JP7269043B2 - sheet conveying device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sheet conveying device that conveys sheets.

In Patent Documents 1 and 2, in a sheet processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as binding processing on sheets discharged by a paper discharge roller from an image forming apparatus, the sheets are conveyed by an endless belt when the sheets are subjected to post-processing. The configuration is disclosed.

JP 2015-30610 A JP 2016-160014 A

However, in a sheet conveying apparatus such as the sheet processing apparatus described above, the sheet conveying force is reduced due to scraping due to abrasion of rollers, belts, etc., aging, and the like. As a result, the sheet cannot be conveyed to a predetermined position, and there is a possibility that the sheet may be improperly conveyed on the conveying path, or the sheet may be misaligned due to the improper conveyance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet conveying apparatus capable of suppressing sheet conveying defects.

A sheet conveying apparatus according to the present invention includes a conveying path along which sheets are conveyed in a predetermined conveying direction, a stacking means arranged below the conveying path for stacking the sheets discharged from the conveying path, and the stacking means. positioning means for positioning the sheet at a predetermined position by contacting the upstream end of the sheet discharged to the predetermined conveying direction in the predetermined conveying direction; A first position where the sheet is conveyed in the predetermined conveying direction along the conveying path by applying a conveying force, and a sheet discharged from the conveying path and rotating while being in contact with the upper surface of the sheet on the stacking means. a conveying means having a rotating body movable to a second position for conveying the sheet toward the positioning means by applying a conveying force to the sheet; and a conveying force of the conveying means having a predetermined conveying force. a discriminating means for discriminating a state in which the conveying force is lowered to less than or equal to less than the pressure between the rotating body and the lower surface of the sheet at the first position when the discriminating means discriminates that the conveying force is in the reduced state; and an adjusting means for adjusting the conveying force so as to increase the conveying force of the conveying means by increasing the pressure between the rotating body and the upper surface of the sheet at the second position . and
Further, the sheet conveying apparatus of the present invention comprises a conveying path along which sheets are conveyed in a predetermined conveying direction, a stacking means arranged below the conveying path for stacking the sheets discharged from the conveying path, and positioning means for contacting the upstream end of the sheet discharged to the stacking means in the predetermined conveying direction to position the sheet at a predetermined position; A first position where the sheet is conveyed in the predetermined conveying direction along the conveying path by applying a conveying force to the sheet, and a first position where the sheet is ejected from the conveying path and is in contact with the upper surface of the sheet on the stacking means. a conveying means having a rotating body movable to a second position where the sheet is conveyed toward the positioning means by rotating while rotating to apply a conveying force to the sheet, and a conveying force of the conveying means having a predetermined and a discriminating means for discriminating a state in which the conveying force is lowered to less than the conveying force of the sheet, the pressure between the rotating body and the lower surface of the sheet at the first position, and the pressure between the rotating body and the sheet at the second position. When the adjusting means for adjusting the pressure with the upper surface and the determining means determine that the conveying force is in the reduced state, the pressure between the rotating body and the lower surface of the sheet is increased at the first position, and the second and a control means for controlling the adjustment means so as to increase the conveying force of the conveying means by increasing the pressure between the rotor and the upper surface of the sheet. .

According to the present invention, when it is determined that the sheet conveying force has decreased, the conveying force is adjusted so as to increase the conveying force. can.

1 is a cross-sectional front view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams of a paddle conveying mechanism (sheet carrying-in means) in the apparatus of FIG. 1, where (a) is a diagram showing a state in which the paddle member is raised, and (b) is a diagram in which the paddle member is lowered; FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a conveying mechanism in the apparatus of FIG. 1, where (a) is a diagram of a state in which the knurled belt is positioned at the first position, and (b) is a diagram of the state in which the knurled belt is positioned at the second position;

