JPH042933Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] <Technical field of the invention> This invention is a sheet material conveying device, specifically, for example, shifts sheet materials discharged from an image forming apparatus in a conveyance path, and transfers each copy to a paper output tray by the number of copies. This relates to a sheet material conveying device that separates and accommodates sheet materials.

<Technical background of the invention> Image forming devices For example, when making multiple copies using a copying machine, in order to clearly separate the number of copies, a sorter is used, the number of copies is shifted left and right, and the number of copies is rotated. You are using the output tray.

However, sorters are large and expensive. In addition, in a paper output tray that shifts or rotates, the stacked sheets collapse each time the tray is moved, making it difficult to separate them.

For this reason, there is a conveying device that shifts the paper in the width direction in the paper ejection path or transports the paper as it is, and stores the paper in a paper ejection tray with different ejection positions for each number of copies.

<Problems with Background Art> However, since the paper being conveyed is charged with static electricity, it is difficult to shift it in the width direction.

Also, if the paper is thin, using a lever as the shift means and tapping the edge of the paper will
The edges are bent and difficult to shift.

<Purpose of the invention> The object of this invention is to obtain a sheet material conveying device that can stably shift sheet materials without being affected by, for example, static electricity or frictional resistance.

[Configuration of the device] The configuration of the device to achieve the above purpose is as follows:
a reversing section that is provided on the conveyance path of the sheet material and that once accommodates the conveyed sheet material and then conveys the sheet material in the opposite direction in the direction in which the sheet material has been conveyed to reverse the conveyance direction of the sheet material; a guide means provided in the reversing section and having a curve forming part that forms a curve in the sheet material in the conveyance direction and strengthens the stiffness of the sheet material in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction; and a sheet material curved by the guide means. A sheet material conveying device is provided, comprising: a shift means for shifting the sheet material in a direction intersecting the conveying direction by pressing an end portion of the sheet material in a direction intersecting the conveying direction.

<Example of the invention> An example of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus, for example a laser beam printer 3, is mounted on the paper conveying apparatus 1 of this embodiment. This laser beam printer 3 scans and forms an image on a photoreceptor with a laser beam modulated based on an image information signal from an image reader or the like (not shown), and the laser beam is supplied from an automatic paper feed port 5 or a manual paper feed port 7. Copy onto paper and exit the paper output slot 9.
Paper is now ejected from the

On the other hand, the paper conveyance device 1 is connected to the upper cassette storage section 1.
1 and a lower cassette accommodating section 13, and is adapted to selectively feed sheets from paper feed cassettes 15 and 17 inserted into the cassette accommodating sections 11 and 13 to the automatic supply port 5. Further, the copied paper discharged from the paper discharge port 9 is conveyed to a paper discharge tray 23 via a paper discharge path including a reversing section 19, a switchback section 21, and the like. That is, the paper discharged from the paper discharge port 9 is reversed in the reversing section 19 and supplied to the switchback section 21.
1, or shifted in the width direction and then switched back, and the sheets are stored on the paper discharge tray 23 with a step difference for each number of copies.

The detailed structure of such paper conveying device 1 is as follows.

First, the cassette accommodating sections 11 and 13 are provided with non-circular paper feed rollers 25 and 27 that are partially cut out in the rotation shafts 22 and 24, and the paper feed cassettes 15 and
It is designed to send out the paper in 17.

Motor-driven transport rollers 29 and 31 are provided in front of the cassette storage units 11 and 13, and are configured to feed paper sent out by paper feed rollers 25 and 27 together with pressure rollers 33 and 35 to the automatic paper feed port 5. It's getting old. Note that the lower cassette housing section 1
When paper is fed from the upper cassette 15 and from the lower cassette 17 by setting the paper feeding speed of 3 higher than the paper feeding speed of the upper cassette storage section 11, the paper feeding speed to the automatic paper feed slot 5 is increased. The arrival times are made equal.

The pressure rollers 33 and 35 are rotatably provided between a plurality of ribs 39 of the side cover 37.

