JP3294925B2 - Document circulation assist device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used by being mounted on an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and forms an image by continuously circulating a document in cooperation with a document discharging means of the apparatus body. The present invention relates to a document circulation assist device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When forming a plurality of identical copied images continuously in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, etc., when a relatively small size document is used, the document is placed on a platen and the document is pressed. There is known a configuration in which the original is exposed by moving the original exposure device while the original is fixed, or a configuration in which the original table is moved and the original is exposed by the fixed original exposure device. In this manner, a plurality of copy images are obtained by continuously moving either the document table or the document exposure device.

However, when a large-size document such as A2 or larger is handled by the above-described apparatus, the moving space of the document table or the document exposing apparatus becomes large, and accordingly, the size of the apparatus body cannot be avoided. For this purpose, a so-called retention system is used in which the document table and the document exposure device are fixed, and the document itself is conveyed from the document insertion port toward the document exposure device fixed inside the device, which is exposed to the document, and then discharged from the document discharge port. An image forming apparatus is known.

[0004]

In order to continuously obtain a plurality of copied images in such an apparatus, an operator manually inserts the document discharged from the document discharge port into the document insertion port again and sets the document. This operation has to be repeated, resulting in a complicated operation.

On the other hand, there is known an image forming apparatus in which a document circulating device capable of continuously circulating a document in advance for continuous copying is built in the apparatus main body. In the case of this device, it is unavoidable that it becomes an obstacle to downsizing the device body . As described above, in the conventional apparatus, the operation becomes complicated, and the apparatus is complicated and large, so that it is difficult to reduce the cost in manufacturing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and simplifies the operation of an operator when a plurality of copies are continuously made. An object of the present invention is to provide a document circulation assisting device having a low manufacturing cost.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a document circulation assisting device according to the present invention is detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus main body, and is discharged from a document discharge port of the image forming apparatus main body. A document circulation assisting device that receives the original document and guides the document again to the document insertion opening of the image forming device main body, thereby circulating the document through the image forming device main body. the located document outlet, a first guide plate to the draft a document discharged from the document discharge port, a portion of the document feed path of the document discharge port of the image forming apparatus main body and to said original insertion opening A tubular member positioned to constitute and serving to further transport the document guided by the first guide plate, rotating at substantially the same speed as the document transport speed; and an axial center of a peripheral surface of the tubular member Tube near the part A belt-like elastic member fixed or arranged to be wound around the peripheral surface of the material, and a guide member arranged along a part of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member and making the original U-turn according to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member, vicinity of the tubular member 且
The document is positioned at the document insertion opening of the image forming apparatus main body, and when viewed in the document transport direction, a substantially central portion in the width direction of the upstream side is protruded toward the cylindrical member. The central portion has a concave shape so as to straddle a band-like elastic member located near the center of the cylindrical member, and has a shape inclined toward both side edges so that the width gradually widens downward. , that it has a second guide plate for guiding the leading edge of both sides of the concave is brought into contact with the tubular member, the pre-SL document Ru is U-turn <br/> by the tubular member into the document insertion port Features.

[0008]

[0009]

In such a configuration, the document circulation assisting device is attached to the apparatus main body only when continuous copying of a plurality of sheets is required. Next, after exposing the document for image formation, the document discharged from the document discharge port is turned U by the document circulation assisting device, fed into the document insertion port of the apparatus main body, and subjected to document exposure again. By repeating this process, a plurality of image copies are continuously made.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of the image forming apparatus main body. In all the drawings, components having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals. Reference numeral 1 denotes an image forming apparatus main body, on which a document is inserted from the front side of the apparatus, and the document is made to make a U-turn along a predetermined conveying path to thereby expose a document exposing section 2 in the apparatus main body 1.
And a document discharge port 4 for discharging a document sent from the document exposure section 2 to the front side of the apparatus.
And A table 5 for manually feeding cut paper is provided below the document discharge port 4, and a cut paper feed port 6 is provided at an end thereof. A photoconductor 7 for forming an image on a document image and an image forming unit 8 located around the photoconductor 7 are operatively arranged inside the apparatus main body 1. Further, inside the apparatus main body 1, there is provided a roll paper 9 as a transfer material for automatic paper feeding, and either the roll paper or the cut paper described above is selectively used as the transfer material.