<First Embodiment>
A first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the following embodiments are examples, and the present invention is not limited to the contents of the embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a sheet processing apparatus 100 which is also a sheet conveying apparatus according to the first embodiment. The illustrated sheet processing apparatus 100 incorporates a processing tray (stacking means) 105 and an apparatus control section 200 and is configured as a terminal apparatus of the image forming apparatus 1 . The sheet processing apparatus 100 includes a conveying path (conveying path) 103 having a sheet inlet 102 and a sheet discharge port 104, and a processing tray (accumulating means) 105 having a processing path 106. It is configured such that a sheet conveyed in through a port 102 is conveyed along a conveying path 103 in a substantially horizontal conveying direction A, and then carried out (discharged) from a sheet discharge port 104 . A pair of carry-in rollers 107 for conveying sheets and a conveying mechanism (conveying means) 108 are arranged in the conveying path (conveying path) 103 .

At least one of the leading end (downstream end) and the trailing end (upstream end) of the conveyed sheet in the conveying direction A is detected at a predetermined detection position through which the conveyed sheet passes. A sensor (sheet detection means) 110 is arranged. The sensor 110 detects the leading edge and the trailing edge of the sheet in the conveying direction A, and forms a reference for timing signals for subsequent sheet conveying.

A processing tray (stacking means) 105 shown in FIG. The processing tray (accumulating means) 105 is provided with a processing path 106 that supports at least a part of the sheets in order to convey the sheets discharged from the sheet discharge port 104 and stack them upward to form a bundle. The processing tray (accumulating means) 105 accumulates the sheets sent from the sheet discharge port 104 in a bundle, aligns them in a predetermined posture, and then binds them. It is configured to be carried out to the stacking tray 112 of .

As shown in FIG. 2A, a paddle conveying mechanism 113 (sheet carrying-in means) is disposed downstream of the sheet discharge port 104 in the conveying direction A. , and stacked on a processing tray (stacking means) 105 . The illustrated paddle conveying mechanism (sheet carrying-in means) 113 conveys the sheet by a paddle member 113a in which a plurality of elastic blades are circumferentially arranged on a rotating shaft 113x connected to a drive motor (not shown). The illustrated paddle member 113a is mounted on a swing guide 113b, and as shown in FIG. , and convey it in reverse.

The paddle conveying mechanism (sheet loading means) 113 is controlled based on the detection signal of the trailing edge of the sheet from the sensor (sheet detection means) 110 described above. On the processing tray (accumulating means) 105, a conveying mechanism (conveying means) 108 for conveying the sheet fed by the paddle conveying mechanism (sheet loading means) 113 to a predetermined processing position is arranged. The conveying mechanism (conveying means) 108 has a configuration in which a knurled belt (rotating body) 108a is held by a link lever 108d connected to a drive motor (not shown), and the sheet is lowered onto the processing tray (accumulating means) 105 at the timing of conveying the sheet. Then, the sheet is conveyed in the direction opposite to the conveying direction A in FIG. Its structure will be described later. The link lever 108d and the driving motor for driving the link lever 108d constitute an adjusting mechanism (adjusting means) 108f capable of variably adjusting the sheet conveying force of the conveying mechanism 108. FIG.

The configuration of the processing tray (stacking means) 105 will be described with reference to FIG. At the front end of the processing tray (accumulating means) 105 (rear end (upstream end) in the conveying direction A in the drawing) of the sheet discharged onto the processing tray 105 in contact with the upstream end in the conveying direction A of the sheet. A sheet end regulating member (positioning means) 114 is provided for positioning. Then, the sheet ejected from the sheet ejection port 104 and carried into the processing tray 105 by the transport mechanism (transport means) 108 is abutted and regulated. The sheet edge regulating member (positioning means) 114 aligns the sheets stacked on the processing tray (stacking means) 105 to a predetermined processing position (predetermined position).

Further, the processing tray (accumulating means) 105 is provided with a side edge alignment member 115 for positioning the width direction of the sheet intersecting the conveying direction A positioned by the sheet end regulating member (positioning means) 114 to the reference line. . The illustrated side edge aligning member 115 aligns the sheet fed from the sheet ejection port 104 and positioned by the sheet edge regulating member (positioning means) 114 in the ejection orthogonal direction (width direction). The side edge aligning member 115 is composed of a pair of right and left aligning plates, and positions the sheet on a predetermined reference line (center reference or side reference).

