US20190092591A1 - Medium conveying device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents
Medium conveying device and image forming apparatus Download PDFInfo
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- US20190092591A1 US20190092591A1 US16/133,979 US201816133979A US2019092591A1 US 20190092591 A1 US20190092591 A1 US 20190092591A1 US 201816133979 A US201816133979 A US 201816133979A US 2019092591 A1 US2019092591 A1 US 2019092591A1
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- guide
- stacked
- envelope
- print medium
- feeding
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- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- FMINYZXVCTYSNY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Methyldymron Chemical compound C=1C=CC=CC=1N(C)C(=O)NC(C)(C)C1=CC=CC=C1 FMINYZXVCTYSNY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 18
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 16
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 9
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910052736 halogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 150000002367 halogens Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000969 carrier Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003111 delayed effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
- B65H3/66—Article guides or smoothers, e.g. movable in operation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H11/00—Feed tables
- B65H11/002—Feed tables incorporating transport belts
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
- B65H3/02—Separating articles from piles using friction forces between articles and separator
- B65H3/04—Endless-belt separators
- B65H3/042—Endless-belt separators separating from the bottom of the pile
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
- B65H3/46—Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed
- B65H3/56—Elements, e.g. scrapers, fingers, needles, brushes, acting on separated article or on edge of the pile
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2403/00—Power transmission; Driving means
- B65H2403/50—Driving mechanisms
- B65H2403/51—Cam mechanisms
- B65H2403/512—Cam mechanisms involving radial plate cam
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2403/00—Power transmission; Driving means
- B65H2403/50—Driving mechanisms
- B65H2403/53—Articulated mechanisms
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
- B65H2404/60—Other elements in face contact with handled material
- B65H2404/62—Transversely-extending bars or tubes
- B65H2404/623—Transversely-extending bars or tubes gate arrangement
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2405/00—Parts for holding the handled material
- B65H2405/10—Cassettes, holders, bins, decks, trays, supports or magazines for sheets stacked substantially horizontally
- B65H2405/11—Parts and details thereof
- B65H2405/113—Front, i.e. portion adjacent to the feeding / delivering side
- B65H2405/1134—Front, i.e. portion adjacent to the feeding / delivering side movable, e.g. pivotable
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2405/00—Parts for holding the handled material
- B65H2405/10—Cassettes, holders, bins, decks, trays, supports or magazines for sheets stacked substantially horizontally
- B65H2405/11—Parts and details thereof
- B65H2405/113—Front, i.e. portion adjacent to the feeding / delivering side
- B65H2405/1136—Front, i.e. portion adjacent to the feeding / delivering side inclined, i.e. forming an angle different from 90 with the bottom
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2405/00—Parts for holding the handled material
- B65H2405/30—Other features of supports for sheets
- B65H2405/32—Supports for sheets partially insertable - extractable, e.g. upon sliding movement, drawer
- B65H2405/324—Supports for sheets partially insertable - extractable, e.g. upon sliding movement, drawer between operative position and non operative position
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2801/00—Application field
- B65H2801/03—Image reproduction devices
- B65H2801/06—Office-type machines, e.g. photocopiers
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
- Paper Feeding For Electrophotography (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-189004 filed on Sep. 28, 2017, the entire contents which are incorporated herein by reference.
- The present invention relates to a medium conveying device that conveys a print medium to an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a facsimile machine, and a printer.
- Generally, an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a facsimile machine, and a printer can attach an external medium conveying device such that a print medium can be fed not only from inside of an apparatus but also from the outside of the apparatus. A conventional medium conveying device includes a feeding mechanism to feed the print medium. Further, a feeding mechanism feeds the print medium and conveys the print medium to a downstream side of a conveyance direction. For example, reference is made to U.S Pat. No. 7,850,163.
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FIG. 12 is an operation explanatory diagram of a conventional medium conveying device. As illustrated inFIG. 12 , the print medium M stacked on astacker 1210 is fed one-by-one from bottom of the print medium. - However, in a configuration of the conventional medium conveying device, when a stacked amount of the print medium is small, the print medium cannot be fed and misfeeding can occur.
- An aspect of the invention provides the medium conveying device in which it is possible to reduce an occurrence of misfeeding of the print medium even if the stacked amount of the print medium is small.
- An exemplary medium conveying device is disclosed. The medium conveying device, comprises (1) a feeder configured to feed a print medium in a conveyance direction; (2) a stacker configured to stack the print medium fed by the feeder; (3) a first guide arranged in downstream side of the print medium in the conveyance direction, the first guide including a first guide surface configured to guide a downstream edge of the print medium stacked on the stacker; and (4) a second guide arranged to be movable with respect to the first guide, the second guide including a second guide surface configured to guide the downstream edge of the print medium stacked on the stacker, wherein the second guide configured to move with respect to the first guide such that the second guide surface protrudes with respect to the first guide surface in an upstream direction as the stacked amount of the print medium stacked on the stacker decreases.
