JP2024145065A - Sheet conveying device - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a sheet transport device capable of improving stock performance. [Solution] The sheet transport device 1 includes a detection unit 10 that detects the passage of a sheet S transported to a discharge port 140, and a gripping unit 20 that operates in conjunction with the detection unit 10 to switch between a state in which the sheet S can be gripped and a state in which the sheet S cannot be gripped. The gripping unit 20 grips the trailing end Sr of the sheet S when the sheet S is discharged. [Selected Figure] Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a sheet conveying device.

In recent years, as the processing speed of image forming devices such as printers, scanners, copiers, and multifunction devices increases, the discharge speed of documents (sheets) taken in by document feeders and sheets with images formed on them has also increased. This has resulted in a problem of the momentum of the sheets being stronger when discharged, causing the discharged sheets to scatter or fall, resulting in poor stock performance.

To solve the above problems, a sheet processing device with improved stock performance has been developed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The sheet processing device of Patent Document 1 detects the trailing edge of a sheet discharged onto a sheet stacking section to control the sheet discharge speed, and detects the top edge of a sheet stacked on the sheet stacking section to raise and lower the sheet stacking section to adjust the sheet fall stroke to a predetermined distance. To ensure normal operation of the sheet discharge speed and the elevation and lowering of the sheet stacking section, an interference removal means is provided to prevent interference between the detection section that detects the trailing edge of the sheet and the detection section that detects the top edge of the sheet.

JP 2013-75752 A

However, the sheet processing device of Patent Document 1 needs to be provided with a detection means for detecting the trailing edge of the discharged sheet, a detection means for detecting the top edge of the stacked sheets, and an interference removal means for preventing interference between the operations of these detection means. In addition, the sheet processing device of Patent Document 1 needs to be provided with a control means for controlling the sheet discharge speed based on the detection results of each detection means, and a control means for controlling the elevation of the sheet stacking section.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a sheet conveying device that can improve stock performance.

The sheet conveying device of the present invention includes a detection unit that detects the passage of a sheet conveyed to an outlet, and a gripping unit that operates in conjunction with the detection unit to switch between a state in which the sheet can be gripped and a state in which the sheet cannot be gripped. The gripping unit grips the trailing edge of the sheet when the sheet is discharged.

The sheet conveying device of the present invention can improve stock performance.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the internal configuration of a document feeder in a typical multifunction device. 1 is a front view showing a structure of a sheet conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 3 is a front view showing a state in which a detection member and a gripping member of the sheet conveying device in FIG. 2 are in operation; FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state in which a detection member and a gripping member of the sheet conveying device in FIG. 2 are in operation; FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that in the drawings, the same or equivalent parts will be given the same reference symbols and descriptions will not be repeated.

First, the configuration of the sheet conveying device 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a document feeder 100 of a typical multifunction device. Figure 2 is a front view showing the structure of the sheet conveying device 1 according to this embodiment. In the following, the up-down direction is defined as the up-down direction when the document feeder 100 is installed in a state in which it is generally used as shown in Figure 1, and the front-rear direction is defined as the side on which a user generally stands. The direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and the front-rear direction is defined as the left-right direction.

In this embodiment, the sheet conveying device 1 is described as being provided in a document feeder 100 provided in a multifunction device, scanner, or the like as shown in FIG. 1. Note that the sheet conveying device 1 is not limited to being provided in a document feeder 100, and can also be provided in an image forming device such as a printer, copier, or multifunction device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the document feeder 100 includes a read sheet placement section 110 on which a sheet S serving as an original document for copying or scanning is placed, and a discharged sheet placement section 120 on which a discharged sheet S is placed. The document feeder 100 also includes a supply port 130 near the read sheet placement section 110 for supplying a sheet S to the inside of the document feeder 100, and a discharge port 140 near the discharged sheet placement section 120 for discharging a sheet S from inside the document feeder 100. The document feeder 100 includes a passage 150 inside that connects the supply port 130 and the discharge port 140.

