JP5824871B2 - Recording material processing apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording material processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

There has been proposed a skew correction device in which a stop member used for correcting skew of paper (skew) is retracted from the paper transport path before the transport of the paper by the transport roller is started (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).
Further, a medium transport path for transporting the medium to be printed and a stopper that is arranged to move up and down in a part of the medium transport path so as to be able to advance and retreat are provided, and the medium is advanced to abut the medium against the stopper. A printer that corrects the skew of a medium has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP-A-2-70639 Japanese Patent No. 4147182

  An object of the present invention is to prevent the movement of a moving member against which a recording material is abutted from being restricted, and to more reliably correct the skew of the recording material.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided one of the conveyance path through which the recording material is conveyed and the one side and the other side where the rotation axis along the direction intersecting the recording material conveyance direction is opposed to the conveyance path. A first rotating member provided on the other side and disposed at a location separated from the conveying path by a first distance, and a rotating shaft along the first rotating member provided on the other side. A second rotating member that is disposed in contact with the first rotating member at a location that is separated from the transport path by a second distance that is smaller than the first distance. A conveying means for conveying the recording material conveyed to the contact portion between the first rotating member and the second rotating member further downstream; and a recording material conveyed from the upstream side along the conveying path. The abutting part where the tip is abutted A support member that is provided at a location deviating from the conveyance path and supports the abutting portion, and a moving member that moves toward the conveying means while the recording material is abutted against the abutting portion. A plurality of the contact portions between the first rotating member and the second rotating member are provided at different positions in the axial direction of the first rotating member, and the contact portions are adjacent to each other between the contact portions adjacent to each other. A non-contact portion is provided that enables the abutting portion to move further downstream in the recording material conveyance direction than the portion where the portion is provided, and is provided at a location off the conveyance path to support the abutting portion. In the recording material processing apparatus, the support portion of the moving member is disposed on the one side of the one side and the other side.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, after the abutting portion of the moving member has moved to the downstream side in the recording material conveyance direction from the location where the contact portion is provided, the first rotating member The moving member is displaced so as to approach the side on which the rotating shaft is provided, and the displacement causes the abutting portion to move to a place off the transport path, and the rotating shaft of the first rotating member Is arranged at a position away from the transport path by a predetermined distance so as not to interfere with the moving member that is displaced so as to approach the side on which the rotating shaft is provided. The recording material processing apparatus according to Item 1.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the one side and between the rotation shaft of the first rotating member and the conveyance path are provided along the conveyance path and have an opening. A support member for supporting the recording material conveyed along the path is provided, and the support portion of the moving member is provided on the side where the rotation shaft of the first rotation member is provided with respect to the support member. In addition, a part of the moving member protrudes to the conveyance path side through the opening, the protruding part functions as the abutting part, and the abutting part of the moving member is provided with the contact part. When moving to the downstream side in the recording material conveyance direction from the location, the support portion of the moving member moves in a gap formed between the support member and the rotation shaft of the first rotating member. Claims Or it is a recording material processing apparatus according to 2.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided one of the conveyance path through which the recording material is conveyed and the rotation axis along the direction intersecting the recording material conveyance direction, the one side and the other side facing each other across the conveyance path. A first rotating member provided on the other side and disposed at a location separated from the conveying path by a first distance, and a rotating shaft along the first rotating member provided on the other side. A second rotating member that is disposed in contact with the first rotating member at a location that is separated from the transport path by a second distance that is smaller than the first distance. A conveying means for conveying the recording material conveyed to the contact portion between the first rotating member and the second rotating member further downstream; and a recording material conveyed from the upstream side along the conveying path. The abutting part where the tip is abutted A support member that is provided at a location deviating from the conveyance path and supports the abutting portion, and a moving member that moves toward the conveying means while the recording material is abutted against the abutting portion, and the conveyance An image forming unit that is provided on the downstream side of the recording material in the conveyance direction of the recording material and forms an image on the recording material after a tip is abutted against the abutting portion of the moving member, A plurality of the contact portions between the first rotation member and the second rotation member are provided at different positions in the axial direction of the first rotation member, and the contact portions are provided between the contact portions adjacent to each other. A non-contact portion that enables movement of the abutting portion to the downstream side in the recording material conveyance direction than the location where the recording material is provided, and is provided at a location that is off the conveyance path to support the abutting portion, Before moving member Support unit is an image forming apparatus characterized by being arranged on the one side of the one side and the other side.
The invention according to claim 5 further comprises a rotating member moving means for moving the first rotating member and the second rotating member provided in the moving means in a direction crossing the recording material conveyance direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the recording material that has been conveyed intersects the conveyance direction of the recording material downstream of the first rotation member and the second rotation member in the conveyance direction of the recording material. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising recording material moving means for moving in the direction.
The invention according to claim 7 is further provided with a downstream side conveyance means for conveying the recording material conveyed from the upstream side further to the downstream side downstream of the conveyance means in the conveyance direction of the recording material, One of the first rotating member and the second rotating member rotates by receiving a driving force from a driving source, and the other rotating member rotates by receiving a driving force from the one rotating member. 5. The distance between the conveying means and the downstream conveying means is an integral multiple of the circumference of the one rotating member that rotates by receiving a driving force from a driving source. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided one of the conveyance path through which the recording material is conveyed, and one side and the other side of the rotation axis along the direction intersecting the recording material conveyance direction with the conveyance path interposed therebetween. A first rotating member provided on the side, and a second rotating member provided on the other side and provided along the first rotating member and disposed in contact with the first rotating member, A plurality of contact portions where the first rotating member and the second rotating member are in contact with each other at different locations in the axial direction of the first rotating member, and between the adjacent contact portions, A non-contact portion where the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member and the outer peripheral surface of the second rotating member are not in contact with each other, and a conveying means for conveying the recording material conveyed to the contact portion further downstream, The one of the one side and the other side And a protrusion that protrudes on the conveyance path and moves toward the conveyance unit while the recording material is abutted against the projection, and the protrusion protrudes into the non-contact portion of the conveyance unit. A moving member that displaces the first rotating member toward the rotating shaft side and retracts the protruding portion from the conveying path after the portion has entered, and the protruding portion has retreated from the conveying path. The moving member is configured such that the rotating shaft of the first rotating member is positioned on a side farther from the conveying path than the moving member in a state, and the protruding portion is retracted from the conveying path. The recording material processing apparatus is characterized in that the rotation shaft of the first rotation member is provided at a position that does not hinder the displacement of the first rotation member.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided one of the conveyance path through which the recording material is conveyed and the one side and the other side where the rotation axis along the direction intersecting the recording material conveyance direction is opposed to the conveyance path. A first rotating member provided on the side, and a second rotating member provided on the other side and provided along the first rotating member and disposed in contact with the first rotating member, A plurality of contact portions where the first rotating member and the second rotating member are in contact with each other at different locations in the axial direction of the first rotating member, and between the adjacent contact portions, A non-contact portion where the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member and the outer peripheral surface of the second rotating member are not in contact with each other, and a conveying means for conveying the recording material conveyed to the contact portion further downstream, The one of the one side and the other side And a protrusion that protrudes on the conveyance path and moves toward the conveyance unit while the recording material is abutted against the projection, and the protrusion protrudes into the non-contact portion of the conveyance unit. A moving member that displaces the first rotating member toward the rotating shaft and retracts the protruding portion from the conveying path, and a recording material conveying direction downstream of the conveying unit. And an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording material after the leading end is abutted against the projecting portion of the moving member, and the projecting portion is retracted from the transport path. The rotating shaft of the first rotating member is positioned on the side farther from the conveying path than the member, and the displacement of the moving member when the protruding portion is retracted from the conveying path Disturbing A position, an image forming apparatus, wherein the rotating shaft of the first rotary member is provided.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided, the movement of the moving member against which the recording material is abutted is suppressed, and the correction of the skew of the recording material is more reliable. To be done.
According to invention of Claim 2, it becomes possible to suppress that the movement of the abutting part to the location off the conveyance path is regulated by the moving member coming into contact with the rotating shaft of the first rotating member.
According to invention of Claim 3, it becomes possible to suppress that the movement of an abutting part is controlled by interference with the support part of a moving member, and the rotating shaft of a 1st rotation member.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided, the movement of the moving member against which the recording material is abutted is suppressed, and the correction of the skew of the recording material is more reliable. To be done.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce a deviation between a location where the recording material is scheduled to pass and a location where the recording material passes in practice.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to further reduce the deviation between the location where the recording material is scheduled to pass and the location where the recording material passes in practice.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the arrival at which the recording material reaches the downstream side transport unit compared to the case where the distance between the transport unit and the downstream side transport unit is not an integral multiple of the circumferential length of one of the rotating members. It is possible to prevent the timing from varying for each recording material.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided, the movement of the moving member against which the recording material is abutted is suppressed, and the correction of the recording material skew is more reliable. To be done.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided, the movement of the moving member against which the recording material is abutted is suppressed, and the correction of the skew of the recording material is more reliable. To be done.

