JP5920292B2 - Transport device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport apparatus.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a control member having a protruding tip presses a document against an abutting member provided in a direction substantially orthogonal to the document conveyance direction.

Japanese Patent No. 4078902

  An object of the present invention is to make it difficult for the position of the surface relative to the processing means for processing the surface of the medium to vary even if the thickness of the medium is different.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, when the medium transported in the transport direction on the transport path passes through a certain area, the transport apparatus processes a portion of the first surface of the medium passing through the area. A first contact member having a first contact portion that contacts the medium to be transported on the upstream side in the transport direction of the region, and a downstream of the region in the transport direction. A second contact member having a second contact portion that contacts the medium and has a common contact plane with the first contact portion; and a section sandwiched between the first and second contact portions; A conveying means for conveying the medium so as to pass through the tangential plane, the position being separated from the processing means by a first length from the tangential plane on the upstream side of the first contact portion in the conveying direction; A first position that is closer to the processing means than the position; and the first position The position of the medium at a position farther from the processing means by a second length than the tangential plane on the downstream side in the transport direction of the contact portion or a second position that is a position closer to the processing means than the position. Conveying means comprising contact means for contacting a second surface opposite to the first surface, the contact means being provided upstream of the first contact member in the conveying direction and centering on an axis A rotating member that rotates, the first conveying member that rotates the rotating member to convey the medium that contacts the surface of the rotating member, and the downstream side of the second contact member in the conveying direction; A rotating member that rotates about an axis, and a second conveying member that rotates the rotating member to convey the medium that contacts the surface of the rotating member, and the first conveying member is the first position. In contact with the second surface, the second conveying member is Wherein the contact with the second surface at a second position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the transport apparatus according to the first aspect, the second transport member has a speed at which the surface of the rotating member of the second member moves is higher than the speed of the first transport member. It is characterized by rotating so as to be faster .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the medium transported in the transport direction on the transport path passes through a certain area , the transport apparatus performs processing on a portion of the first surface of the medium passing through the area. A first contact member having a first contact portion that contacts the medium to be transported on the upstream side in the transport direction of the region, and a downstream of the region in the transport direction. A second contact member having a second contact portion that contacts the medium and has a common contact plane with the first contact portion; and a section sandwiched between the first and second contact portions; A conveying means for conveying the medium so as to pass through the tangential plane, the position being separated from the processing means by a first length from the tangential plane on the upstream side of the first contact portion in the conveying direction; A first position that is closer to the processing means than the position; and the first position The position of the medium at a position farther from the processing means by a second length than the tangential plane on the downstream side in the transport direction of the contact portion or a second position that is a position closer to the processing means than the position. Conveying means comprising contact means for contacting a second surface opposite to the first surface, a first distance between the first position and the tangent plane, and a second distance between the second position and the tangential plane And fluctuating means for fluctuating the second distance to be the first distance .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the transport device according to the third aspect , the varying means varies the first distance and the second distance according to the thickness of the medium to be transported. It is characterized by.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the position of the surface with respect to the processing means for performing processing on the surface of the medium is smaller than that in the case of not having a configuration for conveying the medium so that the first surface passes through the tangential plane. It is possible to make it difficult to fluctuate even if the thicknesses of the two differ .
According to the invention of 請 Motomeko 2, each rotary member is compared with the case of not rotating at the speed shown in the present invention can be made less sagging of the medium in the conveyance direction.
According to the invention of claim 1, as compared with the case where the contact member does not rotate contacts the second surface, it is possible to reduce the driving force required for transporting the medium.
According to the invention of claim 3 , it is possible to adjust the resistance received when the medium is transported in the transport direction.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to make it easier for the media to be transported even if the thicknesses of the respective media are different as compared with the case where the distance is changed regardless of the thickness of the media.

The figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the conveying apparatus of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of a process part. The figure which expands and shows each contact member. The figure which shows the example of a mode that the medium is conveyed in the conveyance path. The figure which shows an example of a mode that the medium with large thickness is conveyed in the conveyance path. The figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the conveying apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of a mode that the medium is conveyed in the conveyance path. The figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the conveying apparatus of a modification. The figure which shows an example of the contact member of a modification. The figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the conveying apparatus of a modification. The figure which shows another example of the hardware constitutions of the conveying apparatus of a modification. The figure which shows the example of the contact region of a modification. The figure which shows an example of the contact member of a modification.

[1] First Embodiment [1-1] Hardware Configuration FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a transport apparatus according to a first embodiment. In this example, a conveyance device 1 including a conveyance path 2, a reading device 3, a conveyance unit 4, a first contact member 11, and a second contact member 12 is illustrated. The transport unit 4 includes a contact unit 20, a first transport member 30, and a second transport member 40. FIG. 1A shows only the transport device 1, and FIG. 1B shows a state in which the transport device 1 transports the medium P1 on which an image is formed by an image forming unit (not shown). Yes. Below, each part is demonstrated, referring both Fig.1 (a) and (b). The conveyance path 2 is a path along which the medium P1 is conveyed. The medium P1 is transported in the transport direction A1. In the present embodiment, the transport direction A1 is along the horizontal direction A2.

