JPH06166449A - Paper sheet carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To carry out auto-purging without giving damage to paper sheets bordering among units by restricting drawing of a unit that can be drawn out when jamming occurs in the middle of carrying paper sheets. CONSTITUTION:A lock mechanism 42 is provided in the rear side in the drawing direction of a paper feeding cassette 16a. A lock solenoid 45 is turned ON by a lock mechanism 42 at the time of jamming, when there are paper sheets 1 on a paper sheet sensor in the vicinity of the feeding cassette 16a, but when there is no paper sheets 11 that caused the jamming, in the vicinity of the paper sheet sensor, so that the feeding cassette 16a is not frequently drawn out of a copier main body.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet conveying device for conveying a sheet (cut sheet) in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and more particularly to an automatic sheet removing function when a sheet jam (jam) occurs. The present invention relates to a sheet transport device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, when a paper jam occurs in the paper carrying device for some reason during the carrying, the operator carries the next paper unless the paper is removed every time. I can't.

By the way, in a printer or the like which performs a large amount of processing at high speed, once the processing is started, it is non-stop 1-2 times.
Often keeps printing for hours. Therefore, when a paper jam occurs, the operator may replenish the paper. However, when a paper jam occurs,
If there is a sheet of paper extending between the paper feed section (paper feed cassette) and the transport path, pulling out the paper feed cassette will damage the paper.

Therefore, conventionally, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-172540 (Paper Conveying Device), in order to prevent the paper from stopping at the connecting portion such as between the paper feeding portion and the conveying path, the paper is jammed at the connecting portion when a paper jam occurs. The positioned paper is pushed out to the downstream unit.

[0005]

However, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-172540, since the paper sheet pushed to the downstream side has the transport roller on the downstream side stopped,
It is easily damaged by this. Therefore, the operator needs to remove the damaged paper.
In such a case, the technique of Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 172540/1989 does not cause any problem as long as the device is a type that removes all the sheets in the device. However, in recent years, when a paper jam occurs, the operator is allowed to remove only the paper that caused the jam, but the other paper is automatically conveyed to the discharge unit and removed (automatically). There are many purge type devices. In this type of device, the actual Kaihei 1-172540
The technique disclosed in the publication has a problem that auto-purge cannot be performed due to damaged paper.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to limit the free withdrawal of components that can be withdrawn when a device such as a paper jam occurs during the transportation of the paper and the apparatus stops. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet conveying device capable of executing an auto-purge without damaging the sheet extending between the constituent parts and the apparatus main body side.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a sheet transporting device which makes it possible to pull out a component that can be pulled out after performing auto-purge when it is necessary to pull out the component. .

[0008]

The invention according to claim 1 is
A sheet conveying device having a sheet conveying path from the sheet supplying section to the sheet discharging section and a component part that can be pulled out from the apparatus main body in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet conveying path or in a direction along the conveying direction, A lock mechanism that restricts the withdrawal of the constituent parts from the apparatus main body and, when the apparatus stops during the paper conveyance, detects the paper existing across the connecting portion between the constituent parts and the paper conveyance path on the apparatus main body side. The detection means and the control means for controlling the lock mechanism to be in the operating state when the sheet is detected by the detection means are provided.

In this paper transporting device, when the device is stopped during the paper transport due to a paper jam or the like, the paper exists across the connecting portion between the drawable constituent portion and the paper transporting path on the apparatus main body side. , The lock mechanism is activated,
Limit the withdrawal of this component. Therefore, there is no risk of the operator damaging the paper that extends between the main body of the apparatus and the components, and the automatic purge can be executed as it is.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the sheet conveying path extending from the sheet supplying section to the sheet discharging section and the apparatus main body are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet conveying path or in a direction along the conveying direction. A paper transporting device having a component part that can be pulled out, a lock mechanism for restricting the withdrawal of the component part from the device body, and a component transporting path on the component part and the device body side when the device is stopped during sheet transport. Detection means for detecting the paper existing across the connection part of
When the apparatus is stopped during the paper transportation, the determination means determines whether the cause is a paper jam, and the determination means determines that the paper jam is the cause, and the detection means causes the component and the paper transportation. It is provided with a control means for controlling so that the lock mechanism is activated when a sheet of paper that is connected to the path is detected and the sheet of paper is different from the sheet of paper that caused the paper jam. is there.