A binding device (post-processing means) 116 (117) for post-processing the stacked sheets is arranged on the processing tray (stacking means) 105 shown in the figure. As a device for post-processing the sheets stacked on the processing tray (stacking means) 105, devices such as binding processing means, folding processing means, punching means, stamping means, and trimming cutting means are employed. In the illustrated one, a stapling device (stapling processing means) 116 and a pressure binding device (pressure binding means) 117 for post-processing the sheets stacked on the processing tray 105 are arranged so as to selectively process them. Since various mechanisms are known for these binding devices 116 (117), the explanation thereof is omitted.

In this embodiment, after a sheet conveyed in from a sheet inlet 102 is conveyed in the conveying direction A and is carried out (discharged) from a sheet discharge port 104, it is lowered onto a processing tray (accumulating means) 105, and the sheet is discharged from the sheet discharge port 104. It relates to a conveying mechanism (conveying means) 108 that guides (conveys) a sheet sent from a sheet end regulating member (positioning means) 114 .

The conveying mechanism (conveying means) 108 presses the sheet with a knurled belt 108a and a driven roller 109, and rotates while the knurled belt 108a is in contact with the lower surface of the sheet carried into the conveying path (conveying path) 103 to rotate the sheet. By applying a conveying force to , the sheet is conveyed to be carried out from the sheet discharge port 104 . Further, on the processing tray (accumulating means) 105, the knurled belt 108a rotates while contacting the upper surface of the sheet discharged from the sheet discharging port 104 and carried on the uppermost sheet stacked on the sheet stacking surface 105a. By applying a conveying force to the sheet, the sheet is conveyed toward and abutted against the sheet end regulating member (positioning means) 114 .

For this reason, even if the conveying force of the conveying mechanism (conveying means) 108 decreases due to abrasion due to abrasion of the knurled belt 108a or the driven roller 109 or change over time, the conveying force for conveying the sheet can be kept uniform and appropriate. It is desirable that the sheet is conveyed at the timing of , and at the same time, the sheet is abutted against the sheet edge regulating member (positioning means) 114 with an appropriate conveying force.

Therefore, the transport mechanism (transport means) 108 is configured as follows. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the knurled belt 108a, which is a ring-shaped endless belt, the drive rotation member 111 engaged with the inner peripheral surface 108b of the knurled belt 108a, and the outer peripheral surface 108c of the knurled belt 108a are in contact with each other. It is composed of a driven roller 109 that can be driven and a driving means M (driving motor) that imparts a rotational force to the driving rotating member 111 .

The conveying mechanism (conveying means) 108 is configured such that a knurled belt 108a is rotatably held about a rotation center 108e of a link lever 108d connected to a drive motor (not shown). In the conveying mechanism 108, when conveying the sheet S1 in the conveying direction A to the sheet discharge port 104 on the conveying path (conveying path) 103 as shown in FIG. Move to the first possible position. When the sheet is conveyed through the processing path 106 as shown in FIG. 3B, the conveying mechanism 108 moves to the second position where the knurled belt 108a is lowered by a predetermined amount and contacts the uppermost sheet S2 of the processing tray 105. Then, the sheet S<b>2 is conveyed on the processing tray (accumulating means) 105 . Thus, the transport mechanism 108 is configured to be movable between the first position and the second position.

In this embodiment, the conveying mechanism 108 is moved between the first position and the second position by rotating the knurled belt 108a around the rotation center 108e of the link lever via the link lever 108d. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the conveying mechanism 108 may be moved between the first position and the second position by linearly moving up and down the knurled belt 108a without using a member such as a link lever.

Next, a device control unit (control) 200 for determining a reduced conveying force state in which the conveying force of the knurled belt 108a is reduced in order to maintain a uniform conveying force of the conveying mechanism (conveying means) 108 in this embodiment will be described. The apparatus control section 200 controls the adjusting mechanism 108f to adjust the rotation angle of the link lever 108d so as to increase the conveying force when it is determined that the conveying force is in a reduced state.

