JPH02305756A - Sheet transfer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To contain a sheet in a sheet containing means smoothly by disposing the sheet containing means in the middle of a sheet transfer way, and providing a carriage units capable of freely reciprocating over the sheet containing means. CONSTITUTION:For transferring and discharging sheet S to a sheet containing means 183 disposed in the middle of a sheet transfer way, carriage units 1, 2 capable of reciprocating over the sheet containing means 183 hold the sheet S, transfer it to a predetermined position, and discharge it. The sheet S can thus be put on the sheet containing means 183 stably regardless of the sheet size. By retracting the carriage units 1, 2 from over the sheet containing means 183, jam processing inside the sheet containing means 183 can be performed easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (A) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a sheet conveyance device, and more particularly, to a conveyance path of a duplex unit installed in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine.

(B) Conventional technology Conventionally, as a recording device such as a copying machine or a printer, there has been an automatic duplex copying machine using an electrostatic recording method, and the configuration of the apparatus that performs automatic duplexing of this copying machine can be broadly classified into two types. be done.

The first automatic double-sided configuration is the copying machine P2 shown in FIG.
The basic configuration is an S-shaped path arranged in the .

In the figure, an original is placed on a platen 152 disposed at the top of a copying machine main body 151 of a copying machine P2, and the original is scanned by an optical system 156 in the copying machine main body 151 to an image forming section 157. A latent image is formed by exposing the photosensitive drum. By developing this latent image,
A toner image is formed in the image forming section 157. The copying machine main body 151 is provided with a plurality of cassettes 159 and 160 for storing sheets S, a manual feed cassette 161, etc., and a cabinet 162 in which the copying machine main body 151 is placed. A large number of sheets S are also stored in the section 163. These sheets S are fed to a paper feed section 1 consisting of rollers, separation rollers, etc. provided in each cassette.
The paper is fed by 65.

A toner image is transferred to the sheet S fed by a paper feeding unit such as a paper feeding unit 165 in a transfer unit 166 of an image forming unit 157, and then transferred to a fixing unit 169 by a conveyor belt 167.
After the toner image is fixed by heating and pressurizing the sheet S conveyed to
71 are discharged onto the discharge tray 172.

Here, when performing double-sided copying in which images are formed on both the front and back sides of one sheet S, or multiple copying in which images are formed by overlapping two or more original images on one side of one sheet S,
The sheet S on which a toner image has been formed on the first surface is guided to a branch path 175 via a flapper 173 without being discharged outside the machine. First, in the case of double-sided copying, sheet S is 8 character pass 17
6, the paper is discharged onto the intermediate tray 179 by the final discharge roller pair 177. Further, during multiple copying, the paper is discharged onto the intermediate tray 179 from the middle of the 8-character pass 176 via the deflection members 180 and 181 located midway through the 8-character pass 176. Sheets S stacked on intermediate tray 179
is separated from the lower side and fed, and after passing through a paper refeeding path 182, the image is transferred again at the transfer unit 166 for double-sided copying or multiple copying.

The second automatic double-sided configuration is a copying machine P shown in FIG.
The basic configuration is a C-shaped path arranged in the center.

3 in the same figure, the device with this C-shaped path configuration, when performing double-sided/multiple copying, uses an image on the first side, similar to the device with the above-mentioned S-shaped path as the basic configuration. The sheet S on which is formed passes through a flapper 173 to a branch path 175
be led to.

For double-sided copying, it is necessary to stack the sheets S on the intermediate tray (sheet storage means) 183 with the image surface obtained by the first transfer facing upward, so the sheets S are stacked on the flapper 185.
The paper is once conveyed to the switch hack path 186 via the switchback path 186 , where it is switched back and then sent to the conveyance section 187 above the intermediate tray 183 . Then, the sheet S is transferred to the conveying section 18
7 predetermined deflection members 189, 190 or the most distal discharge roller 191 onto the conveying section 183. At the time of multiple copying, the sheet S is directly discharged onto the intermediate tray 183 from a predetermined position of the conveying section 187 without sending the sheet S from the flapper 185 to the switchback path 186.

