JPH05155462A - Sheet material conveying device and pulley - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform precise conveyance in cooperation with a conveying means on the upper stream side and to perform conveyance in a manner to match with a conveyance speed on the downstream side. CONSTITUTION:A sheet material conveying device 100 is provided with a plurality of roller pairs 102. A timing pulley 110 made of resin is arranged to the rotary shaft 108 of the one of the roller pair and a drive force is transmitted thereto by means of a timing belt 112. A one-way clutch mechanism is arranged to the timing pulley. When the timing pulley is rotated in the direction of an arrow mark D through the drive force of a drive source for a conveyance means on the upper stream side, the roller pair is driven and a recording substance 12 is conveyed in the direction of an arrow mark F at a constant speed. When the recording substance conveyed in a nipped state by the roller pair is pulled in the direction of the arrow mark F, a rotary shaft is intended to rapidly rotate, the timing pulley is brought into a state to relatively rotate in the direction of an arrow mark E based on the rotary shaft, no drive force is transmitted from the timing pulley to the rotary shaft and the roller pair is rotated according to the conveyance speed of the recording substance.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet material conveying device in which the conveying speed on the downstream side is higher than that on the upstream side. Further, the present invention relates to a pulley used in this sheet material conveying device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the increasing use of image processing, it has become common to convert an image into an electrical signal (hereinafter referred to as "image signal") and store the image. This image signal can be reproduced by a printer (for example, a laser printer) or a display device such as a CRT.

An image corresponding to an image signal can be formed on a recording medium such as a thermal paper or a photosensitive material by a printer or the like. For example, when an image corresponding to an image signal is formed on a recording material which is a photosensitive material, a light beam is deflected according to the image signal to irradiate the recording material to expose the recording material.
At this time, there is a method in which the light beam is scanned in a fixed direction (main scanning) and the recording medium is conveyed (sub scanning).
When sub-scanning is performed in such a printer, the recording medium is accurately conveyed at a constant speed. If the image is not accurately conveyed at a constant speed, the image formed on the recording medium may be distorted.

The recording medium exposed by this printer is developed by an automatic developing machine which is a photosensitive material processing device, and the image converted into an image signal on the recording medium is visualized.

Recently, an image processing system has been used in which a printer and an automatic processor are connected to each other in response to a demand for speeding up of image processing. In this image processing system, a recording medium on which a latent image has been formed by being exposed by a printer is sent to an adjacent automatic developing machine to continuously perform a developing process.

[0006] Generally, in such a system, the recording material in the automatic developing machine is made slightly faster than the recording material in the printer so that the recording material is discharged from the printer and sent to the automatic developing machine. I try not to get clogged or wrinkle. Therefore, a sheet material conveying device is provided inside the printer or between the printer and the automatic developing machine to absorb the difference in the conveying speed of the recording medium between the printer and the automatic developing machine.

Some of the sheet material conveying devices are equipped with a drive source and automatically switch the speed. When the recording medium is present in the printer by transmitting the drive force of the drive source by gears or the like, the printer is used. The recording medium is conveyed in accordance with the conveying speed of the recording medium, and when the leading end of the recording medium is inserted into the automatic developing machine, the conveying speed is switched to convey the recording medium according to the conveying speed of the automatic developing machine.

[0008]

However, in such a sheet material conveying apparatus, since the driving force of the drive source is switched depending on the sheet conveying position and the driving force is transmitted through the gear, the conveying speed of the printer is increased. It is difficult to convey precisely in synchronization with. Therefore, a problem may occur in that the image formed by the printer is distorted.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet material conveying apparatus capable of performing precise conveyance in accordance with the upstream conveying speed.
Moreover, it aims at providing the pulley used for this sheet material conveying apparatus.

[0010]

A sheet material conveying apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a first conveying means for conveying a sheet material, and the first conveying means on the downstream side of the first conveying means. A sheet material conveying device provided between the second conveying means for conveying the sheet material at a speed faster than the sheet conveying means, the roller being provided along the sheet material conveying path, and the sheet material conveying path. A timing pulley attached to a roller along a roller via a one-way clutch, and a timing belt wound around either of the timing pulleys or between the timing pulley and an auxiliary timing pulley for transmitting rotation to the timing pulley, Driving means for driving the timing pulley or the auxiliary timing pulley. When the sheet material is conveyed over the first conveying means without being simultaneously conveyed by the conveying means, the conveying is performed at the same speed as the first conveying means, and the sheet is conveyed over the second conveying means. When this is done, the sheet is conveyed at a speed that follows the conveying speed of the second conveying means.

