JP2011131993A - Sheet carrying device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a sheet conveying apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of changing the conveying direction without changing the direction of the sheet, and carrying out the conveyed sheet.
A sheet swivel unit 360 that swivels in a sheet unloading direction while transporting a loaded sheet, and a third transport unit 340A provided in a direction orthogonal to the sheet carry-in direction of the sheet swivel unit 360. The sheet is conveyed to the turning start position before the turned sheet is turned. Then, the swiveled sheet is carried out by the sheet turning unit 360 and the fourth conveying unit 340B provided in a direction orthogonal to the sheet carrying-out direction of the swiveled sheet turning unit 360.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a sheet conveying apparatus that changes the direction and carries it out.

  In recent years, a field called on-demand printing has attracted attention as a field related to digital copying machines and printing. Since on-demand printing can meet the demand for many varieties and small lots, it is suitable for production of documents such as manuals and brochures for individuals. In addition, a significant reduction in print inventory, a reduction in man-hours from data entry to bookbinding completion, a drastic reduction in delivery time based on ease of data transfer by connecting with customers through digital lines, etc., and a reduction in delivery costs It has the feature that it can. Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus that achieves such on-demand printing technology, various types of apparatuses are connected to the upstream and downstream portions of the digital copying machine main body, and large-scale batch processing is performed. There is a device.

  For example, in an image forming apparatus constituting a general on-demand printing system, a large-capacity paper feeding device is connected to an upstream portion of a digital copying machine main body. Also, in the downstream part of the main body of the digital copying machine, insert sheet feeding device, punching device, folding device, sheet sorting device, saddle stitching, flat stitching, gluing, various bookbinding devices using tape, and sheet edge cutting are performed. Various devices such as a sheet cutting device are continuously connected.

  These various apparatuses such as a sheet processing apparatus are usually configured to be arranged in a line, but the number of connections varies depending on the user who uses the apparatus. Here, when the image forming apparatus has a configuration with a large number of connections, the distance from the upstream sheet feeding apparatus to the most downstream sheet processing apparatus becomes long, and thus it is necessary to increase the installation space. Further, when the length of the image forming apparatus is increased, the amount of movement at the time of the user's operation increases accordingly, which is difficult to handle from the viewpoint of operability. Therefore, conventionally, as a sheet conveying apparatus disposed in the middle of the digital copying machine main body and the sheet processing apparatus, there is a sheet conveying apparatus in which the sheet conveying direction can be changed by 90 degrees (Patent Document). 1). By disposing such a sheet conveying apparatus, the connection form of the image forming apparatus can be L-shaped or T-shaped. Accordingly, the distance from the upstream sheet feeding device to the most downstream sheet processing device can be shortened, and the installation space and operability of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

JP 2003-171051 A

  However, in such a conventional sheet conveying apparatus and an image forming apparatus equipped with the same, the angle for changing the sheet conveying direction of the sheet conveying apparatus is constant, for example, 90 degrees. There is no. Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus, in order to reduce the size of the apparatus, the length in the width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, that is, the width in the front-rear direction is narrowed. For this reason, for example, when processing a sheet by forming an image on a large size sheet such as LDR size, LGL size, or A3 size, the sheet is transferred to the sheet conveying apparatus with the long side oriented in the sheet conveying direction. Carrying in. However, when the sheet is loaded in this way, as described above, when the sheet conveying direction is changed by 90 degrees by the sheet conveying apparatus, the sheet is unloaded with the short side in the direction along the sheet conveying direction. . That is, the orientation of the sheet when it is unloaded changes from when it is unloaded. In order to process a sheet whose direction has been changed in this way, a sheet processing apparatus having a long length in the width direction is required. That is, when the orientation of the sheet changes, the sheet processing apparatus used in the image forming apparatus is limited. Further, when a sheet processing apparatus having a long length in the width direction is used, an installation space increases.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and provides a sheet conveying apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can carry out a conveyed sheet by changing the conveying direction without changing the direction of the sheet. It is intended to provide.