In order to provide an appropriate ejection position depending on the size (length) of the sheet S for both double-sided copying and multiple copying, a deflection plate 189 that allows the ejection position to be switched to multiple locations;
190 is arranged above the intermediate tray 183.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the copying machine P2 forming the above-mentioned S-shaped path
In this case, the transport path of the sheet S from the fixing unit 169 to the paper refeed path 182 becomes very long, and therefore
The disadvantage is that the size of 2, especially the height dimension, is very large.

Furthermore, since the conveyance route is long, there is a problem in that when a jam occurs, there are many locations where jam removal is to be performed, making the jam removal operation time-consuming.

Furthermore, during double-sided copying, the sheet S discharged to the intermediate tray 179 was aligned in the sheet feeding direction by expecting some movement effect from the inclined surface of the intermediate tray 179 and the sheet S's own weight. S to middle tray 17
A loss time occurs after the paper is ejected to 9 and before entering the paper refeeding process. This problem becomes more pronounced as the number of double-sided copies of the sheet S is reduced, and there is a drawback that the productivity of the copying machine P3 is reduced particularly when making a single double-sided copy.

In addition, in the case of a copying machine P that enables double-sided copying using a C-shaped path, especially when discharging a large size (A3, 84, etc.) sheet S to the intermediate tray 179, the ejection of the sheet S The position inevitably tends to move away from the leading edge stopper position at the time of paper refeeding. For this reason, due to the stiffness of the ejected sheet S or the curling of the leading edge of the sheet S, the stiffness of the sheet S may be broken or the leading edge may be curled during sheet ejection, causing the sheet S to be stacked on the intermediate tray 183. It contained extremely unstable factors in terms of gender.

Moreover, above the intermediate tray 183, small size (
Deflection plate 189 for ejection path compatible with A4, 85, etc.
, 190, etc. are protruding, the spacing between the ejection path and the intermediate tray 183 is such that due to the device configuration, if a transport failure occurs on the ejection path or within the intermediate tray 183, the jam removal performance will be significantly reduced. The problem of it getting worse disappeared.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet conveying device that eliminates the above-mentioned pressure by providing a reciprocating carriage unit on the path to an intermediate tray that can temporarily store sheets. That is.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances. For example, as shown with reference to FIGS. , a sheet storage means (intermediate tray 183) disposed in the middle of the sheet conveyance path, and a sheet discharge means for conveying the sheet (S) to the sheet storage means (183), the sheet storage means (183)
) is a carriage unit (1, 2) that can reciprocate on the road.
).

#) Function Based on the above configuration, the sheet (S) is conveyed to the sheet storage means (183) disposed in the middle of the sheet conveyance path.
The sheets (S) are ejected by carriage units (1) and (2) that reciprocate above the sheet storage means (183).
By transporting the sheets (S) to a predetermined position and discharging them while holding them, the sheets (S) can be stably stacked in the sheet storage means (183) regardless of the sheet size.

Further, by retracting the carriage units (1) and (2) from above the sheet storage means (183), jam handling in the intermediate tray can be easily performed.

Further, when the set number of sheets (S) to be conveyed is one, the carriage unit (1) does not load the sheet (S) on the sheet storage means.

(2), the sheets are conveyed to the through path (71) to prevent a decrease in productivity of the sheet conveying device.

Note that the above-mentioned symbols in parentheses are shown for reference, and do not limit the structure of the present invention in the same manner.

(F) Example Hereinafter, a first example of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 22. Components that are the same as those shown in FIGS. 31 and 32 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 shows a copying machine P to which a first embodiment of the present invention is applied;
FIG. 1 to 5, an intermediate tray ejection sensor 4 for detecting the sheet S, a pair of ejection rollers 3, etc. are arranged downstream of the flapper 185, and near the downstream side of the ejection roller 3, , a first carriage unit 1 that grips and conveys the leading edge of a sheet S as will be described later, and a second carriage unit 2 are disposed downstream of the first carriage unit 1. This carriage unit 1,
2 is a top plate 5a and side plates 5 integrally provided on both sides thereof.
It has a frame body 5 consisting of the side plates 5b and 5c.
A pair of rotatable rollers 6 is disposed on the upper outer surface of each of the rollers 5c.