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FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a bottom sheet feeder and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. -
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a stacking and feeding mechanism in the bottom sheet feeder according to the embodiment. -
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an intra feeder conveying mechanism in the bottom sheet feeder according to the embodiment. -
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. -
FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the main part periphery of the stacking and feeding mechanism in the bottom sheet feeder according to the embodiment -
FIG. 6 is an external perspective view illustrating the main part periphery of the stacking and feeding mechanism in the bottom sheet feeder according to the embodiment. -
FIG. 7 is an external perspective view illustrating a pressure guide in the bottom sheet feeder according to the embodiment. -
FIG. 8 is a top view illustrating a feeder periphery in the bottom sheet feeder according to the embodiment. -
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a control system in the bottom sheet feeder according to the embodiment. -
FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating the stacking and feeding mechanism when a stacked amount of a print medium is large in the bottom sheet feeder according to the embodiment. -
FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating the stacking and feeding mechanism when a stacked amount of a print medium is small in the bottom sheet feeder according to the embodiment. -
FIG. 12 is an operation explanatory diagram of the conventional medium conveying device. - A first embodiment will be described in below. Common elements in each drawing are denoted with the same numerals. Hereinafter, a configuration of a medium conveying device and an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described. In the following description, a
bottom sheet feeder 20 as the medium conveying device will be described as an example. In addition, although an envelope as a print medium will be described as an example, the print medium may be a commercially available cut paper, a transparent film paper, or the like. -
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating the bottom sheet feeder and the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 1 , thebottom sheet feeder 20 according to the first embodiment is detachably attachable to theimage forming apparatus 10, and feeds the envelope M as the print medium to theimage forming apparatus 10 as described later. Thebottom sheet feeder 20 is inserted in an arrow X direction with respect to a tray opening 650 of a multi-purpose tray 600 (hereinafter, referred to as an “MPT”) in theimage forming apparatus 10 and connected. Thebottom sheet feeder 20 feeds from a bottommost envelope M of a plurality of stacked envelopes M with the envelopes M tilted in the conveyance direction and stacked. Thebottom sheet feeder 20 includes a stacking andfeeding mechanism 200 and an intrafeeder conveying mechanism 250. The stacking andfeeding mechanism 200 stacks the plurality of envelopes M and feeds the bottommost envelope M to the intrafeeder conveying mechanism 250. The intrafeeder conveying mechanism 250 further conveys the envelope M fed from the stacking andfeeding mechanism 200 to theimage forming apparatus 10. - The
image forming apparatus 10 performs a desired print on the envelope M conveyed from thebottom sheet feeder 20 connected to theimage forming apparatus 10. Theimage forming apparatus 10 includes an intraprinter conveying mechanism 300, animage forming mechanism 400, anintermediate transferring mechanism 700, and a fixing andejecting mechanism 800. The intraprinter conveying mechanism 300 conveys the envelope M fed from thebottom sheet feeder 20 connected theimage forming apparatus 10 to the inside of theimage forming apparatus 10. Theimage forming mechanism 400 prints on the envelope M. More specifically, theimage forming mechanism 400 forms an image. Theintermediate transferring mechanism 700 intermediately transfers the image formed by theimage forming mechanism 400 and transfers on the envelope M. The fixing andejecting mechanism 800 fixes the image on the envelope M and ejects the envelope M. - Next, a configuration of the stacking and
feeding mechanism 200 in thebottom sheet feeder 20 will be described in detail.FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the stacking and feeding mechanism in the bottom sheet feeder according to the first embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 2 , the stacking andfeeding mechanism 200 stacks the envelopes M as the print medium with tilted in the conveyance direction and feeds from the bottommost envelope M. The stacking andfeeding mechanism 200 includes astacker 210,feeder 220, agate part 230, andseparator part 240. An arrow B indicates the conveyance direction conveyed the envelope M. Hereinafter, the arrow B is referred to as “conveyance direction”. - The
stacker 210 stacks the envelope M as the print medium. Thestacker 210 includes astack guide 213 provided in a rear edge of the envelope M and aset guide 214 provided in left and right of the envelope M. The plurality of envelopes M stacked instacker 210 may be same shape and size. The envelopes M are stacked in a state in which a front edge of the envelope M in conveyance direction is lower than a rear edge of the envelope M. More specifically, the envelopes M are stacked in a state tilted in the conveyance direction. - The envelopes M are regulated and aligned in the front direction in the drawing by the
set guide 214 provided at both side surfaces of left and right of a device. More specifically, the envelopes M are regulated and aligned in a perpendicularly horizontal direction (hereinafter, a width direction) with respect to the conveyance direction of the envelopes M. The front edges of the envelopes M are contacted by a preliminary separatingguide 231 of thegate part 230 and supported and stacked. In addition, thestack guide 213 is provided in the upstream side of the conveyance direction of the envelopes M, that is, the rear edge of the envelopes. Therefore, thestacker 210 stacks the envelopes M on a region in which the front-back and right-left is regulated by thestack guide 213, theset guide 214, and thepreliminary separating guide 231 of thegate part 230. - The
feeder 220 is arranged downward of near the downstream side of the conveyance direction in thestacker 210, that is, downward of near the front edges of the envelopes M. Thefeeder 220 feeds in order from the bottommost envelope M among the plurality of stacked envelopes M. Thefeeder 220 includes afeeding belt 221, afeeding drive roller 223 driving thefeeding belt 221, astretch roller 224, apressure roller 228 and apaper end sensor 229. Thefeeding belt 221 is stretched between thefeeding drive roller 223 and thestretch roller 224. Therefore, thefeeding belt 221 contacts the bottommost envelope M among the plurality of stacked envelopes M on thestacker 210. - The