  When the medium transported in the transport direction A1 passes through a certain region (hereinafter referred to as “processing region”), the reading device 3 has one surface (hereinafter referred to as “first surface”) of the medium. It is an example of the processing means which processes with respect to the part which is passing the process area | region among these. In FIG. 1B, among the surfaces of the medium P1, the surface facing the upper side (hereinafter referred to as “upward”) in the vertical direction A3 is the first surface Q1, and the lower side opposite thereto (hereinafter referred to as “lower”). The surface facing toward is shown as the second surface Q2. Specifically, the reading device 3 irradiates the first surface Q1 with light, and performs a process of optically reading an image formed on the medium P1 based on the reflected light. In FIG. 1, the processing region E1 of the reading device 3 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. The processing area E1 represents an area where the reading device 3 can read an image. FIG. 1B shows F1 which is a portion (hereinafter referred to as “processing portion”) that passes through the processing region E1 in the first surface Q1 of the medium P1. The processing portion F1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the processing portion F1. In FIG. 2, the processing portion F1 is hatched. The processing portion F1 has a rectangular shape including both ends in the width direction A4 of the medium P1. The processing portion F1 moves on the first surface Q1 in the direction opposite to the transport direction A1 as the medium P1 is transported. Accordingly, the entire image formed on the first surface Q1 is read by the reading device 3. The image read by the reading device 3 is compared with, for example, an image indicated by image data used for forming the image, and used to determine whether or not an accurate image has been formed.

  Returning to FIG. The first contact member 11 is an example of a member including a first contact portion C11 that comes into contact with the medium P to be transported on the upstream side in the transport direction A1 of the processing region E1. The 2nd contact member 12 is an example of a member provided with the 2nd contact part C12 which contacts the medium P conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction A1 of the process area | region E1. The contact means 20 includes a third contact member 21 and a fourth contact member 22. The 3rd contact member 21 is an example of a member provided with the 3rd contact part C21 which contacts the medium P conveyed upstream in the conveyance direction A1 of the 1st contact part C11. The 4th contact member 22 is an example of a member provided with the 4th contact part C22 which contacts the medium P conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction A1 of the 2nd contact part C12.

  Each of these contact members is formed of iron or the like as a material and has a strength that does not deform even when the medium comes into contact. For this reason, the position of each of the contact portions does not change even when the medium contacts. Moreover, as for these contact members, as for the surface (upstream side of conveyance direction A1), the angle which the surface makes with respect to conveyance direction A1 (the 2nd contact member 12 is all in figure) Is formed so that it is smaller than a predetermined angle. These surfaces are portions that guide the end portion in the transport direction A1 while colliding with the leading end portion (that is, the front end) of the medium that has been transported. By making it smaller than this, the tip of the medium is not easily bent.

  The first transport member 30 is an example of a member that transports a medium, and is provided on the upstream side of the third contact member 21 in the transport direction A1. The 1st conveyance member 30 has the 1st rotation member 31 and the 2nd rotation member 32 which respectively rotate to the circumferential directions A5 and A6 centering on each axis | shaft (B31 and B32) along the width direction A4. The first rotating member 31 and the second rotating member 32 form a nip region N1. The 1st conveyance member 30 rotates these rotation members, and conveys the medium which contacts the surface of both rotation members in the nip area | region N1.

  The second transport member 40 is an example of a member that transports a medium, and is provided on the downstream side of the fourth contact member 22 in the transport direction A1. The 2nd conveyance member 40 has the 1st rotation member 41 and the 2nd rotation member 42 which rotate to the circumferential directions A7 and A8, respectively, centering | focusing on each axis | shaft (B41 and B42) along width direction A4. The first rotating member 41 and the second rotating member 42 form a nip region N2. The 2nd conveyance member 40 rotates these rotation members, and conveys the medium which contacts the surface of both rotation members in nip area | region N2.

  In addition, the first rotation member 41 and the second rotation member 42 included in the second conveyance member 40 have a speed (hereinafter referred to as “surface speed”) V2 at which the respective surfaces move in the circumferential directions A7 and A8, respectively. The member 30 rotates so as to be faster than the surface speed V1 (the speed at which the surfaces of the first rotating member 31 and the second rotating member 32 move in the circumferential directions A5 and A6, respectively) V1 (that is, V2> V1). As a result, a force that is pulled toward the front and rear nip regions N1 and N2 (that is, in the directions of arrows M1 and M2 in the drawing) along the transport direction A1 is applied to the medium P1.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of each contact member of FIG. The shapes of the first contact portion C11 and the second contact portion C12 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, contact areas D11 and D12 that are areas in contact with the first contact portion C11 and the second contact portion C12 in the first surface Q1 of the medium P1 are hatched. Both the contact areas D11 and D12 extend straight from the one end of the first surface Q1 to the other end along the width direction A4. As indicated by these contact regions, the first contact portion C11 and the second contact portion C12 both extend straight along the width direction A4. FIG. 3A shows a tangential plane G10 that contacts both the first contact portion C11 and the second contact portion C12 having such a shape.

