JP6624503B2 - Sheet material discriminating apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet material discriminating device for discriminating a sheet material, and an image forming apparatus provided with the sheet material discriminating device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an image forming apparatus which automatically determines a type of a sheet material such as a sheet and sets an image forming condition according to the determined type of a sheet material in order to improve the image quality of a printed material. .
For example, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a sheet material discriminating device that discriminates information on a sheet material conveyed in a sheet material conveying path (hereinafter, referred to as sheet material information) is provided inside the image forming apparatus. Is provided.

This sheet material discriminating apparatus is an information detecting means (recording material discriminating sensor) for detecting sheet material information, which comprises an optical sensor having a light emitting means and a light receiving means (reading means). It has. In this information detecting means, a light receiving means is provided at a position capable of receiving light reflected on the sheet material (recording material) surface out of light emitted from the light emitting means toward the sheet material.
Then, the light emitting unit of the information detecting unit emits light, irradiates the sheet material conveyed in the sheet material conveying path with light, and receives the reflected light reflected on the sheet material surface by the light receiving unit. The sheet material information is detected from optical information such as the amount of reflected light thus obtained.

Further, in this sheet material discriminating apparatus, the above-described detection is performed a plurality of times at a plurality of locations of the sheet material being conveyed, and the discriminating means performs the discrimination of the sheet material based on the sheet material information detected by the optical sensor. The control unit determines the sheet material. That is, the sheet material discriminating apparatus discriminates the sheet material based on the sheet material information detected by the information detecting means at a plurality of positions of the sheet material relatively moving with respect to the information detecting means. The sheet material is determined by a control unit as a means.
In the image forming apparatus having the sheet material discriminating device provided therein, an image forming condition according to the discrimination result of the sheet material discriminating device, that is, the type of the sheet material is set.

However, the configuration in which the sheet material discriminating device is provided inside the image forming apparatus (sheet material conveying path) has the following problems.
When light is emitted from the light emitting means of the optical sensor to the deformed portion of the sheet material that has been deformed such as curling or waving during transport, the light is reflected on the surface of the sheet material according to the state of deformation. Are different, the optical information of the light received by the light receiving means is different. For this reason, accurate sheet material information cannot be detected, and the accuracy of sheet material determination may be reduced.

  On the other hand, the present inventors have provided a movable sheet material mounting device that is provided outside the image forming apparatus, not inside the image forming apparatus, and on which the sheet material is mounted in order to relatively move the sheet material with respect to the information detecting means. We are developing a sheet material discriminating device with a unit. In this sheet material discriminating apparatus, when detecting sheet material information, a user (user) relatively moves a sheet material placing portion on which the sheet material is placed with respect to the information detecting means, and detects a plurality of positions of the sheet material. Detect information.

However, it has been found that the following problem may occur in this sheet discriminating apparatus.
When the user detects the sheet material information by relatively moving the sheet material placement section on which the sheet material is placed with respect to the information detecting means, the sheet material placed on the sheet material placement section is detected. There is a possibility that the detection range is shifted or flutters, and the detection accuracy by the information detecting means is reduced.
If the detection accuracy of the sheet material information decreases in this way, the accuracy of determining the sheet material also decreases.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is an information detecting means for causing a light emitting means to emit light on the surface of a sheet material, receiving light irradiated by a light receiving means and detecting information on the sheet material. A sheet material discriminating apparatus, comprising: a sheet material discriminating unit for discriminating the sheet material based on the information of the sheet material detected by the information detecting means. And a sheet material pressing portion capable of pressing the mounted sheet material toward the sheet material mounting portion, and being capable of coming in contact with and separating from the sheet material mounting portion, wherein the sheet material mounting portion and the sheet A material pressing portion is movable with respect to the information detecting means while holding the sheet material .

  According to the present invention, there is provided a sheet material discriminating device capable of suppressing a detection range of a sheet material placed on a sheet material placing portion from being shifted or fluttering, thereby suppressing a decrease in detection accuracy by an information detecting unit. it can.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a sheet material discriminating apparatus according to a configuration example 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates an image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a sheet post-processing apparatus. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a procedure for detecting sheet material information of the sheet material discriminating apparatus according to Configuration Example 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an optical sensor and a processing device. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a surface-emitting laser array. The figure for demonstrating the incident angle of the irradiation light to a sheet material. The figure for demonstrating the arrangement position of a 1st light receiver and a 2nd light receiver. (A) A figure for explaining 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 received by a 1st light receiver and a 2nd light receiver. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining light incident on a first polarizing filter. The figure for demonstrating the arrangement position of a 3rd light receiver and a 4th light receiver. FIG. 8 is a schematic explanatory view of a sheet material discrimination device according to Configuration Example 2. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a procedure for placing a sheet material according to Configuration Example 2 on a sheet material placement unit and detecting sheet material information. FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory view of a sheet material discrimination device according to Configuration Example 3. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a procedure for placing a sheet material according to Configuration Example 3 on a sheet material placement unit and detecting sheet material information. In the sheet material discriminating apparatus according to Configuration Example 4, the force for moving the sheet material pressing unit when detecting information on the sheet material is transmitted to the sheet material mounting unit, and the movement of the sheet material pressing unit and the sheet material mounting unit FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a movement synchronization unit that synchronizes the movement with the movement. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a state change of the mobile synchronization unit according to Configuration Example 4. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a pressing portion initial position restricting means for restricting an initial position of the sheet pressing portion to a predetermined position in the sheet material discriminating apparatus according to Configuration Example 5; FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a state change of the pressing portion initial position regulating means according to Configuration Example 5.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming system (image forming apparatus) including a sheet material determining apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the image forming system according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 2, a sheet post-processing apparatus 3 as a sheet material processing apparatus, and a sheet material determining apparatus 100 for determining the type of the sheet material. .

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 material such as a sheet as a recording medium, the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 receives the sheet material from the image forming apparatus 2, and forms the received sheet material. Various post-processing is performed.
Various types of post-processing are, for example, edge 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 types of post-processing has, as operation modes, a discharge mode, an edge binding mode, and a center folding mode.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the image forming apparatus 2.
In the main body 400 of the image forming apparatus, a feeding cassette for storing sheet materials is arranged below the image forming unit. After being fed by the feed rollers 414a and 414b, the sheet material stored in the feed cassette is conveyed upward along a predetermined conveyance path, and reaches the registration roller pair 413.

  The image forming section 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 photoconductor 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 image information read by the image reading device 300. The developing device 404 is a developing unit that attaches toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 401 and visualizes the electrostatic latent image. 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 toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 401 after transfer.

  Further, a fixing device 407 as fixing means for fixing the toner image to the sheet material is disposed downstream of the image forming unit in the sheet conveying direction.

  The exposure device 410 emits a laser beam based on image information under the control of the control unit, and scans the laser beam from the laser unit 411 in the rotation axis direction (main scanning direction) of the photosensitive drum 401. A polygon mirror 412 is provided.

  An automatic document feeder 500 is connected to an upper portion of the image reading device 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 documents on the document table 501 are fed out one by one by a document separating / feeding roller 502. Then, the original is guided onto the platen glass 309 by the transport belt 503 and temporarily stops.
Then, the image information of the document temporarily stopped on the platen glass 309 is read by the image reading device 300. Thereafter, the conveyance belt 503 restarts conveyance of the document, and the document is discharged to the document discharge tray 504.

Next, an image reading operation and an image forming operation will be described.
When the document is conveyed onto the platen glass 309 by the automatic document feeder 500 or the operator places the document on the platen glass 309 and performs a copy start operation on the operation panel 4, the first traveling body 303 The upper light source 301 is turned on. At the same time, the first traveling body 303 and the second traveling body 306 are moved along the guide rail.

  Then, light from the light source 301 is applied to the original on the platen glass 309, and the reflected light is guided to 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. As a result, the CCD 308 reads the image information of the document, and the image information is converted from analog data to digital data by the A / D conversion circuit. This image information is sent from the information output unit 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 photoconductor drum 401, and when the photoconductor drum 401 rotates at a predetermined speed, the charging device 402 uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor drum 401. Then, an exposure device 410 forms an electrostatic latent image on the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 401 based on image information read by the image reading device.

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

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

  Thereafter, the sheet material on which the toner image is placed is conveyed to the fixing device 407, undergoes a fixing process by the fixing device 407, and is then discharged to the sheet post-processing device 3 at a subsequent stage. Note that the transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 401 without being transferred to the sheet material in the transfer unit is removed by the cleaning device 406.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the sheet post-processing device 3.
The sheet post-processing device 3 is provided with a first transport path Pt <b> 1 for receiving the sheet material discharged from the image forming device 2 and discharging the sheet material to the first discharge tray 10. Also, a second transport path Pt2 that branches off from the first transport path Pt1 and performs edge binding processing and the like on the sheet bundle, and is connected to the second transport path Pt2 and performs saddle stitching and folding processing on the sheet bundle. Transport path Pt3 is provided.

  The first transport path Pt1, the second transport path Pt2, and the third transport path Pt3 are formed by, for example, a guide member.

In the first transport path Pt1, the entrance roller 11, the first transport roller 12, the second transport roller 13, and the first paper discharge roller 14 are sequentially arranged from the sheet transport direction upstream to the downstream of the first transport path Pt1. Are located.
Then, the entrance roller 11, the first transport roller 12, the second transport roller 13, and the first discharge roller 14 are driven to rotate by a motor as a drive source to transport the sheet material.

An entrance sensor 15 is disposed upstream of the entrance roller 11 in the sheet conveyance direction. The entrance sensor 15 detects that the sheet material has been carried into the sheet post-processing device 3.
A first branch pawl 17 is disposed downstream of the first transport roller 12 in the sheet transport direction. The first branching pawl 17 is rotated to switch its position, so that one of the portion of the first transporting path Pt1 on the downstream side in the sheet transport direction of the first branching pawl 17 and the second transporting path Pt2. To guide the sheet material selectively. The first branch claw 17 is driven by, for example, a motor or a solenoid.

In the discharge mode, the sheet material conveyed from the image forming apparatus 2 to the first conveyance path Pt1 is conveyed by the entrance roller 11, the first conveyance roller 12, the second conveyance roller 13, and the first paper ejection roller 14, and The sheet is discharged to the first sheet discharge tray 10.
On the other hand, in the edge binding mode and the center folding mode, the sheet material conveyed into the first conveyance path Pt1 is conveyed by the entrance roller 11 and the first conveyance roller 12, and the traveling direction is changed by the first branch claw 17. It is transported to the second transport path Pt2.