1 is a diagram when an image forming apparatus to which the exemplary embodiment is applied is viewed from the front side. It is a figure for demonstrating a reverse mechanism. It is a figure at the time of seeing the inversion mechanism from the arrow III direction of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram when a first sheet conveyance path is viewed from the direction of arrow IV in FIG. 1. It is a figure for demonstrating a moving mechanism. It is a figure at the time of seeing a butting member etc. from the arrow VI direction in FIG. It is the figure which showed the movement of the butting member. It is the figure which showed the movement of the butting member. It is the figure which showed the movement of the butting member. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a third side detection sensor and a fourth side detection sensor shown in FIG. 4 and paper.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of an image forming apparatus to which the exemplary embodiment is applied as viewed from the front side. An image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a so-called tandem configuration, and includes a plurality of image forming units 10 (10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K) that form toner images of respective color components by an electrophotographic method. I have.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like, and includes each device constituting the image forming apparatus 100 and a control unit 80 that controls the operation of each unit. Is provided. In addition, a user interface unit (UI) 90 that is configured by a display panel and outputs an instruction received from the user to the control unit 80 and presents information from the control unit 80 to the user is provided. Further, for example, a receiving unit 70 that receives image data or the like from a personal computer (PC) or an image reading device (scanner) is provided.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 100 sequentially transfers (primary transfer) each color component toner image formed by each image forming unit 10 and holds the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 20. And a secondary transfer device 30 that collectively transfers (secondary transfer) the toner image onto the paper P. Here, each image forming unit 10, the intermediate transfer belt 20, and the secondary transfer device 30 can be regarded as an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet P as an example of a recording material.

  The image forming apparatus 100 also includes a first paper transport path R1 through which the paper P transported toward the secondary transfer device 30 passes, and a second paper transport through which the paper P after passing through the secondary transfer device 30 passes. A third paper transport path R3 that branches from the second paper transport path R2 downstream of the path R2 and the fixing device 50 (described later) and extends below the first paper transport path R1 is provided. Here, in the first sheet conveyance path R1 to the third sheet conveyance path R3, two opposite sides of the four sides of the sheet P move along these sheet conveyance paths. The paper P is transported.

In this embodiment, the reversing mechanism transports the paper P from the third paper transport path R3 to the first paper transport path R1, and reverses the front and back of the paper P to supply the paper P to the first paper transport path R1. 500 is provided. In other words, the present embodiment is provided with a reversing mechanism 500 that reverses the paper P around the axis along the paper transport direction in the first paper transport path R1 and the paper transport direction in the third paper transport path R3.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, an opening 102 is formed in the housing 101 of the image forming apparatus 100. Here, the paper P transported along the second paper transport path R2 is discharged to the outside of the housing 101 through the opening 102 and is stacked on a paper stacking unit (not shown). Note that a processing device (not shown) may be provided adjacent to the housing 101 to further perform processing such as punching the paper P discharged from the opening 102.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 100 is provided with a first paper supply device 410 that supplies the paper P to the first paper transport path R1. Further, a second paper supply device 420 that is provided upstream of the first paper supply device 410 in the conveyance direction of the paper P and supplies the paper P to the first paper conveyance path R1 is provided. The first paper supply device 410 and the second paper supply device 420 are configured in the same manner, and each of the first paper supply device 410 and the second paper supply device 420 has a paper storage unit 41 that stores the paper P. A take-out roll 42 for taking out and transporting the paper P stored in the paper storage unit 41 is provided.

  A first transport roll 44 that transports the paper P on the first paper transport path R1 toward the secondary transfer apparatus 30 on the first paper transport path R1 and upstream of the secondary transfer apparatus 30 is provided. Is provided. Further, the second transport roll 45 that transports the paper P toward the first transport roll 44, the third transport roll 46 that transports the paper P toward the second transport roll 45, and the paper P toward the third transport roll 46. The 4th conveyance roll 47 which conveys is provided.

  In addition to these transport rolls, the first paper transport path R1, the second paper transport path R2, and the third paper transport path R3 are transport rolls that transport the paper P located on these paper transport paths. A plurality of 48 are provided. The first transport roll 44, the second transport roll 45, the third transport roll 46, the fourth transport roll 47, and the transport roll 48 are configured by a pair of roll-shaped members that are rotatably provided and press each other. One roll-shaped member is rotationally driven to carry the paper P.

  In the present embodiment, an abutting member 300 to which the leading end of the paper P is abutted is provided between the second conveying roll 45 and the third conveying roll 46. In the present embodiment, the skew of the paper P (the inclination of the paper P with respect to the transport direction) is corrected by abutting the leading end of the paper P against the abutting member 300. Note that after the skew of the paper P is corrected by the abutting member 300, the abutting member 300 is retracted from the first paper transport path R1. In the present embodiment, a fixing device 50 that fixes the image secondarily transferred onto the paper P by the secondary transfer device 30 to the paper P is provided on the second paper transport path R2.

  Further, between the secondary transfer device 30 and the fixing device 50, a transport device 51 that transports the paper P that has passed through the secondary transfer device 30 to the fixing device 50 is provided. Here, the transport device 51 includes a belt 51A that moves around, and transports the paper P by placing the paper P on the belt 51A. The fixing device 50 is provided with a heating roll 50A that is heated by a built-in heater (not shown) and a pressing roll 50B that presses the heating roll 50A. In the fixing device 50, the paper P is pressurized and heated by passing the paper P between the heating roll 50A and the pressing roll 50B. As a result, the image on the paper P is fixed on the paper P.

  Here, each of the image forming units 10 includes a photosensitive drum 11 that is rotatably mounted. Further, around the photosensitive drum 11, a charging device 12 that charges the photosensitive drum 11, an exposure device 13 that exposes the photosensitive drum 11 to write an electrostatic latent image, and an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 11 Is provided with a developing device 14 that visualizes the toner with a toner. Further, a primary transfer device 15 that transfers each color component toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 to the intermediate transfer belt 20 and a drum cleaning device 16 that removes residual toner on the photosensitive drum 11 are provided.