In the above configuration, image formation is performed according to the following procedure. That is, the operator sets a document in the document insertion slot 3. At this time, the leading edge of the original is
Is detected by contacting a sensor (not shown) provided in the vicinity of the document insertion slot 3. Next, the operator operates the selection switch on the operation panel to select either roll paper or cut paper. The apparatus main body is started based on these signals, and the operation of the image forming unit 8 and the conveyance of the transfer material are synchronized with the conveyance of the document. Next, the original sent to the original exposure unit 2 is exposed to an original to form a latent image on the photoreceptor 7 by the operation of the image forming unit 8, forms a toner image on the latent image, and transfers the toner image to a transfer material. During this time, the transfer material is cut into a desired size. Thereafter, the transfer material fixes the toner image by the fixing device 10, and the transfer material on which the image is formed is discharged from the transfer material discharge port 11. If cut paper is used as the transfer material, the cut paper is placed on the table 5 and the cut paper supply port 6 is used.
And the original is set in the original insertion slot 3, and an image is formed according to the above-described steps.

FIG. 2 shows an example in which the document circulation assisting device according to the present invention is disposed in the above-described apparatus main body 1. A document circulation assisting device 12 is detachably mounted or placed on the table 5 with respect to the apparatus main body 1. The document circulation assisting device 12 guides the document discharged from the document discharge port 4 of the apparatus main body 1 between a tubular member 13 and a guide member 14 described later.
5 and a guide plate 16 for guiding the original U-turned by the original circulation assisting device 12 to the original insertion slot 3, and furthermore, a rotatable fixed to a side plate 17a, 17b, which will be described later, around a rotation shaft 18. The cylindrical member 13, an elastic member 19 wound on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 13 to prevent the original from wrinkling when the original is circulated, and the periphery of the cylindrical member 13 to make a U-turn of the original. A feed roller 20 for transporting a document sandwiched between a guide member 14 arranged along a part of the circumferential direction and an elastic member 19 on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 13
And a motor 21 that is driven by being connected to the cylindrical member 13 and the feed roller 20 by a gear or a belt. Further, a frame 22 including side plates 17a and 17b for fixing or rotatably fixing the cylindrical member 13, the guide plates 15, 16 and the guide member 14 is provided.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view in which the document circulation assisting device 12 is arranged on the table 5 of the apparatus main body 1. Tube member 13
Is formed of, for example, a metal drum, a plastic cylinder, a rubber roller, or a paper cylinder used for a core of roll paper. A flange 23 provided with a shaft hole at the center is inserted into both ends of the cylindrical member 13.
The bearings 24 and the like are inserted into both ends of 8. The outer peripheral surface of the bearing 24 provided on the cylindrical member 13 is
The cylindrical member 13 is fixed or abutted on the inner peripheral surface of the elongated hole 25 formed in the holes 17a and 17b, and the cylindrical member 13 is arranged at a position extending over the document insertion port 3 and the document discharge port 4 in the document moving direction. Further, the cylindrical member 13 is rotated in the direction of arrow A by a driving device such as a motor 21 by connecting a belt or a gear so that the speed is substantially the same as the document conveying speed of the apparatus main body 1.

An elastic member 19 is fixed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 13 with an adhesive or the like, or an elastic member 19 having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 13 is fitted into the cylindrical member.
In the illustrated embodiment, a sponge material is preferably used as the elastic member 19, but rubber or felt may be used. In the present embodiment, three band-shaped elastic members 19 are used and arranged so as to be wound on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 13. However, at least one or more band-shaped elastic members 19 are provided. The elastic member 19 may be provided over the entire surface of the cylindrical member 13. Further, the band-shaped elastic member 19 may be spirally wound around the tubular member 13.