  The present invention relates to a sheet conveying device that carries out a carried-in sheet by changing a conveying direction, a sheet turning unit that turns in a sheet carrying-out direction while conveying the carried-in sheet, and a sheet turning unit that carries the loaded sheet into the sheet turning unit. And a sheet transport mechanism for transporting the swung sheet in cooperation with the sheet swivel unit.

  As in the present invention, the direction of the sheet is changed by turning the sheet conveyed to the turning start position by the sheet conveying unit and the sheet turning unit, and carrying the turned sheet by the sheet turning unit and the sheet unloading unit. Without changing the transport direction.

1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus including a sheet conveying device according to a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. The figure explaining the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus which is the said sheet conveying apparatus. The figure explaining the 1st and 2nd conveyance part provided in the said intermediate sheet conveyance apparatus. The figure explaining the 3rd and 4th conveyance part provided in the above-mentioned intermediate sheet conveyance device. The figure explaining the sheet | seat turning part provided in the said intermediate sheet conveying apparatus. The figure explaining the turning operation | movement of the said sheet | seat turning part. FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of an intermediate sheet conveying apparatus control unit that controls the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a sheet conveyance control operation of the intermediate sheet conveyance device. FIG. 10 is a first diagram illustrating a sheet conveying operation of the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus. The flowchart which shows the sheet | seat turning conveyance process by the said turning conveyance part. FIG. 9 is a second diagram illustrating a sheet conveying operation of the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another arrangement configuration of the image forming apparatus. The figure explaining the other structure of the said intermediate | middle sheet conveying apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an intermediate sheet conveying device provided in an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The figure explaining the sheet | seat turning part provided in the said intermediate sheet conveying apparatus. The figure explaining the 1st and 2nd driven conveyance part provided in the said intermediate sheet conveying apparatus. FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of an intermediate sheet conveying apparatus control unit that controls the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus. FIG. 10 is a first diagram illustrating a sheet conveying operation of the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus. The flowchart which shows the sheet | seat turning conveyance process by the said turning conveyance part. FIG. 9 is a second diagram illustrating a sheet conveying operation of the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet conveying apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1A and 1B, reference numeral 100A denotes an image forming apparatus, and reference numeral 100 denotes an image forming apparatus main body provided with an image forming unit for forming black and white and color images. The image forming apparatus main body 100 performs print processing on both sides of the sheet fed from a sheet feeding unit (not shown) provided therein. A finisher 400 is a sheet processing apparatus that performs sorting processing, flat stitching processing using a stapler, and the like on a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus main body 100. Here, an intermediate sheet conveying device 300 is provided between the finisher 400 and the image forming apparatus main body 100 to receive the sheet from the image forming apparatus main body 100 and then rotate the sheet to convey it to the finisher 400. Yes.

  That is, the image forming apparatus 100A according to the present embodiment includes the image forming apparatus main body 100, the finisher 400, and the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus 300. In the image forming apparatus 100A having such a configuration, the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 100 is rotated by the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus 300 and conveyed to the finisher 400 in a state where the sheet conveying direction is changed. Note that after the sheet is conveyed, the finisher 400 performs a sorting process or the like on the sheet, and discharges the sheet onto the tray 450 provided at the most downstream portion.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus 300 which is a sheet conveying apparatus includes a conveying casing 301, first and second conveying units 320A and 320B, third and fourth conveying units 340A and 340B, And a sheet turning unit 360. Two orthogonal sides of the conveyance housing 301 are provided with a carry-in entrance A for carrying in a sheet and a carry-out exit B through which the sheet is carried out. The image forming apparatus main body 100 is provided at the carry-in entrance A. The finisher 400 is connected to the exit B.

