JP3654396B2 - Recording medium transport device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording medium conveyance device that conveys a recording medium in a predetermined conveyance direction, which is incorporated in, for example, an image forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method has been widely used. In this electrophotographic image forming apparatus, for example, while rotating a drum-shaped image carrier (photoconductor) at a predetermined process speed, the photoconductor is uniformly charged by a charging device and recorded on a document. The photosensitive member is irradiated with light carrying image information to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member, the electrostatic latent image is developed using a developer to form a developed image, and the developed image is recorded. This is an apparatus for obtaining a print image (copy image) by transferring to a recording medium such as paper.
[0003]
Such an image forming apparatus normally includes a paper feeding device (an example of a recording medium transport device) that transports the recording paper to a transfer region where the developed image is transferred to the recording paper. An example of the paper feeding device will be described with reference to FIG.
[0004]
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a sheet feeding device.
[0005]
In the paper feeding device, recording paper is fed one by one in the direction of arrow A by a paper feed roller 5 and a separation pad 6 from a cassette (not shown) in which a plurality of recording papers 8 ′ are stacked. The recording paper 8 fed by the paper feed roller 5 and the separation pad 6 is conveyed to the registration roller pair 4a, 4b through a conveyance path between the upper guides 2a, 2b and the lower guide 3.
[0006]
However, when a recording sheet 8 having a length outside the specification that is less than the distance L between the registration roller pair 4a, 4b and the paper feed roller 5 is erroneously passed, the registration roller pair 4a, 4b and the paper feed roller The recording paper 8 cannot be conveyed between the paper 5 and the paper stays (jammed). When such a jam occurs, the upper guide 2a rotates in the arrow B direction around the hinge portion 2d in order to remove the recording paper 8. Further, in this type of apparatus, in general, in order to rotate the upper guide 2a, the unit 7 disposed above the upper guide 2a can be rotated in the direction of arrow C.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the conventional image forming apparatus, in order to remove the recording paper staying in the middle of conveyance, a part of the components forming the conveyance path or the parts arranged above or below the conveyance path can be freely rotated. The recording paper causing the jam is removed by rotating these parts.
[0008]
By the way, in recent years, for example, large-sized image forming apparatuses that form images on large-size recording paper such as A1 size and A0 size are also widely used. Even in this large image forming apparatus, a small-size recording sheet out of specification may be used by mistake. When such a small size recording paper is jammed in the middle of conveyance, the apparatus main body is large, so that the recording paper causing the jam can be easily removed, an opening is formed in the apparatus main body, If various parts are made rotatable, there is a problem that the mechanism becomes complicated and the cost increases.
[0009]
In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium transport apparatus that can easily remove a recording medium that has jammed during transport.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a recording medium conveying apparatus of the present invention is arranged with a first conveying means for conveying a recording medium in a predetermined conveying direction, and on the downstream side of the predetermined conveying direction from the first conveying means. And a second transport unit that transports the recording medium further downstream in the predetermined transport direction, and transports the recording medium transported to the first transport unit to the second transport unit. In the medium transport device,
(1) It moves between a contact position where the paper stays between the first transport means and the second transport means and a non-contact position away from the stayed paper, and moves to the contact position. It is characterized by comprising a third transport means for transporting the staying paper by moving it in a predetermined direction when positioned.
[0011]
In order to achieve the above object, another recording medium conveying apparatus of the present invention includes a first conveying unit that conveys a recording medium in a predetermined conveying direction, and a downstream side of the first conveying unit in the predetermined conveying direction. And a second transport unit that transports the recording medium further downstream in the predetermined transport direction, and transports the recording medium transported to the first transport unit to the second transport unit In the recording medium transporting apparatus,
(2) It is characterized by comprising a half-moon-shaped roller that is manually rotated and disposed in a conveyance path between the first conveyance means and the second conveyance means.
here,
(3) You may provide the interlocking means which rotates at least one of the said 1st or 2nd conveyance means in response to the said semilunar roller which rotates manually.
