JP6819237B2 - Feeding device and image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a feeding device and an image forming device including the feeding device.

There are two types of feeding methods for feeding devices such as copiers and printers, which are excellent in high productivity and stability: friction-separated feeding method using feeding rollers and separated feeding method using air. Then, a method is already known in which the second and subsequent sheets are separated by blowing separation air onto the sheets adsorbed by the negative pressure air on the transport belt, and the sheets are fed one by one.

However, the conventional air feeding method has a problem of carrying or not feeding due to the curl at the tip of the sheet. Specifically, when feeding a sheet with a face curl, the second and subsequent sheets float too much due to the upward force of the curl, air does not enter between the sheets, and they cannot be separated and are heavy. There was a problem of being sent.

In order to deal with such problems, for the purpose of smoothly feeding the sheet material whose tip on the tray is curled, a convex portion as a curl correction part on the sheet loading surface and a regulation plate that is moved according to the sheet size It is known that when a plurality of sheets are loaded on the sheet loading surface, the sheets are curved upward by the convex portion (for example, Patent Document 1).

In the feeding device described in Patent Document 1, the curl at the tip of the sheet is corrected by the curvature of the convex portion which is the curl straightening portion, and the sheet is separated.

However, in the feeding device described in Patent Document 1, since the convex portion of the sheet loading surface maintains a convex shape at the time of feeding, the spraying of the separating air for separating the sheets is hindered. .. There is a problem that the obstruction of the spraying of the separated air causes a transfer defect such as a jam.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and by correcting a sheet having a curled tip to curl in a certain direction, the sheet can be smoothly fed and the occurrence of transport defects can be suppressed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a feeding device and an image forming device.

In order to achieve the above object, the feeding device according to the present invention includes a sheet loading means for loading a bundle of sheets, a convex member provided on the sheet loading means and capable of raising and lowering with respect to the sheet loading means, and the sheet loading. A separate feeding means that separates and feeds sheets one by one from the bundle of sheets loaded on the means, a side fence that can move in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the sheets, and raising and lowering of the convex member and feeding. wherein a control unit for controlling the movement of the side fences, have a, wherein, in a state where the separation feeding means is not performing the feeding operation, thereby the projecting member is raised from the predetermined position, and wherein The side fence is configured to move from a predetermined position in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the seat .

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can provide a feeding device and an image forming device that suppress the occurrence of transport defects while smoothly feeding the sheet by correcting the sheet whose tip is curled to curl in a certain direction.

It is a side view which shows the whole structure of the image formation system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the structure of the articulation type feeding apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the air feeding device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the feeding tray of the air feeding device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the operation of the feed tray of the air feed device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of the air feeding device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the curl correction control operation of the air feeding device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the standby return control operation of the air feeding apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the thin paper curl correction control operation of the air feeding device which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 1 according to the present embodiment includes an image forming device 2 and connected feeding devices 5a and 5b.

The image forming apparatus 2 is a digital multifunction device provided with an apparatus main body 2M having a feeding unit 3 and an image forming unit 4. The device main body 2M has a control unit 20 that controls the image forming device 2 and the connected feeding devices 5a and 5b. The device main body 2M is composed of a touch panel or the like on the upper surface, and includes an operation display unit 25 that displays various information and performs various input operations such as starting execution of a print job to the control unit 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, the feeding unit 3 has a plurality of stages of feeding cassettes 31A, 31B, and 31C, each of which can store cut sheet-shaped sheets S in a laminated state. In the present invention, the sheet includes paper (thick paper, thin paper), coated paper, label paper, transparency sheet, film and the like. In each of the feeding cassettes 31A, 31B, and 31C, for example, a sheet S having a sheet size selected in advance from a plurality of sheet sizes is accommodated in the vertical or horizontal feeding direction.

The feeding unit 3 has feeding devices 30A, 30B, 30C that sequentially pick up the sheets S housed in the feeding cassettes 31A, 31B, 31C from the uppermost layer side of each and separately feed them. The feeding unit 3 is further provided with various rollers 32 and the like, whereby the sheets S fed from the feeding devices 30A, 30B and 30C can be moved to a predetermined image forming position of the image forming unit 4. A delivery path 33 for carrying is formed.