The side cover 37 is rotatable around the hinge 41, and extends between the rollers 29 and 33 and between the rollers 31 and 35.
Paper stuck in between can be removed.

The paper feed cassettes 15 and 17, as represented by the cassette 15, have a movable plate 4 that supports the leading edge of the paper.
3. A pair of left and right separation levers 49 are provided, each having a spring 45 that presses the paper against the paper feed roller 25, and a separation claw 47 that separates the paper into single sheets.

The reversing section 19 includes a reversing guide 51 and conveyance guides 53 and 55, as shown in FIG. A bent portion 51A is provided below the reversing guide 51, and a space 57 is provided between the reversing guide 51 and the conveying guide 53, in which the rear end of the sheet can be biased.

A static elimination brush 59 is provided at the upper end of the reversing guide 51, and a lever-type photo sensor 61 and flange rollers 65, 67 attached to a rotating shaft 63 as shown in FIG. 3 are provided in the middle. The flange roller 65 has a sprocket-shaped flange 65L with a plurality of protrusions on the circumferential surface on one side, and a flange 65R with a smooth circumferential surface on the other side. Further, the flange roller 67 includes flanges 67L and 67R with smooth circumferential surfaces at both ends.

A switching guide 71 rotatable about a shaft 69 is provided in front of the flange rollers 65, 67, and a pressure roller 73 that contacts the circumferential surfaces of the flange rollers 65, 67 is attached to the lower end.

The switching guide 71 is used to select whether to invert the paper ejected from the laser printer 3 or to eject it as is without reversing it.
As shown in the figure, the pressure roller 73 is connected to the flange roller 6.
5 and 67, and only when discharging straight, the shaft 69 is rotated by a lever (not shown) to switch as shown by the broken line.

A roller 77 is attached to a shaft 75 near the bottom of the reversing guide 51, and is configured to constantly rotate in the paper ejection direction.

A roller 81 attached to a shaft 79 is provided below the roller 77, and when the paper is reversed, the roller 77
The roller 77 is pressed against the roller 77 at the time of switchback.

A lever-type photo sensor 83 and a paper ejection roller 87 attached to a rotating shaft 85 are provided on the tip side of the conveyance guide 53. This paper ejection roller 87
is, for example, a flanged roller such as the flange roller 65.

A reversing cover 91 is provided above the paper ejection roller 87 via a hinge 89. Reversing cover 9
A pressure roller 93 that contacts the circumferential surface of the paper ejection roller 87 is provided on the inside of the paper ejection roller 87 , and a spring 95 presses the pressure roller 93 against the paper ejection roller 87 . Also,
A static elimination brush 97 is provided on the reversing cover 91.

A paper discharge tray 23 is removably attached to the reversing section 19 as described above.

The drive mechanism of the reversing section 19 is as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

First, a gear 99 is provided at one end of the rotating shaft 75. Further, a cam 101 is attached to one end of the rotating shaft 79. This cam 101 has a convex portion 101A
When the convex part 101A and the rotating shaft 75 engage, the rotating shaft 79 descends and the roller 81 separates from the roller 77. When the concave part 101B and the rotating shaft 75 engage, the rotating shaft 79 rises. The roller 81 is pressed against the roller 77. A similar cam is attached to the other end of the shaft 79, and moves the shaft 79 up and down at both ends.

The arm 10 is connected to the cam 101 via a pin 103.
5 is attached, and this arm 105 is attached to the arm 10.
7 to the solenoid 109.

Further, a spring 111 is attached to the cam 101. That is, the vertical movement of the shaft 79 is achieved by rotating the cam 101 by the suction force of the solenoid 109 and the return force of the spring 111.

A timing pulley 117 and a clock plate 119 are attached to the rotating shaft 115 of the motor 113. Further, a photo interrupter 121 is attached to sandwich the clock plate 119, so that the number of revolutions of the motor 113 can be detected.

A timing pulley 125 and a gear 1 are attached to the shaft 123.
27, 129, and 131 are attached.
The pulley 125 is coupled to the pulley 117 by a timing belt 133.

