JP2537449B2 - Sheet material automatic feeding device and image forming apparatus equipped with the device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus equipped with an automatic sheet material feeding device for automatically and continuously feeding sheet materials, and more specifically, it relates to a sheet material in a predetermined image reading area. The present invention relates to a device having an input means for adjusting a distance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a plurality of sheet materials,
For example, the interval between the sheet materials when the sheet material having the information surface is continuously fed to form an image has been set in advance by a factory line or a maintenance service person.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, since the distance between the sheet materials is constant, for example, the user closes the transfer material on which the information of the sheet material is recorded and closes both sides of the transfer material. When stapling or punching a sheet, or when stapling the center of a transfer material like a saddle stitch, there arises a problem that information on a bent portion, a staple portion, or a punched portion is difficult to see or is missing. Further, while using the above-described sheet material automatic feeding device, the distance between the sheet materials is set to the initially set distance due to wear of rollers and belts for feeding the sheet material, fluctuation of mechanical load, etc. There was also the problem that it would be different.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic sheet material feeding apparatus which allows a user to arbitrarily adjust the interval between sheet materials fed onto a predetermined image reading area. It is a thing.

[0005]

A typical means for solving the above problems and applied to the embodiments described below is a sheet for automatically continuously feeding a plurality of sheet materials to a predetermined image reading area. In the automatic material feeding device, a sheet material loading table on which a plurality of sheet materials are placed and a sheet material loaded on the loading table are separated one by one and the sheet material is fed at a correct timing. A means, a conveying means for conveying the sheet material on the area and stopping the sheet material at the set position accurately, and a discharging means for discharging the sheet material from the area and discharging the sheet material onto a discharge table, It is characterized in that an input means for adjusting a distance between the sheet materials on the above area is provided outside the apparatus.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a sheet material for continuously feeding a plurality of sheet materials onto a predetermined image reading area by using the sheet material automatic feeding device and simultaneously forming an image on the plurality of sheet materials. By providing the external input means capable of adjusting the distance between the sheet materials, the user can arbitrarily adjust the distance between the sheet materials according to the intended use of the transfer material or the like.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an image forming apparatus equipped with a sheet material automatic feeding device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a simplified main sectional view of an automatic sheet material feeding device mounted on an image forming apparatus, and FIGS. 2 to 6 are sheet material automatic feeding devices according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing a main part (near the lower guide) of FIG. 7, and FIG. 7 is an external view of an image forming apparatus equipped with an automatic sheet material feeding device.
As shown in FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus in this embodiment is
A plurality of sheet materials are automatically continuously fed onto a predetermined image reading area above an apparatus main body A which is an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine for reading information on the sheet material and recording on a transfer material. Equipped with automatic sheet material feeder B.

The sheet material automatic feeding device B will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a sheet material stacking table, on which a plurality of sheet materials G with the information side facing upward can be stacked simultaneously. Reference numeral 2 denotes a separating section, which is composed of a separating / feeding roller 2a and a separating belt 2c stretched around a roller pair 2b provided so as to face the roller 2a, and is fed by the half-moon roller 1a.
Are separated one by one from the bottom. Reference numeral 3 denotes a pair of registration rollers as a feeding unit, which corrects skew by contacting the leading end of the sheet material G separated by the separating unit 2 with a nip portion, and corrects the sheet at the correct timing. The material G is sent out. Registration roller pair 3
A sheet material edge detection sensor 3a that detects the leading edge and the trailing edge of the sheet material G is installed in the vicinity. Reference numeral 4 denotes a conveying section, which is composed of a driving roller 4a, a driven roller 4b, and a conveying belt 4c stretched by both rollers 4a, 4b, and the sheet material G is placed on a platen glass 6 which is a predetermined image reading area. It is transported to and stopped accurately at the set position. Denoted at 5 is a discharging roller, which is a discharging section, and which carries out the sheet material G from the platen glass 6 and discharges it onto the discharging table 5a after the image reading is completed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, reference numeral 7 denotes an input means provided outside the sheet material automatic feeding device B, which is a sheet material on the platen glass 6 which is the predetermined image reading area. The distance between them is adjusted. This external input means 7 enables the user of this apparatus to arbitrarily adjust the interval between the sheet materials.