The image forming unit 4 includes exposure devices (exposure units) 41K, 41Y, 41M, 41C and photoconductor drums 42K, 42Y, 42M, 42C. Further, the image forming unit 4 includes developing devices 43K, 43Y, 43M, 43C filled with toners of black (K), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C). Further, the image forming unit 4 includes a primary transfer unit 44, a secondary transfer unit 45, and a fixing unit 46.

The exposure devices 41K, 41Y, 41M, 41C are adapted to generate laser light L for exposure of each color based on, for example, an image input from an external PC (personal computer) or the like. Further, the exposure apparatus 41K, 41Y, 41M, 41C exposes the photoconductor drums 42K, 42Y, 42M, 42C of each color with a laser beam, and reads an image on the surface layer portion of each photoconductor drum 42K, 42Y, 42M, 42C. It is designed to form an electrostatic latent image of each color corresponding to.

The developing apparatus 43K, 43Y, 43M, 43C supplies a thin layer of toner to the corresponding photoconductor drums 42K, 42Y, 42M, 42C so as to be close to each other, and develops an electrostatic latent image to be visualized by the toner. Is supposed to do.

The image forming unit 4 primary transfers the toner image developed on the photoconductor drums 42K, 42Y, 42M, and 42C to the primary transfer unit 44, and the toner image is transferred by the secondary transfer unit 45 close to the primary transfer unit 44. It is designed to be secondarily transferred to the sheet S. Further, the image forming unit 4 heats and pressurizes the toner image secondarily transferred to the sheet S by the fixing unit 46 to melt the toner image, and fixes the color image on the sheet S for recording.

The image forming unit 4 has a transport path 40 that transports the sheet S carried in from the feed section 3 via the feed path 33 to the secondary transfer section 45 side. In the transport path 40, the transport timing and the transport speed of the sheet S are adjusted. Then, the sheet S passes through the secondary transfer unit 45 and the fixing unit 46 in a state synchronized with the belt speeds of the primary transfer unit 44 and the secondary transfer unit 45, and then is discharged onto the discharge tray 49. It has become.

Below the secondary transfer unit 45 and the fixing unit 46, a switchback transfer path 47 and a reverse transfer path 48, each of which is composed of a plurality of transfer rollers and transfer guides, are arranged.

When forming an image on both sides of the sheet S, the switchback transport path 47 causes the sheet S whose image has been fixed to any one surface to enter from one end and then retracts (moves in the direction opposite to that at the time of entry). It is designed to carry out switchback transportation.

The reversing transport path 48 is adapted to reverse the front and back of the sheet S that has been switchback-conveyed by the switchback transport path 47C and re-feed to the transport path 40.

The sheet S, which has been subjected to the image fixing process on one surface by the switchback transfer path 47 and the reverse transfer path 48, is turned upside down after the traveling direction is switched in the opposite direction, and enters the secondary transfer nip again. The sheet S is also subjected to a secondary transfer process and a fixing process of the image on the other surface, and then is discharged onto the discharge tray 49.

The image forming apparatus 2 feeds the sheet S from the feeding unit 3 in the apparatus main body 2M via the feeding path 33 and the conveying path 40, and also via the connecting passage 500 provided on the side surface of the apparatus main body 2M. It is also possible to feed the sheet S via the connected feeding devices 5a and 5b.

In the image forming system 1, each of the connected feeding devices 5a and 5b is composed of the connected feeding device 5 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the articulated feeding device 5 includes two feeding trays 51 and 51, a connecting sheet transport path 503 connecting the connecting passages 501 and 502, and the feeding trays 51 and 51 and the connecting passage 501. It has sheet transport passages 504 and 505 connecting the two, respectively. The feed tray 51 constitutes the sheet loading means according to the present invention.

