JP6501167B2 - Device for detecting sheet material information and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to equipment and field imaging system for detecting the sheet material information.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus, it is known to automatically determine the type of sheet material and set an image forming condition according to the determined type of sheet material in order to improve the quality of printed matter.

  In the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a sheet material discrimination device that discriminates information of the sheet material conveyed in the sheet material conveyance path is provided inside the image forming apparatus.

  This sheet | seat material discrimination | determination apparatus is equipped with the optical sensor which has a light emitting element and a light receiving element which is an information detection means which detects the information of a sheet | seat material. Then, the light emitting element of this optical sensor is made to emit light, and the light irradiated to the surface of the sheet material conveyed in the sheet material conveying path is received by the light receiving element, and optical information such as the light quantity of the received light To detect sheet material information from

  In this manner, based on the information of the sheet material detected by the optical sensor, the sheet material is discriminated by the control unit which is the discrimination unit for discriminating the sheet material, and the image forming conditions are set according to the type of the sheet material. ing.

  However, when light is emitted from the light emitting element of the optical sensor to the deformed portion of the sheet material where deformation such as curling or waving is caused during transportation, the optical of the light received by the light receiving element according to the state of deformation. Information is different. Therefore, the sheet material information may not be detected correctly, and the accuracy of the sheet material determination may be reduced.

  On the other hand, the inventors of the present invention have developed a sheet material discrimination apparatus provided not in the image forming apparatus but in the outside of the image forming apparatus.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, its object is a sheet material discriminating apparatus capable of suppressing a decrease the accuracy of the determination of the sheet over preparative material, and an image with its sheet material discriminating apparatus It is providing a forming apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is provided in the insertion direction forward of the sheet material inserted into the housing having the opening and the insertion port into which the sheet material of the opening is inserted. Sheet material information for emitting light from a light source to the end face and the surface of the sheet material inserted into the opening , and receiving light reflected or transmitted by the sheet material with a light receiver to detect information of the sheet material The sheet material includes a detection sensor, and a detection sensor disposed on the side of the end face from the sheet material information detection sensor and detecting presence or absence of the sheet material, and the sheet material is detected after the sheet material is detected by the detection sensor. The sheet material information detection sensor performs detection while moving in the drawing direction away from the end face.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is excellent effect that the accuracy of determination of the sheet over preparative material can be suppressed from being lowered.

6 is a flowchart showing an example of sheet material discrimination control by the sheet material discrimination device according to the reference configuration example 1; FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a sheet material discrimination device according to a reference configuration example 1; (A) is sectional drawing of a sheet material discrimination device when the sheet material P is inserted in the opening part 102, (b) Sectional drawing of a sheet material discrimination device when extracting a sheet material from an opening part. The figure for demonstrating an optical sensor and a processing apparatus. The figure for demonstrating a surface emitting laser array. The figure for demonstrating the incident angle of the irradiated light to a sheet material. The figure for demonstrating the arrangement position of light receiver 113,114. (A) A figure for demonstrating surface regular reflection light, (b) A figure for explaining surface diffuse reflection light, (c) A figure for explaining internal reflection light. The figure for demonstrating the light light-received by light receiver 113,114. The figure for demonstrating the light which injects into the polarizing filter 116. FIG. The figure for demonstrating the arrangement | positioning position of light receiver 115,118. (A) Sectional drawing of sheet | seat material discrimination | determination apparatus which concerns on embodiment when sheet material P is inserted in opening part, (b) Sectional drawing of sheet material discrimination | determination apparatus which concerns on embodiment when extracting sheet material from opening part. FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system according to a reference configuration example 2; FIG. 2 illustrates an image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a sheet post-processing apparatus. FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a sheet material discrimination device according to a reference configuration example 2; (A) A cross-sectional view of the sheet material discrimination device when the sheet material P is inserted into the opening portion of the sheet material discrimination device, (b) a cross section of the sheet material discrimination device when removing the sheet material from the opening portion of the sheet material discrimination device Figure. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of sheet material discrimination control by the sheet material discrimination device according to a reference configuration example 2;

[ Reference configuration example 1]
FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a sheet discrimination apparatus according to a reference configuration example 1. As shown in FIG.
The sheet material discrimination device 100 includes a sheet material information detection sensor 110 that detects information used to determine the sheet material P, a sheet material detection sensor 140 that detects the presence or absence of the sheet material P, and the sheet material P inside the exterior case 101. And the like.

  The sheet material information detection sensor 110 and the sheet material detection sensor 140 are connected to a control unit 600 (see FIG. 4) described later. Then, based on the detection result of the sheet material detection sensor 140, the control unit 600 causes the light source 111 (see FIG. 4) of the sheet material information detection sensor 110 to emit light or emit light via the processing device 130 (see FIG. 4). Control to stop or the like is performed.

  Further, an opening 102 through which the sheet material P can be inserted and removed is provided on the side wall of the exterior case 101 so that the sheet material P can be mounted on the sheet material mounting table 120.

  The sheet material P is inserted in the direction of the arrow B in the figure into the opening 102 of the sheet discrimination device 100, and the sheet P is in contact with the end face 103 of the opening 102 or the sheet P is inserted near the end face 103.

  At this time, it is desirable to insert the sheet material P by hand in the direction of the arrow B in the drawing while checking that there is no deformation such as wrinkles or breakage in the sheet material P while inserting. In addition, if it is a means which can insert the sheet material P horizontally with respect to the opening part 102 of the sheet material discrimination | determination apparatus 100, it will not be a problem if it is not restricted to this means.

  When determining the type of the sheet material P, the operator confirms that the sheet material P is not deformed such as curl, and the sheet material P held by the operator in the outer case 101 from the opening 102 insert. Then, the sheet material P is placed on the sheet material mounting table 120 and the information of the sheet material P is detected by the sheet material information detection sensor 110. As a result, it is possible to suppress the detection of information on the deformed portion of the sheet material P by the sheet material information detection sensor 110, to detect accurate sheet material information, and to suppress the decrease in the accuracy of type discrimination of the sheet material P.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sheet discrimination apparatus 100 as viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. Specifically, FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the sheet material discrimination device 100 when the sheet material P is inserted into the opening 102 of the sheet material discrimination device 100. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the sheet discrimination apparatus 100 when the sheet P is removed from the opening 102 of the sheet discrimination apparatus 100.