As shown in FIG. 3A, when the sheet S1 is conveyed to the sheet discharge port 104 on the conveying path (conveying path) 103, the conveying mechanism (conveying means) 108 rises and moves between the driven roller 109 and the conveying path 103. It pinches the sheet S1 and rotates while contacting the lower surface of the sheet S1 to apply a conveying force to the sheet S1. Further, as shown in FIG. 1 , a sensor (conveyance path) 103 detects at least one of the leading edge and the trailing edge in the conveying direction A of the sheet conveyed in the conveying direction A along the conveying path 103 (see FIG. 1). Sheet detection means) 110 is arranged.

The device control unit 200 has, for example, a CPU, ROM, RAM, I/O, etc., and is electrically connected to the sensor 110 and each motor. Based on the detection signal from the sensor 110, the device control unit 200 realizes the function of a determination unit that determines a state in which the transport force of the transport mechanism 108 has decreased below a predetermined transport force. Control mechanism 108f. Specifically, first, the apparatus control unit 200 causes the sensor (sheet detection means) 110 to detect the leading edge and the trailing edge of the sheet S1 conveyed to the sheet discharge port 104 on the conveying path (conveying path) 103 based on the detection signals. Second, the passage time required for the sheet S1 to pass through a predetermined detection position on the conveying path (conveying path) 103 is calculated.

When the passage time exceeds a preset reference time, the apparatus control unit 200 determines that the conveying force of the conveying mechanism 108 is in a state of reduced conveying force, in which the conveying force is reduced to less than a predetermined conveying force. When the apparatus control section 200 determines that the conveying force is in a reduced state, it controls the adjusting mechanism 108f to increase the conveying force of the conveying mechanism 108 compared to before it is determined that the conveying force is in a reduced state. The adjustment mechanism 108f is configured to be able to adjust the pressure between the knurled belt 108a and the sheet S1 by adjusting the amount of movement of the knurled belt 108a. When the apparatus control unit 200 determines that the conveying force is reduced, the adjustment mechanism 108f increases the pressure between the knurled belt 108a and the lower surface of the sheet S1 when the conveying mechanism 108 is at the first position, thereby conveying the sheet S1. The sheet conveying force of the mechanism 108 is increased.

Further, when it is determined that the conveying force is in a reduced state, the apparatus control section 200 adjusts the increase amount of the conveying force of the conveying mechanism 108 by the adjusting mechanism 108f based on the difference between the passage time and the reference time. That is, when it is determined that the conveying force is in a reduced state, the apparatus control section 200 controls the rotation amount of the link lever 108d based on the difference between the passage time and the reference time, thereby adjusting the movement amount of the knurled belt 108a. to adjust. In this manner, the device control unit 200 varies (adjusts) the contact pressure (pressure) between the knurled belt 108a and the sheet S1 on the conveying path 103, thereby increasing the conveying force more than before it is determined that the conveying force is reduced. The adjusting mechanism 108f is controlled to increase the conveying force of the mechanism 108. FIG. As a result, the sheet processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment increases the conveying force on the conveying path (conveying path) 103 by increasing the conveying force when it is determined that the conveying force of the sheet is reduced. The sheet S1 can be conveyed at an appropriate timing while the conveying force of the knurled belt 108a that conveys the sheet S1 is maintained uniform, and sheet conveying failure can be suppressed.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the sheet S2 is conveyed to the sheet edge regulating member 114 in the processing path 106, the conveying mechanism 108 descends to move the upper surface of the sheet S2 on the processing path 106 (processing tray 105). and rotates while contacting with the sheet S2 to apply a conveying force to the sheet S2. Similarly, when the sheet S2 is conveyed on the processing path 106, the apparatus control unit 200 performs adjustment based on the difference between the passing time of the sheet S1 and the reference time when it is determined that the conveying force is in a reduced state. The amount of increase in the transport force of the transport mechanism 108 is adjusted by the mechanism (adjustment means) 108f. That is, when it is determined that the conveying force is reduced, the apparatus control section 200 controls the rotation amount of the link lever 108d based on the difference between the passage time and the reference time to adjust the movement amount of the knurled belt 108a. do. Accordingly, when the transport mechanism 108 is at the second position, the device control unit 200 increases the sheet transport force of the transport mechanism 108 by increasing the pressure between the knurled belt 108a and the upper surface of the sheet S2.

