JPH07112842A - Image transfer medium conveying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the suction force for an image transfer medium by restraining suction through a gap between a conveyer belt and a frame. CONSTITUTION:Suction regulating ribs 110, 160 are laid on opposite side end parts of the inner peripheral surface of a conveyer belt 11 having suction holes 11a and on the upper surface of a frame 16 incorporating a suction fan 19, respectively, along a belt running direction in a noncontact condition. With this arrangement, a large resistance is give to suction through a gap between the conveyer belt 11 and the frame 16, and accordingly, the suction through the gap can be extremely restrained. As a result, the suction force for an image transfer medium can be enhanced during conveyance thereof. Further, the suction regulating ribs 110, 160 are engaged with each other in a noncontact condition, thereby it is possible to prevent the running belt conveyer 11 from being subjected to a slide resistance.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transfer material conveying device which is disposed in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic system or an electrostatic recording system and which conveys a transfer material while suction-holding it on the outer peripheral surface of a conveyor belt. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image carrier formed in the shape of a rotating cylinder such as a photosensitive drum or in the form of an endless belt is continuously run, and its surface photosensitive layer is subjected to a predetermined process through a predetermined process.
An image forming apparatus has already been proposed which is configured to form a toner image and transfer the toner image to a sheet-shaped transfer material such as paper using a transfer unit to obtain an image.

In such an image forming apparatus, the transfer material on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed from the image forming position to a fixing device having a fixing roller pair composed of, for example, two heat rollers by a transfer material conveying device. Then, the toner image is fixed.

As the transfer material conveying device,
As shown in the schematic cross-sectional view of FIG.
A transfer material transporting member having a, for example, two parallel transport belts 111 made of an endless belt-like elastic material are continuously run, and a fan 113 built in a frame body 112 on the inner peripheral surface side of the transport belt 111. In many cases, the transfer material is sucked and held on the outer peripheral surface of the conveyor belt 111 to be conveyed by sucking the transfer material.

[0005]

In the above-mentioned conventional transfer material conveying apparatus, since the conveying belt 111 is configured to rotate around the frame 112 containing the fan 113, the inner circumference of the conveying belt 111 is reduced. Between the surface and the upper surface of the frame body 112 where the intake port 112a is arranged, the conveyor belt 11
A certain clearance (gap) is set so as not to give a sliding resistance to 1.

Therefore, by the fan 113, the frame 11
When the transfer material is to be sucked from the second suction port 112a through the plurality of suction holes 111a of the conveyor belt 111,
Since air is also sucked from the gap between the conveyor belt 111 and the frame 112, the suction force obtained through the suction holes 111a of the belt 111 is reduced.

In the case where two conveyor belts 111 are provided as in the above-mentioned conventional example, the transfer material P is sucked between the belts 111 as shown in the perspective view of FIG. As a result, the central portion Pa is conveyed while being depressed. When the transfer material P is conveyed to the fixing device in this state, the transfer material P is wrinkled.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and provides a transfer material conveying device in which suction from the gap between the conveyor belt and the frame is suppressed to enhance the suction force for the transfer material. The purpose is to do.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, in the transfer material conveying device (2) according to the present invention, both end portions of the inner peripheral surface of the conveyor belt (11) and the frame body (16). Intake restriction ribs (110, 160) are formed on the upper surface so as to engage with each other in a non-contact state along the belt running direction.

Further, in another transfer material conveying apparatus according to the present invention, the intake regulating ribs (110) are formed at both end portions of the inner peripheral surface of the conveying belt (11) along the belt running direction, and On the upper surface of the frame body (16), an air intake regulation slit (165) which engages with the air intake regulation rib (110) of the conveyor belt (11) in a non-contact state is formed.