The carriage unit 1.2 is constructed by loosely fitting the pair of rollers 6 into a pair of guide rails 7.8 fixed to both sides of the main body 151 of the copying machine. It is possible to move freely between the two directions. A pair of belts 9 whose ends are connected to the side plates 5b and 5c of the first carriage unit 1 are each fixed to a shaft 11.12 and wound around a pair of pulleys 13.15,
A motor 16 capable of forward and reverse rotation is connected to the end of the shaft 11, and the carriage unit 1 is thereby
It is moved in the direction of arrow 17 or in the direction of arrow 19 in the opposite direction. Similarly, both side plates 5b of the second carriage unit 2
, 5c are wound around a similar pair of pulleys 13a, 15a, and are driven by another motor 16 so as to be able to reciprocate.

Both ends of the shaft 21 to which the plurality of carriage rollers 20 of the first carriage unit 1 are fixed are rotatably attached to the side plates 5b, 5c of the frame 5, and the side plates 5b,
The bases of a pair of support levers 22 are rotatably attached to both ends of the shaft 21 extending from the shaft 5c. A plurality of carriage rollers 23 that form a pair with the carriage roller 20 have shafts 26 rotatably provided on the side plates 5b and 5c.
is fixed to. Both ends of this shaft 26 are connected to the side plates 5b and 5c.
They pass through long holes 27 formed in each of the support levers 22 and are attached to the long holes 22a formed in the free ends of the support levers 22,
The lever spring 22b biases the carriage roller 23 toward the shaft 21, that is, in a direction in which the carriage roller 23 comes into pressure contact with the carriage roller 20.

The support lever 22 is urged counterclockwise in the figure by a tension spring 29 whose both ends are locked to the side plate 5b and the support lever 22, and the shaft 26 is attached to the rear end of the elongated hole 27 (the left end in the figure). ) is at rest in contact with.

In this state, the carriage roller 23 is in pressure contact with the carriage roller 20 in a vertical position, as shown in FIG.

An actuation lever 30a of a deflection solenoid 30 is connected to the side edge of the support lever 22 opposite to the spring 29. When the deflection solenoid 30 is actuated at the timing described later, the support lever 22 moves around the shaft 21. arrow 31
The shaft 26 rotates clockwise as shown by , and comes to rest with the shaft 26 in contact with the front end (the right end in the figure) of the elongated hole 27 . In this state, the carriage roller 23 slightly revolves in the paper feeding direction (to the right in the figure) while being in pressure contact with the carriage roller 20, as shown by the chain line in FIG. Due to this revolution of the carriage roller 23, the tangential direction of the contact portion of the carriage roller 20.23, that is, the discharge direction of the sheet S, is slightly downward.

A motor 32 for driving the carriage rollers 20° 23 is fixed to the side plate 5c of the frame 5, and a gear 33 fixed to the output shaft of the motor 32 is fixed to the side plate 5c of the frame 5. 121, and this gear 35 meshes with the shaft 26.
It meshes with a gear 36 fixed to the end of the.

The base of an actuating member 420 is attached to a proper position on the frame 5, and its free end extends upward from the frame 5, and this actuating member 42 is detected by a sensor described later when the carriage unit 1 moves. It is something that will be done. Also,
Carriage roller sensors 4 for detecting the sheet S are installed before and after the carriage rollers 20 and 23 of the carriage unit 1.
3 are arranged.

The second carriage unit 2 also has similar carriage rollers 57 and 59, which are driven by the motor 16, and a carriage roller sensor 60 for detecting the sheet S is installed before and after the carriage rollers 57 and 59. It is arranged.