The articulated feeding device 5 is configured to be connectable to the image forming apparatus 2 so that the articulated passage 501 is connected to the articulated passage 500 (see FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus 2. Further, the connected type feeding device 5 can be connected to another connected type feeding device 5 so that the connecting passage 502 is connected to the connecting passage 501 of the other connected type feeding device 5.

The image forming system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes connected feeding devices 5a and 5b as an external feeding device for feeding the sheet S to the image forming device 2. The articulated feeding device 5a conveys the sheet S loaded on each of the feeding trays 51 and 51 via either the sheet transport path 504 or 505, and via the connecting passage 500 of the image forming apparatus 2. It is sent to the transport path 40.

The articulated feeding device 5b transports the sheets S loaded on the feeding trays 51 and 51 into the own device via either the sheet transport path 504 or 505. Further, the articulated feeding device 5b feeds the image forming device 5a into the transport path 40 via the connecting seat transport path 503 of the articulated feeding device 5a and the connecting passage 500 of the image forming apparatus 2.

In the image forming system 1, the image forming apparatus 2 and the connected feeding devices 5a and 5b are electrically connected at the time of connection, and the feeding operation of the sheet S is performed under the control of the control unit 20.

Returning to FIG. 2 again, the configuration of the articulated feeding device 5 will be described. In the connected type feeding device 5, each feeding tray 51, 51 has a tray bottom plate 52, side fences 53, 54, an end fence 55, an elevating mechanism 56, and an elevating motor 57.

In the feed tray 51, the tray bottom plate 52 loads a plurality of sheets S. The tray bottom plate 52 is configured to be able to move up and down via a lifting mechanism 56 driven by a lifting motor 57, which will be described later, with the seats S loaded as a bundle of seats.

In the feed tray 51, the side fences 53 and 54 regulate the movement of the sheet S loaded on the tray bottom plate 52 in the width direction. The end fence 55 is provided at the rear end of the sheet S loaded on the tray bottom plate 52 in the sheet transport direction, and restricts the movement of the sheet S in the direction opposite to the sheet transport direction. The elevating mechanism 56 is connected between the tray bottom plate 52 and the elevating motor 57, and the tray bottom plate 52, that is, the sheet S on the tray bottom plate 52 can be elevated and lowered by the rotational drive of the elevating motor 57.

The articulated feeding device 5 blows air into a bundle of sheets S housed in each of the feeding trays 51 and 51 to float and separate the sheets S, and adsorbs the sheets S one by one with air to the sheet transport paths 504 and 505. It is provided with an air pickup type feeding device for sending out, that is, an air feeding device 60. In the present embodiment, the air feeding device will be described as an example of the feeding device, but other feeding devices such as a friction separation method using a feeding roller may be used.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the air feeding device 60 includes a tray bottom plate 52, side fences 53, 54 and end fence 55 constituting the feeding tray 51, an air feeding unit 58, and a belt feeding unit. It is composed of 59 and.

The belt feeding unit 59 separates and feeds the sheets S one by one from the sheet bundle loaded on the feeding tray 51. The belt feeding unit 59 constitutes the separate feeding means according to the present invention.

The air feeding unit 58 is arranged on the downstream side of the tray bottom plate 52 in the sheet transport direction, and separates the floating fan 58a as a blower fan that blows air from the front end side in the width direction orthogonal to the sheet transport direction to the sheet S. It has a fan 58b. The levitation fan 58a and the separation fan 58b levate and separate the sheet S in a predetermined region below the uppermost portion of the sheet S by blowing air on the bundle of the sheets S from the front end side in the width direction.

The side fence 53 of the feed tray 51 is provided with a side fan 53a as a blower fan for blowing air from the side of the seat S. Similarly, the side fence 54 is provided with a side fan 54a as a blower fan that blows air from the opposite side of the seat S. The side fans 53a and 54a make it easier for the seat S to float and separate by blowing air from both sides of the bundle of the seat S.

The belt feeding unit 59 includes an air suction fan 59a, a suction duct 59c, a suction chamber 59d, a feeding roller pair 59e, 59f, and a suction belt 59g, as shown in FIG. There is.