feeding belt 221 is driven when a feeding and conveyingdrive motor 2102 illustrated inFIG. 9 is driven to rotate thefeeding drive roller 223 in an arrow A direction. Thepaper end sensor 229 is provided between thefeeding drive roller 223 and thestretch roller 224. Thepaper end sensor 229 detects that the envelopes M are stacked on thestacker 210. As described later, the feedingbelt 221 is driven to rotate when the envelope M is detected by thepaper end sensor 229. Thepressure roller 228 is provided near the middle of the feedingdrive roller 223 and thestretch roller 224, and presses the feedingbelt 221 moving in the conveyance direction from downward to upward. Therefore, the feedingbelt 221 forms a nip part between a pressing part 234-2 (seeFIG. 7 ) at the lower of a guide surface 234-1 of thepressure guide 234 with pressing to upward by thepressure roller 228 and fees the bottommost envelope M on thestacker 210. Thepaper end sensor 229 may be a transmission type sensor, a reflection type sensor, or a mechanical sensor. - The
gate part 230 separates the stacked envelopes M and is easy to feed the stacked envelopes M one-by-one. Especially, as a stacked amount of the envelopes M decreases, thegate part 230 is increased feeding force of the feedingbelt 221 weakened by weight saving. Thegate part 230 includes thepreliminary separating guide 231 regulating the front edges of the envelopes M, thepressure guide 234 for increasing feeding force, aspring 238 as a urging member to pressure thepressure guide 234, and areverse cam 239 as a swinging member for swinging thepressure guide 234. - The
preliminary separating guide 231 contacts the front edges of the stacked envelopes M on the stacker 201 and separates the envelopes one by one before feeding the envelop M. Thepreliminary separating guide 231 is different in shape from an upper part and a lower part. The upper part of thepreliminary separating guide 231 is provided vertically so as to line up the front edges of the conveyance direction of the envelopes M, or is provided to incline in downstream of conveyance direction. The lower part ofpreliminary separating guide 231 inclines such that the front edge of conveyance direction of the bottommost envelope M is slightly staggered forward from front edge of the envelope M right above. In other words, in an upper layer of envelopes M stacked on thestacker 210, the front edges of the envelopes are stacked on straight line. Meanwhile, a lower layer of the envelopes M stacked on thestacker 210 are stacked such that the front edge of conveyance direction of the bottommost envelope M is slightly staggered forward from front edge of the envelope M right above. Hence, thepreliminary separating guide 231 can separate one by one before feeding the envelope M. - The
pressure guide 234 according to the present embodiment includes anarm part 235 swinging around anarm fulcrum 235 a. Thearm 235 is a part of thepressure guide 234. Thepressure guide 234 includes the guide surface 234-1. The guide surface 234-1 is a surface of upstream side of the conveyance direction of the envelopes M, that is, the surface that contacts the stacked envelopes M. In addition, thepreliminary separating guide 231 includes a guide surface 231-1 that contacts the stacked envelopes M. The guide surface 234-1 is provided on both sides in the width direction of the envelopes M of the guide surface 231-1. The guide surface 234-1 and the guide surface 231-1 are a surface of same height illustrated inFIG. 6 , that is, a same surface. Since the guide surface 234-1 of thepressure guide 234 is fixed to thepreliminary separating guide 231, the guide surface 234-1 of thepressure guide 234 does not rotate in the direction opposite to the arrow D direction (downstream of the conveyance direction) beyond the same surface of the guide surface 231-1 of thepreliminary separating guide 231. Hence, when there is a large amount of the envelopes M, even if thepressure guide 234 is pressed by force (see Fp inFIG. 11 ) pressing thepressure guide 234 in downstream of the conveyance direction by the large amount of the envelopes M, the guide surface 234-1 of thepressure guide 234 thepressure guide 234 maintains same surface as the guide surface 231-1 of thepreliminary separating guide 231. - Meanwhile, as the stacked amount of the envelopes M decreases, force Fp that presses the
pressure guide 234 by the envelopes M weakens. As shown an arrow D, thepressure guide 234 inclines in upstream side of conveyance direction around thearm fulcrum 235 a by urging force of aspring 238. More specifically, left and right guide surface 234-1 of thepressure guide 234 gradually protrudes from the guide surface 231-1 of thepreliminary separating guide 231. More specifically, thepressure guide 234 is supported to be able to incline to the feedingbelt 221 and holds the envelopes M while contacting a front edges of the envelopes M. Further, as the stacked amount the envelope M decreases, thepressure guide 234 is inclined. Feeding force is increased by sandwiching the envelope M between the feedingbelt 221 and thepressure guide 234. - The
spring 238 as the urging member is provided so as to counter the force Fp that presses from a plurality of print media received by thepressure guide 234, thepressure guide 234 is urged and inclined toward upstream side of the conveyance direction as the stacked amount of the envelopes M decreases. One end of thespring 238 is fixed to apressure guide frame 2007 fixed a device housing via abridge 2005. For example, thespring 238 is included a coil spring or the like. Thereverse cam 239 as the swinging member is driven to rotate a predetermined cycle in an arrow C direction by adrive unit 2103 illustrated inFIG. 9 . Thedrive unit 2103 transmits a drive of the feeding and conveyingdrive motor 2102 via an electromagnetic clutch 2140 under the control of acontroller 2100 and amotor controller 2101. Thereverse cam 239 is contacted a cam working point of thearm part 235 of thepressure guide 234 by rotational drive of thereverse cam 239, and thearm part 235 is rotated in the opposite to arrow D direction. Thepressure guide 234 is returned to an original position by rotating thearm part 235. If thereverse cam 239 is further rotated, the cam working point of thearm part 235 is out of contact, and thepressure guide 234 inclines in an arrow D direction. Thepressure guide 234 is swung by repeating this. - More specifically, the
reverse cam 239 is swung thepressure guide 234 to repeat contact and separation from the feedingbelt 221 by inclining thepressure guide 234 at the predetermined cycle. The shape of thereverse cam 239 may be formed a shape with highest point per circumference of thereverse cam 230. As described later inFIG. 5 , in downstream of the conveyance direction of thegate part 230, theseparator part 240 is provided in upper part of the feedingbelt 221. Theseparator part 240 includes theseparator 2003 or the like for separating the envelopes M one-by-one when the plurality of envelopes is simultaneously fed. - Next, the configuration of the intra