  The intermediate transfer belt 20 is provided so as to be stretched over the three roll members 21 to 23. Of these three roll members 21 to 23, the roll member 22 drives the intermediate transfer belt 20. The roll member 23 is disposed opposite to the secondary transfer roll 31 with the intermediate transfer belt 20 interposed therebetween, and the secondary transfer device 30 is configured by the secondary transfer roll 31 and the roll member 23. A belt cleaning device 24 for removing residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 20 is provided at a position facing the roll member 21 across the intermediate transfer belt 20.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, an image can be formed on the first surface of the paper P supplied from the first paper supply device 410 or the like, and an image can be formed on the second surface of the paper P. It can be formed. More specifically, in this image forming apparatus 100, the front and back of the paper P that has passed through the fixing device 50 are reversed by the reversing mechanism 500, and the paper P with the front and back reversed is conveyed to the secondary transfer device 30 again. The Then, the image is transferred onto the second surface of the paper P by the secondary transfer device 30. Thereafter, the sheet P passes through the fixing device 50 again, and the transferred image is fixed on the sheet P. As a result, an image is formed not only on the first side of the paper P but also on the second side.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the reversing mechanism 500.
As described above, in the present embodiment, a plurality of transport rolls 48 that transport the paper P along the third paper transport path R3 are provided in the third paper transport path R3. A plurality of transport rolls 48 that transport the paper P along the first paper transport path R1 are also provided in the first paper transport path R1. The third paper transport path R3 is provided with a transport roll 91 that transports the paper P in a direction orthogonal to (intersects with) the transport direction of the paper P in the third paper transport path R3. In other words, a transport roll 91 that transports the paper P toward the side of the third paper transport path R3 is provided.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the sheet P transported by the transport roll 91 moves upward, and the sheet P moved upward further moves toward the first sheet transport path R1. A guide member 92 for guiding the paper P is provided. Further, in the present embodiment, there is provided a transport roll 93 that nips the paper P guided by the guide member 92 and whose leading end faces upward, and transports the paper P further upward. The first paper transport path R1 is provided with a transport roll 94 that transports the paper P transported by the transport roll 93 to a predetermined location on the first paper transport path R1. Although not shown, a drive motor (not shown) for rotating the transport roll 48, the transport roll 91, the transport roll 93, and the transport roll 94 is provided.

  In addition, each of the conveyance roll 48 is comprised by a pair of roll-shaped member as above-mentioned. Moreover, the conveyance roll 91, the conveyance roll 93, and the conveyance roll 94 are also comprised by a pair of roll-shaped member which mutually presses. In FIG. 2, only one roll-shaped member of the pair of roll-shaped members constituting the transport roll 48, the transport roll 91, the transport roll 93, and the transport roll 94 is illustrated.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, one roll-shaped member provided in the conveyance roll 48 can be separated from the other roll-shaped member. The same applies to the transport roll 91 and the transport roll 94, and one roll-shaped member can be separated from the other roll-shaped member. Furthermore, although illustration is omitted, a separation mechanism (not shown) for separating one of these roll members from the other roll member is provided. This separation mechanism is configured by an existing technology such as a motor or a cam.

  When the paper P is turned upside down by the reversing mechanism 500, the paper P is first transported along the third paper transport path R3 by the transport roll 48. At this time, one roll-shaped member of the transport rolls 91 provided in the third paper transport path R3 is separated from the other roll-shaped member. Next, one roll-shaped member of the transport roll 48 is separated from the other roll-shaped member, and one roll-shaped member of the transport roll 91 is pressed against the other roll-shaped member via the paper P.

  Next, the transport roll 91, the transport roll 93, and the transport roll 94 are driven to rotate, and the paper P is transported toward the first paper transport path R1. At this time, one roll-shaped member of the transport roll 48 provided in the first paper transport path R1 is separated from the other roll-shaped member. When the paper P is transported to a predetermined location on the first paper transport path R1, the rotational driving of the transport roll 91, the transport roll 93, and the transport roll 94 is stopped. Thereafter, one roll-shaped member in the transport roll 94 is separated from the other roll-shaped member, and one roll-shaped member of the transport roll 48 provided in the first paper transport path R1 is placed on the other roll via the paper P. Is pressed against the member.

  Next, the transport roll 48 is rotationally driven to transport the paper P along the first paper transport path R1. At this time, the front and back sides of the paper P are already reversed. Here, in the reversing mechanism 500 in the present embodiment, the front and back are reversed without the front end and the rear end in the transport direction of the paper P being interchanged. On the other hand, in the reversing mechanism 500 in the present embodiment, one side of the paper and the other side are interchanged.

  FIG. 3 is a view when the reversing mechanism 500 is viewed from the direction of arrow III in FIG. 3, illustration of the conveyance roll 91 and the conveyance roll 94 shown in FIG. 2 is omitted. 3, illustration of the guide member 92 shown in FIG. 2 is also omitted.

Although not described in FIG. 2, in the reversing mechanism 500 in the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3, a fourth paper transport path R 4 that connects the third paper transport path R 3 and the first paper transport path R 1 is provided. A detection sensor FS1 for detecting the leading end of the paper P that has been transported along the fourth paper transport path R4 is provided.
In the present embodiment, the paper P is transported so that the two sides of the paper P move along these paper transport paths in the first paper transport path R1 to the third paper transport path R3. In the fourth paper transport path R4, the paper P is transported in a state where one of the two sides is the head. The paper P is supplied to the first paper transport path R1 from the side of the first paper transport path R1.

  In this embodiment, a drive motor (stepping motor) (not shown) is driven by a predetermined number of steps after the leading edge of the paper P is detected by the detection sensor FS1, and then the drive motor is stopped. As a result, as described above, the paper P is transported to a predetermined location on the first paper transport path R1. Note that the detection sensor FS1 can be configured by a so-called reflective sensor including a light emitting element and a light receiving element, or a light emitting element is disposed on one side of the fourth paper transport path R4 and a light receiving element is disposed on the other side. It can also be constituted by a so-called transmission type sensor.

FIG. 4 is a view when the first sheet transport path R1 is viewed from the direction of the arrow IV in FIG.
As shown in the figure, in the present embodiment, a first side detection sensor SK1 that detects the side of the paper P that has been transported along the first paper transport path R1 downstream of the first transport roll 44. A second side detection sensor SK2 is provided. A third side detection sensor SK3 and a fourth side detection sensor SK4 that detect the side of the paper P that has been transported along the first paper transport path R1 are also provided on the upstream side of the first transport roll 44. Is provided.

  Here, the first side detection sensor SK1 and the third side detection sensor SK3 are arranged on the back side (rear side) of the image forming apparatus 100. The second side detection sensor SK2 and the fourth side detection sensor SK4 are disposed on the front side (front side) of the image forming apparatus 100. Here, in each of the first side detection sensor SK1 and the second side detection sensor SK2, a plurality of light receiving elements 40 are arranged side by side in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper P.

  In the present embodiment, irradiation light from a light source (not shown) such as a plurality of LEDs arranged along the direction in which the light receiving elements 40 are arranged is applied to the paper P, and reflected light from the paper P is received by the light receiving element. Light is received at 40. In the present embodiment, the signals obtained from each of the light receiving elements 40 are binarized, and the density level change point after binarization is detected as the side of the paper P.