A pulley according to a second aspect of the present invention is a pulley for transmitting rotation to a roller for conveying a sheet material, wherein a pulley main body in which a rotation shaft for rotating the roller is coaxially fitted, Engaging means that allows the pulley body and the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft to engage with each other and integrally rotates the pulley body and the rotating shaft in an engaged state; and the engaging means includes the pulley body and the rotating shaft. An urging means for urging in the engaging direction and releasing the engagement state against the urging force when the rotating shaft is relatively rotated in the forward direction of rotation with respect to the pulley body, and rotating the rotating shaft relatively. Is provided, and the pulley main body is molded of resin.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet material conveying device, wherein the first conveying means conveys a sheet material, and the downstream side of the first conveying means is faster than the first conveying means. A sheet material conveying device provided between a second conveying means for conveying a sheet material, a roller provided along a sheet material conveying path, a timing pulley fixed to the roller, and A timing belt wound around a timing pulley or between the timing pulley and an auxiliary timing pulley for transmitting rotation to the timing pulley, and between any of the roller, the timing pulley and the auxiliary timing pulley, and the driving means. And a one-way clutch attached to the sheet material, and the sheet material is simultaneously conveyed by the first and second conveying means. Without, the first is when transported across the sheet material to the first conveying means
It is characterized in that it is carried at the same speed as that of the second carrying means, and when it is carried over the second carrying means, it is carried at a speed following the carrying speed of the second carrying means.

[0013]

In the sheet material conveying apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the length of the sheet material conveying path is such that one sheet material extends over both the first conveying means and the second conveying means. I try not to. Therefore, when the sheet material is transported over the first or second transportation means, the sheet material transportation device may transport the sheet material at the transportation speed of the transportation means over the sheet material.

The driving force of the driving means is transmitted to the timing pulley via the timing belt. Further, the timing pulley is provided with a one-way clutch, and the driving force of the driving means is transmitted to the roller via the one-way clutch to rotate the roller. Further, when the roller rotates faster than the rotation by the driving force of the driving means, the one-way clutch operates to rotate the roller and the timing pulley relatively. That is, the one-way clutch is arranged such that the rollers can rotate relative to the timing pulley in the transport forward direction.

In the sheet material conveying device of the present invention, the sheet material is conveyed over the sheet material conveying device and the first conveying means by synchronizing the driving of the first conveying means and the driving of the driving means. In this case, the roller is driven in synchronization with the first conveying means and is precisely conveyed. Further, when the sheet material is conveyed over the sheet material conveying device and the second conveying means, the conveying speed of the sheet material by the second conveying means is faster than the conveying speed by the rotation of the roller, so that the sheet material is the roller. Is to be rotated according to the second transport speed. At this time, the one-way clutch enables relative rotation between the roller and the timing pulley, and the roller rotates so as to convey the sheet material at a conveying speed that follows the second driving means. For this reason, the sheet material is transported without being pulled forcibly, which is likely to cause slack.

The drive source for driving the rollers of the sheet material conveying device need only be synchronized with the drive source of the first conveying means, and need not be switched in accordance with the sheet material conveying speed. Therefore, the driving means may be the same as the first carrying means, or may be provided separately from the first carrying means. Thereby, the sheet material can be precisely conveyed by the first conveying means and the sheet material conveying device of the present invention.

The timing pulley is provided coaxially with the rotary shaft of the roller. However, when the driving means is provided with an auxiliary timing pulley for transmitting the driving force of the driving means to the timing pulley, the one-way clutch is It may be attached to the timing pulley provided in the above, or may be attached to an auxiliary timing pulley for transmitting the driving force of the driving means to the timing pulley. Further, the auxiliary timing pulley may be provided on the drive shaft of the drive means, or the drive force of the drive means may be transmitted via a transmission means such as a gear. It is sufficient that the driving force of the driving means can be accurately transmitted to the roller by the timing pulley, the auxiliary timing pulley and the timing belt.

The rotation of the roller when the sheet material is conveyed while straddling the second conveying means differs depending on the mounting position of the one-way clutch. That is,
When the individual rollers are provided on the rotating timing pulley, only the rollers with which the sheet material comes into contact rotate following the transport speed of the second transport means. When the auxiliary timing pulley or the timing pulley closest to the driving means is provided, all rollers rotate while following the conveying speed of the second conveying means while any roller is in contact with the sheet material. To do.