  The first conveyance unit 320A is provided at the carry-in entrance A, and the second conveyance unit 320B is provided along the paper discharge port B so that the direction of the carried-in sheet can be changed by 90 degrees and carried out. . As shown in FIG. 3, the first and second transport units 320A and 320B include an upper roller 321 having rubber rollers 321a and 321b and a first transport motor 321M that drives the upper roller 321. The first and second transport units 320A and 320B include driven rollers 322a and 322b provided to face the rubber rollers 321a and 321b, respectively, and support shafts 323 that support the driven rollers 322a and 322b, respectively. . Furthermore, the first and second transport units 320A and 320B hold the support shaft 323, move the driven rollers 322a and 322b in the contact / separation direction indicated by the arrow X1, and the first driving the moving rack 324. A separation motor 325M is provided. Then, the first separation motor 325M is rotated forward and backward to move the driven rollers 322a and 322b integrally with the movable rack 324 in a direction away from or in contact with the rubber rollers 321a and 321b. That is, the first and second conveyance units 320A and 320B can be changed between a conveyance state in which a sheet is conveyed and a separation state in which the sheet is separated from the sheet. In the first and second transport units 320A and 320B, the movable rack 324 detects that the driven rollers 322a and 322b are separated from or in contact with the rubber rollers 321a and 321b as shown in FIG. 7 to be described later. A first separation detection sensor 325S is provided.

  The third and fourth conveyance units 340A and 340B convey the loaded sheet to the turning start position in cooperation with the sheet turning unit 360, and carry out the turned sheet in cooperation with the sheet turning unit 360. It constitutes a transport mechanism. The third and fourth transport units 340A and 340B are provided closer to the inside of the transport housing than the first and second transport units 320A and 320B. As shown in FIG. 4, the third and fourth transport units 340 </ b> A and 340 </ b> B include a roller 341 having a rubber roller 341 a and a second transport motor 341 </ b> M that applies rotational driving to the roller 341. The third and fourth transport units 340A and 340B include a driven roller 343 provided so as to face the rubber roller 341a, and a support shaft 344 that supports the driven roller 343. Further, the third and fourth transport units 340A and 340B hold the support shaft 344 and move the movable racks 345 that move the driven rollers 343a and 343b in the contact / separation direction indicated by the arrow X2, and the first driving the movable rack 345. A two-spacer motor 346M is provided. That is, the third and fourth conveyance units 340A and 340B can be changed between a conveyance state in which the sheet is conveyed and a separated state in which the sheet is separated from the sheet. The third and fourth transport units 340A and 340B are provided with a second separation detection sensor 346S shown in FIG. 7 to be described later in order to detect the contact and separation positions of the movable rack 345.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet turning unit 360 is provided at the intersection of the roller rotation axis of the third conveyance unit 340A and the roller rotation axis of the fourth conveyance unit 340B. In other words, the roller rotation axis of the third conveyance unit 340 </ b> A that is the sheet conveyance unit is configured so that the sheet of the sheet rotation unit 360 is conveyed to the rotation start position together with the sheet rotation unit 360, as will be described later. It is provided in a direction orthogonal to the carry-in direction. Further, as will be described later, the roller rotation axis of the fourth conveying unit 340B that is the sheet carrying-out unit is a direction orthogonal to the sheet carrying-out direction of the swiveled sheet turning unit 360 so as to carry out the sheet swung together with the sheet turning unit 360. Is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the sheet turning unit 360 includes an upper roller 361 having a rubber roller 361 a and a turning conveyance motor 361 </ b> M that rotationally drives the upper roller 361. The turning conveyance motor 361M is attached to a support base 365 that is a turnable main body that supports the shaft 361b of the upper roller 361. Here, a turning gear 366 a is fixed to the upper surface of the support base 365. Then, the turning gear 366a is rotated by the turning motor 370 via the drive transmission gear 366b, whereby the support base 365 is turned (turned) in the arrow Y direction with the turning gear 366a as the turning center. . The rubber roller 361 a is in contact with a spherical roller 362 that is a spherical member that is rotatably supported by a roller receiver 363 so that the support base 365 can be smoothly rotated.

  FIG. 6 is a top view showing the turning operation of the seat turning portion 360. The seat turning portion 360 is driven in the Y direction from the home position shown in FIG. Rotate and rotate (turn) 90 degrees as shown in FIG. The seat turning unit 360 is provided with a turning position detection sensor 371 for detecting the position of the support base 365. Then, the movement control from the home position to the turning position of the support base 365 shown in FIG. 9, which will be described later, is performed by counting the number of rotation steps of the turning motor 370 based on the signal from the turning position detection sensor 371. . Note that only the upper roller 361, the turning conveyance motor 361M, and the support base 365 are rotated by the rotation drive of the turning motor 370. The turning motor support plate 367, the roller receiver 363, and the turning position detection sensor 371 are turned. Do not move.

  FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of an intermediate sheet conveying apparatus control unit that controls the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus 300. As shown in FIG. 7, the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus control unit 636 includes a CPU 701, a ROM 703, a RAM 702, a communication interface 706, a network interface 704, and the like. The ROM 703 stores a sheet conveyance control program and the like in advance. The CPU 701 executes each program and performs input data processing while appropriately exchanging data with the RAM 702, thereby creating a predetermined control signal. The CPU 701 is connected to the turning position detection sensor 371 provided for detecting the positions of the first separation detection sensor 325S, the second separation detection sensor 346S, and the sheet turning unit 360 via the I / O 705. The CPU 701 also includes a first conveyance detection sensor 339, a second conveyance detection sensor 379, and a third conveyance illustrated in FIG. 2 provided in the vicinity of the first and second conveyance units 320A and 320B in order to detect the conveyance position of the sheet. The turning conveyance detection sensor 359 provided in the part 340A is connected.

  Various control signals are output from the CPU 701 based on detection signals from these sensors. The output signal drives the first transport motor 321M, the second transport motor 341M, the swing transport motor 361M, the first separation motor 325M, the second separation motor 346M, and the swing motor 370 described above. In this embodiment, the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus 300 is controlled by the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus control unit 636, but the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus is controlled by a control unit (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100. 300 control may be performed.

  Next, the sheet conveyance control operation of the intermediate sheet conveyance apparatus 300 by the intermediate sheet conveyance apparatus control unit 636 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Before the sheet is conveyed to the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus 300, the turning motor 370 is driven (S801). By driving the turning motor 370, the support base 365 is moved to a home position parallel to the transport axis of the first transport unit 340A, as shown in FIG. When the turning position detection sensor 371 detects that the support base 365 has moved to the home position that is the position before turning (Y in S802), the first separation motor 325M is driven (S803). As a result, the driven rollers 322a and 322b of the first and second transport units 320A and 320B are brought into contact with the rubber rollers 321a and 321b. When the first separation detection sensor 325S detects that the driven rollers 322a and 322b are in contact with the rubber rollers 321a and 321b (Y in S804), the first separation motor 325M is stopped. Accordingly, the sheet turning unit 360 can receive the sheet, and the first and second transport units 320A and 320B are in a state in which the sheet can be transported.

  Next, the intermediate sheet conveyance device control unit 636 outputs a sheet conveyance start enable signal (S805), whereby the upper rollers 321 of the first and second conveyance units 320A and 320B rotate. Thereafter, when the sheet S is conveyed from the direction of arrow F toward the carry-in entrance A as shown in FIG. 9A, the sheet S is an upper roller that is the first conveyance roller of the first conveyance unit 320A. 321 is conveyed in the same direction as the conveying direction F of the upstream apparatus into the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus. Thereafter, the sheet S reaches the third conveyance unit 340A. When the first conveyance detection sensor 339 detects the leading edge of the sheet S being conveyed (Y in S806), the process waits for the turning conveyance detection sensor 359 to detect the leading edge of the sheet (S807). When the turning conveyance detection sensor 359 eventually detects the leading edge of the sheet (Y in S807), thereafter, the first conveyance detection sensor 339 detects the trailing edge of the sheet conveyed by the third conveyance unit 340A and the sheet turning unit 360. It waits for detection (S808). Next, when the first conveyance detection sensor 339 detects the trailing edge of the sheet (Y in S808), the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the first conveyance unit 320A and is conveyed by the third conveyance unit 340A and the sheet turning unit 360. It is determined that the seat has reached the turning start position. When it is determined that the turning start position has been reached in this way, the sheet turning conveyance processing by the third and fourth conveying units 340A and 340B and the sheet turning unit 360 shown in FIG. 10 is started.

