JP2725864B2 - Roll paper cutting device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a roll paper cutting device installed in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, cut paper cut into a fixed size is stored in a cassette built in the apparatus as a means for feeding transfer paper to an image forming position. Or the cassette paper is manually inserted one by one from a transfer paper insertion port provided in the apparatus main body.

However, in such an apparatus using cut paper, when the size of the transfer paper used becomes large, there is a disadvantage that a huge space is required to store the transfer paper. Therefore, conventionally, a roll paper wound in a roll shape is set in a special roll paper cutting device, cut into a desired size in advance by this device, and the cut transfer paper is inserted into the transfer paper insertion port into the image forming apparatus. Means such as supply to the company are taken.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the above means, the roll paper must be once cut by the roll paper cutting device, and then the image forming operation must be performed, which is troublesome and inefficient. As means for solving such inconvenience, a roll paper cutting mechanism is incorporated in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and when the roll paper mode is selected as the paper feeding mode of the image forming apparatus, the transfer from the roll paper cutting apparatus is performed. It is possible to use a structure in which paper is supplied, but in this case, an image forming apparatus having a special and complicated structure must be newly manufactured, which increases the cost. Further, there is an inconvenience that a user who owns a device that does not have a roll paper cutting device has to purchase a new device.

In view of such circumstances, the present invention can be easily installed as an optional device on an existing image forming apparatus, and satisfactorily supplies roll paper to the image forming apparatus without causing trouble in conveyance. It is an object of the present invention to provide a roll paper cutting device capable of performing the above.

[Means for solving the problem]

The present invention is a roll paper cutting device that is mounted on an image forming apparatus main body, incorporates roll paper, and cuts the roll paper and supplies the cut paper into the image forming apparatus, and a transport member that transports the roll paper; Drive means for driving the conveying member, conveying speed input means for inputting a desired conveying speed from outside, and control for controlling the driving speed of the conveying member according to the speed inputted by the conveying speed input means Means.

(Operation)

According to the above configuration, by setting and inputting the transport speed substantially equal to the transport speed in the image forming apparatus to be applied by the transport speed input unit, the roll paper is unloaded at this speed, and the image forming from the roll paper cutting device is performed. Roll paper, that is, transfer paper, is supplied into the apparatus at a stable speed without any inconvenience.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of a copying machine (image forming apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A roll paper cutting device 12 is mounted on a main body 10 of the copying machine. The main body 10 includes a copying section 14 and a copy paper stock table 16 supporting the copying section 14.

FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the copying unit 14. A large paper cassette 18 is mounted below the copying section 14, and the transfer paper in the paper cassette 18 is transported to an upper photosensitive drum 26 through a pair of paper feed rollers 20, 22 and a pair of registration rollers 24. It is supposed to be. A transfer paper insertion port 28 is provided at a position above the paper cassette 18 on the front side (the right side in FIG. 2) of the copying section 14, and the transfer paper inserted from the transfer paper insertion port 28 is also supplied with the transfer paper. The paper is fed into the copying section 14 through a pair of paper rollers 22.

Around the photosensitive drum 26, in the order of its rotation, a main charging device 30, a developing device 32,
24, a transfer / separation device 34, a cleaning device 36, and the like are provided. A fixing unit 38 and a discharge roller pair 40 are provided at a position downstream of the photosensitive drum 26 in the transfer paper transfer direction, that is, on the front side.

On the other hand, an original supply path 42 and an exposure section
44 and a document reversing member 45 are provided in this order. The exposing unit 44 includes a plurality of rollers 46 for document conveyance, an exposure lamp
48, a cell hook lens 50 and the like.

In the copying section 14, a paper empty switch 52 for the paper cassette 18 and a cassette insertion switch 54 for the paper cassette 18 are provided.
Further, jam detection switches 56 to 59 are provided at appropriate positions on the transfer paper transport path.

The document supply passage 42, the transfer / separation device 34, the fixing unit 38, the discharge rollers 40, etc.
Built in 60.