  Inside the exterior case 101 of the sheet discrimination apparatus 100, a sheet detection sensor 140 and a sheet information detection sensor 110 are sequentially arranged in the upper portion in the sheet insertion direction (direction of arrow C in the figure) into the opening 102. Provided in In addition, the sheet material placement table 120 is installed at a position facing the sheet material information detection sensor 110 and the sheet material detection sensor 140 at a lower portion inside the outer case 101.

  Further, a biasing member 150 such as a spring is installed on the opposite side of the sheet material mounting table 120 to the sheet material information detection sensor 110, and the sheet material mounting table 120 is directed by the biasing member 150 in the arrow direction in FIG. The sheet material information detection sensor 110 is biased.

  As shown in FIG. 4 by way of example, the sheet material information detection sensor 110 accommodates the light source 111, the collimator lens 112, the light receivers 113, 114, 115, 118, 120, the polarization filters 116, 117, and these. Dark boxes 119A and 119B are provided.

  The dark boxes 119A and 119B are metal box members, for example, aluminum box members, and their surfaces are subjected to black alumite treatment in order to reduce the influence of disturbance light and stray light.

The light source 111 has a plurality of light emitting units. Each light emitting unit is a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser: VCSEL). That is, the light source 111 includes a surface emitting laser array (VCSEL array). Here, nine light emitting units are two-dimensionally arrayed as shown in FIG. 5 as an example.

  The light source 111 is disposed so that the sheet material P is irradiated with S-polarized linearly polarized light. Further, the incident angle θ (see FIG. 6) of the light from the light source 111 on the sheet material P is 80 °. The light source 111 is turned on and off by the processing unit 130.

  The collimator lens 112 is disposed on the optical path of the light emitted from the light source 111, and makes the light substantially parallel light. The light passing through the collimating lens 112 illuminates the sheet material P through an opening provided in the dark box 119A. In the following, the center of the illumination area on the surface of the sheet material P will be briefly described as "the illumination center". Further, the light passing through the collimator lens 112 is also referred to as “irradiation light”.

  By the way, when light is incident on the boundary surface of the medium, a surface including the incident light beam and the normal to the boundary surface set at the incident point is called an “incident surface”. Therefore, when the incident light consists of a plurality of light beams, an incident surface exists for each light beam. Here, for convenience, the incident surface of the light beam incident on the center of the illumination is referred to as the incident surface of the recording paper. Do. That is, the plane including the illumination center and parallel to the XZ plane is the incident plane on the recording paper.

In addition, in the reference composition example 1 , although the expression of S polarization and P polarization is used not only for incident light to the sheet material P but also for reflected light, this is used for the sheet material P in order to make the description easy to understand. It is an expression based on the polarization direction of incident light. Then, the same polarization direction as the incident light (here, S polarization) in the incident plane is called S polarization, and the polarization direction orthogonal thereto is called P polarization.

  The polarization filter 116 is disposed on the + Z side of the illumination center. The polarizing filter 116 is a polarizing filter that transmits p-polarized light and blocks s-polarized light. Instead of the polarizing filter 116, a polarizing beam splitter having the same function may be used.

  The light receiver 114 is disposed on the + Z side of the polarizing filter 116 and receives light transmitted through the polarizing filter 116. Here, as shown in FIG. 7, an angle ψ1 formed by a line L1 connecting the center of the illumination, the center of the polarizing filter 116, and the center of the light receiver 114 with the surface of the sheet material P is 90 °.

  The light receiver 113 is disposed on the + X side of the illumination center in the X-axis direction. And as FIG. 7 shows, angle (psi) 2 of the line L2 which ties an illumination center and the center of the light receiver 113, and the surface of the sheet material P to make is 170 degrees.

  The center of the light source 111, the center of the illumination, the center of the polarizing filter 116, and the centers of the respective light receivers are substantially coplanar.

  The reflected light from the recording sheet when the recording sheet is illuminated can be considered separately as the reflected light reflected on the surface of the recording sheet and the reflected light reflected on the inside of the recording sheet. Also, the reflected light reflected by the surface of the recording paper can be considered separately as the reflected light that is specularly reflected and the reflected light that is diffusely reflected.

  Hereinafter, for convenience, the reflected light specularly reflected on the surface of the recording paper is also referred to as “surface regular reflected light”, and the diffusely reflected light is also referred to as “surface diffuse reflected light” (FIG. 8 (a) and FIG. )reference).

  The surface of the recording paper is composed of a flat portion and a slope portion, and the smoothness of the surface of the recording paper is determined by the ratio. The light reflected by the flat part becomes surface regular reflection light, and the light reflected by the slope part becomes surface diffuse reflection light. The surface diffuse reflection light is reflection light that is completely scattered and reflected, and the reflection direction can be considered to be isotropic. Then, as the smoothness becomes higher, the light amount of the surface regular reflection light increases.

  On the other hand, when the recording sheet is a general printing sheet, the light reflected from the inside of the recording sheet is only diffuse reflection light because it is multiple-scattered in the fibers inside the recording sheet. Hereinafter, for convenience, the reflected light from the inside of the recording sheet is also referred to as “internally reflected light” (see FIG. 8C). This internally reflected light is also a completely scattered / reflected reflected light, like the surface diffusely reflected light, and the reflection direction can be regarded as isotropic.

  The polarization directions of the surface regular reflection light and the surface diffuse reflection light toward the light receiver are the same as the polarization direction of the incident light. By the way, in order for the polarization direction to rotate on the surface of the recording paper, incident light must be reflected by a surface inclined to the direction of the rotation with respect to the incident direction. Here, since the centers of the light source and the illumination centers and the centers of the light receivers are on the same plane, the reflected light whose polarization direction is rotated on the surface of the recording paper is not reflected in the direction of any light receiver.