  In this sheet turning conveyance process, first, the first separation motor 325M is driven (S810), and the driven rollers 322a and 322b in contact with the rubber rollers 321a and 321b of the first conveyance unit 320A are separated from the rubber rollers 321a and 321b. Move in the direction. When the first separation detection sensor 325S detects that the driven rollers 322a and 322b have reached a predetermined separation position (Y in S811), the first separation motor 325M is stopped. Next, the second separation motor 346M is driven (S812), and the driven roller 343 that is in contact with the rubber roller 341a of the third and fourth transport units 340A and 340B is moved in a direction away from the rubber roller 341. When the second separation detection sensor 346S detects that the driven roller 343 has reached a predetermined separation position (Y in S813), the second separation motor 346M is stopped. Thereby, the nipping of the sheet by the first conveyance unit 320A and the third conveyance unit 340A is released.

  Next, the turning motor 370 is driven (S814). As a result, the support base 365 of the sheet turning portion 360 turns counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 9B while the sheet is held between the rubber roller 361a and the spherical roller 362. Then, simultaneously with driving the swing motor 370, the number of rotation steps N of the swing motor 370 is counted (S8141), and when the number of rotation steps N reaches the number of steps of 90 degrees (deg) (Y in S815), The turning motor 370 is stopped (S816). Thereby, the sheet turning unit 360 stops at a turning position parallel to the conveyance axis of the second conveyance unit 340B. Next, the second separation motor 346M is driven (S817), and the driven rollers 343 located at positions away from the rubber roller 341 in the third and fourth transport units 340A and 340B are moved in a direction in contact with the rubber roller 341. Then, when the second separation detection sensor 346S detects that the driven roller 343 has reached a position where it contacts the rubber roller 341 (Y in S818), the second separation motor 346M is stopped. Accordingly, the sheet can be conveyed by the third conveying unit 340B. Thereafter, the first separation motor 325M is driven, and the driven rollers 322a and 322b at positions separated from the rubber rollers 321a and 321b of the first and second transport units 320A and 320B are moved in a direction in contact with the rubber rollers 321a and 321b. To do. Then, when the first separation detection sensor 325S detects that the driven rollers 322a and 322b have reached positions where they contact the rubber rollers 321a and 321b, the first separation motor 325M is stopped. Accordingly, the sheet can be conveyed (unloaded) by the upper roller 321 which is the second conveying roller of the second conveying unit 320B.

  Next, the turning conveyance motor 361M of the sheet turning unit 360 is driven, and the first and second conveyance motors 321M and 341M are driven. As a result, the turned sheet S is conveyed in the direction of the second conveying unit 320B (in the direction of arrow G) by the fourth conveying unit 340B and the sheet rotating unit 360, as shown in FIG. When the sheet reaches the second conveyance unit 320B, the sheet is then discharged to the finisher side connected downstream by the second conveyance unit 320B, as shown in FIG. 11B.

  As described above, the conveyed sheet S is rotated while being conveyed, and the conveyed sheet S is unloaded by the sheet rotating unit 360, the fourth conveying unit 340B, and the second conveying unit 320B. Can be carried out without changing the orientation. By enabling the sheet to be carried out without changing the orientation in this way, there is no restriction on the sheet processing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus, and space can be saved.

  When a large-sized sheet is swung, the area required for swiveling increases as the distance from the leading end and the trailing end of the swiveling sheet to the swivel center increases. For this reason, it is desirable to set the turning start position by the sheet turning unit 360 at a point approximately in the middle of the sheet conveyance direction length. For example, in the case of an image forming apparatus that requires high-accuracy conveyance, when conveying a sheet to a downstream apparatus, the sheet rotation unit 360 rotates the sheet and then rotates the second conveyance unit 320B. Stop driving. Then, the sheet is skewed by re-driving the second conveying unit 320B after creating a loop by abutting the leading end of the sheet against the nip between the driven roller and the rubber roller of the second conveying unit 320B that has stopped rotating. It can be transported (unloaded) to a downstream apparatus in a state where correction has been made.

