Sheet Conveying Device

Abstract

A sheet conveying device may include a belt having a plurality of throughholes, a fan disposed so as to interpose a portion of the belt placed in a return run position between the fan and a portion of the belt placed in the forward run position, and a case that defines a chamber with a portion of the belt placed in the forward run position. The fan creates a negative pressure within the chamber by drawing air through the throughholes of the endless belt, thereby removing dust and other unwanted particles and debris from the endless belt. In one or more examples, a brush may also be included to provide further removal of unwanted dust and particles. Further, in one or more configurations, the sheet conveying device may also include belt rollers and/or supporting members.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-260067, which was filed on Sep. 26, 2006, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Technical Field [0003] Embodiments relate to a sheet conveying device configured to convey sheets. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] Current systems include sheet conveying devices comprising a belt mechanism configured to convey the recording medium and a platen disposed adjacent to an inner surface of a belt of the belt mechanism. In the sheet conveying device, a belt of the belt mechanism is moved by a pair of rollers in a running (i.e., a conveying) direction. The belt is formed of foamed material having breathability or air permeability. The platen has a suction opening and a suction fan to cause negative pressure in an interior of the platen. A recording medium is conveyed by the belt while being suction...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] Further, in one or more examples, a brush may be disposed near the inlet, either on the inside or the outside of the case, so as to contact a surface of the belt. Thus, foreign matters (e.g., debris, particles, unwanted material) attached to the surface of the belt may be removed effectively.

[0016] Additionally or alternatively, a guide configured to press the sheet onto the belt may be disposed at each end of an opening of the case. For example, when the sheet is pressed against and separated from the belt by a roller for pressing the sheet against the belt, changes in speed of the belt may be prevented. Thus, printing failure and reduction in print quality due to changes in speeds of the belt may also be prevented.

Problems solved by technology

However, foreign matters attached to a portion of the belt placed in a return run position will not be removed.

Therefore, as a portion of the belt in the return run position to which foreign matters become attached comes to the forward run position, the foreign matters may rise and adhere to nozzles of the print head, leading to printing failures.

As the diameters of the rollers increase, the belt may start to move slower, which ultimately reduces printing speeds.

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