[0012]
Still another recording medium conveying apparatus of the present invention for achieving the above object includes a first roller for conveying a sheet in a predetermined conveying direction, and a downstream of the first roller in the predetermined conveying direction. A second roller that conveys the sheet further downstream in the predetermined conveyance direction, and the first and second rollers that guide the sheet conveyed by the first roller to the second roller. A recording medium transporting device that transports the recording medium transported to the first roller to the second roller, and a guide plate disposed between the rollers.
(4) An arc-shaped portion that contacts the paper staying between the first roller and the second roller, and a flat portion that is not in contact with the staying paper, and is rotated in a predetermined direction. Thus, the arcuate portion is provided with a half-moon-shaped roller for contacting the staying paper and transporting the staying paper.
[0013]
here,
(5) The half-moon-shaped roller may be configured such that a high-friction member that increases a coefficient of friction with respect to the staying paper is fixed to the arc-shaped portion.
Also,
(6) You may provide the positioning means which fixes the said meniscus-shaped roller in the state which located the said arc-shaped part in the position away from the conveyance path on the said guide plate.
[0014]
further,
(7) A concave portion may be formed in a portion of the guide plate that faces the meniscus roller.
Furthermore,
(8) You may provide the interlocking | linkage means to rotate at least one of the said 1st or 2nd roller in response to the said semilunar roller rotating.
[0015]
In order to achieve the above object, another recording medium conveying apparatus of the present invention includes a first conveying means for conveying a recording medium in a predetermined conveying direction, and a downstream of the first conveying means in the predetermined conveying direction. And a second conveying unit that conveys the recording medium further downstream in the predetermined conveying direction, and the recording medium conveyed to the first conveying unit is used as the second conveying unit. In the recording medium transport apparatus for transporting,
(9) The present invention is characterized in that a third transport unit is provided between the first transport unit and the second transport unit to transport the paper that has stayed because it is shorter than the distance between the two transport units. Is.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a recording medium conveying apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing an outline of a recording medium conveying apparatus incorporated in a copying machine which is a known image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the recording medium conveying apparatus of FIG. Here, a description will be given by taking as an example a sheet feeding device that conveys a recording sheet to a transfer area where a developed image is transferred to the recording sheet as the recording medium conveying device.
[0018]
The sheet feeder 20 feeds recording sheets one by one from the cassette (not shown) in which a plurality of recording sheets 8 'are stacked in the direction of arrow A (an example of a predetermined transport direction according to the present invention). A sheet feeding roller (which is an example of the first roller in the present invention) 5 and a separation pad 6 are provided. Here, the sheet feeding roller 5 and the separation pad 6 constitute a first conveying means according to the present invention. The paper feeding device 20 includes a pair of registration rollers (which is an example of the second roller and the second conveying means in the present invention) 4a and 4b on the downstream side in the conveying direction from the paper feeding roller 5. . Between the sheet feeding roller 5 and the registration roller pair 4a and 4b, a pair of guide plates including an upper guide 2 and a lower guide 3 having an opening 2e formed at the center is disposed. A recording paper conveyance path is formed between the guide 3 and the guide 3. Further, a sensor 10 that detects the stay of the recording paper is disposed in a portion of the upper guide 2 that is close to the registration roller pair 4a and 4b.
[0019]
Further, the paper feeding device 20 is provided with a half-moon-shaped roller (an example of the third conveying means in the present invention) 1 at a substantially intermediate portion of the distance between the paper feeding roller 5 and the registration roller pair 4a, 4b. I have. The half-moon-shaped roller 1 is pivotally supported on a side plate (not shown), and is arranged in parallel with the registration rollers 4 a and 4 b and the paper feed roller 5.
[0020]
The half-moon-shaped roller 1 has a half-moon shape having an arc-shaped portion 1 a protruding from the opening 2 e of the upper guide 2 and a planar portion 1 b that substantially closes the opening 2 e of the upper guide 2. A high friction member 1c made of silicon rubber or the like is attached to the arcuate portion 1a of the semicircular roller 1 in order to increase the coefficient of friction against the recording paper.