  By the way, in the present embodiment, the rotation angle of the sheet turning unit 360 is set to 90 degrees, but the rotation angle of the turning motor 370 and the arrangement angles of the second conveyance unit 320B and the fourth conveyance unit 340B are desired. By changing the angle, it is possible to set various angles. As a result, it is possible to provide flexibility in changing the sheet conveyance direction, and as a result, the degree of freedom of arrangement of the image forming apparatus can be obtained, and the arrangement of the image forming apparatus can be diversified into variations. Can bring. In the present embodiment, the turning direction of the seat is set to the left direction, but the turning direction can be set to the right direction. For example, when it is desired to arrange the system in a right turn, the image forming apparatus 100 is connected to the end side portion B and the finisher 400 is connected to the end side portion A as shown in FIG. Further, the first and second transport units 320A and 320B, the third and fourth transport units 340A and 340B, and the sheet turning unit 360 are configured to be capable of forward and reverse rotation. Accordingly, even when the sheet conveyance direction is from left to right, the sheet can be received from the second conveyance unit 320B, the sheet can be rotated by the sheet rotation unit 360 in the clockwise direction, and can be conveyed out from the first conveyance unit 320A. it can.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 13, by adding a paper discharge port C to the end of the transport housing 301 facing the carry-in port A and providing a third transport unit 320C at the paper discharge port C, the α path and the β path The intermediate sheet conveying apparatus 300 having two types of paper discharge conveying paths can be configured. The sheet can be selectively carried out from the carry-out port B or the paper discharge port C by selectively turning the sheet turning unit 360. In the present embodiment, the first and second conveying units 320A and 320B are provided in the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus. However, the first and second conveying units 320A and 320B are arranged upstream and downstream. May be provided. That is, the third and fourth conveyance units 340A and 340B and the sheet turning unit 360 may be disposed in the intermediate sheet conveyance device 300.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an intermediate sheet conveying apparatus 300 provided in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 14, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 described above indicate the same or corresponding parts. In FIGS. 14A and 14B, 380 is a sheet turning portion, 390A and 390B are first and second driven conveyance portions.

  As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the sheet turning unit 380 includes an upper roller 381 having rubber rollers 381a and 381b, and a support base 385 that supports the shaft 381c of the upper roller 381. The upper roller 381 is driven by a swivel conveying motor 381M attached to the support base 385. Further, a swivel gear 386a is fixed to the upper surface of the support base 385. The swivel gear 386a is rotated by a swivel motor 384 through a drive transmission gear 386b, whereby the support base 385 is rotated in the arrow Y direction. (Turning). A spherical body that is supported by a roller receiver 383 so as to freely rotate is supported on the rubber roller 381b on the drive transmission gear side that serves as a turning center of the seat turning portion 380 so that the support base 385 can be smoothly turned. The roller 382 is in contact. Here, in the seat turning portion 380, the rotation of the turning motor 384 causes the support base 385 to rotate in the Y direction from the home position shown in FIG. It is designed to rotate (turn).

  The first driven transport unit 390A is provided on the end side of the support base 385 that is far from the drive transmission gear 386a (swing center) when the sheet turning unit 380 is located at the home position as shown in FIG. It is provided at a position corresponding to the rubber roller 381a. The second driven transport unit 390B is provided at a position corresponding to the rubber roller 381a of the sheet turning unit 380 when rotated 90 degrees. The first and second driven conveyance units 390A and 390B are in press contact (contact) with the rubber roller 381a that is the third rotating body when the sheet turning unit 380 is at the home position or the position rotated by 90 degrees. The follower roller 393 shown in FIG. 16 is provided. Further, the first and second driven transport portions 390A and 390B hold the support shaft 394 that supports the driven roller 393 as shown in FIG. 16, and the movement that holds the support shaft 394 and moves the driven roller 393 in the direction of the arrow X4. A rack 395 is provided. Furthermore, the first and second driven transport units 390A and 390B include a driven separation motor 396M that drives the movable rack 395. The first and second driven transport units 390A and 390B are provided with a driven separation detection sensor 396S shown in FIG. 17 in order to detect the contact and separation positions of the movable rack 395.