In FIG. 2'1, the carriage unit 1.2 and the belts 9, 9a for moving it are arranged in series as shown. A microswitch 46.61 for stopping the carriage unit 1 and a microswitch 62.47 for stopping the carriage unit 2 are fixed to the support plate 67 and arranged along the pulley 15a on the downstream side from the vicinity of the pulley 13. These microswitches are
The notch 5d (see FIG. 3) formed in the upper plate 5a of the frame body 5 turns ON-OFF. Furthermore, the pulley 13
On the downstream side, sensors 83 and 85 for detecting the actuating member 42 of the carriage unit 1, sensors 88 and 87 for detecting the actuating member 63 of the carriage unit 2, and the like are fixed to the support plate 67 and arranged.

In the above configuration, the operation when making n half-size double-sided copies (n>1) of one original will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10. In FIG. 1, the operation from the end of single-sided copying to the sheet S until the sheet S enters the switchback path 186 is the same as the operation of the C-shaped path in the conventional example shown in FIG.

The first carriage unit 1 is in a position where the microswitch 46 is turned on, as shown in FIG. The switchback roller 45 and the discharge roller 3 rotate in the directions of the arrows, and the sheet S is sent to the carriage unit 1 side.
When the intermediate tray ejection sensor 4 detects the leading edge of the sheet S, the carriage rollers 20 and 23 of the carriage unit 1
are rotated in the directions of the arrows by the rotation of the motor 32, and grip the leading end of the sheet S. At this time, the carriage rollers 20 and 23 rotate together with the switchback roller 45.

When the carriage roller sensor 43 in the first carriage unit 1 detects that the leading edge of the sheet S is caught in the nip portion of the carriage roller 20.23, the motor 32 is stopped and the rotation of the carriage roller 20.23 is stopped. Stop. Next, the moving motor 16 in FIG. 3 starts rotating, and the first carriage unit 1 starts moving in the direction of the arrow 17 in FIG. 6, and moves at a speed equal to the circumferential speed of the switchback roller 45. do.

At this time, the second carriage unit 2 is at rest with the microswitch 62 in the ON/OFF state.

When the notch 5d of the carriage unit 1 moving in the direction of the arrow 17 is detected by the sensor 85, the moving motor 16 of the carriage unit 1 decelerates, and the actuating member 42
When this is detected by the microswitch 61, a brake (not shown) is applied to the motor 16, and the carriage unit 1 comes to a standstill as shown in FIG. In this state, the carriage rollers 20 and 23 of the first carriage unit 1 and the gear ridge roller 57 of the second carriage unit 2 are
．． 59 start rotating and insert the sheet S into the carriage unit 2.

When the sensor 60 detects that the leading edge of the sheet S is caught in the nip portion of the carriage rollers 57 and 59 of the carriage unit 2, the carriage unit 1 moves at a speed V in the direction of the arrow 19 as shown in FIG. , and the carriage unit 2 moves at a speed V in the direction of the arrow 17.
and move.

Further, the sheet S held by the carriage unit 2 also moves at a speed V in the direction of arrow 17. Seat S at this time
Let V be the moving speed (process speed).

During the movement of the carriage unit 2, the carriage rollers 57, 59 of the carriage unit 2 remain stationary and hold the sheet S in their mouths, but the carriage rollers 20, 23 of the carriage unit 1 rotate at a circumferential speed (V+v). At this time, carriage roller 2 of carriage unit 1
A one-way clutch (not shown) is interposed in the gear 36, which is integrated with the gear 0, and there is a slight difference in the feeding speed of the sheet S, but the rotational speed of the carriage rollers 20 and 23 cannot catch up with the moving speed of the sheet S. However, the seat S will not be damaged due to the action of the one-way clutch.

