JP6926559B2 - Conveyor device and image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a transfer device and an image forming device.

Conventionally, in order to meet the needs for diversification of recording media for forming images, image forming devices have already been commercialized in which images are formed on continuous media such as continuous recording paper and film as recording media. Has been done. As a technique related to a continuous medium transport device, for example, those disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like have already been proposed.

Patent Document 1 is a web transport device that transports a sheet-shaped web by a plurality of rollers, and is provided at a drive roller that transports the web and an axial direction that is provided in front of the drive roller in the web transport direction. The controller comprises an angle adjusting roller, an imaging means for imaging the web conveyed on the angle adjusting roller, an alignment adjusting means for adjusting the angle of the axis of the angle adjusting roller, and a controller. From the image captured by the imaging means, an image analysis means that detects a straight line of the waveform generated on the web and analyzes the approach direction of the straight line with respect to the angle adjusting roller, and the image analysis means. It is configured to include an axial angle controlling means for controlling the alignment adjusting means so as to drive the axis of the angle adjusting roller in a direction in which the angle formed by the straight line approaching direction and the axial direction is perpendicular. It is a thing.

JP-A-2007-326657

An object of the present invention is compared with a case where the tension of continuous media transported by at least two adjacent transport means is not changed without changing the transport angle of continuous media by using an angle adjusting roller. The purpose is to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles in the continuous medium.

The invention according to claim 1 comprises a plurality of transporting means for transporting the medium at different positions along the transport direction of the continuous medium.
Did non-vibration deformation of the medium occur due to excessive tension of the medium transported by the two adjacent transport means between two adjacent transport means among the plurality of transport means? Or, a detection means for detecting whether or not the vibrational deformation of the medium has occurred due to the tension of the medium being too low.
When non-vibrational deformation of the medium occurs due to excessive tension of the medium transported by the two adjacent transport means based on the detection result of the detection means, the tension of the medium is reduced. When the vibrational deformation of the medium occurs due to the tension of the medium being too small, the tension changing means for changing the tension of the medium is increased.
It is a transport device equipped with.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein when the detecting means detects a transport state in which the medium is deformed without vibration, the tension changing means reduces the tension of the medium. It is a transport device of.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the tension changing means reduces the transport speed of the transport means on the downstream side of the two adjacent transport means along the transport direction of the medium, or transports the medium. The transport device according to claim 2, wherein the transport speed of the transport means on the upstream side along the direction is increased.

The invention according to claim 4 is the conveying device according to claim 1, wherein when the detecting means detects an oscillating transport state of the medium, the tension changing means increases the tension of the medium. ..

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the tension changing means increases the transport speed of the transport means on the downstream side of the two adjacent transport means along the transport direction of the medium, or transports the medium. The transport device according to claim 4, wherein the transport speed of the transport means on the upstream side along the direction is reduced.

The invention according to claim 6 comprises a transport device for transporting a continuous medium and a transport device.
An image forming means for forming an image on the medium conveyed by the conveying device, and
With
An image forming apparatus using the conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 as the conveying device.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the tension of the continuous medium transported by at least two adjacent transport means is changed without changing the transport angle of the continuous medium by using the angle adjusting roller. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles in the continuous medium as compared with the case of not having.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress an abnormality in a non-oscillating transport state generated in the medium as compared with the case where the tension changing means does not have a configuration for reducing the tension of the medium.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the tension of the medium can be changed by changing the transport speed of the transport means.

According to the invention described in claim 4, the vibration phenomenon generated in the medium can be suppressed as compared with the case where the tension changing means does not have a structure for increasing the tension of the medium.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the tension of the medium can be increased by changing the transport speed of the transport means.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, there is no configuration in which the tension of the medium conveyed by at least two adjacent conveying means is changed without changing the conveying angle of the continuous medium by using the angle adjusting roller. As compared with the case, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles in the continuous medium, and it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the quality of the image formed on the medium.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the image forming apparatus to which the transfer apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the image forming part of the image forming apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the continuous sheet. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the transport device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective block diagram which shows the transport device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control apparatus of the image forming apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the transport state of a continuous sheet. It is a block diagram which shows the transport state of a continuous sheet. It is a block diagram which shows the detection operation of the transport state of a continuous sheet. It is a block diagram which shows the main part of the transport device which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the main part of the transport device which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the main part of the image forming apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control apparatus of the image forming apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention.

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

[Embodiment 1]
1 and 2 show an image forming apparatus to which the conveying apparatus according to the first embodiment is applied. FIG. 1 shows an overall outline of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of a main part (an image forming apparatus or the like) of the image forming apparatus.

<Overall configuration of image forming apparatus>
The image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment is configured as, for example, a color printer. The image forming apparatus 1 is an image output apparatus 2 that forms an image using four color toners of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), and a continuous medium (web). As an example, a supply device 3 for supplying a continuous sheet 5, a discharge device 4 for discharging and accommodating a continuous sheet 5 on which an image is formed by an image output device 2, and an image output device 4 provided above the discharge device 4. It includes a device 2, a supply device 3, and a control device 100 that controls a discharge device 4. In the image forming apparatus 1 of the illustrated example, the supply device 3, the discharging device 4, and the control device 100 are arranged separately outside the image output device 2, but the image forming apparatus 1 is an image output device 2. Of course, the supply device 3, the discharge device 4, and at least a part of the control device 100 may be integrally arranged.