  On the other hand, the third side detection sensor SK3 and the fourth side detection sensor SK4 are configured by reflective sensors, similar to the detection sensor FS1. Similarly to the above, so-called transmission type sensors can be used for the third side detection sensor SK3 and the fourth side detection sensor SK4. Further, in the present embodiment, the first moving mechanism 110 that moves the third side detection sensor SK3 in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper P (direction intersecting), and the fourth side detection sensor SK4 in the conveyance direction of the paper P. A second moving mechanism 120 that moves in a direction orthogonal to the direction is provided.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the first moving mechanism 110 and the second moving mechanism 120 are driven based on the size of the conveyed paper P, and the third side detection sensor SK3 is located at a position corresponding to the size of the conveyed paper P. And the 4th side detection sensor SK4 is arrange | positioned. Note that information regarding the size of the paper P is input by the user through the UI 90 (see FIG. 1), for example. Also, information regarding the size of the paper P is transmitted together with image information from an external PC (personal computer), for example.

  Here, the first moving mechanism 110 includes an endless belt 111 to which the third side detection sensor SK3 is attached, a pulley 112 that drives the belt 111, and a motor (not shown) that rotates the pulley 112. The belt 111 is rotated by driving the motor and rotating the pulley 112, and the third side detection sensor SK3 is moved in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper P. Similarly, the second moving mechanism 120 includes an endless belt 111 to which the fourth side detection sensor SK4 is attached, a pulley 112 that drives the belt 111, a motor (not shown) that rotates the pulley 112, and the like. It has.

  In the present embodiment, the first transport roll 44 is provided so as to be movable along a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper P. The second transport roll 45 is also provided so as to be movable along a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper P. In the present embodiment, a moving mechanism 200 that moves the first conveying roll 44 and a moving mechanism 250 that moves the second conveying roll 45 are provided.

  Here, the moving mechanism 200 and the moving mechanism 250 as an example of the rotating member moving means are configured similarly. As shown in FIG. 5 (a diagram for explaining the moving mechanism), the moving mechanism 200 and the moving mechanism 250 include a rack gear 210 attached to end portions of the first conveying roll 44 and the second conveying roll 45, and the rack gear. A pinion gear 220 that meshes with 210 and a gear motor 230 that rotates the pinion gear 220 are provided. In the present embodiment, the first transport roll 44 and the second transport roll 45 move in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper P by rotating the gear motor 230 forward and backward.

  Here, in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the paper P may be transported in a state where the paper P is shifted in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper P due to skew correction by the abutting member 300 or the like. In this case, an image may be formed at a location different from the location intended by the user. In other words, there is a possibility that an image is formed at a location shifted from a predetermined location in the orthogonal direction.

  For this reason, in the present embodiment, the paper P that has been transported in a state shifted in the orthogonal direction is moved in the axial direction by moving the second transport roll 45 with the paper P sandwiched therebetween in the axial direction. The paper P is moved in the orthogonal direction. As a result, the amount of deviation generated between the location where the paper P is scheduled to pass and the location where the paper P actually passes is reduced. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the paper P is further moved in the orthogonal direction by using the first transport roll 44 located on the downstream side. As a result, the paper P passes through a predetermined location on the first paper transport path R1, and an image is formed at a location intended by the user.

  Here, the first transport roll 44 as an example of the downstream transport means will be described in detail. The first transport roll 44 includes a first roll-shaped member 441 (see FIG. 1) and a second roll-shaped member 442 that press against each other. (Refer to FIG. 4), and the sheet P conveyed to the contact portion (nip portion) between the first roll-shaped member 441 and the second roll-shaped member 442 is further conveyed downstream. In the present embodiment, the second roll member 442 is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown), and the first roll member 441 rotates following the second roll member 442. Further, in the present embodiment, the first roll member 441 is disposed on one side of the one side and the other side of the first paper transport path R1, and the second roll member 442 is disposed on the other side.

  Moreover, the 2nd conveyance roll 45 as an example of a conveyance means is comprised by the 1st roll-shaped member 451 and the 2nd roll-shaped member 452 which mutually press as shown in FIG. 4, The 1st roll-shaped member 451 is comprised. The paper P that has been transported to the contact portion (nip portion) between the first roll-shaped member 452 and the second roll-shaped member 452 is transported further downstream. Here, in the present embodiment, the second roll member 452 as an example of the second rotation member is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown), and the first roll member 451 as an example of the first rotation member is the second. The roll member 452 is rotated to follow. In this embodiment, similarly to the first transport roll 44, the first roll member 451 is disposed on one side of the first paper transport path R1, and the second roll member 452 is disposed on the other side.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the second roll-shaped member 452 is provided along a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper P and is rotated by a motor (not shown), and the rotation shaft 452A. And a cylindrical contact member 452B whose outer peripheral surface is in contact with the paper P. Here, a plurality of contact members 452B are provided, and each of the contact members 452B is disposed at a position different from each other in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper P. In this embodiment, the outer diameter of the contact member 452B is about 20 mm. In the present embodiment, a gap G1 is formed between the contact members 452B adjacent to each other.

  The first roll member 451 also includes a rotation shaft 451A provided along a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper P, and a contact member 451B supported by the rotation shaft 451A and having an outer peripheral surface in contact with the paper P. Has been. Here, the contact member 451B is formed in a cylindrical shape. Each of the contact members 451B is provided so as to face the contact member 452B provided on the second roll-shaped member 452, and is arranged in a state of being pressed by the contact member 452B. The plurality of contact members 451 </ b> B are arranged at different positions in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper P. In the present embodiment, similarly to the second roll member 452, a gap G1 is formed between the contact members 451B adjacent to each other.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a plate-like support member 49 that contacts the lower surface of the conveyed paper P and supports the paper P from below is provided. In the present embodiment, the support member 49 is provided along the first paper transport path R1 and is disposed closer to the first roll member 451 of the second transport roll 45 than the first paper transport path R1. Yes. The support member 49 has a plurality of openings 49A, through which the abutment member 300 (not shown in FIG. 4, see FIGS. 1 and 6) is placed on the first paper transport path R1. It protrudes.

  Here, the butting member 300 as an example of the moving member is formed in a comb shape. More specifically, the abutting member 300 is disposed below the plurality of projecting pieces 352 (see FIG. 6) projecting into the first paper transport path R1 through the opening 49A and the support member 49 (first It is composed of a base portion 351 (see FIG. 6) that supports the protruding piece 352 (located at a location off the paper transport path R1).

  Although illustration is omitted here, a plurality of protruding pieces 352 as an example of the abutting portion and the protruding portion are provided as described above, and each protruding piece 352 is in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper P. They are arranged in a mutually shifted state. Further, the base 351 as an example of the support portion is disposed along a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper P, and is formed in a plate shape. Further, the base 351 is disposed on the first roll-shaped member 451 side with respect to the first paper transport path R1. The base 351 is disposed closer to the first roll member 451 than the support member 49 described above.

  In the present embodiment, the distance between the axes of the first transport roll 44 (see FIG. 1) and the second transport roll 45 (the paper nip portion of the first transport roll 44 and the paper nip portion of the second transport roll 45). The distance) is an integral multiple of the circumference of the contact member 452B (see FIG. 4) (the length of one circumference of the outer circumferential surface of the contact member 452B). In this case, it can be suppressed that the time required for the leading end of the paper P to reach the first transporting roll 44 after the leading end of the paper P reaches the second transporting roll 45 varies for each paper P.

