Sheet member transporting device and method of controlling the same

Abstract

The sheet member transporting device moves sheet members of a predetermined length in a distributing direction perpendicular to a transporting direction to change from transportation in a single row to that in plural rows or vise versa. The device includes a transporting roller pair for nipping and transporting a sheet member, a moving member on which the roller pair is provided and which is movable in the distributing direction, a rotation movement mechanism for transmitting rotation to the roller pair and allowing the moving member to move in the distributing direction, a driving unit for driving the mechanism and a nip canceling unit for controlling nipping and releasing by the roller pair. The driving unit is provided as a component separate from the moving member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a sheet member transporting device and a method of controlling the same. [0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to a sheet member transporting device which moves sheet members of a predetermined length, which are transported in a single row, in a distributing direction to transport them in a plurality of rows or which moves sheet members of a predetermined length, which are transported in a plurality of rows, in a distributing direction to transport them in a single row. In particular, the present invention relates to a sheet member transporting device which realizes, while ensuring high durability and small mass and at restrained cost, a system in which sheet members being transported in a transporting direction are moved in a direction perpendicular to the transporting direction to thereby transport the sheet members in a single row or transport them in a plurality of rows. [0003] Further, the pre...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a sheet member transporting device that can move sheet members in a single row or in a plural row, and can also cancel the nipping of sheet members by a transporting roller pair. The device includes a transporting roller pair, a moving member, a rotation movement mechanism, a driving means, and a nip canceling means. The device can also adjust the speed at which photosensitive material is transported and correct the attitude of the material. The invention aims to provide a sheet member transporting device that is durable, low-cost, and can release the nipping of sheet members when necessary.

Problems solved by technology

However, in the above-described conventional distributing device using a moving member with a motor mounted thereon, the motor is mounted on the moving member which distributes a photosensitive material into a plurality of rows, so that the device size is rather large, which involves a large mass and high cost.

Further, the large mass leads to an increase in load moment of inertia, and, when the distributing speed is to be raised, the upper limit thereof is rather low; further, the device readily causes step-out.

Further, the FPC cable is inferior in durability, and breakage, etc. occurs at the buckled portion.

As a result, the inner surfaces of the thrust bushes 530 are rasped off, resulting in a rather poor durability.

Further, when the slidability of the thrust bushes 530 deteriorates, skewing of the photosensitive material P will occur, making it impossible to effect distribution in a stable manner and with high accuracy.

As described above, the distributing device as disclosed in JP 9-329885 A involves a deterioration in transporting accuracy, such as skewing of the photosensitive material, and a deterioration in durability; in addition, when an attempt is made to raise the distributing speed in order to achieve an improvement in production efficiency, the problem as mentioned above is involved, which means the device cannot be operated in the proper fashion when there is an increase in speed.

However, also in this conventional nip distributing device, no distribution is effected on a photosensitive material whose size exceeds a predetermined size.

However, this conventional nip distributing device also involves various problems similar to those associated with the above-described conventional distributing device in which a moving member is moved with a motor mounted thereon.

Thus, this conventional nip distributing device has a problem in that it is impossible to perform with high durability the distributing operation accompanied by a nip canceling operation.

However, there is a difference in reference between a printer and a processor, and the transporting mechanism after distribution is required to absorb the deviation between the printer and processor.

At present, this deviation is absorbed by improving the design accuracy of the printer and processor, resulting in an increase in production cost.

Further, when the positions of the printer and processor are deviated from reference positions, and there is a difference between the vertical direction in the printer and the vertical direction in the processor, the photosensitive material must be intentionally caused to undergo skewing by the transporting mechanism, transporting it to the processors after being adjusted to the proper angle.

In particular, in the case of a photosensitive material of the size requiring no distribution, if it is not transported to the processor properly, there is a danger of an image deterioration occurring at the time of development.

Further, while the above-described conventional transporting mechanism is capable of restraining meandering of the photosensitive material, it is not capable of properly transporting a photosensitive material taking processing errors into consideration.

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