JPH05304B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention is applicable to printers using continuous paper.
The present invention relates to a continuous paper conveyance trouble detection device for detecting conveyance abnormalities such as skew or meandering of the continuous paper on the right and left sides of the continuous paper.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, a photoconductor on the surface of a photoconductor drum is exposed to light to form a latent image, Nato is attached to this latent image and developed, and the toner is transferred to recording paper and fixed by a fixing device. Image forming apparatuses that utilize so-called electrophotography are mainly used in copying machines, but have recently come to be used in printers and the like that print out computer output.

Copying machines use cut paper (single-sheet paper) for recording paper.
Although it is common to use a hot roll fixing method to fix images, it is desired that printers use the same continuous recording paper as that used in conventional line printers.

The continuous recording paper that is the same as conventional paper is so-called fan-fold paper, which is folded continuous paper with perforations (hereinafter simply referred to as continuous paper), and the folded part forms a perforation so that it can be easily cut. This is what has been done.

Fixing methods include so-called heat roll fixing, in which unfixed recording paper is sandwiched between a pair of rotating heatable fixing rolls and fixed by applying heat and pressure, and toner is applied to the recording paper by applying pressure with a pair of fixing rolls. A pressure fixing method (pressure roll fixing) is used in which the image is crushed and fixed. In either fixing method, the recording paper is conveyed and driven by the rotation of the fixing roll.

When such pressure fixing and heat-pressure fixing are applied to continuous paper, it may become stuck between the fixing roll pair due to factors such as poor initial biting into the fixing roll pair, uneven paper thickness, and elongation of the paper due to moisture absorption. The problem is that the continuous paper that has been printed is skewed or meandered, and the position where it is caught in the fixing roll pair changes continuously in the lateral direction, reaching the side edge, causing wrinkles, resulting in poor fixing and abnormal conveyance. be. Therefore, a tension applying mechanism is installed between the photosensitive drum and the pair of fixing rolls, and by applying back tension to the continuous paper, it is possible to prevent skewing and meandering, and also automatically prevents skewing and meandering when they occur. It is also being considered to restore such abnormalities.

(Problems with the prior art) However, unrecoverable conveyance abnormalities may occur due to factors such as external forces applied to the continuous paper, extreme expansion and contraction of the continuous paper, breakdowns in the conveyance system, and even cutting of the continuous paper. Occurs from time to time.

In such a case, if conveyance continues, the continuous paper will become stuck in the conveyance system or drive system, causing a paper jam and putting a load on the device, which in the worst case can lead to failure or destruction, which is a serious problem. be. For this reason, it is necessary to immediately stop the device and stop conveying the continuous paper, but the reaction is slow with manual operation.
An appropriate response is impossible.

(Object of the Invention) In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a continuous paper conveyance trouble detection device that detects the occurrence of irrecoverable skew or meandering as an error signal for each of the left and right sides of the continuous paper. shall be.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the continuous paper conveyance trouble detection device according to the present invention has the following features: Synchronous moving means having protrusions that engage with the feeding holes and disposed at positions corresponding to the feeding holes at both ends of the continuous paper and moving in synchronization with the transport movement of the continuous paper, and movement of the left and right synchronous moving means, respectively. Each signal generation means continuously generates a pulse signal synchronized with the signal generation means, and the phase lead or lag of the other pulse signal with respect to one of the pulse signals from the signal generation means continues for a preset time or more. and a conveyance trouble detection means that detects skew or meandering and generates an error signal.

By using these error signals, it is possible to stop the conveyance of continuous paper when an irrecoverable conveyance error occurs, and to display whether the unrecoverable conveyance error has occurred on the right or left side of the continuous paper. This can be done by providing left and right error indicator lights.

Further, if these error signals are totaled individually, it becomes the left and right skew history, so this total value can be used to adjust the left and right fixing pressures of the fixing section.

(Embodiments of the Invention) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 and 2 are a side configuration diagram and a plan view of a conveyance system, respectively, showing an embodiment of a laser beam printer device to which a conveyance trouble detection device for continuous paper with perforations according to the present invention is applied; Fan-hold paper 10 is made into continuous paper with perforations using the electrophotographic method using input printing information from etc.
It is printed and output.