As the carriage unit 2 moves, when the notch 5d of the carriage unit 2 detects the sensor 87 as shown in FIG.
acts, turning on the actuating member 63 or microswitch 47.
Then, the carriage unit 2 stops. Further, the deflection solenoid 30 of the carriage unit 2 (not shown in FIG. 5) is activated, and the carriage roller 57 revolves toward the sheet discharge side as shown in FIG. 9, with the discharge port facing slightly downward. 57 and 59 rotate in the direction of the arrow, respectively, and discharge the sheet S. Carriage unit 2 is
While discharging the sheet S, it returns at a speed V in the direction of arrow 19, as shown in FIG.

At this time, the moving speed of the second carriage unit 2 is set to V
, the discharge speed of the sheet S is V, so the carriage rollers 57 and 59 of the carriage unit 2 have a circumferential speed (V+v
) to rotate. Seat S with carry/soji unit 2
When the next sheet S is being discharged, the carriage unit 1 moves in the direction of arrow 17, holding the next sheet S in its mouth. When the sheet S is completely discharged onto the intermediate tray 183, a solenoid (not shown) is turned on, and the feed roller 65 descends and comes into contact with the sheet S. Next, the deflection solenoid of the carry/sober unit 2 is set to 0FFL/0. Then, the carriage roller 59 returns to its original position.

1st. The second carriage unit 1.2 returns to the state shown in FIG.
The sheets S are stacked on the intermediate tray 183 apart from the sheets S on the sheet storage means) 183. Intermediate tray 1
When the stacking of the sheets S on the sheet 83 is completed, the stacked sheets are aligned in the lateral direction by a width adjusting motor (not shown). Regarding the refeeding of sheets from the intermediate tray 183, it is similar to the conventional device shown in FIG. 1 sheet S by roller 66
The sheets are separated and conveyed one by one, and then the second registration roller 70
The skew of the sheet S is corrected by conveying it while forming a loop between the first registration roller 66 and the second registration roller 70 and between the second registration roller 70 and the second registration roller 70 .

Next, use one large size sheet S for the original.
The operation when copying sheets (n>1) is shown in Figures 11 to 1.
This will be explained using Figure 5.

The second carriage unit 2 is retracted to a location away from the home position (the location where the microswitch 62 is turned on) in response to the sheet size signal. Carriage unit 1 is equipped with micro switch 4 as in the case of half size.
After gripping the leading edge of the sheet S at the position where the switch 6 is turned on, the rotation of the carriage rollers 20 and 23 is stopped, and in this state, the carriage moves in the direction of the arrow 17.

When the carriage unit 1 stops with the microswitch 61 in the ONL position as shown in FIG. 12, the deflection solenoid 30 shown in FIG.
0.23 points slightly downward as shown in the figure, and by rotating the carriage roller 20.23 in this state, the sheet S is discharged onto the intermediate tray 183. The carriage unit 1 moves in the direction of arrow 19 while discharging the sheet S.

In order for the carriage unit 1 to convey the sheet S at a speed V, if the moving speed of the carriage unit 1 is V, then
The carriage roller 20.23 rotates at a peripheral speed of (V+v). At this time, the next sheet S is switchback path 1
86 and is gripped by the switchback roller 45. When the carriage unit 1 returns to the home position and turns on the microswitch 46, the next sheet S is transferred to the carriage roller 20.2 of the carriage unit 1.
It's stuck in 3.

The conveyance and discharge of the large size sheet described above is performed using the sheet S.
Since the pushing distance is extremely reduced compared to that of the conventional device, stable conveyance onto the intermediate tray 183 is achieved. Further, since the carriage unit 1 returns to the home position side while conveying the sheet S, the productivity of the sheet conveying device is not reduced to the same extent.

Next, for both half size and large size, cases of making one double-sided copy from one double-sided original, and making one double-sided copy from two single-sided originals; based on Figures 16 to 18. I will explain.

The process up to the point where it is inserted into the first carriage unit 1 and the second carriage unit 2 via the switchback path 186 is the same as in the case of the half-size double-sided copy described above. The microswitch 47 for stopping the caliche knit 2 is connected to the operating member 75a of the solenoid 75 as shown in FIG.
5, the microswitch 47 rotates to the position shown by the chain line 47A. The second carriage unit 2 moves to a location where the microswitch 76 is turned on. During this time, the carriage unit 1 moves in the direction of arrow 19 shown in FIG.