  The tangential plane will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG.3 (b), the 2nd contact part C12 vicinity of the 2nd contact member 12 seen in width direction A4 described in FIG. 2 is expanded and shown. The vicinity of the second contact portion C12 has a rounded shape as shown in this figure. Since this shape continues in the width direction A4, the surface in the vicinity of the second contact portion C12 is a curved surface. FIG. 3B shows tangent planes G10, G11, G12, and G13 that are in contact with the curved surface at each location on the curved surface. The tangent plane G10 is a tangent plane in contact with the lowest point R12 among these tangent planes, and is a tangential plane along the transport direction A1. The point R12 is a point included in the second contact portion C12. Note that the tangent plane G10 is also a tangent plane at another point in the width direction A4 of the point R12. The first contact portion C11 also has a rounded shape like the second contact portion C12, and a tangential plane that is in contact with the lowest point and is along the transport direction A1 is G10. Thus, the 2nd contact part C12 has the tangent plane G10 common to the 1st contact part C11.

  The third contact portion C21 and the fourth contact portion C22 also have a shape that extends straight along the width direction A4, like the first contact portion C11 and the second contact portion C12, and a common tangential plane (FIG. 3). G20) shown in FIG. The tangent planes G10 and G20 are both planes along the transport direction A1 and the width direction A4. The tangent plane G10 has a distance L1 from the reading device 3 and a distance from the tangent plane G20 to L2. Further, in FIG. 3, a plane including the nip regions N1 and N2 shown in FIG. 1, that is, a common contact that each of the first rotating member 31, the second rotating member 32, the first rotating member 41, and the second rotating member 42 has. A plane G30 is shown. In the present embodiment, the tangent plane G30 is sandwiched between the tangent planes G10 and G20, and the distance between both tangent planes is L3. That is, L3 is half the length of L2, and the position in the vertical direction A3 of the nip regions N1 and N2 is the center of the tangential planes G10 and G20.

In the transport apparatus 1, when a medium having a thickness equal to or greater than the distance L2 is transported, the first surface in the section (H1 shown in FIG. 3) sandwiched between the first contact portion C11 and the second contact portion C12. Passes through the tangent plane G10. Here, the first surface passing through the tangent plane G10 means that the two-dimensional region called the first surface moves while passing through the two-dimensional region called the tangent plane G10. The mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which the medium is transported along the transport path 2. FIG. 4A shows a state where the medium P10 having a thickness L2 is transported in the transport direction A1. As described above, a force pulled in the directions of the arrows M1 and M2 is applied to the medium P10. For this reason, the medium P10 tends to be in a state of extending straight (that is, having no deflection).

  Here, since the thickness of the medium P10 is L2 and fits in the gap between the tangent planes G10 and G20, and the position of the nip areas N1 and N2 in the vertical direction A3 is the center of the tangential planes G10 and G20. Although the first surface Q11 of the medium P10 is in contact with the first contact portion C11 and the second contact portion C12, and the second surface Q12 is in contact with the third contact portion C21 and the fourth contact portion C22, the medium P10 is straight. Become stretched. In this state, the first surface Q1 overlaps with the tangent plane G10, and the second surface Q12 overlaps with the tangent plane G20. That is, in the state shown in FIG. 4A, the first surface Q11 passes through the tangential plane G10 in the section H1.

  FIG. 4B shows a state where the upstream side in the transport direction A1 of the medium P10 has moved upward (upward in the vertical direction A3). In this case, the medium P10 is bent with the first contact portion C11 as a fulcrum. That is, the 1st contact part C11 used as a fulcrum and the 1st surface Q11 continue contacting. Further, even if a force (elasticity) for returning to the medium P10 to return to a straight state works and the downstream side in the transport direction A1 moves downward from the first contact part C11 of the medium P10, the fourth contact part C22 causes the upward movement. Therefore, such movement is not performed, and a straight state is maintained in the transport direction A1. Accordingly, the first surface Q11 is kept in contact with the second contact portion C12, and in the section H, the state of overlapping with the tangential plane G10 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4C shows a state where the upstream side in the transport direction A1 of the medium P10 has moved downward (below the vertical direction A3). In this case, the medium P10 is bent with the third contact portion C21 as a fulcrum, and the elasticity works to move the downstream side in the transport direction A1 upward from the third contact portion C21 of the medium P10, but the first contact portion C11. Therefore, such movement is not performed, and a straight state is maintained in the transport direction A1. Accordingly, the first surface Q11 continues to be in contact with both the first contact portion C11 and the second contact portion C12, and in the section H, the state of overlapping the tangential plane G10 is maintained.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which a medium having a thickness greater than L2 is being transported through the transport path 2. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the medium P20 having a thickness L4 (L4> L2) is being conveyed. Since the medium P20 has a thickness larger than L2, it does not extend straight in the transport direction A1 as in the medium P10 shown in FIG. 4, but is pushed up and down by each contact portion as shown in the figure. It is conveyed in a bent state. In this case, the medium P20 receives the upward force from the third contact portion C21 and the fourth contact portion C22, and is in a state where the first surface Q21 is pressed against the first contact portion C11 and the second contact portion C12. Become.