  The rubber roller 381a of the sheet swivel unit 380 and the driven roller 393 of the second driven conveyance unit 390B abut against each other when the sheet swivel unit 360 is in a position before the swivel starts, and the loaded sheet is brought into contact with the sheet. In cooperation with the swivel unit 360, the paper is nipped and conveyed to the swivel start position. Further, the rubber roller 381a of the sheet turning unit 380 moves integrally with the sheet turning unit 360 when the sheet turning unit 360 turns. As a result, when the sheet swivel unit 360 is in the swiveled position, the rubber roller 381a of the sheet swivel unit 380 and the driven roller 393 of the second driven conveyance unit 390B are in contact with each other so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from each other, Then, the swiveled sheet is nipped and carried out. As described above, the sheet conveyance mechanism is provided on the support base 385, and the rubber roller 381a of the sheet turning unit 380, the rubber roller 381a that is the first rotating body of the first driven conveyance unit 390A, and the second of the second driven conveyance unit 390B. It is comprised by the driven roller 393 which is a 2 rotation body.

  Next, the sheet conveyance control operation of the intermediate sheet conveyance device 300 by the intermediate sheet conveyance device control unit 636 will be described. First, before the sheet is conveyed to the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus 300, the support base 385 is moved at an angle parallel to the conveyance axis of the first driven conveyance unit 390A by the rotation motor 384 and the rotation position detection sensor 387 shown in FIG. Move to a home position. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 18A, when the sheet S is conveyed from the direction of arrow F toward the carry-in entrance A, the sheet S is conveyed into the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus by the first conveying unit 320A. Thereafter, the sheet is conveyed in the intermediate sheet conveying apparatus in the same direction as the conveying direction F of the upstream apparatus by the first conveying unit 320A, the sheet turning unit 380 and the first driven conveying unit 390A at the home position. Next, a turning conveyance detection sensor 359 provided at the vicinity of the sheet turning portion 380 detects the leading end of the sheet. Thereafter, when the first conveyance detection sensor 339 detects the trailing edge of the sheet, the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the first conveyance unit 320A, and the sheet conveyed by the sheet turning unit 380 and the first driven conveyance unit 390A turns. It is determined that the starting position has been reached. When it is determined that the turning start position has been reached, the sheet turning unit 380 starts the sheet turning conveyance process.

  Next, a sheet turning conveyance process by the sheet turning unit 380 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. In this sheet turning conveyance process, first, the first separation motor 325M is driven (S810), and the driven rollers 322a and 322b in contact with the rubber rollers 321a and 321b of the first conveyance unit 320A are separated from the rubber rollers 321a and 321b. Move in the direction. When the first separation detection sensor 325S detects that the driven rollers 322a and 322b have reached a predetermined separation position (Y in S811), the first separation motor 325M is stopped. Next, the driven separation motor 396M is driven (S812), and the driven roller 393 that is in contact with the rotatable rubber roller 381a of the sheet swivel unit 380 of the first driven conveyance unit 390A is moved in a direction away from the rubber roller 381a. Let When the driven separation detection sensor 396S detects that the driven roller 393 has reached the predetermined separation position (Y in S813), the driven separation motor 396M is stopped. Accordingly, the holding of the sheet by the first driven conveyance unit 390A and the sheet turning unit 380 is released.

  Next, the turning motor 384 is driven (S814). As a result, the support base 385 of the sheet turning portion 380 turns counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 18B while the sheet is sandwiched between the rubber roller 381b and the spherical roller 382. Then, simultaneously with driving the swing motor 384, the rotational step number N of the swing motor 384 is counted (S8141), and when the rotational step number N reaches the step number of 90 degrees (deg) (Y in S815), The turning motor 384 is stopped (S816). As a result, the sheet turning unit 380 stops at a turning position parallel to the conveyance axis of the second conveyance unit 340B. Next, the driven separation motor 396M is driven (S817), and the driven roller 393 of the second driven conveyance unit 390B located at a position away from the rubber roller 381a of the sheet turning unit 380 is moved in a direction in contact with the rubber roller 381a. Then, when the driven separation detection sensor 396S detects that the driven roller 393 has reached a position in contact with the rubber roller 381a (Y in S818), the driven separation motor 396M is stopped. Accordingly, the sheet is sandwiched between the second driven conveyance unit 390A and the sheet turning unit 380. Next, the turning conveyance motor 381M of the sheet turning unit 380 is driven and the first conveyance motor 321M is driven. Thereby, the swivel sheet S is conveyed in the direction of the second conveyance unit 320B by the sheet rotation unit 380. Then, when the sheet reaches the second conveyance unit 320B, the sheet is discharged to the finisher side connected downstream by the second conveyance unit 320B as shown in FIG. As described above, in the present embodiment, the loaded sheet S is swiveled while being conveyed, and the swiveled sheet S is carried by the second driven conveying portion 390A and the sheet swiveling portion 380. The sheet S can be carried out without changing the direction.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Image forming apparatus main body, 100A ... Image forming apparatus, 300 ... Intermediate sheet conveying apparatus, 301 ... Conveying housing, 320A, 320B ... First and second conveying parts, 321 ... Upper roller, 340A, 340B ... Third and Fourth conveying section, 360 ... sheet turning section, 361 ... upper roller, 361a ... rubber roller, 362 ... spherical roller, 365 ... support base, 380 ... sheet turning section, 381a ... rubber roller, 381b ... rubber roller, 390A, 390B ... first And the second driven conveyance unit, 393 ... driven roller, 400 ... finisher, 636 ... intermediate sheet conveyance device control unit, A ... carry-in port, B ... carry-out port, C ... discharge port, S ... sheet