In the second transport path Pt2, the third transport roller 20, the fourth transport roller 21, the fifth transport roller 22, the sheet stacking tray 23, the first sheet aligning unit 24, and the edge binding unit (first And a binding unit 25.
The third transport roller 20, the fourth transport roller 21, and the fifth transport roller 22 are driven by a motor to transport the sheet material. Further, the first sheet alignment unit 24 is also driven by the motor.

  Further, a second branching claw 26 and a third branching claw 27 are arranged downstream of the sheet stacking tray 23 in the sheet conveying direction. The second branching claw 26 and the third branching claw 27 are rotated to switch their positions, thereby transferring the sheet material to a portion of the first transporting path Pt1 downstream of the first branching claw 17 in the sheet transport direction. The sheet material is selectively guided to one of the third transport path Pt3. The second branch claw 26 and the third branch claw 27 are driven by, for example, a motor or a solenoid.

In the edge binding mode, the sheets are sequentially stacked on the sheet stacking tray 23. As a result, a sheet bundle in which a plurality of sheet materials are stacked is formed. At this time, the rear end of the sheet material abuts against a first movable reference fence provided on the sheet stacking tray 23, and the sheet conveying direction position is aligned, and the width direction position is also aligned by the first sheet alignment unit 24.
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 sheet materials to form a sheet bundle. . The first bundle 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 end is bound is conveyed to the first conveyance path Pt1 by the first movable reference fence, and then conveyed by the second conveyance roller 13 and the first paper ejection roller 14 to the first paper ejection tray 10. Is discharged.
Here, the first paper discharge roller 14 is an example of a paper discharge unit that discharges a sheet bundle bound by the edge binding processing unit 25. On the other hand, in the center folding mode, the sheet material conveyed to the second conveyance path Pt2 is moved by the third conveyance roller 20, the fourth conveyance roller 21, the fifth conveyance roller 22, and the first movable reference fence to the third conveyance path Pt2. It is transported to Pt3.

In the third transport path Pt3, a sixth transport roller 31 and a seventh transport roller 32, and a saddle stitching section 33 are arranged.
The sixth transport roller 31 and the seventh transport roller 32 are driven by a motor to transport the sheet material. The saddle-stitching section 33 includes a center-folding section 34, a saddle-stitch processing section (second binding processing section) 35, and a second bundling section 36.

The sheet material conveyed to the third conveyance path Pt3 is sequentially stacked on the second bundling unit 36 by the sixth conveyance roller 31 and the seventh conveyance roller 32. As a result, a sheet bundle in which a plurality of sheet materials are stacked is formed. That is, the second bundling unit 36 includes the entrance roller 11, the first transport roller 12, the third transport roller 20, the fourth transport roller 21, the fifth transport roller 22, the sixth transport roller 31, and the seventh transport roller 32. Are stacked to form a sheet bundle.
At this time, the front end of each sheet material abuts on the second movable reference fence 37, and the positions in the sheet conveying direction are aligned, and the positions in the width direction are aligned by the second sheet alignment unit.

  Then, the sheet bundle is saddle-stitched by the saddle stitching processing section 35 in the vicinity of the center in the sheet conveyance direction. 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 by the center folding unit 34 at the center in the sheet conveyance direction. In the center folding section 34, the folding blade 38 facing the center of the sheet bundle at the center folding position in the sheet conveyance direction moves from right to left in FIG. 2 to bend the center of the sheet bundle in the sheet conveyance direction. While pressing between the lower pressing roller 39 and the upper pressing roller 40. The folding blade 38 is driven by a motor.

Then, the folded sheet bundle is pressed from above and below by the lower pressing roller 39 and the upper pressing roller 40. The lower pressing roller 39 and the upper pressing roller 40 are driven by a motor.
The sheet bundle folded in this manner is discharged onto a second discharge tray 42 by the lower pressing roller 39 and the upper pressing roller 40 and the second discharging roller 41.

The image forming apparatus 2 and the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 are connected by a communication cable 60 (see FIG. 2), so that the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 and the image forming apparatus 2 can communicate with each other. ing.
Then, in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment, the type of sheet material is determined by the sheet material determining device 100, and the image forming device 2 can set image forming conditions according to the determined type of sheet material.

Here, unlike the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment in which the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 is provided outside the image forming apparatus 2, the inside of the image forming apparatus (sheet A configuration is known in which a sheet material discriminating device is provided on a road. In the sheet material discriminating device provided inside the image forming apparatus, the sheet material information at a plurality of positions of the sheet material relatively moving with respect to the information detecting means is determined based on the sheet material information detected by the information detecting means. The determination of the sheet material is performed by a control unit which is a determination unit for determining the sheet material. However, such a configuration in which the sheet material discriminating device provided inside the image forming apparatus detects the sheet material information at a plurality of positions of the sheet material relatively moving with respect to the information detecting means includes the following. There was a problem.
When light is emitted from the light emitting means of the optical sensor to the deformed portion of the sheet material that has been deformed such as curling or waving during transport, the light is reflected on the surface of the sheet material according to the state of deformation. Are different, the optical information of the light received by the light receiving means is different. For this reason, accurate sheet material information cannot be detected, and the accuracy of sheet material determination may be reduced.

On the other hand, the present inventors have provided a movable sheet material mounting device that is provided outside the image forming apparatus, not inside the image forming apparatus, and on which the sheet material is mounted in order to relatively move the sheet material with respect to the information detecting means. We are developing a sheet material discriminating device with a unit.
For example, a sheet material discriminating device was developed as follows.
An information detecting means for causing the light emitting means to emit light on the surface of the sheet material placed on the sheet material placing portion and irradiating the light with a light receiving means to detect information of the sheet material; and a sheet detected by the information detecting means Determining means for determining the sheet material based on the material information. Then, when detecting the sheet material information, the user (user) relatively moves the sheet material placement section on which the sheet material is placed with respect to the information detecting means, and detects information at a plurality of places of the sheet material. .

By configuring the sheet discriminating apparatus in this manner, unlike the conventional configuration in which the information detecting unit is provided in the sheet material conveying path of the image forming apparatus, the sheet material curls or expands and contracts due to the internal environment such as temperature and humidity. The sheet material information of the sheet material can be detected by the information detecting means without the need.
Also, when detecting the sheet material information by moving the sheet member relative to the information detecting means, the user does not directly touch and move the sheet material, so that the user directly touches and moves the sheet material. There is no possibility of causing deformation (damage) of the sheet material.

However, it has been found that the following problem may occur in this sheet discriminating apparatus.
When the user detects the sheet material information by relatively moving the sheet material placement section on which the sheet material is placed with respect to the information detecting means, the sheet material placed on the sheet material placement section is detected. There is a possibility that the detection range is shifted or flutters, and the detection accuracy by the information detecting means is reduced.
If the detection accuracy of the sheet material information decreases in this way, the accuracy of determining the sheet material also decreases.

Therefore, the present inventors have developed a sheet material discriminating apparatus capable of suppressing the detection range of the sheet material placed on the sheet material placing portion from shifting or fluttering, thereby reducing the detection accuracy of the information detecting means. We examined whether it could be provided.
Next, the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 provided in the image forming system 1 (image forming apparatus 2) of the present embodiment will be described with reference to a plurality of configuration examples.

[Configuration Example 1]
First, a configuration example 1 of the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 provided in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 according to the first configuration example. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a procedure for detecting the sheet material information of the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 according to the first configuration example. FIG. 5A illustrates the sheet material before the sheet material P is set (placed). FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an initial state in which a pressing unit 105 is separated from a sheet material mounting unit 104. FIG. 5B illustrates a state where the sheet material P is moved to a sheet setting position on which the sheet material P is placed. FIG. 5C illustrates a state where the sheet material pressing unit 105 is pressed toward the sheet material placing unit 104 and the sheet material P is moved. 2 shows a state in which is gripped. 5D, the sheet material pressing unit 105 is moved to move the sheet material P gripped by the sheet material placing unit 104 and the sheet material placing unit 104 to the sheet material information detection sensor 110. The state at the time of relative movement is shown.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 according to the first configuration example includes a housing unit 101 of the apparatus main body, a sensor holding member 102 that holds a sheet material information detection sensor 110 and the like, and when detecting information. A gripping movement mechanism 103 that grips and moves the sheet material P is provided.
The housing unit 101 includes an upper housing 101A and a lower housing 101B that support (hold) the sensor holding member 102 and the gripping / moving mechanism 103, and the lower housing 101B includes a sheet included in the gripping / moving mechanism 103. The material placing portion 104 is movably supported. The upper casing 101A and the lower casing 101B transport the sheet material P from left to right in FIG. 1 when the sheet material P is placed on the sheet material placing portion 104 at the initial position. It is connected on the downstream side in the direction (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as a sheet setting direction).

The sensor holding member 102 holds a sheet material information detection sensor 110 for detecting information on the sheet material P, and the like. The sheet material information detection sensor 110 includes an upper sensor unit 110A and a lower sensor unit 110B. Then, the sheet material discrimination device 100 uses the sheet material information detection sensor 110 to discriminate the type of the sheet material (paper type discrimination).
Here, the upper sensor unit 110A detects a reflected light component of the sheet material P, and the lower sensor unit 110B detects a transmitted light component of the sheet material.

  The upper sensor unit 110A is positioned on the side facing the lower housing 101B with the sheet material P interposed therebetween, and the lower sensor unit 110B is positioned on the same surface as the lower housing 101B via the sensor holding member 102 via the sensor holding member 102. It is held by the housing 101A and the lower housing 101B. The lower sensor unit 110B is installed below the sheet mounting surface 104A of the sheet material mounting unit 104 included in the gripping movement mechanism 103 described later, and the upper sensor unit 110A and the lower sensor unit 110B always face each other. I have.

The gripping / moving mechanism 103 presses the placed sheet material P toward the sheet material placing section 104 to place (support) the sheet material P for which information is to be detected, and places the sheet material on the sheet material placement section 104. A sheet material pressing unit 105 that holds and restrains (fixes) the sheet material P with the placing unit 104 is provided.
The sheet material placement unit 104 is configured to move the sheet material P in a direction opposite to the sheet setting direction and a sheet detection direction that is a movement direction when the sheet material information is detected by detecting the sheet material information. (Referred to as the depth direction, as appropriate). For this reason, the movement of the sheet material placement unit 104 in the height direction and the width direction of the sheet material P is restricted, and only the position movement in one direction is possible. The position of the lower housing 101B is regulated (constrained) by the placing portion pressing spring 106a, which is an elastic body serving as the placing portion initial position regulating means 106, and the sheet material P is abutted in the initial state. It is in an initial position where the side of the lower housing 101B is in contact with the side surface.