As shown in FIG. 1, a transfer paper stock tray 61 which is inclined high toward the front side is provided in the transfer paper stock table 16, and a transfer paper guide plate 62 is provided at the entrance side, that is, at the front side. Is provided. This transfer paper guide plate 62
Is rotatable between a position along the front wall of the transfer paper stock table 16 (the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1) and a position protruding forward from the front wall (the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1). The transfer paper discharged from the paper discharge roller pair 40 of the copying section 14 is guided to the transfer paper stock tray 61 at a position where the transfer paper protrudes forward. Also, the transfer paper stock tray 61
A transfer paper pressing member 63 made of a mirror or the like is disposed above the transfer paper holding member 63.

The roll paper cutting device 12 includes a transfer paper stock table 16.
Is mounted so as to be able to move up and down on the front side wall. The mounting structure and the driving structure will be described with reference to FIGS.

A pair of guide rails 64 that open inward are fixed to both left and right sides of the front side wall of the transfer paper stock table 16.

On the other hand, in the roll paper cutting device 12, shafts 68 and 69 are rotatably provided so as to penetrate the left and right inner plates (FIGS. 4 to 6) 66, and both ends of the shafts 68 and 69 are provided at both ends. Rollers 71 and 72 loosely fitted to the guide rail 64 are fixed.

Immediately inside the rollers 71 and 72, sprockets 74 and 75 are fixed, respectively. And these sprockets 74,7
5, the same chain 76 is wound in a loop as shown in FIGS.
The upper and lower ends are fixed to the upper and lower ends of the guide rail 64, respectively.

Further, a gear 78 is fixed to one end (an end on the near side in FIG. 3) of the shaft 69, and the gear 78 is fixed to a drive shaft 83 of a drive motor 82 via an idle gear 80. Connected to the gear 84. That is, the roll paper cutting device 12 is supported at a predetermined height position by the guide rail 64 and the chain 76, and the rotation thereof is sequentially performed by the drive motor 82 of the roll paper cutting device 12 itself. 84, an idle gear 80, and a gear 78 are transmitted to a shaft 69, and a sprocket 75 fixed to the shaft 69 rotates and winds a chain 76, thereby forming a roll paper cutting device.
The whole 12 is driven up and down along a guide rail 64.

A pulse plate 86 as shown in FIG. 5 is fixed to the shaft 69, and a slit provided on the pulse plate 86 is provided.
A rotation amount detector (movement amount detector) 88 composed of an optical sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element is disposed at a position sandwiching the 87. Further, the roll paper cutting device 12 includes a
As shown in the figure, a control device 90 including a microcomputer is built in, and a detection signal of the rotation amount detector 88 is input to the control device 90.

Further, a transfer paper discharge tray 99 (see FIG. 1) that opens diagonally upward is provided above the roll paper cutting device 12, and the roll paper cutting device 12 is at the upper limit position (the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1). In this state, the transfer paper discharged from the discharge roller pair 40 is stored in the transfer paper discharge tray 99.

Next, the internal structure of the roll paper cutting device 12 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the roll paper cutting device 12, a roll shaft 93 of a roll paper 92 is mounted so as to be able to move up and down along a long hole 94 provided in a side wall of the device. A pair of transport rollers 95 and 96 are rotatably provided at the lower portion of the apparatus, and the roll shaft 93 is urged downward by a spring (not shown). Regardless of the transport roller
The entire roll paper 92 is pressed downward so as to come into contact with 95 and 96. Further, one conveying roller 95 is connected to a driven side portion of a first clutch 98 as shown in FIG. 7 via a gear (not shown).

A cover 100 is attached to the front side of the apparatus (the right side in FIG. 8) so as to be openable and closable. With the cover 100 opened (the state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 8), the internal roll paper 92 can be manually set. It has become.

Above the roll paper 92, a pressing roller 102 (shown only in FIG. 1) 102, a pair of feed rollers 103 and 104, a pair of cutters 105 and 106, and a pair of discharge rollers 108 and 109 are provided in order from the side close to the roll paper 92. A discharge port 110 for the roll paper 92 is provided above it.

One of the feed rollers 103, 104 is connected to a driven side portion of a second clutch 114 as shown in FIG. 7 via gears 111, 112. The other feed roller 104 is rotatably attached to a rotating bracket 118 via a leaf spring 116, and normally presses against the feed roller 103 by the urging force of the leaf spring 116. The pressure contact can be released by rotating the rotating bracket 118 in the direction of arrow B in FIG.

