JPH01104529A - Method and device for feeding image forming sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely feed a sheet without forming a scratch which may incur deterioration in the quality of an image by making the pressing force of rotary bodies strong only in the initial stage of feeding an image forming sheet. CONSTITUTION:As paddle rollers 60 are rotated, first, thick-walled arm parts 63 are brought into contact with the sheet of image receiving paper 42 on the topmost part housed in a sheet cassette 36 or 38. Since the thick-walled arm part 63 is formed in a thick wall, the quantity of elastic deformation is small, thereby, pressing the sheet of image receiving paper 42 with a large pressing force to give a conveying force. Therefore, the end of the sheet of image receiving paper 42 positioned on the topmost part is brought into contact with separating claws 43 and is further elastically deformed to ride over the claws 43, to be separated from the other sheets of image receiving paper positioned on the lower part. As the paddle roller 60 is further rotated, thin-walled arm parts 62 are elastically deformed to move the sheet of image receiving paper 42. In this case, the thin-walled arm parts 62 give a conveying force to the sheet of image receiving paper 42 with a small pressing force.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to an image forming sheet feeding method and apparatus for moving an image forming sheet by frictional force and feeding the image forming sheet to a predetermined position.

[Prior Art] A sheet cut to a predetermined length is stored in a sheet cassette.1. A sheet feeding device is known in which a rotating roller presses a sheet placed on the top, applies a conveying force by frictional force, and supplies the sheet in a direction along the rotational direction of the rotating roller. For example, in an image recording apparatus in which a photosensitive material is thermally developed, superimposed on an image forming sheet (image receiving material), and then an image is transferred to the image forming sheet, one image forming sheet is transferred under pressure. It is used as a means of supplying to the position.

In this case, the image forming sheet cut to a predetermined length and stored in the sheet cassette is always urged and pressed upward by a compression spring disposed at the bottom of the sheet cassette.

Further, the sheet cassette is provided with a separating claw at the leading end in the sheet feeding direction for one image formation.

When feeding an image forming sheet, when the image forming sheet is pressed by the rotating roller of the image forming sheet feeding device, a conveying force is applied to the fifth part of the sheet to be rubbed, and the sheet is moved by the separating claw. The sheets are separated one by one and then supplied.

According to this image forming sheet 1 to supplying device, a rotating roller is pressed against the image forming sheets stored in a magazine, which is a simple structure, and the image forming sheets are sequentially taken out and fed one by one starting from the one located at the edge. can do.

Incidentally, the photosensitive material used in this type of image recording apparatus is coated with microcapsules into which photosensitive silver halide, a reducing agent, a polymerizable compound, or a color image forming substance is injected. After this photosensitive material is exposed to light, it is heated and developed, and then pressed together with an image-forming sheet, the portions of the microcapsules where no latent image exists burst, and the color image-forming material is released into the image-forming material. It is designed to transfer to the sheet. Further, a color developer is applied to the image forming surface of the image forming sheet, and this color developer reacts with the transferred color image forming substance to form an image.

[Lil trying to invent or solve! [Problem I] However, when an image forming sheet coated with such a color developer is fed to a pressure transfer position by the above-mentioned image forming sheet feeding device, the image forming sheets pressed by the rotating roller This friction causes scratches on the image forming surface (for example, partial peeling of the color developer), which has the disadvantage of degrading the quality of the transferred image.

In particular, a relatively large conveying force is required when the image forming sheets pass through the separating claws provided on the sheet cassette in order to reliably separate and feed the image forming sheets one by one. Accordingly, it was necessary to press the image forming sheet with a large pressing force, and the occurrence of scratches was noticeable.

In consideration of the above-mentioned facts, the present invention provides an image-forming sheet supplying method that can reliably supply an image-forming sheet coated with a color developer without causing any damage that would cause deterioration in image quality. The purpose is to obtain equipment.

[L stage for solving the problems] The image forming sheet feeding method according to the present invention presses and rotates a rotating body on the image forming sheet to apply a conveying force to the image forming sheet and supplies the image forming sheet to a predetermined position. The method is characterized in that the pressing force of the rotating body is increased only at the beginning of the image forming sheet supply.

Further, the image forming sheet feeding device according to the present invention is an image forming sheet feeding device that moves one image forming sheet by frictional force and supplies it to a predetermined position. As a result, a rotating body is provided which applies a conveyance force to the image forming sheet and which presses a single image forming sheet with a different pressing force in the circumferential direction.

[Operation] According to the image forming sheet feeding force method having the configuration L, the rotating body presses and rotates the image forming sheet to apply a conveying force. In this case, the image forming sheet is strongly suppressed by the rotating body only at the initial stage of supply of one image forming sheet, so a large force is required to separate the one image forming sheet from the separating claw. It can also be easily transported. After the image forming sheet is removed from the claw and begins to move, the pressing force on the image forming sheet by the rotating body becomes smaller, and scratches on the image forming surface due to friction between the image forming sheets are less likely to occur. .