The carriage rollers 57 and 59 of the carriage unit 2, which are stopped at the position of the microswitch 76, rotate,
The sheet S is sent between conveyance rollers 72 disposed in the through path section 71. When the leading edge of the sheet S is detected by the sensor 73, the carriage unit 2 returns in the direction of arrow 19, and the first carriage unit 1 holds the sheet S in its mouth and moves in the direction of arrow 17, as shown in FIG. . When both carriage units 1 and 2 reach the transfer section where the microswitches 61 and 62 are located, the sheet S is transferred from the carriage unit 1 to the carriage unit 2.
hand over.

The sheet S conveyed from the through path portion 71 is conveyed while forming a loop between the conveyance roller 72 and the first roller 69 . When the sheet S is loaded onto the intermediate tray 183, the sheet S is temporarily in a free state, but when passing through the through path section 71, the sheet S is constantly restrained, so the loop is only created once. alone is sufficient.

Note that when the image formation on the sheet S is in the multiplex mode, the sheet S of any size is transferred to the carriage unit 1 without passing through the switchback path 186 due to the action of the flapper 185, as shown in FIG. It gets caught in the mouth.

Sheet S by the carriage units 1 and 2 explained above
The details of the transport and discharge operations are summarized in the flowcharts of FIGS. 20 to 22. In the figure, the symbol HP indicates the home position, and the first carriage unit 1
In the case of the second carriage unit 2, it is the place where the microswitch 46 is turned on, and in the case of the second carriage unit 2, it is the place where the microswitch 62 is turned on.

FIG. 20 shows half-size sheets S placed on the intermediate tray 183.
This is a flowchart of the operation of stacking documents on top, and is a case where n double-sided copies (n>1) are made from one document.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart for the case where the sheet S passes through the through path, and FIG. 22 is a flowchart for the operation of stacking large-sized sheets S on the intermediate tray 183, in which n sheets (n> 1) is a flowchart for making double-sided copies.

In the embodiment described above, a two-carriage type sheet conveying device was described, but the carriage that conveys and discharges the sheet S is one carriage unit 1 as in the sheet conveying device shown in FIG. In addition, as shown in FIG. 29, the carriage unit 1 of FIG.
．． In addition to the carriage unit 2, for example, a third carriage 93 may be disposed downstream of the carriage unit 2, so that two or more carriages may be provided. The carriage 93, like the carriage unit 1.2, is movable in a reciprocating manner by a belt 95 wound around a pulley. Do the following.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram of the control operation when transporting and discharging the sheet S, in which the signal input to the I10 input section is
It is output from the I10 output section via the PU, and controls the conveyance and ejection of the sheet S by the carriage unit 1.2.

25, 23 and 24 show a second embodiment of the invention. The duplex unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 25 includes a through-pass section 71 for making one copy from one original.

It is possible to configure the sheet conveying device of the present invention without having this throughput unit 71, and in this case, nine copies (n
As in case >1), even in the case of one-sheet copying from one original, the sheet S is ejected onto the intermediate tray 183 as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24.

Further, as shown in FIG. 23, a timer is used to determine when the leading edge of the sheet S passes under the feed roller 65, and the feed roller 65 is lowered by a solenoid (path shown in the figure), as shown in FIG. The separation roller 66, which rotates the feeding roller 65 and the separation roller 66 at the same speed as the sheet S to refeed the sheet S, is separated by a torque limiter, so there is no problem in conveying one sheet. do not have.

In the embodiment described above, the intermediate tray 1 of the copying machine main body 151
Although the case where the present invention is applied to No. 83 has been described, similar effects can be obtained when the present invention is applied to a circulation type document conveying device.

Here, a case will be described in which the present invention is applied to a circulating document feeder (hereinafter referred to as RDF).