[0011]

In the transfer material conveying device having each of the above-mentioned constitutions, the intake regulating ribs (110, 160) are formed on both end portions of the inner peripheral surface of the conveying belt (11) and the upper surface of the frame body (16), respectively. Alternatively, by forming the intake restriction rib (110) and the intake restriction slit (165), the conveyor belt (1
Since a large resistance is given to the intake air from the gap between 1) and the frame body (16), the intake air from the gap can be extremely suppressed. As a result, it is possible to increase the suction force for the transfer material when the transfer material is conveyed. Further, since the intake regulating ribs (110, 160) are engaged with each other or the intake regulating rib (110) and the intake regulating slit (165) are engaged in a non-contact state, a sliding resistance is given to the traveling conveyor belt (11). Never.

The reference numerals in parentheses are for reference to the drawings and do not limit the structure of the present invention.

[0013]

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electrophotographic copying machine provided with a transfer material conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, a photosensitive drum 1 is arranged inside the copying machine, and a developing device 3 and a transfer charger 4 are arranged around the photosensitive drum 1.

A paper feed cassette 5, a pickup roller 6, a separation roller 7, a conveyance roller 100, and a registration roller 101 are arranged on the paper feed side of the photosensitive drum 1, and electrostatically formed on the photosensitive drum 1 by optical scanning. The transfer material is conveyed so that the timing matches the image destination of the latent image.

Further, a fixing device 8 and a paper discharging section 9 are provided on the paper discharging side of the photosensitive drum 1, and the transfer material is fixed after the toner transferred onto the transfer surface is fixed. The sheet is discharged to the outside sheet discharge tray 90 or is conveyed to the intermediate tray section 102 for double-sided copying.

The transfer material conveying device 2 according to the present invention is arranged between the photosensitive drum 1 and the fixing device 8. The transfer material conveying device 2 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the transfer material conveying device 2, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the same transfer material conveying device 2, and FIG.
5 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 4.

As shown in the figure, a pulley 12 that rotates coaxially with a shaft 12 that rotates in a predetermined direction, and two driven rollers 1
Two conveyor belts 11 are wound around 4 and 15 in parallel with each other, and run endlessly as the pulley 13 rotates. Each of the conveyor belts 11 is provided with a plurality of suction holes 11a. The shaft 12 of the pulley 13 and the driven rollers 14 and 15 are rotatably supported by the frame body 16.

On the upper surface of the frame body 16, each conveyor belt 1 is provided.
Two intake ports 16a are provided so as to oppose the inner peripheral surface of the unit 1. A transfer material passage sensor 17 is provided on the upper surface of the frame body 16 between the respective conveyor belts 11. When the transfer material P passes through the transfer material P, the sensor 17 moves from a position indicated by a broken line in the drawing to a position indicated by a solid line. By falling, the photo interrupter 18 detects the passage of the transfer material P.

A fan 19 is built in the frame 16 so that air is taken in through the intake port 16a of the frame 16 and the suction holes 11a of the respective conveyor belts 11.

As a feature of the transfer material conveying device 2 according to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, intake restriction ribs 110 are provided at both end portions of the inner peripheral surface of each conveying belt 11 in the belt running direction. It is formed over the circumference. In this example,
Three intake regulation ribs 110 are formed at the outer end of the inner peripheral surface of each conveyor belt 11, and one at the inner end. However, the region where these intake restriction ribs 110 are formed is limited to the region that does not face the intake port 16a of the frame 16.

In addition, the intake regulating rib 1 is also provided on the upper surface of the frame 16.
60 is formed. In the case of this embodiment, four intake restriction ribs 160 are formed corresponding to the intake restriction ribs 110 of each of the conveyor belts 11. However, the area where these intake restriction ribs 160 are formed is also limited to the area of the frame 16 that avoids the intake port 16a.

The intake regulating ribs 110 of the respective conveyor belts 11 and the intake regulating ribs 160 of the frame 16 are engaged with each other in a non-contact state, and the respective conveyor belts 11 have a sliding resistance in that state. You will drive without receiving.