Further, according to the image forming sheet supply device having the above configuration,
The rotating body presses and rotates the image forming sheet to apply a conveyance force. In this case, since the pressing force applied to the image forming sheet by the rotating body differs in the circumferential direction, the arrangement can be made such that the pressing force is strong only at the beginning of supply of the image forming sheet in synchronization with 5 rotations, and one image can be generated. Even when the forming sheet requires a large force to start moving, it can be easily transported. After the image forming sheet starts to move, the pressing force on the image forming sheet by the rotating body becomes smaller, and scratches on the image forming surface due to friction between the image forming sheets become smaller.

[Example] Figure i7'52 shows an outline of an image recording apparatus 12 to which an image forming sheet supply bag ZilO according to an example of the present invention is applied.
An eSi surface view is shown.

A magazine 16 is disposed on the machine base 14 of the image recording device ff112, and a photosensitive material 18 wound into a roll is housed in the magazine 16. The photosensitive material 18 is pulled out from its outer periphery, cut into a predetermined length by a cutter 20, and then transported to an exposure section 22.

exposure? An exposure device 'i 24 is provided directly above B22. A plurality of reflection tjs 123 and optical systems 25 are arranged in the exposure device 24, and the upper part of the machine stand 14 is mounted on a plate 27.
The image on the original film 29 placed thereon is scanned and exposed onto the photosensitive material 18 located in the exposure section 22.

A heat development section 26 is arranged below the exposure section 22, and the exposed photosensitive material 18 is sent to this heat development section 26. The heating developing section 26 is a heating tram 28
and an endless crimping belt 30, and a halogen lamp 32 is further disposed within the heating drum 28. The heating drum 28 is heated to approximately 80°C to 200°C by this halogen lamp 32, and &i!
The optical material 18 is sandwiched and conveyed between a heating drum 28 and an endless pressure belt 30, and is thermally developed.

An IR mating section 34 is arranged on the exit side of the heat developing section 26, and the heat-developed photosensitive material 18 is conveyed to the mating section 34. On the other hand, Ja unit 14
On the side, there is a manual feed section 40 and a sheet cassette 3 of the aforementioned type.
6.38 insertion slots are formed, and this manual feed section 40
Alternatively, the image receiving paper 42 as an image forming sheet supplied from the sheet cassettes 36 and 38 is combined with the photosensitive material 18 conveyed to the overlapping section 34.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet cassettes 36 and 38 contain image-receiving paper 42 cut to a predetermined length.
Further, it is constantly urged and pressed upward by a compression spring 39 disposed at the bottom. Further, the sheet cassettes 36 and 38 are provided with separation claws 43 at both ends in the width direction at the leading end in the feeding direction of the image receiving paper 42 . Receiving paper 4 accommodated in this sheet cassette 36 or sheet cassette 38
2 is an image forming sheet supply bag 't which will be explained in detail later.
A conveyance force is applied to the topmost one by Llo, and the sheets are separated one by one by a separation claw 43 before being supplied.

A pressure transfer section 44 is disposed on the side of the pinning section 34, and the photosensitive material 18 and the image receiving paper 42, which are folded together, are both sent to the pressure transfer section 44. The pressure transfer unit 44 includes a pair of pressure rollers 46 that are in pressure contact with each other, and a backup roller 48 that is in pressure contact with each of the pressure rollers 46.
The photosensitive material 18 and the image-receiving paper 42 are sandwiched and pressed together in the overlapping state, and the image recorded on the photosensitive material 18 is transferred to the image-receiving paper 42.

A peeling unit 50 is disposed on the side of the pressure transfer unit 44, and the image receiving paper 42 and the photosensitive material 18, on which the image has been transferred, are sent to the peeling unit 5'0, where they are separated by 7 r, and the photosensitive material is removed. Material 18
Only the waste is conveyed to the waste tray 52 and discarded.

On the other hand, a fixing device 54 is arranged on the conveyance path of the peeled-off image receiving paper 42. The fixing device 54 has a built-in ultraviolet lamp 56, and the image-receiving paper 42 is irradiated with ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet lamp 56 to fix the image, and then taken out of the machine 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming sheet supply device 1O is placed directly above the leading end of the inserted sheet cassette 36 or 38. This image forming sheet supply device IO includes a pair of paddle rollers 60 fixed to a single rotating wheel 58. Rotating shaft 5
8 is hooked in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the sheet cassettes 36 and 38 (that is, in the width direction of the image receiving paper 42), and further rotates in the direction of arrow R under the driving force of a driving source (not shown). Accordingly, the pair of paddle rollers 60 rotate simultaneously.