In this paper transporting device, when the device stops midway and the cause is a paper jam, the paper exists across the connecting portion between the drawable constituent portion and the paper transporting path on the apparatus main body side. Moreover, the lock mechanism is operated only when this paper is not the paper that has caused the paper jam, and the withdrawal of this component is restricted. If the paper that straddles the connection between the drawable component and the paper transport path on the main unit side is the paper that caused the paper jam, the lock mechanism is not activated, and the operator does not The paper that caused the jam can be removed.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, the sheet conveying path from the sheet supplying section to the sheet discharging section, and the apparatus main body in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet conveying path or in a direction along the conveying direction. In a paper transporting apparatus having a drawable component, a lock mechanism for restricting pulling out of the component from the apparatus main body, a lock release instructing means for instructing release of the operation of the lock mechanism, and a device during paper transport When stopped, the detection means for detecting the paper existing across the connecting part between the above-mentioned constituent parts and the paper transport path on the measure body side, and whether the cause is the paper jam when the device is stopped during the paper transport. And a determination unit that determines that a paper jam is the cause, and that the detection unit determines that a sheet that straddles the connecting portion between the constituent portion and the sheet conveyance path is When the sheet is ejected and the sheet is different from the sheet that caused the paper jam, the lock mechanism is controlled to be in the operating state, and when the unlock instruction is issued by the unlock instruction means, the sheet transport path A control means for controlling the lock mechanism to be released after all the sheets in the sheet are ejected to the sheet ejecting section is provided.

In this paper conveying apparatus, in the apparatus according to the second aspect, lock releasing instruction means for instructing the release of the operation of the lock mechanism is provided, and when the lock is instructed by this, inside the paper conveying path. After ejecting all sheets of paper to the paper ejection section and executing auto-purge, the lock mechanism is released. This allows the operator to freely pull out the constituent parts.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. A sheet feeder 2 is provided on the right side of the copying machine body 1 in the figure. The paper 11 delivered from the paper supply unit 2 is conveyed along the conveyance path 12a and the conveyance path 12b on the main body 1 side, and the photosensitive drum 1
The image is transferred from 3. After the transfer, the image of the sheet 11 is further fixed by a fixing device 14 composed of a pressure roller 14a and a heating roller 14b, and then discharged onto the discharge trays 15a and 15b of the stacker unit 3. . A reversing unit R is provided on the copying machine main body 1 side, and the sheet 11 having an image formed on one surface is moved backward along the reversing conveyance path 12c, and the sheet 11 is guided to the upstream side of the photoconductor drum 13 again. Further, an image can be formed on the other surface.

The paper feeding unit 2 is composed of a plurality of, for example, three paper feeding cassettes 16a to 16c. The sheet 3 is taken out from the sheet feeding cassettes 16a to 16c by the feed belt 40 and the sheet feeding rollers 17a to 17c, respectively, and then further fed to the main body 1 side by the feeding rollers 18a to 18c along the feeding path 12a. Conveying rollers 19a, 19 are provided in the conveying path 12b on the copying machine body 1 side.
b, 19c, 19d and 19e are provided respectively. The reversing conveyance path 12c is provided with a conveying roller 20a, a reversing roller 21, and conveying rollers 20b, 20c, 20d, respectively. The nip pressure of each of these rollers can be released by an opening mechanism including a solenoid (not shown).

When the fixing device 14 is stopped, the pressure roller 14a is opened by an opening mechanism (not shown) including a cam and a solenoid.
The nip pressure between the heating roller 14b and the heating roller 14b is released, and at the time of start-up, there is no conveying force until the nip and the fixing cannot be performed. A paper sensor 27 and a conveyance path 12c are provided in the conveyance path 12b between the fixing device 14 and the conveyance roller 19d.
A sheet sensor 28 is provided in each of the sheets. Also,
A sheet ejection sensor 29 is provided at the entrance on the stacker unit 3 side, and a sheet sensor 30 is provided near the reversing roller 21 on the reversing conveyance path 12c.
Are arranged respectively. These paper sensors 27-3
0 detects the leading edge of the sheet 11 and switches from the off state to the on state. When the trailing edge of the sheet 11 passes, it switches from the on state to the off state.

The paper feed rollers 17a to 17 of the paper feed unit 2 are also provided.
The paper sensors 31a to 31 are provided near the upstream side of c, respectively.
c is provided, and the feeding of the paper 11 is automatically detected. A paper sensor 32 is provided on the downstream side of the carry roller 18c, and detects the carry-in of the paper 11 from the paper feed unit 2 to the main body 1 side. Note that the paper 11
The number of sheets fed from the sheet feeding section 2 of
Each time c is switched from the off state to the on state, each counter is counted one by one by a counter (not shown), and is incremented by 1 each time the sheet is fed from the paper feeding unit 2. Also, after the paper 11 has passed through the paper sensor 32,
The count value of the counter is decremented by 1 every time the paper sensor 32 is turned off.