In this manner, the apparatus control unit 200 adjusts the pressure between the knurled belt 108a that conveys the sheet S2 on the processing tray (stacking unit) 105 and the sheet S2, thereby determining that the conveying force is reduced. also controls the adjusting mechanism 108f to increase the conveying force of the conveying mechanism 108. As a result, the sheet processing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment increases the conveying force when it is determined that the conveying force is reduced, thereby increasing the conveying force so that the knurled belt conveys the sheet S2 on the processing tray (stacking means) 105. By maintaining the uniform conveying force of 108a, it is possible to convey the sheet S2 against the sheet end regulating member (positioning means) 114 with an appropriate conveying force, thereby suppressing defective sheet conveyance.

Note that in the present embodiment, the device control unit 200 that controls the adjustment mechanism 108f is provided in the sheet processing device 100, but is not limited to this. For example, the adjustment means may be configured to receive a control signal from a control means provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus and be controlled by the control signal. An image forming apparatus equipped with a sheet processing device constitutes a sheet conveying device.

<Second embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, the device control unit 200 calculates the sheet passage time based on the detection signals of the leading edge and the trailing edge of the sheet from the sensor (sheet detection means) 110. Although it is determined that the conveying force is in a reduced state, in this embodiment, the device control unit counts the accumulated number of sheets conveyed, and when the accumulated number exceeds a predetermined number, the conveying force is in a reduced state. is different from the first embodiment. Since other configurations and actions are the same as those of the first embodiment, similar configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted or simplified, and the following description focuses on the points different from the first embodiment. do.

A sheet processing apparatus 101 as a sheet conveying apparatus according to the second embodiment includes an apparatus control section 201 as control means for controlling the adjustment mechanism 108f. The device control unit 201 has, for example, a CPU, ROM, RAM, I/O, etc., and is electrically connected to the sensor 110 and each motor. Based on the detection signal from the sensor 110 , the device control unit 201 counts the number of sheets conveyed by the conveying mechanism 108 . It realizes each function of the determining means for determining that the conveying force is in a reduced conveying force state in which the conveying force has decreased below a predetermined conveying force, and controls the adjusting mechanism 108f.

As a result, the sheet processing apparatus 101 of the present embodiment increases the conveying force to convey the sheet on the conveying path 103 when it is determined that the conveying force of the sheet has decreased. The sheet can be conveyed at an appropriate timing while the conveying force of the knurled belt 108a is kept uniform, and sheet conveyance failure can be suppressed. Further, the sheet processing apparatus 101 of the present embodiment maintains a uniform conveying force of the knurled belt 108a that conveys the sheet on the processing tray 105, and conveys the sheet against the sheet edge regulating member 114 with an appropriate conveying force. Therefore, it is possible to suppress sheet conveyance failure.

100, 101 sheet processing device (sheet conveying device)
1 image forming apparatus 102 sheet inlet 103 conveying path (conveying path)
104 sheet discharge port 105 processing tray (stacking means)
105a sheet stacking surface 106 processing path 107 carry-in roller pair 108 transport mechanism (transport means)
108a knurled belt 108b inner peripheral surface 108c outer peripheral surface (belt surface) (projections)
108d link lever 108f adjusting mechanism (adjusting means)
109 driven roller 110 sensor (sheet detection means)
111 drive rotating member 112 stacking tray 113 paddle conveying mechanism (sheet carrying-in means)
113a paddle member 113b rocking guide 113x rotating shaft 114 sheet end regulating member (positioning means)
115 side edge alignment member 116 post-processing means (stapling means)
117 post-processing means (crimp binding means)
200, 201 control means (apparatus control unit)
A conveying direction M driving means (driving motor)
S1, S2 sheet