The image output device 2 includes an electrophotographic image forming unit 106 that forms an image on the continuous sheet 5 based on the image data. The image forming unit 106 holds an image forming apparatus 10 as an example of a plurality of image forming means for forming a toner image developed by toner constituting a developer, and a toner image formed by each image forming apparatus 10. In this embodiment, the intermediate transfer device 20 that finally transfers to the secondary transfer position for secondary transfer to the continuous sheet 5 and the required continuous sheet 5 to be supplied to the secondary transfer position of the intermediate transfer device 20 are transferred. The transfer device 60 according to the embodiment and the fixing device 40 as an example of the fixing means including a heating step for fixing the toner image on the continuous sheet 5 secondarily transferred by the intermediate transfer device 20 are provided.

The image output device 2 can be configured as a color copier, for example, when an image reading device as an image reading unit (not shown) for inputting a document image to be formed on the continuous sheet 5 is additionally equipped. Reference numeral 2a in the figure indicates a housing of the image output device 2, and the housing 2a is composed of a support component, an exterior cover, and the like.

The image-forming device 10 is a four-color image-forming device 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K that exclusively forms toner images of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively. It is configured. These four image forming devices 10 (Y, M, C, K) are arranged so as to be arranged in a row in the internal space of the housing 2a.

As shown in FIG. 2, each image forming apparatus 10 includes a photoconductor drum 11 as an example of a rotating image holder, and the following devices are mainly provided around the photoconductor drum 11. Is located in. The main devices are a charging device 12 that charges the peripheral surface (image holding surface) capable of forming an image of the photoconductor drum 11 to a required potential, and image information (image information (image information) on the charged peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 11. An exposure device 13 as an electrostatic latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image (for each color) having a potential difference by irradiating light based on the signal), and a developer of the corresponding color for the electrostatic latent image. A developing device 14 as an example of a developing means for developing with toner to obtain a toner image, a primary transfer device 15 for transferring each toner image to an intermediate transfer device 20, and an image holding surface of a photoconductor drum 11 after the primary transfer. It is a drum cleaning device 16 or the like that removes and cleans the deposits such as toner remaining on the surface.

The photoconductor drum 11 has an image-holding surface having a photoconductive layer (photosensitive layer) made of a photosensitive material formed on the peripheral surface of a cylindrical or columnar base material to be grounded. The photoconductor drum 11 is supported so as to be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow A by transmitting power from a drive device (not shown).

The charging device 12 is composed of a non-contact type charging device such as a corona discharger that is arranged so as not to come into contact with the photoconductor drum 11. A charging voltage is supplied to the charging device 12. As the charging voltage, when the developing device 14 performs reverse development, a voltage or current having the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner supplied from the developing device 14 is supplied. As the charging device 12, of course, a contact-type charging device such as a charging roll arranged in contact with the photoconductor drum 11 may be used.

The exposure device 13 irradiates the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 11 after being charged with light configured according to the information of the image input to the image output device 2 to form an electrostatic latent image. It is a thing. When the latent image is formed, the exposure device 13 is input to the image output device 2 by any means, and the information (signal) of the image processed by the image processing unit is transmitted.

In each of the developing devices 14, the developing roll 142 that holds the developing agent and conveys it to the developing area facing the photoconductor drum 11 inside the developing device main body in which the opening and the developing chamber are formed, and the developing agent. A stirring supply member 143 and a stirring transfer member 144 such as two screw augers, and a layer thickness that regulates the amount (layer thickness) of the developer held on the developing roll 142. It is configured by arranging a regulating member 149 and the like. A bias voltage for development is supplied to the developing device 14 from a power supply device (not shown) between the developing roll 142 and the photoconductor drum 11. Further, the developing roll 142, the agitation supply member 143, and the agitation transfer member 144 are rotated in a required direction by transmitting power from a rotation drive device (not shown). As the developer, for example, a two-component developer containing a non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier is used.

In FIG. 1, reference numerals 145 (Y, M, C, K) indicate toner cartridges as developer storage containers containing at least a developer containing toner to be supplied to the corresponding developing device 14. In this embodiment, the toner mixed with the carrier is housed inside the toner cartridge 145.

The primary transfer device 15 is a contact-type transfer device including a primary transfer roll that contacts and rotates on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 11 and is supplied with a primary transfer voltage. As the primary transfer voltage, a DC voltage indicating a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is supplied from a power supply device (not shown).

The drum cleaning device 16 is arranged so as to come into contact with the container-shaped main body, which is partially opened, and the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 11 after the primary transfer at a required pressure, and removes deposits such as residual toner for cleaning. It is composed of a cleaning plate to be used and a collection device for collecting the deposits removed by the cleaning plate.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the intermediate transfer device 20 is arranged so as to exist at a position below each image drawing device 10 (Y, M, C, K). The intermediate transfer device 20 includes an intermediate transfer belt 21 that rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow B while passing through a primary transfer position between the photoconductor drum 11 and the primary transfer device 15 (primary transfer roll), and an intermediate transfer belt 21. On the outer peripheral surface (image holding surface) side of the plurality of belt support rolls 22 to 24 that hold the belt in a desired state from its inner circumference and rotatably support it, and the intermediate transfer belt 21 supported by the belt support roll 24. A secondary transfer device 30 that is arranged and secondarily transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21 to the continuous sheet 5, and a toner that remains and adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 after passing through the secondary transfer device 30. It is composed of a belt cleaning device 25 and the like provided with a blade-shaped cleaning member 26 for removing and cleaning deposits such as paper dust.