A guide member 14 formed by bending an aluminum bar is disposed so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 13 or the outer peripheral surface of the elastic member 19 provided thereon.
One end of each guide member 14 is fixed to the frame by screws or the like. The guide member 14 covers substantially half the circumference of the cylindrical member 13 so that the document can smoothly make a U-turn, and the elastic member 19 and the guide member 1 on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 13.
4 is arranged with a slight gap so that the original can pass therethrough. In this embodiment, five aluminum rods are curved and fixed to the frame. However, the number of the rods is not limited, and the rods or strips made of stainless steel, iron, synthetic resin, or the like may be used. The guide member 14 may be used.

The feed roller 20 is disposed at a position substantially at the center in the width direction of the cylindrical member 13 so as to abut on the elastic member 19 on the circumferential surface of the cylindrical member 13. An elastic member 30 made of rubber or the like is provided. A shaft hole 26 (FIG. 2) is provided at the center of the feed roller 20, and a shaft 27 inserted into and fixed to the shaft hole 26.
Are rotatably arranged on the side plates 17a and 17b by bearings or the like. The feed roller 20 is rotated in the direction of arrow B by a driving device such as a motor 21 by connecting a belt or a gear or the like so as to be substantially at the same speed as the document conveying speed of the apparatus main body 1 similarly to the cylindrical member 13. In this embodiment, the original is sandwiched and conveyed by the contact between the elastic member 30 wound around the outer peripheral surface of the only feed roller 20 provided at the center and the elastic member 19 wound around the cylindrical member 13. The number is not limited.

The guide plate 15 is formed between the document discharge port 4 and the guide member 14 by a film material or a metal plate of an appropriate size sufficient to carry the document with respect to the maximum width of the usable document. One end of the guide plate 15 is fixed to at least one of the guide plate 14 and the document discharge port 4 with an adhesive tape or the like.

The guide plate 16 has substantially the same size or a large width as the width direction of the document, and is cut obliquely from both ends of the guide plate 16 toward the both sides of the guide member 16 on the cylindrical member 13 side. Then, the distal end is cut into a concave shape so as not to contact the elastic member 19 located at the center of the cylindrical member 13. In other words, the guide plate 16 is in contact with the cylindrical member 13 at two places near the center of the guide plate 16 with the elastic member 19 interposed therebetween. The other end of the guide plate 16 is fixed to the table of the document insertion slot 3 by an adhesive means such as an adhesive tape.

The operation of the document circulation assisting device 12 in such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG. The document circulation assist device 12 is arranged or fixed at a predetermined position according to the size of the document, and its electric connector is connected to a power source provided inside the apparatus main body 1 to drive the motor 21 of the document circulation assist device 12. By this drive, the cylindrical member 13 connected by a gear or a belt (not shown) is moved in the direction of arrow A in the direction of the feed roller 2.
0 rotates in the direction of arrow B (FIG. 3). At this time, the cylindrical member 1
The speeds of the elastic member 19 and the feed roller 20 on the peripheral surface of 3 are adjusted in advance to the document conveying speed. Next, the original is placed on the original table and the original is inserted into the original insertion slot 3. At this time, the leading end of the document is detected by contacting a sensor (not shown) provided in the vicinity of the document insertion slot 3, and the operation of the apparatus main body 1 and the transfer of the transfer material are started in synchronization with the transfer of the document. You. The document that has been subjected to document exposure by the document exposure unit 2 and has completed the image forming process is discharged from the document discharge port 4.
The document is guided by a guide plate 15 to a guide plate 14 and a cylindrical member 13.
Guide to the gap. The guided document is sandwiched in the vicinity of the center of the leading end of the document by the elastic member 19 disposed on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 13 and the elastic member 30 disposed on the peripheral surface of the feed roller 20, and has a predetermined transport speed. To feed the original into the original circulation assisting device 12. The document is a guide member 1
4 to form a U-turn along the curve of FIG. On the other hand, the tip of the guide plate 16 is in contact with the cylindrical member 13. Here, since the original is located on the elastic member 19, the guide plate 16 moves the original and the cylindrical member 1 by the subsequent conveyance of the original.
3 and the document is gradually placed on the guide plate 16. In this way, the document is guided on the guide plate 16 without being caught by the guide plate 16, guided to the document insertion slot 3, and inserted again into the apparatus main body 1. In this manner, a plurality of copy images are obtained by repeating the above-described document circulation. If the original is skewed during this time, the operator may
6 can easily be modified.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the document circulation assisting device 12. An aluminum drum is used as the cylindrical member 13, and a sponge material having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the aluminum drum is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the aluminum drum as the elastic member 19 and fixed. Further, a plate-shaped aluminum material or a formed synthetic resin member is curved along the peripheral surface of the sponge material on the peripheral surface of the aluminum drum and is fixed to the frame as the guide member 14. Further, instead of the guide plate 15 of FIG. 4, this aluminum plate is provided with its leading end bent downward so as to guide the document toward the document discharge port 4 of the apparatus main body 1. Information board 1
6 is a shaft 28 provided in the document circulation assisting device 12.
The document holding plate 29 is attached to the guide member 14 above the document so as not to skew the document. With such a configuration, the document is circulated in the same manner as in the embodiment shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the guide plate 15,
Reference numeral 16 denotes a mylar (trade name) cut to a suitable size and provided between the apparatus main body 1 and the document circulation assisting device 12, but a synthetic resin or a metal plate such as an aluminum plate is also suitably used.

