JP2859770B2 - Image forming system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a sheet feeding unit to an image forming apparatus main body, the paper reversing unit, among the paper transport unit which forms part of the unit according to sorter units also require one selected or It relates to an image forming system comprising a plurality of units arranged consecutively provided.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus for forming a copying machine, a printer or the like, a function of an apparatus main body itself is minimized as much as possible, a sheet feeding unit in which a sheet cassette is stored for a user's purpose of use, a double-sided sheet. for sheet reversing unit is inverted to reversal to the apparatus main body recording paper after printing to perform printing, and then each unit of the sorter or the like for performing sorting of the recording sheet after printing, appropriately selected and the apparatus body said unit There is a configuration in which an image forming system suitable for a purpose of use can be formed by being mounted on the side.

[0003]

In Well such systems [0005], the sheet feed path to achieve the desired function for each unit in the unit of each switchback path for the paper inversion, in addition to the sorting path other A conduction path for conducting recording paper is formed on the unit side or the apparatus main body side. Therefore, in an image forming system including a combination of a plurality of units as described above, the transport distance is inevitably large. In addition to the above, the transport direction is diversified, so that a jam is likely to occur. In particular, when continuous printing is performed, a predetermined operation is performed while a plurality of recording papers are conveyed through a conveyance path in the system because the conveyance distance is long as described above.

For this reason, if the machine is stopped immediately after one recording sheet is jammed, a plurality of recording sheets are jammed at once, and the processing becomes complicated. Particularly in the paper reversing unit, the recording paper discharged from the apparatus main body, after switched back in the unit, configured to be reversed again the apparatus body, saying Kaere if the recording sheet is inverted in said unit as In such a configuration, as compared with other units that convey the recording paper in one way, such as a paper feeding unit or a sorter, the conveyance distance is inevitably increased, and jams are more likely to occur.

[0005] Therefore, for example, as shown in the actual fair 2-Patent 29,063, the the paper reversing unit disposed adjacent to the apparatus main body, a plurality of recording sheets in the other unit side is avoided to wandering, the taking the configuration, most the paper reversing unit during frequently used paper feed unit and the apparatus body become possible interposed, the time to be fed to the apparatus body from the paper feed unit becomes large, the whole As a result, the number of printed sheets per unit time is greatly reduced. Also, the paper reversing unit
Of an image forming system where a sorter unit is placed under
The paper to be sent to which unit
It is necessary to provide switching means for switching
When the printer unit is removed, the paper reversing unit
Need to be switched.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention provides an image forming system comprising a combination of a plurality of units, which can easily and easily perform jam processing even when a plurality of recording papers pass through the system unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming system capable of performing such operations. The place is another object of the present invention, Ru der to provide the facilitation of the jam processing while avoiding complication of the structure of the sheet reversing unit, an image forming system which attained reliabilized sheet discharge. or
Another object of the present invention is that the paper reversing unit
When arranging the sorter unit,
Switching the paper path without fail,
When the unit is removed, the paper reversing unit
Image forming system that ensures paper feeding
Is to provide a system.

[0007]

According to the present invention, one or a plurality of units selected from among a sheet feeding unit, a sheet reversing unit, and a sorter unit are connected to an image forming apparatus main body. Connecting the sorter unit and the sheet reversing unit.
When the paper is set, at least the paper
Can be fed to the sorter unit through the paper reversing unit
In the image forming system configured as described above,
The paper is provided in the knit and is supplied to the sorter unit.
The feed path to feed the paper and the reverse path to reverse the paper
Switching means for switching, and the switching means is always connected to the reversing path.
A reversing path opening means adapted to open a passage to the side, the
Provided in the sorter unit, and discharged to the sorter unit
If it is, the feeding of the previous SL switching means by driving operation
And a drive operating means for opening the side passage.
I do.

[0008] The present invention provides a sheet reversing unit,
The paper feed path and paper are fed to the sorter unit side.
Switching means for selectively switching between the
In the image forming apparatus main body, the sorter unit and the
When the paper reversing unit is connected in series, paper after image formation
The sorter through at least the paper reversing unit
The first feature is that the unit can be fed.
You. With such a configuration, the above-described image after image formation is formed.
Paper that does not need to be fed to the paper reversing unit
Can be fed to the data unit. This "paper reversing unit"
Paper that does not need to be fed to the
A sheet for which processing is completed with an image formed thereon,
The paper has jammed in the
When the paper is fed and jam clearance becomes difficult,
Paper is included. Therefore, the jam processing is facilitated.