One of the cutters 105 has a shape in which a part of a circle is cut out in a straight line, and is connected to a cutter solenoid 120 shown in FIG. 7, and the cutter solenoid 120 is rotated by being switched from off to on. It is supposed to be. The other cutter 106 is provided at a position on the opposite side of the cutter 105 with the drawn roll paper 92 interposed therebetween.During rotation of the cutter 105, an intersection line of a plane and a cylindrical surface that constitutes the outer peripheral surface thereof is formed. The roll paper 92 is cut when a certain edge and the edge of the other cutter 106 rub against each other.

The pair of discharge rollers 108 and 109 are in pressure contact with each other,
One of the discharge rollers 108 is connected to the feed roller 103 via a gear train (not shown), and is driven together with the feed roller 103.

The roll paper cutting device 12 has a built-in main motor 122 which is a driving source of each roller described above, and the main motor 122 is connected to a motor control board 123 (FIG. 7). A driving roller 124 is fixed to a drive shaft of the main motor 122, and the driving roller 124 and the first clutch 98
And a belt 1 on each driving side portion of the second clutch 114.
26 is hung.

Accordingly, when the first clutch 98 is switched from off to on, the transport roller 95 is switched from the idling state to the driving state, and the rotational force of the driving roller 124 is reduced.
5 and the second clutch 114 is switched from off to on, whereby the feed roller 103 is switched from the idling state to the driving state, and the rotational force of the driving roller 124 is transmitted to the feed roller 103. Has become. Further, in this embodiment, each gear ratio is set such that the driving rotation speed of the feed roller 103 is twice the driving rotation speed of the transport roller 95.

In FIG. 8, 128 and 129 are tension rollers of the belt 126.

An operation unit 130 as shown in FIG. 7 is provided at an appropriate position on the outer surface of the roll paper cutting device 12. This operation unit 1
Numeral 30 denotes a numeric keypad 132, a stop / clear key 134, a start key 136, a size designation key for inputting a roll paper cutting size, and a roll paper cutting device 12 shown in FIG.
A movement start key or the like for starting the movement is provided. By using the ten keys 132 of the operation unit 130, desired roll paper cut dimensions and roll paper transport speed can be set and input to the control device 90 as described later.

Further, a first switch 138 for detecting the opening and closing of the cover 100 is provided in the apparatus, and the first switch 138 passes through the respective positions at a position upstream of the cutters 105 and 106 and a position downstream of the discharge rolls 108 and 109. A second switch 139 and a third switch 140 for detecting the roll paper 92 to be changed are provided. Further, the transport roller 95 and the feed roller
The pulse plates 97 and 142 are fixed to the axis on which the 103 is fixed, and rotation detectors 143 and 144 each including an optical sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element at positions corresponding to the slits of the pulse plates 97 and 142 (FIG. 7). Are arranged respectively,
These rotation detectors 143 and 144 and the above switches 138 to 14
A detection signal of 0 is input to the control device 90.

The control device 90 includes a CPU 146, a ROM 148, and a RAM 150, and mainly performs the following control operations.

(A) In the operation unit 130, based on the transport speed signal input in hexadecimal notation using the ten keys 132, the data on the transport speed is written in the RAM 150. Then, by outputting a motor clock signal corresponding to this data to the motor control board 123, the rotation speed of the main motor 122 is controlled. Specifically, the control of the motor rotation speed is executed by changing the frequency or the duty ratio of the motor clock signal. The roll paper cutting device 12
The gear ratio and the like in the drive system in are set equal to the gear ratio and the like of the drive system in the copying machine body 10, and data of a speed equal to the transfer machine transport speed in the copying machine body 10 is input by the ten keys 132. If the transport roller
The transfer speed of the transfer machine 95 is equal to the transfer speed of the transfer machine in the copying machine body 10.

(B) When the movement start key is turned on in the operation unit 130, the drive motor 82 is operated, and when a predetermined number of pulses are detected by the rotation amount detector 88 after the drive motor 82 is operated. To stop the drive motor 82. Thereby, the roll paper cutting device 12 sets the upper limit position (the solid line position in FIG. 1) and the lower limit position (the two-dot chain line position in FIG. 1) such that the discharge port 110 matches the transfer paper insertion port 28 of the copying unit 14. Go up and down between

(C) Based on detection signals from the first switch 138, the third switch 140, and the rotation detectors 143 and 144, a motor on / off signal and a motor clock signal are output to the motor control board 123 at a predetermined timing, and each clutch 9
8, 114 and the cutter solenoid 120 are switched on and off.

