheets are exactly overlapped (20 in FIG. 3).
Is discharged to the discharge tray 11 (21 in FIG. 3). This operation is repeated, and when the final OHP sheet is discharged together with the slip sheet (22 in FIG. 3), the control circuit (15) forcibly (even without the detection signal of the detection switch 4).
One of the slip sheets is fed from the slip sheet storage cassette 8 via the slip sheet transport path S2 by instructing the feed roller 7 and the slip sheet transport roller pair 13 to operate, and the OHP sheet transport path S
1 and is discharged by the discharge roller pair 10 and covered on the final OHP sheet (23 to 2 in FIG. 3).
6).

When the OHP sheet is further copied in a state where the slip sheet is placed on the final OHP sheet in this manner, only the first OHP sheet is forced by the control circuit (15). (In response to the detection signal from the detection switch 4, the operation is not commanded to the sheet feeding roller 7 or the slip sheet conveyance roller pair 13), and only the OHP sheet conveyance roller pair 3 is commanded to discharge only the OHP sheet. It is discharged from the roller 10 (27 in FIG. 3).

As described above, by attaching the OHP sheet interleaf sheet feeding device 1 to the copying machine F,
The interleaf sheet is automatically converted to each OH
It can be arranged between P sheets and on the top and bottom surfaces.
In particular, since the interleaf sheet can be supplied as described above without lowering the copying ability (speed), it is efficient. Further, since the interleaf sheet feeding device 1 for OHP sheets is configured independently of the copying machine F, even if the copier does not have the interleaving mode (interleaf sheet feeding mode), the interleaving sheet feeding device 1 is automatically connected to this device. Can supply paper sheet.

Unlike the above embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The OHP sheet interleaf sheet supply device 1a is connected to the sorter 28a.
Alternatively, it may be configured in combination with a post-processing mechanism such as a finisher. Next, in FIG. 3, the interleaf sheet feeding apparatus 1a for an OHP sheet divides the OHP sheet conveyance path into two paths (S1a and S3a) of upstream and downstream, and sets the peripheral speed of the pair of intermediate conveyance rollers 10a in the middle of the copying machine. F discharge roller pair 12
It is set to be twice as large as that of the OHP sheet conveying roller pair 3a having the same peripheral speed as that of the pair.

On the other hand, the conveyance path of the interleaf sheet is also mainly divided into upstream and downstream, and an intermediate conveyance roller pair 11a is provided in the middle.
At the upstream end and the downstream end.
a is installed. Here, the operation of the OHP sheet interleaf sheet feeding apparatus 1a having the above-described configuration characteristically with respect to the embodiment of FIG. 1 will be briefly described with reference to FIGS.

One OHP copied by copying machine F
The sheet is discharged from the discharge roller pair 12, and the OHP sheet transport roller pair 3a grasps the sheet and outputs the same speed (0.35 m
/ S), the control circuit 16a responds to the detection signal of the detection switch 4a, and after a predetermined time (t seconds), the feed roller 1
4a (17a-20a in FIG. 6), and then instruct the intermediate transport roller pair 11a and then the transport roller 8a (21a in FIG. 6). Thus the interleaf sheet is O
It heads at a high speed (0.7 m / s) to the merging position of the downstream portion S3a of the HP sheet transport path.

On the other hand, when the OHP sheet reaches the intermediate conveying roller 6a from the pair of OHP sheet conveying rollers 3a, the OHP sheet moves toward the merging position at a high speed (0.7 m / s) twice as high as the conveying speed up to that point, and the subsequent OHP sheet An interval equal to or more than one sheet is formed between them. Thus, the interleaf sheet merges so as to break into the above-mentioned interval, and eventually the OHP sheet and the interleaf sheet alternately travel toward the discharge roller pair 10a at high speed, and are discharged to the discharge tray 9a at the same speed and in the same order. OHP sheets and interleaf sheets are alternately stored.

Unlike the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 6,
As shown in FIG. 5, an OHP sheet interleaf sheet supply device 24a
May be combined with a sorter 37a or a post-processing mechanism such as a finisher. Here, the configuration of the copying machine F will be described with reference to FIG. An automatic document feeder 111 also serving as a document press is provided above the copying machine F. On the right side of the copying machine F, a bypass table 112 for supplying OHP sheets and sheet cassette cases 113 and 114 are arranged in order from the top. Further below, a large paper cassette case 116 is arranged.