In the pulley according to the second aspect of the present invention, the one-way clutch including the engaging means and the urging means is provided on the pulley body made of resin. In order to accommodate the engaging means and the biasing means in the pulley body and to provide the one-way clutch, complicated processing is required, but by making the pulley body from resin, the pulley body can be easily molded. In addition to being lightweight, it is possible to significantly improve the assembling property and the maintainability and reduce the cost.

This pulley can be applied to the sheet material conveying device according to the first aspect.

In the sheet material conveying device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the roller and the timing pulley rotate integrally.
The one-way clutch is provided between a roller or a timing pulley and a rotary shaft, and a timing belt is wound around the timing pulley to be coupled, whereby the coupled rollers rotate integrally.

The driving means may be connected to any of the rotating shafts, whereby the roller is driven by the driving force of the driving means. In this case, a timing pulley around which a timing belt is wound around the auxiliary timing pulley may be provided on at least one rotation shaft of the connected rollers, and at least one of the rollers connected via a gear or the like may be provided. It suffices if the driving force of the driving means is transmitted to the rotating shaft.

When the sheet material is conveyed over the sheet material conveying device and the second conveying means, if the sheet material is in contact with any of the connected rollers, the one-way clutch operates to act as the timing pulley. All the rollers connected by the timing belt rotate following the transport speed of the second transport means.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an image processing system 10 according to this embodiment. The image processing system 10 includes a sheet-shaped recording body 1 which is a photosensitive material such as a film or a printing paper.
2 includes a printer 14 that forms a latent image of an image converted into an electric signal, and an automatic developing machine 16 that visualizes the latent image formed on the recording body 12 by the printer 14.

First, the automatic processor 16 will be described.
The automatic developing machine 16 is provided with a processing liquid processing section 18 and a drying section 20 in a machine frame 16A. The processing liquid processing unit 18 is
A developing tank 22, a fixing tank 24, and a water washing tank 26, which are partitioned by partition walls along the conveyance direction of the recording body 12, are provided.

Insertion port 28 of recording body 12 of automatic processor 16
An insertion rack 32 provided with a pair of insertion rollers 30 for holding the recording body 12 in the automatic developing machine 16 and pulling the recording body 12 therein is disposed in the vicinity of. A discharge port 124 of the printer 14, which will be described later, is connected to the insertion port 28. Insertion rack 32
The insertion roller pair 30 is rotated by transmitting a driving force of a driving unit (not shown) in the automatic developing machine 16. An insertion sensor is provided near the insertion port 28 of the automatic developing machine 16 so that the insertion of the recording body 12 into the automatic developing machine 16 can be detected.

A developer rack 22 contains a developer, and a transport rack 3 having a plurality of transport rollers for transporting the recording medium 12 driven by a driving means (not shown).
4 is disposed by being immersed in the developing solution. In the fixing tank 24, a fixing liquid is stored, and a transport rack 36 having a transport roller that is driven by a driving unit (not shown) and transports the recording body 12 is immersed in the fixing liquid. Further, in the washing tank 26, washing water is stored, and the transport rack 3 has a transport roller that is driven by a driving unit (not shown) to transport the recording body 12.
8 is immersed in washing water and arranged.

Further, the developing tank 22 and the fixing tank 24 are provided with temperature adjusting means so that the liquid temperatures of the developing solution and the fixing solution are maintained within a predetermined temperature range. The gas and water vapor generated from the processing liquid processing section 18 are discharged to the outside of the automatic developing machine 16 by an exhaust fan (not shown).

A crossover rack 40 is provided above the developing tank 22 and the fixing tank 24 and between the fixing tank 24 and the washing tank 26. The crossover rack 40 includes a pair of nipping and conveying rollers for conveying the recording body 12 from the tank on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the recording body 12 to the tank on the downstream side, and a guide for guiding the recording body 12.

Therefore, the recording medium 12 drawn into the automatic developing machine 16 from the insertion port 28 by the pair of insertion rollers 30 is inserted into the developing tank 22 by the insertion rack 32 and conveyed in the developing solution by the conveyance rack 34 to be developed. It is processed.
The recording body 12 which has been subjected to the development processing has a crossover rack 40.
Is sent to the fixing tank 24, where it is carried in the fixing solution by the carrying rack 36 and subjected to a fixing process. The fixed recording body 12 is sent to the washing tank 26 by the crossover rack 40, where it is carried in the washing water by the carrying rack 38 and washed.