Next, referring to FIG. 2 to FIG. 6, the flow of the sheet material when continuously feeding a plurality of sheet materials by using the above-described sheet material automatic feeding device and simultaneously forming images on the sheet materials will be described. Explain. First, the plurality of sheet materials G placed on the sheet material stacking table 1 are separated by the half-moon roller 1a into the separating unit 2.
To the registration roller pair 3 through the sheet material edge detection sensor 3a.
It temporarily stops at the nip portion (see FIG. 2). Assuming that the first sheet material of the sheet material is G ₁ , the sheet material G ₁ is fed by the registration roller pair 3 in the direction of the transport unit 4. Then, when the trailing edge slightly advances from the nip portion of the registration roller pair 3, it stops again. Next, the second sheet material G ₂ is separated and fed by the separating portion 2 in the same manner as the above operation, and once stopped when it hits the nip portion of the registration roller pair 3 (see FIG. 3). At this time, the distance between the rear end of the sheet material G ₁ and the front end of the sheet material G ₂ is L
_Set to ₁ .

The sheet material G ₁ and the sheet material G
₂ is started to be fed at the same time, and when the trailing edge of the _first sheet material G ₁ leaves the lower guide 8, the conveyance of the sheet material is stopped again (see FIG. 4). At this time, assuming that the sheet material conveying speed of the registration roller pair 3 is V ₁ and the sheet material conveying speed of the conveyor belt 4c is V ₂ , the sheet materials G ₁ and G ₂ are shown in FIG. 4 from the state shown in FIG. When the sheet is conveyed to such a state, the sheet material G ₂ is nipped by the pair of registration rollers 3 and
_The sheet material G ₁ is conveyed at the conveying speed of _{1 and the} conveying belt 4
It is conveyed at a conveying speed of V ₂ by c. If the separation distance corresponding to the conveyance length of the sheet material due to this speed difference is Δl ₁ , the distance L ₂ between the rear end of the sheet material G ₁ and the leading end of the sheet material G _{2 in} the state shown in FIG. 4 is L ₁ It becomes + Δl ₁ . Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the sheet materials G ₁ and G ₂ are kept until the leading edge of the sheet material G ₂ reaches the nip portion of the conveying section 4.
When transporting the, the distance corresponding to the transport length of the sheet material by the speed difference when the as .DELTA.l _2, distance L ₃ between the in sheet G ₁ and the sheet material G ₂ on the platen glass 6
Is L ₂ + Δl ₂ .

In the normal 2-in-1 mode, L ₃ = 0
Therefore, in this device, the sheet material G ₁ ,
Adjusting the G ₂ interval. That is, the amount corresponding to the conveyor belt 4c in the distance L ₃ from the state as shown in FIG. 4 is reversely rotated to convey the sheet G ₁ in the opposite direction (see FIG. 5). The distance between the sheet material G ₁ and the sheet material G ₂ is adjusted by adjusting the amount of conveyance in the reverse direction at this time. The user can arbitrarily set the carrying amount in the reverse direction by the external input means 7.

When the conveyance in the reverse direction is completed, both the first sheet material G ₁ and the second sheet material G ₂ are platen glass as a predetermined image reading area by the registration roller pair 3 and the conveyance belt 4c. Then, the information is read. After reading, the sheet materials G ₁ and G ₂
Is discharged from the platen glass 6 by the conveyor belt 4c and discharged onto the discharge table 5a outside the apparatus by the discharge roller 5.

In the present apparatus, as described above, by adjusting the amount by which the _first sheet material G ₁ in the state shown in FIG. 4 is conveyed in the reverse direction, the second sheet material G ₁ is adjusted. G
The distance between ₂ and is adjusted. Hereinafter, how much the _first sheet material G ₁ is retracted in order to set the interval to “zero” will be described. In this apparatus, as described above, the transport speed of the registration roller pair 3 is V ₁ , the transport speed of the transport belt 4c is V _2, and the relationship between the transport speeds is V _1.
<Is set to V _2. Further, in the state as shown in FIG. 3, the distance between the rear end of the sheet material G ₁ and the front end of the sheet material G ₂ is L ₁
And