For this reason, the 1st surface Q21 continues contacting both the 1st contact part C11 and the 2nd contact part C12, and the state which overlapped with the contact plane G10 in the area H is maintained. Further, even when the upstream side in the transport direction A1 of the medium P20 moves upward or downward, it is suppressed by the fourth contact portion C22 or the first contact portion C11 as in the medium P10 shown in FIG. The state where the first surface Q21 overlaps the tangential plane G10 is maintained.
As described above, the transport unit 4, that is, the third contact member 21, the fourth contact member 22, the first transport member 30, and the second transport member 40 are in contact with each of the first contact member 11 and the second contact member 12. In the section H sandwiched between the parts (C11 and C12), the medium is transported so that the first surface passes through the tangential plane G10.

  Further, the contact means 20 contacts the second surface of the medium at two positions. Hereinafter, these two positions are referred to as “first position” and “second position”, respectively. In the example shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the first position is the position of the third contact portion C21, and the processing means (first length from the tangential plane G10 upstream of the first contact portion C11 in the transport direction A1). It is a position away from the reading device 3). The second position is the position of the fourth contact portion C22, and is separated from the processing means (reading device 3) by the second length from the tangential plane G10 on the downstream side in the transport direction A1 of the second contact portion C12. It is the position. The first and second lengths may be equal or different. In the present embodiment, the first length and the second length are both the thickness L2 of the medium P10. That is, in this embodiment, the contact means 20 includes the third contact member 21 having the third contact portion C21 that contacts the transported medium at the first position, and the fourth contact that contacts the medium at the second position. And a fourth contact member 22 having a part C22. The first and second lengths are preferably equal to or less than the thickness of the thinnest medium among the media transported by the transport device 1.

[1-2] Effects According to the First Embodiment In the present embodiment, the transport unit 4 transports the medium as described above. As a result, the distance between the first surface of the medium and the reading device 3, that is, the first surface and the reading device in the section H, as compared with the case where the medium is not transported so that the first surface passes through the tangential plane G 10. 3 is easily maintained at L1. This can be said even if the thickness of the medium is different as described with reference to FIG. That is, according to this embodiment, the position of the surface with respect to the processing means (the reading device 3 in this embodiment) that performs processing on the surface of the medium differs from the thickness of the medium as compared with the case where the above configuration is not provided. However, it becomes difficult to fluctuate.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the 1st conveyance member 30 and the 2nd conveyance member 40 each convey a medium so that each surface speed may become V1 <V2. As a result, a force pulled toward the front and rear nip regions N1 and N2 along the transport direction A1 is applied as described above, and the medium sags in the transport direction as compared with the case where each rotating member does not rotate at the speeds V1 and V2. It becomes difficult.

  In the present embodiment, the contact means 20 is in contact with the second surface of the medium at the first and second positions. As a result, the medium is pressed down as described in the example of FIGS. 4 and 5, and the first surface has the first contact portion C <b> 11 as compared with the case where there is nothing that contacts the second surface at the first and second positions. And it becomes easy to continue contacting the 2nd contact part C12, and a 1st surface becomes easy to pass the tangent plane G10.

  In the present embodiment, the third contact portion C21 of the third contact member 21 contacts the medium at the first position, and the fourth contact portion C22 of the fourth contact member 22 contacts the medium at the second position. . That is, a specific portion of each contact member comes into contact with the medium. On the other hand, for example, when the contact member is deformed by the force received from the medium and the portion of the contact member that contacts the medium changes, the first and second positions move. In the present embodiment, the first and second positions are stabilized as compared with the case where the specific portion of the contact member does not have a configuration in contact with the medium.

[2] Second Embodiment Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described focusing on differences from the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, a case will be described in which the medium is transported so that the first surface passes through the tangential plane G10 without providing the third contact member 21 and the fourth contact member 22 described in the first embodiment.

[2-1] Hardware Configuration FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the transfer device according to the second embodiment. In this example, a transport device 1a having a transport unit configuration different from the transport device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is shown. The transport apparatus 1a includes a transport path 2a and a transport unit 4a. The conveyance path 2a is not provided with the third contact member 21 and the fourth contact member 22 shown in FIG. That is, the transport unit 4a includes a contact unit 20a that does not include these two contact members. Similar to the contact means 20, the contact means 20 a is a means for contacting the second surface of the medium at the first and second positions. The contact means 20a includes a first transport member 30a and a second transport member 40a.