The crossover rack 40 is provided with a rinse tank 42 containing a rinse liquid below each of them. An overflow tank (not shown) is connected to these rinse tanks 42 so that each rinse solution can be discharged. A part of the nipping / conveying roller pair of the crossover rack 40 is immersed in the rinsing liquid in the rinsing tank 42, and the nipping / conveying roller pair is driven to prevent the nipping / conveying roller pair from drying and adhere to the recording medium 12. The treatment liquid thus prepared is washed from the recording medium 12 and mixed with the treatment liquid at the subsequent stage to prevent the treatment liquid from being deteriorated. Development tank 2
As the rinse liquid stored in the rinse tank 42 between the fixing tank 24 and the fixing tank 24, an acetic acid aqueous solution or water can be applied.
Water can be used as the rinse liquid stored in the rinse tank 42 between the fixing tank 24 and the water washing tank 26.

The developing tank 22, the fixing tank 24, and the water washing tank 26 are each provided with a floating lid 44 having an opening having a guide function for loading and unloading the recording body 12 into and from each tank. These floating lids 44 prevent the treatment liquid in each tank from coming into contact with unnecessary air and suppress the reduction of the treatment liquid due to evaporation.

The recording body 12 washed with water has a squeeze portion 46.
Sent to. The squeeze unit 46 includes the washing tank 26 and the drying unit 2.
0, a squeeze provided with a pair of conveying rollers for conveying the recording medium 12 conveyed from the washing tank 26 and having the washing water adhered thereto to the drying unit 20 while squeezing, and a guide for guiding the recording medium 12. A rack 48 is provided so that the recording body 12 can be inserted into the drying chamber 50 of the drying unit 20.

The drying section 20 includes a drying chamber 50 and a drying chamber 5.
A dry air generating portion 52 is provided below 0. Two pairs of rollers 54 are arranged in the upper part of the drying chamber 50, and two heat rollers 5 are staggered between the pairs of rollers 54.
6 is provided. The heat roller 54 has a cylindrical shape, and a heater is coaxially provided in the axial center portion thereof, and the heat radiated from the heater uniformly heats the outer peripheral portion.

These roller pair 54 and heat roller 5
6, the recording medium 12 is heated and dried by the heat from the heat roller 56 while the recording medium 12 is rotated by being transmitted with the driving force of the driving means (not shown).

In the lower part of the drying chamber 50, the recording body 12 is conveyed by the rollers 58 arranged in a staggered manner and dried by the drying air blown from the spray pipe 60.
At the bottom of the drying chamber 50, there is provided a drying turn section 62 that conveys the recording body 12 obliquely upward.
A receiving box 64 for accommodating the recording body 12 sent out from the drying turn section 62 is provided on the outer wall of 6.

A hot air generating section 52 provided below the drying chamber 50 is provided with a drying fan for generating dry air and a chamber containing a heater for heating the dry air. Dry air is supplied to 60. In addition, a part of the dry air generated by the warm air generating unit 52 is discharged from an outlet of a spray pipe 57 provided along the conveyance path of the recording body 12 on the downstream side of the heat roller 56 above the drying chamber 50. It is designed to be discharged. The heat roller 56 and the spray pipe 5
7 may be arranged in the squeeze portion 46 at a position close to the drying portion 20. As a result, the high-humidity air accumulated near the surface of the recording body 12 between the upstream roller pair 54 and the downstream roller pair 54 is discharged, and the recording body 12 is discharged.
It promotes the drying of. It should be noted that, without providing a heater in the chamber, the air outside the machine is supplied to the inside of the drying chamber 50 by a drying fan, or while the air inside the majority of the drying room 50 is circulated by the drying fan, a part of the outside It may take in air.

Next, the printer 14 for forming a latent image on the recording medium 12 which is to be developed by the automatic developing machine 16 will be described. A magazine loading section 70 is provided in the machine frame 14A of the printer 14. This magazine loading unit 70
A magazine 72 in which the recording bodies 12 are stacked and accommodated is loaded in the. The magazine loading unit 70 is provided with a sheet feeding device 74 that picks up the recording bodies 12 of the magazine 72 one by one by, for example, a plurality of suction cups, and the recording bodies 12 taken out by the sheet feeding device 74 are It is supplied to the exposure unit 76.

A conveyance path for the recording medium 12 is formed between the exposure section 76 and the magazine loading section 70 by a plurality of roller pairs 78 and a guide (not shown). These roller pairs 78 rotate by being transmitted with the driving force of a driving unit (not shown) in the printer 14, and nip and convey the recording medium 12 supplied by the sheet feeding device 74 to the exposure unit 76.