feeder conveying mechanism 250 in thebottom sheet feeder 20 will be described.FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the intra feeder conveying mechanism in the bottom sheet feeder according to the first embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 3 , the intrafeeder conveying mechanism 250 of thebottom sheet feeder 20 is arranged in downstream of the conveyance direction of thefeeder 220 in the stacking andfeeding mechanism 200 and conveys the envelope M to theimage forming apparatus 10. The intrafeeder conveying mechanism 250 includes a conveyingbelt 251, a conveying table 253, a plurality of conveyingrollers 254, afront edge sensor 255, and asecond sensor 256. The conveyingbelt 251 sandwiches the envelope M between the plurality of conveyingrollers 254, and conveys the envelope M in an arrow B direction while sandwiching the envelope M. The conveyingbelt 251 is transmitted drive force to the conveyingdrive roller 252 by the feeding and conveyingdrive motor 2102 illustrated inFIG. 9 , and is driven when the conveyingdrive roller 252 is driven to rotate to an arrow A direction. - The conveying table 253 is a table that supports the conveyed envelope M. The
second sensor 256 and thefront edge sensor 255 are sensors that detect a position of the envelope M, and are used to control a drive of the conveyingbelt 251 and the feedingbelt 221 in thefeeder 220. Thesecond sensor 256 and thefront edge sensor 255 may be a reflection type sensor, a transmission type sensor, or a mechanical sensor. The envelope M conveyed while sandwiching by the conveyingbelt 251 is fed and conveyed to an inside of theimage forming apparatus 10 by apickup roller 602 and afeeding roller 601 or the like of thetray opening 650 of theimage forming apparatus 10. - Next, the configuration of the
image forming apparatus 10 will be described.FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 1 , theimage forming apparatus 10 includes the intraprinter conveying mechanism 300, theimage forming mechanism 400, theintermediate transferring mechanism 700, and the fixing andejecting mechanism 800. The intraprinter conveying mechanism 300 is included in theMPT 600 or the like. TheMPT 600 may include thepickup roller 602, the feedingroller 601, aretard roller 603 or the like. Thepickup roller 602 contacts the envelope M as the print medium and feeds the envelope M. The feedingroller 601 feeds the fed envelope M to an apparatus body of theimage forming apparatus 10. Aretard roller 603 is urged to contact the feedingroller 601 for separating the fed envelope M one by one. - The
bottom sheet feeder 20 is inserted to thetray opening 650 of theMPT 600 so that the front edge of downstream side of the conveyance direction of the conveyingbelt 251 in thebottom sheet feeder 20 is contacted to thepickup roller 602. When thebottom sheet feeder 20 is not inserted, theMPT 600 functions as a device for feeding a paper stacked on apaper stacking plate 604. In the downstream side of the conveyance direction in theMPT 600, a pair of conveyingrollers 304 regulating a skew of the envelope M and a pair ofrollers 305 feeding the envelope M to theimage forming unit 400 are arranged. In addition, in the near the pair of conveyingrollers 304 and the pair of conveyingrollers 305, asheet sensor 303, asheet sensor 320, and asheet sensor 330 are arranged. Thesheet sensor 303 detects a drive timing of the pair of conveyingroller 304. Thesheet sensor 320 and thesheet sensor 330 detect a write timing in theimage forming unit 400. The pair of conveyingroller 304 and the pair of conveyingroller 305 are driven to rotate by the drive motor which is not illustrated based on a detection result of thesheet sensor 320 and thesheet sensor 330. - The
image forming mechanism 400 forms each color image of a yellow, a magenta, a cyan, and a black. Theimage forming mechanism 400 includes fourimage forming unit image forming unit intermediate transferring mechanism 700. The inside configuration of the image forming unit in each color is common. In theimage forming unit photoconductor drums 401, a chargingroller 402 charged by supplying electrically charge the surface of thephotoconductor drum 401 and an exposure device 850 that selectively irradiates the light to the surface of the chargedphotoconductor drum 401 and forms an electrostatic latent image are arranged. Further, in periphery ofphotoconductor drums 401, the developingroller 404 that is adhered the toner as a developer on the surface of thephotoconductor drum 401 formed the electrostatic latent images and generates a toner image is arranged. In addition, when the toner image on the photoconductor drums 401 is transferred, adrum cleaning part 405 that removes the toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor drum is arranged. Theimage forming mechanism 400 includes fourtoner container toner container roller 404. - The
intermediate transferring mechanism 700 transfers the toner image formed by theimage forming unit 400 to anintermediate transferring belt 701. Further, the toner image is transferred to the envelope M conveyed from theMPT 600. Theintermediate transferring mechanism 700 includes a drivingroller 702 driven to rotate by drive unit and atension roller 703 that imparts tension to theintermediate transferring belt 701 by an urging method of coil spring or the like. In addition, theintermediate transferring mechanism 700 includes asecondary backup roller 704 opposite asecondary transferring roller 707 and transfers the toner image to the envelope M, and theintermediate transferring belt 701 stretched around the drivingroller 702, thetension roller 703, and the secondarytransferring backup roller 704. Theintermediate transferring mechanism 700 further includes abelt cleaning part 706 and aprimary transferring roller 705. Thebelt cleaning part 706 removes a toner remaining on theintermediate transferring belt 701. Theprimary transferring roller 705 is opposed to aphotoconductor drum 401 and applies a predetermined voltage for transferring on theintermediate transferring belt 701. - The fixing and
ejecting mechanism 800 comprises a pair of rollers including anupper roller 801 andlower roller 802. Theupper roller 801 incorporates ahalogen lamp 803 a as a heat source, and a surface of theupper roller 801 is formed by elastic body. Thelower roller 802 incorporates ahalogen lamp 803 b as a heat source, and a surface of thelower roller 802 is formed by an elastic body. The fixing andejecting mechanism 800 applies heat and pressure to the toner image on the envelope M to melt the toner image so as to fix the toner image on the envelope M. After that, the envelope M is conveyed by a pair of ejectingrollers 804 a, a pair of ejectingrollers 804 b, a pair of ejectingrollers 804 c and a pair of ejectingrollers 804 d, and is ejected to thestacker 805 as indicated by an arrow Z. When the envelope M is ejected to thestacker 810, the envelope M is ejected by a pair of ejectingrollers 804 e. An ejectingsensor 806 detects the drive timing of the pair of ejectingroller 804 a, the pair of ejectingroller 804 b, the pair of ejectingroller 804 c and the pair of ejectingroller 804 d or the drive timing of the pair of ejectingroller 804 e. - Next, the stacking and