In FIG. 4, the distance by which the sheet material G ₂ is conveyed by the registration roller pair 3, that is, the registration roller pair 3
When the distance from the nip portion to the leading edge of the sheet material G ₂ is L ₄ , the time t required for the transportation is t = L ₄ / V ₁ (1) Further, the distance that the sheet material G ₁ is conveyed by the conveyor belt 4c, that is, the distance from the point of the distance L ₁ from the nip portion of the registration roller pair 3 to the rear end of the sheet material G ₁ is L ₅
Then, the distance L ₅ is L ₅ = V ₂ · t = V ₂ · (L ₄ / V ₁ ) ... (2) Therefore, the distance from the nip portion of the registration roller pair 3 to the rear end of the sheet material G ₁ is L ₁ + L ₅ . Therefore, the distance L ₂ between the rear end of the sheet material G ₁ and the leading end of the sheet material G ₂ in FIG. 4 is L ₂ = (L ₁ + L ₅ ) −L ₄ = {L ₁ + V ₂ · (L ₄ / V ₁ )}-L ₄ (3).

[0017] for transporting remains again the sheet material of the state as shown in FIG. 4, the distance to the leading edge of the sheet material G ₂ as shown in FIG. 6 reaches the nip portion of the conveying belt 4c is the distance L ₂ Therefore, if the time required for this conveyance is T, then T = L ₂ / V ₁ (4) At this time, when the transport distance of the sheet material G ₁ transported by the transport belt 4c for the time T is L ₃ , L ₃ = V ₂ · T = V ₂ · (L ₂ / V ₁ ) (5) Become. This distance L ₃ corresponds to the distance (gap) between the rear end of the sheet material G ₁ and the front end of the sheet material G ₂ which is maintained on the platen glass 6.

Therefore, if the rear end of the sheet material G ₁ is retracted by the distance L ₃ as shown in FIG. 5, the rear end of the sheet material G _{1 and} the sheet material G ₁ which are maintained on the platen glass 6 will be described.
₂ The distance L _{3 from the} tip is “zero”. Therefore, the distance L ₃
Becomes equation (5) _{than, L 3 = {L 1 +} (V 2 / V 1) · L 4 -L 4} · V 2 / V 1 ...... (6). Therefore, the conveying speed V ₁ of the registration roller pair 3, the conveying speed V ₂ of the conveyor 4, and do it defines the distance L _1, L _4, the distance L ₃ which is a transport amount in the reverse direction is determined.
The distances L ₁ and L ₄ are determined by a count timer.

Next, the operation of the sheet material automatic feeding device when the interval between the sheet materials is arbitrarily adjusted by the external input means 7 will be described. In the normal setting, in order to set the distance between the _first sheet material G ₁ and the second sheet material G ₂ maintained on the platen glass 6 to “zero”, the sheet in the state as shown in FIG. 4 is set. As described above, the material G ₁ is conveyed in the reverse direction by the distance L _3, but if the sheet material G ₁ is returned in the reverse direction further than the distance L ₃ , the first sheet material G ₁ is transferred. The edge and the leading edge of the second sheet material G ₂ are overlapped with each other, and a blank portion is formed at the front and rear edges of the obtained transfer material, so that the blank portion can be stapled or punched. Further, when the amount of the _first sheet material G ₁ conveyed in the reverse direction is reduced or, conversely, it is conveyed in the forward conveyance direction, the sheet materials G ₁ and G ₂ are predetermined image reading areas. When the sheet material is fed onto the platen glass 6 and set in the set position, the distance between the sheet materials is widened, and a blank portion is formed near the central portion of the obtained transfer material, and the central portion of the transfer material is formed like a saddle stitch. When binding with, it becomes possible to staple or punch holes in the blank portion.

In the case where sheet materials of different sizes such as A4 size and B5 size are continuously conveyed by using the conventional sheet material automatic feeding device and the sheet materials of the different size are simultaneously image-formed, Small size, in this case B5
The size is shifted to one side, and the transfer material on which the information of the sheet material is recorded looks badly. However, according to the present invention, when the sheet material of the irregular size is used by the external input means 7, Even in this case, since the interval between the sheet materials can be adjusted arbitrarily, the obtained transfer material has a good appearance.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the same effect can be obtained even if the image forming apparatus main body A is provided with the external input means 7 for arbitrarily adjusting the distance between the sheet materials on the predetermined image reading area. Can be obtained.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 8 shows that the first sheet material G ₁ and the second sheet material G ₂ are continuously fed by the above-described sheet material automatic feeding device B, and a predetermined image reading area is obtained. It is a figure which shows the state set on the platen glass 6 which is this.
The present embodiment is characterized in that the image forming magnification of the image forming apparatus is adjusted by the external input means described in the above embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 8, since the distance between the _first sheet material G ₁ and the second sheet material G ₂ is increased by the external input means, the platen glass 6 serving as a predetermined image reading area is formed. In the above, the length l from the leading edge of the sheet material G ₁ to the trailing edge of the sheet material G ₂ is designated for recording information of the sheet material. The scan length L may be longer than the scan length L of the system 9 (see FIG. 1), but since the present invention has the above characteristics, the scan length of the optical reading system 9 of the image forming apparatus is set to (l− L) is extended and the image forming magnification of the image forming apparatus is adjusted to (L / l) times or less to prevent the loss of image information obtained from the sheet materials G ₁ and G ₂ .