A guide plate 80 is provided in the exposure section 76, and roller pairs 82 and 84 are provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the guide plate 80, respectively. Of these roller pairs 82 and 84, the upper roller is usually moved upward, and when the recording body 12 is conveyed to a predetermined position of the guide plate 80, it approaches the lower roller by a driving force (not shown). The recording body 12 is sandwiched between them. Further, the lower roller is adapted to rotate at a constant speed by transmitting the driving force of a driving means (not shown). Therefore, the recording body 12 sandwiched between the upper roller and the lower roller is conveyed on the guide plate 80 at a constant speed. Regarding the positioning of the recording body 12 on the guide plate 80, the applicant of the present invention has disclosed it in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-176364, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The recording medium 12 is placed on the guide plate 80 of the exposure section 76.
When the tip of the recording medium 12 is positioned, the recording medium 12 is irradiated with a light beam. As shown in FIG. 5, the exposure unit 7
6 is provided with a light emission source 86 that emits a light beam, and the light beam emitted from the light emission source 86 is emitted to an acousto-optic light modulator (AOM) 88. Acousto-optic light modulator 88
Modulates the light beam according to the image signal and irradiates the modulated light beam toward the rotary polygon mirror 90.

The rotary polygon mirror 90 rotates at high speed and reflects the light beam from the acousto-optical modulator 88 toward the scanning lens 92 at the reflecting surface 90A. In this exposure unit 76,
The rotating polygon mirror 90 is rotated at high speed to perform main scanning of the light beam, and the light beam reflected by the reflecting surface 90A of the rotating polygon mirror 90 is directed to the scanning lens 92 while being scanned in a certain direction. The recording medium 12 is irradiated with the light through the scanning lens 92.

That is, the light beam emitted from the light emitting source 86 passes through the acousto-optic light modulator 88 and then enters the reflecting surface 90A of the rotating polygon mirror 90 rotating in the direction of arrow A,
The light is reflected and deflected by the reflecting surface 90A. The reflected and deflected light beam passes through the scanning lens 92, and then is main-scanned in the direction of arrow C on the recording medium 12 conveyed (sub-scanned) in the direction of arrow B. As a result, the recording body 12 is exposed by the light beam according to the image signal, and a latent image is formed.

As shown in FIG. 1, a sheet material conveying device 100 to which the present invention is applied is provided on the downstream side of the exposure section 76. The sheet material conveying device 100 includes a plurality of roller pairs 102 and a guide 104 to form a recording medium 12.
Forming a transport path of.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the roller pair 102 includes a pair of side plates 106 (shown only in FIG. 3) on which the bearing 1 is mounted.
The rotary shaft 108 is rotatably supported. At one end of the rotary shaft 108 of one roller,
The timing pulley 110 is coaxially arranged.
The roller pairs 102 adjacent to each other are connected by a timing belt 112 wound around a timing pulley 110. The timing pulley 110 provided on the rotary shaft 108 may be provided as necessary, and a plurality of timing belts 112 may be wound around one timing pulley 110.

The timing belt 112 is used for the exposure unit 7
The rotation speed that is the same as the rotation speed of the roller pair 82 and 84 of the six rollers is transmitted to the timing pulley 110, and this driving force is transmitted to the timing pulley 110 of the roller pair 102 that are adjacent to each other. That is, the conveyance speed of the recording body 12 by the roller pair 82 and 84 of the exposure unit 76 and the conveyance speed of the recording body 12 by the roller pair 102 are the same and synchronized.

In addition to the timing pulley 110 arranged in the conveying path of the recording medium 12 on the side plate 106, an auxiliary timing pulley (not shown) having no one-way clutch as a driving means is independently provided, and the timing pulley 1 is provided.
A timing belt 112 may be wound around 10 and the auxiliary timing pulley (not shown).
Further, instead of the roller pair 102, another arrangement, for example, staggered arrangement of rollers may be used.

A spur gear 114 is attached to the other end of the rotary shaft 108 of the roller pair 102 at the tip protruding from the side plate 106, and the rotational force transmitted to one roller of the roller pair 102 is applied to the other. The recording medium 12 is transmitted by being transmitted to the rollers to rotate the pair of rollers 102 at a constant speed so that the recording medium 12 is nipped and conveyed.

Further, the bearing 10 which pivotally supports the roller pair 102.
5 is fixed to the side plate 106, and the other 5 is the recording body 12.
The pair of bearings 105 is wound with an endless coil spring 107 so that the roller pair 102 is brought into close contact with each other. The driving force from the driving source (for example, a motor) is transmitted to the timing belt 112 via the timing pulley that is in contact with the timing belt 112.