The air suction fan 59a sucks air in the suction chamber 59d through a suction duct 59c having an opening facing the upper surface of the uppermost sheet S of the bundle of sheets S loaded on the tray bottom plate 52 (FIG. 4). reference). The air suction fan 59a is provided with an air filter that removes paper dust, calcium carbonate, dust, and dust so as not to be discharged to the outside of the machine.

The suction belt 59g is composed of, for example, a rubber endless belt that is hung between the delivery rollers 59e and 59f facing the opening of the suction chamber 59d. The suction belt 59g has a plurality of suction holes, and the sheet S is sucked by the air sucked by the air suction fan 59a (see FIG. 4). The feeding rollers 59e and 59f are rotationally driven by a motor, and the suction belt 59g on which the sheet S is sucked is conveyed to the downstream side of the sheet transfer.

According to the above-described configuration, the belt feeding unit 59 floats and separates the sheets S by blowing air from the air feeding unit 58, one by one in order from the top one by sucking air through the suction duct 59c. It is adsorbed by the suction belt 59 g. After that, in the belt feeding unit 59, the feeding rollers 59e and 59f are rotationally driven to rotate the suction belt 59g, and the sheet S sucked on the peripheral surface of the suction belt 59g is fed downstream in the sheet transport direction. Transport is carried out.

A more detailed configuration of the feed tray 51 will be described with reference to FIG.

The tray bottom plate 52 has a convex member 62 and an elevating means 61. The convex member 62 is provided near the center of the tray bottom plate 52, and is raised to a constant height as shown in FIG. 4 by driving the elevating means 61. As the convex member 62 rises, the sheet S curves in the upward convex direction. The elevating means 61 is driven by a motor or the like to raise or lower the convex member 62. The convex member 62 is housed in the tray bottom plate 52 in the lowered state described later.

The side fence 53 has a movable means 53b. The movable means 53b moves the side fence 53 left and right, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the seat S, by driving, for example, a motor or the like. The side fence 54 also has a similar movable means 54b. The movement of the movable means 53b and the movable means 54b narrows the distance between the side fence 53 and the side fence 54, and assists in forming the curvature of the seat S.

The curl correction of the sheet S will be described with reference to FIG.

In the initial state, the sheet S is loaded on the tray bottom plate 52 as shown in FIG. 5A. The positions of the convex member 62 and the side fences 53 and 54 in FIG. 5A are the initial positions before the curl correction is performed, and in this state, the seat width of the seat S and the width between the side fences 53 and 54 are substantially equal. ing. The tray bottom plate 52 is in a flat state. In the initial state, the sheet S may have an upward curl at the tip.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, the convex member 62 is raised by using the elevating means 61, and the sheet S is curved upwardly and convexly.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), the side fences 53 and 54 are moved from the seat size appropriate position to the seat bundle direction, that is, in the left-right direction in FIG. 5 (c) by a certain distance using the movable means 53b and 54b. As a result, the sheet S is formed with a curve larger than that shown in FIG. 5B, and curl correction in a certain direction is performed.

The curl correction of the sheet S was performed by using not only the raising of the convex member 62 but also the movement of the side fences 53 and 54 for the following reasons. In the large-capacity feed tray, the number of loaded sheets is about 2 to 3000, and the loading height is high. The lower part of the loaded seat S is curved due to the ascent of the convex member 62, but the upper part of the loaded seat S is less likely to be curved. Therefore, by moving the side fences 53 and 54 in the direction of the seat bundle, it is possible to assist the formation of the curvature of the seat S and to form the curvature of all the seat bundles from the lowermost surface to the uppermost surface of the seat. It was configured as follows.

In the sheet S in which the tip curl is generated, it is possible to correct the curl in a certain direction by forming the curve as described above. The curl correction is performed in a state where the feeding operation is not performed. At the start of feeding, the convex member 62 is housed in the tray bottom plate 52, and the side fences 53 and 54 return to the seat size appropriate position, which is the initial position. Smooth feeding operation is possible without interfering with the operation.