  The first conveying member 30a and the second conveying member 40a have the same configuration as that of the first conveying member 30 and the second conveying member 40 shown in FIG. 1 except for the position in the vertical direction A3, and nip regions N1a and N2a. Respectively. These conveying members are arranged such that the position in the vertical direction A3 (hereinafter referred to as “vertical direction position”) is closer to the reading device 3 than the conveying members shown in FIG. Specifically, the first conveyance member 30a and the second conveyance member 40a are arranged such that the tangent plane G30a including the nip regions N1a and N2a is located at a position separated by a distance L5 above the tangential plane G10. ing.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which the medium is transported through the transport path 2a. In FIG. 7A, the medium P1 (medium having a thickness L2) shown in FIG. 4 is transported through the transport path 2a. Since the nip regions N1a and N2a are both higher than the first contact portion C11 and the second contact portion C12, the medium P10 is conveyed such that the first surface Q11 is pressed against these contact portions. Therefore, the first surface Q11 continues to contact the first contact portion C11 and the second contact portion C12, and is conveyed so as to pass through the tangential plane G10 in the section H1. Moreover, in this embodiment, the 1st conveyance member 30a contacts the 2nd surface Q12 in a 1st position, and the 2nd conveyance member 40a contacts the 2nd surface Q12 in a 2nd position. The first and second positions in this example will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 7B, the periphery of the nip region N1a is enlarged. In the first rotating member 31 and the second rotating member 32, the portion in contact with the medium P10 is deformed flat. Hereinafter, this portion is referred to as a “deformed portion”. The deformed portion R31 of the first rotating member 31 is in contact with the second surface Q12 of the medium P10. In the present embodiment, the position where the deformed portion R31 and the second surface Q12 are in contact is the first position described above. In FIG. 7C, the periphery of the nip region N2a is enlarged. In this example, the deformed portion R41 of the first rotating member 41 is in contact with the second surface Q12 of the medium P10. In the present embodiment, the position where the deformed portion R41 and the second surface Q12 are in contact is the second position described above. FIG. 7A shows the tangential plane G20 described in FIG. The position on the tangent plane G20 is from the processing means (reading device 3) by the first and second lengths described in the first embodiment (both the thickness of the medium P10 in this example) than the tangent plane G10. It is in a remote position. The first and second positions shown in FIG. 7 are both closer to the processing means than the position on the tangent plane G20.

  Further, the first conveying member 30a and the second conveying member 40a are arranged so that V2a> V1a as in the first embodiment, assuming that the surface speeds of the rotating members of the first conveying member 30a and the second conveying member 40a are V1a and V2a, respectively. It is rotating. That is, the second transport member 40a rotates such that the speed at which the surface of the rotating member of the self member moves (that is, the surface speed) is faster than the surface speed of the first transport member 30a.

[2-2] Effects according to the second embodiment In the present embodiment, the first transport member 30a and the second transport member 40a come into contact with the second surface at the first and second positions, respectively. The medium is conveyed so as to pass through the plane G10. When a fixed contact member such as the first contact member 11 contacts the medium, a frictional force is generated in a direction that prevents the medium from moving in the transport direction A1. On the other hand, the first and second conveying members are in contact with the second surface at the first and second positions while the rotating members of the first and second conveying members rotate to convey the medium, respectively. The frictional force generated in the direction that hinders the movement in the transport direction A1 is reduced. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the driving force necessary for transporting the medium is smaller than when the contact member that does not rotate contacts the second surface.

  Also in this embodiment, the medium is transported such that the surface speeds of the first transport member 30a and the second transport member 40a are V1a <V2a. Thereby, compared with the case where each rotating member does not rotate at the speeds V1a and V2a as in the first embodiment, the medium is less likely to sag in the transport direction.

[3] Modifications Each of the above-described embodiments is merely an example of the implementation of the present invention, and may be modified as follows. Moreover, you may implement each embodiment mentioned above and each modification shown below, combining each as needed.

[3-1] First and Second Positions In the first embodiment, the first position is a position away from the processing means by the first length from the tangential plane G10, and the second position is from the tangential plane G10. (The processing means is the reading device 3, and the first and second lengths are both the thickness L2 of the medium P10). Not limited to.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the transport apparatus according to the present modification. In this example, the conveyance path 2b in which the third contact member 21 and the fourth contact member 22 are provided so that the tangent plane G20 is positioned above the tangent plane G10 is shown. Even in this case, the medium conveyed through the conveyance path 2b receives the upward force from the contact portions of the third contact member 21 and the fourth contact member 22, and the first contact portion C11 and the second contact portion C12. The first surface is pressed against the surface. Thereby, the first surface of the medium continues to contact both the first contact portion C11 and the second contact portion C12, and the state where the first surface and the tangential plane G10 overlap in the section H is maintained.

