JP3742201B2 - Paper transport device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus applied to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile, and more particularly to a sheet conveying apparatus characterized by a pressure releasing mechanism of a sheet conveying roller pair including a driving roller and a driven roller. .
[0002]
[Prior art]
The sheet conveying device of the image forming apparatus includes a driving roller and a driven roller that rotates in contact with the driving roller. The sheet conveyed through the sheet conveying path is inserted into the nip portion and downstream. Transport.
In the paper conveyance path, a paper jam often occurs. When a paper jam occurs, the next paper cannot be transported unless the paper is removed, so the paper transport path is exposed and the user removes the paper.
Since the paper transport path is covered with a paper guide plate and a cover member, the paper guide plate (or cover member) is opened in order to expose it.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in order to remove a paper jam, the paper guide plate is opened to expose the paper conveyance path. Generally, the paper conveyance path of the image forming apparatus has a corresponding length from the paper feeding unit to the paper discharge unit. There are also a large number of pairs of paper transport rollers at predetermined intervals from the upstream portion to the downstream portion.
Therefore, even if a certain guide plate is opened, if the paper is caught between a pair of rollers near the downstream side, it is difficult to pull out the paper. It can also be torn. In addition, there may be a knob attached to the roller, but it is difficult to operate in a narrow space and the operation force may be heavy.
[0004]
The first problem of the present invention is that even if a guide plate or cover that opens and closes in order to handle a paper jam is opened, it is difficult to pull out the paper if there is a roller on the downstream side and the paper is sandwiched. It can also be torn. Furthermore, although there may be a knob attached to the roller, it is difficult to handle such as operation in a narrow place and heavy operation force. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a paper transport device that can more easily remove paper.
A second problem of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that has a two-stage paper feed tray, and a sheet fed from the paper feed tray has an upward path toward the image forming unit. A multi-manual feed, duplex unit, mass feed unit, sorter, finisher, etc. are mounted next to the paper tray, and a guide plate or cover that opens and closes to handle paper jams is located only next to the second tray. In a conventional image forming apparatus, even if a guide plate or cover that opens and closes in order to handle a paper jam is opened, it is difficult to pull out the paper if there is a roller on the downstream (or upstream) side and the paper is sandwiched. Yes, it can be torn. Furthermore, although there may be a knob attached to the roller, it is difficult to handle such as operation in a narrow place and heavy operation force. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a paper sheet transport device that can more easily remove paper.
A third problem of the present invention is that a gap is always generated between a guide plate or cover that opens and closes to handle a paper jam and a cover around the guide plate or cover. From there, the sound generated in the paper conveyance path (the noise that the paper and the guide plate rub, the sound that the front edge of the paper hits the guide board, and the sound that rebounds when the rear edge of the paper passes through the guide board) leaks to the outside. It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper transport device that can prevent discomfort to surrounding users.
The fourth problem of the present invention is that when the roller support member is exposed to the outside, the external force changes the pressure applied to the transport roller, causing paper skew, paper jams, and wrinkles. It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper transport device that can perform the above.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The first problem includes a first conveying unit having an upstream roller pair including a driving roller and a driven roller, and a second conveying unit including a downstream roller pair including a driving roller and a driven roller, An opening / closing member that opens and closes the sheet conveyance path on the first conveyance unit side, and a pressure roller that presses the driven roller and the driven roller of the second conveyance unit in the direction of the driving roller is attached, and its own opening / closing operation Accordingly, a roller support member that contacts and separates the driving roller and the driven roller is provided, and an end portion of the opening / closing member is provided to urge the roller supporting member in a closing direction with the opening / closing member closed. This is solved by a first means in which a pressing portion is provided and a pressed portion to which the pressing portion is pressed is provided at an end portion of the roller support member .
The first and second problems include an opening / closing member provided to be openable / closable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, a pair of conveyance rollers positioned downstream of the sheet conveyance path with respect to the opening / closing member, and a driven roller of the pair of conveyance rollers. The roller support member to which the pressure means of the driven roller is attached is configured, and the pressing portion provided on the opening / closing member presses the pressed portion provided on the roller support member, and is in the vicinity of the pair of transport rollers This is solved by the second means in which the peripheral device of the image forming apparatus is installed .