Claims (8)

a conveying path along which the sheet is conveyed in a predetermined conveying direction;
a stacking means arranged below the transport path for stacking the sheets discharged from the transport path;
positioning means for positioning the sheet at a predetermined position by contacting an upstream end of the sheet discharged to the stacking means in the predetermined conveying direction;
a first position for conveying the sheet in the predetermined conveying direction along the conveying path by rotating while contacting the lower surface of the sheet on the conveying path and applying a conveying force to the sheet; and a second position where the sheet is conveyed toward the positioning means by rotating while being in contact with the upper surface of the sheet discharged from the path and on the stacking means and applying a conveying force to the sheet. a conveying means having a rotating body ;
determining means for determining a state of reduced conveying force in which the conveying force of the conveying means is reduced below a predetermined conveying force;
When the determining means determines that the conveying force is in the reduced state, the pressure between the rotor and the lower surface of the sheet is increased at the first position, and the pressure between the rotor and the upper surface of the sheet is increased at the second position. adjusting means for adjusting the conveying force to increase the conveying force of the conveying means by increasing the pressure of
sheet conveying device. further comprising sheet detection means for detecting the sheet at a predetermined detection position through which the sheet conveyed by the conveying means passes;
The discriminating means reduces the conveying force when the passing time during which the sheet is detected by the sheet detecting means when the sheet conveyed by the conveying means passes the predetermined detection position exceeds a reference time. determine the state of
The sheet conveying device according to claim 1. further comprising sheet counting means for counting the cumulative number of sheets conveyed by the conveying means;
The determining means determines that the conveying force is in a reduced state when the cumulative number of sheets counted by the sheet counting means exceeds a predetermined number of sheets.
The sheet conveying device according to claim 1 . The adjusting means adjusts the increase amount of the conveying force of the conveying means by the adjusting means based on the difference between the passing time and the reference time when the determining means determines that the conveying force is in the reduced state. ,
The sheet conveying device according to claim 2. a conveying path along which the sheet is conveyed in a predetermined conveying direction;
a stacking means arranged below the transport path for stacking the sheets discharged from the transport path;
positioning means for positioning the sheet at a predetermined position by contacting an upstream end of the sheet discharged to the stacking means in the predetermined conveying direction ;
a first position for conveying the sheet in the predetermined conveying direction along the conveying path by rotating while contacting the lower surface of the sheet on the conveying path and applying a conveying force to the sheet; and a second position where the sheet is conveyed toward the positioning means by rotating while being in contact with the upper surface of the sheet discharged from the conveying path and on the stacking means and applying a conveying force to the sheet. a conveying means having a rotatable body;
determining means for determining a state of reduced conveying force in which the conveying force of the conveying means is reduced below a predetermined conveying force;
adjusting means for adjusting the pressure between the rotating body and the lower surface of the seat at the first position and the pressure between the rotating body and the upper surface of the seat at the second position;
When the determining means determines that the conveying force is in the reduced state , the pressure between the rotating body and the lower surface of the sheet is increased at the first position, and the pressure between the rotating body and the sheet is increased at the second position. control means for controlling the adjusting means to increase the conveying force of the conveying means by increasing the pressure with the upper surface;
sheet conveying device. further comprising sheet detection means for detecting the sheet at a predetermined detection position through which the sheet conveyed by the conveying means passes;
The discriminating means reduces the conveying force when the passing time during which the sheet is detected by the sheet detecting means when the sheet conveyed by the conveying means passes the predetermined detection position exceeds a reference time. determine the state of
The sheet conveying device according to claim 5. further comprising sheet counting means for counting the cumulative number of sheets conveyed by the conveying means;
The determining means determines that the conveying force is in a reduced state when the cumulative number of sheets counted by the sheet counting means exceeds a predetermined number of sheets.
The sheet conveying device according to claim 5. The control means adjusts the increase amount of the conveying force of the conveying means based on the difference between the passing time and the reference time when the determining means determines that the conveying force is in the reduced state. control the means of adjustment
The sheet conveying device according to claim 6.

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