Discharge trays 15a and 15b of the stacker unit 3
A non-sheet discharge tray 26 is disposed below the sheet. A transport path 12d is disposed above the discharge tray 15a, and transport rollers 22a and 22b are provided along the transport path 12d. Conveyor belts 24 wound between rollers 23a and 23b are disposed on the side portions of the discharge trays 15a and 15b and the non-sheet discharge tray 26, and the sheet 11 conveyed along the conveyance path 12d is gated 25a. By switching 25b, the sheet is discharged to any of the discharge trays 15a and 15b and the non-sheet discharge tray 26.

2 and 3 are enlarged views of the structure of the copying machine in the vicinity of the paper feed cassette 16a.
The paper 11 is fed one by one from the paper feed cassette 16a by the feed belt 40 driven in the direction of the arrow by the drive roller 41a and the idler roller 41b, passes through the paper sensor 31a, and then is fed by the feed roller 17a into the feed path 12a. Be transported. The paper feed cassette 16a is in the front in the vertical direction with respect to the paper surface in FIG.
It can be pulled out in any direction.

A lock mechanism 42 is provided on the rear side (right side in FIG. 3) of the paper feed cassette 16a in the drawing direction. The lock mechanism 42 is composed of a link member 43 rotatable around a shaft portion 44, and a lock solenoid 45 connected to a base end portion of the link member 43. A locking portion 43a is provided at the tip of the link member 43, and when the lock solenoid 45 is turned on, this locking portion 43a engages with the upper end of the side wall of the sheet feeding cassette 16a as shown by the solid line in the figure to feed the paper. The cassette 16a is restricted (locked) from freely drawn in the direction of the arrow a. When the lock solenoid 45 is turned off, the link member 43 rotates in the counterclockwise direction around the shaft portion 44 at a constant angle as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. Separated, the locked state is designed to be released. The lock solenoid 45 is turned on when the sheet is normally conveyed, and the lock mechanism 42 is activated, and is turned off when the sheet is normally conveyed and the driving unit of the apparatus is stopped, and the lock mechanism 42 is turned on.
Is to be released. The above configuration is the same for the paper feed cassettes 16b and 16c.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the control section of the sheet conveying apparatus of this embodiment.

This control unit is a CPU (central processing unit) 50.
Is equipped with. The CPU 50 is connected to each unit of the device via a bus 51. Of these, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 52 stores a program for controlling the operation of each unit of this apparatus. Input port 53
Are paper sensors 27 to 30 and paper feed cassettes 16a to 16c
3 near the sheet sensors 31a to 31c, an unlock button 55 provided on an operation panel (not shown) for releasing the operation of the lock mechanism 42, and the sheet discharge sensor 2
9 is an interface for sending the detection signals of each unit of 9 to the CPU 50. The output port 54 outputs the control signal sent from the CPU 50 to each of the feed belt drive motor 56 for driving the feed belt 40, the transport roller drive motor 57 for driving the transport roller of each part, and the lock solenoid 45. It is an interface for doing.

When the CPU 50 receives the detection signals of the paper sensors 27 to 30 and 31a to 31c while the paper 11 is being conveyed and determines that a paper jam (jam) has occurred, the feed belt drive motor 56 and the conveyance rollers are conveyed. The drive motor 57 is stopped to stop the apparatus, but at this time, there is the paper 11 on the paper sensors 31a to 31c near the paper feed cassettes 16a to 16c of the copying machine main body 1 and the paper causing the paper jam. 11 is the paper sensor 31a-31
If it is not near c, the lock solenoid 45 is kept on so that the paper feed cassettes 36a to 16c cannot be pulled out unnecessarily from the copying machine main body 1.

That is, when the paper 11 is placed on the paper sensors 31a to 31c, the paper feed cassettes 16a to 16c.
By limiting the drawer of the paper feed cassette 16a
It is intended to prevent damage to the paper 11 that extends between the main body 1 to the copy machine 16c. However, the paper 11 that has caused the paper jam is not detected by the paper sensors 31a to 3a.
1c, when it is near 1c
If c cannot be pulled out, the jammed sheet 11 cannot be removed, so the lock solenoid 45 is turned off so that the sheet can be pulled out.

In some cases, even if the lock mechanism 42 is in operation, it is necessary to pull out the paper feed cassettes 16a to 16c. In such a case, when the lock release button 55 is pressed, the CPU 50 drives the carry roller drive motor 57 to execute auto purge, and the paper 1
After removing 1 from the transport path, the transport roller drive motor 57 is stopped and the lock solenoid 45 is turned off to release the lock.