Around the photosensitive drum 1, there are a toner cleaning section 2, a static eliminator 3, a charging section 4, a scanning optical system 5 that guides a laser beam modulated based on input information onto the photosensitive drum 1, a developing section 6, and a transfer section 7. They are appropriately arranged in the above-mentioned order along the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 1 (see the arrow in FIG. A direction regulating feeding mechanism 9 having a tension applying function is installed in the conveying path of the fan-hold paper 10 to the fixing unit 8.

Then, the photosensitive drum 1 is rotated (sub-scanning) and the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is scanned (main scanning) in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 1 with a laser beam from the scanning optical system 5, thereby forming a The latent image is visualized as a toner image by the developing section 6, and the toner image is conveyed by the fixing section 8 at the same speed as the rotational circumferential speed of the photosensitive drum 1.
Then, the image is transferred by the transfer section 7 and fixed by the fixing section 8 before being discharged.

The fixing unit 8 includes a pair of upper and lower pressure rolls 81A, 8.
1B constitute a pair of fixing rolls 81, and the distance between the outer peripheries of both pressure rolls 81A and 81B is such that when the fan-hold paper 10 is sandwiched between the two pressure rolls 81A and 81B, the fan-hold paper 10 is applied with a predetermined pressure. The interval is set to apply pressure.

The upper pressure roll 81A is connected to a drive motor 20 via a chain (not shown), and is rotated by the drive motor 20 to fix the unfixed fan-hold paper 10 between the pair of fixing rolls 81.
The fan-hold paper 10 is pressed with a predetermined pressure to crush and fix the toner (so-called pressure fixing method), and at the same time, the fan-hold paper 10 is conveyed and discharged from the apparatus.

Note that the rotational circumferential speed of the photosensitive drum 1 and the pressure roll 8 are
The rotation peripheral speeds of the sheets 1 and 1 are the same, therefore, the peripheral speed is the conveyance speed of the fan-hold paper 10 during normal operation.

Further, the drive motor 20 is used not only to drive the pair of fixing rolls 81 but also as a drive source for other drive mechanisms related to conveyance of the fan hold paper 10 such as rotation of the photosensitive drum 1.
fan hold paper 1 by controlling the rotation of
It is possible to control the conveyance of 0. And the third
As shown in the control block diagram in the figure, a control device 60 controls the rotation of the drive motor 20.

The direction regulating feed mechanism 9 has tension belts 91, 91 placed under the feed holes 10A at both left and right ends of the fan-hold paper 10 being conveyed from the transfer unit 7 to the fixing unit 8 in a predetermined manner parallel to the conveyance direction. It is installed and configured so that it can be rotated independently on the left and right sides with a rotation resistance of .

On the surface of the tension belt 91, as shown in FIG.
A plurality of protrusions 91A that fit into the feed hole 10A are protruded in a line along the entire circumference at the same pitch (1/2 inch) as the feed hole 10A. By fitting and engaging with the fan-hold paper 10A, the fan-hold paper 10 is subjected to back tension and is rotated along with the fan-hold paper 10 while regulating its direction.

That is, the tension belt 91 has a protrusion 91A.
The conveying direction of the fan-hold paper 10 is regulated by the above-mentioned predetermined circulating resistance, and tension is applied to the fan-hold paper 10 between the direction regulating paper mechanism 9 and the fixing unit 8 to prevent skewing and This prevents meandering and automatically corrects skew or meandering if it occurs.

Further, the shaft 93 on the side of the fixing unit 8 of the direction regulating feed mechanism 9 is fixed to the chassis 40, and the left and right pulleys 93A are freely moved on the axis of the shaft 93 as the fan hold paper 10 is conveyed. Rotate. And these left and right pulleys 93A are
The rotary encoders 13 are connected via belts to rotary encoders 13R and 13L, which serve as signal generating means for generating pulse signals synchronized with the conveyance speed of the fan-hold paper 10.
R, 13L are left and right tension belts 91, respectively.
It is adjusted to generate a pulse signal in synchronization with the protrusion 91A of 91. As a result, the rotary encoders 13R and 13L generate pulse signals synchronized with the conveyance speed of the fan-hold paper 10, in other words,
A pulse signal synchronized with the conveyance speed of the fan-hold paper 10 through the feed hole 10A is generated.