In the second embodiment, the first and second positions are separated from the processing unit by the first and second lengths (both are the thickness L2 of the medium P10) from the tangential plane G10. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the contact member of the present modification. In this example, the conveyance path 2c in which the third contact member 21 and the fourth contact member 22 are not provided, and tangential planes G10 and G30 are shown. The tangent plane G30 is a plane including the nip regions N1 and N2, and the distance from the tangent plane G10 is L3 as in the example of FIG. In this case, when the medium P10 shown in FIG. 3 (L2 having a thickness twice as large as L3) is transported through the transport path 2c, the medium P10 straightly extends in the transport direction A1 as illustrated in FIG. 4A. In this state, the first contact portion C11 and the second contact portion C12 and the first surface of the medium P10 are kept in contact with each other, and the state in which the first surface and the tangential plane G10 overlap in the section H is maintained. As described above, the contact means is located at a position away from the processing means by the first and second lengths from the tangential plane G10 or at the first and second positions, which are positions closer to the processing means than that position. Any material that contacts the second surface may be used.

[3-2] Variation in distance between first and second positions and tangent plane In the above embodiments, the first and second positions may be moved in the vertical direction A3.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the transport apparatus according to the present modification. In this example, a transport device 1d including a contact means 20d is shown. The contact means 20 d includes a third contact member 21 and a fourth contact member 22. The contact means 20d is connected to the changing means 50. The changing means 50 moves the contact means 20d in the vertical direction A3, thereby causing the distance between the first position and the tangential plane G10 (hereinafter referred to as “first tangential plane distance”) and the distance between the second position and the tangential plane G10. This is an example of a changing means that changes (hereinafter referred to as “second tangential plane distance”). Hereinafter, when referring to both the first and second tangential plane distances, they are simply referred to as “tangential plane distances”.

  The changing unit 50 includes a control unit 51 and a drive unit 52. The control unit 51 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM), and is driven by the CPU executing a program stored in the ROM using the RAM as a work area. The operation of the unit 52 is controlled. The drive unit 52 moves the contact means 20d to a predetermined position in the vertical direction A3 by rotating a stepping motor or the like. The changing unit 50 changes the tangential plane distance as follows when the driving unit 52 controlled by the control unit 51 is driven.

  FIG. 10A shows a state in which the first and second tangential plane distances are both L2. In this state, the medium P10 (thickness L2 medium) shown in FIG. 4 is transported in a state of extending straight in the transport direction A1 as shown in FIG. 4A. FIG. 10B shows a state where the first and second tangential plane distances are both L0. L0 represents that the length is 0 in this example. In this state, the medium P10 is conveyed in a state where the medium P10 is bent by receiving the force in the up and down directions by the contact portions.

  For example, the changing unit 50 changes the tangential plane distance according to the thickness of the conveyed medium. When the thickness of the conveyed medium is smaller than, for example, L2, the first surface does not contact the first contact portion C11 and the second contact portion C12 in the state illustrated in FIG. When the medium having such a thickness is conveyed, the contact means 20d is moved so as to be in the state shown in FIG. In addition, when the medium to be transported is cardboard, it is difficult to bend, so in the state shown in FIG. 10B, it may be caught by one of the contact members and the transport itself may not be performed. For example, when the thickness of the medium is smaller than L2, the changing means 50 changes the first and second tangential plane distances to L0, and when the thickness of the medium is L2 or more, the changing means 50 Both plane distances are changed to L2. In this way, by changing the first and second tangential plane distances according to the thickness of the medium, the thickness of each medium is different from that when the tangential plane distance is changed regardless of the thickness of the medium. However, those media are easily transported.

  Note that the changing unit 50 may change the tangential plane distance according to the user's operation by including an operation unit that receives the user's operation, for example. Further, the changing means 50 may change the tangential plane distance according to the speed (transport speed) of the medium transported on the transport path 2d. In this case, for example, the fluctuation means 50 sets the first and second tangential plane distances to L2 if the conveyance speed is equal to or greater than a threshold value, and sets the first and second tangential plane distances if the conveyance speed is less than the threshold value. Is also set to L0. When both the first and second tangential plane distances are L2, the resistance (referred to as “transport resistance”) that the medium transported receives from the contact member is smaller than in the case of L0.

  On the other hand, when both the first and second tangential plane distances are L0, the conveyance resistance is larger than in the case of L2, but at the same time, the force pressing the medium against the first contact portion C11 and the second contact portion C12 is also increased. The first surface can more easily pass through the tangential plane G10. Therefore, by changing the tangential plane distance as described above, the conveyance resistance is reduced to reduce the conveyance resistance when the conveyance speed is large, and the medium is smoothly conveyed when the conveyance speed is small. And the force pressed against the 2nd contact part C12 is strengthened, and a 1st surface makes it easier to pass the tangent plane G10. Thus, according to the present modification, the resistance received when the medium is being conveyed in the conveyance direction is adjusted, and the smoothness of the conveyance of the medium and the ease of passing through the tangential plane G10 of the first surface using this are adjusted. Is adjusted.