Next, the operation of the sheet conveying device having the above-mentioned structure will be described.

In the case of a normal one-sided copy, the paper 11 fed from the paper feed cassettes 16a to 16c of the paper feed unit 2 is fed by the paper feed rollers 17a to 17c and the conveyance roller 1.
8a to 18c conveys the main body 1 along the conveyance path 12a. The sheet 11 conveyed into the main body 1 is conveyed along the conveying path 12b by the conveying rollers 19a to 19c, and the image is transferred and recorded on the photosensitive drum 13.
After the transferred image is thermally fixed in the fixing device 14,
It is sent to the stacker unit 3 by the carrying rollers 19d and 19e along the carrying path 12b. The sheets 11 sent to the stacker unit 3 are conveyed by the conveying rollers 22a, 2 and 2 along the conveying path 12d.
2b, and is further conveyed by the conveyor belt 24 through the gate portions 25a and 25b in the open state to the discharge tray 15
It is accommodated in either a or 15b. Gate 25a,
When both 25b are closed, the paper 11 is stored in the non-paper discharge tray 26.

In the case of double-sided copying, after the image is fixed on the paper 11 by the fixing device 14, the reverse conveyance path 12 is formed.
It is conveyed by the conveying roller 20a, the reversing roller 21, and the conveying rollers 20b to 20d along the line c.
It is returned to the upstream side of 9c, and then conveyed and discharged as in the case of the one-sided copy.

Next, during the transportation of such a sheet,
The operation when a paper jam occurs will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

The CPU 50 uses the paper sensors 27 to 30, 31.
When a paper jam (jam) is detected based on the detection signals from a to 31c (FIG. 5, step S100), it is determined whether the paper 11 is present on the paper sensors 31a to 31c near the paper feed cassettes 16a to 16c. A judgment is made (step S101).
As a result, when the paper 11 is on the paper sensors 31a to 31c (Y), it is determined whether or not the paper causing the next paper jam (cause jam) is other than the vicinity of the paper sensors 31a to 31c. It is determined whether the paper 11 on the paper sensors 31a to 31c is the paper that has caused the paper jam (step S102). As this determination method, for example, when the paper 11 passes through the paper sensors 31a to 31c and each sensor remains in the ON state for a certain time or longer, the paper 11 is determined to be the paper causing the paper jam. Alternatively, or conversely, when the sheet 11 does not reach without turning on the sheet sensors 31a to 31c for a certain period of time or more, the sheet 11 may be set as the sheet causing the paper jam.

If the result of the determination is that the paper causing the paper jam is not on the paper sensors 31a-31c, the CPU
Since 50 operates the lock mechanism 42, the lock solenoid 45 remains in the ON state (step S10).
3). Then, the feed belt drive motor 56 and the transport roller drive motor 57 are turned off to stop the feed belt 40, the transport roller 17a and the like (step S104). Therefore, in this state, the operator cannot pull out the paper feed cassettes 16a to 16c, and thus the normal paper 11 on the paper sensors 31a to 31c is not damaged. In step S101, the paper 11 is detected by the paper sensors 31a to 3a.
When it is determined that it is not on 1c (step S101;
In N), the CPU 50 turns off the lock solenoid 45, releases the locked state, and then turns off the feed belt drive motor 56 and the conveyance roller drive motor 57 to stop the feed belt 40, the conveyance roller 17a, and the like (step). S104). Therefore, in this state, the operator can pull out the paper feed cassettes 16a to 16c, and can perform work such as replenishment of the paper 11.

On the other hand, the CPU 50 has a lock release button 55.
It is monitored whether or not is pressed (step S in FIG. 6).
200), when the lock release button 55 is pressed (step S200; Y), the auto-purge is executed after the sheet 11 causing the paper jam is removed. That is, the transport operation is restarted, and another sheet 11 is transported to the discharge section (step S201). When the discharge of the sheet 11 is completed (step S202; Y), the auto purge is ended (step S203), and then the lock solenoid 45 is turned off (step S204). Therefore, in this state, the operator can freely set the paper feed cassettes 16a to 16a ...
16c can be pulled out.