The timing pulley 110 is made of resin (for example, polyacetal, nylon, PBT, etc.), and as shown in FIG. The cylinder 118 is rotated together. A housing portion 118A is formed in the inner cylinder 118,
A plurality of rollers 120 whose axial direction is along the axial direction of the inner cylinder 118.
Is housed. These rollers 120 serve as engaging means, and a part of the outer peripheral portion thereof can be projected on the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 118, respectively, and are formed on the inner surface of the outer cylinder 116 and the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 108. It comes to abut. Each of these rollers 120 is provided with a biasing means 122 such as a compression coil spring.

Therefore, when the outer cylinder 116 of the timing pulley 110 rotates in the direction of arrow D, the roller 120 is urged by the biasing means 122 so that the inner surface of the outer cylinder 116 and the rotary shaft 10 are rotated.
The rotating force of the outer cylinder 116 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 108 by contacting with the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 108, and the rotating shaft 108 is rotated integrally with the timing pulley 110. Therefore, the recording body 12 is nipped and conveyed in the arrow F direction by the roller pair 102.
Further, when the front end of the recording body 12 is nipped and conveyed by the insertion roller pair 30 of the automatic developing machine 16, the rotation speed of the rotation shaft 108 in the arrow D direction becomes faster than the rotation speed of the outer cylinder 116 in the arrow D direction, and the timing is increased. The pulley 110 is the rotating shaft 10.
8, the roller 120 is rotated relative to the direction of the arrow E, and the roller 120 is pushed against the urging force of the urging means 122, and the outer peripheral surface of the roller 120 is either the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 108 or the inner surface of the outer cylinder 116. Therefore, the rotational force is not transmitted between the rotating shaft 108 and the outer cylinder 116. That is, the timing pulley 11
At 0, a one-way clutch is configured.

The length of the conveying path of the recording medium 12 constituted by the sheet material conveying device 100 is such that the upstream end of the recording medium 12 is held by the roller pair 84 of the exposing section 76. The downstream end of 12 is designed not to be inserted into the insertion roller pair 30 of the automatic developing machine 16.

The printer 14 is provided with a shutter 126 at the discharge port 124 for sending the exposed recording medium 12 to the automatic developing machine 16. This shutter 126
Is designed to open the discharge port 124 when the recording medium 12 is sent out, and normally, the discharge port 124 is closed and the automatic developing machine 16
The gas containing the processing liquid component therein is prevented from flowing into the printer 14.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The printer 14 of the image processing system 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment takes out the recording bodies 12 stacked in the magazine 72 one by one by the sheet feeding device 74 and supplies the recording bodies 12 to the exposure unit 76. Exposure unit 76
Then, when the leading end of the recording body 12 is brought into contact with the guide plate 80 and positioned, the recording body 12 becomes horizontal, and the pair of rollers 82 and 84 sandwich the recording body 12 to start exposure. The recording body 12 is precisely conveyed at a constant speed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 5 by the roller pair 82 and 84, and is sub-scanned, while the light beam emitted from the light emitting source 86 is imaged by the acousto-optic light modulator 88. The light is modulated according to the signal and is applied to the recording medium 12 while being main-scanned in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 5 by the rotary polygon mirror 90. As a result, the recording body 1
2 is sequentially exposed and fed to the sheet material conveying apparatus 100 while a latent image corresponding to an image signal is formed.

In the sheet material conveying apparatus 100, the exposure unit 76
The timing pulley 110, around which the timing belt 112 is wound, is rotationally driven at the same speed as the rotation speed of the driving means for driving the roller pair 82, 84, and the timing pulley 110 is rotated in the direction of arrow D in FIGS. 2 and 4.
As a result, the roller pair 102 is driven at the same speed and in synchronization with the roller pairs 82 and 84 of the exposure unit 76,
The recording body 12 is nipped and conveyed at a precise speed. Therefore, the recording medium 12 between the exposure unit 76 and the sheet material conveying device 100 is
The recording medium 12 can be precisely conveyed without any deviation in the conveying speed. Therefore, a latent image corresponding to the electric signal is accurately formed on the recording body 12.

When the recording body 12 is ejected from the exposure section 76, the downstream end of the recording body 12 is sent to the insertion port 28 of the automatic developing machine 16 by the sheet material conveying device 100.