[0021]
A coil spring (an example of the positioning means according to the present invention) 9 is provided on the side surface of the semi-moon-shaped roller 1 above the upper guide 2 and slightly upstream of the rotation shaft 1d in the transport direction. A spring hooking portion 1e is formed on which one end portion 9a is hooked. The other end 9 b of the coil spring 9 is hooked on a fixing plate 2 f formed on the upper surface of the upper guide 2. By the toggle mechanism by the coil spring 9, the semilunar roller 1 is fixed in an initial state in which the arc-shaped portion 1a is separated from the conveyance path and the flat portion 1b substantially closes the opening 2e.
[0022]
The rotating shaft 1d of the semilunar roller 1 extends in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, and a knob 11 is fixed to one end. The semi-moon-shaped roller 1 is configured to rotate in the direction of the arrow E in accordance with the rotation of the knob 11 in the direction of the arrow D, and the recording paper causing a jam in the conveyance path due to the rotation in the direction of the arrow E. 8 is in contact with the high friction member 1c.
[0023]
A recess 3 a is formed in a portion of the lower guide 3 that faces the half-moon roller 1. The recording paper 8 that is in contact with the high friction member 1c is slightly pushed into the recess 3a, and comes into contact with the high friction member 1c on a wide surface by the waist of the recording paper 8.
[0024]
The operation of the above-described sheet feeding device 20 will be described.
[0025]
The recording paper 8 fed by the paper feed roller 5 rotating in the direction of arrow F and the separation pad 6 biased in the direction of arrow G is transported along a transport path formed by the upper guide 2 and the lower guide 3. Toward the registration roller pair 4a, 4b. Here, when the recording paper 8 shorter than the distance (conveyance path length) L between the registration roller pair 4a, 4b and the paper feeding roller 5 is erroneously fed, the recording paper 8 is registered in the registration roller pair 4a, 4b cannot be reached, and the trailing edge of the sheet stops as soon as it leaves the sheet feeding roller 5, and the sensor 10 detects a jam.
[0026]
When such a jam is detected, when the knob 11 is rotated by hand in the direction of arrow D, the half-moon roller 1 rotates in the direction of arrow E, and the high friction member 1c is applied to the recording paper 8 causing the jam in the conveyance path. The recording paper 8 is slightly pushed into the recess 3a. When the knob 11 is further rotated in the direction of the arrow D, the half-moon-shaped roller 1 is further rotated in the direction of the arrow E, the recording paper 8 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow A, reaches the registration roller pair 4a, 4b, and is fixed to the registration roller pair 4b. When the knob 12 is rotated to rotate the pair of registration rollers 4a and 4b, it is discharged to the area X.
[0027]
When the jammed recording paper 8 is discharged and then the hand is released from the knob 11, the half-moon roller 1 is rotated in the direction of arrow E or in the opposite direction by the toggle mechanism described above, and the arc-shaped portion 1a is transported. And is fixed back to the initial state of substantially closing the opening 2e with the planar portion 1b.
[0028]
Here, the knob 11 and the knob 12 of the registration roller pair 4b are connected by a gear or a belt (which is an example of the interlocking means in the present invention), and interlocked with the half-moon-shaped roller 1 rotating in the direction of arrow E. The registration roller pair 4a, 4b is configured to rotate, or in conjunction with the half-moon roller 1 rotating in the direction opposite to the arrow E, the sheet feeding roller 5 rotates in the direction opposite to the arrow F. With this configuration, it is possible to more easily discharge the recording paper causing the jam.
[0029]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various design changes can be made. For example, a plurality of half-moon-shaped rollers are provided depending on the conveyance length of a guide for conveying a recording medium or for recording paper having a wide width. It may be arranged in a row in the recording paper conveyance direction or in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction to improve the workability of the jam processing.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first recording medium conveyance device of the present invention, the third conveyance unit is moved to the contact position and moved in a predetermined direction, whereby the paper staying during conveyance is conveyed to the second conveyance unit. Since it can be conveyed to the means, the recording medium causing the jam can be easily removed.
[0031]
Further, according to the second recording medium conveying apparatus of the present invention, the arcuate portion comes into contact with the semicircular roller by rotating it in a predetermined direction, and the sheet is conveyed to the second roller. The recording medium causing the jam can be easily removed by a simple operation. In addition, since the jam processing is performed by the semilunar roller, a jam processing mechanism can be provided at a low cost.
