JPH05116797A - Paper sheet conveying mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To relax a shock generated when a paper sheet collides with a downstream conveyance surface and to reduce the generation of noise by providing the downstream conveyance surface with a buffering means, in a device wherein upper stream and downstream conveyance surfaces are successively arranged with a paper difference in a level therebetween. CONSTITUTION:A sheet conveyance system for a duplicator and the like has a conveyance table 1 on which a paper 2 being a sheet is placed. An upper stream conveyance surface 3 is arranged on the upper surface thereof and a pair of conveyance rollers 4 are located in the middle of the conveyance surface 3. A conveyance guide having an arcuate conveyance passage 6 moved toward above is arranged on the downstream side of the upper stream conveyance surface 3 and on the device body side and a downstream conveyance surface 7 is formed fronting on the conveyance passage 6. The downstream conveyance surface 7 is set to a level lower than that of the upper stream conveyance surface 3 by a distance equivalent to a difference 9 in a level. In a so formed conveyance mechanism, a buffering plate 10 formed of rubber, sponge, and raising cloth is provided in a position on the side, situated nearmost the conveyance table 1, of the downstream conveyance surface 7. This constitution relaxes any shock generated when the rear end of the paper 2 is dropped on the downstream conveyance surface 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet carrying mechanism used in a paper carrying system for copiers, printers and other office equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 shows a conventional sheet conveying mechanism. Reference numeral 100 denotes a transport table on which the paper 101 as a sheet is transported, and the uppermost part thereof forms an upstream transport surface 102. In addition, in the vicinity of the carrier 100, an arc-shaped downstream carrier surface 1
A transport guide 104 having a transport path 1 is provided.
05 is configured. Note that 106 and 107 are conveying rollers. Further, the upstream transport surface 102 and the downstream transport surface 103
Means that the downstream conveyance surface 103 is lowered with a step A.

In the above structure, the paper 102 on the carrier 100 is carried to the carrying path 105 side as indicated by an arrow B by the rotation of the carrying roller 106, and the carrying roller 1
It is transported further downstream by 07.

By the way, the step A is formed between the upstream transport surface 102 and the downstream transport surface 103 to prevent the leading edge 109 of the paper 101 in the transport direction from coming into contact with the wall surface 108 of the transport guide 104 and causing poor transport. This is because

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when the paper 101 is transferred from the upstream transport surface 102 to the downstream transport surface 103, the step A on the rear end 110 side is present.
Is dropped by its own weight and the lower surface of the paper 101 is returned to the horizontal conveying surface 103 by the force of the paper 101 to return to the horizontal direction.
There is a problem that noise is generated by being hit by.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet conveying mechanism capable of reducing the impact when the sheet is hit on the downstream conveying surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet conveying mechanism capable of gradually bringing a sheet into contact with a downstream conveying surface from the front end side to the rear end side.

Still another object is to provide a sheet conveying mechanism capable of displacing the buffer means and the downstream conveying surface in the height direction of the step.

Still another object is to provide a sheet conveying mechanism capable of displacing the buffering means and the downstream conveying surface when the detecting means detects the sheet.

[0010]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sheet in which an upstream transport surface and a downstream transport surface are continuously provided, and a predetermined step is formed between the upstream transport surface and the downstream transport surface. In the transport mechanism, buffer means is provided on the downstream transport surface.

Further, the downstream conveying surface has a guide surface set in a unique shape in which the sheet gradually comes into contact with the surface in the conveying direction from the front surface to the rear surface.

Further, the buffer means and the downstream conveying surface are displaceable in the height direction of the step.

Still further, a detecting means for detecting the sheet is provided, and the buffer means and the downstream conveying surface are displaced according to the detection result of the detecting means.

[0014]

According to the present invention having the above structure, when the sheet conveyed from the upstream conveying surface to the downstream conveying surface is hit on the downstream conveying surface while passing through the step, the shock is cushioned by the cushioning means.

Further, the sheet gradually contacts the downstream conveying surface from the front end side to the rear end side in the conveying direction by the guide surface of the downstream conveying surface.

Further, the buffer means and the downstream conveying surface are displaced in the height direction of the step.