The first and third problems include an opening / closing member provided to be openable and closable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, a pair of conveyance rollers positioned downstream of the sheet conveyance path with respect to the opening / closing member, and a driven roller of the pair of conveyance rollers. The roller supporting member is provided with a pressure means for the driven roller, and the pressing portion provided on the opening and closing member presses the pressed portion provided on the roller supporting member, and the pressing portion of the opening and closing member. And the said pressed part of the said roller support member is solved by the 3rd means set to the width | variety wider than the maximum width | variety of the paper which passes the inner side .
The first and fourth problems are: an opening / closing member provided so as to be openable / closable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, a pair of conveying rollers positioned downstream of the sheet conveying path with respect to the opening / closing member, and a driven roller of the pair of conveying rollers The roller supporting member is provided with a pressure means for the driven roller, and the pressing portion provided on the opening / closing member presses the pressed portion provided on the roller supporting member, and the roller supporting member is covered with the exterior cover. This is solved by the fourth means provided on the inside .
The fourth problem, in the conveyance apparatus of the second and third means, is solved by the fifth means provided with the roller supporting member to the inner side of the exterior cover.
The first problem has a paper feed cassette for stacking a large number of papers, a paper feed means for feeding only the uppermost paper from the paper feed cassette, and a paper transport path in a substantially vertical upward direction from the paper feed means, At least two or more paper transporting means are provided in the paper transporting path. Each of the transporting means is composed of a fixed side and a side that can be brought into contact with and separated from the fixed side. In the sheet conveying apparatus, each of the support members is attached to a support member that can be individually rotated, and is provided with a pressurizing unit that presses against the fixed side with a predetermined pressure. A fixing means for the apparatus main body is provided, and the sixth means for pressing one supporting member against the other supporting member is solved so that the other supporting member opens and closes in conjunction with opening and closing of the supporting member.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a sheet conveying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The paper transport device of this embodiment is applied to a vertical transport path near the paper feed unit. The sheet S stacked on the sheet feeding tray 1 is sent to the nip portion between the sheet feeding roller 3 and the separation roller 4 with the uppermost sheet contacting the pickup roller 2. When multiple sheets are fed by the pickup roller 2, they are separated here, and only one sheet is fed to a sheet conveying apparatus described below.
The sheet conveying apparatus includes a first conveying means (conveying unit) 11 and a second conveying means 12 connected to the downstream side.
The first transport means 11 includes a drive roller 13, a driven roller 14 that is pressed against the drive roller 13 by a leaf spring 16, and a guide plate 15 that can be opened in the direction of arrow A around a support shaft 15a. The driven roller 14 is held by a guide plate 15 and is separated from the drive roller 13 when the guide plate 15 is opened.
The second conveying means 12 has a driving roller 13, a driven roller 14 that is pressed against the driving roller 13 by a leaf spring 16, and a roller support member 17 that can be opened in the direction of arrow B around a support shaft 17a. . The driven roller 14 is held by a roller support member 17 and is separated from the drive roller 13 when the roller support member 17 is opened.
The end of the guide plate 15 opposite to the support shaft is a pressing portion 15b, and the end of the roller support member 17 opposite to the support shaft is a pressed portion 17b. When the guide plate 15 is closed, the roller support member 17 is also closed by pressing the pressed portion 17b with the pressing portion 15b.
[0007]
In addition, a paper guide 18 is provided in the vicinity of the downstream side of the paper feed roller 3 and the separation roller 4 and facing the guide plate 15. The paper guide 18 is rotatable in the direction of arrow A about the support shaft 18a. Between the straight line portion and the guide plate 15, there is in the first conveying means 11 to perform conveyance guidance of the paper. In addition, the sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit is directed to the second conveying unit 12 by the arc portion of the sheet guide 18.
In addition, peripheral devices 19 of the image forming apparatus such as a manual sheet feeding unit, a double-sided conveyance path unit, and a sheet post-processing device are installed outside the second conveying unit 12 with a slight gap.
The drive roller 13 has one or more rubber rollers on a metal shaft, or a resin (such as polyurethane) that exhibits a frictional force equivalent to rubber instead of rubber, a normal resin hub + a resin with a high coefficient of friction. It is composed of things that are baked.