Further, the changing means 50 may change the tangential plane distance by a method different from that shown in FIG.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another example of the hardware configuration of the transport apparatus according to the present modification. In this example, a transport apparatus 1e including a transport path 2e, a contact unit 20e, and a changing unit 50e is shown. The changing unit 50 e includes a control unit 51 and a rotation unit 53. The rotating portion 53 is provided at an end of the contact means 20e on the upstream side in the transport direction A1, has a stepping motor (not shown), etc., and the contact means 20e is centered on an axis along the width direction A4 shown in FIG. By rotating, the first and second tangential plane distances are varied. In this case, since the second position far from the axis moves more in the vertical direction A3 than the first position close to the axis, the second tangential plane distance varies more than the first tangential plane distance.

[3-3] Glass Cover In the above embodiments, the processing means is provided in a space connected to the conveyance path. However, for example, a glass cover may be provided at the boundary between the processing means and the conveyance path. . Thereby, the front end of the medium does not collide with the processing means. Further, in the transport device, since the upstream surface of the first contact member 11 and the second contact member 12 in the transport direction A1 both guides the front end of the medium downward, these contact members are not provided. In comparison, the medium is less likely to collide with the glass cover, and the glass cover is less likely to be contaminated by substances (ink, correction liquid, etc.) adhering to the first surface of the medium.

[3-4] Processing Performed by Processing Unit In each of the above embodiments, the reading device 3 is provided as a processing unit in the transport device, but the processing unit is not limited thereto. For example, the conveying device may include an ejection device that ejects ink onto a medium as a processing unit, and may function as an image forming device that forms an image using an inkjet method. In short, the processing means only needs to perform some processing on one surface (first surface) of the medium. In particular, it is desirable to apply the present invention to a case where a change in the position of the first surface with respect to the processing means easily affects the processing result.

[3-5] Shape of Contact Part Each contact part may have a sharper shape than that shown in FIG. Even in such a case, if the tip of each contact member (that is, the contact portion) is enlarged, a curved surface is always formed, so that each contact portion has a tangential plane. However, each contact portion is desirably rounded to the extent that the contacted medium is not damaged.
Moreover, although each contact part was carrying out the shape extended straight without a cut | interruption along width direction A4 in FIG. 3 etc., it is not restricted to this. The shape of each contact portion will be described using the shape of the contact area where the first surface of the medium contacts the first and second contact portions.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a contact area according to the present modification. FIG. 12A shows contact regions D11f and D12f that extend straight along a direction A9 that forms an angle with the width direction A4. In this case, the first contact portion and the second contact portion have a shape that extends straight along the direction A9 without a break. FIG. 12B shows contact regions D11g and D12g extending intermittently along the width direction A4. In this case, the first contact portion and the second contact portion extend straight along the width direction A4, and have a shape in which the middle is somewhat depressed.

  In FIG. 12C, it extends without any break along the width direction A4, and the length in the transport direction A1 is longer than the contact areas D11 and D12 shown in FIG. 2 (in this example, the length is L6). ) Contact areas D11h and D12h are shown. In this case, each of the first and second contact portions is in the form of a plane having a length L6 in the transport direction A1. In this case, the common tangential plane of the first and second contact portions includes a plane having a length L6 in the transport direction A1.

  FIG. 12D shows a case where the processing portion F1i processed by the processing means does not include the end in the medium width direction A4. In this example, contact areas D11i and D12i extending along the width direction A4 are shown. The contact areas D11i and D12i extend to the end side in the width direction A4 of the medium from the processing portion F1i, but do not extend to the end. In this case, the first and second contact portions extend to the end side in the width direction A4 of the medium from the processing portion F1i, but do not extend to the end portion. Thus, it is desirable that the first and second contact portions extend longer in the width direction A4 than the processing portion.

[3-6] Shape of Contact Member Each contact member has a common tangential plane along the transport direction in each of the above embodiments, but is not limited thereto.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the contact member of the present modification. In this example, the first contact member 11 shown in FIG. 3 is shown, and the second contact portion C12j of the second contact member 12j located above the first contact portion C11 of the first contact member 11 is shown. Yes. For this reason, the common tangent plane G10j which both contact parts have is inclined with respect to the conveyance direction A1. Further, the third contact portion C21j of the third contact member 21i is positioned below the fourth contact portion C22j of the fourth contact member 22j, and the common tangential plane G20j that both the contact portions have is also in the transport direction A1. Leaning against. The distance between the tangent planes G10j and G20j is L2 as in the example of FIG.