In addition, when the contact member 452B is arranged in an eccentric state, the time required for the leading end of the paper P to reach the first transporting roll 44 after the leading end of the paper P reaches the second transporting roll 45 is the paper. There is a risk of variation for each P. In this case, the timing at which the paper P arrives at the secondary transfer device 30 (see FIG. 1) varies for each paper P, and an image may be formed at a position shifted from the original position.
As in the present embodiment, when the inter-axis distance between the first transport roll 44 and the second transport roll 45 is an integral multiple of the circumference of the contact member 452B, the paper P reaches the first transport roll 44. It is possible to suppress variations in the time required until the image forming position, and it is possible to suppress the deviation of the image forming position. In this embodiment, the distance between the second transport roll 45 and the secondary transfer device 30 (see FIG. 1) (the distance between the paper nip portion of the second transport roll 45 and the paper nip portion of the secondary transfer device 30) is also used. It is an integral multiple of the circumference of the contact member 452B.

  By the way, in this embodiment, the abutting member 300 moves toward the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper P by the moving mechanism 700 described later. In this embodiment, the paper P is transported toward the abutting member 300 by the third transport roll 46 (see FIG. 1). Here, in the present embodiment, the moving speed of the abutting member 300 and the third conveying roll 46 are set so that the conveying speed of the paper P by the third conveying roll 46 is larger than the moving speed of the abutting member 300. The conveyance speed of the paper P is set. For this reason, when the paper P is transported by the third transport roll 46, the paper P gradually approaches the abutting member 300, and then the leading end of the paper P abuts against the protruding piece 352 of the abutting member 300. As a result, the skew of the paper P is corrected.

FIG. 6 is a view when the abutting member 300 is viewed from the direction of arrow VI in FIG.
In the present embodiment, as described above, the moving mechanism 700 that moves the abutting member 300 along the transport direction of the paper P (first paper transport path R1) is provided. As shown in FIG. 6, the moving mechanism 700 is disposed below the support member 49. Although not shown in FIG. 4, above the passage region through which the protruding piece 352 of the abutting member 300 passes, the leading edge of the paper P is prevented from escaping upward in the drawing (the leading edge of the paper P). A sheet guide plate 56 (for maintaining the contact between the portion and the protruding piece 352) is provided.

  Here, the moving mechanism 700 is attached to one end of the abutting member 300 and is provided so as to be movable along the first sheet transport path R1 and a shaft 710 that rotatably supports the abutting member 300. And a support member 720 that rotatably supports the shaft 710. In addition, the moving mechanism 700 includes a guide 730 that guides the support member 720 so that the support member 720 moves along the first paper transport path R1. Furthermore, the moving mechanism 700 has a disk-shaped first gear 731 that is rotated by a first motor M <b> 1 housed in the support member 720.

  In addition, the moving mechanism 700 includes a second gear 732 that transmits the driving force from the first gear 731 to the shaft 710 between the shaft 710 and the first gear 731. Here, one end side of the second gear 732 is connected to the shaft 710, and the other end side of the second gear 732 is connected to the first gear 731.

  In the present embodiment, when the first gear 731 rotates counterclockwise in the figure, the other end side of the second gear 732 moves, and the shaft 710 rotates accordingly. As a result of this rotation of the shaft 710, the protruding piece 352 of the abutting member 300 is retracted from the first paper transport path R1. Further, as the first gear 731 rotates in the clockwise direction in the drawing, the protruding piece 352 of the abutting member 300 protrudes on the first sheet conveyance path R1. In addition, the moving mechanism 700 is a rotatable third gear 733 that meshes with a rack gear (not shown) provided on the support member 720 and a second gear 733 that rotates the third gear 733 in one direction and in the opposite direction. It has a motor M2.

7 to 9 are views showing the movement of the abutting member 300.
Although not described above, in the present embodiment, a detection sensor (not shown) that detects the leading end of the paper P is provided on the upstream side of the abutting member 300 in the transport direction of the paper P. In this embodiment, when the paper P is detected by the detection sensor, the second motor M2 is driven, and the support member 720 starts to move downstream in the transport direction of the paper P. The moving speed of the support member 720 is slower than the conveying speed of the paper P by the third conveying roll 46 (see also FIG. 1).

  Here, the support member 720 that has started moving in the downstream direction performs constant speed movement after acceleration. Accordingly, the abutting member 300 also moves at a constant speed. In this embodiment, the leading end of the paper P abuts against the protruding piece 352 of the abutting member 300 that is moving at a constant speed, and the conveyance of the paper P is continued in this state (FIG. 7). reference). As a result, the leading edge of the paper P comes along a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper P, and the skew of the paper P is corrected.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the protruding piece 352 of the abutting member 300 reaches the second conveying roll 45 in a state where the paper P is abutted against the abutting member 300, and the second conveying roll. Pass 45. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, it passes between the rotating shaft 451A of the first roll-shaped member 451 and the rotating shaft 452A of the second roll-shaped member 452. Further, the abutting member 300 includes a gap G1 (see FIG. 4) formed between the contact members 452B adjacent to each other and a gap G1 (see FIG. 4) formed between the contact members 451B adjacent to each other. pass.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, a non-contact portion where the outer peripheral surface of the first roll-shaped member 451 and the outer peripheral surface of the second roll-shaped member 452 are not in contact with each other is provided at the location where the gap G1 is provided. The protruding piece 352 of the abutting member 300 enters the non-contact portion and moves to the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper P through the non-contact portion. More specifically, in the present embodiment, a plurality of contact portions between the first roll-shaped member 451 and the second roll-shaped member 452 are provided at different positions in the axial direction of the second transport roll 45, and between the contact portions adjacent to each other. In addition, a non-contact portion where the first roll-shaped member 451 and the second roll-shaped member 452 are not in contact is provided (at a position where the gap G1 is provided).

  In the present embodiment, this non-contact portion is utilized so that the protruding piece 352 of the abutting member 300 is located downstream of the contact portion where the first roll-shaped member 451 and the second roll-shaped member 452 are in contact with each other. And move on. In the present embodiment, when the protruding piece 352 of the abutting member 300 moves to the downstream side of the contact portion, the base portion 351 that supports the protruding piece 352 includes the support member 49 and the first member as shown in FIG. It moves in the gap formed in the rotating shaft 451A of the roll-shaped member 451.

  With this configuration, in the present embodiment, when the protruding piece 352 of the abutting member 300 reaches the second transport roll 45, the paper P is held (nip) by the second transport roll 45 and the second transport roll 45. The conveyance of the paper P is started. The paper P is further transported by the first transport roll 44 (see FIG. 1) and supplied to the secondary transfer device 30. As a result, a toner image is formed on the paper P. The timing adjustment when the paper P is supplied to the secondary transfer device 30 is performed by the first transport roll 44. More specifically, the supply timing of the paper P to the secondary transfer device 30 is adjusted by changing (increasing or decreasing) the rotation speed of the first transport roll 44.

The movement of the abutting member 300 will be further described.
After the paper P is held by the second transport roll 45 and the transport of the paper P by the second transport roll 45 is started, in the present embodiment, the driving of the first motor M1 is started. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the abutting member 300 rotates downward (displaces toward the rotating shaft 451A side of the first roll-shaped member 451), and abuts on a location that is out of the first paper transport path R1. The protruding piece 352 of the member 300 comes to be positioned.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the abutting member 300 rotates downward after the protruding piece 352 moves to a location beyond the second transport roll 45. Here, before the conveyance of the paper P by the second conveyance roll 45 is started (before the protruding piece 352 reaches the second conveyance roll 45), the abutting member 300 rotates downward. Before the paper P is nipped by the second transport roll 45, the protruding piece 352 of the abutting member 300 is separated from the leading end of the paper P.