[0008]
2A, 2B, and 2C are perspective views showing examples of the configuration of the driven roller.
As shown in (a), the driven roller 14 is shown in (c) when resin rollers are provided individually, as shown in (b), when a plurality of roller parts are integrally molded with the shaft. As described above, various cases are conceivable, for example, when the metal shaft 20 is provided with a resin or rubber roller.
[0009]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a biasing mechanism of a driven roller by a tension spring.
Instead of the leaf spring 16 shown in FIG. 1, the driven roller 14 is pressed against the driving roller 13 by a tension spring 21.
[0010]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a biasing mechanism of the driven roller by the compression spring.
Instead of the leaf spring 16 shown in FIG. 1, the driven roller 14 is pressed against the driving roller 13 by a compression spring 22. Reference numeral 23 denotes a bearing for receiving the compression spring 22.
[0011]
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a locking mechanism between the guide plate 15 and the roller support member 17.
Although the pressing portion 15b and the pressed portion 17b have shapes different from those in FIG. 1, the guide plate 15 and the roller support member 17 on the downstream side overlap at the connecting portion, and the pressing portion 15b is the pressed portion 17b. Any shape may be used as long as it presses.
The connecting portion pressing portion 15b and the pressed portion 17b are set so as to be wider than the maximum width (width; length in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction) of the sheet passing through the inner sheet conveying path. Yes.
As a result, the sheet conveyance path is blocked, so that the sheet conveyance sound (the sound at which the leading edge of the sheet abuts against the guide plate 15, the sound of the sheet being rubbed against the guide plate 15, and the trailing edge of the sheet jumps to the guide plate 15. Sound) and driving sound (motor sound, gear meshing sound, etc.) can be prevented from leaking outside.
[0012]
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing an example in which an exterior cover is provided outside the roller support member.
The exterior cover 24 provided outside the roller support member 17 is flush with the guide member 15. Even if a force is applied from the outside by providing the exterior cover 24, the pressure of the driven roller 14 does not change without being transmitted to the roller support member 17. In this case, since the roller support member 17 only needs to support the driven roller 14, the size (width) can be reduced.
In such a configuration, as described above, the sheet fed from the sheet feed tray 1 is sent to the registration unit (not shown) and further to the transfer unit by the second transport unit 12 as described above. Further, a sheet fed from a sheet feeding unit (not shown) below the sheet feeding tray 1 is transferred from the first conveying unit 11 to the second conveying unit 12, and is conveyed in the same manner as described above. Is done.
Since the guide plate 15 of the first transport unit 11 is exposed to the outside, the guide plate 15 can be easily opened in the direction of the arrow A. However, the roller support member 17 of the second transport unit 12 includes the peripheral device 19. For this reason, it is difficult for the user to directly open the roller support member 17.
When a paper jam occurs in the first conveying means 11, the guide plate 15 is opened in the direction of arrow A, the drive roller 13 and the passive roller 14 are separated, and the paper is removed smoothly. If the leading edge of the paper remains at the position where it has come out of the paper feed roller 3, the paper guide 18 rotates clockwise (in the direction of arrow A) around the support shaft 18a by opening the guide plate 15. The paper tip can be easily grasped and removed.
Even when a sheet is sandwiched between the driving roller 13 and the driven roller 14 of the second conveying means 12, the guide plate 15 is opened in the arrow A direction. Then, the pressing portion 15b is separated from the pressed portion 17b, and the pressing force on the roller support member 17 by the guide plate 15 is released. Accordingly, the pressure contact force between the driving roller 13 and the driven roller 14 is also released, and the sheet falls by its own weight.
Therefore, it is convenient to apply this paper transport device to the vertical transport path. Alternatively, even when the paper cannot be dropped due to its own weight, it is possible to easily pick and remove the leading edge of the paper.