(D) When the second switch 139 is turned on, the display lamp 152 provided near the operation unit 130 is turned on to notify the operator of the setting status of the roll paper 92.

Next, the control operation actually performed by the control device 90 and the sheet feeding operation of the device based on the control operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in the copying machine body 10, the paper feed mode is switched to a manual feed mode, that is, a mode in which transfer paper is supplied from the transfer paper insertion port. When the roll paper cutting device 12 is at the upper limit position, leave the roll paper cutting device 12 as it is, and when the roll paper cutting device 12 is at the lower limit position, turn on the movement start key of the operation unit 130 and move to the upper limit position. Let it.

Thereafter, the operation unit 130 in the roll paper cutting device 12
By operating the numeric keypad 132, data relating to roll paper cut dimensions and roll paper transport speed is input to the control device 90. As the data relating to the roll paper transport speed, data having a speed equal to the transfer paper transport speed in the copying machine body 10 is input.

In this state, the sheet feeding operation shown in FIG. 9 is started. First, the leading end of the roll paper 92 is adjusted to the cutting position by the cutters 105 and 106 manually or automatically. After such a paper feed preparation operation (step S ₁ ) is completed, the operation unit 130
By turning on the start key 136 of
S ₂ ), the control device 90 outputs the motor on / off signal and the motor clock signal to the motor control board 123, and the main motor 122 is driven to rotate forward (step S ₃ ). This speed is a speed corresponding to the roll paper transport speed input by the ten keys 132, and a motor clock signal corresponding to the speed is output to the motor control board 123. As a result, if the first clutch 98 is switched on, the transport roller 95 rotates at a speed equal to the transfer paper transport speed in the copying unit 14, and if the second clutch 114 is switched on. Is a state in which the feed roller 103 rotates at twice the speed of the transport roller 95.

In this state, control device 90 first switches on second clutch 114 (step S ₄ ). As a result, the feed roller 103 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG.
The roll paper 92 is fed from the discharge port 110 to the transfer paper insertion port 28 of the copying section 14.
It is carried out toward.

At this time, the rotation of the feed roller 103 is detected by the pulse plate 142 and the rotation detector 144, when the number of pulses of the detected signal reaches a predetermined number of pulses M ₁ (YES in step S _5), the second clutch 114 is switched off (step S _6), the transport of the roll paper 92 is stopped. The number of pulses M ₁ is the number of pulses corresponding to the distance from the cutting position by the cutter 105 and 106 until the sheet feeding roller pair 22 is set. Therefore, by the operation of up to the step S ₄ to S ₆ is carried out Then, the roll paper 92 is carried out to a position where the leading end thereof reaches the paper feed roller pair 22 of the copying section 14.

Then, the conveying roller 95 by the first clutch 98 is switched on (step S ₇₎ is rotationally driven, its rotation is detected by the rotation detector 143, a pulse number a predetermined number pulses of the detection signal When M ₂ is reached (in step S ₈
YES) The first clutch 98 is switched off (step
S _9), the rotation of the conveying roller 95 is stopped. The operation of the steps S ₇ to S _9, is performed rotation of only the conveying roller 95, it is bent at a front portion of the feed rollers 103 and 104 are formed. At this time, all the rollers are in the idling state, and are ready to start feeding in the copying machine body 10.

Thereafter, when the paper feed roller 22 is operated in the copying machine body 10 and the paper feeding operation of the roll paper 92 is started, the roll paper cutting device 12 is started.
The inside roll paper 92 is pulled upward, and the feed roller 103 that comes into contact with the roll paper 92 rotates.

When this rotation is detected by the rotation detector 144 (step S
YES _10), the controller 90 switches on the first clutch 98 (step S _11), to drive rotation of the conveying roller 95, the number of pulses of the detection signal of the rotation detector 143 reaches a predetermined number of pulses M ₃ at the time of the (in step S ₁₂ YES), switch off the first clutch 98. Here, the number of pulses M ₃ is
The number of pulses (M-m) is obtained by subtracting a fixed number of pulses m from a number of pulses M corresponding to the size of the roll paper 92 set by the operation unit 130. Therefore, by the operation of the steps S ₁₁ to S _13, corresponding to the number of pulses M ₃ at a speed roll paper 92 is equal to the sheet feeding speed of the copying machine main body 10 (= M-m) a roll paper cutting device within 12 Is transported the same distance.