[0009] The present invention also provides a paper reversing unit.
And a feeder for feeding paper to the sorter unit side.
A switch that selectively switches between the feed path and the reverse path that reverses the paper.
The changing means always opens the passage on the reverse road side.
A reverse path opening means is provided in the paper reversing unit.
Is a second feature. In this invention, a jam detecting means for detecting a jam in the reversing path is provided, and the switching means can be switched based on a jam detection signal from the detecting means. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, since the sorting conveyance path and the reverse conveyance path are completely separated by switching the selection means, an operation of preventing malfunction is also performed. And for the said
In the paper reversing unit, the switching means always keeps the
A reversing path opening means is provided on the side of the
The sorter is attached to the paper reversing unit.
When using the unit without connecting it, the paper inversion
Switching to the unit side may not be incomplete.
Malfunction can be prevented.

[0010] Then, the sorter unit are not necessarily essential unit as a system unit. For example
In an apparatus in which only the sheet reversing unit is attached and the sorter unit is not attached, it is unnecessary for the user to provide the means and its drive operating means in a single sheet reversing unit, although the switching means is unnecessary. Cost increase, and there are also problems in terms of miniaturization and resource saving. The present onset bright, the separated switching means and the driving operation means, the former sheet reversing unit side, respectively separated arrangement to set the latter to the sorter unit side, i.e., the Sotayu
A place provided on the knit and discharged to the sorter unit
In this case, the switching means is driven to operate, and the feed-side passage is operated.
A third feature is that a drive operation means for opening the motor is provided .

[0011] only for the switching means is able to operate the case where the cost and the miniaturization problems According to such means attaching the source Tayunitto co If can solve, erroneous non sorter units Malfunction when the units are connected in series can be prevented, and a so-called stupid effect can be obtained.

[0012] Further , the above-mentioned utility
A paper reversing unit is loaded, and the image is
It is effective for the present invention to arrange the forming device
Means. According to such technical means, between each unit
There is no need to provide special gripping means for connecting
Pressing and connecting the connecting member between both units due to the weight of the unit
You can touch and move the required amount, so each unit
The connection can be reliably established.

[0013]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention; However, unless otherwise specified, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but are merely illustrative examples. Not just.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a system printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which an apparatus main body 1 in which a pass unit 2 is mounted on a paper discharge side from above, one or a plurality of paper feed units 3.
A, 3B, the paper reversing unit 4, and a sorter unit 5
Are sequentially laminated via positioning pins 9.
Reference numeral 6 denotes a roller unit necessary for feeding the small-sized paper in the paper feed units 3A and 3B, 7 denotes a manual paper feed unit which also serves as an envelope feeder, 8 denotes a paper discharge tray, which is a pass unit 2 or an apparatus main body. 1 is selectively connected to the outlet. Next, each unit will be described in accordance with the flow of the recording paper. The apparatus main body 1 is configured such that the registration position is selected via the paper feed roller 13 selectively from the built-in cassette 11 and the manual paper feed unit 7 or the lower paper feed units 3A and 3B. After the recording paper has been fed, the recording paper is guided to the transfer position by rotating the registration roller 15 in synchronization with the toner image on the photosensitive drum 14, and the toner image is transferred by the transfer device 16. Thereafter, the image is fixed while being passed through the fixing roller 17, and is guided to the branch position via the sheet discharging roller 18. The paper is discharged to the reversing paper discharge guide 19 or the path unit 2 side by operating the branch lever 61. The recording paper inserted into the inverted paper ejection guide 19 is directly inserted into the paper ejection tray unit 20 on the upper surface, and is invertedly ejected.

On the other hand, the recording paper inserted into the pass unit 2 is discharged to the discharge tray 8 as it is by operating the lever 62, or the paper
A is selected to be inserted into the conveyance path 73 side of A, and when it is selected to the paper supply unit 3A side, the conveyance roller 31A of the first paper supply unit 3A and the conveyance roller 31B of the second paper supply unit 3B are used. Te, branching the paper reversing unit 4 lever 6
It is led to three positions.

