JPH0640188Y2 - Paper return transport mechanism - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a paper return / conveyance mechanism, and in particular, a composite copy is useful as a mechanism for returning a paper to perform a second copy in a copying machine that performs double-sided copying. .

Conventional technology Conventional paper return transport mechanism used in copiers 51
Is shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which composite copying is performed. The paper P exiting the fixing section outlet E is directly returned to the return guide section 30 by switching the branch guide member 2 of the branch guide section 10.
Be transported to.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which double-sided copying is performed. The paper exiting the fixing section outlet E is guided to the conveying roller pair 3 by switching the branch guide member 2 of the branch guide section 10.
The paper that has passed through the conveying roller pair 3 is guided to the switchback unit 20 by the second branch guide member 4. The paper P is turned upside down by the switchback unit 20, passes between the lower roller 3 _b of the transport roller pair 3 and the driven roller 7,
It is conveyed to the return guide unit 30 as indicated by P '.

Problems of Prior Art In the above-mentioned conventional paper return transport mechanism 51, since the transport path from the branch guide unit 10 and the transport path from the switchback unit 20 merge at the return guide unit 30, the return guide unit 30 There is a restriction on the shape of the guide plate 8 forming the.

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3, the paper P conveyed directly from the branch guide portion 10 to the return guide portion 30 has a large angle (collision angle) θ with the guide plate 8 and lacks smoothness of conveyance. There was a problem.

Object of the Invention The object of the present invention is to provide a paper return / conveyance mechanism capable of always ensuring smoothness both in the conveyance from the branch guide section to the return guide section and the conveyance via the switchback section. To do.

The paper return transport mechanism of the present invention switches the transport path of the paper exiting the fixing section of the image forming apparatus by operating the branch guide member in the branch guide section, and substantially opposes the branch guide section. The return guide unit is guided to the surface of the guide plate and is directly conveyed to the return guide unit, or is guided to a switchback unit connected to the guide plate to be inverted and then returned along the surface of the guide plate. In the paper return transport mechanism for transporting to the guide section, a switchback is provided separately from the branch guide member at the confluence of the transport path from the branch guide section to the return guide section and the transport path from the switchback section to the return guide section. Position for allowing the passage of the paper from the return section to the return guide section, and allowing the passage of the paper from the branch guide section to the return guide section for the action of the branch guide member. A tongue-shaped relaxation guide member that is swingable between a position where the paper is fed from the branch guide part to the return guide part along the leading end of the paper to relax the collision angle with the guide plate. It is a feature of the configuration that it is provided.

Embodiment Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. Here, FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the paper return transport mechanism of one embodiment of the present invention during composite copying, and FIG. 2 is the state of the paper return transport mechanism during double-sided copying, which corresponds to FIG. It is a figure. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

In FIG. 1, the paper return transport mechanism 1 is provided after the exit E of the fixing unit of the copying machine, and is in a state during composite copying.

That is, the paper P exiting the fixing section outlet E is the branch guide section.
The branch guide member 2 of 10 directs the conveying direction directly to the return guide unit 30.

Here, it should be noted that, in the roller axis 3 _c of the lower roller 3 _b of the pair of conveying rollers 3 is that the tongue-like relief guide member 11 is mounted pivotably.

The relief guide member 11 is made of synthetic resin, attached to free the roller shaft 3 _c, it has stopped in a state in contact with the distal end to the guide plate 8 by its own weight. The relaxation guide member 11
May be attached to any other suitable roller shaft.

Therefore, the leading end of the paper P directed downward by the branch guide member 2 hits the relaxation guide member 11 and reaches the guide plate 8, and the conveying direction can be further changed. In other words, before the paper P reaches the return guide portion 30 from the branch guide portion 10, an adjustment is made in an intermediate direction by the relaxation guide member 11 so that the paper sheet P does not collide with the guide plate 8 at a large collision angle. Is done.

In this way, since the collision angle θ between the tip of the paper P fed from the branch guide unit 10 to the return guide unit 30 and the guide plate 8 of the return guide unit 30 is relaxed, the function of smoothing the conveyance is achieved. It is called a relaxation guide member 11.

Now, as shown in FIG. 2, when performing double-sided copying, the paper exiting the fixing section outlet E is guided to the conveying roller pair 3 by switching the branch guide member 2 of the branch guide section 10, and further Is guided to the switchback unit 20 by the branch guide member 4 and is turned back and forth by the switchback unit 20 to pass between the lower roller 3 _b of the transport roller pair 3 and the driven roller 7 and to the return guide unit 30. To be done.

At this time, the relaxation guide member 11 is pushed up by the paper P ', which does not hinder the progress of the paper P'. Not only that, but by pressing the paper P ', the paper P'
Serves to smoothly transport the paper along the guide plate 8.

As can be understood from the above description, according to the paper return transport mechanism 1, the branch guide section 10 to the return guide section 30 are provided.
In either case, the paper P can be smoothly conveyed to the return guide unit 30 regardless of whether the paper P is directly conveyed to the return guide unit 30 via the switchback unit 20.

According to the present invention, the paper exiting the fixing unit of the image forming apparatus is switched by the operation of the branch guide member in the branch guide unit to switch the conveying path, and the paper is returned substantially opposite to the branch guide unit. It is guided to the surface of the guide plate of the guide part and directly conveyed to the return guide part, or guided to the switchback part connected to the guide plate and inverted, and then along the surface of the guide plate to the return guide part. In the paper return transport mechanism for transporting, return from the switchback section separately from the branch guide member at the confluence of the transport path from the branch guide section to the return guide section and the transport path from the switchback section to the return guide section. The position where the paper is allowed to pass through the guide part, and the paper is allowed to pass from the branch guide part to the return guide part, and the branch guide part is operated by the action of the branch guide member. A tongue-shaped relaxation guide member that is swingable between the paper and the position where the paper is guided along the tip of the paper sent to the return guide section to reduce the collision angle with respect to the guide plate. A characteristic paper return transport mechanism is provided, which prevents the paper from hitting a guide plate or the like of the return guide unit and causing a jam, and facilitates the return transport.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of a paper return transport mechanism of one embodiment of the present invention during composite copying, and FIG. 2 is a state of the paper return transport mechanism during double-sided copying. FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 show a first example of a conventional paper return transport mechanism.
FIG. 4 and FIG. 4 are diagrams corresponding to FIG. 2 showing the state of the conventional paper return transport mechanism during double-sided copying. (Explanation of symbols) 1 …… Paper return transport mechanism 2 …… Branch guide member 8 …… Guide plate 10 …… Branch guide section 11 …… Relaxation guide member 20 …… Switchback section 30 …… Return guide section

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A guide of a return guide section that is located substantially opposite to the branch guide section by switching the conveyance path of the paper exiting the fixing section of the image forming apparatus by operating a branch guide member in the branch guide section. Paper return which is guided to the surface of the plate and is directly conveyed to the return guide part, or is guided to a switchback part connected to the guide plate and inverted and then conveyed along the surface of the guide plate to the return guide part. In the transport mechanism, separate from the switch guide from the switchback section to the return guide section at the confluence of the transport path from the branch guide section to the return guide section and the transport path from the switchback section to the return guide section. The position where the paper is allowed to pass, the passage of the paper from the branch guide to the return guide, and the action of the branch guide member causes the return guide from the branch guide. A tongue-shaped relaxation guide member that is swingable between the paper and a position where the paper is guided to a position where the paper is guided along the tip of the paper to reduce the collision angle with the guide plate. Paper return transport mechanism.