Since the user may continuously perform the feeding operation, the curl correction is performed when the monitoring timer time T by the monitoring timer 24 described later exceeds the curl correction transition set time x. This prevents the user from having to wait for the curl correction operation.

When the next feeding job occurs after the convex member 62 and the side fences 53 and 54 are moved, the elevating means 61 and the movable means 53b and 54b are driven to drive the convex member 62 and the side fences 53 and 54 (FIG. 5). Perform standby return to return to the initial position shown in a).

It is also possible to perform the above-mentioned curl correction according to the paper thickness type of the sheet S. Hereinafter, the case where the sheet S is paper will be described, but the sheet S may be coated paper, label paper, transparency sheet, film or the like. Generally, the paper type in which the tip curl of the sheet is likely to occur is thin paper, and thick paper is unlikely to occur. By performing curl correction, the tip curl is corrected for thin paper and good paper passage is possible, but for thick paper, curl is formed by curl correction, and the sheet collides with the transport port at the time of feeding. There is a concern that it will cause jam.

After the feeding job is completed, the control unit 20 reads the information on the paper thickness of the sheet S, and determines whether or not the sheet S to be fed next is thin paper. Here, the thin paper means a paper having a basis weight of 105 (g / m ² ) or less, and the thick paper means a paper having a basis weight larger than 105 (g / m ² ).

If the control unit 20 determines that the sheet S to be fed next is thin paper, curl correction is performed, and if it is determined that the sheet S is thick paper, curl correction is not performed and the standby mode is set to wait until the next feed. Transition. As a result, by controlling curl correction only for thin paper on which tip curl tends to be a problem, smooth feeding operation can be performed for all paper types.

In the image forming apparatus 2, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 20 includes an air supply control unit 21, a convex member position control unit 22, and a side fence position control unit 23. The control unit 20 performs various controls such as raising and lowering the convex member 62, moving the side fences 53 and 54, and determining the sheet thickness of the seat S.

The air feed control unit 21 sends a feed job to the belt feed unit 59 and drives the side fans 53a, 54a, the levitation fan 58a, the separation fan 58b, the air suction fan 59a, and the belt drive motor 59h to drive the seat S. Air transfer control is performed.

The convex member position control unit 22 controls the position of the convex member 62 by driving the elevating means 61. The side fence position control unit 23 controls the positions of the side fences 53 and 54 by driving the movable means 53b and 54b.

Next, the curl correction control operation of the air feeding device 60 by the control unit 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the feeding job ends (step S1), the control unit 20 activates the monitoring timer 24 to start measuring the monitoring timer time T, which is the elapsed time after the end of the feeding job (step S2). The presence or absence of input of the feed job signal is monitored (step S3). The monitoring timer 24 constitutes the measuring means according to the present invention.

When the next job signal is input (step S4), the control unit 20 starts the feed control by the air feed control unit 21 (step S5).

When the next job signal is not input (step S4), the control unit 20 continues the measurement by the monitoring timer 24 (step S6), and when the monitoring timer time T exceeds the predetermined curl correction transition set time x. The convex member position control unit 22 drives the elevating means 61 to raise the convex member 62 from a predetermined position (step S7). If the monitoring timer time T does not exceed the curl correction transition set time x, the control unit 20 continues monitoring whether or not a job signal is input (step S6).

After raising the convex member 62 in step S7, the control unit 20 drives the movable means 53b, 54b by the side fence position control unit 23, and moves the side fences 53, 54 from the predetermined position in the feeding direction of the seat S. It is moved in the vertical direction, that is, in the direction in which the seat width is narrowed (step S8). After the convex member 62 is raised and the side fences 53 and 54 are moved, the control unit 20 shifts to the standby mode of waiting until the next feeding job (step S9).

By performing the curl correction control in steps S1 to S9, the sheet bundle can be curved during the standby mode, and the sheet tip curl can be corrected in a certain direction.

Next, the standby return control of the air feeding device 60 by the control unit 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the next feed job signal is input (step S11) after the control unit 20 shifts to the standby mode, the side fence position control unit 23 drives the movable means 53b and 54b to drive the side fences 53 and 54. Is moved to a predetermined position shown in FIG. 5A, that is, an initial position (step S12).