A photoconductor drum 117 is disposed substantially at the center of the copying machine F. A charging device 118, a developing device 119, and a transfer device 12 are provided around the photoconductor drum 117.
0, transfer paper separating device 121 and cleaning device 122
Are arranged in order. An optical exposure device 123 is arranged in the upper space of the copying machine F. Furthermore, between the bypass table 112 and the transfer device 120,
A paper feed path 124 is provided. Transfer device 120
On the downstream side, a sheet discharge conveying device 125 and a fixing device 126 are sequentially arranged. A branch 127 is disposed between the fixing device 126 and the discharge roller 112,
A reversing device 128 is disposed above the unit 7. Branch 1
Reference numeral 27 denotes a switching position between a first position (the position shown in the drawing) in which the fixing device 126 communicates with the discharge tray 115 and a position in which the fixing device 126 communicates with the reversing device 128.

In the lower space of the copying machine F, an intermediate tray 130 of a lower paper feed type is arranged. A transfer paper transport path 13 is provided between the left end of the intermediate tray 130 and the branch 127.
1 is arranged. The transfer paper transport path 1 is located between the right end of the intermediate tray 130 and the middle of the paper transport path 124.
32 are arranged. The downstream end (upper end) of the transfer paper transport path 132 is connected to the paper feed transport path 124 so as to smoothly continue to the transfer device 120 side.

The intermediate tray 130 includes a transfer paper table 133 extending substantially in the horizontal direction, a paper feed roller 134 disposed at the right end of the transfer paper table 133 in the drawing, and a central part near the right side of the transfer paper table 133 in the drawing. And a feed roller 135 arranged. The feed roller 135 also serves as a counter for counting the number of transfer sheets carried out from the intermediate tray 130. Above the feed roller 135, a pressing roller 137 that presses the transfer paper placed on the transfer paper table 133 from above is disposed. The pressing roller 137 also serves as a rotary switch for counting the number of transfer papers carried into the intermediate tray 130 through the transfer paper transport path 131.

The automatic document feeder 111 has a document table 142 on the right side of the housing 141, and the stacked documents to be supplied are placed on the document table 142. In the upper center of the housing 141,
A document discharge unit 143 on which the discharged documents are stacked and placed is provided. At the bottom in the housing 141, a transport belt 145 is disposed so as to extend over rollers arranged at intervals in the left-right direction in the figure. The lower end surface of the conveyor belt 145 faces a transparent contact glass 147 disposed at the upper end of the main body of the copying machine F. Note that the exposure position 129 of the exposure device 123 is
In order to expose a document placed between the contact glass 45 and the contact glass 147, the document can be moved in the left-right direction in the figure.

On the right side in the housing 141, a paper feed roller unit 148 for feeding documents one by one from the document table 142 to the conveyor belt 145 side is provided. A document discharge path 149 for feeding a document from the transport belt 145 to the document discharge unit 143 is provided on the left side in the housing 141. Also, a document reversing path 150 is disposed between the downstream end of the transport belt 145 and the downstream end of the document discharge path 149, so that when a double-sided document is used, the document is reversed. Paper can be fed again.

The copying machine F has a branch 127 and a discharge roller 1
A limit switch 151 for counting the number of ejected transfer sheets is provided in a transport path between the transfer switch 12 and the transfer sheet 12. The transfer paper board 133 of the intermediate tray 130 is provided with a pressure-sensitive switch 152 for determining whether or not transfer paper remains on the transfer paper board 133. Further, on the downstream side of the paper feed roller 134, a double feed detection sensor 153 for detecting double feed of the transfer paper is provided. The sensor 153 includes, for example, a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, and detects the presence or absence of double feeding from a change in the amount of light transmitted through the transfer paper (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-11307).
No. 6). In addition, a general sensor (not shown) such as a sensor for detecting a jam of the transfer sheet is attached in the transfer path of the transfer sheet. The automatic document feeder 111 is provided with a general sensor (not shown) such as a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of an unfed document. Each of these sensors is connected to the microcomputer.

Thus, when the OHP sheet is placed on the bypass table 112 and the OHP sheet copy mode is turned on, the document placed on the document table 142 is appropriately copied onto the OHP sheet and discharged from the discharge roller 12. Become.