[0032]
Here, when the high-friction member that increases the coefficient of friction with respect to the staying paper is fixed to the arc-shaped portion, the half-moon roller can remove the staying paper more reliably.
[0033]
In addition, when a positioning means for fixing the half-moon-shaped roller with the arc-shaped portion located at a position away from the conveyance path sandwiched between the guide plates is provided, after the jam processing is completed, the half-moon-shaped roller is returned to the original position. It can be easily returned to the position.
[0034]
Further, when the concave portion is formed in the portion of the guide plate that faces the half-moon-shaped roller, the area of the sheet that comes into contact with the arc-shaped portion is increased, and the staying sheet can be removed more easily.
[0035]
Furthermore, when the interlocking means for rotating at least one of the first and second rollers in conjunction with the half-moon-shaped roller rotating in a predetermined direction is provided, the staying paper can be more easily removed. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing an outline of a recording medium conveying apparatus of the present invention incorporated in a known image forming apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the recording medium carrying device of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional recording medium transport device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Semicircular roller 1c High friction member 2 Upper guide 2e Opening 3 Lower guide 4a, 4b Registration roller pair 5 Paper feed roller 6 Separation pad 8 Recording paper 9 Coil spring 10 Sensors 11 and 12

Claims (4)

A first roller that conveys the sheet in a predetermined conveyance direction; and a second roller that is disposed downstream of the first roller in the predetermined conveyance direction and conveys the sheet further downstream in the predetermined conveyance direction. A roller, and a guide plate disposed between the first and second rollers for guiding the sheet conveyed by the first roller to the second roller, up to the first roller In the recording medium conveying apparatus for conveying the conveyed recording medium to the second roller,
The arcuate portion that contacts the paper staying between the first roller and the second roller and the flat portion that is not in contact with the staying paper, and rotating in a predetermined direction A semicircular roller having an arc-shaped portion contacting the staying paper and transporting the staying paper;
A recording medium transporting apparatus comprising: interlocking means for rotating at least one of the first transporting roller or the second transporting roller in conjunction with the rotating semicircular roller. A first roller that conveys the sheet in a predetermined conveyance direction; and a second roller that is disposed downstream of the first roller in the predetermined conveyance direction and conveys the sheet further downstream in the predetermined conveyance direction. A roller, and a guide plate disposed between the first and second rollers for guiding the sheet conveyed by the first roller to the second roller, up to the first roller In the recording medium conveying apparatus for conveying the conveyed recording medium to the second roller,
The arcuate portion that contacts the paper staying between the first roller and the second roller and the flat portion that is not in contact with the staying paper, and rotating in a predetermined direction A semicircular roller having an arcuate portion contacting the staying paper and transporting the staying paper;
The recording medium transporting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide plate has a recess formed in a portion of the guide plate facing the half-moon-shaped roller. A first roller that conveys the sheet in a predetermined conveyance direction; and a second roller that is disposed downstream of the first roller in the predetermined conveyance direction and conveys the sheet further downstream in the predetermined conveyance direction. A roller, and a guide plate disposed between the first and second rollers for guiding the sheet conveyed by the first roller to the second roller, up to the first roller In the recording medium conveying apparatus for conveying the conveyed recording medium to the second roller,
The arcuate portion that contacts the paper staying between the first roller and the second roller and the flat portion that is not in contact with the staying paper, and rotating in a predetermined direction A semicircular roller having an arc-shaped portion contacting the staying paper and transporting the staying paper;
A recording medium conveying apparatus comprising: positioning means for fixing the semicircular roller in a state where the arc-shaped portion is located at a position away from the conveying path on the guide plate. A first conveying unit that conveys the recording medium in a predetermined conveying direction; and a recording medium that is disposed further downstream in the predetermined conveying direction than the first conveying unit. A recording medium conveying apparatus that conveys the recording medium conveyed to the first conveying means to the second conveying means.
A recording medium conveyance system comprising: a third conveyance unit that conveys the paper that has stayed between the first conveyance unit and the second conveyance unit because the distance is shorter than the distance between the two conveyance units. apparatus.

Images