Furthermore, when the detecting means detects the sheet, the buffer means and the downstream conveying surface are displaced in the height direction of the step according to the detection result.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1A is a schematic front view of a paper carrying system of an office machine such as a copying machine or a printing machine to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a carrying table on which a paper 2 as a sheet is placed, and an upstream carrying surface 3 is provided on the upper surface thereof. In addition, the carrier 1
A pair of conveying rollers 4 is provided on the upper part of the.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a transfer guide provided on the apparatus main body side (not shown), and has an arc-shaped transfer path 6 that extends upward from the wall surface 8 of the transfer guide 3a. A downstream transport surface 7 is formed facing the transport path 6. Further, the downstream conveying surface 7 is set lower than the upstream conveying surface 3 by the step 9 shown in FIG. 1 (B). Further, at a position closest to the transfer table 1 on the downstream transfer surface 7, a buffer plate (sponge, rubber,
(Brushed cloth, etc.) 10 is provided.

A pair of conveying rollers 11 is provided on the most downstream side of the conveying path 6.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. When the transport roller 4 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the paper 2 is fed to the front end 12 of the paper 2.
From the inside to the inside of the conveying path 6. Here, since the downstream conveying surface 7 is at a lower position due to the step 9, the leading end 12 is smoothly conveyed without contacting the wall surface 8 of the conveying guide 3a.

When the paper 2 is further conveyed in the conveying path 6, the rear end 13 side of the paper 2 on the upstream conveying surface 3 as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. And falls on the downstream conveying surface 7. At this time, since the shock of hitting the lower surface of the paper 2 is absorbed and alleviated by the buffer plate 10, no noise is generated.

By the way, in the above structure, the buffer plate 1
It is important to set the position of 0, that is, the distance D to the carrier 1. If this distance D is set too large, the rear end 13 side of the paper 2 contacts the edge portion 14 of the cushioning plate 10 as shown in FIG. 1C, and the effect of reducing the clicking noise is small. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1B, the paper 2 is placed on the flat portion 15 of the buffer plate 10.
It is necessary to set the distance D so that the rear end 13 falls.

Further, since the falling position of the rear end 13 may vary depending on the thickness and material of the paper 2 and the surrounding environment, if the buffer plate 10 is made of a flexible member, the paper 2 The contact pressure causes the buffer plate 10 to bend downward to form a shape along the lower surface of the paper 2, further improving the buffer effect.

FIG. 1D shows the second embodiment, and the buffer means is omitted for convenience. In this example,
It has a unique curved shape such that the lower surface of the paper 2 conveyed in the conveyance path 6 gradually contacts the downstream conveyance surface 7 from the front end 12 side to the rear end 13 side in the order of E, F, and G. A guide surface 16 is formed. If this guide surface 16 is configured, the cushioning effect is further improved in combination with the cushioning means. It is necessary to determine the shape of the guide surface according to the paper transport speed. This is because the change in the time required for the bent paper to return to its original state is proportional to the transport speed. The shape of the guide surface may be a linear slope instead of a curved line.

FIG. 2A shows the third embodiment. A paper detection sensor 17 as a detection means for detecting the rear end 13 of the paper 2 is provided at the downstream portion of the carrier 1. Further, the cushioning means 18 provided on the side of the transport guide 3a has an upper surface which also serves as a part of the downstream transport surface 7, and is configured to be displaceable in a step, that is, in the height direction. The buffering means 18 is pulled downward by the spring 19.

Further, the transfer guide 3a has a solenoid 20.
Is provided, and one end of an arm 22 rotatable about a shaft 21 is connected to a solenoid 20,
The other end is connected to the buffer means 18. Other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment.

In the third embodiment thus constructed, when the paper detection sensor 17 detects the rear end 13 of the paper 2, the solenoid 20 is turned on and the arm 22 rotates, and the upper surface of the arm 22 becomes the upstream conveyance surface 3. The buffering means 18 is raised until it becomes substantially flush. Therefore, it is possible to solve the fluttering sound of the rear end 13 of the paper 2 conveyed from the upstream conveyance surface 3 onto the buffer means 18.

After that, the solenoid 20 is turned off,
The cushioning means 18 is pulled back by the spring 19 to a height where the upper surface of the cushioning means 18 is flush with the downstream conveying surface 7, so that the rear end 13 of the paper 2 smoothly moves to the downstream conveying surface 7.

FIG. 2B shows the fourth embodiment. The buffer means 23 provided on the downstream conveying surface 7 is rotatable about the shaft 24 within the angles of the solid line and the chain double-dashed line. The buffer means 23 is formed so that the transport table 1 side is slightly heavy with the axis 24 as a boundary. Others are the same as in the first embodiment.