As the intermediate transfer belt 21, for example, an endless belt made of a material in which a resistance modifier such as carbon black is dispersed in a synthetic resin such as a polyimide resin or a polyamide resin is used. Further, the belt support roll 22 is configured as a drive roll, the belt support roll 23 is configured as a surface roll and tension applying roll of the intermediate transfer belt 21, and the belt support roll 24 is configured as a backup roll for secondary transfer. ..

As shown in FIG. 2, the secondary transfer device 30 is set on the intermediate transfer belt 21 at the secondary transfer position which is the outer peripheral surface portion of the intermediate transfer belt 21 supported by the belt support roll 24 in the intermediate transfer device 20. This is a contact-type transfer device provided with a secondary transfer roll 31 that contacts and rotates on the peripheral surface and is supplied with a secondary transfer voltage. Further, a DC voltage showing the opposite polarity or the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner is supplied to the secondary transfer roll 31 or the belt support roll 24 of the intermediate transfer device 20 as the secondary transfer voltage.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fixing device 40 includes a roll-shaped or belt-shaped heating rotating body 41 that is heated by a heating means so that the surface temperature is maintained at a predetermined temperature, and the heating rotating body 41. It is configured by arranging a rotating body 42 for pressurization in the form of a roll or a belt that rotates in contact with the 41 at a required pressure. In the fixing device 40, a fixing treatment unit (nip) that performs a necessary fixing treatment (heating and pressurization) including a heating step in which the contact portion in contact between the heating rotating body 41 and the pressurizing rotating body 42 heats the continuous sheet 5. Department).

The supply device 3 includes a supply roll 61 in which a continuous long continuous sheet 5 is wound in a roll shape as an example of a continuous medium, and supplies the continuous sheet 5 from the supply roll 61. The supply device 3 is arranged as a separate body on the upstream side of the continuous sheet 5 of the image output device 2 along the transport direction in a separated state. The continuous sheet 5 is made of synthetic resins such as PS (polystyrene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and SBR (styrene-butadiene-block copolymer). A thin film or sheet having a thickness of about 10 to 100 μm can be mentioned. However, the continuous sheet 5 is not limited to this, and continuous paper made of plain paper, label paper, or the like may be used. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 61a indicates a rotation axis of the supply roll 61.

Further, as the continuous sheet 5, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, an adhesive such as glue or an adhesive such as glue is used on a release paper 51 made of glassin paper or the like which generally has a role as a mount and is discarded at the time of use. A surface group provided on the uppermost layer via an adhesive layer 52 as an intermediate layer made of an adhesive and made of a synthetic resin sheet such as PP (polypropylene) or PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or paper such as high-quality paper or coated paper. A so-called label paper to which the material 53 is adhered is used. The label paper as an example of the continuous sheet 5 is used by printing a pattern or characters on the surface of the surface base material 53. The label paper which is the continuous sheet 5 is supplied as a roll paper 61 which is rolled into a roll so that the surface base material 53 side is located on the surface (outer peripheral surface) which is an image forming surface, although it depends on the use thereof. Has been done.

As shown in FIG. 1, the supply device 3 includes a supply roll 61 that is rotationally driven in a clockwise direction by a driving means, and a supply roll pair 62 that supplies a continuous sheet 5 from the supply roll 61, as will be described later. .. The supply roll pair 62 is composed of a pair of supply rolls 62a and 62b that are arranged one above the other and convey the continuous sheet 5 in a sandwiched state.

The image output device 2 includes a transfer roll 63 inside the housing 2a that conveys the continuous sheet 5 supplied from the supply device 3 so as to guide the continuous sheet 5 to the secondary transfer position. The transport roll 63 is brought into contact with the surface of the continuous sheet 5 opposite to the image forming surface (the back surface in the illustrated example) for transport.

Further, on the downstream side of the image output device 2, a discharge device 4 for discharging and accommodating the continuous sheet 5 on which the image is formed by the image output device 2 is arranged. The discharge device 4 includes a discharge roll pair 64 that conveys the continuous sheet 5 in a sandwiched state, and a take-up roll 65 that is rotatably arranged in the clockwise direction in the drawing and winds the continuous sheet 5 in a roll shape. .. The discharge roll pair 64 is composed of discharge rolls 64a and 64b which are arranged one above the other and convey the continuous sheet 5 in a sandwiched state. A cutting device 66 for cutting the continuous sheet 5 may be arranged at the inlet of the discharging device 4 as needed. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 65a indicates a rotation axis of the take-up roll 65.

<Basic operation of image forming apparatus>
Hereinafter, the basic image forming operation by the image output device 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

Here, a full-color image composed by combining toner images of four colors (Y, M, C, K) using four image forming devices 10 (Y, M, C, K) of the image output device 2. The image formation operation when forming the image will be described. The four image forming devices 10 (Y, M, C, K) of the image output device 2 are used to form a toner image of one or more of the four colors (Y, M, C, K). The same applies to the image forming operation when the image is formed.