In the automatic developing machine 16, the recording medium 12 inserted from the insertion port 28 is nipped and conveyed by the insertion roller pair 30, and the recording medium 12 is drawn into the automatic developing machine 16.
The conveyance speed of the recording body 12 by the pair of insertion rollers 30 is
It is faster than the transport speed in the printer 14. Therefore, when the recording body 12 is nipped, the insertion roller pair 30 pulls out the recording body 12 from the sheet material conveying device 100 of the printer 14. As a result, the recording medium 12 is stored in the printer 14.
2 and 4 is pulled in the direction of the arrow F, and the roller pair 102 of the sheet material conveying device 100 that nips and conveys the recording body 12 is conveyed.
Is faster than the rotation of the roller pair 82, 84 of the exposure unit 76.

When the rotation of the roller pair 102 is accelerated, relative rotation occurs between the rotation shaft 108 of the roller pair 102 and the timing pulley 110 transmitting the driving force to the rotation shaft 108. The rotation shaft 108 on which the timing pulley 110 of the roller pair 102 is arranged rotates faster than the timing pulley 110 in the direction of arrow D in FIG.
The timing pulley 110 is in a state of rotating relative to the rotating shaft 108 in the arrow E direction. As a result, the roller 120 of the timing pulley 110 is pushed against the biasing means 122 and rotates while contacting the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 108, and the driving force is generated between the timing pulley 110 and the rotating shaft 108. Will not be transmitted. As a result, the roller pair 102 becomes the timing pulley 1
It can rotate faster than the driving force transmitted from 10.

Therefore, the recording body 12 is the same as that of the automatic processor 1.
The roller pair 102 at the conveyance speed by the insertion roller pair 30 of No. 6
And is sent to the processing liquid processing section 18 of the automatic developing machine 16.

In the automatic developing machine 16, the recording medium 12 sent from the printer 14 is successively conveyed through the developing tank 22, the fixing tank 24 and the water washing tank 26 to perform development, fixing and water washing processing. The surface of the recording body 12 that has been washed with water is squeezed by the squeeze unit 46, and then the drying chamber 50 of the drying unit 20.
It is sent in. In the drying chamber 50, the recording body 12 is heated and dried by the heat roller 56 and the drying air and discharged into the receiving box 64.

In the image processing system 10, the printer 14
The conveying speed of the recording body 12 in the automatic developing machine 16 is faster than the conveying speed in the exposure unit 76, and the sheet material conveying apparatus 100 absorbs this speed difference. Therefore, in the printer 14 and the automatic developing machine 16, the recording body 12 is not unduly tensioned or clogged. Further, the sheet material conveying device 100 includes the roller pair 82 of the exposure unit 76,
Timing pulley 1 at the same rotation speed as 84
Since the recording medium 12 is driven by the timing belt 112 using the recording medium 10, the recording medium 12 can be conveyed at a stable speed in the exposure unit 76.

Further, since the timing pulley 110 is made of resin, the inner cylinder 118, in particular, can easily form the housing portion 118A for incorporating a complicated clutch mechanism, and can be manufactured at a low cost. Further, by using the resin timing pulley 110 to reduce the weight, it is possible to improve the assembling property to the printer 14 and the maintainability. In the present embodiment, the timing pulley 110 is composed of the outer cylinder 116 and the inner cylinder 118, but the structure of the timing pulley 110 is not limited to this. For example, the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are integrated. May be

Further, in this embodiment, the rotary shaft 1 of the roller is
Although the timing pulley 110 equipped with a one-way clutch is attached to 08 and the timing pulley 110 and the roller are rotatable relative to each other, the mounting position of the one-way clutch is not limited to this. An example of mounting the one-way clutch is shown below.

For example, when an auxiliary timing pulley having the timing belt 112 wound around the timing pulley 110 is provided, a one-way clutch may be provided on the auxiliary timing pulley. In this case, relative rotation is possible between the rotation shaft that pivotally supports the auxiliary timing pulley and the auxiliary timing pulley.

Further, the mounting position of the one-way clutch may be provided between the roller and the rotary shaft 108, which enables relative rotation between the roller and the rotary shaft. In this case, roller and timing pulley 1
10 may be one that rotates integrally, and
It may be one that can be relatively rotated by a one-way clutch. The driving force is transmitted to the roller pair 102 by
It suffices to transmit it to the rotary shaft 108 via another timing pulley, a gear, or the like, whereby the roller pair 102 integrally rotates according to the transport position of the recording body 12.