The position of the sheet material pressing portion 105 in the height direction with respect to the sheet material placing portion 104 is maintained at a substantially constant position by the pressing portion support spring 107a which is an elastic body as the pressing portion initial position holding means 107 ( Fixed). For this reason, in an initial state, the sheet material pressing unit 105 and the sheet material placing unit 104 are at an initial position where a substantially constant distance is opened between the sheet material pressing unit 105 and the sheet material placing unit 104. The sheet material P to be detected is set (placed) so as to be inserted into the gap generated between the sheet material P and the sheet material P.
Then, the sheet material P is gripped by the sheet material pressing unit 105 and the sheet material placing unit 104, and the sheet material information detecting sensor 110 moves the sheet material pressing unit 105 in the sheet detection direction while holding the sheet material P. The information of P is detected to determine the sheet material P.

  As described above, by setting and gripping the sheet material P on the sheet material placement unit 104, the setting position is accurate and the user can easily set the sheet material P. In addition, since the detection operation can be performed in a state where the position of the sheet material P with respect to the sheet material mounting portion is regulated, there is no variation in operation (user scanning) by a user, and highly accurate information detection of the sheet material P is performed. (Paper type detection) can be performed.

This is a sheet pressing portion 105 that presses the sheet material P from above against the housing portion 101 holding the sheet material information detecting sensor 110 and is movable downward in the depth direction, and is located below the sheet path therebetween. This is because the sheet material placement unit 104 that can move in the depth direction is provided.
Then, at the time of sheet setting (at the time of placing), a sufficient gap (gap) for setting the sheet material P by separating the sheet pressing portion 105 can be secured. Further, at the time of detecting the sheet information, the sheet pressing unit 105 holds and moves the sheet material P between the sheet pressing unit 105 and the sheet material mounting unit 104, so that the sheet material P can be easily fixed to the sheet material mounting unit 104, and the detection can be performed. No detection error occurs due to displacement or fluttering of the sheet material P during operation.

Next, a procedure from placing the sheet material P on the sheet material placing unit 104 to detecting the information of the sheet material P by the sheet material information detection sensor 110 will be described with reference to FIG.
Before the sheet material P is placed, as shown in FIG. 5A, the sheet material placing portion 104 is located at an initial position on the left side in the drawing, which is one moving end position of the moving range, and the sheet pressing portion 105 Is also at an initial position that is separated upward from the sheet material placement unit 104 by a substantially constant distance.
Then, when the detection of the information of the sheet material P is started, first, as shown in FIG. 5B, the gap between the sheet material pressing portion 105 and the sheet material placing portion 104 separated by a substantially constant distance is set. The sheet material P is placed on the sheet material placing portion 104 so as to be inserted. At this time, since there is a sufficient gap between the sheet material pressing portion 105 and the sheet material placing portion 104, resistance does not occur when the sheet material P is inserted, and the leading end of the sheet material P is It is possible to reach the abutment position of the lower housing 101B, which is the P detection start position.

When the leading end of the sheet material P reaches the abutment position of the lower housing 101B, as shown in FIG. 5C, the sheet material pressing portion 105 is pushed down against the urging force of the pressing portion support spring 107a, and the sheet material is pushed down. The sheet is gripped so as to come into contact with P and to be pressed toward the sheet material placement unit 104 side. Then, as shown in FIG. 5D, the sheet material pressing unit 105 is pulled down while the sheet material P is being gripped by the sheet material pressing unit 105 and the sheet material placing unit 104, thereby detecting the sheet. While moving the sheet material P in the direction, the information of the sheet material P is detected.
Here, a frictional force proportional to the pressing force of the sheet material pressing portion 105 is generated between the sheet material pressing portion 105 and the sheet material placing portion 104 holding the sheet material P between the sheet material pressing portion 105 and the sheet material P. The sheet material placement unit 104 can be moved in synchronization with the movement of the material pressing unit 105.
Further, while the sheet material pressing unit 105 is continuously pulled, the sheet material information detection sensor 110 can detect the moving sheet material P, so that the number of detection points can be increased and the detection accuracy can be improved. Become.

Next, a sheet material information detection sensor 110 serving as information detection means provided in the sheet material determination device 100 and a processing device 130 serving as determination means will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the optical sensor and the processing device.
As shown in FIG. 6, the sheet material information detection sensor 110 of the first configuration example includes an upper sensor unit 110A and a lower sensor unit 110B.
There is a gap between the upper sensor unit 110A and the lower sensor unit 110B that can store the sheet material P to be detected, and the sheet information of the sheet material P in this gap is detected.

The upper sensor unit 110A includes an irradiation device 111, a collimating lens 112, a first light receiver 113, a second light receiver 114, a third light receiver 115, a fourth light receiver 118, a first polarization filter 116, a second polarization filter 117, And an upper dark box 119A in which these are stored.
The lower sensor unit 110B has a fifth light receiver 160 and a lower dark box 119B in which the fifth light receiver 160 is stored.
The upper dark box 119A and the lower dark box 119B are metal box members, for example, aluminum box members, and have a black alumite treatment on the surface in order to reduce the influence of disturbance light and stray light.

  The irradiation device 111 has a plurality of light emitting units. Each light emitting unit is a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL). That is, the irradiation device 111 includes a surface emitting laser array (VCSEL array). Here, as shown in FIG. 7 as an example, nine light emitting units are two-dimensionally arranged.

  The irradiation device 111 is arranged so that the sheet material P is irradiated with S-polarized linearly polarized light. The incident angle θ of the light from the irradiation device 111 to the sheet material P (see FIG. 8) is 80 [°]. The irradiation device 111 is turned on and off by the processing device 130.

  The collimating lens 112 is arranged on the optical path of the light emitted from the irradiation device 111, and makes the light substantially parallel light. The light passing through the collimating lens 112 passes through an opening provided in the upper dark box 119A to illuminate the sheet material P. Hereinafter, the center of the illumination area on the surface of the sheet material P is simply referred to as “illumination center”. The light that has passed through the collimating lens 112 is also referred to as “irradiation light”.

  By the way, when light enters a boundary surface of a medium, a surface including an incident light beam and a normal line of the boundary surface set at the incident point is called an “incident surface”. Therefore, when the incident light is composed 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 illumination center is referred to as the incident surface on the recording paper. I do. That is, a plane that includes the illumination center and is parallel to the XZ plane is the entrance plane of the sheet material P.

  In the first configuration example, the expressions of S-polarized light and P-polarized light are used not only for the incident light to the sheet material P but also for the reflected light. This is an expression based on the polarization direction of incident light. Then, the same polarization direction as the incident light (here, S-polarized light) in the incident plane is referred to as S-polarized light, and the polarization direction orthogonal thereto is referred to as P-polarized light.

  The first polarizing filter 116 is arranged on the + Z side of the illumination center. The first polarization filter 116 is a polarization filter that transmits P-polarized light and blocks S-polarized light. Note that a polarization beam splitter having an equivalent function may be used instead of the first polarization filter 116.

  The second light receiver 114 is arranged on the + Z side of the first polarization filter 116, and receives the light transmitted through the first polarization filter 116. Here, as shown in FIG. 9, the angle ψ1 between the line L1 connecting the center of illumination, the center of the first polarizing filter 116, and the center of the second light receiver 114, and the surface of the sheet material P is 90 [°]. ].

  The first light receiver 113 is arranged on the + X side of the illumination center in the X-axis direction. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the angle ψ2 between the line L2 connecting the illumination center and the center of the first light receiver 113 and the surface of the sheet material P is 170 [°].

  The center of the irradiation device 111, the illumination center, the center of the first polarizing filter 116, and the center of each light receiver exist on substantially the same plane.

  By the way, the reflected light from the sheet material P when the sheet material P is illuminated can be considered separately into the reflected light reflected on the surface of the sheet material P and the reflected light reflected inside the sheet material P. . Further, the reflected light reflected on the surface of the sheet material P can be considered separately into reflected light that is specularly reflected and reflected light that is diffusely reflected.

  Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience, the reflected light specularly reflected on the surface of the sheet material P is also referred to as “surface regular reflected light”, and the diffusely reflected reflected light is also referred to as “surface diffuse reflected light” (FIGS. 10A and 10A). b)).

  The surface of the sheet material P is composed of a flat portion and a slope portion, and the smoothness of the surface of the sheet material P is determined by the ratio. The light reflected on the plane portion is specularly reflected light on the surface, and the light reflected on the slope portion is reflected light on the surface. 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 amount of surface regular reflection light increases.

  On the other hand, when the sheet material P is a general printing paper, the reflected light from the inside of the sheet material P is multiplely scattered in the fibers inside the sheet material P, so that only the diffuse reflected light is obtained. Hereinafter, for convenience, the reflected light from inside the sheet material P is also referred to as “internal reflected light” (see FIG. 10C). This internally reflected light is also completely scattered reflected light, like the surface diffuse reflected light, and its reflection direction can be considered to be isotropic.

  The polarization direction of the surface regular reflection light and the surface diffuse reflection light toward each light receiver is 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 sheet material P, the incident light must be reflected by a surface inclined in the direction of rotation with respect to the incident direction. Here, since the center of the irradiation device 111, the illumination center, and the center of each light receiver are on the same plane, the reflected light whose polarization direction is rotated on the surface of the sheet material P is reflected in the direction of any light receiver. Not done.

  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 presumably because the light that has entered the inside of the sheet material P passes through the fiber, rotates while being scattered multiple times, and rotates the polarization direction.

  Reflected light in which both surface diffuse reflected light and internal reflected light are mixed enters the first polarizing filter 116 (see FIG. 11).

  Since the surface diffuse reflection light is the same S-polarized light as the incident light, it is shielded by the first polarization filter 116. On the other hand, since the internally reflected light is a mixture of S-polarized light and P-polarized light, the P-polarized light component passes through the first polarizing filter 116. That is, the P-polarized light component included in the internally reflected light is received by the second light receiver 114 (see FIG. 12).

  In the following, for convenience, the P-polarized light component included in the internally reflected light is also referred to as “P-polarized internally reflected light”. The S-polarized light component included in the internally reflected light is also referred to as “S-polarized internally reflected light”.