feeding mechanism 200 in thebottom sheet feeder 20 according to the first embodiment will be described in more detail.FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the main part periphery of the stacking and feeding mechanism in the bottom sheet feeder according to the first embodiment.FIG. 6 is an external perspective view illustrating the main part periphery of the stacking and feeding mechanism in the bottom sheet feeder according to the first embodiment.FIG. 6 is an external perspective view seen from an arrow Y direction illustrated inFIG. 5 . The A-part illustrated inFIG. 5 will be described later. The stacking andfeeding mechanism 200 of thebottom sheet feeder 20 includes by thestacker 210, thefeeder 220, thegate part 230 and theseparator part 240. Thebottom sheet feeder 20 includes thebridge 2005 functioning as a structure (that is, a beam). Thebridge 2005 is provided as the beam in a width direction of the envelope M, and is fixed to a frame of both sides of thebottom sheet feeder 20. - The
stacker 210 includes theset guide 214 for regulating the width direction of the stacked envelopes M. The setguide 214 is arranged movably in accordance with the length of the width direction of the stacked envelopes M. Further, in the rear edge side of the envelopes of thestacker 210, thestack guide 213 is provided for supporting the rear edges of the envelopes. Theseparator part 240 includes aseparator frame 2002, aknob 2004, acam 2027, aninner rail 2025, anouter rail 2024, and aseparator frame 2006 in addition to theseparator 2003. Theseparator frame 2002 is connected to thebridge 2005 in downstream side of the conveyance direction of thebridge 2005. Theseparator frame 2002 includes theouter rail 2024 fixed to theseparator frame 2002 and theinner rail 2025 slidable while being guided by theouter rail 2024. - When the
knob 2004 is rotated, theinner rail 2025 moves upward and downward along theouter rail 2024 by rotating thecam 2027 and changing a contacting position of thecam 2027. In the lower edge side of theinner rail 2025, theseparator frame 2006 is attached. In theseparator frame 2006, theseparator 2003 is attached so as to face the feedingbelt 221. From the aforementioned configuration, theseparator frame 2006 is moved upward and downward by rotating theknob 2004, and theseparator 2003 can be pressed against to the feedingbelt 221 or separated from the feedingbelt 221. More specifically, a gap between theseparator 2003 and the feedingbelt 221 can adjust by a rotation operation of theknob 2004. - When the plurality of envelopes M are fed by the feeding
belt 221, theseparator 2003 can be fed only the bottommost envelope M and prevent overlap-feed since the feeding of the envelope M of the upper side among the plurality of envelopes is delayed by the friction of theseparator 2003. For example, theseparator 2003 includes a high friction member with large friction coefficient such as rubber. -
FIG. 7 is an external perspective view illustrating the pressure guide in the bottom sheet feeder according to the first embodiment. Thepressure guide 234 includes a guide surface 234-1 that contacts the front edge of the stacked envelopes M on thestacker 210. The guide surface 234-1 is provided in left and right of width direction of the envelopes M. The guide surface 234-1 includes a guide surface upper edge 234-4. The upper part of the guide surface upper edge 234-4 is bended in the conveyance direction side and does not contact with the front edge of the stacked envelopes M (seeFIG. 6 ). Further, the upper part of the guide surface upper edge 234-4 is formed to reach a spring receiving part 234-8 which contacts on one edge of thespring 238. - The
pressure guide 234 is formed the pressing part 234-2 for contacting with the feedingbelt 221 or separating with the feedingbelt 221 in lower part of left and right guide surfaces 234-1. Further, left andright arm parts 235 are formed from the left and right pressing part 234-2 toward downstream side of the conveyance direction. The front edge of downstream side of conveyance direction of the left andright arm part 235 contact with thereverse cam 239 as the swinging member. Thearm fulcrum 235 a is provided in the middle of thearm part 235, and thearm part 235 swing around thearm fulcrum 235 a. Meanwhile, thespring 238 is provided to face the spring receiving part 234-8. Thespring 238 is inclined thepressure guide 234 in the arrow D direction. - As a result, when the
reverse cam 239 as the swinging member operates and thearm part 235 is moved in the arrow G direction, thepressure guide 234 is returned in the arrow H direction. Further, when thereverse cam 239 rotates and thearm part 235 is moved to the opposite side in the arrow G direction, thepressure guide 234 inclines in the arrow D direction. Hence, thepressure guide 234 always swing, and the pressing part 234-2 repeats contacting and separating with respect to the feedingbelt 221. - Next, the configuration of the
feeder 220 will be described.FIG. 8 is a top view illustrating the feeder periphery in the bottom sheet feeder according to the first embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 8 , thefeeder 220 includes a feedingbelt 221 a, a feedingbelt 221 b, a feedingbelt 221 c, a feedingbelt 221 d, a feeding belt 221 e, a feedingbelt 221 f, the feedingdrive roller 223, thestretch roller 224, and thepressure roller 228. Thefeeder 220 feeds the envelope M in an arrow B direction by the feedingbelt 221. Theseparator 2003 of theseparator part 240 is arranged in the gap between the feedingbelt 221 c and the feedingbelt 221 d in the center among the plurality of feedingbelt 221 provided in width direction. Even if the plurality of envelopes are fed at the same time, The feedingbelt 221 a, the feedingbelt 221 b, the feeding belt 221C, the feedingbelt 221 d, the feeding belt 221 e, the feedingbelt 221 f, and theseparator 2003 separate and feed the envelopes M one-by-one. - Next, the configuration of the
gate part 230 will be described. As illustrated inFIG. 5 andFIG. 6 , thegate part 230 includes thepreliminary separating guide 231, thepressure guide frame 2007, thepressure guide 234, thespring 238, and thereverse cam 239. Thepreliminary separating guide 231 is fixed to thebridge 2005. Thepressure guide frame 2007 connected thebridge 2005 is provided a rotation fulcrum axis as thearm fulcrum 235 a. When the large amount of envelopes are stacked, the guide surface 234-1 of thepressure guide 234 is at the same height as the guide surface 231-1 of thepreliminary separating guide 231. More specifically, the guide surface 234-1 of thepressure guide 234 and the guide surface 231-1 of thepreliminary separating guide 231 are planar. In addition, a second gap 231-5 is formed to feed the envelope M between the feedingbelt 221 and a lower part of thepreliminary separating guide 231. Similarly, a first gap 234-5 is formed to feed the envelope M between the feedingbelt 221 and a lower part of left and right pressing parts 234-2 of thepressure guide 234. - As illustrated in