When the image output device 2 receives the command information of the request for the image forming operation (print), the image output device 2 receives four image forming devices 10 (Y, M, C, K), an intermediate transfer device 20, a secondary transfer device 30, and a fixing device. 40 etc. start.

Then, in each image-forming device 10 (Y, M, C, K), as shown in FIG. 2, each photoconductor drum 11 first rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow A, and each charging device 12 is subjected to each photosensitivity. The surface of the body drum 11 is charged to a required polarity (minus polarity in the first embodiment) and an electric potential. Subsequently, the exposure device 13 converts the information of the image input to the image output device 2 into each color component (Y, M, C, K) on the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 after charging, and the image is obtained. The light emitted based on the signal of is irradiated, and an electrostatic latent image of each color component composed of a required potential difference is formed on the surface thereof.

Subsequently, each developing device 14 (Y, M, C, K) has a corresponding color charged with a required polarity (minus polarity) with respect to the electrostatic latent image of each color component formed on the photoconductor drum 11. (Y, M, C, K) toners are supplied and electrostatically adhered to perform development. The electrostatic latent image of each color component formed on each photoconductor drum 11 by this development is visualized as a toner image of four colors (Y, M, C, K) developed with the toner of the corresponding color. To be made.

Subsequently, when the toner image of each color formed on the photoconductor drum 11 of each image forming apparatus 10 (Y, M, C, K) is conveyed to the primary transfer position, the primary transfer apparatus 15 moves the toner image of each color. The toner image is primarily transferred in a state of being sequentially superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 21 rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow B of the intermediate transfer device 20.

Further, in each image forming apparatus 10 for which the primary transfer is completed, the drum cleaning device 16 cleans the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 by scraping off the deposits such as toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor drum 11. .. As a result, each image forming device 10 is put into a state where the next image forming operation can be performed.

Subsequently, the intermediate transfer device 20 holds the toner image that has been primarily transferred by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 21 and conveys it to the secondary transfer position. On the other hand, in the supply device 3 and the discharge device 4, a continuous sheet 5 is introduced from the supply device 3 into the housing 2a of the image output device 2 prior to the image drawing operation, and is secondary from the transfer roll 63 of the transfer device 60. It is led out to the outside of the image output device 2 through the transfer position and the fixing device 40, and the tip of the continuous sheet 5 is wound around the take-up roll 65 via the discharge roll pair 64 of the discharge device 4. At the time of image formation, the continuous sheet 5 supplied from the supply device 3 is conveyed inside the image output device 2 at a required transfer speed, and then is housed in the discharge device 4.

At the secondary transfer position, the secondary transfer device 30 collectively transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21 to the continuous sheet 5. Further, in the intermediate transfer device 20 after the secondary transfer is completed, the belt cleaning device 25 removes and cleans the deposits such as toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 after the secondary transfer.

Subsequently, the continuous sheet 5 on which the toner image is secondarily transferred is transferred to the fixing device 40 after being peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt 21 and the secondary transfer roll 30. In the fixing device 40, necessary fixing treatments (heating and pressurization) are performed to fix the unfixed toner image on the continuous sheet 5. Finally, the continuous sheet 5 after the fixing is completed is discharged to the outside of the image output device 2, and is wound by a take-up roll 65 provided inside the discharge device 4.

By the above operation, the continuous sheet 5 in which the full-color image formed by combining the toner images of four colors is formed is output.

<Structure of transport device>
4 and 5 are block diagrams showing a transport device according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the transport device 60 according to this embodiment includes all the transport means constituting the transport system for transporting the continuous sheet 5. Specifically, the transfer device 60 includes a supply device 3 for supplying the continuous sheet 5, a discharge device 4 for discharging and accommodating the continuous sheet 5, and a transfer roll 63 for transporting the continuous sheet 5 inside the image output device 2. , The secondary transfer roll 31, the support roll 24 of the intermediate transfer device 20, and the fixing device 40.

As shown in FIG. 5, the supply roll 61 of the supply device 3 is rotationally driven by the first drive motor 66 as the first drive means. The first drive motor 66 is composed of, for example, a torque motor capable of supplying the continuous seat 5 at a constant tension and a constant speed. The torque motor changes so that the torque is inversely proportional to the rotation speed. Therefore, when the continuous sheet 5 is supplied from the new supply roll 61, the outer diameter of the supply roll 61 is relatively large, and the delivery speed of the continuous sheet 5 is set to a relatively slow speed. Further, when the continuous sheet 5 is supplied from the new supply roll 61, the weight of the supply roll 61 is relatively large and the torque is set to a relatively large value. On the other hand, when the remaining amount of the continuous sheet 5 of the supply roll 61 is low, the outer diameter of the supply roll 61 is relatively small, and the delivery speed of the continuous sheet 5 is set to a relatively high speed. Further, when the remaining amount of the continuous sheet 5 of the supply roll 61 is low, the weight of the supply roll 61 is relatively small, and the torque is set to a relatively small value. Further, of the supply roll pairs 62, the supply roll 62b as the drive roll arranged below is rotationally driven by the second drive motor 67 as the second drive means. As the second drive motor 67, for example, a stepping motor is used.