  On the other hand, the polarization direction of the internally reflected light is rotated with respect to the polarization direction of the incident light. This is considered to be because the light that has penetrated the inside of the recording paper is transmitted through the fiber and is rotated while being multiply scattered, and the polarization direction is rotated.

  Reflected light in which the surface diffuse reflected light and the internally reflected light are mixed is incident on the polarizing filter 116 (see FIG. 9).

  The surface diffuse reflected light is s-polarized light the same as the incident light, and thus is blocked by the polarizing filter 116. On the other hand, since internally reflected light is a mixture of S polarized light and P polarized light, the P polarized light component is transmitted through the polarizing filter 116. That is, the P polarization component contained in the internally reflected light is received by the light receiver 114 (see FIG. 10).

  Hereinafter, for convenience, the P-polarized light component included in the internally reflected light is also referred to as “P-polarized internally reflected light”. Further, the S-polarization component contained in the internally reflected light is also referred to as "S-polarized internally reflected light".

  The inventors have confirmed that the light amount of P-polarized internally reflected light has a correlation with the thickness and density of the recording paper. This is because the amount of light of P-polarized internally reflected light depends on the path length when passing through the fibers of the recording paper.

  Reflected light in which the surface regular reflection light, the surface diffuse reflection light, and the internal reflection light are mixed is incident on the light receiver 113. At this light receiving position, the light quantity of the surface diffuse reflection light and the internal reflection light is very small compared to the light quantity of the surface regular reflection light, so the light reception quantity of the light receiver 113 can be regarded as the light quantity of the surface regular reflection light. Yes (see Figure 9).

  The light receiver 115 is disposed at a position for receiving the surface diffuse reflection light and the internal reflection light. For example, an angle ψ3 formed by a line L3 connecting the center of illumination and the center of the light receiver 115 shown in FIG. 11 with the surface of the sheet material P is 120 °. The center of the light source 111, the center of the illumination, the center of the polarizing filter 116, and the centers of the respective light receivers are substantially coplanar.

  The polarizing filter 117 is disposed on the optical path of the surface diffuse reflection light and the internal reflection light. The polarizing filter 117 is a polarizing filter that transmits p-polarized light and blocks s-polarized light. The light receiver 118 is disposed on the light path of the light transmitted through the polarizing filter 117. Therefore, the light receiver 118 receives the P polarized light component contained in the internally reflected light.

  For example, an angle ψ4 formed by a line L4 connecting the center of illumination, the center of polarization filter 117, and the center of light receiver 118 shown in FIG. 11 with the surface of sheet material P is 150 °. The center of the light source 111, the illumination center, the center of the polarization filter 116, the center of the polarization filter 117, and the centers of the respective light receivers lie substantially in the same plane.

  The light receiver 160 is disposed at a position where the light transmitted through the sheet material P is received among the light irradiated to the sheet material P from the light source 111.

  Each light receiver outputs an electric signal (current signal) corresponding to the amount of received light to the processing device 130.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the processing device 130 includes a light source drive circuit 131, a current voltage conversion circuit 132, an AD conversion circuit 133, and the like, and is fixed to the dark box 119A.

  The light source drive circuit 131 outputs a light source drive signal to the light source 111 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 600.

  The current-voltage conversion circuit 132 converts the current signal from each light receiver into a voltage signal. The AD conversion circuit 133 converts an analog signal through the current voltage conversion circuit 135 into a digital signal, and outputs the digital signal to the control unit 600.

As in Reference Configuration Example 1 , in addition to the information from the light receivers 113, 114, 115, and 118 that receives the reflected light, the sheet material from the light receiver 160 that receives the transmitted light is also included to make the sheet material more accurate. It becomes possible to determine P.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an example of sheet material discrimination control by the sheet material discrimination device 100 according to the reference configuration example 1 , and the sheet material discrimination control will be described using FIGS. 1 and 3.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3A, the sheet material P is inserted in the direction of the arrow C in the figure toward the end surface 103 of the opening 102 of the sheet material discrimination device 100 (S1 in FIG. 1). Then, when the sheet material P is detected by the sheet material detection sensor 140 (YES in S2 of FIG. 1), light emission of the sheet material information detection sensor 110 is started (S3 of FIG. 1).

  Then, the sheet material information detection sensor 110 performs first discrimination ((1) in the drawing) on the sheet material P inserted toward the end face 103. After the sheet material P reaches the end face 103 of the opening 102, when the sheet material P is removed, the sheet material P advances in the direction of the arrow D in the figure as shown in FIG. A second determination ((2) in the figure) is performed by the sheet material information detection sensor 110. Thereby, the determination of the sheet material P is performed again at a place different from the detection point by the first detection.

As described above, in the reference configuration example 1 , the sheet material P is slid in the opening 102 of the sheet material determination device 100 to acquire information on the sheet material a plurality of times, and the control unit 600 determines the sheet material P S4 of FIG.

  Then, when the sheet material P is extracted from the opening 102 and the sheet material detection sensor 140 no longer detects the sheet material P, the light emission of the sheet material information detection sensor 110 is stopped. Alternatively, when the sheet material information detection sensor 110 completes the second determination (YES in S5 of FIG. 1), the light emission of the sheet material information detection sensor 110 is stopped (S6 of FIG. 1).

  As described above, by determining the sheet material P by the control unit 600 based on the sheet material information of the sheet material P at a plurality of locations, it becomes possible to take an average or median value of the determination result, and a measurement error It is possible to determine the sheet material P with high accuracy in which (noise) and the like are suppressed.

Further, in the sheet material discrimination device 100 of the reference configuration example 1 , the sheet material information detection sensor 110 emits light only when the sheet material information detection sensor 110 detects information of the sheet material P. As a result, the life of the sheet material information detection sensor 110 can be extended, and wasteful energy consumption of the apparatus can be suppressed, as compared with the case where the sheet material information detection sensor 110 is constantly lit.