When the recording paper is to be printed on one side, the recording paper is guided from the vertical transport path 77A (FIG. 1) to the sorter unit 5 via the transport roller 41 and the transport roller 51, and then the transport rollers 56 and 57 are moved. The paper is inserted into each bin 54 of the sorter unit 5 through the sorting unit to perform the sorting operation sequentially, or is discharged to a stocker 55 via another conveying roller 52.

On the other hand, when performing double-sided printing, the lever 6
3 switches the roller 49 from the switchback path 77B.
The switchback roller 43 is guided to the switchback path 42 via the switchback roller 43, and once retracted into the backpath 42 by the switchback roller 43, the switchback roller 43 is reversed at the same time as the switching of the lever 44, and the intermediate rollers 45 and 46 and the discharge The feed path 7 of the paper feed unit 3B on the front side via the rollers 47
4 through the feed rollers 32A and 32B of the second and first paper feed units 3A and 3B located on the front side, and to the entrance end of the registration roller 15 of the apparatus main body 1.

The paper feed units 3A and 3B have cassettes 33A and 33B capable of accommodating paper of an appropriate size. The cassettes 33A and 33B are guided to the feed path by driving rotation of the paper feed rollers 34A and 34B, respectively. It is configured so that it can be fed to the apparatus main body 1 side. And from internal cassette 11 front wall 80 in the apparatus main body 1, Matakyu feeding unit 3A, the cassette 33A for the 3B, 33B is, for the paper reversing unit 4 further draws the unit main portion 40 than the respective front wall 80 It is configured so as to facilitate exchange of recording paper and jam processing.

Next, the location of the paper detection sensor in each unit will be described. With the sensor primarily path switching timing control, jam detection, even those used for switching control of the transport speed to be described later, Therefore the apparatus main body 1 side and the paper reversing unit 4 in order to saving part of, and sorter units 5 and the paper feed units 3A, 3A
It is not installed in B. To briefly explain the arrangement position, is a paper feed sensor of the printer arranged at the entrance side of the manual feed roller, and is a registration sensor arranged at the entrance side of the registration roller. The registration operation is started by detecting the sensor. . Is a paper ejection sensor arranged on the exit side of the fixing roller 17;
The timing of the branch levers 61 and 62 is controlled together with the jam detection. The discharge sensor path unit 2, performs the inversion matching preparation and timing control of the branch lever 63 in the sheet feeding sensor Paper reversing unit 4. Performing a matching operation and re-feeding completion detector in the paper feed / refeed sensor Paper reversing unit 4. Is a sheet feed sensor of the sorter unit 5 for controlling the timing of the branch lever 64 and preparing for the sorting operation. And are bin feed sensors of the sorter unit 5.

[0020] Next branch lever of the for sheet reversing unit 4
(Switching Means) FIG. 1 is used for 63 switching control mechanisms .
Will be described. Paper reversing unit 4, a vertical conveying path 77A and the switchback path located lever distal the branch path and 77B, the branch lever 63 selectively switches the conveying path by the swing displacement leading to the sorter unit 5, The link lever 84 is supported by the other end of the branch lever 63, and includes a link member 84 that hangs downward from the support position, and a lifting lever 85 that moves the link member 84 up and down. The lifting lever 85 and the
The link member 84 constitutes a reversal path opening unit. One end of the lifting lever 85 is pulled by a spring (not shown) , and the branch lever 63 is disposed so that the switchback path 77B is opened in a normal state, and the other end of the lifting lever 85 extends to the bottom surface of the unit 4. And is configured to be able to face the swing lever 92 disposed on the upper surface side of the sorter unit 5.

The conveying roller 41 disposed at the exit end of the vertical conveying path 77A has its tooth surface on the bottom of the reversing unit 4.
It is connected to a gear 48 to be provided, and is configured to be able to receive a driving force from the transmission gear train 58 on the sorter unit 5 side when the unit is mounted on the upper surface of the sorter unit via the gear 48. On the other hand, the sorter unit 5 includes a solenoid shaft 91a.
And a swing lever 92 which presses and displaces the lift lever 85 by an up and down operation of the solenoid shaft 91a.
Is formed in a substantially T shape so as to be substantially flush with the upper surface of the sorter unit 5 when the solenoid 91 is not energized. Soleno
Drive operating means is constituted by the guide 91 and the swing lever 92.
I do.