The sheet transport device 1 is provided near the discharge outlet 140 for the sheet S inside the document feeder 100 (square A in FIG. 1). When the sheet transport device 1 is provided in an image forming device, the sheet transport device 1 can also be provided near the discharge outlet for the sheet on which an image has been formed.

The sheet conveying device 1 is a device for conveying a sheet S that has been read for copying or scanning and a sheet S on which an image has been formed by an image forming device to an outlet 140. As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet conveying device 1 includes a detection unit 10 and a gripping unit 20.

(Claim 1)
(Claim 3)
The detection unit 10 detects the passage of the sheet S being conveyed to the discharge port 140. The detection unit 10 is composed of a detection member 11 arranged in a passage 150 through which the sheet S passes.

In this embodiment, the detection member 11 is composed of a rod-shaped or plate-shaped member. The detection member 11 has a generally L-shape when viewed from the front (see FIG. 2). The detection member 11 is rotatably attached inside the document feeder 100 so that the bent part when viewed from the front becomes the rotation shaft 12. At this time, the detection member 11 extending upward from the rotation shaft 12 is positioned so that it extends inside the passage 150. In addition, a spring 13 is attached to the rotation shaft 12.

The detection member 11 can rotate around the rotation shaft 12 between a closed position where at least a portion of the width of the passage 150 is closed, and an open position where the passage 150 is opened. Here, the width of the passage 150 refers to the width of the sheet S passing through the passage 150, and refers to the front-to-rear direction of the sheet conveying device 1. The detection member 11 is provided at a position where it prevents all sizes of sheets S used in the document feeder 100 or image forming device in which the sheet conveying device 1 is provided from being conveyed through the passage 150. The detection member 11 is constantly maintained in the closed position by the biasing force of the spring 13. The detection member 11 falls when pressed by the sheet S passing through the passage 150, and rotates to the open position.

The detection member 11 is made of a lightweight material so that it can rotate when pushed by the sheet S being transported along the passage 150. The spring 13 has a biasing force that allows the detection member 11 to rotate when pushed by the sheet S being transported along the passage 150. At least one detection member 11 is provided in the width direction of the sheet S, i.e., in the front-rear direction of the sheet transport device 1.

The gripping unit 20 cooperates with the detection unit 10 to assume a state in which it can grip the sheet S and a state in which it cannot grip the sheet S. Specifically, the gripping unit 20 assumes a state in which it cannot grip the sheet S while the detection unit 10 is detecting the sheet S, and assumes a state in which it can grip the sheet S while the detection unit 10 is not detecting the sheet S.

The gripping portion 20 is composed of at least a gripping member 21 that is directly or indirectly attached to the detection member 11. In this embodiment, the gripping portion 20 is composed of a gripping member 21 and a sheet pressing member 22. The gripping member 21 is indirectly attached to the detection member 11 via a connecting member 23.

The sheet pressing member 22 is composed of a rod-shaped or plate-shaped member. The sheet pressing member 22 has a general I-shape when viewed from the front. The sheet pressing member 22 is attached to a passage upper surface member 151 that forms the upper surface of the passage 150 inside the document feeder 100. The sheet pressing member 22 is positioned extending from the discharge port 140 downstream of the conveying flow of the sheet S, i.e., toward the left side and downward in FIG. 2, so that the sheet S discharged from the discharge port 140 falls smoothly toward the discharged sheet loading section 120.

The connecting member 23 is composed of a rod-shaped or plate-shaped member. The connecting member 23 has a generally I-shape when viewed from the front. One end 23a of the connecting member 23 is rotatably attached to the lower end 11a of the detection member 11.