The image output device 2 includes a transfer roll 63 inside the housing 2a that guides the continuous sheet 5 supplied from the supply device 3 to the secondary transfer position. The transport roll 63 is brought into contact with the surface of the continuous sheet 5 opposite to the image forming surface (the back surface in the illustrated example) for transport. The transport roll 63 rotates in a driven manner as the continuous sheet 5 moves.

Further, the secondary transfer roll 31 of the image output device 2 is rotationally driven by a third drive motor 68 as a third drive means. As the third drive motor 68, for example, a stepping motor is used. The secondary transfer roll 31 does not have its own driving means, and may be configured to rotate in accordance with the intermediate transfer belt 21 which is rotationally driven by a driving means (not shown). The intermediate transfer belt 21 is rotationally driven by a belt support roll 22 that functions as a drive roll.

The pressurizing rotating body 42 of the fixing device 40 is rotationally driven by a fourth drive motor 69 as a fourth drive means. As the fourth drive motor 69, for example, a stepping motor is used. Further, the fixing device 40 may be configured so that the heating rotating body 41 is rotationally driven by the fourth drive motor 69 instead of the pressurizing rotating body 42.

As described above, the fixing device 40 conveys the continuous sheet 5 while being sandwiched by the rotating body 41 for heating and the rotating body 42 for pressurization at a required pressure. Therefore, the fixing device 40 has the largest nip force (holding force) for holding the continuous sheet 5 in a sandwiched state as compared with other transport means, and the transport force given to the continuous sheet 5 is dominant.

Further, among the discharge roll pairs 64 of the discharge device 4, the discharge roll 64b as the drive roll arranged below is rotationally driven by the fifth drive motor 70 as the fifth drive means. As the fifth drive motor 70, for example, a stepping motor is used.

The take-up roll 65 of the discharge device 6 is rotationally driven by a sixth drive motor 71 as the sixth drive means. Similar to the first drive motor 66, the sixth drive motor 71 is composed of, for example, a torque motor capable of supplying the continuous seat 5 at a constant tension and a constant speed. In the illustrated example, the take-up roll 65 having a large outer diameter is shown as the take-up roll 65 of the discharge device 6, but when the continuous sheet 5 is started to be supplied, the outer diameter of the take-up roll 65 is relative. Of course, it is very small.

The above-described transport device 60 is shown in a state in which a roll on the driven side is directly connected to the drive shafts of the first to sixth drive motors 66 to 71. However, it goes without saying that a plurality of driving force transmission gears may be interposed between the drive shafts of the first to sixth drive motors 66 to 71 and the roll on the driven side.

FIG. 6 shows a control device that controls the operation of the image forming device.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 100 indicates a control device that comprehensively controls the operations of the image forming device 1 and the transport device 60 and also functions as a tension changing means. The control device 100 temporarily stores a CPU 101 (Central Processing Unit) that comprehensively controls the operations of the image forming device 1 and the transport device 60, a ROM 102 (Read Only Memory) that stores a program executed by the CPU 101, and control parameters. It is provided with a RAM 103 (Random Access Memory) stored in the program, a bus for connecting the CPU 101, the ROM 102, and the like, a communication interface, and the like.

Further, as will be described later, an output signal is input to the control device 100 from the detection device 80 as an example of the detection means for detecting the conveyed state of the continuous sheet 5.

Further, the control device 100 controls the drive of the first to seventh drive motors 66 to 71 via the supply device drive unit 111, the secondary transfer roll drive unit 112, the fixing device drive unit 113, and the discharge device drive unit 114. It is configured to do. The supply device drive unit 111 individually drives the first drive motor 66 and the second drive motor 67 based on the control signal from the control device 100. The secondary transfer roll drive unit 112 drives the third drive motor 68 based on the control signal from the control device 100. The fixing device drive unit 113 drives the fourth drive motor 69 based on the control signal from the control device 100. The discharge device drive unit 114 individually drives the fifth drive motor 70 and the sixth drive motor 71 based on the control signal from the control device 100.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 104 is a user interface unit for inputting and displaying the type and size of the continuous sheet 5 including the label paper on which the user forms an image, the number of prints, and the like, and 106 is an image forming unit of the image output device 2. Each is shown.

By the way, as described above, the transport device 60 according to the first embodiment has a supply device 3 for supplying the continuous sheet 5, a discharge device 4 for accommodating the continuous sheet 5, and a continuous sheet inside the image output device 2. A transport roll 63 for transporting 5, a secondary transfer roll 31, a support roll 24 for the intermediate transfer device 20, and a fixing device 40 are provided.

Among the members constituting the transport device 60, the fixing device 40 has the largest holding force for holding the continuous sheet 5, and therefore is dominant in transporting the continuous sheet 5. Further, the secondary transfer roll 31 and the support roll 24 of the intermediate transfer device 20 are means for secondary transfer of the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt 21 to the continuous sheet 5, and the toner image transferred onto the continuous sheet 5 is transferred. Since it directly affects the image quality, it is necessary to prevent or suppress the occurrence of wrinkles when the continuous sheet 5 is conveyed.

Further, the supply roll pair 62 and the discharge roll pair 64 do not directly affect the image formed on the continuous sheet 5, but it is necessary to prevent or suppress the occurrence of wrinkles when the continuous sheet 5 is conveyed. be.