  It has been confirmed by the inventors that the amount of P-polarized internal reflection light has a correlation with the thickness and density of the recording paper. This is because the amount of the P-polarized internal reflection light depends on the path length of the recording paper passing through the fiber.

  The first light receiver 113 receives reflected light in which surface regular reflection light, surface diffuse reflection light, and internal reflection light are mixed. At this light receiving position, the light amount of the surface diffuse reflection light and the internal reflection light is very small as compared with the light amount of the surface regular reflection light, so the light reception amount of the first light receiver 113 is regarded as the light amount of the surface regular reflection light. (See FIG. 11).

  The third light receiver 115 is arranged at a position for receiving the surface diffuse reflection light and the internal reflection light. For example, the angle ψ3 between the line L3 connecting the illumination center shown in FIG. 13 and the center of the third light receiver 115 and the surface of the sheet material P is 120 [°]. The center of the irradiation device 111, the illumination center, the center of the first polarizing filter 116, and the center of each light receiver exist on substantially the same plane.

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

  For example, an angle ψ4 between a line L4 connecting the center of illumination, the center of the second polarizing filter 117, and the center of the fourth light receiver 118, and the surface シ ー ト 4 of the sheet material P shown in FIG. The center of the irradiation device 111, the illumination center, the center of the first polarizing filter 116, the center of the second polarizing filter 117, and the center of each light receiver are substantially on the same plane.

  The fifth light receiver 160 is arranged at a position for receiving the transmitted light that passes through the sheet material P among the lights emitted from the irradiation device 111 to the sheet material P.

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

  Returning to FIG. 6, the processing device 130 includes a light source driving circuit 131 for driving the irradiation device 111, a current-voltage conversion circuit 132, an AD conversion circuit 133, and the like, and is fixed to the upper dark box 119A.

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

  Further, the processing device 130 includes a light source driving circuit 131, a current-voltage conversion circuit 132, an AD conversion circuit 133, and the like.

  The light source driving circuit 131 outputs a light source driving signal to the irradiation device 111 according to an instruction from the control unit 600.

  The current-voltage conversion circuit 132 converts a current signal from each light receiver into a voltage signal. The AD conversion circuit 133 converts the analog signal passed through the current-voltage conversion circuit 132 into a digital signal, and outputs the digital signal to the control unit 600. The upper sensor unit 110A has an irradiation device 111, and the surface of the sheet material P is irradiated with light from the irradiation device 111.

As described above, the upper sensor unit 110A includes the first light receiver 113, the second light receiver 114, the third light receiver 115, and the fourth light receiver 118 as light receiving means for receiving reflected light. , The light of the reflection component among the light radiated to the sheet material P is detected. The second and fourth light receivers 114 and 118 are provided with a first polarization filter 116 and a second polarization filter 117, respectively, which are deflection filters for extracting only the deflection component of the reflected light. Then, based on information obtained by the first light receiver 113, the second light receiver 114, the third light receiver 115, and the fourth light receiver 118 that receive the reflected light, the paper type of the sheet material P is determined.
Note that, as described above, the sheet material information detection sensor 110 has a plurality of light receiving means, and the light reflected by the second light receiver 114 and the fourth light receiver 118 that receive the polarization component of the light reflected by the sheet material P. At least a light polarization component light receiving unit is included. As a result, a more accurate detection result can be obtained.

  On the other hand, the lower sensor unit 110B has a fifth light receiver 160 which is a light receiving means for receiving transmitted light. The fifth light receiver 160 extracts a transmitted component from the light emitted from the irradiation device 111 to the sheet material P. Thereby, in addition to the information obtained by the first light receiver 113, the second light receiver 114, the third light receiver 115, and the fourth light receiver 118 which are the reflected light receiving means for receiving the reflected light, the third light receiving the transmitted light By including the information obtained by the five light receivers 160, it is possible to determine the paper type and the like with higher accuracy.

  Further, among the light emitted from the irradiation device 111, a regular reflection light receiver that receives light that is regularly reflected by the sheet material P, and a diffuse reflection light receiver that receives light that is diffusely reflected by the sheet material P It is preferable to use the sheet material information detection sensor 110 including at least Thereby, since the diffused molecules of the reflected light with respect to the sheet material P can be detected by the sensors arranged at a plurality of different angles, it is possible to obtain a detection result with higher accuracy than the information of only the regular reflection.

The sheet material information detection sensor 110 is a fifth light receiver 160 that is a transmitted light receiving unit that receives light transmitted through the sheet material P, and a reflected light receiving unit that receives light reflected by the sheet material P. And a first light receiver 113 and the like. Then, based on the detection signals from the transmitted light receiving unit and the reflected light receiving unit, at least one of the thickness, surface texture, and brand of the sheet material P is determined.
Thereby, the sheet material information detection sensor 110 can determine at least one of the thickness, surface texture, and brand of the sheet material.

As described above, in the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 according to the first configuration example, the sheet material placing unit 104 and the light that is emitted from the irradiation device 111 to irradiate the surface of the placed sheet material P with the first light receiver A sheet material information detection sensor 110 that receives sheet 113 and detects sheet material information is provided. Further, a control unit 600 for determining the sheet material P based on the sheet material information detected by the sheet material information detection sensor 110 is also provided.
Then, the sheet material P can be pressed against the sheet material placing portion 104, and the sheet material pressing portion 105 and the sheet material placing portion 104, which can contact and separate from the sheet material placing portion 104, form a sheet material information detection sensor 110. It is configured to be movable with respect to.

As described above, in the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 of the present configuration example 1, the irradiation device 111 emits light to the surface of the sheet material P, and the irradiated light is received by the first light receiver 113 or the like, and the sheet material information is detected. A sheet material information detection sensor 110 is provided. Further, a control unit 600 for determining the sheet material P based on the sheet material information detected by the sheet material information detection sensor 110 is also provided.
In addition, a sheet material mounting portion 104 on which the sheet material P is mounted, and a sheet material pressing portion capable of pressing the sheet material P against the sheet material mounting portion 104 and capable of moving toward and away from the sheet material mounting portion 104 105 was also provided. Further, the sheet material placement unit 104 and the sheet material pressing unit are configured to be movable with respect to the sheet material information detection sensor 110.

With this configuration, the sheet material determination device 100 of Configuration Example 1 can achieve the following effects.
In a state where the sheet material P to be detected is gripped by the sheet material pressing unit 105 and the sheet material mounting unit 104 so that at least the detection range is not shifted or fluttered, the sheet material P is It can be moved relative to the information detection sensor 110.
Accordingly, the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 that can suppress the detection range of the sheet material information detection sensor 110 from being reduced due to the detection range of the sheet material P placed on the sheet material placing portion 104 being shifted or fluttered. Can be provided.

Further, a housing unit 101 that holds the sheet material information detection sensor 110 is provided, and the sheet material mounting unit 104 has an initial position with respect to the lower housing 101B of the housing unit 101 by the mounting unit initial position regulating unit 106. Is regulated.
According to this, the position of the sheet material placement unit 104 can be regulated at a fixed initial position where the sheet material P is easily placed, and the convenience of the user when placing the sheet material P is improved. be able to.

Further, the initial position of the sheet material pressing portion 105 is maintained with respect to the sheet material placing portion 104 by a pressing portion initial position holding means 107 having a pressing portion support spring 107a.
According to this, the following effects can be obtained. The position of the sheet material pressing portion 105 can be maintained at an initial position at which the sheet material P is easily placed and separated from the sheet material placing portion 104 by a predetermined distance or more. Then, the sheet material can be inserted between the sheet material pressing portion 105 and the sheet material placing portion 104 to improve the workability of the user when placing the sheet material on the sheet material placing portion. .

Further, when the sheet material information detection sensor 110 detects the information of the sheet material P, the sheet material pressing unit 105 is a sheet moving direction of the sheet material P that is moved when the sheet material P is placed on the sheet material placing unit 104. It is moved in a direction opposite to the setting direction.
According to this, the following effects can be obtained. The user can perform a series of operations in which the sheet material P gripped by the sheet material pressing unit 105 and the sheet material placing unit 104 is relatively moved with respect to the sheet material information detection sensor 110 in the same direction as the sheet setting direction. Of the user, the standing position of the user, and the like can be easily predicted. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the operation range when the gripped sheet material P is relatively moved with respect to the sheet material information detection sensor 110 from exceeding the operation range at hand of the user.
Therefore, the user is forced to correct the standing position, or is forced to move the sheet material pressing portion in an unstable posture, so that the relative movement speed fluctuates, and the sheet material information detection sensor 110 It is also possible to suppress the detection accuracy from being lowered.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 2 including the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 according to the first configuration example, the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 is provided outside the image forming apparatus 2 (outside the image forming apparatus main body 400). Accordingly, it is possible to prevent an inappropriate image forming condition that does not correspond to the type of the sheet material P from being set in the image forming apparatus 2 and perform favorable image formation.
Further, in the image forming apparatus 2 including the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 according to the first configuration example, the image forming condition is set based on the determination result of the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 according to the first configuration example. Image formation can be performed under appropriate image forming conditions based on the determination result.

[Configuration Example 2]
Next, a configuration example 2 of the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 provided in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 14 is a schematic explanatory view of the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 according to the second configuration example. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a procedure of placing the sheet material P according to the second configuration example on the sheet material placing unit 104 and detecting the sheet material information, and FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an initial state in which the sheet material pressing unit 105 is separated from the sheet material placing unit 104 before performing. FIG. 15B illustrates a state where the sheet material P is moved to a sheet setting position on which the sheet material P is placed. FIG. 15C illustrates a state in which the sheet material pressing unit 105 is pressed toward the sheet material placing unit 104 and the sheet material P is pressed. 2 shows a state in which is gripped. 15D, the sheet material pressing unit 105 is moved to move the sheet material P gripped by the sheet material mounting unit 104 and the sheet material mounting unit 104 to the sheet material information detection sensor 110. The state at the time of relative movement is shown.

In the configuration example 2 and the sheet material determination apparatus of the configuration example 1, the sheet material determination apparatus 100 of the configuration example 2 determines whether the sheet material P placed on the sheet material placement unit 104 has reached the detection start position. The only difference is that the sheet set detection means 121 for detecting whether or not the sheet set is provided is provided.
Therefore, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals unless otherwise specified, and the same configuration, and the operation and effect thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 14, the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 according to the second configuration example is different from the sheet material discriminating apparatus according to the first configuration example in that the sheet material P placed on the sheet material placement unit 104 reaches the detection start position. A sheet set detecting means 121 for detecting whether or not the sheet is set is provided.
The sheet set detection unit 121 detects the sheet material P when the sheet material P reaches a detection start position, for example, when the leading end of the sheet material P reaches the abutting position. 600 can determine that the information of the sheet material P can be detected.
Thereby, the following effects can be obtained. Informing the user that the sheet material P has reached the detection start position, for example, starts information detection of the sheet material P without the sheet material P reaching the detection start position, and the number of detection points is insufficient. For example, it is possible to prevent the accuracy of determining the sheet material P from being lowered.