The gripping member 21 has a rod or plate shape. The gripping member 21 has a generally I-shape when viewed from the front. The gripping member 21 is slidably attached inside the document feeder 100. Specifically, a groove (not shown) is formed inside the document feeder 100, and the gripping member 21 is attached so as to slide along the groove. In addition, one end 21a of the gripping member 21 is rotatably attached to the other end 23b of the connecting member 23. The other end 21b of the gripping member 21 attached in this manner contacts the tip 22a of the sheet pressing member 22 (the end protruding from the discharge port 140 to the lower left). This allows the gripping member 21 and the sheet pressing member 22 to grip the sheet S.

The gripping member 21 can move between a gripping position where it can grip the sheet S and a non-gripping position where it cannot grip the sheet S. That is, the gripping member 21 slides between the gripping position and the non-gripping position along a groove formed inside the document feeder 100. The gripping member 21 is linked to the detection member 11 via a connecting member 23, and as shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, when the detection member 11 moves to the closed position, the gripping member 21 moves to the gripping position. On the other hand, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, when the detection member 11 moves to the open position, the gripping member 21 moves to the non-gripping position.

Next, the operation of the sheet transport device 1 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figures 3 and 4 are front views showing the state in which the detection member 11 and the gripping member 21 of the sheet transport device 1 in Figure 2 are in operation. Figure 3 shows the state in which the detection member 11 has moved to the open position as the sheet S has passed through it, and Figure 4 shows the state in which the detection member 11 has returned to the closed position after the sheet S has passed through it.

When a sheet S is conveyed to the sheet conveying device 1, as shown in FIG. 3, the sheet S pushes down the detection member 11. When the detection member 11 is pushed down by the sheet S and moves to the open position, the connecting member 23 attached to the detection member 11 is pulled to the right by the detection member 11 when viewed from the front (FIG. 3). As the connecting member 23 moves, the gripping member 21 attached to the connecting member 23 is also pulled to the right by the connecting member 23 when viewed from the front (FIG. 3). As a result, the gripping member 21 moves to the non-gripping position.

While the sheet S passes through the position where the detection member 11 is attached, the detection member 11 is maintained in the open position by the sheet S, and the gripping member 21 is maintained in the non-gripping position. The sheet S that passes through the detection member 11 by pushing down the detection member 11 passes between the gripping member 21, which has moved to the non-gripping position, and the sheet pressing member 22, and is discharged from the discharge outlet 140 and transported to the discharged sheet stacking section 120.

When the sheet S has passed through the detection member 11, as shown in FIG. 4, the detection member 11 returns to the closed position due to the biasing force of the spring 13. When the detection member 11 moves to the closed position, the connecting member 23 attached to the detection member 11 is pushed back to the left side by the detection member 11 when viewed from the front (FIG. 4). As the connecting member 23 moves, the gripping member 21 attached to the connecting member 23 is also pushed back to the left side by the connecting member 23 when viewed from the front (FIG. 4). As a result, the gripping member 21 moves to the gripping position.

When the gripping member 21 moves to the gripping position, the sheet S is in a position where the rear end Sr is gripped by the gripping member 21 and the sheet pressing member 22. That is, the gripping member 21 (gripping portion 20) grips the rear end Sr of the sheet S when the sheet S is discharged. In this way, the detection member 11 and the gripping member 21 are configured so that when the sheet S has finished passing through the detection member 11 and the detection member 11 has returned to the closed position and the gripping member 21 is in the gripping position, the rear end Sr of the sheet S is gripped by the gripping member 21 and the sheet pressing member 22.

When the next sheet S is conveyed to the sheet conveying device 1, the detection member 11 and the gripping member 21 operate as described above, and the gripping member 21 moves to the non-gripping position. At this time, the sheet S that was being gripped by the gripping member 21 falls straight down and is placed on the discharged sheet placement section 120.

As described above, the sheet conveying device 1 of the present invention is equipped with a detection member 11 and a gripping member 21, and the detection member 11 and the gripping member 21 operate in conjunction with each other to grip the rear end Sr of the sheet S as the sheet S is discharged. This prevents the sheet S discharged from the discharge port 140 from losing the momentum it had when being gripped by the gripping member 21 and conveyed, and prevents the sheet S from falling from the discharged sheet stacking section 120.