FIG. 6 , left and right pressing parts 234-2 of thepressure guide 234 are positioned at the upper part of the feedingbelt 221 c and the feedingbelt 221 d. Thepressure guide 234 may be provided at the upper part of feedingbelt 221, the feedingbelt 221 b, the feeding belt 221 e, or the feedingbelt 221 f. Thespring 238 is provided to incline thepressure guide 234 in an arrow D direction. Thereverse cam 239 is driven to rotate in an arrow C direction by thedrive unit 2103 illustrated inFIG. 9 . Thedrive unit 2103 transmits driving force of the feeding and conveyingdrive motor 2102 via the electromagnetic clutch 2140 under a control of thecontroller 2100 and amotor controller 2101. Thedrive unit 2103 may be include a reverse cam drive motor as a drive motor different from the feeding and conveyingdrive motor 2102 to directly rotate thereverse cam 239 without theelectromagnetic clutch 2140. The front edge of thearm part 235 of thepressure guide 234 is contacted with thereverse cam 239 by the rotation of thereverse cam 239. Hence, thepressure guide 234 is rotated in opposite to the arrow D direction (H direction as downstream side of the conveyance direction). and returned to the original position. Thepressure guide 234 is swung by repeating this. - Next, the configuration of the control system of the
bottom sheet feeder 20 according to the first embodiment will be described.FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the control system in the bottom sheet feeder according to the first embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 9 , the control system of thebottom sheet feeder 20 includes thecontroller 2100. Thepaper end sensor 229, thefront edge sensor 255, and thesecond sensor 256 as a sensor detecting the conveyance state of the envelope M are connected to the input side of thecontroller 2100. Themotor controller 2101 driven to rotate the feeding and conveyingdrive motor 2102 is connected to output side of thecontroller 2100. From the aforementioned configuration, while the conveying state of the envelope M is detected by each sensor, thebottom sheet feeder 20 is rotationally driven the feedingdrive roller 223 and the conveyingdrive roller 252 by the feeding and conveyingdrive motor 2102 under the control of thecontroller 2100 and themotor controller 2101. Further, while the conveying state of the envelope M is detected by each sensor, thereverse cam 239 is rotated by transmitting driving force of the feeding and conveyingdrive motor 2102 via the electromagnetic clutch 2140 under the control of thecontroller 2100 and themotor controller 2101, and thereverse cam 239 controls to repeat the swinging of thepressure guide 234. - From the aforementioned configuration, the
bottom sheet feeder 20 and theimage forming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment operate as follows. First, the operation of the feeding and conveying of the envelope M in the bottom sheet feeder will be described by using in FIG.2 andFIG. 3 . As illustrated inFIG. 2 , the front edges of the stacked envelopes M on thestacker 210 are lower than the rear edges by thestack guide 213. The envelopes are stacked so that the load of the envelopes M applies the front edges of the envelopes. At this time, the envelopes M are regulated in the width direction of the envelopes M by left and right set guides 214. In addition, thepreliminary separating guide 231 and thepressure guide 234 regulate the front edges of the envelopes. Thepreliminary separating guide 231 and thepressure guide 234 guide the envelopes M so that the envelopes of upper part does not proceed in downstream of the conveyance direction. - When the feeding
belt 221 of thefeeder 220 is driven, the stacked envelopes M are fed one-by-one from the bottommost envelope M in the conveyance direction (arrow B direction). The feedingbelt 221 is driven by the feedingdrive roller 223 driven to rotate by the feeding and conveyingdrive motor 2102 under the control of themotor controller 2101. The envelope M is fed to the second gap 231-5 provided between thepreliminary separating guide 231 and the feedingbelt 221. The envelope M of a amount regulated by the second gap 231-5 is fed in downstream of the conveyance direction. Hence, the regulated amount is not necessarily one. - The fed envelope M is fed to the nip part formed by the feeding
belt 221 pressed by thepressure roller 228 and the pressing part 234-2 of the lower part of thepressure guide 234, and is conveyed to theseparator 2003 of theseparator part 240. When the plurality of envelopes M are conveyed at the same time, the plurality of envelopes M are separated one-by-one by theseparator 2003. Further, the separated envelope M is conveyed to the intrafeeder conveying mechanism 250 of downstream of the conveyance direction as illustrated the arrow B. - As illustrated in
FIG. 3 , the envelope M is further conveyed while sandwiching to downstream side of the conveyance direction by the nip part formed by the conveyingroller 254 and the conveyingbelt 251 in the intrafeeder conveying mechanism 250. The conveyingbelt 251 is driven by the conveyingdrive roller 252 driven to rotate by the feeding and conveyingdrive motor 2102 under the control of themotor controller 2101. The envelope M continues to convey to downstream side of the conveyance direction by the conveyingbelt 251, and is conveyed to the nip part formed by thepickup roller 602 provided thetray opening 650 of theimage forming apparatus 10 and the conveyingbelt 251. - Next, the operation of the
image forming apparatus 10 printing on the envelope M will be described by using inFIG. 4 . When theimage forming apparatus 10 receives a print instruction, thepickup roller 602 of the intraprinter conveying mechanism 300 feeds the envelope M conveyed in the arrow B direction from thebottom sheet feeder 20 to downstream side of the conveyance direction. The fed envelope M is fed to the nip part formed by the feedingroller 601 and theretard roller 603 of the intraprinter conveying mechanism 300, and is conveyed while sandwiching. At this time, in the parallel with an operation of feeding and conveying, theimage forming mechanism 400 forms the toner image of the image instructed for printing by the image forming unit 400Y, theimage forming unit 400M, the image forming unit 400C, and theimage forming unit 400K. - The envelope M is further conveyed by a pair of conveying
rollers 304 and a pair of conveyingrollers 305 in the intraprinter conveying mechanism 300. When the envelope M is conveyed to theintermediate transferring mechanism 700, the envelope M is conveyed while sandwiching by the nip part formed by anintermediate transferring belt 701 and asecondary transferring roller 707 in theintermediate transferring mechanism 700. At this time, theintermediate transferring belt 701 of theintermediate transferring belt 700 transfers the toner image formed by the image forming unit 400Y, theimage forming unit 400M, the image forming unit 400C, and theimage forming unit 400K the envelope M. Further, the envelope M continues to be conveyed to downstream of the conveyance direction and reaches to a position of the fixing andejecting mechanism 800. Further, the envelope M is conveyed while sandwiching by thenip part 802 formed by anupper roller 801 and alower roller 802 of the fixing andejecting mechanism 800, and the fixing operation of the toner image is performed. The envelope M fixed the toner image is ejected to thestacker 805 by an ejectingroller 804 a, an ejectingroller 804 b, an ejectingroller 804 c, and an ejectingroller 804 d. Alternatively, the envelope M fixed the toner image is conveyed while sandwiching by the ejecting roller 805 a and an ejectingroller 804 e, and is ejected to astacker 810. - Next, the control operation of the