The paddle roller 60 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is made of soft rubber, and has thin arms 6 radially spaced at equal intervals on the outer circumference.
2 is formed. This arm portion 62 can press the uppermost receiving paper 42 in the sheet cassette 1-36, 38 with its tip elastically deformed, and as the rotation @b58 rotates, the paddle roller 60 is moved. When rotated, the adjacent thin arm portions 62 sequentially press the image receiving paper 42 to apply a conveying force.

On the other hand, a thin arm portion 62 is provided on a portion of the outside 14 of the paddle roller 60.
Similarly, thick arm portions 63 are formed in the radial direction. Like the thin arm 62, the thick arm 63 is also capable of pressing the uppermost portion of the image receiving paper 42 housed in the sheet cassette 36, 38. Since the thick arm portion 63 is formed thick, the thin arm i
The amount of elastic deformation is smaller than that of '1162, so that it is possible to press the image receiving paper 42 with a large pressing force and apply a conveying force.

In this case, thick arms? The mounting position of the paddle roller 60 is set so that A63 presses the image-receiving paper 42 at the initial stage of supplying the image-receiving paper 42 (that is, at the start of movement).

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

The photosensitive material 18 pulled out from the magazine 16 and cut into a predetermined length by the cutter 20 is conveyed to the exposure section 22,
An exposure device 24 exposes the image. The exposed photosensitive material 18 is conveyed to a heat developing section 26, and is conveyed and sandwiched between a heating drum 28 heated to about 80 DEG C. to 200 DEG C. by a halogen lamp 32 and an endless pressure belt 30, where it is thermally developed. The photosensitive material 18 after rough heat development is conveyed to the overlapping section 34, and an image forming sheet is supplied! equipment lO
The image receiving paper 42 is overlapped with the image receiving paper 42 supplied by.

In the image forming sheet supply device 1710, when the paddle roller 60 rotates, the thick arm 63 first contacts the uppermost image receiving sheet 42 housed in the sheet cassette 36,38. Since the thick arm portion 63 is formed thick, the amount of elastic deformation is small, and thereby presses the image receiving paper 42 with a large pressing force to apply a conveying force. Therefore, the leading edge of the image receiving paper 42 located at the top is attached to the sheet cassette 36.
．． No. 38 image-receiving paper 42 comes into contact with a separating claw 43 provided at the leading end in the feeding direction, is further elastically deformed, overcomes this, and is separated from other image-receiving papers 42 located below.

When the paddle roller 60 further rotates, this thick arm fi
While pressing the image receiving paper 42 in a state in which the thin arm portion 62 adjacent to the paddle roller 63 is elastically deformed, a conveying force is applied in a direction along the direction of rotational force of the paddle roller 60 to move the image receiving paper 42. Thereafter, the adjacent thin arm portions 62 sequentially press the image receiving paper 42 to apply a conveying force fti-, and supply the image receiving paper 42 to the stacking section 34. In this case, the thin arm portion 62 is elastically deformed and the receiving paper 42 is
Press to apply conveying force with a small pressing force.

In this way, at the beginning of the movement of the image receiving paper 42, that is, when the image receiving paper 42
A large pressing force is applied by the thick arm part 63 only when the paper passes over the separating claw 43 and is separated one by one, and thereafter it can be conveyed with a small pressing force by the thin arm part 62. Scratches on the image forming surface due to friction are less likely to occur.

The image-receiving paper 42 and the photosensitive material 18 after heat development, which are separated and fed one by one, are pressed together in the one-overlap section 34, and then sent together to the pressure transfer section 44, where they are overlapped one by one. The photosensitive material 1B is held and pressed by the pressure rollers 46, and the image recorded on the photosensitive material 1B is transferred to the image receiving paper 42.

The image-receiving paper 42 and the photosensitive material 18 on which the image has been transferred are sent to a peeling section 50 and peeled off from each other, and only the photosensitive material 18 is transported to a waste tray 52 and discarded.

On the other hand, the image receiving paper 42 is peeled off from the photosensitive material 18 and conveyed to a fixing bag ji' 154, and after being irradiated with ultraviolet light by an ultraviolet lamp 56 to fix the image, it is taken out of the machine stand 14.

As described above, in this embodiment, the pressing force by the paddle roller 6o is increased only in the initial stage of supplying the image receiving paper 42, so that the image receiving paper 42
Scratches on the image forming surface due to mutual friction are less likely to occur, and the quality of the image transferred to the image receiving paper 42 does not deteriorate.

In this case, the paddle roller 60 is not limited to a circular cross section;
It may also be an arc-shaped one in which at least thick arm portions 63 are formed.

Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described.

3121 shows the rotating roller 70 according to the second embodiment. The rotating roller 70 has a circular cross section and is composed of a low pressure section 72 that is soft and has low elasticity, and a high pressure section 74 that is harder and more elastic than the low pressure section 72.