  Further, once the sheet material P, which has been detected to have reached the detection start position, is moved, the sheet material P is separated from the sheet set detecting means 121, so that the detection operation by the sheet material information detection sensor 110 is started at this timing. You can also. By starting in this manner, if the sheet material pressing unit 105 is continuously moved, the sheet material information detection sensor 110 can detect the moving sheet material P, so that the number of detection points (detection points) can be increased. Accuracy can also be improved.

Next, a specific procedure from placing the sheet material P on the sheet material placing portion 104 to detecting the information of the sheet material P by the sheet material information detection sensor 110 will be described with reference to FIG. I do.
Before the sheet material P is placed, as shown in FIG. 15A, the sheet material placing portion 104 is at the initial position on the left side in the drawing, which is one of the moving end positions of the moving range, and the sheet pressing portion 105 Is also at an initial position that is separated upward from the sheet material placement unit 104 by a substantially constant distance.
When the detection of the information on the sheet material P is started, first, as shown in FIG. 15B, the information is inserted into a gap between the sheet material pressing portion 105 and the sheet material placing portion 104 separated by a substantially constant distance. Thus, the sheet material P is placed on the sheet material placing portion 104. Then, when the leading end of the sheet material P reaches the abutting position, the sheet set detection means 121 detects the sheet material P. At this time, the user may be notified that the sheet material P has reached the detection start position. However, the use of the sheet material information detection sensor 110 to start detecting the information of the sheet material In addition to improving the convenience of the user, the detection accuracy can also be improved.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 15C, the sheet material pressing portion 105 is pressed down against the urging force of the pressing portion support spring 107a to come into contact with the sheet material P and to be pressed toward the sheet material mounting portion 104 side. To grip. Then, as shown in FIG. 15D, in a state in which the sheet material P is gripped by the sheet material pressing unit 105 and the sheet material placing unit 104, the sheet material pressing unit 105 is pulled down to the sheet detection direction. Is moved to the sheet material P. Then, the sheet material P, which has once detected that it has reached the detection start position, is separated from the sheet set detection means 121, so that the detection operation by the sheet material information detection sensor 110 can be started at this timing.

[Configuration Example 3]
Next, a configuration example 3 of the sheet material determining apparatus 100 provided in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 16 is a schematic explanatory view of the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 according to the third configuration example. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a procedure for placing the sheet material P according to the third configuration example on the sheet material placement unit 104 and detecting the sheet material information, and FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an initial state in which the sheet material pressing unit 105 is separated from the sheet material placing unit 104 before performing. FIG. 16B shows a state where the sheet material P is moved to a sheet setting position on which the sheet material P is placed. FIG. 16C shows a state where the sheet material pressing portion 105 is pressed toward the sheet material placing portion 104 and the sheet material P is pressed. 2 shows a state in which is gripped. 16D, the sheet material pressing unit 105 is moved to move the sheet material P gripped by the sheet material placing unit 104 and the sheet material placing unit 104 to the sheet material information detection sensor 110. The state at the time of relative movement is shown.

The configuration example 3 differs from the sheet material discriminating apparatuses of the configuration examples 1 and 2 only in the following points.
In the sheet material discriminating apparatuses of the configuration examples 1 and 2, the initial position of the sheet material pressing unit is maintained with respect to the sheet material mounting unit by the pressing unit initial position holding unit having the pressing unit support spring 107a. On the other hand, in the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 according to the third configuration example, the pressing unit initial position holding unit 107 having the pressing unit push-up spring 107b is attached to the housing unit 101 (upper housing 101A) as the holding unit. This is related to the fact that the initial position is maintained.
Therefore, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals unless otherwise specified, and the same configuration, and the operation and effect thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 16, the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 of Configuration Example 3 differs from the sheet material discriminating apparatuses of Configuration Examples 1 and 2 in that the sheet material pressing unit 105 presses the sheet material placing unit 104 The initial position is maintained by the pressing part initial position holding means 107 having the part support spring 107a. That is, the sheet material pressing portion 105 of the configuration example 3 is connected to the housing portion 101 via the pressing portion initial position holding means 107 having the pressing portion support spring 107a.
With this configuration, the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 according to the third configuration example can maintain the position of the sheet material pressing unit 105 at an initial position based on the housing unit 101 where the sheet material P can be easily placed. Thus, the convenience of the user when placing the sheet material P can be improved.

As shown in FIG. 16, the pressing portion initial position holding means 107 of the present configuration example 3 includes a pressing portion push-up spring 107b which is an elastic body, a pressing portion support base 107c, and a plurality of sliding members as sliding members. And a roller 107d.
The pressing portion push-up spring 107b is connected between the lower surface of the top plate of the sheet material pressing portion 105 and the pressing portion support table 107c which can be moved up and down, and the lower surface of the pressing portion support table 107c and the upper housing 101A. A plurality of sliding rollers 107d are arranged between the top plate and the upper surface.
With this configuration, the sheet material pressing portion 105 can move toward the sheet material placement portion 104 against the urging force of the pressing portion push-up spring 107b, and can also move in the sheet detection direction. ing.

Further, the sheet material pressing portion 105 is held (fixed) at a substantially constant position (height) by the urging force of the pressing portion push-up spring 107b. When the detection operation is performed after the sheet material P to be detected is placed (set), the sheet material P is gripped by pushing the sheet material pressing unit 105 into contact with the sheet material placement 104.
Thereafter, the sheet material pressing section 105 is moved in the sheet detection direction.
Also, if a sufficient force is applied to the sheet material pressing portion 105, the sheet material P and the sheet material placement are performed by the frictional force generated between the sheet material pressing portion 105 and the sheet material placement portion 104 and the sheet material P. The unit 104 moves in synchronization (in conjunction with). Therefore, by moving the sheet material pressing portion 105, the sheet material information detection sensor 110 can perform a detection operation in a state where the sheet material P has moved.

Next, a specific procedure from placing the sheet material P on the sheet material placing portion 104 to detecting the information of the sheet material P by the sheet material information detection sensor 110 will be described with reference to FIG. I do.
Before the sheet material P is placed, as shown in FIG. 17A, the sheet material placing portion 104 is at the initial position on the left side in the drawing, which is one of the moving end positions of the moving range, and the sheet pressing portion 105 Is also at an initial position that is separated upward from the sheet material placement unit 104 by a substantially constant distance.
When the detection of the information of the sheet material P is started, first, as shown in FIG. 17B, the sheet material P is inserted into a gap between the sheet material pressing portion 105 and the sheet material placing portion 104 which are separated by a substantially constant distance. Thus, the sheet material P is placed on the sheet material placing portion 104. Then, when the leading end of the sheet material P reaches the abutting position, the sheet set detection means 121 detects the sheet material P.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 17C, the sheet material pressing portion 105 is pressed down against the urging force of the pressing portion push-up spring 107b to come into contact with the sheet material P and to be pressed toward the sheet material placing portion 104. To grip. Then, as shown in FIG. 17D, in a state where the sheet material P is gripped by the sheet material pressing unit 105 and the sheet material placing unit 104, the sheet material pressing unit 105 is pulled down to the sheet detection direction. Is moved to the sheet material P.

[Configuration Example 4]
Next, a configuration example 4 of the sheet material determining apparatus 100 provided in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a configuration in which the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 according to the present configuration transmits the force in the sheet detection direction applied to the sheet material pressing unit 105 to the sheet material placing unit 104, and moves the sheet material pressing unit 105 and the sheet. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a movement synchronization unit 125 that synchronizes movement of a material placing unit 104. FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of a state change of the movement synchronization unit 125 according to this configuration example, and FIG. 18A is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the sheet material pressing unit 105 and the sheet material placing unit 104 are separated. FIG. 18B shows that the sheet material pressing portion 105 and the sheet material placing portion 104 are within a predetermined distance, and the relative movement of the sheet material placing portion 104 in the sheet setting direction with respect to the sheet material pressing portion 105 is restricted. FIG.
FIG. 18C illustrates a state in which the relative movement of the sheet material placement unit 104 in the sheet setting direction with respect to the sheet material pressing unit 105 is restricted, and FIG. 18D illustrates the sheet detection direction of the sheet material pressing unit 105. The state in which the sheet material placing unit 104 moves in synchronization with the movement of the sheet material is shown.

The configuration example 4 differs from the sheet material discriminating apparatuses of the configuration examples 1 to 3 only in the following points.
In the sheet material discriminating devices of the first to third configuration examples, when the sheet material is moved in the sheet detection direction after the sheet material is gripped by the sheet material placement unit, the sheet material and the sheet are all utilized by utilizing the frictional force. The movement of the material placing section has been synchronized with the movement of the sheet material pressing section that pressed the sheet material. On the other hand, in the present configuration example 4, when the distance between the sheet material pressing portion 105 and the sheet material placing portion 104 is within a predetermined distance, the relative movement of the sheet material placing portion with respect to the sheet material pressing portion 105 is performed. The point is that at least one of the directions is regulated and synchronized.

Further, in the sheet material discriminating apparatuses of the configuration examples 1 to 3, there is no particular means for detecting the position of the sheet material pressing portion in the pressing direction (height direction). On the other hand, in the configuration example 4, the pressing portion position detection sensor 122 for detecting the position of the sheet pressing portion 105 in the pressing direction is provided, and the sheet information detection sensor 110 starts the sheet information detection using the detection result. This is related to the setting of the timing to perform.
Therefore, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals unless otherwise specified, and the same configuration, and the operation and effect thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

First, a configuration for synchronizing the movement of the sheet material and the sheet material placement unit with the movement of the sheet material pressing unit that pressed the sheet material P will be described.
As in the sheet material discriminating apparatuses of the above-described configuration examples 1 to 3, the pressing force of the sheet material pressing unit causes the moving force of the sheet material pressing unit to be changed by the frictional force generated on the sheet material gripped by the sheet material mounting unit. In the configuration in which the light is transmitted to the material and the sheet material placement unit, the following problem may occur.
Depending on the coefficient of friction of the sheet material, a slip may occur between the sheet material pressing portion and the sheet material and between the sheet material and the sheet material placing portion. When the slip occurs as described above, the sheet material is deformed by applying a load, or cannot be moved stably, and the detection of the sheet material information by the sheet material information detection sensor 110 is not stable. There is a possibility that detection may not be possible or detection accuracy may be reduced.