bottom sheet feeder 20 according to the first embodiment will be described by using inFIG. 9 . Thecontroller 2100 is driven to rotate the feeding and conveyingdrive motor 2102 by themotor controller 2101. More specifically, when thepaper end sensor 229 of thefeeder 220 detects that the envelope M is stacked on thestacker 210 and thefront edge sensor 255 of the intrafeeder conveying mechanism 250 or thesecond sensor 256 does not detects the envelope M, thecontroller 2100 is driven to rotate the feeding and conveyingdrive motor 2102. The feedingdrive roller 223 of thefeeder 220 and the conveyingdrive roller 252 of the intrafeeder conveying mechanism 250 are driven to rotate by driving to rotate of the feeding and conveyingdrive motor 2102, and feeds and conveys the envelope M. - Meanwhile, when the
paper end sensor 229 detects that the envelopes M are stacked and both of thefront edge sensor 255 and thesecond sensor 256 detects the envelope M, thecontroller 2100 does not rotationally drive the feeding and conveyingdrive motor 2102. When thepaper end sensor 229 does not detect that the envelopes M are stacked, thecontroller 2100 does not rotationally drive the feeding and conveyingdrive motor 2102 regardless of the detection result of thefront edge sensor 255 and thesecond sensor 256. - When the stacked envelopes M on the
stacker 210 is fed and conveyed by this control and thesecond sensor 256 detects the envelope M at first, thecontroller 2100 is driven to rotate the feeding and conveyingdrive motor 2102 so as to continue conveying of the envelope M by themotor controller 2101. After that, when thefront edge sensor 255 detects the front edge of the envelope M, the feeding and conveyingdrive motor 2102 is stopped. At this time, the front edge of the conveyed envelope M positions in downstream sides of the conveyance direction than nip part formed by thepickup roller 602 and the conveyingbelt 251. - After that, the
pickup roller 602 of theimage forming apparatus 10 feeds the envelope M to downstream side of the conveyance direction by print operation of theimage forming apparatus 10. Further, when the rear edge of the envelope M passes thesecond sensor 256, thecontroller 2100 is started rotation drive of the feeding and conveyingdrive motor 2102 by themotor controller 2101 and is conveyed the next envelope M to downstream side of the conveyance direction. The above detection timing changes by a length of the envelope M, a distance of thefront edge sensor 255 and thesecond sensor 256, a printing speed of theimage forming apparatus 10 or the like, but the feeding and conveying of thebottom sheet feeder 20 is controlled under the control of thecontroller 2100 and themotor controller 2101. - Next, the operation of the
gate part 230 in thebottom sheet feeder 20 according the first embodiment will be described.FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating the stacking and feeding mechanism when the stacked amount of a print medium is large in the bottom sheet feeder according to the embodiment.FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating the stacking and feeding mechanism when the stacked amount of a print medium is small in the bottom sheet feeder according to the embodiment.FIG. 10 andFIG. 11 are a magnified view of A-part illustrated inFIG. 5 . - As illustrated in
FIG. 10 , in a state in which the plurality of envelopes are stacked above the guide surface upper edge 234-4 of thepressure guide 234, the guide surface 234-1 of thepressure guide 234 is kept a pressed state toward the same surface side as the guide surface 231-1 of thepreliminary separating guide 231. More specifically, a force Fp (part of gravity or load) that presses thepressure guide 234 toward downstream side of the conveyance direction by weight of the stacked envelopes M (gravity of load) is stronger than resultant force of a weight of thepressure guide 234 and the urging force Fs toward the upstream side of the conveyance direction byspring 238. As a result, thepressure guide 234 is held on the same surface as thepreliminary separating guide 231 by fixing to thepreliminary separating guide 231. The feeding force Fc is enough since total weight of stacked envelopes M in this case is large. Hence, misfeeding of the envelope M does not occur. - Meanwhile, as illustrated in
FIG. 11 , when the feeding of the envelope M progresses and the stacked envelopes M gradually decrease, the total weight of the stacked envelopes M becomes smaller and the feeding force Fc decreases. Further, when the stacked envelopes M gradually decrease, the force that presses thepressure guide 234 weakens by the weight of the stacked envelopes M. Further, when the resultant force of the weight of thepressure guide 234 and the urging force Fs of thespring 238 becomes stronger than the force Fp that presses thepressure guide 234, thepressure guide 234 inclines in the arrow D direction as upstream side of the conveyance direction around thearm fulcrum 235 a. More specifically, the guide surface 234-1 of thepressure guide 234 gradually protrudes from the guide surface 231-1 of thepreliminary separating guide 231. As described above, when the staked amount of the stacked envelopes M on the stacker is smaller than a predetermined amount as compared with the case where the stacked amount of the stacked envelopes M on the stacker is larger than the predetermined amount, the guide surface 234-1 of thepressure guide 234 becomes a larger inclination amount than the guide surface 231-1 of thepreliminary separating guide 231. Further, an inclination of thepressure guide 234 in the arrow D direction stops as the pressing part 234-2 of the lower edge of the guide surface 234-1 of the pressure guide 234 contacts the feedingbelt 221. At this time, when the envelope M exists between the pressing part 234-2 of thepressure guide 234 and the feedingbelt 221, the feeding force Fc increases and the envelope M is conveyed. - As described above, the feeding force Fc generated by the inclination of the
pressure guide 234 is derived by the following equation 1. As illustrated inFIG. 11 , the length from thearm fulcrum 235 a to center of gravity 234 g of thepressure guide 234 including thearm part 235 before inclination is L1, and the length from thearm fulcrum 235 a to a lower corner 234-2 of thepressure guide 234 is L2. The urging force which is a spring load of thespring 238 is Fs (gram), total weight of the stacked envelopes M is m (gram), the weight of thepressure guide 234 including thearm 235 is Ma (gram), and the coefficient of friction of the envelope M and the feedingbelt 221 is μ. The feeding force Fc in this case is derived by the following equation. -
The feeding force Fc=(m+Ma×L1/L2)+FS (1) - Meanwhile, in the conventional the medium conveying device illustrated in
FIG. 12 , the feeding force Fc is the feeding force based only on total weight of the stacked envelopes M, the feeding force Fc=μm. Therefore, in the medium conveying device according to the first embodiment, the feeding force Fc can be increased by μ (Ma×L1/L2)+Fs. The urging force Fs of thespring 238 grasps the stacked amount of the envelopes M which misfeeding starts to occur in the conventional the medium conveying device, and may be de derived experimentally so that thepressure guide 234 inclines to the feedingbelt 221 based on the stacked amount. - Hence, in the state which the pressing part 234-2 of the