The drive control system including the continuous paper conveyance trouble detection device according to the present invention has a configuration shown in FIG. 3. Here, rotary encoders 13R, 13
Based on the signals E ₁ and E ₂ from L and the _Page signal from the reset signal generating means 62, which will be described later, the conveyance trouble detection circuit 61 as conveyance trouble detection means,
As will be described later, due to an abnormality in the conveyance of the continuous paper, signals C _arry and B _prrpw are output, which are error signals for phase advance and delay, respectively, with respect to the signal E ₂ from the rotary encoder 13L.

Based on these error signals, the control device 6
0 controls the drive motor 20 to stop the transport drive of the continuous paper, and displays whether the transport abnormality has occurred on the right side or the left side of the continuous paper using the right error indicator light 63R and the left error indicator light 63L. This is done using

The _Page signal from the reset signal generating means 62 is a signal that is output for each page (from perforation to perforation) as the fan-hold paper 10 is conveyed. This signal was created to control the print information for each page, but here it is used as a reset signal for the conveyance trouble detection circuit 61.

Next, a specific circuit configuration of the conveyance trouble detection circuit 61 as conveyance trouble detection means according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

First, let's follow the signal flow.

The pulse signals E ₁ and E ₂ from the rotary encoders 13R and 13L are output from D-type flip-flops (hereinafter simply abbreviated as "D-F/F") 6, respectively.
This becomes the data input signal of 1A and 61B, and in addition to this, it is also input to the OR gate 61C and the logical sum is taken. The output of this OR gate 61C is
The signal C ₀ is input to the IN terminal of a mono multivibrator (hereinafter simply referred to as "mono multi") 61D. The output signal _C1 of this monomulti 61D is used as a clock signal by D-F/F.
Each clock input terminal of 61A and 61B will be described later.
It is input to one of the input terminals of NOR gates 61E and 61F.

At this time, the pulse width T _x of the signal C ₁ is determined by the external resistor R and capacitor C of the monomulti 61D, and this pulse width T _x is determined for the reasons described below.

Now, the data signal and clock signal are determined D-
Each Q output signal Q ₁ , Q ₂ of F/F 61A, 61B is
Inverters 61G, 61H and NAND gate 61
The signals S 1 and S 2 are inputted to NAND gates I and 61J, respectively, and subjected to signal processing as shown in the figure, to obtain signals S ₁ and S ₂ from the output terminals of NAND gates 61I and 61J, respectively. In other words, the signals Q ₁ ,
The negation of each of Q ₂ is taken, and the signal Q ₁ and the negation signal of signal Q ₂ are input to the NAND gate 61I to generate a signal.
S ₁ is obtained, and the NAND gate 61J receives a signal Q ₂
and the negative signal of signal Q ₁ are input to obtain signal S ₂ .

Through the above signal processing, the signals S ₁ and S ₂ become the signals E ₁ and
The signal changes state due to the phase difference between the pulse signals of _E2 , and the NOR gates 61E and 6 of the next stage
It will work as a gate signal at 1F. (This will be explained later in the time chart.) Then, input these signals S ₁ and S ₂ to the remaining input terminals of the NOR gates 61E and 61F, respectively, and output the output signals respectively. Signal S _up , S _dpwo
It is said that In this way, the signals S _up and S _dpwo become signals in the nature of count output signals of the clock signal C ₁ controlled by the signals S ₁ and S ₂ acting as gate signals. (This will also be explained later in the time chart.) Next, the signals S _up and S _dpwo are sent to the next stage counter 61.
are input to the clock input terminals of K and 61L, respectively.
The number of pulses is counted. These counters 61K and 61L are set by setting devices 61M and 61, respectively.
N, and the count number is set by each setter 61.
When the preset value is reached with M, 61N,
The signal C _arry is output from the counter 61K, and the counter 6
A signal B _prrpw is output from 1L.

These signals C _arry and B _prrpw are fan hold paper 10
These are error signals for left skew and right skew (phase advance and lag of signal E ₁ with respect to signal E ₂ ) due to conveyance abnormalities, but details can be found in the time chart below. explain.

Also, at this time, the counters 61K and 61L each need to be preset at a constant cycle, so each
A _Page signal is input to the LOAD terminal, and the fan-hold paper 10 is preset every time one page is conveyed.

In this way, by inputting the signals E ₁ , E ₂ and the _Page signal, the conveyance trouble detection circuit 61 in this embodiment detects the lead and lag in the phase of the signal E ₁ with respect to the signal E ₂ . of the error signal about
D-F/F61A, 61B, OR gate 61 to obtain C _arry , B _prrpw
C, Monomulti 61D, NOR gate 61E, 6
1F, inverters 61G, 61H, NAND gates 61I, 61J, counters 61K, 61L, and setters 61M, 61N.

