JP2001278502A - Sheet conveying equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet conveying equipment capable of removing a jammed sheet wrinkled in a bellows shape easily from a sheet conveying route. SOLUTION: This sheet conveying equipment comprises a sheet conveying route 18 allowing a sheet S to be passed therethrough, a pair of conveying rollers 20 and 22 for conveying the sheet S along the sheet conveying route 18, and sheet stretching means 22, 40a, and 40b for stretching the wrinkles of the sheet S caught in the sheet conveying route 18.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a sheet conveying device connected to or incorporated in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a multifunction peripheral thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a sheet conveying device connected to or built in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer,
Paper jam in the sheet transport path (hereinafter, "jam")
When the error occurs, it is common for the user to manually remove the jammed sheet while the operations of the image forming apparatus and the sheet conveying apparatus are stopped.

[0003]

However, the jam sheet is usually shrunk in a state where bellows-like wrinkles are formed. For this reason, when trying to remove such a jam sheet, the jammed sheet may be caught by the transport guide or may be difficult to be pulled out from the nip portion of the transport roller pair. Therefore, release the transport guide,
The bellows-shaped jam sheet is removed by rotating the conveying roller pair by hand, and there is a problem that the jam processing takes time and effort.

Further, when printing is performed based on a plurality of originals or image data, it is necessary to check which sheet on which an image has been formed has been jammed. It had to be extended and confirmed.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet conveying apparatus capable of easily removing a bellows-like and wrinkled jam sheet from a sheet conveying path.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a sheet conveying apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a sheet conveying path through which a sheet passes; conveying means for conveying a sheet along the sheet conveying path; Sheet stretching means for stretching wrinkles of a sheet jammed in the middle of the path.

In the sheet conveying apparatus according to the present invention, the sheet stretching means may include at least two pairs of rollers constituting the conveying means, or may include a regulating member for regulating a width of the sheet conveying path. You may.

Further, the sheet conveying apparatus of the present invention may further include a heating / pressing unit that presses the sheet whose wrinkles have been stretched by the sheet stretching unit while heating the sheet.

[0009]

According to the sheet conveying apparatus of the present invention, since the wrinkles of the jammed sheet are stretched by the sheet stretching means, the jammed sheet having the stretched wrinkles can be transported by the transport means and removed from the sheet transport path. That is, the jam can be automatically and quickly performed. As a result, the downtime of the image forming apparatus and the sheet conveying apparatus is shortened, and print productivity is improved.

Also, when a jam sheet is manually removed by the user, the jammed sheet with wrinkles can be easily pulled out and removed from the conveyance guide or the pair of conveyance rollers, thereby facilitating the jam processing. .

Further, the user can easily confirm which image is the printed sheet of the jam sheet with the wrinkles stretched, and can save the trouble of stretching the bellows-shaped wrinkles by hand.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sheet storage device 10 connected to a copying machine (not shown). The sheet conveying device according to the present invention is built in the sheet storage device 10.

The paper storage device 10 includes a non-sort tray 1
2 is provided on the upper side, and the large-capacity stack tray 14 is provided below the non-sort tray 12. A sensor 1 for detecting the height of the sheets stacked on the large-capacity stack tray 14 is provided near the large-capacity stack tray 14.
5 are arranged. The large-capacity stack tray 14 moves up and down by a known driving technique based on a detection signal from the sensor 15. Thus, the large-capacity stack tray 14 moves up and down according to the height of the stacked sheets, and sheets can be stably stored on the large-capacity stack tray 14.

A sheet entrance 16 is provided at a side of the sheet storage device 10. The sheet entrance 16 is
This is for carrying an image-formed sheet discharged from the copying machine into the sheet storage device 10.

A first transport path 18 extending from the sheet carry-in port 16 is formed inside the sheet storage device 10.
The first transport path 18 is provided with a first transport roller pair 20 and a second transport roller pair 22 as sheet transport means. These transport roller pairs 20 and 22 are for transporting the sheet carried in from the sheet entrance 16 along the first transport path 18.

A switching claw 26 driven by a solenoid 24 is provided near the second conveying roller pair 22. The first transport path 18 branches into a second transport path 28 and a third transport path 30 at the position of the switching claw 26. A first discharge roller pair 32 for discharging sheets onto the non-sort tray 12 is provided at an end of the second conveyance path 28, and a sheet is discharged onto the large-capacity stack tray 14 at an end of the third conveyance path 30. A second discharge roller pair 34 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a reverse roller 40a is disposed in the first transport path 18 between the first transport roller pair 20 and the second transport roller pair 22. A reverse rotation roller 40b is arranged to face the reverse rotation roller 40a. As will be described later, the reverse roller 40b moves to a dotted line position pressed against the reverse roller 40a by the driving of the solenoid 42 at the time of jam clearance, and constitutes a reverse roller pair 40a, 40b as a sheet conveying means. I have.

A flap 44, which is a regulating member, is disposed near the second transport roller pair 22. Flap 44
Is driven to rotate by a solenoid 46,
A retreat position shown by a solid line and a regulation position shown by a dotted line can be adopted. At the regulation position, the width of the first conveyance path 18 between the guide member 48 and the flap 44 is regulated to be substantially equal to the thickness of the sheet.