  In this case, the leading edge of the sheet P may be skewed again before reaching the second transport roll 45. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the protruding piece 352 of the abutting member 300 is moved to a position exceeding the second conveying roll 45, and the abutting member is moved from the leading end before the leading end of the paper P reaches the second conveying roll 45. The protruding pieces 352 of 300 are prevented from separating.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the second roll-shaped member 452 of the second transport roll 45 and the first roll-shaped member 451 are always in contact has been described, but the protruding piece 352 of the butting member 300 is the second. When passing through the transport roll 45, the second roll member 452 and the first roll member 451 can be separated from each other. Then, after the protruding piece 352 passes through the second transport roll 45, the second roll-shaped member 452 and the first roll-shaped member 451 are brought close to each other, and the sheet by the second roll-shaped member 452 and the first roll-shaped member 451. The conveyance of P can be started. As described above, when the abutting member 300 passes through the second conveyance roll 45, if the second roll-shaped member 452 and the first roll-shaped member 451 are separated from each other, the leading end portion of the sheet P is conveyed second. Damage to the paper P that may be caused by abutting against the roll 45 is suppressed.

  After the abutting member 300 rotates downward (see FIG. 8), in the present embodiment, the second motor M2 is reversed, and the support member 720 moves upstream. As the support member 720 moves, the butting member 300 also moves upstream as shown in FIG. This makes it possible to correct the skew of the newly conveyed paper P. In this embodiment, when the support member 720 is moving toward the upstream side, the first motor M1 is reversely rotated, and when the support member 720 is moving toward the upstream side, the abutting member 300 protruding pieces 352 protrude on the first sheet conveyance path R1.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the abutting member 300 is rotated by the first motor M1, but a guide rail (not shown) for guiding the abutting member 300 is provided on the side of the first paper transport path R1, etc. The abutting member 300 can be rotated using this guide rail.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the distance from the rotation shaft 451A of the first roll member 451 to the first paper transport path R1 is the first from the rotation shaft 452A of the second roll member 452. The distance is longer than the distance to the paper transport path R1. Accordingly, interference between the abutting member 300 that moves on the first roll-shaped member 451 side with respect to the first paper transport path R1 and the rotation shaft 451A of the first roll-shaped member 451 is avoided.

  Further, the distance from the rotary shaft 451A to the first paper transport path R1 is made larger than the distance from the rotary shaft 452A to the first paper transport path R1, thereby rotating toward the first roll-shaped member 451 side. Thus, interference between the abutting member 300 and the rotation shaft 451A of the first roll-shaped member 451 is avoided. In addition, in the present embodiment, the abutting member 300 that is displaced so as to approach the rotating shaft 451A of the first roll-shaped member 451 and the rotating shaft 451A are determined in advance from the first paper transport path R1 so as not to interfere with each other. The rotation shaft 451A is arranged at a location separated by a specified distance. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the rotation shaft 451A of the first roll-shaped member 451 is provided at a position that does not hinder the displacement of the abutting member 300 when the protruding piece 352 is retracted from the first paper transport path R1. Yes.

  In the present embodiment, the contact member 452B of the second roll member 452 and the contact member 451B of the first roll member 451 are brought into contact with each other on the first paper transport path R1, as shown in FIG. The diameter of the contact member 451B is larger than the diameter of the contact member 452B.

  Although not described above, in this embodiment, the moving speed of the abutting member 300 and the transport speed of the paper P by the second transport roll 45 (the peripheral speed of the contact member 452B) are equal. Here, when the conveyance speed of the paper P by the second conveyance roll 45 is smaller than the movement speed of the abutting member 300, the paper P comes to abut against the second conveyance roll 45, and the leading edge of the paper P There is a possibility that the portion (tip edge) may follow the alignment of the second transport roll 45.

  In other words, even though the skew of the paper P is corrected by the abutting member 300, the paper P may abut against the second transport roll 45, which may cause the skew again. For this reason, in the present embodiment, as described above, the conveyance speed of the paper P by the second conveyance roll 45 and the movement speed of the abutting member 300 are made equal. In addition, the conveyance speed of the paper P by the second conveyance roll 45 can be made larger than the movement speed of the abutting member 300.

  Here, correction of the skew of the paper P can also be performed by abutting the paper P against the stopped abutting member 300, but in this case, the paper P is abutted against the abutting member 300. In order to prevent damage to the paper P, it becomes necessary to greatly reduce the transport speed of the paper P or temporarily stop the transport of the paper P. By the way, in this case, the number of sheets P that can be conveyed per unit time decreases, and the productivity tends to decrease. On the other hand, in the configuration according to the present embodiment, the abutting member 300 moves together with the paper P. Therefore, skew correction can be performed without stopping the conveyance of the paper P, and the abutting member 300 is stopped. Productivity increases.

  Further, for example, after the sheet P hits the abutting member 300, the conveyance of the sheet P by the third conveying roll 46 and the movement of the abutting member 300 are temporarily stopped, and then the toner image is transferred to the secondary transfer device 30. Although a configuration in which the conveyance of the paper P is resumed and the movement of the abutting member 300 is resumed in accordance with the timing at which the paper moves is also conceivable, in this case as well, the productivity tends to decrease.

  In the configuration of the present embodiment, even after the paper P hits the abutting member 300, the transport of the paper P by the third transport roll 46 is continued, and the transport of the paper P by the third transport roll 46 is not stopped. The paper P is delivered to the second transport roll 45 that is rotatingly driven. In this embodiment, the abutting member 300 reaches the second transport roll 45 without stopping the abutting member 300 even after the paper P abuts against the abutting member 300. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the productivity is increased as compared with the configuration in which the conveyance of the paper P by the third conveyance roll 46 and the movement of the abutting member 300 are temporarily stopped.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the third side detection sensor SK3 and the fourth side detection sensor SK4 and the paper P shown in FIG.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10A, based on the size of the conveyed paper P, the first of the paper P (indicated by a solid line in the figure) (paper P when forming an image on the first surface). The third side detection sensor SK3 is arranged so as to be located inside the side located on the side of the three side detection sensor SK3.

  In this embodiment, as the paper P is transported, the paper P reaches the third side detection sensor SK3. At this time, the second transport roll 45 (see FIG. 4) is moved in the axial direction. As a result, the paper P is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 10A in FIG. As a result, the side of the paper P located on the third side detection sensor SK3 side passes through the detection area of the third side detection sensor SK3. Thereby, this side is detected by the third side detection sensor SK3.

  After this detection, the control unit 80 (see FIG. 1) further drives the gear motor 230 provided in the moving mechanism 250 (see FIG. 5) by a predetermined number of steps, and then stops this driving. As a result, the movement of the paper P that has been moved in the direction intersecting the transport direction of the paper P is stopped. As a result, the side of the paper P passes through a location that is separated from the third side detection sensor SK3 by a predetermined distance.

  Thereafter, in the present embodiment, based on the detection result of the side of the paper P by the first side detection sensor SK1 (see FIG. 4), the first transport roll 44 (see FIG. 4) that functions as the recording material moving unit moves. Then, the position of the paper P is adjusted again (fine adjustment). As a result, the paper P passes through a predetermined location, and an image is formed at a location intended by the user on the first surface of the paper P.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, the skew is corrected by the paper P abutting against the abutting member 300. At this time, the paper P is displaced in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper P. If the paper P reaches the secondary transfer device 30 while being displaced in this way, an image may be formed at a location different from the original position. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the second transport roll 45 and the first transport roll 44 are used to move the paper P to a place where passage is planned.