Claims (9)

In the sheet conveying apparatus that carries out the carried-in sheet by changing the conveying direction,
A sheet swivel unit that swivels in the sheet unloading direction while conveying the loaded sheet;
A sheet transport mechanism for transporting the loaded sheet to the swivel start position in cooperation with the sheet swivel unit, and for transporting the swung sheet in cooperation with the sheet swivel unit. Sheet conveying device. The sheet conveying mechanism is
A sheet transporting unit that transports to a turning start position in cooperation with the sheet turning unit before turning the loaded sheet;
The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a sheet unloading unit configured to unload the rotated sheet in cooperation with the sheet rotating unit. The sheet carry-out unit and the sheet conveyance unit can be changed between a conveyance state for conveying a sheet and a separation state for separation from the sheet,
When the sheet is swung by the sheet swivel unit, the sheet transport unit in the transported state is set to the separated state, and when the swung sheet is unloaded, the separated sheet carry-out unit is set to the transported state. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 2.   The sheet turning unit includes a turnable main body having a turning center, a conveyance roller supported by the main body for conveying the sheet, and a rotatable spherical member that sandwiches the sheet together with the conveyance roller. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveying apparatus is a sheet conveying apparatus. The sheet conveying mechanism is
A first rotating body provided rotatably around an axis extending in a direction orthogonal to the sheet carry-in direction of the sheet turning unit;
A second rotating body rotatably provided around an axis extending in a direction orthogonal to the sheet carrying-out direction of the swiveled sheet turning portion;
A third rotating body that moves integrally with the sheet turning portion at a position for nipping and conveying the sheet together with the first rotating body and a position for nipping and conveying the sheet together with the second rotating body,
The first rotating body and the third rotating body cooperate with the sheet swivel unit when the sheet swivel unit comes into contact with the sheet swivel unit when the sheet swivel unit is in a position before the swivel starts. The second rotating body and the third rotating body are transported to a turning start position, and the second rotating body and the third rotating body collaborate with the seat turning section in contact with the seat turning section when the sheet turning section is in a turn position. The sheet conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveying device is carried out. The sheet turning unit includes a turnable main body having a turning center, a conveyance roller supported by the main body for conveying the sheet, and a rotatable spherical member that sandwiches the sheet together with the conveyance roller,
The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the third rotating body is provided at an end of the main body that is far from the turning center.   The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet turning unit and the sheet conveying mechanism are capable of forward and reverse rotation. A first conveyance roller provided at a carry-in entrance into which a sheet is carried, and conveys the sheet to the sheet conveyance unit;
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second conveyance roller that is provided at a carry-out port from which the sheet is carried out and carries out the sheet from the sheet carry-out unit and the sheet turning unit. The sheet conveying apparatus according to 1. An image forming apparatus main body for forming and discharging an image on a sheet;
The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet conveying device that carries in a sheet discharged from the main body of the image forming apparatus and carries out the conveyed sheet in a different direction. An image forming apparatus.

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