[0031]

According to the present invention, the OHP sheet conveying path, which is attached to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, and conveys an OHP sheet discharged after image formation, and (first) conveying means. And a built-in interleaf sheet storage cassette and an interleaf sheet transport path and (second) transport control means so that the interleaf sheet can be advanced while the OHP sheet is being transported and discharged over the OHP sheet. This eliminates the need to transport the slip sheet into the image forming apparatus, thereby preventing the image formation of the image forming apparatus from being stopped and lowering the image forming ability. Forming and inserting the interleaf sheet can be performed efficiently.

Further, according to the present invention, an intermediate conveying means for pulling the conveyed OHP sheet at a high speed is provided in the middle of the OHP sheet conveying path, and at least one slip sheet is provided between the OHP sheet and the following OHP sheet. The OHP sheet is advanced by making the interleaving sheet advance during the formation of the interval, and interrupting the interval so that the OHP sheet and the interleaving sheet can be discharged alternately without overlapping but at a high speed. The image forming capability of the OHP sheet and the interleaving operation of the interleaf sheet can be efficiently performed without lowering the image forming ability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional explanatory diagram showing another embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1, showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2, showing still another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a functional explanatory diagram showing an example of a copying machine combined with each embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1a OHP sheet interleaf sheet feeding device 3, 3a OHP sheet transport roller pair 7, 14a Paper feed roller 8, 15a Interleaf sheet storage cassette 10, 10a Discharge roller pair 12 Discharge roller pair (copier) 8a, 11a , 13 Interleaf sheet transport roller pair F Copier S1, S1a OHP sheet transport path S2, S2a Interleaf sheet transport path 6a Intermediate transport roller pair

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-5-105264 (JP, A) JP-A-5-24735 (JP, A) JP-A-4-362968 (JP, A) JP-A-3-362 293238 (JP, A) JP-A-3-23472 (JP, A) JP-A-2-110077 (JP, A) JP-A-2-22677 (JP, A) JP-A-62-141576 (JP, A) JP-A-62-59971 (JP, A) JP-A-60-122640 (JP, A) JP-A-52-99568 (JP, A) Fully open 2-13250 (JP, U) Really open (JP, U)

Claims (4)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] An OHP sheet conveyance path, an OHP sheet conveyance path that merges downstream with the OHP sheet conveyance path, an interleaf sheet storage cassette, and an OHP sheet discharge port of the image forming apparatus, First conveying means for conveying the sheets to the OHP sheet conveying path; and conveying the interleaf sheets one by one from the interleaf sheet storing cassette via the interleaf sheet conveying path to overlap the OHP sheets conveyed. An OHP sheet interleaf sheet feeding device, comprising: a conveyance control means for merging at a merging position to discharge the OHP sheet and the interleaf sheet which are merged and stacked. 2. The conveyance control means includes: a second conveyance means for conveying the slip sheets one by one from a slip sheet storage cassette to a slip sheet conveyance path; and an OHP sheet detected near the first conveyance means. 2. The OHP according to claim 1, further comprising control means for instructing the second transport means to operate so that the interleaving sheets are merged at the merging position based on the condition and superimposed on the OHP sheet.
Interleaf sheet feeding device for sheets. 3. An OHP sheet conveyance path, an interleaf sheet conveyance path joined to the conveyance path on the downstream side, an interleaf sheet storage cassette, and an OHP sheet discharge port of the image forming apparatus. A first conveying means for supplying a sheet to the OHP sheet conveying path, and a sheet for interleaving sheet between the following OHP sheet by conveying the supplied OHP sheet at a high speed through the OHP sheet conveying path; And an intermediary conveying means for forming an interval between the OHP sheets, and conveying the interleaf sheets one by one from the interleaf sheet storage cassette through the interleaf sheet conveying path and interrupting the interval of the OHP sheets at the merging position at a high speed. OH comprising a control unit and a discharging unit for sequentially discharging the OHP sheet and the interleaf sheet at a high speed.
P-sheet interleaf sheet feeding device. 4. A transport control means for transporting slip sheets one by one from a slip sheet storage cassette to a slip sheet transport path, and detecting an OHP sheet near the first transport means to detect the OHP sheet. At the merging position based on the
4. The OHP sheet interleaf sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising control means for instructing the second transport means to operate so as to interrupt the interval between the HP sheets at a high speed.