  When the sheet material detection sensor 140 detects that the sheet material P is present, the control unit causes the sheet material information detection sensor 110 to emit light. As a result, in the insertion operation of the sheet material P into the opening 102 of the sheet discrimination device 100, the light emission of the sheet material information detection sensor 110 can be started without the trouble of the operator.

  In addition, when the sheet material detection sensor 140 detects that the sheet material P is not present, the control unit causes the sheet material information detection sensor 110 to stop light emission. As a result, in the operation of removing the sheet material P from the opening 102 of the sheet material discrimination device 100, the light emission of the sheet material information detection sensor 110 can be stopped without the trouble of the operator.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the sheet material loading table 120 is urged toward the sheet material information detection sensor 110 by the urging member 150, whereby the detection surface of the sheet material information detection sensor 110 and the sheet material P are It can be close or close. As a result, it is possible to perform accurate determination with reduced disturbance, such as deformation of the sheet material P and the entry of external light.

  Further, in FIG. 3, the sheet material information detection sensor 110 is disposed on the upper side with the sheet material placement table 120 disposed on the lower side across the opening 102, and the sheet material placement table 120 is provided below the sheet material information detection sensor 110. Are arranged. However, the positional relationship between the sheet material information detection sensor 110 and the sheet material mounting table 120 does not matter if the distance between the detection surface of the sheet material information detection sensor 110 and the sheet material P and the posture can ensure contact. There is no problem with relationships.

  However, by arranging the sheet material information detection sensor 110 above the sheet material mounting table 120, the sheet material P can carry away the extraneous matter, and to the sheet material information detection sensor 110 such as dust generated from the sheet material P itself. It is possible to reduce the adhesion and penetration of Therefore, it is desirable that the positional relationship between the sheet material information detection sensor 110 and the sheet material mounting table 120 be a relationship as shown in FIG.

  In addition, no restriction such as pressure is required between the sheet material information detection sensor 110 and the sheet material P, and no deformation of the sheet material P due to the detection operation or an operation force strength is required. You can get information.

  The sheet material information detection sensor 110 relating to the above configuration is not limited in detail as long as it has a function of acquiring surface information of the sheet material P.

  Moreover, although LED etc. can be considered as the light source 111 of the sheet material information detection sensor 110, if the surface emitting laser etc. which used the VCSEL element are used, since the surface information of the sheet material P can be detected more clearly, it is more accurate. High detection results can be obtained.

  Further, among the light irradiated from the light source, at least a specularly reflected light receiver for receiving light specularly reflected on the sheet material P, and a diffusely reflected light receiver for receiving light diffusely reflected on the sheet material P It is preferable to use a sheet material information detection sensor including the above. (For example, the sensor described in JP 2012-208103 A or the like can be adopted.) With this, it is possible to detect the diffusion molecules of the reflected light with respect to the sheet material P by the sensor installed at a plurality of different angles. It is possible to obtain a detection result with higher accuracy than the information of only regular reflection.

[ Embodiment ]
FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view of the sheet discrimination device 100 according to the embodiment when the sheet P is inserted into the opening 102. FIG. FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view of the sheet discrimination apparatus 100 according to the embodiment when the sheet P is removed from the opening 102.

In the sheet determination apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment , the sheet information detection sensor 110 and the sheet detection sensor 140 are provided in order in the sheet insertion direction (in the direction of arrow C in the figure) into the opening 102. There is. That is, the positional relationship between the sheet material information detection sensor 110 and the sheet material detection sensor 140 in the sheet material insertion direction is opposite to that of the sheet material discrimination device 100 shown in FIG. 3, and the sheet material detection sensor 140 It is located behind the material information detection sensor 110.

In addition, since the other structure of the sheet material discrimination | determination apparatus 100 of this embodiment is the same as the structure of the sheet material discrimination | determination apparatus 100 of the reference structural example 1, the description is abbreviate | omitted.

Next, sheet material discrimination control in the sheet material discrimination device 100 of the present embodiment will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 12A, the sheet material P is inserted in the sheet material insertion direction (in the direction of the arrow C in the figure) toward the end surface 103 of the opening 102 of the sheet material discrimination device 100. When the end surface 103 is reached, the sheet material detection sensor 140 detects the sheet material P.

  When the sheet material detection sensor 140 detects the sheet material P, light emission of the sheet material information detection sensor 110 is started, and the sheet material information detection sensor 110 performs the first determination ((1) in the drawing).

  When the sheet material P is removed after the sheet material P reaches the end face 103 of the opening 102, as shown in FIG. 12B, the sheet material P is directed toward the sheet material extraction direction (arrow D direction in the figure). Let go. At that time, the sheet material information detection sensor 110 makes a second determination ((2) in the figure).

  Thus, the sheet material is again determined at a place different from the detection point by the first detection. That is, the sheet material P can be discriminated by sliding the sheet material P in the opening 102 of the sheet material discrimination device 100 and acquiring information of the sheet material a plurality of times.

  Then, when the sheet material P is extracted from the opening 102 and the second determination by the sheet material information detection sensor 110 is finished, the light emission of the sheet material information detection sensor 110 is stopped.

As in the present embodiment , since the sheet material detection sensor 140 is positioned behind the sheet material information detection sensor 110, when the sheet material P is detected by the sheet material detection sensor 140, the sheet material information detection sensor 110 is The sheet material P has reached the position facing the sheet.

  For this reason, when the sheet material P is inserted into the opening 102, light emission of the sheet material information detection sensor 110 can be started in a state where the sheet material P reaches the position facing the sheet material information detection sensor 110. it can.

  Thus, as in the sheet material discrimination apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 3, the sheet material information detection sensor 110 emits light, and then the sheet material P reaches the position facing the sheet material information detection sensor 110 so that light emission is achieved. The time from detection to detection can be shortened. Accordingly, since the light emission time of the sheet material information detection sensor 110 can be shortened by that amount, the life of the sheet material information detection sensor 110 can be further extended, and wasteful energy consumption of the apparatus can be further suppressed.