When the tension of the continuous sheet 5 when it is conveyed between the nip portion of the secondary transfer roll 31 and the support roll 24 of the intermediate transfer device 20 and the nip portion of the fixing device 40 fluctuates, the continuous sheet 5 is formed. It has been found that deformation such as wrinkles and waviness, or vibration occurs.

Further explaining, in the transfer device 60, the tension of the continuous sheet 5 is excessive between the nip portion between the secondary transfer roll 31 and the support roll 24 of the intermediate transfer device 20 and the nip portion of the fixing device 40. As shown in FIG. 7A, deformation 201 such as wrinkles and waviness may occur due to uneven elongation of the continuous sheet 5. As shown in FIG. 8A, when the deformation 201 such as wrinkles and waviness generated in the continuous sheet 5 directly enters the nip portion of the fixing device 40, it is fixed by the pressing force acting on the nip portion. Wrinkles 202 may be formed along the transport direction of the continuous sheet 5.

Further, in the transfer device 60, if the tension of the continuous sheet 5 is too small between the nip portion between the secondary transfer roll 31 and the support roll 24 of the intermediate transfer device 20 and the nip portion of the fixing device 40, FIG. As shown in (b), the transport posture of the continuous sheet 5 may become unstable, and a vibration phenomenon 203 may occur in which the continuous sheet 5 vibrates up and down near the entrance of the nip portion of the fixing device 40. As shown in FIG. 8B, when the vibration phenomenon 203 generated in the continuous sheet 5 enters the nip portion of the fixing device 40 as it is, it is fixed by the pressing force acting on the nip portion and the continuous sheet 5 is fixed. Wrinkles 204 may be formed along the direction intersecting the transport direction of.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the detection means for detecting the transport state of the continuous sheet 5 in the vicinity of the upstream side of the fixing device 40 as a required position along the transport direction of the continuous sheet 5. The detection device 80 is provided as an example. As the detection device 80, for example, a device that optically detects the conveyed state of the continuous sheet 5 is used. Here, the transporting state of the continuous sheet 5 means a non-vibrating transporting state of the continuous sheet 5 (displacement of the transporting position, etc.), a vibrating transporting state of the continuous sheet 5, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 9, the optical detection device 80 is provided at both ends along a direction intersecting the transport direction of the continuous sheet 5 in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the continuous sheet 5 (vertical direction in the drawing). An optical sensor including a light emitting unit 85 composed of a plurality of light emitting elements 81a to 84a arranged along the line and a light receiving unit 86 composed of a plurality of light receiving elements 81b to 84b is provided. The detection device 80 emits directional light LB such as laser light from each of the light emitting elements 81a to 84a in a direction parallel to the surface of the continuous sheet 5, and the laser light LBs are arranged at positions facing each other. Light is received by the light receiving elements 81b to 84b, respectively. At least one set, preferably a plurality of sets (two sets each in the illustrated example), are arranged on the front surface side and the back surface side of the continuous sheet 5 along the direction intersecting the front surface of the continuous sheet 5.

When deformation 201 such as wrinkles or waviness as shown in FIG. 7A occurs on the continuous sheet 5, it is emitted from the light emitting elements 81a to 84a of the detection device 80 as shown in FIG. 9C. The laser light LB is blocked by deformation 201 such as wrinkles and waviness of the continuous sheet 5, and the light emitting elements 81a to 84a and the light receiving elements 81b to 84b corresponding to the blocked laser light LB do not receive the laser light LB. .. Therefore, by detecting the presence or absence of light reception by the light receiving elements 81b to 84b of the detection device 80, deformation 201 such as wrinkles and waviness is detected in the continuous sheet 5.

Further, when the vibration phenomenon 203 as shown in FIG. 7B occurs on the continuous sheet 5, similarly, as shown in FIG. 9D, from the light emitting elements 81a to 84a of the detection device 80. The emitted laser light LB is blocked by the vibration phenomenon 203 of the continuous sheet 5, and the light emitting elements 81a to 84a in which the laser light LB is blocked and the light receiving elements 81b to 84b corresponding to the light emitting elements 81b to 84b do not receive the laser light LB. However, when the vibration phenomenon 203 occurs in the continuous sheet 5, the deformation region of the continuous sheet 5 changes with time, so that the light receiving elements 81b to 84b that do not receive the laser beam LB change with time. Therefore, it is detected that the vibration phenomenon 203 is generated in the continuous sheet 5 by detecting the presence / absence of light reception and the temporal fluctuation of the light receiving elements 81b to 84b of the detection device 80.

The control device 100 determines the transport state of the continuous sheet 5 based on the output signal output from the light receiving elements 81b to 84b of the detection device 80 and the temporal change of the output signal. That is, when all the output signals from the light receiving elements 81b to 84b are in the ON state, it is determined that the continuous sheet 5 is normally conveyed. Further, when the output from any one or more light receiving elements 81b to 84b of the detection device 80 is in the OFF state and the OFF state does not change with time, the continuous sheet 5 is wrinkled or wavy. It is determined that the deformation 201 has occurred. Further, the size of the deformation 201 such as wrinkles and waviness generated in the continuous sheet 5 is determined by the number of the light receiving elements 81b to 84b in which the output of the detection device 80 is in the OFF state. When the outputs of the plurality of light receiving elements 81b to 84b are in the OFF state, the wrinkles generated in the continuous sheet 5 are large, and only the outputs of the single light receiving elements 81b to 84b are in the OFF state. It is determined that the deformation 201 such as wrinkles and waviness generated in the continuous sheet 5 is small. Even when the continuous sheet 5 is deformed 201 such as wrinkles and waviness, the output signals from the light receiving elements 81b to 84b may change from the OFF state to the ON state. In this case, the control device 100 is configured to average the outputs from the light receiving elements 81b to 84b over time to determine whether or not deformation 201 such as wrinkles or waviness has occurred in the continuous sheet 5. Is also good.