The shaft 135 has a gear 137 that meshes with the gear 127.
A gear 139 that meshes with the gear 129 is integrally attached, and the driving force transmitted to the pulley 125 is transmitted through the gears 127, 137, 139 to the gear 129,
131.

A gear 141 that meshes with the gear 131 and a timing pulley 143 are attached to one end of the rotating shaft 63.

A gear 147 that meshes with the gear 99 and a timing pulley 149 are attached to the shaft 145.

Further, a timing pulley 151 is attached to the rotating shaft 85.
is installed.

And timing pulleys 143, 149, 1
51 are connected by a timing belt 153.

That is, when the motor 113 rotates to the left as shown in FIG. 4, the pulley 125 rotates to the left via the pulley 117 and belt 133. For this reason, the gear 12
The gear 141 rotates clockwise via the gears 7, 137, 139, 129, and 131. Therefore, as the roller 65 in FIG. 2 rotates, the pulleys 149 and 151 rotate via the pulley 143 and belt 153. Therefore, the paper discharge roller 87 rotates, and the gear 99 rotates via the gear 147, causing the roller 77 to rotate.

Next, the switchback path 21 is as follows.

As shown in FIG. 2, the switchback path 21 is provided with an intermediate tray 155. This intermediate tray 155, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,
One end is supported by a hinge 157, and the other end is supported so as to be inclined when the cover 159 is opened, as shown in FIG.

That is, a pair of support arms 163 are fixed to a frame 161 that supports the rotation shafts 22 and 24, and a pair of rotation arms 167 are attached via a shaft 165.

A link 171 is attached to the base end of one rotating arm 167 via a shaft 169, and a shaft 171 is attached to the distal end.
A roller 175 is provided that contacts the back surface of the intermediate tray 155 via a roller 73 . Further, a spring 177 is attached between the shaft 169 and the frame 161. Link 171 is attached to cover 159 via shaft 179. cover 15
9 has a handle 180 and is attached to an opening 183 of the overall cover 181 via a hinge 185 so that it can be opened and closed.

On the other hand, on the hinge 157 side, a shift means, for example, a pair of distribution levers 187 is attached to be rotatable about a shaft 191 supported by a frame 189. The shaft 191 has, as shown in FIG.
A link 195 with pin 193 is attached. The pin 193 engages with an elongated hole 201 provided at the tip of an arm 199 that rotates about a shaft 197. A spring 203 is attached between the arm 199, the base end, and the frame 189. Furthermore, the tip side of arm 199 is connected to arm 2.
05 to the solenoid 207.

That is, the distribution lever 187 is rotated by the solenoid 207 and returned by the spring 203.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, a pair of stoppers 208 are attached to the right end of the intermediate tray 155, and ribs 209 to 213 serving as guide means are provided on the surface thereof in a direction perpendicular to the paper conveyance direction. It is provided. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, these ribs 209 to 213 are formed to have a gentle shape on the side from which the paper is conveyed, making it easier to carry the paper therein.

Above the intermediate tray 155, as shown in FIG. 2, a frame 215 is provided across the frame 215, and on this frame 215, a pressing member, for example, an elastic body 217 made of a synthetic resin sheet such as a polyester sheet, is attached as shown in FIG. The tip is provided in contact with the tray 155 between the ribs 210 and 211.

Further, above the intermediate tray 115, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, a shaft 223 is provided, and a holding member such as a weight 225 is rotatably attached.

Then, the switchback part 21 and the rollers 77, 8
1 constitutes a reversing section.

The paper conveyance device configured as described above operates as follows.

Assume that the paper feed cassette 15 in FIG. 1 contains B5 size paper, and the paper feed cassette 17 contains A4 size paper.

On the other hand, when the solenoid 109 is not excited as shown in FIG.
is pushing the rotating shaft 75, so the roller 81 in FIG. 1 is separated from the roller 77. That is, there is a space between roller 77 and roller 81 through which the paper passes.

The motor 113 shown in FIG. 5 is also rotated to operate the drive mechanism.