Next, the control unit 20 drives the elevating means 61 by the convex member position control unit 22, lowers the convex member 62 to a predetermined position shown in FIG. 5A, that is, an initial position, and accommodates the convex member 62 in the tray bottom plate 52. Step S13).

The control unit 20 starts the feeding job after the convex member 62 is lowered and the side fences 53 and 54 are moved (step S14).

By performing the standby return control in steps S11 to S14, the curl of the seat S is corrected during the standby mode, and the convex member 62 and the side fences 53 and 54 return to the initial positions at the start of the feeding job. Transfer failure can be suppressed without hindering the feeding operation.

Next, the thin paper curl correction control of the air feeding device 60 by the control unit 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the feeding job is completed (step S21), the control unit 20 determines whether the sheet S loaded on the feeding tray 51 is thick paper or thin paper based on a predetermined reference thickness (step S22).

When the control unit 20 determines that the sheet S is thick paper, the control unit 20 shifts to the standby mode of waiting until the next feeding job (step S30).

When the control unit 20 determines that the sheet S is thin, the control timer 24 activates the monitoring timer 24 to start measuring the monitoring timer time T, which is the elapsed time after the end of the feeding job (step S23). The presence or absence of input of the feed job signal is monitored (step S24). When the next job signal is input (step S25), the control unit 20 starts the feed control by the air feed control unit 21 (step S26).

When the next job signal is not input (step S26), the control unit 20 continues the measurement by the monitoring timer 24 (step S27), and when the monitoring timer time T exceeds the predetermined curl correction transition set time x. The convex member position control unit 22 drives the elevating means 61 to raise the convex member 62 from a predetermined position (step S28). If the monitoring timer time T does not exceed the curl correction transition set time x, the control unit 20 continues monitoring whether or not a job signal is input (step S27).

After raising the convex member 62 in step S28, the control unit 20 drives the movable means 53b and 54b by the side fence position control unit 23, and moves the side fences 53 and 54 in a direction in which the seat width becomes narrower than the predetermined position. (Step S29). After the convex member 62 is raised and the side fences 53 and 54 are moved, the control unit 20 shifts to the standby mode of waiting until the next feeding job (step S30).

By performing the thin paper curl correction control in steps S21 to S30, only the thin paper on which the tip curl is likely to occur is curled, and the thick paper is not curled. This is because the curl formed by the curl correction control of the thick paper may cause the sheet to collide with the transport port at the time of feeding and cause jam. Therefore, by performing the above-mentioned thin paper curl correction control, smooth feeding operation is possible for all paper types.

As described above, the air feeding device 60 according to the present embodiment is provided on the feeding tray 51 for loading the bundle of sheets S, the convex member 62 provided on the feeding tray 51 and capable of raising and lowering, and the feeding tray 51. A configuration including a belt feeding unit 59 that separates and feeds sheets one by one from a bundle of loaded sheets S, and side fences 53 and 54 that can move in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the sheets S. Is.

With this configuration, the air feeding device 60 can perform curl correction in a certain direction on the sheet S loaded on the feeding tray 51 by raising the convex member 62 and moving the side fences 53 and 54. The sheet S can be smoothly separated and fed without generating the above-mentioned.

The air feeding device 60 according to the present embodiment further includes a convex member position control unit 22 that controls the elevation of the convex member 62 and a side fence position control unit 23 that controls the movement of the side fences 53 and 54, and is convex. The member position control unit 22 raises the convex member 62 from a predetermined position after the feeding job of the seat S by the belt feeding unit 59 is completed, and the side fence position control unit 23 raises the side fences 53 and 54 of the seat S. It may be configured to move from a predetermined position in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction.

With this configuration, since the raising of the convex member 62 and the movement of the side fences 53 and 54 are performed after the end of the feeding job, the feeding operation is not hindered by the convex member 62 and the side fences 53 and 54. Therefore, the air feeding device 60 can smoothly perform the feeding operation.