On the other hand, in the present configuration example 4, when the interval between the sheet material pressing unit 105 and the sheet material placing unit 104 is within a predetermined distance, the sheet material placing unit with respect to the sheet material pressing unit 105 in one direction. Relative movement is restricted in at least one direction. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of slip in at least one direction in one direction. Then, due to the at least one-way regulation, the sheet material placement unit 104 moves in synchronization with the movement of the sheet material pressing unit 105 moving at least to the side opposite to the side where the relative movement is regulated.
Therefore, when the sheet material pressing unit 105 is moved in a state where the sheet material P is gripped by the sheet material pressing unit 105 and the sheet material placing unit 104, slipping may occur in at least one of the directions. Can be reduced.
Therefore, the movement of the sheet material P to be moved when the information is detected by the sheet material information detection sensor 110 is determined by the sheet material mounting portion 104 and the sheet material P being gripped regardless of the friction coefficient of the gripped sheet material P. By moving the sheet material pressing portion 105, the operation can be stably performed.

As a specific configuration, for example, a configuration as shown in FIG.
In the configuration shown in FIG. 18, the above-described regulation in at least one direction is realized by providing the following movement synchronization means 125.
The movement synchronizing means 125 adjusts the claw shape of the synchronization arm 126 provided on the sheet material placing portion 104 on the movement synchronization shaft 124 provided on the sheet material pressing portion 105, by using the sheet material pressing portion 105 and the sheet material placing portion 104. Is carried out (engaged) when the distance between the two is within a predetermined distance.

As shown in FIG. 18, the synchronization arm 126 is rotatably provided around a synchronization arm rotation shaft 127 provided on the sheet material placement section 104, and has a synchronization arm spring 128 at one end facing downward. It is biased to rotate around.
The reaction force of the synchronous arm spring 128 is configured to be obtained by a synchronous arm spring support portion 129 provided on the sheet material placing portion 104, and the body portion of the synchronous arm rotation shaft 127 is not in contact with the movement synchronous shaft 124. Is substantially parallel to the pressing direction of the sheet material pressing portion 105.

Further, a contact portion and a claw portion having a substantially isosceles triangular shape are formed on the upper portion of the body portion of the synchronization arm 126, and the claw portion projects from the body portion so as to be orthogonal to the downstream side in the sheet setting direction. It is formed as follows. Further, it is formed so that there is a vertex of a substantially isosceles triangle on an extension line along the longitudinal direction of the body at the base of the claw.
Then, when the sheet material pressing portion 105 is pressed downward, the movement synchronization shaft 124 descends while being in contact with the inclination of the contact portion on the claw portion side of the substantially isosceles triangle of the synchronization arm 126, whereby the synchronization arm 126 is lowered. Rotates counterclockwise about the synchronous arm rotation shaft 127.
When the movement synchronization shaft 124 continues to descend until the distance between the sheet material pressing portion 105 and the sheet material placement portion 104 becomes within a predetermined distance, the movement synchronization shaft 124 tilts the substantially isosceles triangular claw side. The synchronization arm 126 rotates so as to get over, and the claw portion is engaged with the movement synchronization shaft 124.

With this hooking, the position of the sheet material pressing portion 105 (movement synchronization shaft 124) in the pressing direction is restricted, so that the sheet material pressing portion 105 cannot be lifted over a certain amount, and the sheet material placing portion 104 with respect to the sheet material pressing portion 105. Is restricted relative to the downstream side in the sheet setting direction.
In this state, since the sheet material pressing portion 105 and the sheet material placing portion 104 are physically constrained, they are synchronized with the movement of the sheet material pressing portion 105 upstream in the sheet setting direction (downstream in the sheet detection direction) ( (Follow-up), and the sheet material placement unit 104 becomes movable.
As a result, the information detection operation of the sheet material P can be performed regardless of the friction coefficient (paper type) of the surface of the sheet material P.

Next, the pressing portion position detection sensor 122 provided for detecting the position of the sheet pressing portion 105 in the pressing direction will be described.
The sheet material discriminating apparatus of the fourth configuration example is provided with the pressing portion position detection sensor 122 that detects the position of the sheet material pressing portion 105 in the pressing direction as described above.
Accordingly, it is detected that the interval between the sheet material pressing unit 105 and the sheet material placing unit 104 is within a predetermined distance, that is, whether the sheet material pressing unit 105 has reached a normal set position. Can be detected.
In addition, an error display is performed based on the detection result, and the operation of detecting the sheet information of the sheet material P is started in a state where the sheet material pressing unit 105 has not reached the normal set position (detection start position). Can be prevented.
Further, when the pressing portion position detecting sensor 122 detects that the sheet material pressing portion has reached the normal setting position, the detection of the information of the sheet material P by the sheet material information detecting sensor 110 is started. Thus, more stable detection of sheet material information becomes possible.

Further, the detection of the information of the sheet material P by the sheet material information detection sensor 110 can be started at the next timing. After detecting that the interval between the sheet material pressing portion 105 and the sheet material placing portion 104 is within a predetermined distance by the pressing portion position detection sensor 122, the sheet material P once detected by the sheet set detecting means 121 is used. Is no longer detectable.
By starting the detection of the information of the sheet material P by the sheet material information detection sensor 110 at such a timing, the following effects can be obtained.

After the sheet material P is normally set at the detection start position on the sheet material placement unit 104 and the sheet material pressing unit 105 is pressed to the normal detection start position, the sheet material P is moved to the sheet material information detection sensor 110. The detection can be started at the timing of starting the movement in the sheet detection direction. As a result, the sheet material P is set with a deviation from the normal detection start position on the sheet material placement unit 104, or the sheet material pressing unit 105 is not pressed to the normal detection start position, and the sheet information detection is not performed. It is possible to prevent the sheet material P from fluttering after the start.
Therefore, the sheet material information of the sheet material P can be more stably detected by the sheet material information detection sensor 110.

Here, in the present configuration example 4, the movement of the sheet material pressing unit 105 is detected by the pressing unit position detection sensor 122 provided on the upper housing 101A on the downstream side of the sheet material pressing unit 105 in the sheet setting direction. For this reason, the detected member 123 is provided so as to protrude downstream of the sheet material pressing portion 105 in the sheet setting direction.
However, the gist of this configuration example 4 is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the detection target 123 may not be provided, and the detection target may be directly detected at an appropriate position of the sheet material pressing unit 105. A mark or the like may be formed.

Next, a specific procedure from placing the sheet material P on the sheet material placing portion 104 to detecting the information of the sheet material P by the sheet material information detection sensor 110 will be described with reference to FIG. I do.
Before the sheet material P is placed, the sheet material placement unit 104 is at the initial position, which is one of the movement end positions of the movement range, and as shown in FIG. It is at an initial position separated from the placing section 104 upward by a substantially constant distance.
At this time, the movement synchronization shaft 124 provided on the sheet material pressing portion 105 does not contact the synchronization arm 126 provided on the sheet material placing portion 104, and the detected member 123 provided on the sheet material pressing portion 105 also It has not reached the pressing portion position detection sensor 122 provided on the body 101A.

  When the detection of the information of the sheet material P is started, first, as described in the configuration examples 1 to 3, the sheet is inserted into the gap between the sheet material pressing portion 105 and the sheet material placing portion 104, The sheet material P is placed on the material placing portion 104, and the leading end of the sheet material P reaches the abutting position. Then, in the configuration in which the sheet set detection unit 121 is provided as in the configuration examples 2 and 3, the sheet set detection unit 121 detects the sheet material P.

Thereafter, as described in the configuration examples 1 to 3, the sheet material pressing portion 105 is further pressed down against the urging force of a spring or the like provided in the pressing portion initial position holding means 107 to be brought into contact with the sheet material P to The gripping operation to press the mounting portion 104 is started.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 19B, the synchronization arm 126 rotates so that the movement synchronization shaft 124 provided on the sheet material pressing portion 105 gets over the inclination of the claw side of the isosceles triangle, and the movement synchronization is performed. The claw portion starts to be caught on the shaft 124. The detected member 123 provided on the sheet material pressing portion 105 is also in a state of being close to the pressing portion position detection sensor 122 provided on the upper housing 101A.

Then, when the sheet material pressing portion 105 is pushed down to a predetermined position, as shown in FIG. 19C, the claw portion of the synchronization arm 126 is engaged with the movement synchronization shaft 124 of the sheet material pressing portion 105, and the detected member 123 is detected by the pressing portion position detection sensor 122. At this time, after that, as described in the configuration examples 1 to 3, in a state where the sheet material P is gripped by the sheet material pressing portion 105 and the sheet material placing portion 104, the sheet material pressing portion 105 is pulled down to the front. The sheet material P is moved in the sheet detection direction.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 19D, the claw portion of the synchronization arm 126 provided on the sheet placing portion 104 is engaged with the movement synchronization shaft 124 of the sheet material pressing portion 105, and the sheet material pressing portion 105 And the sheet placing portion 104 are physically restricted. Therefore, while maintaining the state in which the sheet material P is gripped by the sheet material pressing portion 105 and the sheet material placing portion 104, the sheet material pressing portion 105 moves upstream in the sheet setting direction (downstream in the sheet detection direction). In synchronization with (following), the sheet material placement unit 104 becomes movable.

[Configuration Example 5]
Next, a configuration example 5 of the sheet material determining apparatus 100 provided in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of the pressing portion initial position restricting means 142 for restricting the initial position of the sheet material pressing portion 105 to a predetermined position in the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 according to the fifth configuration example. FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of a state change of the pressing portion initial position restricting means 142 according to the fifth configuration example. FIG. 21A shows a state in which the sheet material pressing portion 105 is restricted to the initial position. b) is an explanatory diagram when the restriction of the sheet material pressing portion 105 by the pressing portion initial position restricting means 142 is released. FIG. 21C shows a state in which the restriction by the pressing portion initial position restricting means 142 has been released.