In this state, when a paper feed command for B5 size paper is issued, the paper in the paper feed cassette 15 is sent out by the paper feed roller 25, separated into one sheet by the separation claw 47, and brought into pressure contact with the transport roller 29. The sheet is held between the rollers 33 and sent to the automatic paper feed port 5 of the laser printer 3.

Image information is copied onto the paper that has entered the laser printer 3, and the paper is ejected from the paper ejection port 9.

The ejected paper is conveyed downward along the inner circumferential surface of the switching guide 71 while having its static electricity removed by the static eliminating brush 59 shown in FIG. At this time, the lever type photo sensor 61 is turned on.

The paper gripped by the flange rollers 65, 67 and the pressure roller 73 is held by the flanges 65L, 65R,
67L and 67R cause the paper to be wavy and stiff as it is fed.

Then, when the leading edge of the paper hits the conveyance guide 53, the paper is bent toward the intermediate tray 155 and enters the switchback path 21. Note that at this point, the paper discharged from the paper discharge port 19 has been turned upside down.

The leading edge of the paper passes over the ribs 209 and 210 shown in FIG. 2, and is sent onto the intermediate tray 155 while pushing up the elastic body 217 and the weight 225.

When the trailing edge of the sheet fed in this manner comes off the pressure roller 73, the flanges 65L and 65R of the flange roller 65 send out the trailing edge of the sheet. For this reason, the paper is
5 completely away from the bending portion 51 of the reversing guide 51.
The rear part of the paper rotates around A in the space 57 toward the conveyance guide 53 due to the stiffness of the paper and gravity.

On the other hand, when the trailing edge of the paper comes off the lever-type photo sensor 61, the sensor 61 is turned off, so that the solenoid 109 shown in FIG. Therefore, the recess 101B of the cam 101
is engaged with the shaft 75, and the roller 81 shown in FIG. 2 is pressed against the roller 77 through the paper.

As a result, the rotational force of the roller 75 is transmitted to the roller 77, and the paper is moved along the conveyance guide 53 to the discharge roller 87.
The paper is sent to the side and is held by the paper ejection roller 87 and the pressure roller 93.

At this point, the lever type photo sensor 83 is turned on, so the solenoid 109 shown in FIG. 4 is deenergized. Therefore, the cam 101 rotates to the left due to the return force of the spring 111, and the convex portion 101A hits the shaft 75 and pushes down the shaft 79. Therefore, roller 81 separates from roller 77.

The paper gripped by the paper ejection roller 87 and the pressure roller 93 is ejected as is, and is stored on the paper ejection tray 23 with the copy side facing downward.

If there are multiple pages of information to be copied by the laser printer 3, the above operations are repeated until the last page is copied and transported.

On the other hand, when multiple copies of information on multiple pages are to be copied, the process is as follows. Note that copying and transporting the first copy are the same as the operations described above. For the second copy, the image information read and stored by the image reader is sent again to the printer 3 from the first page, and is copied onto paper.

The second set of sheets is also sent through the reversing path 19 in the same way as the first set, and is sent onto the intermediate tray 155 as shown in FIG. When the sensor 61 is turned off, the solenoid 207 in FIG.
is momentarily excited. For this reason, sorting lever 1
87 rotates and the left end of the paper is flipped off.

Therefore, the paper P is shifted in the width direction onto the intermediate tray 155, and the right end of the paper P reaches the first stopper 20.
8 hits.

The paper discharged by the paper discharge roller 87 and the pressure roller 93 is stored in the paper discharge tray 23 with a shift toward the front side from the first copy. Such operations are repeated to continuously copy, transport, etc. the second copy.

The third copy is transported in the same way as the first copy.

In this way, as shown in FIG. 8, the odd numbered portions P1, P3, P5, . . . and the even numbered portions P2, P4, .

When copying multiple copies of multiple pages of information onto A4 size paper stored in the paper feed cassette 17 shown in FIG.
The paper is transported to the automatic paper feed port 5 at a faster speed than the paper fed out by the paper feeder 5.

On the other hand, if there is no need to reverse or separate the copied sheets, the switching guide 71 in FIG. 2 is rotated as shown by the broken line using a lever (not shown), and the sheets are ejected as they are.