FIG. 30 shows a longitudinal side view of the RDF. In the figure, a document 101 is placed on a document tray 102 with the document surface facing upward, and the document 101 is fed into the separation section B from the bottom by a half-moon roller 103 and a weight 105. The separation section B includes a separation belt 106
and a feeding roller 107, which separates the bottom sheet.

The separated original 101 enters a path 110 and hits a pair of registration rollers 109, and after forming a predetermined loop, is conveyed by the pair of registration rollers 109 to a platen 117 on the main body side. A belt 111 wound around a driving roller 113 and a driven roller 112 is arranged to face the platen 117, and this belt 111 is pressed against the platen 117 by a plurality of press rollers 115. Document 10 sent between platen 117 and belt 111
1 is conveyed to a predetermined position at the end of the platen 117 (the left end in FIG. 30) by the movement of the belt 111, and then stopped.

Here, the original 101 is read by a reading means such as an optical system of the main body of the copying machine (not shown). When the predetermined reading of the original 101 is completed, the belt 111 moves again and sends one original 101 into the path 119. And manuscript 1
01 is held in the large roller 120 and reversed, and the first
The document is transferred from the second carriage unit 121 to the second carriage unit 122, and is set on top of the stacked documents 101 with the document surface facing downward. Hereinafter, the same operation as above is performed for the remaining document 101,
One copy of the plurality of originals 101 is completed.

Note that path 123 is a path for reversing a double-sided original document, and reference numeral 125 is a switching flapper thereof, which is not directly related to the present invention.

The first carriage unit 121 and the second carriage unit 122 are the carriage unit 1 described above.
, 2, and can transport the original 101 between the roller pairs, while being guided by a long hole 126 formed in the side plate of the RDF and moving in the forward and reverse directions shown by the arrows. It is possible. The first carriage unit 121 and the second carriage unit 122 make it possible to transport and discharge the original 101 while holding the original 101 between them.

Note that the detailed operations of these carriage units 121 and 122 are the same as the operations of the intermediate tray 183 in the above-described embodiment, and as a result, the RDF jam handling performance can be improved in the same manner as in the copying machine PI. can.

As explained above, according to the above-described embodiment, the mechanism for conveying the sheet is constituted by the carriage unit 1 (2) that can reciprocate above the intermediate tray 183. When a jam occurs, the jam condition of the sheet S is inferred based on the jam signal from the copying machine main body 151 and the jam position recognized by the sensor, and the carriage unit 1 is moved to a corresponding position and stands by. As a result, the upper part of the intermediate tray 183 is opened, allowing the user to easily process jammed sheets.

In addition, since the carriage unit 1 is configured to be able to be positioned at any position on the intermediate tray 183, the ejection position from the carriage unit 1 to the intermediate tray 183 can be adjusted to multiple positions in response to changes in the size of the sheet S, for example. This can be implemented without providing a deflection means, and the device can be simplified.

Furthermore, in terms of sheet stackability, for example, by controlling the discharge speed of the carriage rollers 20, 23 in the carriage unit 1, it is possible to transport the carriage unit 1 in the opposite direction while the sheet S is being discharged.

Thereby, regardless of the size (length) of the sheet S, it is possible to bring the discharge position from the carriage unit 1 to the intermediate tray 183 as close as possible to the paper refeeding entrance.

Therefore, it is possible to suppress the degree of freedom of the leading edge of the sheet while it reaches the paper refeeding entrance, and to prevent loading defects due to stiffness, especially when loading large size (weak stiff) sheets S. At the same time, during double-sided copying, it is possible to prevent the sheet from getting caught between itself and the leading edge of the next stacked sheet S, depending on the toner condition on the image surface of the already stacked sheets.