[ Reference configuration example 2]
FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system according to a reference configuration example 2.
As shown in FIG. 13, the image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 2 and a sheet post-processing apparatus 3 as a sheet processing apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus 2 and the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 are communicably connected to each other. In the image forming system 1, after the image forming apparatus 2 forms an image on a sheet, the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 receives the sheet from the image forming apparatus 2, and performs various post-processing on the received sheet.

  The various post-processings are, for example, end binding processing, center folding processing, and the like. The center folding process includes a saddle stitching process. The sheet post-processing apparatus 3 that performs such various post-processing has a discharge mode, an end binding mode, and a center-folding mode as operation modes.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the image forming apparatus 2.
In the image forming apparatus main body 400, a feeding cassette for storing a sheet, which is a recording medium, is disposed below the image forming unit. The sheets stored in the feed cassette are respectively fed by the feed rollers 414 a and 414 b and then conveyed upward along a predetermined conveyance path to reach the registration roller pair 413.

  The image forming unit includes a photosensitive drum 401 as an image carrier, a charging device 402, an exposure device 410, a developing device 404, a transfer device 405, and a cleaning device 406.

  The charging device 402 is a charging unit that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 401. The exposure device 410 is a latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 401 based on the image information read by the image reading device 300. The developing device 404 is a developing unit that applies toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 401 to make it visible. The transfer device 405 is a transfer unit that transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 401 to a sheet. The cleaning device 406 is a cleaning unit that removes the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 401 after transfer.

  Further, on the downstream side of the image forming unit in the sheet conveyance direction, a fixing device 407 as fixing means for fixing the toner image on the sheet is disposed.

  The exposure device 410 has a laser unit 411 for emitting a laser beam based on image information under the control of a control unit (not shown), and a laser beam from the laser unit 411 in the rotational axis direction (main scanning direction) of the photosensitive drum 401. A polygon mirror 412 for scanning is provided.

  Further, an automatic document feeder 500 is connected to the upper part of the image reader 300. The automatic document feeder 500 includes a document table 501, a document separation / feed roller 502, a conveyance belt 503, and a document discharge tray 504.

  When a document is set on the document table 501 and a reading start instruction is received, in the automatic document feeder 500, the document on the document table 501 is fed out one by one by the document separation and feeding roller 502. Then, the document is guided by the transport belt 503 onto the platen glass 309 and is temporarily stopped.

  Then, the image reading device 300 reads the image information of the document temporarily stopped on the platen glass 309. Thereafter, the conveyance belt 503 resumes the conveyance of the document, and the document is discharged onto the document discharge tray 504.

Next, the image reading operation and the image forming operation will be described.
When a document is conveyed onto the platen glass 309 by the automatic document feeder 500 or the document is placed on the platen glass 309 by the user and a copy start operation is performed on an operation panel (not shown), the first traveling member 303 The upper light source 301 emits light. Also, along with this, the first traveling body 303 and the second traveling body 306 are moved along a guide rail (not shown).

  Then, the document on the platen glass 309 is irradiated with the light from the light source 301, and the reflected light is guided by the mirror 302 on the first traveling body 303, the mirrors 304 and 305 on the second traveling body 306, and the lens 307. The light is received by the CCD 308. Thereby, the CCD 308 reads the image information of the original, and the image information is converted from analog data to digital data by an A / D conversion circuit (not shown). The image information is sent from the information output unit (not shown) to the control unit of the image forming apparatus main body 400.

  On the other hand, the image forming apparatus main body 400 starts driving the photosensitive drum 401, and when the photosensitive drum 401 is rotated at a predetermined speed, the charging device 402 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 401. Then, an electrostatic latent image based on the image information read by the image reading device is formed by the exposure device 410 on the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 401.

  Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 401 is developed by the developing device 404 and becomes a toner image. Further, the sheet stored in the feeding cassette is fed by the feeding rollers 414 a and 414 b and is temporarily stopped by the registration roller pair 413.

  Then, at the timing when the leading end portion of the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 401 reaches the transfer portion facing the transfer device 405, it is sent to the transfer portion by the registration roller pair 413. When the sheet passes through the transfer portion, the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 401 is transferred onto the sheet material P by the action of the transfer electric field.

  Thereafter, the sheet bearing the toner image is conveyed to the fixing device 407, and after being subjected to fixing processing by the fixing device 407, is discharged to the sheet post-processing device 3 in the subsequent stage. The transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 401 without being transferred to the sheet at the transfer portion is removed by the cleaning device 406.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the sheet post-processing apparatus 3.
The sheet post-processing apparatus 3 is provided with a first conveyance path Pt1 for receiving the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 2 and discharging the sheet to the first sheet discharge tray 10. Further, a second conveyance path Pt2 for branching from the first conveyance path Pt1 and performing end binding processing on the sheet bundle, and a second conveyance path Pt2 are connected to perform saddle-stitching center folding processing on the sheet bundle And a third transport path Pt3 for the purpose.

  The first transport path Pt1, the second transport path Pt2, and the third transport path Pt3 are formed of, for example, a guide member (not shown).

  In the first conveyance path Pt1, the entrance roller 11, the conveyance roller 12, the conveyance roller 13, and the paper discharge roller 14 are sequentially disposed from the upstream portion to the downstream portion in the sheet conveyance direction of the first conveyance path Pt1.

  The entrance roller 11, the conveyance roller 12, the conveyance roller 13, and the discharge roller 14 are rotationally driven by a motor as a drive source to convey a sheet.

  An inlet sensor 15 is disposed upstream of the inlet roller 11 in the sheet conveyance direction. The inlet sensor 15 detects that the sheet has been carried into the sheet post-processing apparatus 3.