Next, the operation of the main part of this embodiment centering on the switching control mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. First, when the sorter unit 5 is not attached, the switchback path 77B is opened because the link member 84 is urged upward by the force of the spring, and the above-described predetermined paper reversing operation is performed.

Then, as shown in FIG.
When the sheet reversing unit 4 is mounted on the upper side, the transport roller 41 disposed at the exit end of the vertical transport path 77A is connected to the transmission gear train 58 on the sorter unit 5 side via the gear 48,
When performing the single-side printing in this state, while the distal end of the swing lever 92 by the ON operation of the solenoid 91 is Kuraishi swing <br/> variable clockwise, the paper reversing unit 4 side of the lifting lever that swings 85 , the branch lever 63 is rotated clockwise through the lever and the link member 84 , and the recording paper is
Guided by the driving of the conveyance roller 41 from the vertical transport path 77A to the sorter unit 5 side, it is possible to engage in the predetermined sorting operation described above.

On the other hand, when performing double-sided printing in this state, by turning off the solenoid 91, the lever 63 swings counterclockwise to open the switchback path 77B and perform the predetermined switchback operation. I can do things.

After the trailing end of the recording paper introduced into the switchback path 77B is detected by a detection sensor disposed at the entrance end of the backpath 77B, the reversing operation is performed in the backpath 42, and then the apparatus body 1 registration roller 15
If a jam occurs before the detection by the detection sensor at the entrance end, the solenoid 91 is turned on via the CPU (not shown) to switch the branch lever 63 of the reversing unit 4 together with the jam display, and the sorter unit 5 side Vertical transport path 7
Release 7A. As a result, the recording paper located after the jammed recording paper does not flow into the switchback path 77B, but flows through, for example, the stocker 55 in the sorter unit 5, so that the rear recording paper is jammed together. Can eliminate fear.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, in an image forming system comprising a combination of a plurality of units,
Are multiple sheets of recording paper can be performed easily and conveniently jam even when passing through the system unit <br/>. Also in the case of a combination of the paper reversing unit and the sorter unit performs the conveyance control, and ease of the jam processing while avoiding complication of the size and configuration of the a sheet reversing unit, the sheet discharge to the sorter unit side Can be ensured. Also, connect the paper reversing unit and sorter unit.
When using the paper reversing unit without connecting
The paper feed path from the side to the paper reversing unit is automatically formed.
Is done. And so on.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a transport path of a paper reversing unit and a sorter unit of the printer system shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is an overall view showing an internal configuration of a printer system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing an attached state of each unit of the printer system shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 3A, 3B Paper feed unit 4 Paper reversing unit 5 Sorter unit 63 Branch lever(Switching means)  81 to 83 Switching control mechanism 91 Solenoid 92 Swing lever ~ Detection sensor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-116440 (JP, A) JP-A-1-236155 (JP, A) JP-A-3-102569 (JP, U) JP-A-4-102569 31151 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 4-4-0059 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B65H 39/11 B65H 29/58 G03G 15/00 530

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A sheet feeding unit provided in an image forming apparatus main body;forpaper
Selected one of the reversing unit and the sorter unit
Or do not connect multiple unitsThe sorter unit
When the paper reversing unit is connected to the
The formed paper is passed through at least the paper reversing unit.
It was configured to be able to feed to the sorter unitImage forming system
In the systemThe sheet is provided in the sheet reversing unit and the sheet is sorted by the sorter.
The feeding path for feeding the unit and the reversing path for reversing the paper
Switching means for selectively switching between The switching means always opens the passage on the reverse road side.
Reversal road opening means, Provided in the sorter unit,
When the paper is ejected, the switching means is driven and operated to
A drive operation means for opening a passage on the feed side is provided.
An image forming system. 2. The sheet counter on the upper surface of the sorter unit.
Transfer unit, and at least the uppermost
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is arranged.
The image forming system as described in the above.