In this embodiment, the printer 14 and the automatic processor 16 are the recording material 1 as a photosensitive material which is a sheet material.
2 is an example of an apparatus for developing processing, and does not limit the application of the sheet material conveying apparatus of the present invention. The recording material 12 conveyed by the sheet material conveying device of the present invention is, of course, a photosensitive material such as photographic paper or film.
It can also be applied when transporting sheet-shaped members such as paper and cloth, and can be used in a transport system in which the transport speed is higher on the downstream side than on the upstream side of the transport path, and particularly accurately transports sheet materials. The effect can be exhibited by using it in a necessary sheet material conveying system.

In this embodiment, a plurality of roller pairs 10 are used.
The sheet material conveying device 100 that nips and conveys the recording body 12 that is a sheet material by 2 has been described. However, as the sheet material conveying device of the present invention, at least one pair of rollers or the sheet material can be conveyed in a staggered manner. It is possible to form the sheet material by the arranged rollers, and it is possible to accurately convey the sheet material while absorbing the speed difference between the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveying direction.

[0068]

As described above, in the sheet material conveying device of the present invention, since the timing belt is wound around the timing pulley to drive the roller in synchronization with the first conveying means, the sheet conveying means is The sheet material can be precisely conveyed at the same speed. Also, the sheet material is the second
When the sheet is conveyed at the conveying speed of the second conveying means over the conveying means of (1), the roller can rotate relative to the drive of the driving means in the conveying direction of the sheet material by the one-way clutch. The sheet material can be sent out according to the transport speed of the transporting means.

Since the pulley of the present invention is made of resin, the structure for assembling the engaging means and the urging means can be easily formed and the weight can be reduced. It is possible to reduce the cost as well as the assemblability to and the maintainability.

As a result, the sheet material can be conveyed without being bent or pulled due to the difference in the conveying speed between the first conveying means and the second conveying means,
Particularly, the excellent effect that the sheet material can be precisely conveyed can be obtained between the first conveying means and the first conveying means.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an automatic developing machine and a printer according to this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a sheet material conveying device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a roller pair according to this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of main parts taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing a side surface of the timing pulley according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing main scanning in an exposure unit according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 image processing system 12 recording medium (sheet material) 14 printer 16 automatic developing machine 30 insertion roller (second conveying means) 76 exposure section 82, 84 roller pair (first conveying means) 100 sheet material conveying device 102 roller pair 108 rotating shaft 110 timing pulley 112 timing belt 118 inner cylinder (one-way clutch) 120 roller (engaging means) 122 biasing means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A first conveying means for conveying a sheet material,
Second transporting means for transporting the sheet material at a speed faster than the first transporting means on the downstream side of the first transporting means;
A sheet material conveying device provided between the rollers, a roller provided along the sheet material conveying path, a timing pulley attached to the roller along the sheet material conveying path via a one-way clutch, and the timing A timing belt wound around either one of the pulleys or between the timing pulley and an auxiliary timing pulley for transmitting rotation to the timing pulley; and a driving means for driving the timing pulley or the auxiliary timing pulley. When the sheet material is conveyed over the first conveying means without simultaneously conveying the sheet material by the first and second conveying means, the sheet material is conveyed at the same speed as the first conveying means. ,
A sheet material conveying device, wherein when the sheet is conveyed over the second conveying means, the sheet material is conveyed at a speed following the conveying speed of the second conveying means. 2. A pulley for transmitting rotation to a roller for conveying a sheet material, wherein a pulley body coaxially fitted with a rotation shaft for rotating the roller is provided with an outer peripheral surface of the pulley body and the rotation shaft. And engaging means for engaging the pulley body and the rotating shaft integrally with each other in an engaged state, and urging the engaging means in a direction in which the pulley body and the rotating shaft engage with each other. A one-way clutch is provided that includes an urging unit that releases the engagement state against the urging force and relatively rotates the rotating shaft when the rotating shaft relatively rotates in the forward rotation direction with respect to the pulley body. A pulley characterized in that the pulley body is molded of resin. 3. A first conveying means for conveying a sheet material,
Second transporting means for transporting the sheet material at a speed faster than the first transporting means on the downstream side of the first transporting means;
A sheet material conveying device provided between the rollers, a roller provided along the sheet material conveying path, a timing pulley fixed to the roller, and the timing pulley or the timing pulley and the timing pulley to rotate. A timing belt wound around any of the auxiliary timing pulleys for transmission, and a one-way clutch attached between any of the rollers, the timing pulleys and the auxiliary timing pulleys, and the drive means. When the sheet material is conveyed over the first conveying means without simultaneously conveying the sheet material by the first and second conveying means, the sheet material is conveyed at the same speed as the first conveying means. When carrying over the second carrying means, follow the carrying speed of the second carrying means Sheet conveying apparatus characterized by conveying at speed.