  Here, when the position of the paper P is adjusted by only one of the movement of the paper P by the first transport roll 44 and the movement of the paper P by the second transport roll 45, the position of the paper P after the movement is adjusted. Accuracy may be reduced. When the paper P is moved in two steps as in this embodiment, the coarse position adjustment is performed when the paper P is moved for the first time, and the fine position adjustment is performed when the paper P is moved for the second time. As a result, the accuracy of the position of the paper P can be improved.

  The movement of the paper P by the first transport roll 44 (movement of the first transport roll 44 in the axial direction) is preferably performed after the rear end of the paper P has passed through the second transport roll 45. Further, when the paper P is moved by the first transport roll 44, the second roll-shaped member 452 and the first roll-shaped member 451 in the second transport roll 45 can be separated from each other.

  Further, the second roll-shaped member 442 (see FIG. 1) of the first transport roll 44 and the first roll-shaped member 441 are provided so as to be separated from each other, and the sheet P is moved by the second transport roll 45 (second in the axial direction). When the transport roll 45 is moved), the second roll member 442 and the first roll member 441 can be separated from each other. In this case, after the paper P is moved by the second transport roll 45, the paper P is nipped between the second roll-shaped member 442 and the first roll-shaped member 441, and the paper P is transported by the first transport roll 44. Start transporting.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the first transport roll 44 and the second transport roll 45 are moved in the axial direction while transporting the paper P has been described. However, the first transport roll 44 and the second transport roll 45 are pivoted. When the sheet P is moved in the direction, the conveyance of the sheet P can be temporarily stopped. Note that the number of sheets of paper P that can be transported per unit time can be increased by moving the first transport roll 44 and the second transport roll 45 while transporting the paper P.

  By the way, when the skew of the paper P is large or a mechanical error exists, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 10A, the side of the paper P passes inside the third side detection sensor SK3. Can happen. In this case, it is difficult to detect the side by the third side detection sensor SK3. In such a case, in the present embodiment, when the paper P is transported to the second transport roll 45 (see FIG. 4), the second transport roll 45 is moved to the left in FIG. 10A. The paper P is moved. As a result, the left side of the sheet P in the drawing passes through the detection area of the third side detection sensor SK3.

  Next, the second transport roll 45 is moved in the opposite direction, and the paper P is moved in the right direction in FIG. 10A. Thereby, the side of the paper P passes through the detection area of the third side detection sensor SK3 again, and the side of the paper P is detected by the third side detection sensor SK3. Thereafter, as described above, the gear motor 230 (see FIG. 5) is rotated by a predetermined number of steps after the side detection by the third side detection sensor SK3. As a result, the amount of deviation generated between the location where the paper P is scheduled to pass and the location where the paper P actually passes is reduced.

  In this process, when the sheet P is moved in the left direction in FIG. 10A, the side of the sheet P once passes the detection area of the third side detection sensor SK3, and the third side The side of the paper P is detected by the side detection sensor SK3. Here, based on the detection result, the paper P can be moved in the right direction in the figure by a predetermined number of steps. Incidentally, in this case, the accuracy of the position of the paper P when the paper P is stopped tends to be lowered due to the influence of gear backlash and the like. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the paper P is stopped based on the detection result by the third side detection sensor SK3 when the paper P is moving in the right direction in the drawing. In addition, in this embodiment, the side of the paper P is detected by the third side detection sensor SK3 even when the paper P is moving in the left direction in the figure. I try not to.

  In this embodiment, when images are formed on both sides of the paper P, the paper P is reversed by the reversing mechanism 500 (see FIG. 1), and the paper P is transported to the second transport roll 45 again. In this case, by moving the second transport roll 45 in the axial direction, the sheet P is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 10B in FIG. 10B, and the fourth side detection sensor SK4 side of the sheet P is moved to the side. The fourth side detection sensor SK4 is caused to detect the positioned side. After this detection, the gear motor 230 is further driven by a predetermined number of steps as described above, and then the drive is stopped. When the paper P reversed by the reversing mechanism 500 is transported, the first transport roll 44 is moved based on the detection result of the side of the paper P by the second side detection sensor SK2 (see FIG. 4). The position of the paper P is adjusted again (fine adjustment). As a result, the paper P passes through a predetermined location, and an image is formed at a location intended by the user on the second surface of the paper P.

  Here, in the present embodiment, a second side detection sensor SK2 and a fourth side detection sensor SK4 are provided in addition to the first side detection sensor SK1 and the third side detection sensor SK3. In this embodiment, after the front and back of the paper P are reversed, the second side detection sensor SK2 and the fourth side detection sensor SK4 are not the first side detection sensor SK1 and the third side detection sensor SK3. Uses to detect. In other words, the same side as the side detected by the first side detection sensor SK1 and the third side detection sensor SK3 is detected again by the second side detection sensor SK2 and the fourth side detection sensor SK4. .

  Here, in the present embodiment, the sheet P may expand and contract because the sheet P passes through the fixing device 50 after the first detection of the side (after the image formation on the first surface). The paper P is generally formed by cutting, but the length of the paper P may be different from a predetermined standard value due to an error at the time of cutting. And in such a case, when the side different from the side which performed the 1st detection is detected by the 2nd detection, and the 1st conveyance roll 44 and the 2nd conveyance roll 45 are moved based on this detection result, The image formed on the second surface of the paper P may be formed at a location different from the location intended by the user.

  In other words, the standard for writing an image is different between the case of the first side and the case of the second side, and the image formed on the second side of the paper P is different from the part intended by the user. There is a risk of formation. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in addition to the first side detection sensor SK1 and the third side detection sensor SK3, the second side detection sensor SK2 and the fourth side detection sensor SK4 are provided, and detection is performed for the first time. The same side as the side is also detected by the second detection. In other words, in the present embodiment, the sides of the paper P serving as a reference when the paper P is moved using the first transport roll 44 and the second transport roll 45 are the same on the front and back of the document.

  In the first side detection sensor SK1 and the second side detection sensor SK2, a transparent sheet such as an OHP (Overhead projector) sheet, a sheet P on which a dark image is already formed, a colored sheet P, and the like Thus, it is difficult to detect the side of a specific sheet P (sheet). On the other hand, the third side detection sensor SK3 and the fourth side detection sensor SK4 can detect such a side of the paper P.

  For this reason, in this embodiment, the detection by the first side detection sensor SK1 and the second side detection sensor SK2 is omitted for the side of the specific paper P such as the dark paper P, and the third side detection is performed. Detection is performed by the sensor SK3 and the fourth side detection sensor SK4. In this case, the movement of the paper P by the first transport roll 44 is omitted. Whether or not the sheet P (sheet) is a specific sheet P can be determined based on information input by the user through the UI 90 or information transmitted together with image information from an external PC.

  In the above description, the two sensors, the first side detection sensor SK1 and the second side detection sensor SK2, are provided, but the light receiving element 40 (see FIG. 4) extends from one side of the paper P to the other side. The side of the paper P may be detected using a single sensor arranged. Further, for example, by omitting the fourth side detection sensor SK4 and expanding the movement range of the third side detection sensor SK3, the side of the paper P can be detected only by the third side detection sensor SK3. In the above description, the image forming apparatus 100 has been described as an example. However, the configuration described above is also applicable to a processing apparatus that performs processing such as binding processing such as staple binding, punching processing, and embossing processing on the paper P. Can be applied.