The configuration example 5 differs from the sheet material discriminating apparatuses of the configuration examples 1 to 4 only in the following points.
In the sheet material discriminating devices of the first to third configuration examples, the sheet material pressing unit keeps the distance (interval) with the sheet material mounting unit or the housing unit at a substantially constant distance by each pressing unit initial position holding unit. Was. On the other hand, in the present configuration example 4, the initial position of the sheet material pressing unit 105 is regulated by the pressing unit initial position regulating unit 142 provided in the pressing unit initial position holding unit 107, and the sheet material pressing unit 105 This is a point in that the regulation is released by moving in the direction in contact with the mounting portion.
Therefore, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals unless otherwise specified, and the same configuration, and the operation and effect thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  In the sheet material discriminating devices of the configuration examples 1 to 3, the sheet material pressing unit maintains the distance from the sheet material mounting unit or the housing unit to a substantially constant distance by each pressing unit initial position holding unit. When the material discriminating device is not used, there is a possibility that the sheet material pressing portion may rattle. Such rattling may cause noise, deteriorate the guide member that guides the movement of the sheet material pressing portion in the pressing direction, or damage the guide member.

On the other hand, in the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 of the fifth configuration example, the pressing unit initial position holding unit 107 includes the pressing unit initial position restricting unit 142 that restricts the initial position of the sheet pressing unit 105 to a predetermined position. . Then, the regulation of the position of the sheet material pressing portion 105 by the pressing portion initial position regulating means 142 is released by moving the sheet material pressing portion 105 in a direction in contact with the sheet placing portion 104.
By providing the pressing portion initial position regulating means 142 in the pressing portion initial position holding means 107, the following effects can be obtained.
Until the sheet material pressing portion 105 is moved in the pressing direction, the sheet material pressing portion 105 is kept at a predetermined position, and is moved in the pressing direction, so that the position of the sheet material pressing portion 105 by the pressing portion initial position regulating means 142 is determined. Regulations can be lifted.
Therefore, when the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 is not used, the sheet material pressing portion 105 rattles and generates noise, or the guide member for guiding the movement of the sheet material pressing portion 105 in the pressing direction deteriorates, The possibility that the guide member is damaged can be reduced.
Further, the transition from the pressing of the sheet material P by the sheet material pressing unit 105 to the movement of the sheet material P gripped by the sheet material pressing unit 105 and the sheet material placing unit 104 can be smoothly performed, and the stable sheet material information can be obtained. Detection can be performed, and convenience for the user can be improved.

As a specific configuration, for example, a configuration as shown in FIG.
In the configuration shown in FIG. 20, the regulation of the initial position of the sheet material pressing section 105 is realized by providing the pressing section initial position holding section 107 with the following pressing section initial position restricting section 142.
The pressing portion initial position restricting means 142 engages (engages) the claw shape of the restricting arm 143 provided on the upper housing 101A with the pressing portion initial position restricting shaft 141 provided on the sheet material pressing portion 105.

As shown in FIG. 20, the regulating arm 143 is provided rotatably about a regulating arm rotating shaft 144 provided in the upper housing 101A, and has a regulating arm spring 145 at one end facing upward, and is counterclockwise in the figure. It is urged to rotate.
The reaction force of the regulating arm spring 145 is configured to be obtained by the regulating arm spring supporting portion 146 provided in the upper housing 101A, and the body of the regulating arm 143 except when the claw portion passes over the pressing portion initial position regulating shaft 141. Is substantially parallel to the pressing direction of the sheet material pressing portion 105.

A contact portion and a claw portion having a substantially isosceles triangular shape are formed at a lower portion of the body portion of the regulating arm 143, and the claw portion protrudes from the body portion so as to be orthogonal to the downstream side in the sheet setting direction. It is formed as follows. Further, it is formed so that there is a vertex of a substantially isosceles triangle on an extension line along the longitudinal direction of the body at the base of the claw.
When the sheet material pressing portion 105 is urged upward by the pressing portion initial position holding means described in the configuration examples 1 to 3, the pressing portion initial position regulating shaft 141 comes into contact with the body portion of the regulating arm 143. As it rises, it catches on the claw, and further rise is restricted.

On the other hand, when the sheet material pressing portion 105 is lowered (pressed) toward the sheet placing portion 104, the restricting arm 143 is rotated by the restricting arm rotating shaft so that the claw portion passes over the pressing portion initial position restricting shaft 141 that descends. It rotates clockwise around 144, and the regulation is released.
Then, when the pressing portion initial position restricting shaft 141 rises again from the state in which the restriction is released, the restricting arm 143 rotates so that the pressing portion initial position restricting shaft 141 climbs over the inclination of the claw portion side of the approximately isosceles triangle. Then, the claw portion is engaged with the pressing portion initial position regulating shaft 141.
With this hooking, the position of the sheet material pressing portion 105 (the pressing portion initial position regulating shaft 141) in the rising direction is restricted, and the sheet material pressing portion 105 cannot be raised above a certain value.

Next, referring to FIG. 21, when the sheet material P is placed on the sheet material placing portion 104, that is, when the upward movement of the sheet pressing portion 105 from the initial position is regulated, the regulation is released. A specific state change of the pressing portion initial position regulating means 142 until the pressing is performed will be described.
Before the sheet material P is placed, the sheet material placement unit 104 is at the initial position, which is one of the movement end positions of the movement range. As shown in FIG. It is at an initial position separated from the material placing portion 104 upward by a substantially constant distance.
At this time, the position of the pressing portion initial position regulating shaft 141 provided on the sheet material pressing portion 105 in the upward direction is regulated by the claw portion of the regulating arm 143 provided on the upper housing 101A.

  When the detection of the information of the sheet material P is started, first, as described in the configuration examples 1 to 3, the sheet is inserted into the gap between the sheet material pressing portion 105 and the sheet material placing portion 104, The sheet material P is placed on the material placing portion 104, and the leading end of the sheet material P reaches the abutting position. Then, in the configuration in which the sheet set detection unit 121 is provided as in the configuration examples 2 and 3, the sheet set detection unit 121 detects the sheet material P.

Thereafter, as described in the configuration examples 1 to 3, the sheet material pressing portion 105 is further pressed down against the urging force of a spring or the like provided in the pressing portion initial position holding means 107 to be brought into contact with the sheet material P to The gripping operation to press the mounting portion 104 is started.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 21B, the restricting arm 143 rotates so that the pressing portion initial position restricting shaft 141 provided on the sheet material pressing portion 105 goes over the claw portion, and the pressing portion initial position restricting means 142 Regulations will be lifted.

Then, when the sheet material pressing portion 105 is further pressed down, as shown in FIG. 21C, the regulation by the pressing portion initial position regulating means 142 is completely released, and the pressing portion initial position provided on the sheet material pressing portion 105 is released. The regulating shaft 141 is separated from the regulating arm 143.
Thereafter, as described in the configuration examples 1 to 3, the sheet material pressing unit 105 is further lowered, and the sheet material P is pressed while the sheet material P is gripped by the sheet material pressing unit 105 and the sheet material placing unit 104. The sheet material P is moved in the sheet detection direction by pulling the unit 105 down.

Here, in the sheet material discriminating apparatus 100 according to the fifth configuration example, the sheet material pressing unit 105 moves the sheet material pressing unit 105 in a direction opposite to the sheet setting direction in a state where the position control by the pressing unit initial position control unit 142 is released as described above. It is configured to be able to move to.
According to this, the following effects can be obtained. The user can perform a series of operations in which the sheet material P gripped by the sheet material pressing unit 105 and the sheet material placing unit 104 is relatively moved with respect to the sheet material information detection sensor 110 in the same direction as the sheet setting direction. Of the user, the standing position of the user, and the like can be easily predicted. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the operation range when the gripped sheet material P is relatively moved with respect to the sheet material information detection sensor 110 from exceeding the operation range at hand of the user.
Therefore, the user is forced to correct the standing position, or is forced to move the sheet material pressing portion in an unstable posture, so that the relative movement speed fluctuates, and the sheet material information detection sensor 110 It is also possible to suppress the detection accuracy from being lowered.

  Although the present embodiment has been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the above, and a design change or the like may be made without departing from the scope.

What has been described above is merely an example, and a specific effect is obtained for each of the following aspects.
(Aspect A)
The light emitted from a light emitting means such as an irradiation device 111 provided in the upper sensor unit 110A is emitted on the surface of the sheet material such as the sheet material P, and the irradiated light is received by a light receiving means such as a first light receiver 113 to obtain information on the sheet material A sheet information detecting unit such as a sheet material information detecting sensor 110 for detecting a sheet material, and a discriminating unit such as a control unit 600 for discriminating the sheet material based on the information of the sheet material detected by the information detecting unit. A sheet material discriminating device such as a material discriminating device 100, wherein a sheet material placing portion such as a sheet material placing portion 104 on which a sheet material is placed and a placed sheet material are directed toward the sheet material placing portion. A sheet material pressing portion, such as a sheet material pressing portion 105, which can be pressed and pressed and can be moved toward and away from the sheet material mounting portion, wherein the sheet material mounting portion and the sheet material pressing portion detect the information. To the means Wherein the movable Te.

According to this, as described in the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
When the sheet material to be detected is gripped by the sheet material pressing portion and the sheet material placing portion so that at least the detection range is not shifted or fluttered, the sheet material is moved relative to the information detecting means. Can be moved.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a sheet material discriminating apparatus capable of suppressing the detection range of the sheet material placed on the sheet material placing portion from being shifted or fluttering, thereby reducing the detection accuracy of the information detecting means.

(Aspect B)
(Aspect A) is characterized in that a sheet set detecting means such as a sheet set detecting means 121 for detecting that the sheet material is at the detection start position is provided.
According to this, as described in the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
By notifying the user that the sheet material has reached the detection start position, the information detecting means starts detecting the sheet material information without the sheet material having reached the detection start position. It is possible to suppress a decrease in sheet material determination accuracy due to a shortage or the like.
Further, once the sheet material that has been detected to have reached the detection start position is moved, the sheet material is separated from the sheet set detection means, so that the detection operation by the information detection means can be started at this timing. By starting in this way, if the sheet material pressing portion is kept moving, the information detecting means can detect the moving sheet material, so that the number of detection points (detection points) can be increased and the detection accuracy can be improved. Also becomes possible.

(Aspect C)
In (Aspect A) or (Aspect B), a holding unit such as a housing unit 101 for holding the information detecting unit is provided, and the sheet material placement unit regulates a placement unit initial position with respect to the holding unit. The initial position is regulated by a placement section initial position regulating means such as the means 106.
According to this, as described in the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
The position of the sheet material placement section can be restricted to a fixed initial position where the sheet material can be easily placed, and the convenience of the user when placing the sheet material can be improved.