Further, the output signals from any one or more light receiving elements 81b to 84b of the detection device 80 are in the OFF state, and the OFF state of the light receiving elements 81b to 84b changes from the OFF state to the ON state in time. If so, it is determined that the vibration phenomenon 203 has occurred in the continuous sheet 5.

Based on the detection result of the detection device 80, the control device 100 controls the transport speed of the continuous sheet 5 in the secondary transfer roll 31 and / or the fixing device 40 to adjust the tension of the continuous sheet 5 and adjusts the tension of the continuous sheet 5 to the continuous sheet 5. It is configured to prevent or suppress deformation 201 such as wrinkles and waviness generated, or vibration phenomenon 203.

<Operation of transport device>
In the transport device 60 according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the continuous sheet 5 is supplied from the supply device 3 along with the image forming operation, and is accommodated in the discharge device 4 via the image output device 2. NS. At that time, in the transport device 60, as shown in FIG. 4, the transport state of the continuous sheet 5 is detected by the detection device 80 in the vicinity of the upstream side of the fixing device 40 along the transport direction of the continuous paper 5.

The control device 100 determines whether or not deformation 201 such as wrinkles and waviness or vibration phenomenon 203 has occurred in the continuous sheet 5 based on the transport state of the continuous sheet 5 detected by the detection device 80.

When the control device 100 detects that the continuous sheet 5 is deformed 201 such as wrinkles or waviness based on the output signal output from the detection device 80, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the control device 100 fixes the continuous sheet 5. The fifth drive motor 70 is controlled via the device drive unit 113 to change the rotation speed of the pressurizing rotating body 42.

When the control device 100 detects that deformation 201 such as wrinkles or waviness has occurred in the continuous sheet 5, it controls the fourth drive motor 69 via the fixing device drive unit 113 to rotate the pressurizing rotating body 42. Adjust the speed so that it is slowed down by the required value (for example, about a few percent of the speed value).

In this way, by adjusting the rotation speed of the pressurizing rotating body 42 to be slower by a required value (for example, about several% of the speed value), the secondary transfer roll 31 and the support roll 24 of the intermediate transfer device 20 are used. Deformation 201 such as wrinkles and waviness generated in the continuous sheet 5 due to the excessive tension of the continuous sheet 5 between the nip portion of and the nip portion of the fixing device 40 is prevented or suppressed. ..

Further, the control device 100 adjusts the rotation speed of the pressurizing rotating body 42 to be slower by a required value (for example, about several% of the speed value), and at the same time, between the fixing device 40 and the discharge roll pair 64. The fifth drive motor 70 is controlled via the discharge device drive unit 114 as necessary so that the tension of the continuous sheet 5 is not excessive, and the rotation speed of the discharge roll pair 64 is required to match the fixing device 40. Adjust so that the speed is reduced by the value of (for example, about several% of the speed value). However, since the conveying force of the continuous sheet 5 in the discharge roll pair 64 is not so large, it is not always necessary to control the rotation speed of the discharge roll pair 64.

On the other hand, when the control device 100 detects that the vibration phenomenon 203 is generated in the continuous sheet 5 based on the output signal output from the detection device 80, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, the fixing device drive The fourth drive motor 69 is controlled via the unit 113 to change the rotation speed of the pressurizing rotating body 42.

When the control device 100 detects that the vibration phenomenon 203 is occurring in the continuous seat 5, it controls the fourth drive motor 69 via the fixing device drive unit 113, and requires the rotation speed of the pressurizing rotating body 42. Adjust so that it is faster by the value (for example, about a few percent of the speed value).

In this way, by adjusting the rotation speed of the pressurizing rotating body 42 to be faster by a required value (for example, about several% of the speed value), the secondary transfer roll 31 and the support roll 24 of the intermediate transfer device 20 The vibration phenomenon 203 generated in the continuous sheet 5 due to the excessive tension of the continuous sheet 5 between the nip portion of the continuous sheet 5 and the nip portion of the fixing device 40 is prevented or suppressed.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 10 shows an image forming apparatus to which the conveying apparatus according to the second embodiment is applied.

In the transport device 60 according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, a reflection type optical sensor 87 is used as the detection means. A plurality of reflective optical sensors 87 are arranged along a direction intersecting the transport direction of the continuous sheet 5, and the reflective optical sensor 87 is configured to detect the distance to the surface of the continuous sheet 5. When the reflection type optical sensor 87 detects that the distance to the surface of the continuous sheet 5 fluctuates, it detects that deformation 201 such as wrinkles and waviness or vibration phenomenon 203 has occurred. In this case, the distance to the surface of the continuous sheet 5 may fluctuate with time in either the deformation 201 such as wrinkles or waviness or the vibration phenomenon 203, but in the case of the vibration phenomenon 203, the fluctuation period Since it is significantly shorter than the deformation 201 such as wrinkles and waviness, it is possible to determine whether the deformation 201 such as wrinkles or waviness or the vibration phenomenon 203 is based on the time of the fluctuation cycle.