44 ... 1st conveyance roll, 45 ... 2nd conveyance roll, 49 ... Support member, 250 ... Movement mechanism, 300 ... Abutting member, 351 ... Base part, 352 ... Projection piece, 451 ... 1st roll-shaped member, 452 ... 1st 2 roll-shaped member, R1 ... 1st paper conveyance path

Claims (9)

A transport path through which the recording material is transported, and
A rotation axis along a direction intersecting the recording material conveyance direction is provided on the one side of the one side and the other side opposed to each other across the conveyance path, and at a position away from the conveyance path by a first distance. A first rotating member on which the rotating shaft is disposed, and a rotating shaft along the first rotating member are provided on the other side and are separated from the conveyance path by a second distance smaller than the first distance. And a second rotating member arranged in contact with the first rotating member and transported to a contact portion between the first rotating member and the second rotating member. Conveying means for conveying the recording material further downstream,
An abutting portion against which the leading end of the recording material conveyed from the upstream side along the conveying path is abutted; and a support portion provided at a location off the conveying path to support the abutting portion, A moving member that moves toward the conveying means while the recording material is abutted against the abutting portion;
With
A plurality of the contact portions between the first rotating member and the second rotating member are provided at different positions in the axial direction of the first rotating member, and between the contact portions adjacent to each other, the contact portion Is provided with a non-contact portion that enables the abutting portion to move further downstream in the recording material conveyance direction than the location where the
The support portion of the moving member that is provided at a location off the transport path and supports the abutting portion is disposed on the one side of the one side and the other side. Recording material processing device. The side where the rotating shaft of the first rotating member is provided after the abutting portion of the moving member has moved further downstream in the recording material conveyance direction than the portion where the contact portion is provided The moving member is displaced so as to approach, and due to the displacement, the abutting portion moves to a place off the transport path,
The rotating shaft of the first rotating member is located at a position away from the transport path by a predetermined distance so as not to interfere with the moving member that is displaced so as to approach the side where the rotating shaft is provided. The recording material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording material processing apparatus is disposed. A recording medium that is provided along the transport path and has an opening between the rotation shaft of the first rotating member and the transport path and supports the recording material transported through the transport path. A supporting member is provided,
The support portion of the moving member is provided on the side where the rotation shaft of the first rotating member is provided with respect to the supporting member, and a part of the moving member is located on the transport path side through the opening. Projecting, the projecting part functions as the abutting part,
When the abutting portion of the moving member moves to the downstream side in the recording material conveyance direction from the portion where the contact portion is provided, the supporting portion of the moving member includes the support member and the first member. The recording material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording material processing apparatus moves in a gap formed between the rotary member and the rotary shaft. A transport path through which the recording material is transported, and
A rotation axis along a direction intersecting the recording material conveyance direction is provided on the one side of the one side and the other side opposed to each other across the conveyance path, and at a position away from the conveyance path by a first distance. A first rotating member on which the rotating shaft is disposed, and a rotating shaft along the first rotating member are provided on the other side and are separated from the conveyance path by a second distance smaller than the first distance. And a second rotating member arranged in contact with the first rotating member and transported to a contact portion between the first rotating member and the second rotating member. Conveying means for conveying the recording material further downstream,
An abutting portion against which the leading end of the recording material conveyed from the upstream side along the conveying path is abutted; and a support portion provided at a location off the conveying path to support the abutting portion, A moving member that moves toward the conveying means while the recording material is abutted against the abutting portion;
An image forming unit that is provided on the downstream side of the conveying unit in the conveying direction of the recording material and forms an image on the recording material after the tip is abutted against the abutting portion of the moving member;
With
A plurality of the contact portions between the first rotating member and the second rotating member are provided at different positions in the axial direction of the first rotating member, and between the contact portions adjacent to each other, the contact portion Is provided with a non-contact portion that enables the abutting portion to move further downstream in the recording material conveyance direction than the location where the
The support portion of the moving member that is provided at a location off the transport path and supports the abutting portion is disposed on the one side of the one side and the other side. Image forming apparatus.   5. The rotating member moving means for moving the first rotating member and the second rotating member provided in the moving means in a direction crossing a recording material conveyance direction. Image forming apparatus.   Recording material moving means for moving the recording material that has been conveyed in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the recording material is located downstream of the first rotation member and the second rotation member in the conveyance direction of the recording material. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further provided. On the downstream side in the recording material conveyance direction from the conveyance unit, a downstream conveyance unit that further conveys the recording material conveyed from the upstream side further downstream is provided,
One of the first rotating member and the second rotating member is rotated by receiving a driving force from a driving source, and the other rotating member is receiving a driving force from the one rotating member. Rotate,
7. The distance between the conveying means and the downstream conveying means is an integral multiple of the circumferential length of the one rotating member that rotates by receiving a driving force from a driving source. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above. A transport path through which the recording material is transported, and
A rotation axis along a direction intersecting the recording material conveyance direction is provided on the other side of the first rotation member provided on the one side of the one side and the other side opposed to each other across the conveyance path. A second rotating member provided along the first rotating member and disposed in contact with the first rotating member, wherein the first rotating member and the second rotating member are in contact with each other. A plurality of contact portions are provided at different locations in the axial direction of the first rotating member, and the outer peripheral surface of the first rotating member and the outer peripheral surface of the second rotating member are in contact between adjacent contact portions. A non-contact part that is not provided, a conveying means for conveying the recording material conveyed to the contact part further downstream,
Provided on the one side of the one side and the other side and provided with a protruding portion protruding on the conveying path, and moving toward the conveying means while the recording material is abutted against the protruding portion, A moving member that displaces the protruding portion from the conveying path after the protruding portion has entered the non-contact portion of the conveying means, and is displaced toward the rotating shaft of the first rotating member;
With
The rotating shaft of the first rotating member is configured to be located on the side farther from the transport path than the moving member in a state where the protrusion is retracted from the transport path,
The recording material processing apparatus, wherein the rotating shaft of the first rotating member is provided at a position that does not hinder the displacement of the moving member when the protruding portion is retracted from the conveyance path. A transport path through which the recording material is transported, and
A rotation axis along a direction intersecting the recording material conveyance direction is provided on the other side of the first rotation member provided on the one side of the one side and the other side opposed to each other across the conveyance path. A second rotating member provided along the first rotating member and disposed in contact with the first rotating member, wherein the first rotating member and the second rotating member are in contact with each other. A plurality of contact portions are provided at different locations in the axial direction of the first rotating member, and the outer peripheral surface of the first rotating member and the outer peripheral surface of the second rotating member are in contact between adjacent contact portions. A non-contact part that is not provided, a conveying means for conveying the recording material conveyed to the contact part further downstream,
Provided on the one side of the one side and the other side and provided with a protruding portion protruding on the conveying path, and moving toward the conveying means while the recording material is abutted against the protruding portion, A moving member that displaces the protruding portion from the conveying path after the protruding portion has entered the non-contact portion of the conveying means, and is displaced toward the rotating shaft of the first rotating member;
An image forming unit that is provided on the downstream side of the conveying unit in the conveying direction of the recording material and forms an image on the recording material after a tip is abutted against the protruding portion of the moving member;
With
The rotating shaft of the first rotating member is configured to be located on the side farther from the transport path than the moving member in a state where the protrusion is retracted from the transport path,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation shaft of the first rotating member is provided at a position that does not hinder the displacement of the moving member when the protruding portion retracts from the conveyance path.

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