In addition, when the sheets S are transported continuously, the sheets S gripped by the gripping members 21 are released from the gripping members 21 and fall straight down as the gripping members 21 move to the non-gripping position. This allows the discharged sheets S to be stacked at approximately the same position on the discharged sheet stacking section 120, preventing the discharged sheets S from becoming uneven.

In this way, in the sheet conveying device 1 of the present invention, the discharged sheets S do not fall from the discharged sheet stacking section 120, and are stacked without scattering on the discharged sheet stacking section 120, improving the stock performance of the discharged sheets S. In addition, the sheet conveying device 1 is a mechanism in which the detection member 11 and the gripping member 21 operate in conjunction with each other, improving the stock performance.

The above describes the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all components shown in the embodiments. The drawings may be shown mainly in a schematic manner, focusing on each component, to make the drawings easier to understand. The number of each component shown may differ from the actual number for the convenience of drawing. In addition, the components shown in the above embodiments are merely examples and are not particularly limited, and various modifications are possible within a range that does not substantially deviate from the effects of the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the detection member 11 has a generally L-shape when viewed from the front and is attached so as to be rotatable, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the detection member 11 may have a generally I-shape when viewed from the front, or any other shape. The detection member 11 may also be configured to be movable up and down by the sheet S. In this case, the detection member 11 is disposed so as to close at least a portion of the passage 150, and is pushed down by the sheet S as the sheet S passes through, thereby opening the passage 150.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the gripping section 20 is composed of the gripping member 21 and the sheet pressing member 22, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the gripping section 20 may be composed of only the gripping member 21. In this case, a passage upper surface member 151 located above the discharge port 140 of the document feeder 100 or the like serves as the sheet pressing member 22, and the sheet S is gripped by this member and the gripping member 21.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the gripping member 21 is attached to the detection member 11 via the connecting member 23, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the gripping member 21 may be attached directly to the lower end 11a of the detection member 11.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the gripping member 21, the sheet holding member 22, and the connecting member 23 have a generally I-shape when viewed from the front, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the gripping member 21, the sheet holding member 22, and the connecting member 23 may have any other shape, such as a curved shape when viewed from the front.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the detection unit 10 is composed of the detection member 11, the gripping unit 20 is composed of the gripping member 21, and the detection member 11 and the gripping member 21 are linked together, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the detection unit 10 may be configured as a sensor that detects the sheet S. In this case, the gripping unit 20 is electrically connected to the sensor, and when the sensor receives a signal indicating that the sheet S has been detected, the gripping unit 20 operates.

The present invention can be used in the field of sheet conveying devices.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 sheet conveying device 10 detection section 11 detection member 20 gripping section 21 gripping member 140 discharge port 150 passage S sheet Sr rear end of sheet

Claims (4)

a detection unit that detects the passage of a sheet conveyed to a discharge port;
a gripping unit that is linked with the detection unit to take a state in which the sheet can be gripped and a state in which the sheet cannot be gripped,
The gripping portion grips a trailing edge of the sheet when the sheet is discharged. The sheet conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the gripping section is in a state in which it cannot grip the sheet while the detection section detects the sheet, and is in a state in which it can grip the sheet while the detection section does not detect the sheet. The detection unit is composed of a detection member disposed in a passage through which the sheet passes,
3. The sheet transport device according to claim 1, wherein the detection member is movable between a closed position in which the passage is at least partially closed and an open position in which the passage is opened, and is pushed by a sheet passing through the passage to move to the open position. The gripping portion is composed of a gripping member that is directly or indirectly attached to at least the detection member,
the gripping member is movable between a gripping position where the gripping member can grip a sheet and a non-gripping position where the gripping member cannot grip a sheet;
4. The sheet transport device according to claim 3, wherein when the detection member moves to the open position, the gripping member moves to the non-gripping position, and when the detection member moves to the closed position, the gripping member moves to the gripping position.

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