pressure guide 234 is kept in contact with the feedingbelt 221, the remained envelope M may not be conveyed. Thereverse cam 239 as the swinging member repeatedly performs the swinging motion of thepressure guide 234. More specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 11 , thereverse cam 239 is rotated in the arrow C direction. Thereverse cam 239 rotates by transmitting the driving force of the feeding and conveyingdrive motor 2102 via the electromagnetic clutch 2140 under the control of thecontroller 2100 and themotor controller 2101 illustrated inFIG. 9 . - The
arm part 235 contacting on the apex of thereverse cam 239 rotates in an arrow G direction as downstream side of the conveyance direction around thearm fulcrum 235 a by the rotation of thereverse cam 239, and thepressure guide 234 rotates in an arrow H direction. More specifically, thepressure guide 234 is a state illustrated inFIG. 10 , the first gap 234-5 for feeding the envelope M is formed between thepressure guide 234 and the feedingbelt 221. The bottommost envelope M can be fed to the first gap 234-5. - When the
reverse cam 239 further rotates in C direction, the apex of thereverse cam 239 is in a state illustrated inFIG. 11 by releasing contact with thearm part 235. Hence, thearm part 235 rotates in opposite to the arrow G direction as upstream side of the conveyance direction by the urging force of thespring 238, and thepressure guide 234 inclines in arrow the D direction. More specifically, thepressure guide 234 is in the state illustrated inFIG. 11 , the first gap 234-5 between thepressure guide 234 and the feedingbelt 221 disappears. Hence, the pressing part 234-2 of thepressure guide 234 can be generated the feeding force with respect to the bottommost envelope M fed to the first gap 234-5. - In this way, the
pressure guide 234 is swung in the arrow D direction and the arrow H direction by rotating thereverse cam 239. A rotation cycle of thereverse cam 239 as a predetermined cycle may be set so that thereverse cam 239 is rotated one or more times while being conveyed the envelope M with the shortest length in the conveyance direction. Hence, thepressure guide 234 swings one or more times. If the predetermined cycle is set as described above, even if the envelope M with the shortest length in the conveyance direction, the pressure guide is returned to the arrow H direction while being conveyed the previous one envelope M, and the front edge of the next envelope M passes the generated gap. Further, the front edge of the envelope M is sandwiched between the pressing part 234-2 of thepressure guide 234 and the feedingbelt 221, the feeding force Fc increases, and the envelope M can be conveyed to theseparator 2003. - As described above, according to the bottom sheet feeder of the first embodiment, in the
bottom sheet feeder 20 feeding from the bottommost envelope M by the feedingbelt 221, thepressure guide 234 is supported so as to be inclinable toward upstream side of the conveyance direction and holds the envelopes M by contacting the front edges of the stacked envelopes M. As the stacked amount of the envelopes M decreases, thepressure guide 234 is inclined and is increased feeding force by sandwiching the envelope M with the feedingbelt 221. Hence, even if the stacked amount of the envelopes M is small, it is possible to feed and convey to the last envelope M without occurrence of misfeeding of the envelope M. - Further, the
bottom sheet feeder 20 of the present embodiment is provided thereverse cam 239 for swinging thepressure guide 234 so as to repeatedly contact and separate between thepressure guide 234 and the feedingbelt 221. Hence, when thepressure guide 234 is separated from the feedingbelt 221, the envelope M can be fed between thepressure guide 234 and the feedingbelt 221. In addition, when the pressure guide 234 contacts with the feedingbelt 221, the feeding force can be increased since the envelope M is sandwiched. - In the description of the
image forming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, theimage forming apparatus 10 has been described as an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, but it may be the image forming apparatus such as an inkjet scheme or the like. In addition, in the description of thebottom sheet feeder 20 according to the first embodiment, thebottom sheet feeder 20 that includes the stacking andfeeding mechanism 200 and the intrafeeder conveying mechanism 250 has been described, but it may be omitted the intrafeeder conveying mechanism 250. - Further, in the first embodiment, the bottom sheet feeder that feeds from the bottommost envelope M among the plurality of stacked envelopes M has been described, the invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be used for a method that feeds from the topmost envelope among the plurality of stacked envelopes M.
- In the first embodiment, the feeding belt that feeds the envelope M has been described, the invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be used for a roller instead of the feeding belt.
- The
preliminary separating guide 231 corresponds to one specific example of “first guide” in the present invention. The guide surface 231-1 of thepreliminary separating guide 231 corresponds to one specific example of “first guide surface”. Thepressure guide 234 corresponds to one specific example of “second guide” in the present invention. The guide surface 234-1 of thepressure guide 234 corresponds to one specific example of “second guide surface” in the present invention. Thearm fulcrum 235 a corresponds to one specific example of “rotation fulcrum” in the present invention. The feedingdrive roller 223 corresponds to one specific example of “first roller” in the present invention. Thestretch roller 224 corresponds to one specific example of “second roller” in the present invention.
Claims (10)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
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JP2017189004A JP6839058B2 (en) | 2017-09-28 | 2017-09-28 | Media transfer device and image forming device |
JP2017-189004 | 2017-09-28 |
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US20190092591A1 true US20190092591A1 (en) | 2019-03-28 |
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US16/133,979 Abandoned US20190092591A1 (en) | 2017-09-28 | 2018-09-18 | Medium conveying device and image forming apparatus |
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US (1) | US20190092591A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP6839058B2 (en) |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5295675A (en) * | 1993-03-23 | 1994-03-22 | Ncr Corporation | Sheet handling apparatus having controlled pressure rolls to ensure feeding of a single sheet |
-
2017
- 2017-09-28 JP JP2017189004A patent/JP6839058B2/en active Active
-
2018
- 2018-09-18 US US16/133,979 patent/US20190092591A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5295675A (en) * | 1993-03-23 | 1994-03-22 | Ncr Corporation | Sheet handling apparatus having controlled pressure rolls to ensure feeding of a single sheet |
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JP2019064754A (en) | 2019-04-25 |
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