In the air feeding device 60 according to the present embodiment, the control unit 20 has a monitoring timer 24 for measuring the elapsed time after the end of the feeding job, until the elapsed time exceeds the curl correction transition set time x. If the next feeding job does not occur in the meantime, the convex member 62 may be raised from the predetermined position, and the side fences 53 and 54 may be moved from the predetermined position in the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the seat S. Good.

With this configuration, the air feeding device 60 does not perform curl correction until the curl correction transition set time x is exceeded after the end of the feeding job, so that the user continuously feeds the air feeding device 60. When is input, it is possible to prevent a waiting time from occurring due to the curl correction control.

In the air feeding device 60 according to the present embodiment, the control unit 20 raises the convex member 62 from the predetermined position and raises the side fences 53 and 54 from the predetermined position in the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the seat S. After transmitting the feed job signal to the belt feeding unit 59 in the moved state, the side fences 53 and 54 may be moved to the initial position, and the convex member 62 may be lowered to the initial position.

With this configuration, when the feeding job signal is input after the convex member 62 is raised and the side fences 53 and 54 are moved, the air feeding device 60 does not interfere with the feeding operation, so that the convex member 62 and the side fence 53 do not interfere with the feeding operation. , 54 is returned to the initial position, so that the feeding operation can be smoothly performed.

In the air feeding device 60 according to the present embodiment, the control unit 20 takes in the sheet thickness information of the sheet S after the end of the feeding job, determines the sheet thickness, and when the sheet thickness is larger than the predetermined thickness, the convex member. It may be configured to control the elevating and lowering of 62 and the movement of side fences 53 and 54.

With this configuration, the air feeding device 60 curls only the thin paper on which the tip curls occur, and does not curl the thick paper. This is because the curl formed by the curl correction control of the thick paper may cause the sheet to collide with the transport port at the time of feeding and cause jam. Therefore, smooth feeding operation is possible for all paper types regardless of whether they are thick paper or thin paper.

As described above, according to the present invention, by correcting a sheet having a curled tip to curl in a certain direction, the sheet can be smoothly fed and the occurrence of poor transportation can be suppressed. It is useful in general for feeders and image forming devices.

1 Image forming system 2 Image forming device 3 Feeding unit 4 Image forming unit 5, 5a, 5b Connected feeding device 20 Control unit 21 Air feeding control unit 22 Convex member position control unit 23 Side fence position control unit 24 Monitoring timer 51 Feeding tray 52 Tray bottom plate 53, 54 Side fence 53b, 54b Movable means 59 Belt feeding unit (separate feeding means)
60 Air feeder (feeding device)
61 Lifting means 62 Convex member S sheet

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-309624

Claims (5)

Sheet loading means for loading a bundle of sheets and
A convex member provided on the sheet loading means and capable of raising and lowering the sheet loading means ,
Separate feeding means for separating and feeding sheets one by one from the bundle of sheets loaded on the sheet loading means, and
A side fence that can move in the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the seat,
A control unit that controls the raising and lowering of the convex member and the movement of the side fence,
Have a,
The control unit raises the convex member from a predetermined position and raises the side fence to a predetermined position in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the seat while the separate feeding means is not performing the feeding operation. A feeding device characterized by being more mobile . The control unit has a measuring means for measuring the elapsed time after the end of the feeding job, and when the next feeding job does not occur until the elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time, the convex member. was raised from the predetermined position, and the feeding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that moving from the predetermined position in a direction perpendicular to the side fence to the feeding direction of the sheet. The control unit raises the convex member from a predetermined position and moves the side fence from a predetermined position in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the seat, and supplies the job to the separated feeding means. The feeding device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein after transmitting the signal, the side fence is moved to an initial position and the convex member is lowered to the initial position. After the feeding job is completed, the control unit takes in the sheet thickness information of the sheet, determines the sheet thickness, and controls the raising and lowering of the convex member and the movement of the side fence when the sheet thickness is larger than the predetermined thickness. feeding apparatus according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that. An image forming apparatus comprising the feeding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 .

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