The present invention has been described with reference to the examples.
The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the paper feed cassettes 16a to 16c are locked when a paper jam occurs is described. However, a component other than the paper feed cassettes 16a to 16c that can be pulled out from the copying machine main body 1, for example, one point in FIG. As shown by the chain line, the portion A including the transport rollers 20b to 20d may be configured to be pulled out from the copying machine main body 1, and the lock mechanism 42 may be provided in this portion. Also,
In the above embodiment, the sheet feeding cassettes 16a to 16c that can be pulled out in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction have been described as an example, but the sheet feeding cassettes 16a to 16c can be pulled out rearward along the sheet conveying direction. It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a copying machine having a configuration.

[0035]

As described above, according to the sheet conveying apparatus of the first aspect, when the apparatus is stopped during the sheet conveying due to a paper jam or the like, the component parts that can be pulled out and the sheet conveying apparatus main body side are conveyed. When paper exists across the part connected to the road, the lock mechanism is activated to limit the withdrawal of this component, so that the operator will not be able to use the paper that extends between the main unit and the component. There is no danger of damaging the auto-purge, and the auto-purge can be directly executed.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, in the case where the apparatus is stopped halfway and the cause is a paper jam, the sheet is conveyed to the connecting portion between the drawable constituent section and the sheet conveying path on the apparatus main body side. The lock mechanism is activated only when there is a sheet of paper extending across it and it is not the sheet that caused the paper jam. If the sheet spanning over the sheet is the sheet causing the paper jam, the operator can remove the sheet causing the paper jam without operating the lock mechanism.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the lock release instruction means for instructing the release of the operation of the lock mechanism. When the lock release is instructed by this means, the inside of the paper transport path is Since all the sheets are discharged to the sheet discharge section and the auto-purge is executed, the lock mechanism is released, so that the operator can freely draw out the constituent parts and can replenish the sheets.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an overall configuration of a sheet conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration in the vicinity of a paper feed cassette of the paper conveyance device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a lock mechanism for the paper feed cassette of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of the sheet transport apparatus of FIG.

5 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the paper transport apparatus of FIG. 1 when a paper jam occurs.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the sheet conveyance device of FIG. 1 when unlocked.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Copier main body, 2 ... Paper feeder, 13 ... Photosensitive drum, 1
6a to 16c ... Paper feed cassette, 42 ... Lock mechanism, 45
... Lock solenoid, 50 ... CPU (central processing unit).

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A paper conveyance path from a paper supply section to a paper discharge section, and a component part that can be pulled out from the apparatus main body in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper conveyance path or in a direction along the conveyance direction. In the paper transporting device, a lock mechanism that restricts the withdrawal of the constituent parts from the main body of the device and, when the device is stopped during the paper transport, exists across the connecting part between the constituent parts and the paper transport path of the main body of the device. A sheet conveying apparatus comprising: a detecting unit that detects a sheet to be stored; and a control unit that controls the lock mechanism to be in an operating state when the sheet is detected by the detecting unit. 2. A paper carrying path from a paper feeding section to a paper discharging section, and a component part that can be pulled out from the apparatus main body in a direction orthogonal to the carrying direction of the paper carrying path or along the carrying direction. In the paper transporting device, a lock mechanism that restricts the withdrawal of the constituent parts from the main body of the device and, when the device is stopped during the paper transport, exists across the connecting part between the constituent parts and the paper transport path of the main body of the device. Detecting means for detecting the paper to be carried out, judgment means for judging whether or not the cause is a paper jam when the apparatus is stopped during the conveyance of the paper, and this judgment means judges that the paper jam is the cause,
Further, the detection unit detects a sheet of paper that straddles the connecting portion between the constituent portion and the sheet conveyance path, and if the sheet of paper is different from the sheet that caused the paper jam, the lock mechanism is activated. A sheet conveying device comprising: a control unit for controlling. 3. A paper transport path from a paper supply section to a paper discharge section, and a component part that can be pulled out from the apparatus main body in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper transport path or along the transport direction. In a paper transport apparatus, a lock mechanism that restricts the withdrawal of the component from the apparatus main body, a lock release instructing unit that instructs release of the operation of the lock mechanism, and the component when the apparatus is stopped during paper transport. And a measure for detecting a sheet existing across a portion connected to the sheet conveying path on the main body side, and a determining means for determining whether or not the cause is a paper jam when the apparatus is stopped during the sheet conveying, This determination means determines that the paper jam is the cause,
Further, the detection unit detects a sheet of paper that straddles the connecting portion between the constituent portion and the sheet conveyance path, and if the sheet of paper is different from the sheet that caused the paper jam, the lock mechanism is activated. And a control unit for controlling the lock mechanism to be released after all the sheets in the sheet conveying path are discharged to the sheet discharge unit when the lock release instruction unit gives the lock release instruction. A paper transport device characterized by.