As described above, the intake regulating ribs 11 are provided on both side ends of the inner peripheral surface of each conveyor belt 11 and the upper surface of the frame body 16.
Since 0 and 160 are formed so as to be engaged with each other, a large resistance is given to the intake air from the gap between the conveyor belt 11 and the frame body 16, so that the intake air from the gap is extremely suppressed. be able to. As a result, it is possible to increase the suction force for the transfer material when the transfer material is conveyed. <Other Embodiments> FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a transfer material conveying device according to another embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a frame of the same transfer material conveying device.

As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, the conveyor belt 1
The air intake regulating ribs 110 are formed on both side ends of the inner peripheral surface of the No. 1 over the entire circumference in the belt running direction (two at the outer end and one at the inner end), and on the upper surface of the frame body 16. Intake restriction slits 165 are formed corresponding to the intake restriction ribs 110 of the conveyor belt 11. However, the region where the intake regulating ribs 110 and the intake regulating slits 165 are formed is limited to the region of the frame body 16 where the intake port 16a is avoided.

The intake regulating rib 110 of the conveyor belt 11 is engaged with the intake regulating slit 165 of the frame body 16 in a non-contact state, that is, in a loosely inserted state, and the conveyor belt 11 is in that state. , Will run without receiving sliding resistance.

As a result, even in the case of this embodiment, a large resistance is given to the intake air from the gap between the conveyor belt 11 and the frame body 16, so that the intake air from the gap can be extremely suppressed. As a result, it is possible to increase the suction force for the transfer material when the transfer material is conveyed.

[0029]

As described above, according to the transfer material conveying device of the present invention, the intake regulating rib of the conveying belt and the intake regulating rib of the frame which are engaged with each other in a non-contact state, or the non-contact state with each other. The intake air restriction rib of the conveyor belt and the air intake restriction slit of the frame body, which are engaged with each other, can extremely suppress the intake air from the gap between the conveyor belt and the frame body. The suction power can be increased.

Therefore, the transfer material can be more reliably conveyed from the image forming position to the fixing position in the image forming apparatus. Moreover, since the intake regulating ribs or the intake regulating ribs and the intake regulating slits are engaged with each other in a non-contact state, sliding resistance is not given to the traveling conveyor belt.

Further, even when two conveyor belts are provided, it is possible to prevent the transfer material from being sucked between the respective belts to form wrinkles.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electrophotographic copying machine provided with a transfer material conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a transfer material transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the same transfer material conveying device.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line A of FIG.

5 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a transfer material transport device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a frame body of the same transfer material conveying device.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a transfer material transport device in a conventional example.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a transfer material conveying device in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Transfer Material Conveying Device 11 Conveying Belt 11a Suction Hole 110 Intake Control Rib 16 Frame 16a Intake Port 160 Intake Control Rib 165 Intake Control Slit 19 Fan

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A conveyor belt having a plurality of suction holes and running in an endless manner, and an intake port facing the inner peripheral surface of the conveyor belt on the upper surface, and the intake port and the conveyor by a built-in fan. A transfer material transporting device that suctions and holds the transfer material on the outer peripheral surface of the transport belt, and both end portions of the inner peripheral surface of the transport belt. A transfer material conveying device, wherein an intake air restriction rib is formed on the upper surface of the frame body so as to engage with each other in a non-contact state along the belt traveling direction. 2. A conveyor belt having a plurality of suction holes and running in an endless manner, and an intake port facing the inner peripheral surface of the conveyor belt on the upper surface, and the intake port and the conveyor by a built-in fan. A transfer material transporting device that suctions and holds the transfer material on the outer circumferential surface of the transport belt, and a frame body that sucks air through the suction holes of the belt, and at both end portions of the inner circumferential surface of the transport belt. In addition, the intake control rib is formed along the belt traveling direction, and the upper surface of the frame is formed with an intake control slit that engages with the intake control rib of the conveyor belt in a non-contact state. Transfer material transfer device.