As described above, the paper is transported to the paper output tray 2.
3, the paper is sorted by number of copies regardless of size and stored in different levels, but if the paper becomes jammed in the reversing section 19, the reversing cover 91 is rotated about the hinge 89 and removed.

If the switchback section 21 is jammed with paper, the user puts his finger on the handle and rotates the cover 159 outward about the hinge 185, as shown in FIG.

As a result, as the cover 159 rotates, the link 1
The rotating arm 167 rotates counterclockwise about the shaft 165 via the shaft 71 . Therefore, the intermediate tray 15
The roller 175 supporting the right end of the tray 5 descends while rolling on the back surface of the intermediate tray.

Therefore, the intermediate tray 155 rotates downward about the hinge 157 and tilts toward the cover 159.
Therefore, the switchback part 21 opens wide,
Reach in and remove the jammed paper.

According to such a paper conveyance device, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) Since a plurality of ribs 209 to 213 are provided on the surface of the intermediate tray 155 in a direction perpendicular to the paper conveyance direction, the contact area between the ribs 209 to 213 and the paper is small, and the frictional resistance is reduced. Even if the paper is charged, it will not come into close contact with the intermediate tray 155.

Therefore, the paper supplied from the reversing section 19 can be smoothly carried into the switchback section 21 and carried out from the switchback section 21.

(2) An elastic body 217 between the ribs 210 and 211;
and the weight 225 are positioned so that the paper is held down and curved between the ribs 210 and 211.
Between 0 and 211, the paper becomes stiff, making it difficult for the paper to bend in the width direction, and even thin paper can be smoothly shifted by the sorting lever 187.

<Modifications> This invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and for example, the following modifications are possible.

(1) The shape of the ribs should be a shape with a gentle shape on the paper inlet side as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

(2) In the above embodiment, when shifting, the distribution lever 1
Although the paper is abutted against the stopper 208 by the rotation of the stopper 87, if the paper rebounds significantly due to the abutment against the stopper 208, a stopper may be provided for each size to catch the paper bouncing back from the stopper 208.

(3) The tip of the presser member is located at the distribution lever 1.
It can be changed as appropriate depending on the position of 87, the spacing between ribs 209 to 213, etc.

<Effects of the invention> As explained above, according to this invention, the sheet material does not come into close contact with the paper ejection path, and
The guiding means provides stiffness to the sheet material, which has the effect of stably shifting the sheet material, which is affected by, for example, static electricity or frictional resistance.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 8 are diagrams for explaining one embodiment of this invention, with Figure 1 showing the overall configuration of the paper conveying device shown together with a laser beam printer, and Figure 2 showing the reversing section and switchback. 3 is a front view showing the structure of the rollers in the reversing section, FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views showing the drive mechanism of the reversing section, and FIG. 6 is the structure around the intermediate tray. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the distribution lever drive mechanism and the intermediate tray rotation mechanism; FIG.
The figure is a diagram illustrating a state in which sheets are accumulated on a paper ejection tray.
FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams showing modified examples of the shape of the ribs provided on the intermediate tray. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Paper conveyance device, 3...Laser beam printer, 19...Reversing section, 21...Switchback section, 23... Paper discharge tray, 155...Intermediate tray, 187...Distribution lever, 208...Stopper, 209-213...rib, 217...elastic body, 225...weight.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] (1) Provided on the conveyance path of sheet material, which once accommodates the conveyed sheet material and then conveys the sheet material in the reverse direction in the direction in which the sheet material was conveyed. a reversing section for reversing the conveying direction of the sheet; a guide means having a curvature forming section provided in the reversing section to form a curve in the sheet material in the conveying direction and strengthen the stiffness of the sheet material in a direction intersecting the conveying direction; A sheet material conveyance system comprising: a shift means for pressing an end of the sheet material in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction, which is curved by the guide means, to shift the sheet material in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction. Device. (2) The sheet according to claim 1, wherein the guide means has a plurality of ribs extending in a direction intersecting with the conveyance direction of the sheet material and provided along the conveyance direction of the sheet material. Material conveyance device.