In the above structure, the buffer means 2 is normally used.
3 is at the position indicated by the solid line, but when the paper 2 is conveyed, the weight of the paper 2 causes the buffer means 23 to rotate to the position indicated by the alternate long and two short dashes line so that the upstream conveyance surface 3 and the downstream conveyance surface 7 are separated from each other. The sloping surface eliminates the knot step.

Therefore, the rear end 13 side of the paper 2 is on the upstream transport surface 3
By moving from the top to the upper surface of the buffer means 23, no clicking noise is generated. Then, when the rear end 13 of the paper 2 is completely moved onto the downstream conveying surface 7, the buffering means 23 is again rotated and returned to the position indicated by the solid line.

FIG. 2C shows the fifth embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 25 is a cassette in which the papers 2 are stacked and stored, and an intermediate plate 26 is provided in the cassette 25. Middle plate 2
A movable portion 28 of which the inclination angle can be changed around the shaft 27 is provided on the side of the conveyance guide 3a on the side of the conveyance guide 3a. The movable portion 28 is pressed upward by the spring 29, and the upper surface thereof serves as the upstream conveyance surface 31. Also, cassette 2
A carry-out roller 30 is provided above the unit 5.

On the other hand, a cushion material 33 is arranged below the cushioning plate 32 provided substantially flush with the downstream conveying surface 7.
Other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment.

In the above structure, when the carry-out roller 30 rotates, the paper 2 in the cassette 25 is carried from the uppermost one to the carrying path 6, but when the rear end 13 side falls from the upstream carrying surface 31. The shock is absorbed and mitigated by the cushioning plate 32 and the cushion material 33, and the generation of noise can be prevented.

In the cassette 25, as the paper 2 is conveyed, the movable portion 31 gradually rises and the step 9 becomes larger, but no noise is generated.

In the first to fifth embodiments, the solid buffer means is provided on the downstream conveying surface 7, but the downstream conveying surface is provided with a discharge port (not shown) for discharging a slight breeze upward. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which the collision of the rear end 13 and the downstream conveying surface 7 is mitigated by the discharged breeze.

[0038]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the shock when the sheet conveyed from the upstream conveying surface to the downstream conveying surface is hit on the downstream conveying surface can be alleviated by the buffer means. The generation of noise can be prevented.

If a guide surface is formed on the downstream conveying surface, it is more effective in combination with the buffering means.

Further, if the downstream conveying surface and the cushioning means are displaced in the height direction of the step, the cushioning effect is further enhanced.

Furthermore, the impact can be mitigated corresponding to the position of the conveyed sheet.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a schematic front sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 1B and 1C are enlarged sectional views showing installation positions of a cushioning plate of the same embodiment, and FIG. Is an enlarged front view of a main part showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 2A is a schematic front sectional view of a third embodiment,
(B) is a schematic front sectional view of the fourth embodiment, and (C) is a schematic front sectional view of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front sectional view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Paper (sheet) 3,31 Upstream transport surface 7 Downstream transport surface 9 Steps 10,32 Buffer plate (buffer means) 16 Guide surface 17 Paper detection sensor (detection means) 18,23 Buffer means

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Iwa Kawamura 6-3-3 Shimorenjaku Copia Co., Ltd. in Mitaka City, Tokyo (72) Inventor Michinori Yamamoto 6-3-3 Shimorenjaku Co., Ltd. in Mitaka City, Tokyo 72) Inventor Kazuhiro Nishimura Copia Co., Ltd. 6-3-3 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka City, Tokyo

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sheet transport mechanism in which an upstream transport surface and a downstream transport surface are continuously provided, and a predetermined step is formed between the upstream transport surface and the downstream transport surface, wherein a buffer means is provided on the downstream transport surface. Sheet transport mechanism. 2. The sheet transport mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the downstream transport surface has a guide surface set in a unique shape in which the sheet gradually contacts the front end surface in the transport direction to the rear end surface. 3. The sheet transport mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the buffer means and the downstream transport surface are displaceable in the height direction of the step. 4. The sheet conveying mechanism according to claim 3, further comprising a detecting unit for detecting the sheet, wherein the buffering unit and the downstream conveying surface are displaced according to the detection result of the detecting unit.