Now, since it seems difficult to understand the actual operation with the above explanation, each signal E ₁ , E ₂ , C ₀ , C ₁ , Q ₁ ,
Q ₂ , S ₁ , S ₂ , S _up , S _dpwo time chart
6 and 7 and will be described.

FIG. 5 is a time chart of each signal when the fan-hold paper 10 is being conveyed normally.

FIG. 6 shows the signal E ₂ (fan-hold paper 1
This is a time chart of each signal when the signal E ₁ (signal synchronized with the conveying speed on the right side of the fan-hold paper 10) is ahead compared to the signal synchronized with the conveying speed on the right side of the fan-hold paper 10.

Figure 7 shows the fan hold paper 1, contrary to Figure 6.
This is a time chart of each signal when the signal E ₁ (right side) is delayed compared to the signal E ₂ (left side), such as when the conveyance of 0 is obliquely to the right side.

Signals from rotary encoders 13R and 13L
E ₁ and E ₂ are signals synchronized with the conveyance speed of the left and right feed holes 10A of the fan-hold paper 10. Therefore, we take the logical sum of these and create a signal C _0. At the rising edge of this signal C ₀ , the monomulti 61
D, a signal C ₁ with a pulse width T _xM as shown in the figure is generated.
make.

In other words, the signal C ₁ is set so that its rising edge is near the center of the "H" period of the signals E ₁ and E ₂ during normal conveyance. By doing this, during normal transportation, D-F/F
61A and 61B output "H" signals E ₁ and E ₂ as signals Q ₁ and Q ₂ from their respective Q output terminals at the rising edge of the clock signal C ₁ .

For this reason, the signals S ₁ and S ₂ also remain in the "H" state, so the NOR gates 61E and 61F are in the closed state, and the output signals S _up and S _dpwo are both in the "L" state. It will continue. However, if the fan-hold paper 10 is skewed to either the left or right, a phase lead or lag occurs between the signal _E1 and the signal _E2 as shown in FIG. 6 or 7.

In these cases, the pulse width of signal C ₀ is as shown in Figure 6.
Although it is wide as shown in FIG. 7, the timing of the rise of the signal C ₁ created by operating the monomulti 61D at the rise of this signal C ₀ is as follows in either case of FIG. 6 or FIG. The result is the same as that shown in FIG. 5 when it is being transported normally. However, the data input signals E ₁ and E ₂ of the DF/Fs 61A and 61B, which operate using this signal C ₁ as a clock signal, do not match the timing of the clock signal due to the phase difference _. However, in the case of Fig. 7, the signal _E1 is in the "L" state, so
In FIG. 6, the signal Q ₂ and in FIG. 7, the signal Q ₁ go into the "L" state at the timing of the rise of the signal C ₁ , respectively. Then, this change causes the signal S ₁ and the signal S ₂ to change to the "L" state in each of FIGS. 6 and 7, so the NOR gates 61E and 61F are in an open state in each case, The field in Figure 6 is a signal
S _up is the signal S _dpwo in the case of Fig. 7, respectively.
The clock signal _C1 continues to be output during the period in which there is a phase difference between _E1 and _E2 .

In this way, the signals S _up and S _dpwo output clock signals during this phase lead or lag period.
are counted by the counters 61K and 61L, respectively, and when the set values set in advance by the respective setters 61M and 61N are reached, an error occurs and the signals C _arry and B _prrpw are output respectively. .

These signals C _arry and B _prrpw detect phase advance and lag between the left and right conveyance speeds of the fan-hold paper 10 with respect to either one of the conveyance speeds as a reference, in other words, the left skew movement of the fan-hold paper 10, This is an error signal that detects a conveyance abnormality due to right skew.

Here, even if the signals S _up and S _dpwo are counted up to the set value over a long period of time, the signals C _arry and B _prrpw at this time
does not have any meaning as an error signal due to abnormal conveyance of the fan-hold paper 10, but merely as an allowable skew history of the left and right sides of the fan-hold paper 10. Therefore, counter 6
It is necessary to preset 1K and 61L in an appropriately short period, and in this embodiment, this is done using the above-mentioned _Page signal.