[0013]
In such an embodiment, the opening / closing member (guide member 15) provided to be openable and closable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and the conveyance positioned downstream of the sheet conveyance path from the opening / closing member (guide member 15). A roller pair, a driven roller 14 of the conveying roller pair, and a roller support member 17 to which a pressing means (plate spring 16) of the driven roller 14 is attached, and a pressing portion 15b provided on the opening / closing member (guide member 15). Presses the pressed portion 17b provided on the roller support member 17, or the first conveying means 11 having an upstream roller pair composed of the driving roller 13 and the driven roller 14, the driving roller 13 and the driven roller 14 And a second conveying means 12 having a pair of downstream rollers composed of: an opening / closing member (guide member 15) for opening and closing a paper conveying path on the first conveying means 11 side; The pressure roller (leaf spring 16) for pressing the driven roller 14 and the driven roller 14 in the direction of the driving roller 13 is attached, and the driving roller 13 and the driven roller 14 are brought into contact with and separated from each other according to its own opening / closing operation. There is a roller support member 17, and an end portion of the opening / closing member (guide member 15) has a pressing portion 15 b for urging the roller support member 17 in the closing direction with the opening / closing member (guide member 15) closed. And a pressed portion 17b against which the pressing portion 15b is pressed is provided at the end of the roller support member 17, or a paper feeding cassette (1) for stacking a large number of sheets and a paper feeding cassette (1) A sheet feeding means (2) for feeding only the uppermost sheet from the sheet feeding path, and a sheet conveying path in a substantially vertical upward direction from the sheet feeding means (2), and at least two or more sheet conveying means (11, 12) in the sheet conveying path. Each of the conveying means 11 and 12 is composed of a fixed side (driving roller 13) and a side (driven roller 14) that can contact and separate from the fixed side (driving roller 13). The detachable side (follower roller 14) is attached to a support member (15, 17) that can be separately rotated, and pressurization is performed so as to contact the fixed side (drive roller 13) with a predetermined pressure. In the paper conveying apparatus provided with the means (16), one of the support members (15, 17) (the guide member 15 in the above embodiment) is fixed to the image forming apparatus main body (not shown magnet, latch, lock lever, etc.). ) Is provided, and the support member (17) is pressed so as to open and close in conjunction with the opening and closing of the support member (15). is there Since the pressure applied to the pair of transport rollers is released, the paper can be easily pulled out. Also, the knob is no longer needed, the operating force is light, and the paper is not torn. In addition, the paper removal operation can be performed simply by opening the cover or the like, and one-action can be realized.
In the embodiment, since the peripheral device 19 of the image forming apparatus is installed in the vicinity of the conveyance roller pair, the peripheral device 19 is attached in the vicinity of the conveyance roller, so that the guide plate is opened and closed to handle the paper jam. Alternatively, the cover can be disposed only where the peripheral device 19 is avoided. However, when the guide plate or cover that opens and closes is opened, the pressure of the roller pair downstream is released, so that the paper is easily pulled out. Also, the knob is no longer needed, the operating force is light, and the paper is not torn. In addition, the paper removal operation can be performed simply by opening the cover or the like, and one-action can be realized.
In the above embodiment, the pressing portion 15b of the opening / closing member (15) and the pressed portion 17b of the roller support member 17 are set to have a width wider than the maximum width of the paper to be passed through the inside thereof. There is always a gap between the guide member or cover that opens and closes to handle the paper jam and the surrounding cover, but the pressing portion 15b of the opening and closing member (15) and the pressed portion 17b of the roller support member 17 As a result, the uncomfortable sound does not leak out and a comfortable environment can be provided.
In the above embodiment, since the roller support member 17 is provided inside the exterior cover 24, the roller cover 17 is protected by providing the exterior cover 24, and external force is received by the exterior cover 24. The conveying roller pressing force by the member 17 can maintain a predetermined value at any time.