Following this, the controller 90 switches the second clutch 114 ON (step S _14), together with the rotationally driven feed roller 103, the number of pulses of the detection signal of the rotation detector 144 reaches a predetermined number of pulses M ₄ when the (YE in step S ₁₅
S), the second clutch 114 is switched off (step)
S _16). Here, the number of pulses M ₄ is set to the number of pulses m, therefore, by the operation of the steps S ₁₄ to S _16, the sheet paper roll 92 in the copying machine 10 with roll paper cutting device within 12 The number of pulses M ₄ (= m) at twice the paper speed
Is transported by a distance corresponding to As a result, the roll paper 92 is extraly carried out by a distance corresponding to the number of pulses m / 2 after subtraction, and a bend is formed in a portion in front of the cutters 105 and 106 for setting the timing of the cutting.

Next, the control device 90 switches on the cutter solenoid 120 for a predetermined time (step S _17), thereby cutting the roll paper 92 by the cutter 105 is rotated once. Thereafter, the trailing edge of the roll paper 92 is cut passes through the third switch 140, (YES in step S ₁₈₎ when the switch 140 is switched from on to off, switched off the main motor 122 (step S _19), to terminate the feeding operation.

Note that the transfer paper insertion slot 28 is not used without using the roll paper cutting device 12.
When the paper is fed into the copying machine body 10 by hand, the operation start key of the operation unit of the roll paper cutting device 12 may be operated to lower the device 12 to the lower limit position.

As described above, in this apparatus, the roll paper transport speed can be set to a desired speed by inputting data relating to the roll paper transport speed to the control device 90 through the operation unit 130. The roll paper in the roll paper cutting device 12 can be conveyed into the copier main body 10 at a stable speed by setting the transfer paper in accordance with the transfer paper conveying speed of the provided copier main body 10. That is,
This apparatus 12 can be widely applied to the copying machine body 10 regardless of the transfer paper transport speed, and can supply roll paper to the copying machine body 10 without any inconvenience.

In the above embodiment, the drive speed of the transport roller 95 is set to the same speed as the set speed, and the drive speed of the feed roller 103 is doubled. The relationship between the speed at which each transport roller actually transports the roll paper may be appropriately set according to the structure.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, the present invention includes a transfer speed input unit for inputting a desired transfer speed from the outside, and controls the drive speed of the transfer member according to the speed input by the transfer speed input unit. Therefore, by setting the transport speed in accordance with the transfer paper transport speed in the main body of the image forming apparatus to be mounted, the transport speed is always set for various image forming apparatuses regardless of the transfer paper transport speed. Roll paper can be carried in a stable state. That is, the apparatus of the present invention can be widely applied to existing image forming apparatuses, and has an effect of automatically cutting and supplying roll paper to these apparatuses without any inconvenience.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an internal structural view of a copying section in the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 3 is cutting of roll paper mounted on the image forming apparatus. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 3,
FIG. 6 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an input / output relationship of a control device provided in the roll paper cutting device, and FIG. 8 is an internal structure diagram of the roll paper cutting device. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control operation by the control device of the roll paper cutting device. 10: Copy machine body, 12: Roll paper cutting device, 28: Transfer paper insertion port, 90: Control device (control means), 92: Roll paper, 95: Transport roller (drive means), 103 ... feed roller (transport member), 122 ... main motor (drive means), 130 ... operation section (transport speed input means).

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Eiji Goto, inventor Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. 1-2-28 Tamazo, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka (56) Reference JP-A-1-187162 (JP, A) 63-123749 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A roll paper cutting device mounted on an image forming apparatus main body, incorporating roll paper, cutting the roll paper, and supplying the cut roll paper into the image forming apparatus. Driving means for driving the conveying member, conveying speed input means for inputting a desired conveying speed from the outside, and controlling the driving speed of the conveying member according to the speed input by the conveying speed input means. A roll paper cutting device comprising a control unit.