  FIG. 13B shows a state where the medium P10 having a thickness L2 is being transported on the transport path. In this example, the first conveying member is provided so that the nip region is located above the third contact portion C21j, and the second conveying member is provided so that the nip region is located below the fourth contact portion C22j. It has been. For this reason, the medium P10 is pressed upward at the position of the nip region N1 of the first transport unit (first position in the present modification) and the position of the fourth contact portion C22j (second position in the present modification). The first surface Q11 is conveyed while continuing to contact the first contact portion C11 and the second contact portion C12j. That is, also in this modification, when a medium having a thickness greater than or equal to the first and second lengths (L2 in this example) is conveyed, the medium is sandwiched between the first contact portion C11 and the second contact portion C12j. In the section, the first surface Q11 passes through the tangential plane G10j. Accordingly, as compared with the case where the configuration shown in FIG. 13 is not provided as in each of the above embodiments, the position of the first surface with respect to the processing unit is less likely to fluctuate even if the thickness of the medium is different.

[3-7] Orientation in the transport direction In each of the above embodiments, the transport direction is along the horizontal direction A2, but is not limited thereto, and may be along the vertical direction A3, for example, or intersects these directions. It may be along the direction (diagonal direction). That is, the transport path may transport the medium in any direction. Further, the conveyance path may have an arc (curve) shape. Also in this case, if the first and second contact members and the conveying means as shown in each of the above examples are provided, the position of the first surface with respect to the processing means compared to the case where they are not provided. However, even if the thickness of the medium is different, it is difficult to change.

[3-8] Category of Invention In addition to the above-described transport device, the present invention can also be understood as an inspection device or an image reading device that outputs a result of reading by the reading device 3. Further, if a jetting device that jets an ink jet onto a medium is provided as the processing means, it can also be regarded as an image forming device that jets ink onto a medium being transported to form an image. In short, the present invention can be applied to any apparatus as long as the process is performed on the first surface of the conveyed medium and it is desirable that the position of the first surface with respect to the processing means is stable. May be.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Conveyance apparatus, 2 ... Conveyance path, 3 ... Reading apparatus, 4 ... Conveyance means, 11 ... 1st contact member, C11 ... 1st contact part, 12 ... 2nd contact member, C12 ... 2nd contact part, 20 ... Contact means, 21 ... third contact member, C21 ... third contact portion, 22 ... fourth contact member, C22 ... fourth contact portion, 30 ... first transport member, 40 ... second transport member, 31, 41 ... first 1 rotation member, 32, 42 ... 2nd rotation member, 50 ... fluctuation | variation means, 51 ... control part, 52 ... drive part, 53 ... rotation part

Claims (4)

Processing means for performing processing on a portion of the first surface of the medium passing through the area when the medium transported in the transport direction on the transport path passes through the area;
A first contact member comprising a first contact portion in contact with the medium to be transported on the upstream side in the transport direction of the region;
A second contact member comprising a second contact portion that contacts the medium to be transported on the downstream side in the transport direction of the region and has a common contact plane with the first contact portion;
Transport means for transporting the medium so that the first surface passes through the tangential plane in a section sandwiched between the first and second contact portions, and upstream of the transport direction of the first contact portion. The first position which is a position away from the processing means by a first length from the tangential plane or a position closer to the processing means than the position, and the downstream side in the transport direction of the second contact portion. A second surface opposite to the first surface of the medium at a position separated from the processing means by a second length from the tangential plane or a second position that is a position closer to the processing means than the position. Conveying means provided with contact means for contacting with,
The contact means comprises:
A first member that is provided upstream of the first contact member in the transport direction, has a rotating member that rotates about an axis, and rotates the rotating member to transport the medium that contacts the surface of the rotating member. A conveying member;
A second member that is provided downstream of the second contact member in the transport direction, has a rotating member that rotates about an axis, and transports the medium that contacts the surface of the rotating member by rotating the rotating member; A conveying member,
The conveying apparatus, wherein the first conveying member is in contact with the second surface at the first position, and the second conveying member is in contact with the second surface at the second position . The transport apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second transport member rotates so that a speed at which a surface of a rotating member included in the second member moves is faster than the speed of the first transport member. Processing means for performing processing on a portion of the first surface of the medium passing through the area when the medium transported in the transport direction on the transport path passes through the area;
A first contact member comprising a first contact portion in contact with the medium to be transported on the upstream side in the transport direction of the region;
A second contact member comprising a second contact portion that contacts the medium to be transported on the downstream side in the transport direction of the region and has a common contact plane with the first contact portion;
Transport means for transporting the medium so that the first surface passes through the tangential plane in a section sandwiched between the first and second contact portions, and upstream of the transport direction of the first contact portion. The first position which is a position away from the processing means by a first length from the tangential plane or a position closer to the processing means than the position, and the downstream side in the transport direction of the second contact portion. A second surface opposite to the first surface of the medium at a position separated from the processing means by a second length from the tangential plane or a second position that is a position closer to the processing means than the position. Conveying means comprising contact means for contacting with,
A first distance between the first position and the tangent plane, and a second distance between the second position and the tangent plane, and variations means the second distance is varied such that the first distance
Conveyance device characterized by comprising a. The transport apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the varying unit varies the first distance and the second distance according to a thickness of the medium to be transported.

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