A sensor 50 is arranged so as to face the flap 44 via a guide member 48. Sensor 50
Is for detecting a sheet jam in the first transport path 18.

A large number of projections are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lower roller 20a constituting the first transport roller pair 20.
A third roller 52 is in contact with the lower roller 20a. The third roller 52 rotates in the direction of the arrow (clockwise) using the lower roller 20a as a drive source. A sensor 54 is arranged near the third roller 52. The sensor 54 is for detecting the rear end of the jam sheet.

A fourth transport path 56 is formed below the lower roller 20a. The upper end of the fourth transport path 56 opens toward the nip between the lower roller 20a and the third roller 52. At the lower end of the fourth transport path 56,
A third discharge roller pair 58 is provided. A jam sheet storage box 60 is arranged below the third discharge roller pair 58.

Next, the sheet storage device 1 having the above configuration
The operation of 0 will be described. The image-formed sheet discharged from the copying machine is conveyed to the first conveyance path 18 from the sheet entrance 16. Then, the sheet is transported through the first transport path 18 by the first and second transport roller pairs 20 and 22 and reaches the position of the switching claw 26.

When the number of prints is large, the solenoid 24 is turned off, so that the switching claw 26 is in the state shown in FIG. In this state, the sheet conveyed along the first conveyance path 18 is guided by the curved right side surface of the switching claw 26 and sent to the third conveyance path 30. The sheet sent to the third transport path 30 is a second discharge roller pair 34.
Is discharged onto the large-capacity stack tray 14. On the other hand, when the number of prints is small, the solenoid 24 is turned on, and the switching claw 26 is slightly rotated clockwise. In this state, the sheet conveyed on the first conveyance path 18 is guided by the curved upper surface of the switching claw 26 and sent to the second conveyance path 28. Second transport path 2
The sheet sent to 8 is discharged onto the non-sort tray 12 by the first discharge roller pair 32.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second conveying roller pair 22
Is detected by the sensor 50 when the sheet S is jammed before the sheet S. When a jam is detected,
The rotation of the second transport roller pair 22 is stopped, and the reverse roller 40b is pressed against the reverse roller 40a to rotate the reverse roller pair 40a, 40b in the direction of the arrow while holding the rear end of the jam sheet S therebetween. Let it. This allows
The jam sheet S is fed backward through the first transport path 18 while the bellows-like wrinkles formed between the first transport roller pair 22 and the reverse roller pairs 40a and 40b are stretched. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, when the rear end of the jam sheet S is detected by the sensor 54, the second conveying roller pair 22 is rotated in the direction of the arrow. The rear end of the jam sheet S that is reversely fed through the first transport path 18 by the reverse rotation of the reverse rotation roller pairs 40a and 40b and the second transport roller pair 22 has an outer periphery of the lower roller 20a of the first transport roller pair 20 rotating in the direction of the arrow. The lower roller 20a and the third roller 5
2 is inserted into the nip portion. Then, jam sheet S
Is transported along the fourth transport path 56 by the transport action of the lower roller 20a and the third roller 52, and is stored in the jam sheet storage box 60 by the third discharge roller pair 58 rotating in the direction of the arrow, as indicated by the dashed line. Is done.

In the above-described jam processing, the sensor 50 is used.
When the jam is detected, the rotation of the second conveying roller pair 22 is stopped until the rear end of the sensor 54 is detected. However, as shown in FIG. It may be controlled so that In this case, the transport speed of the second transport roller pair 22 is set to be lower than the transport speed of the reverse rotation roller pairs 40a and 40b. The jam sheet S is moved to the second
The bellows-like wrinkles between the transport roller pair 22 and the reverse roller pairs 40a and 40b are stretched backward while being stretched. Thereafter, the jam sheet S is stored in the jam sheet storage box 60 by the third discharge roller pair 58 via the fourth transport path 56 from the nip portion between the lower roller 20a and the third roller 52.

Next, a processing operation when a sheet jam occurs on the downstream side of the second conveying roller pair 22 in the normal sheet conveying direction will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 6, when the occurrence of a jam is detected by the sensor 50, the rotation of the second conveying roller pair 22 is stopped, and the reverse rotation roller 40b is pressed against the reverse rotation roller 40a so that the jam sheet S is interposed therebetween. The reverse rotation roller pair 40a, 40b is rotated in the direction of the arrow while holding the rear end of the roller.