In the embodiment, the document circulation assisting device 12 is mounted at a predetermined position of the apparatus main body 1 by placing the document circulation assisting device 12 at a predetermined position on the table 5 of the apparatus main body 1. As shown in FIG. 6, the document circulation assisting device 12 may be mounted on the side plate 31 on the front surface of the device main body 1 by the hook 32 or the like so as to circulate the document corresponding to the device main body when the table 5 is not provided. The attachment to the predetermined position can be performed by means such as inserting a positioning pin protruding from the document circulation assisting device 12 into a positioning hole formed in the apparatus main body. May be configured. Such mounting means may employ a conventionally known technique.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, the document circulation assisting device may be disposed only when a plurality of copied images are continuously obtained, and the detachable structure is employed.
By doing so, the device body can be made more compact,
Conventional manual manual insertion work for placement
The document can be easily and reliably circulated by eliminating the need for a document .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention arranged in an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing circulation of a document in the embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is another side cross-sectional view showing a state where the embodiment according to the present invention is arranged in the image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Document Exposure Unit 3 Document Insertion Port 4 Document Exit 12 Document Circulation Auxiliary Device 13 Tube Member 14 Guide Member 15 Guide Plate 16 Guide Plate 19 Elastic Member 20 Feed Roller

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-4-338768 (JP, A) JP-A-60-90327 (JP, A) JP-A-63-127931 (JP, A) JP-A-53-54035 (JP) JP-A-57-89772 (JP, A) JP-A-1-254986 (JP, A) JP-A-54-25841 (JP, U) JP-A-54-173638 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/00 107 B65H 5/06 B65H 5/36 G03B 27/58-27/64

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An image forming apparatus is provided so as to be detachable from a main body of the image forming apparatus, and receives a document discharged from a document discharge port of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and guides the document to a document insertion port of the main body of the image forming apparatus again. a document circulatory assist device for circulating the document to the image forming apparatus main body, the document circulatory assist device is located in the document discharge port of the image forming apparatus main body, to the proposal document discharged from the document discharge port A first guide plate, and a document guided by the first guide plate, which is positioned so as to constitute a part of a document conveyance path from a document discharge port of the image forming apparatus body to the document insertion port. A cylindrical member that functions to convey the document and rotates at substantially the same speed as the document conveying speed; and a band-shaped elastic member fixed or arranged so as to wind around the peripheral surface of the cylindrical member near the center in the axial direction of the peripheral surface of the cylindrical member. Member and the cylindrical member A guide member arranged along a part of an outer peripheral surface to make a U-turn of the document according to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member; and a guide member near the cylindrical member and the image forming apparatus.
It is located at the document insertion opening of the main body, and when viewed in the document transport direction, the central portion in the width direction of the upstream side is projected toward the cylinder member side, and the central portion is the tip and gradually goes downward in the document transport direction. The central portion has a concave shape so as to straddle a band-like elastic member located near the center of the cylindrical member, and has a concave side. the cutting edge is brought into contact with the tubular member, the document conveying apparatus characterized by a second guide plate for guiding the pre-SL document Ru is U-turn on the document insertion opening by the tubular member.