[Third Embodiment] Further, in the digital image forming apparatus, a plurality of sheet materials are continuously fed by using the above-mentioned sheet material automatic feeding apparatus, and the sheet materials are simultaneously image-formed. In this case, it is possible to form an image on the sheet material on the platen glass, which is a predetermined image reading area, as it is. However, in the case of the digital image forming apparatus,
Do not perform a dynamic operation such as changing the interval of the sheet material actually fed with respect to the input of the external input means described above,
Only the signal representing the input may be transmitted to the digital image forming apparatus, and the blank portion or the blank portion of the transfer material obtained in the apparatus may be edited, which is equivalent to the apparatus in the above embodiment. The effect can be obtained.

[0025]

As described above, when a plurality of sheet materials are continuously fed onto a predetermined image reading area by using the sheet material automatic feeding device and the plural sheet materials are simultaneously image-formed. Since the external input means for adjusting the distance between the sheet materials is provided outside the apparatus, the user can arbitrarily adjust the distance between the sheet materials according to the intended use such as a transfer material for recording information. Not only is it possible not only to obtain blanks and margins of the obtained transfer material but also to perform post-processing of the transfer material such as stapling and punching without damaging the information of the transfer material. It is possible to easily adjust the stop position deviation of the sheet material due to the abrasion of the existing rollers and belts.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified main cross-sectional view showing an automatic sheet material feeding device mounted on an upper portion of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the vicinity of a lower guide of the automatic sheet material feeding device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the vicinity of a lower guide of the automatic sheet material feeding device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a lower guide of the sheet material automatic feeding device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing the vicinity of a lower guide of the automatic sheet material feeding device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing the vicinity of a lower guide of the automatic sheet material feeding device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus including a sheet material automatic feeding device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which a plurality of sheet materials continuously fed by the sheet material automatic feeding device are set on a predetermined image reading area.

[Explanation of symbols]

A ... The image forming apparatus B ... sheet automatic feeding device G ... sheet G ₁ ... first sheet material G ₂ ... handsome sheet material 1 ... sheet stacking plate 1a ... semicircular roller 2 ... separating portion 2a Separation / conveyance roller 2b ... Roller pair 2c ... Separation belt 3 ... Registration roller pair 3a ... Sheet material edge detection sensor 4 ... Feeding section 4a ... Driving roller 4b ... Following roller 4c ... Conveyance belt 5 ... Discharging roller 5a ... Discharging table 6 ... Platen glass 7 ... External input means 8 ... Lower guide 9 ... Optical reading system

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An automatic sheet material feeding device for automatically and continuously feeding a plurality of sheet materials to a predetermined image reading area, and a sheet material stacking table on which a plurality of sheet materials are placed, Separation and feeding means for separating the sheet materials placed on the stacking table one by one and feeding the sheet materials at the correct timing, and a conveying means for conveying the sheet material on the above-mentioned area and stopping the sheet material accurately at the set position. And discharge means for discharging the sheet material from the above area and discharging it onto a discharge table, and an input means for adjusting the interval between the sheet materials on the above area is provided outside the apparatus. Automatic sheet material feeder. 2. An image forming apparatus comprising an automatic sheet material feeding device for automatically and continuously feeding a plurality of sheet materials to a predetermined image reading area, wherein the automatic sheet material feeding device according to claim 1. An image forming apparatus characterized in that an external input means in a feeding device is provided in a main body of the image forming apparatus. 3. An image forming apparatus comprising an automatic sheet material feeding device for automatically continuously feeding a plurality of sheet materials to a predetermined image reading area, wherein the image forming magnification of the image forming apparatus is the above-mentioned. An image forming apparatus characterized in that adjustment is performed by the external input means according to claim 1 or 2.