[0014]
【The invention's effect】
According to claim 1 or 6, wherein the invention, opened the guide plate or cover to open and close to handle a paper jam, since the pressing force of the conveying roller pair located downstream thereof is released, the paper is likely to pull Become. Since it can be removed, there is an effect of facilitating maintenance for a paper jam on the downstream side of the opening / closing member. Also, the knob is no longer needed, the operating force is light, and the paper is not torn. In addition, the paper removal operation can be performed simply by opening the cover or the like, and one-action can be realized.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the peripheral device is attached in the vicinity of the conveyance roller, a guide plate or cover that opens and closes to handle a paper jam can be disposed only in a location that avoids the peripheral device. When the guide plate or cover is opened, the pressure of the roller pair downstream is released, so that the paper can be easily pulled out. Also, the knob is no longer needed, the operating force is light, and the paper is not torn. In addition, the paper removal operation can be performed simply by opening the cover or the like, and one-action can be realized.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is always a gap between the guide member or cover that opens and closes in order to handle a paper jam and the cover around the guide member or cover, but the pressing portion of the opening and closing member, The pressed part of the roller support member is set to be wider than the maximum width of the paper that passes through the inner side of the roller support member, so it covers the conveyance path, so that unpleasant sounds do not leak out and provide a comfortable environment. it can.
According to the fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention, since the roller support member is protected by providing the exterior cover and the external force is received by the exterior cover, the conveyance roller pressure applied by the roller support member is predetermined at any time. Can keep the value.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a sheet conveying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a driven roller.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a biasing mechanism of a driven roller by a tension spring.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a biasing mechanism of a driven roller by a compression spring.
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a locking mechanism between a guide plate and a roller support member.
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing an example in which an exterior cover is provided outside the roller support member.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Paper feed tray 2 Pickup roller 3 Paper feed roller 4 Separation roller 11 1st conveyance means 12 2nd conveyance means 13 Drive roller 14 Driven roller 15 Guide plate 15a Support shaft 15b Press part 16 Leaf spring 17 Roller support member 17a Support Shaft 17b Pressed part 18 Paper guide 19 Peripheral device 24 Exterior cover

Claims (6)

A first conveying means having an upstream roller pair consisting of a driving roller and a driven roller; and a second conveying means having a downstream roller pair consisting of a driving roller and a driven roller;
An open / close member that opens and closes a paper transport path on the first transport means side;
A pressure roller for attaching the driven roller and the driven roller of the second conveying unit in the direction of the driving roller; and a roller support member that contacts and separates the driving roller and the driven roller according to its own opening / closing operation,
The end of the opening / closing member is provided with a pressing portion for urging the roller support member in the closing direction with the opening / closing member closed, and the pressed portion to be pressed by the pressing portion is the roller. A sheet conveying device provided at an end of a support member. An opening / closing member provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, a pair of conveyance rollers positioned downstream of the opening / closing member with respect to the opening / closing member, a driven roller of the pair of conveyance rollers, and a pressure unit for the driven roller are attached. A pressing portion provided on the opening and closing member presses a pressed portion provided on the roller supporting member.
A paper conveying apparatus , wherein peripheral equipment of an image forming apparatus is installed in the vicinity of the pair of conveying rollers . An opening / closing member provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, a pair of conveyance rollers positioned downstream of the opening / closing member with respect to the opening / closing member, a driven roller of the pair of conveyance rollers, and a pressure unit for the driven roller are attached. A pressing portion provided on the opening and closing member presses a pressed portion provided on the roller supporting member.
The paper conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing portion of the opening / closing member and the pressed portion of the roller support member are set to have a width wider than the maximum width of the paper to be passed inside . An opening / closing member provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, a pair of conveyance rollers positioned downstream of the opening / closing member with respect to the opening / closing member, a driven roller of the conveyance roller pair, and a pressure unit for the driven roller A pressing portion provided on the opening and closing member presses a pressed portion provided on the roller supporting member.
A sheet conveying device, wherein the roller support member is provided inside an exterior cover . 4. The paper transport apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the roller support member is provided inside the exterior cover. A paper feeding cassette for stacking a large number of papers, a paper feeding means for feeding only the uppermost paper from the paper feeding cassette, a paper transporting path in a substantially vertical upward direction from the paper feeding means, and a paper in the paper transporting path. At least two transport means are provided, and each of the transport means includes a fixed side and a side that can be moved toward and away from the fixed side. In a paper conveying apparatus provided with a pressurizing means that is attached to a movable support member and pressurizes so as to come into contact with a fixed side with a predetermined pressure.
One of the support members is provided with a fixing means to the image forming apparatus main body, and one support member presses the other support member so that the other support member opens and closes in conjunction with opening and closing of the support member. A paper conveying device characterized by the above.

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