This high pressure section 74 has high elasticity, so the low pressure section 72
There is less elastic deformation compared to the image receiving paper 42, and as a result, it is possible to press the image receiving paper 42 with a large pressing force and apply a conveying force. Also in this case, either the high voltage section 74 or the image receiving paper 42
The mounting position of the rotating roller 70 is set so that it presses the image receiving paper 42 in a corresponding manner at the initial stage of supply (that is, at the start of movement).

Therefore, as in the first embodiment, since the image-receiving paper 42 can be conveyed by increasing the pressing force only at the initial stage of feeding, the image-forming surface is less likely to be scratched due to friction between the image-receiving papers 42, and the image-receiving paper 42 is The quality of the transferred image will not deteriorate.

In this case as well, the rotating roller 70 is not limited to having a circular cross section, but may have an arcuate shape in which at least the high pressure portion 74 is formed.

FIG. 4 shows a rotating roller 76 according to the third embodiment. A suppressing protrusion 78 is formed on a part of the outer periphery of the six-turn roller 76, so that the image receiving paper 42 can be suppressed. This rotary roller 76 presses the image receiving paper 42 by one rotation against the urging force of the compression spring 39 disposed in the suppressing protrusion 78 or the sheet cassette 36, 38, so it presses the image receiving paper 42 with a large pressing force. Conveying force can be applied by pressing. When the suppressing protrusion 78 no longer corresponds to the image receiving paper 42 due to the rotation of the rotating roller 76, the portion other than the suppressing protrusion 78 corresponds to the image receiving paper 42, and the image receiving paper 42 is sent out with a force of J9. However, in this case, the image receiving paper 42 can be conveyed with a small frictional force.

Therefore, as in the first embodiment described above, by increasing the pressing force only at the initial stage of feeding the image receiving paper 42, the image receiving paper 42 can be
Scratches on the image forming surface due to friction between the two are less likely to occur, and the quality of the image transferred to the image receiving paper 42 does not deteriorate.

At No. 512, a rotating roller 80 according to the fourth embodiment is shown. The rotating roller 80 is rotated by a rotating shaft 82, and the rotating shaft 82 itself is moved in the direction toward and away from the image-receiving paper 42 (in the direction of arrow G in FIG. 5) by a cam a mechanism (not shown). That is, at the beginning of conveyance of the image-receiving paper 42, the rotating roller 80 is placed at the position shown in FIG. By doing so, the image receiving paper 42 can be conveyed with a small pressing force. Therefore, also in the embodiment (:), the pressing force of the one-rotation roller 80 on the image-receiving paper 42 can be increased only at the initial stage of feeding the image-receiving paper 42, thereby making it difficult to cause scratches on the image-forming surface of the image-receiving paper 42.

Note that the rotating roller 70.1!1 in these embodiments
If the outer peripheral surface of the single rolling roller 76 or rotating roller 80 is knurled or made of an elastic body with a large coefficient of friction, the conveying force (i.e., frictional force) necessary for feeding the image receiving paper 42 can be generated by a small pressing force. This makes it difficult for the image receiving paper 42 to be scratched, further increasing the effect.

Since the pressing force is increased only at the initial stage of feeding the image forming sheet,
This has the effect that the image forming sheets can be reliably fed without causing scratches on the image forming surface due to friction between the image forming sheets and causing deterioration in image quality.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

:JSi diagram is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming sheet feeding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of an image recording device to which the image forming sheet feeding device is applied, and FIG. A fourth perspective view of a rotating roller according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a cross-sectional view showing a rotating roller according to a third embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a rotating roller according to a fourth embodiment. 10... Image forming sheet feeding device, 36.38...
- Sheet cassette, 42... image receiving paper. 58...rotating shaft, 60...-buddle roller. 62... Thin arm portion, 63... Thick arm portion.

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) An image forming sheet supplying method for supplying an image forming sheet to a predetermined position by applying a conveying force by pressing and rotating a rotating body to the image forming sheet, wherein the pressing force of the rotating body is applied only during the initial stage of image forming sheet supply. A method for supplying an image forming sheet characterized by strengthening the sheet. (2) An image forming sheet feeding device that moves and supplies an image forming sheet to a predetermined position using frictional force, which applies a conveyance force to the image forming sheet by pressing and rotating the image forming sheet. Additionally, an image forming sheet supplying device comprising a rotary body that applies pressure to the image forming sheet differently in the circumferential direction. (3) The image forming sheet feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the rotating body includes a thick arm portion and a thin arm portion extending in the radial direction of the rotating shaft. (4) The image forming sheet feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the rotating body includes a soft highly elastic portion and a hard highly elastic portion. (5) The image forming sheet feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the rotating body has a protrusion formed on a part of its outer periphery. (6) The image forming sheet feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the rotating body has a rotating shaft that moves in a direction toward and away from the image forming sheet.