  A bifurcated claw 17 is disposed downstream of the conveyance roller 12 in the sheet conveyance direction. The branch claw 17 is rotated to switch the position thereof, whereby the sheet is moved to one of the portion on the downstream side of the sheet conveyance direction of the branch claw 17 in the first conveyance path Pt1 and the second conveyance path Pt2. Selectively guide. The branch claw 17 is driven by, for example, a motor or a solenoid.

  In the discharge mode, the sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus 2 to the first conveyance path Pt1 is conveyed by the entrance roller 11, the conveyance roller 12, the conveyance roller 13, and the discharge roller 14 and is discharged to the first discharge tray 10. Be done.

  On the other hand, in the end binding mode and the center folding mode, the sheet carried in to the first conveyance path Pt1 is conveyed by the entrance roller 11 and the conveyance roller 12, and the traveling direction is changed by the bifurcating claw 17 and the second conveyance path Pt2 Transported to

  The second conveyance path Pt2 includes the conveyance roller 20, the conveyance roller 21 and the conveyance roller 22, the sheet stacking tray 23, the first sheet aligning unit 24, and the end binding processing unit (first binding processing unit) 25. It is arranged.

  The conveyance roller 20, the conveyance roller 21, and the conveyance roller 22 are driven by a motor to convey a sheet. The first sheet aligning unit 24 is driven by a motor.

  Further, a branch claw 26 and a branch claw 27 are disposed downstream of the sheet stacking tray 23 in the sheet conveyance direction. The branch claws 26 and the branch claws 27 rotate to switch the position thereof, whereby a portion of the first conveyance path Pt1 downstream of the branch claw 17 in the sheet conveyance direction and the third conveyance path Pt3 are provided. Selectively guide the paper to either one. The branch claw 26 and the branch claw 27 are driven by, for example, a motor or a solenoid.

  In the end binding mode, the sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking tray 23 one by one. As a result, a sheet bundle in which a plurality of sheets are stacked is formed. At this time, the rear end of the sheet abuts on a first movable reference fence (not shown) provided on the sheet stacking tray 23 so that the sheet conveying direction position is aligned, and the first sheet aligning unit 24 aligns the width direction position. Be

  Here, the sheet stacking tray 23, the first sheet aligning unit 24, and the first movable reference fence constitute a first bundling unit 28 as a bundling unit that stacks a plurality of sheets into a sheet bundle. The first bundling unit 28 also includes a motor for driving the first sheet aligning unit 24 and a motor for driving the first movable reference fence.

  The sheet bundle whose ends are bound is conveyed to the first conveyance path Pt1 by the first movable reference fence, and then conveyed by the conveyance roller 13 and the sheet discharge roller 14 and discharged to the first sheet discharge tray 10.

  Here, the paper discharge roller 14 is an example of a paper discharge unit that discharges the sheet bundle bound by the end portion binding processing unit 25. On the other hand, in the middle folding mode, the sheet conveyed to the second conveyance path Pt2 is conveyed to the third conveyance path Pt3 by the conveyance roller 20, the conveyance roller 21, the conveyance roller 22, and the first movable reference fence.

  The conveyance roller 31, the conveyance roller 32, and the saddle-stitch folding unit 33 are disposed in the third conveyance path Pt3.

  The conveyance roller 31 and the conveyance roller 32 are driven by a motor to convey a sheet. The saddle stitching unit 33 includes a center folding unit 34, a saddle stitching unit (second stitching unit) 35, and a second bundling unit 36.

  The sheet conveyed to the third conveyance path Pt3 is sequentially stacked on the second bundle forming unit 36 by the conveyance roller 31 and the conveyance roller 32. As a result, a sheet bundle in which a plurality of sheets are stacked is formed. That is, the second bundle forming unit 36 includes a plurality of sheets conveyed by the conveyance unit 51 including the entrance roller 11, the conveyance roller 12, the conveyance roller 20, the conveyance roller 21, the conveyance roller 22, the conveyance roller 31, and the conveyance roller 32. Make a stack of sheets.

  At this time, the front end of the sheet abuts against the second movable reference fence 37, and the position in the sheet conveyance direction is aligned, and the position in the width direction is aligned by a second sheet alignment unit (not shown).

  Then, the sheet bundle is saddle-stitched in the vicinity of the central portion in the sheet conveyance direction by the saddle stitching unit 35. The saddle-stitched sheet bundle is returned to the center folding position by the second movable reference fence 37. The second movable reference fence 37 is driven by a motor.

The sheet bundle located at the center folding position is center folded at a central portion in the sheet conveyance direction by the center folding unit 34. In the center folding unit 34, the folding blade 38 facing the center of the sheet bundle in the sheet folding direction at the center folding position moves from right to left in FIG. 15 to bend the center part of the sheet bundle in the sheet transporting direction. It is pushed between the lower pressure roller 39 and the upper pressure roller 40. The folding blade 38 is driven by a motor.

  The folded sheet bundle is pressed from above and below by the lower pressing roller 39 and the upper pressing roller 40. The lower pressure roller 39 and the upper pressure roller 40 are driven by a motor.

  The sheet bundle bent in this manner is discharged onto the second sheet discharge tray 42 by the lower pressure roller 39, the upper pressure roller 40, and the sheet discharge roller 41.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a sheet discrimination apparatus 100 according to the second reference configuration . The basic configuration of the sheet material discrimination device 100 according to the reference configuration example 2 is the same as the configuration of the sheet material discrimination device 100 according to the reference configuration example 1, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

The sheet material discrimination device 100 of the reference configuration example 2 is connected to the image forming device 2 by the communication cable 60, and communication between the sheet material discrimination device 100 and the image forming device 2 is enabled.

  The sheet material P is inserted in the direction of the arrow B into the opening 102 of the sheet determination apparatus 100 connected to the image forming apparatus 2 by the communication cable 60, and basically the end surface 103 of the opening is in contact with Or insert the sheet material to the vicinity.

  At this time, it is desirable to insert the sheet material P by hand in the direction of the arrow B in the drawing while checking that there is no deformation such as wrinkles or breakage in the sheet material P while inserting. However, as long as the sheet material can be inserted horizontally into the opening 102 of the sheet material discrimination device 100, there is no problem if it is not limited to this means.

  FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the sheet discrimination device 100 as viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. More specifically, FIG. 17A is a cross-sectional view of the sheet discrimination apparatus 100 when the sheet P is inserted into the opening 102 of the sheet discrimination apparatus 100. FIG. FIG. 17B is a cross-sectional view of the sheet material discrimination device 100 when the sheet material P is removed from the opening 102 of the sheet material discrimination device 100.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example of sheet material discrimination control by the sheet material discrimination device 100 according to the reference configuration example 2 , and the sheet material discrimination control will be described using FIGS. 17 and 18.

  First, with the operation panel 200 provided in the image forming apparatus 2, the sheet material discrimination apparatus 100 is instructed to start the discrimination operation of the sheet material P (S1 in FIG. 18). Thereby, the light emission of the sheet material information detection sensor 110 is started by the processing device 130 of the sheet material discrimination device 100 (S2 in FIG. 18). Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 17A, the sheet material P is inserted in the direction of the arrow C in the figure toward the end face 103 of the opening 102 (S3 in FIG. 18).

  Then, with respect to the sheet material P inserted toward the end face 103 of the opening 102, the sheet material information detection sensor 110 performs the first determination ((1) in the drawing). After the sheet material P reaches the end face 103 of the opening 102, when the sheet material P is removed, the sheet material P advances in the direction of the arrow D in the drawing as shown in FIG. A second determination ((2) in the figure) is performed by the sheet material information detection sensor 110. Thus, the sheet material is again determined at a place different from the detection point by the first detection.

As described above, in the reference configuration example 2 , the sheet material P is slid in the opening 102 of the sheet material determination device 100 to acquire information on the sheet material a plurality of times, and the control unit 600 determines the sheet material P S4 of FIG. 18).

  Then, when the sheet material detection sensor 140 no longer detects the sheet material P when the sheet material P is extracted from the opening 102 (YES in S5 of FIG. 18), the processing device 130 emits light of the sheet material information detection sensor 110 Stop (S6 in FIG. 18).

  Further, based on the discrimination result of the sheet material P by the sheet discrimination device 100, the paper brand candidate is displayed on the display section of the operation panel 200 provided in the image forming apparatus 2 (S7 in FIG. 18). finish. Then, image forming conditions are set according to the type of sheet material P listed as the paper brand candidate, and image formation is performed.

Also in the sheet material discrimination device 100 of the reference configuration example 2 , the sheet material information detection sensor 110 emits light only when the sheet material information detection sensor 110 detects information of the sheet material P. As a result, the life of the sheet material information detection sensor 110 can be extended, and wasteful energy consumption of the apparatus can be suppressed, as compared with the case where the sheet material information detection sensor 110 is constantly lit.

As the image forming apparatus 2 used in the image forming system 1 of the reference configuration example 2 , various known image forming apparatuses such as a digital copying machine, a printer, and an offset printing machine can be used.

As the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 provided in the images forming apparatus 2, it may be used the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 according to the embodiment.