(Aspect D)
In (Aspect C), the initial position of the sheet material pressing portion is set to an initial position with respect to the sheet material mounting portion by a pressing portion initial position holding device such as a pressing portion initial position holding device 107 having a pressing portion support spring 107a. It is characterized by being kept.
According to this, as described in the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
Insert the sheet material between the sheet material pressing section and the sheet material mounting section while maintaining the position of the sheet material pressing section at an initial position at a predetermined distance or more from the sheet material mounting section, where the sheet material can be easily mounted. Thus, the workability of the user when placing the sheet material on the sheet material placing portion can be improved.

(Aspect E)
In (Aspect C), the initial position of the sheet material pressing section is maintained with respect to the holding section by a pressing section initial position holding section such as a pressing section initial position holding section 107 having a pressing section push-up spring 107b. It is characterized by having.
According to this, as described in the present embodiment, the position of the sheet material pressing portion can be maintained at the initial position with respect to the holding portion, where the sheet material is easily placed, and when the sheet material is placed. User's convenience can be improved.

(Aspect F)
In (Embodiment E), the sheet material placement unit is provided so as to be movable in one direction such as a depth direction parallel to a sheet setting direction and a sheet detection direction, and the sheet material pressing unit, the sheet material placement unit, When the distance of the sheet material is within a predetermined distance, the relative movement of the sheet material mounting portion in the one direction with respect to the sheet material pressing portion is regulated in at least one direction such as a sheet setting direction. .

According to this, as described in the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
In the configuration in which the moving force of the sheet material pressing portion is transmitted to the sheet material and the sheet material mounting portion by the frictional force generated in the sheet material gripped by the sheet material mounting portion by the pressing force of the sheet material pressing portion, as follows. Trouble may occur. Depending on the coefficient of friction of the sheet material, a slip may occur between the sheet material pressing portion and the sheet material and between the sheet material and the sheet material placing portion. If the slip occurs as described above, the sheet material is deformed by applying a load, or cannot be moved stably, and the detection of the sheet material information by the material information detecting unit is not stable, and the sheet material information cannot be detected. Or the detection accuracy may be reduced.

On the other hand, when the distance between the sheet material pressing portion and the sheet material placing portion is within a predetermined distance, the relative movement in one direction of the sheet material placing portion with respect to the sheet material pressing portion is restricted in at least one direction. I do. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of slip in at least one direction in one direction. Then, due to the at least one-way regulation, the sheet material placement unit moves at least in synchronization with the movement of the sheet material pressing unit that moves to the side opposite to the side where the relative movement is regulated.
Therefore, when the sheet material pressing portion is moved in a state where the sheet material is gripped by the sheet material pressing portion and the sheet material placing portion, it is possible to reduce a possibility that slip occurs in at least one of the directions.
Therefore, the movement of the sheet material to be moved when the information is detected by the information detection means is performed by moving the sheet material pressing portion holding the sheet material with the sheet material placement portion regardless of the friction coefficient of the sheet material to be gripped. This makes it possible to carry out the operation stably.

(Aspect G)
In (Aspect F), a pressing unit set detection sensor such as a pressing unit position detection sensor 122 that detects that an interval between the sheet material pressing unit and the sheet material mounting unit is within a predetermined distance is provided. It is characterized by.

According to this, as described in the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
The pressing device set detection sensor detects that the interval between the sheet material pressing portion and the sheet material placing portion is within a predetermined distance, that is, whether the sheet material pressing portion has reached a normal setting position. It is possible to detect whether or not it is.
In addition, an error display is performed based on the detection result, and the operation of detecting the sheet information of the sheet material P is started in a state where the sheet material pressing unit 105 has not reached the normal set position (detection start position). Can be prevented.

(Aspect H)
(Aspect G) has sheet set detecting means such as sheet set detecting means 121 for detecting that the sheet material is at the detection start position, and the pressing section set detecting sensor detects the sheet material pressing section and the sheet After detecting that the distance from the material placing portion is within a predetermined distance, when the sheet set detecting means cannot detect the sheet material at the detection start position, the sheet is detected by the information detecting means. It is characterized in that detection of material information is started.

According to this, as described in the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
After the sheet material is normally set to the detection start position on the sheet material placement unit and the sheet material pressing unit is pressed to the normal detection start position, the sheet material is moved in the sheet detection direction with respect to the information detection unit. Detection can be started at the start timing. As a result, the sheet material is set with a deviation from the normal detection start position on the sheet material placement unit, or the sheet material pressing unit is not pressed to the normal detection start position, and the sheet information detection is started. It is possible to prevent the sheet material from fluttering.
Therefore, it is possible to more stably detect the sheet material information of the sheet material by the information detecting means.

(Aspect I)
In any one of (Embodiment E) to (Embodiment H), the pressing portion initial position holding means may include a pressing portion initial position restricting portion 142 for controlling the initial position of the sheet material pressing portion to a predetermined position. The position control unit has a position restricting unit, and the restriction of the position of the sheet material pressing unit by the pressing unit initial position restricting unit is released by moving the sheet material pressing unit in a direction in contact with the sheet material mounting unit. It is characterized by.

According to this, as described in the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
Until the sheet material pressing portion is moved in a direction in contact with the sheet material placing portion such as the pressing direction, the sheet material pressing portion is kept at a predetermined position, and is moved in the direction in contact with the sheet material placing portion, thereby the pressing portion. The restriction of the position of the sheet material pressing portion by the initial position restricting means can be released.
Therefore, when the sheet material discriminating device is not used, the sheet material pressing portion rattles, generating noise, the guide member for guiding the movement of the sheet material pressing portion in the pressing direction is deteriorated, The risk of breakage can be reduced.
Further, the transition from the pressing of the sheet material by the sheet material pressing portion to the movement of the sheet material gripped by the sheet material pressing portion and the sheet material placing portion can be smoothly performed, and stable detection of the sheet material information becomes possible. At the same time, convenience for the user can be improved.

(Aspect J)
An image forming apparatus such as an image forming apparatus 2 including: an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet material such as a sheet material P; and a sheet material determining device that detects information of the sheet material and determines the sheet material. In the above, the sheet material discriminating device such as the sheet material discriminating device 100 according to any one of (Aspect A) to (I) is provided outside the image forming apparatus such as outside the image forming apparatus main body 400. It is characterized by.
According to this, as described in the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent an inappropriate image forming condition that does not correspond to the type of the sheet material from being set in the image forming apparatus, and perform good image formation. Becomes possible.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 image forming system 2 image forming apparatus 3 sheet post-processing apparatus 100 sheet material discriminating apparatus 101 housing section 101A upper housing 101B lower housing 102 sensor holding member 103 gripping and moving mechanism 104 sheet material mounting section 104A sheet mounting surface 105 Sheet material pressing unit 106 Placement unit initial position regulating unit 107 Pressing unit initial position holding unit 110 Sheet material information detection sensor 110A Upper sensor unit 110B Lower sensor unit 111 Irradiation device 113 First light receiver 121 Sheet set detection unit 122 Pressing unit position Detection sensor 125 Movement synchronizing means 141 Pressing part initial position regulating shaft 142 Pressing part initial position regulating means 143 Regulation arm 144 Regulation arm rotation axis 145 Regulation arm spring 146 Regulation arm spring support 400 Image forming apparatus main body 600 Control unit 600
P sheet material

JP 2007-233186 A

Claims (10)

An information detecting means for receiving light emitted from a light emitting means on the surface of the sheet material and irradiating the light with a light receiving means to detect information on the sheet material; and a sheet based on the information on the sheet material detected by the information detecting means. A discriminating means for discriminating the sheet material, and a sheet material discriminating apparatus comprising:
A sheet material mounting portion on which the sheet material is mounted, and a sheet material pressing portion capable of pressing the mounted sheet material toward the sheet material mounting portion and capable of coming in contact with and separating from the sheet material mounting portion. With
The sheet material discriminating apparatus, wherein the sheet material placing portion and the sheet material pressing portion are movable with respect to the information detecting means while holding the sheet material. The sheet material discriminating apparatus according to claim 1,
A sheet material discriminating apparatus comprising a sheet set detecting means for detecting that the sheet material is at a detection start position. The sheet material discriminating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
A holding unit for holding the information detecting means,
A sheet material discriminating apparatus, wherein an initial position of the sheet material placing portion is regulated by the placing portion initial position regulating means with respect to the holding portion. The sheet material discriminating apparatus according to claim 3,
The sheet material discriminating apparatus, wherein the initial position of the sheet material pressing portion is held by the pressing portion initial position holding means with respect to the sheet material placing portion. The sheet material discriminating apparatus according to claim 3,
The sheet material discriminating apparatus, wherein the initial position of the sheet material pressing portion is held by the pressing portion initial position holding means with respect to the holding portion. The sheet material discriminating apparatus according to claim 5,
The sheet material placement unit is movable in a sheet setting direction, which is a movement direction of the sheet material when placed on the sheet material placement unit, and in a sheet detection direction, which is a movement direction of the sheet material in the opposite direction. Provided in
When the interval between the sheet material pressing portion and the sheet material placing portion is within a predetermined distance , the relative movement of the sheet material placing portion with respect to the sheet material pressing portion in the sheet setting direction is reduced. a sheet material discriminating apparatus characterized by win regulations also. The sheet material discriminating apparatus according to claim 6,
A sheet material discriminating apparatus comprising a pressing portion set detection sensor for detecting that an interval between the sheet material pressing portion and the sheet material placing portion is within a predetermined distance. The sheet material discriminating apparatus according to claim 7,
Having a sheet set detecting means for detecting that the sheet material is at a sheet set position ,
With the pressing unit set detection sensor, after detecting that the interval between the sheet material pressing unit and the sheet material placing unit is within a predetermined distance, the sheet set detecting unit detects the sheet material. A sheet material discriminating apparatus , wherein when the state is switched from a state in which the sheet material is not detected to a state in which the sheet material is not detected, detection of information on the sheet material by the information detecting means is started. The sheet material discriminating apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 8,
The pressing unit initial position holding unit has a pressing unit initial position restricting unit that restricts the initial position of the sheet material pressing unit to a predetermined position,
The restriction of the position of the sheet material pressing portion by the pressing portion initial position restricting means is released by moving the sheet material pressing portion in a direction in contact with the sheet material mounting portion. apparatus. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet material; and a sheet material determination device that detects information of the sheet material and determines the sheet material.
An image forming apparatus comprising: the sheet material discriminating apparatus according to claim 1 provided outside the image forming apparatus as the sheet material discriminating apparatus.

Images