However, in this case, the jam sheet S has no bellows-like wrinkles between the second transport roller pair 22 and the reverse rotation roller pairs 40a, 40b.
Is held by the second conveying roller pair 22, the reverse rotation roller pairs 40a and 40b only slip and the jam sheet S is not fed back. As a result, the state where the sensor 54 cannot detect the rear end of the jam sheet S continues. If the sensor 54 cannot detect the rear end of the jammed sheet S even after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the reverse rotation of the pair of reverse rotation rollers 40a and 40b, it is determined that a jam has occurred on the upstream side of the second conveyance roller pair 22. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the solenoid 46 is turned on to set the flap 44 to the regulating position, and in this state, the second transport roller pair 22 is rotated reversely at the same transport speed as the reverse roller pairs 40a and 40b. As a result, the jam sheet S is fed back through the first transport path 18 while the bellows-like wrinkles are stretched when passing between the flap 44 and the guide member 48 regulated to a width substantially equal to the sheet thickness. You. Then, the jam sheet S
As indicated by a dashed line, the sheet is fed to the fourth conveyance path 56 via a nip portion between the lower roller 20a of the first conveyance roller pair 20 and the third roller 52, and is jammed by the third discharge roller pair 58. It is stored in the storage box 60.

As described above, according to the sheet storage device 10 of the present embodiment, the bellows-like wrinkles of the jam sheet S are stretched by the second conveying roller pair 22, the reverse rotation roller pairs 40a and 40b, the flaps 44, and the like. The jammed sheet S with the wrinkles stretched can be conveyed by conveyance means such as the second conveyance roller pair 22, the reverse rotation roller pairs 40a and 40b, and the third roller 52, and can be removed from the sheet conveyance path 18. Jam processing can be performed automatically and quickly. As a result, the copying machine and the paper storage device 10
And the print productivity is improved.

Further, the user can easily confirm which image is the printed sheet of the jam sheet S whose wrinkles have been stretched, and can save the trouble of stretching the bellows-shaped wrinkles by hand.

In the present embodiment, the jammed sheet S with the wrinkles stretched is automatically removed from the sheet transport path. However, the transport of the jammed sheet S is stopped with the wrinkles stretched, and the user manually removes the jammed sheet S. You may make it. Also in this case, the jammed sheet S whose wrinkles have been stretched can be easily pulled out and removed from the transport guide or the transport roller pair, and the jam processing can be performed more easily than in the past.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the sheet storage device 10, a heat lamp 62 is built in one of the third discharge roller pairs 58, and the jammed sheet S whose wrinkles have been stretched is thirdly discharged. The sheet may be discharged to the jam sheet storage box 60 while being heated and pressed by the roller pair 58. In this case, the jam sheet S is returned from the wavy state to a substantially straight state by heat setting, whereby the amount of the jam sheet S stored in the jam sheet storage box 60 can be increased, and the jam sheet S can be increased. Can also be reused. Note that the means for heating and pressing the jam sheet S is not limited to one, and the heating means and the pressing means may be separate bodies.

In the paper storage device 10 of the present embodiment, the second transport roller pair 22 and the reverse roller pair 40a,
Although the sheet stretching means is constituted by two roller pairs 40b, the sheet stretching means may be constituted by three or more roller pairs.

In this embodiment, an example is described in which the sheet transporting device according to the present invention is incorporated in the sheet storage device 10 connected to a copying machine. However, the sheet transporting device according to the present invention may be a printer, a facsimile, or a printer. The present invention can also be applied to a paper storage device connected to another image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral of a copier and a copier, or may be built in a copier, a printer, or a multifunction peripheral of these.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a paper storage device.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of a main part of the sheet storage device.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of a main part of the sheet storage device, showing a state in which a jammed sheet is extended before a second conveying roller pair.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of a main part of the sheet storage device, showing a state in which a jammed sheet is extended before a second conveying roller pair.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of a main part of the sheet storage device, showing a state in which a jammed sheet is extended before a second conveying roller pair.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of a main part of the sheet storage device, showing a state in which a sheet jammed on the downstream side of the second conveying roller pair is stretched.

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of a main part of the sheet storage device, showing a state in which a sheet jammed on the downstream side of the second conveying roller pair is extended.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view of a main part of the sheet storage device showing an example in which a unit for heating and pressing a stretched jam sheet is provided.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Paper accommodation apparatus, 18 ... 1st conveyance path (sheet conveyance path), 20 ... 1st conveyance roller pair (conveying means), 22 ...
Second conveying roller pair (conveying means, stretching means), 40
a, 44b: reverse roller pair (conveying means, stretching means), 52: third roller (conveying means).

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Akiyoshi Ueshiro 2-3-1-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka F-term in Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. 3F048 AA02 AA04 AA05 AB01 BA14 BA26 BB02 BD01 CA09 CB03 CC02 CC03 CC04 CC17 DA06 DB03 DB07 DC12 EA12 EA13 EB24 EB28 3F049 CA02 DA12 EA05 EA07 EA17 EA24 EA29 LA02 LA05 LA07 LB03 3F053 HA01 HB01 HB12 LA02 LA05 LA07 LB03

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sheet comprising: a sheet conveying path through which a sheet passes, conveying means for conveying the sheet along the sheet conveying path, and sheet stretching means for expanding wrinkles of a sheet jammed in the sheet conveying path. Transport device. 2. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sheet stretching means comprises at least two pairs of rollers constituting said conveying means. 3. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sheet stretching means comprises a regulating member for regulating a width of said sheet conveying path. 4. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a heating / pressing unit that presses the sheet whose wrinkles have been stretched by the sheet stretching unit while heating the sheet.