What has been described above is an example, and the present invention has unique effects in each of the following modes.
(Aspect A)
The sheet material placing portion such as the sheet material placing table 120 on which the sheet material such as the sheet material P is placed and the sheet material placing portion are provided facing each other with a gap, and the sheet material placing portion is placed Information detection means such as a sheet material information detection sensor 110 for detecting information of a sheet material by receiving light emitted from a light emitting means such as a light source 111 or the like on the surface of the sheet material received by a light receiving means such as a light receiver 113 A sheet material discrimination device such as the sheet material discrimination device 100 provided with a discrimination means such as the control unit 600 that discriminates the sheet material based on the information of the sheet material detected by the information detection means, the light emission means A light emission control means such as the processing device 130 for emitting light or stopping the light emission is provided, and the light emission control means for stopping the light emission is detected by the light emission control means immediately before the information detection means detects information of the sheet material. To emit light.
In (Aspect), when the sheet material discrimination device provided outside the image forming apparatus discriminates the sheet material, the light emission control means stops the light emission by the light emission means, and the information detection means The light emission control means emits light immediately before the information detection of. As a result, the life of the light emitting means can be extended as compared with the case where the light emitting means is always kept emitting light without controlling the light emission of the information detecting means by the light emission controlling means.
(Aspect B)
(Aspect A) includes sheet material presence / absence detection means such as sheet material detection sensor 140 for detecting presence / absence of sheet material, and when it is detected by the sheet material presence / absence detection means, the light emission control means The light emitting means emits light. According to this, as described in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to start the light emission of the light emitting means by the insertion operation of the sheet material to the sheet material discrimination device without the trouble of the operator.
(Aspect C)
In (Aspect A) or (Aspect B), when it is detected that there is no sheet material by sheet material presence / absence detection means such as sheet material detection sensor 140 which detects presence / absence of sheet material, light emission control means stops light emission Let According to this, as described in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to stop the light emission of the light emitting means by the operation of extracting the sheet material with respect to the sheet material discrimination device without the trouble of the operator.
(Aspect D)
In (Aspect A) or (Aspect B), when the detection of the sheet material by the information detection means is completed, the light emission control means stops the light emission of the light emission means. According to this, as described in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to stop the light emission of the light emitting means by the operation of extracting the sheet material with respect to the sheet material discrimination device without the trouble of the operator.
(Aspect E)
In (Aspect A), (Aspect B), (Aspect C) or (Aspect D), laser light is emitted from the light emitting means. According to this, as described in the above-mentioned embodiment, the surface information of the sheet material can be detected more clearly, so that the detection result with higher accuracy can be obtained.
(Aspect F)
In (Aspect A), (Aspect B), (Aspect C), (Aspect D) or (Aspect E), the information detection means has a plurality of light receiving means, and the sheet of the light emitted from the light emitting means At least a specular reflection light receiving means for receiving the light specularly reflected by the material, and a diffuse reflection light receiving means for receiving the light diffusely reflected by the sheet material among the lights irradiated by the light emitting means. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to detect the diffusion molecules of the reflected light with respect to the sheet material P by the sensor installed at a plurality of different angles, so that it is more accurate than the information of only regular reflection. High detection results can be obtained.
(Aspect G)
In (Aspect A), (Aspect B), (Aspect C), (Aspect D), (Aspect F) or (Aspect G), communication means such as a communication cable 60 capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus is provided. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to send information on the type of sheet material determined by the sheet material determination device to the image forming apparatus by the communication means, and set the image forming conditions.
(Aspect H)
In an image forming apparatus provided with an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet material and a sheet material discrimination device for discriminating sheet material by detecting information of the sheet material, (aspect A), (aspect The sheet material discrimination device of aspect B), aspect C), aspect D, aspect E, aspect F or aspect G is provided outside the image forming apparatus. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the shortening of the life of the optical sensor for acquiring the information of the sheet material is suppressed, and the deterioration of the accuracy of the discrimination of the sheet material is suppressed, Image formation can be performed under appropriate image forming conditions according to the type of material.
(Aspect I)
In (Mode H), an instruction unit such as an operation panel for instructing the light emission control unit to emit light from the light emission unit is provided in the image forming apparatus main body. According to this, as described in the above-described embodiment, when the operator operates the instruction unit and the information detection unit performs the information detection of the sheet material, the light emission of the light emission unit can be started. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 image forming system 2 image forming apparatus 3 sheet post-processing apparatus 10 first discharge tray 11 entrance roller 12 conveyance roller 13 conveyance roller 14 ejection roller 15 entrance sensor 17 bifurcating claw 20 conveyance roller 21 conveyance roller 22 conveyance roller 23 sheet stacking Tray 24 first sheet aligning unit 25 end binding processing unit 26 bifurcated claw 27 bifurcated claw 28 first bundle forming unit 31 transport roller 32 transport roller 33 saddle stitching folding unit 34 center folding unit 35 saddle stitching processing unit 36 second bundle forming Part 37 Second movable reference fence 38 Folding blade 39 Lower pressing roller 40 Upper pressing roller 41 Ejection roller 42 Second delivery tray 51 Conveying part 60 Communication cable 100 Sheet material discrimination device 101 Outer case 102 Opening part 103 End face 110 Sheet material Information detection sensor 111 Light source 112 Collimate lens 13 light receiver 114 light receiver 115 light receiver 116 polarization filter 117 light filter 119 A dark box 119 B dark box 120 sheet material mounting table 130 processing device 131 light source drive circuit 132 current voltage conversion circuit 133 conversion circuit 135 current voltage conversion circuit 140 sheet material Detection sensor 150 biasing member 160 light receiver 200 operation panel 300 image reading device 301 light source 302 mirror 303 first traveling body 304 mirror 305 mirror 306 second traveling body 307 lens 309 platen glass 400 image forming apparatus main body 401 photosensitive drum 402 charged Device 404 Developing device 405 Transfer device 406 Cleaning device 407 Fixing device 410 Exposure device 411 Laser unit 412 Polygon mirror 413 Registration roller pair 414a Feed roller 414b feeding roller 500 feed the automatic document feeder 501 original table 502 original separation and supply roller 503 conveyance belt 504 original discharge tray 600 controller

JP 2007-233186 A

Claims (10)

A housing having an opening;
An end face provided forward in the insertion direction of the sheet material inserted into the insertion opening into which the sheet material of the opening is inserted;
A sheet material information detection sensor which irradiates light from a light source to the surface of the sheet material inserted into the opening, and receives light reflected or transmitted by the sheet material by a light receiver to detect information of the sheet material; ,
And a detection sensor disposed on the side of the end face with respect to the sheet material information detection sensor and detecting presence or absence of the sheet material,
After the detection sensor detects the sheet material, the sheet material information detection sensor detects the sheet material when the sheet material moves in the drawing direction away from the end surface. Device to detect. In the apparatus for detecting sheet material information according to claim 1,
The sheet material information detection sensor performs sheet detection a plurality of times. The apparatus for detecting sheet material information according to claim 1 or 2
The light emission control unit is configured to turn on a light source when the detection sensor detects the sheet material.
The sheet material information detection sensor irradiates light from the light source to the surface of the sheet material inserted into the opening, and the light reflected or transmitted by the sheet material is received by the light receiver, and the information of the sheet material is received. An apparatus for detecting sheet material information, comprising: In the apparatus for detecting sheet material information according to claim 3,
The sheet material information detection sensor performs detection a plurality of times after the light source emits light,
An apparatus for detecting sheet material information, wherein different portions of the sheet material are detected in the plurality of times of detection. The apparatus for detecting sheet material information according to claim 3 or 4
The apparatus for detecting sheet material information, wherein the light emission control unit stops light emission of the light source when the detection of the sheet material by the sheet material information detection sensor is completed. An apparatus for detecting sheet material information according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein
The device for detecting sheet material information, wherein the light source emits a laser beam. An apparatus for detecting sheet material information according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein
The sheet material information detection sensor has a plurality of the light receivers,
The light receiver which receives the light specularly reflected on the sheet material among the light irradiated from the light source;
An apparatus for detecting sheet material information, comprising at least the light receiver for receiving the light diffusely reflected by the sheet material among the light emitted from the light source. An apparatus for detecting sheet material information according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein
The sheet material information detection sensor has a plurality of the light receivers,
An apparatus for detecting sheet material information, comprising at least the light receiver for receiving a predetermined polarization component of light reflected by the sheet material among a plurality of the light receivers. Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet material;
An apparatus for detecting the sheet material information for detecting information on the sheet material;
An image forming system comprising the apparatus for detecting sheet material information according to any one of claims 1 to 8 as an apparatus for detecting the sheet material information. In the image forming system according to claim 9,
An image forming system, wherein an image forming condition of the image forming means is changed based on a detection result of the sheet material information detecting sensor.

Images