[Embodiment 3]
FIG. 11 shows an image forming apparatus to which the conveying apparatus according to the third embodiment is applied.

In the transport device 60 according to the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, a device that measures the inter-axis distance of the transport roll pair is used as the detection means 80. The transport roll pair is suitable for a supply roll pair 62 or a discharge roll pair 64 having a relatively small nip force for sandwiching the continuous sheet 5.

If deformation 201 or vibration phenomenon 203 such as wrinkles or waviness occurs in the continuous sheet 5 at or near the position of the small supply roll pair 62 or discharge roll pair 64, the upper side of the supply roll pair 62 or discharge roll pair 64. The positions of the supply roll 62a and the discharge roll 64a arranged in the above position are displaced up and down. Therefore, the detection device 80 detects the transport state of the continuous sheet 5 by detecting the distance between the axes of the supply roll 62a and the supply roll 62b or the discharge roll 64a and the discharge roll 64b by optical or mechanical means. do.

[Embodiment 4]
FIG. 12 shows an image forming apparatus to which the conveying apparatus according to the fourth embodiment is applied.

In the transport device 60 according to the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the transport state of the continuous sheet 5 is photographed by the camera 88 as the detecting means, and the transport state of the continuous sheet 5 photographed by the camera 88 is captured. Based on the image information shown, the transport state of the continuous sheet 5 is detected.

The image information captured by the camera 88 is input to the image processing device 120 as shown in FIG. The image processing device 120 detects the transport state of the continuous sheet 5 based on the input image information. The image showing the transport state of the continuous sheet 5 is a uniform image, and whether or not there is a region where the density is partially changed, and the density of the region where the density is partially changed over time. The control device 100 determines whether or not the continuous sheet 5 has a deformation 201 such as wrinkles or waviness or a vibration phenomenon 203 or vibration, depending on whether or not the continuous sheet 5 has changed to.

When the control device 100 determines that the image of the conveyed state of the continuous sheet 5 is a uniform image and there is no region where the density is partially changed, the continuous sheet 5 is normally conveyed. It is determined that it has been done.

Further, when the control device 100 determines that the image obtained by capturing the conveyed state of the continuous sheet 5 has a region where the density is partially changed, the continuous sheet 5 is deformed by 201 such as wrinkles and waviness. Judge that it has occurred.

In addition, the control device 100 has a region in which the density is partially changed in the image of the conveyed state of the continuous sheet 5, and the region in which the density is partially changed changes with time. If this is the case, it is determined that the vibration phenomenon 203 has occurred in the continuous sheet 5.

In the above-described embodiment, a full-color image forming apparatus for forming a toner image of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) has been described as an image forming apparatus. Of course, the same applies to an image forming apparatus that forms a monochrome image.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the transport state of the continuous sheet 5 between the nip portion between the secondary transfer roll 31 and the support roll 24 of the intermediate transfer device 20 and the nip portion of the fixing device 40 has been mainly described. The present invention is not limited to this, and the continuous sheet 5 is conveyed between the supply roll pair and the nip portion between the secondary transfer roll 31 and the support roll 24 of the intermediate transfer device 20, or the secondary transfer. It goes without saying that the same can be applied to a state in which the continuous sheet 5 is conveyed between the nip portion between the roll 31 and the support roll 24 of the intermediate transfer device 20 and the discharge roll pair.

1 ... Image forming device 10 ... Image forming device 11 ... Photoreceptor drum 14 ... Developing device 40 ... Fixing device 60 ... Conveying device 80 ... Detection device 100 ... Control device

Claims (6)

A plurality of transporting means for transporting the medium at different positions along the transport direction of the continuous medium, and
Did non-vibration deformation of the medium occur due to excessive tension of the medium transported by the two adjacent transport means between two adjacent transport means among the plurality of transport means? Or, a detection means for detecting whether or not the vibrational deformation of the medium has occurred due to the tension of the medium being too low.
When non-vibrational deformation of the medium occurs due to excessive tension of the medium transported by the two adjacent transport means based on the detection result of the detection means, the tension of the medium is reduced. When the vibrational deformation of the medium occurs due to the tension of the medium being too small, the tension changing means for changing the tension of the medium is increased.
Conveyor device equipped with. The transport device according to claim 1, wherein when the detection means detects a transport state in which the medium is deformed without vibration, the tension changing means reduces the tension of the medium. The tension changing means reduces the transport speed of the transport means on the downstream side along the transport direction of the medium among the two adjacent transport means, or the transport means on the upstream side along the transport direction of the medium. The transport device according to claim 2, wherein the transport speed is increased. The transport device according to claim 1, wherein when the detection means detects an oscillating transport state of the medium, the tension changing means increases the tension of the medium. The tension changing means increases the transport speed of the transport means on the downstream side along the transport direction of the medium among the two adjacent transport means, or the transport means on the upstream side along the transport direction of the medium. The transport device according to claim 4, wherein the transport speed is reduced. A transport device that transports continuous media and
An image forming means for forming an image on the medium conveyed by the conveying device, and
With
An image forming apparatus using the conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 as the conveying device.

Images