The control device 60 receives the left and right error signals.
It becomes possible to stop the drive motor 20 and stop the conveyance and printing of the fan-hold paper 10, and at the same time, it is possible to stop the drive motor 20 and stop the conveyance and printing of the fan-hold paper 10.
In the case of skew to the left of 0 (when signal C _arry is output), the left side error indicator light 63L is lit, and in the case of skew to the right (when signal B _prrpw is output), the right side error indicator light 63L is lit. By lighting up the error indicator light 63R, it is also possible to display an error for determining the abnormal conveyance state.

Therefore, with this configuration, it is possible to prevent paper jamming or jamming of the fan-hold paper 10 into the conveyance system and drive system even when irreversible skewing or meandering occurs.

In the above embodiment, the continuous paper is conveyed by the fixing unit 8, but the fixing unit 8 is not particularly limited to driving the conveyance of the continuous paper. Needless to say, the present invention is also applicable to those equipped with a mechanism.

In addition, the signal S _up , which has the meaning of the left and right oblique signals,
If S _dpwo is totaled using a counting device, it becomes a left and right skew history, so it is also possible to adjust the left and right fixing pressures of the fixing unit 8 based on this total value.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the continuous paper conveyance trouble detection device according to the present invention, the continuous paper is moved in synchronization with the conveyance movement of the continuous paper to be conveyed, which are arranged at positions corresponding to the feed holes at both ends of the continuous paper. Synchronized with the movement of the synchronous means of transportation,
Each signal generation means outputs a pulse signal, and the conveyance trouble detection means detects the state of each pulse signal that is synchronized with the conveyance of both the right and left ends of the continuous paper output through the synchronous movement means and the signal generation means. If the phase of one pulse signal continues to advance or lag for a preset period of time or more with respect to one pulse signal as a reference, skew or meandering is detected and an error signal is generated.

By using this error signal to stop the drive system and continuous paper transport system, continuous paper jams in the drive system and continuous paper transport system can be avoided when skew or meandering that cannot be restored naturally occurs. It is possible to prevent paper jamming and jamming, and also to display abnormalities in the conveyance of the continuous paper on both the left and right sides.

Therefore, the burden on the conveyance system and drive system caused by the continuous paper being caught is extremely reduced, and it is possible to prevent failure and damage to the apparatus due to abnormal conveyance of the continuous paper.

In addition, if the signals indicating left and right skew that are created to obtain error signals such as these are aggregated individually, it becomes the history of left and right skew of continuous paper, so it can also be used to adjust the fixing pressure on the left and right sides of the fixing unit. Available.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side configuration diagram of an embodiment of a printer using the continuous paper conveyance trouble detection device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of its conveyance system, FIG. 3 is a control block diagram thereof, and FIG. The figure is a specific circuit configuration diagram showing an example of a continuous paper conveyance trouble detection device.
Figures 6 and 7 show the operation time chiller, respectively. 10... Funhold paper (continuous paper), 10A
...Feed hole, 13R, 13L...Rotary encoder (signal generation means), 61...Transportation trouble detection circuit (transportation trouble detection means), 91...Tension belt (synchronous movement means), 91A...Protrusion.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a printer that prints information on continuous paper having feed holes at both left and right ends in the width direction, the printer has a protrusion that engages with the feed hole, and has a protrusion that engages with the feed hole at both ends of the continuous paper. Synchronous moving means disposed at corresponding positions and moving in synchronization with the transport movement of the continuous paper; and respective signal generating means continuously generating pulse signals synchronized with the movement of the left and right synchronous moving means. , a conveyor that detects skew or meandering and generates an error signal when the phase advance or lag of one pulse signal from the signal generating means continues for a preset time or more with respect to the other pulse signal. A conveyance trouble detection device for continuous paper, comprising: trouble detection means; 2. The conveyance trouble detecting means detects the pulse signal from the rising edge of the pulse signal which rises earlier between the pulse signals from the signal generating means, within the pulse width of these pulse signals. If, after a set time within the width, the state of each of the pulse signals is such that the phase of the other pulse signal continues to advance or lag for a preset time or more with respect to one of the pulse signals as a reference, The continuous paper according to claim 1, characterized in that the continuous paper is configured to detect line or meandering and generate error signals for two of the phase lead or lag of the other pulse signal with respect to the reference pulse signal. Conveyance trouble detection device.