Furthermore, in the conventional stationary discharge path, it was not possible to change the sheet discharge action in response to information on the number of sheets S discharged to the intermediate tray 183. Therefore, when performing double-sided copying of a large number of sheets, the ejection conditions of the sheet S vary as the level of the topmost sheet stacking surface of the already stacked sheets changes, making it difficult to obtain stable stacking from a small number of sheets to a large number of sheets. However, in the configuration of this embodiment, the ejection position of the carriage unit 1 can be moved in small amounts in accordance with the sheet number information (physical properties of the sheets), and the carriage roller 20 in the carriage unit 1 can be moved. .23 angle can be varied in accordance with sheet number information (physical properties of sheets), and sheets S can always be stably fed into the intermediate tray 183 from appropriate ejection positions and ejection angles. becomes. This allows the sheet S
The loading performance on the intermediate tray 183 is improved.

Furthermore, the carriage unit conveyance/loading mechanism of this embodiment eliminates noises such as mechanical shocks and frictional sounds between the guide plate and the leading edge of the sheet in the sheet conveyance/loading configuration device in the conventional stationary discharge path. By adopting this method, it will be dramatically reduced.

(G) As described in detail, according to the present invention, sheets can be smoothly stored in the sheet storage means.

In addition, by eliminating the guide for feeding small-sized sheets used in conventional devices, a larger work space for the user is created above the intermediate tray (sheet storage means), making it easier to clear jammed sheets. can be improved.

Further, when the set number of sheets is one, the protacticity of sheet conveyance can be improved by passing the sheet through the through path.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-section (m-plane view) of an image forming apparatus to which a sheet conveying device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied;
, a side view showing the positional relationship between the second carriage unit and the microswitches and sensors that control its position;
The figure is a perspective view of the drive unit of the first (second) carriage, Figure 4 is a front view of the carriage, Figure 5 is a perspective view of the deflection mechanism of the carriage roller, and Figures 6 to 10 are half-size sheets. Operation diagram when stacking on the intermediate tray, Figure 11~
Figure 15 is a diagram of the operation when loading large size sheets on the intermediate tray, Figures 16 to 19 are diagrams of the operation when setting a single copy, and Figures 20 to 22 are diagrams of the sheet conveyance and ejection operation. Flowchart, FIG. 25 is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of an image forming apparatus to which a sheet conveying device according to a second embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIGS. 23 and 24 are operation diagrams, and FIG. Block diagram of sheet conveyance/discharge control, No. 27
28 and 29 are longitudinal sectional side views of an image forming apparatus to which a modification of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 30 is a circular document conveyance system to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 31 is a longitudinal side view of a conventional image forming apparatus having an S'-shaped conveyance path, and FIG. 32 is a longitudinal side view of a conventional image forming apparatus having a C-shaped conveyance path. . S... Sheet, P3... Copying machine (image forming device),
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...First carriage, 2...Second carriage unit, 3...Ejection roller, 46°4
7.61, 62.76... micro switch, 51.
83,85.86.87...Sensor, 71...Through path, 93...Carriage, 183...
Intermediate tray.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A sheet storage means capable of storing sheets and disposed in the middle of a sheet conveyance path, and a sheet discharge means for conveying the sheet to the sheet storage means, the sheet storage means A sheet conveying device comprising: a carriage unit capable of reciprocating on a road portion of the means; 2. The sheet conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the carriage unit includes a pair of carriage rollers that pinch and convey the sheet. 3. The sheet conveying device according to claim 1, wherein at least one carriage roller of the pair of carriage rollers in the carriage unit is configured to be able to revolve around the other carriage roller. 4. On the downstream side of the carriage unit in the sheet feeding direction, a first unit that guides sheets from the intermediate tray to a refeeding path
2. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second path having a shorter conveyance path than the second path. 5. The sheet conveying device according to claim 4, wherein the entrance of the second path is located at approximately the same height as a nip portion of the carriage roller. 6. The sheet conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet ejecting means comprises a plurality of carriage units arranged in series with respect to the sheet feeding direction and capable of reciprocating along the road of the intermediate tray. 7. The sheet conveying device according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of carriage units include a control circuit that allows variable operations to be performed in accordance with the sheet size.