Conveying device

Abstract

The present invention provides a conveying device, which comprises: a conveying portion having a downward conveying surface for conveying a sheet-shaped conveyed object; and a conveyed object receiving portion, which is arranged below the conveying portion and is used to receive the conveyed object dropped from the conveying portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a conveying device for conveying a sheet-shaped object to be conveyed. Background Art

[0002] In an image forming apparatus, there is a case where it is necessary to inspect the images on both sides of a sheet while conveying the sheet on which images are formed.

[0003] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-37486 discloses an image inspection device for inspecting an image as described above. The image inspection device comprises: a first conveying section on the upstream side, which is configured with the conveying surface of the conveyed sheet being the upper surface side; a second conveying section, which is configured with the conveying surface of the conveyed sheet being the lower surface side and adjacent to the conveying surface of the first conveying section; a first inspection section, which inspects the front side of the sheet conveyed by the first conveying section; and a second inspection section, which inspects the back side of the sheet conveyed by the second conveying section. Summary of the invention

[0004] Problem that the invention aims to solve

[0005] In the above-mentioned image inspection device, when a jam of a sheet occurs, in order to clear the jam, the fans in the first conveying section and the second conveying section for adsorbing the sheet to the conveying surface are turned off. As a result, the sheet remaining in the second conveying section falls into the device. In the above-mentioned image inspection device, it is difficult for the user to determine the position of the fallen sheet.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a conveying device capable of easily determining the position of an object to be conveyed that has fallen into the device.

[0007] Solutions for solving problems

[0008] The conveying device of the present invention comprises: a conveying portion having a downward conveying surface for conveying a sheet-shaped conveyed object; and a conveyed object receiving portion arranged below the conveying portion for receiving the conveyed object dropped from the conveying portion.

[0009] Effects of the Invention

[0010] According to the above-mentioned configuration, the position of the conveyed object dropped into the device can be easily identified. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment.

[0012] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A control block diagram of the image forming system shown.

[0013] Figure 3Yes means Figure 1 A diagram of the main parts of an image inspection device of an image forming system shown.

[0014] Figure 4 Yes means Figure 1 A diagram of a conveying section and a paper receiving section of an image inspection device of an image forming system shown in FIG.

[0015] Figure 5 This is a diagram showing a state in which a paper falls into a paper receiving portion in the image inspection apparatus in a jam-free state.

[0016] Figure 6 This is a diagram showing a state in which a sheet of paper is supported by a lower intermediate guide in the image inspection apparatus in a jam-free state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] In the following detailed description, for the purpose of explanation, many specific details are set forth so that the disclosed embodiments are thoroughly understood. However, it is apparent that one or more embodiments may be implemented without these specific details. In other cases, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown to simplify the drawings.

[0018] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that in all the drawings, the same or similar parts and components are marked with the same or similar reference numerals, and the description of these parts and components will be omitted or simplified. In addition, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and therefore different from the actual structure.

[0019] Figure 1 1 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of an image forming system 1 including an image inspection device 3 including a transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A control block diagram of the image forming system 1 is shown. Figure 3 Yes means Figure 1 FIG. 2 is a diagram showing main parts of an image inspection device 3 of an image forming system 1 . Figure 4 FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the transport units 21A and 21B and the paper receiving unit 24 of the image inspection device 3. Figure 1 The up, down, left, and right directions of the paper are set as the up, down, left, and right directions. Figure 1 The direction from left to right in the figure is the sheet of paper P (see Figure 3 In the following description, upstream and downstream refer to the upstream and downstream in the conveying direction of the paper P.

[0020] like Figure 1 , Figure 2As shown, the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 2 , an image inspection apparatus 3 , and a post-processing apparatus 4 .

[0021] The image forming apparatus 2 includes a plurality of inkjet heads 11 that eject inks of different colors, a conveying path 12 that conveys paper P, and a conveying unit 13 that is connected to the conveying path 12 and is provided directly below the inkjet heads 11. Other configurations such as a supply unit for paper P are not shown.

[0022] The image forming apparatus 2 can perform double-sided printing by turning the paper P conveyed by the conveying unit 13 and printed on one side by the inkjet head 11 over on the conveying path 12 and feeding it back to the conveying unit 13 , conveying it by the conveying unit 13 and printing on the other side by the inkjet head 11 .

[0023] The image inspection device 3 inspects an image formed on the paper P while conveying the paper P printed by the image forming device 2. The image inspection device 3 will be described in detail later.

[0024] The post-processing device 4 is a device that performs various post-processing on the paper P on which the image is printed by the image forming device 2 and the image is inspected by the image inspection device 3, and discharges the paper. The post-processing includes sorting operations such as sorting and stacking, binding, inserting of inserts, folding of paper in various forms, and inserting into envelopes. The image forming system 1 can be provided with a post-processing device 4 having necessary functions according to the purpose.

[0025] Next, the details of the image inspection device 3 will be described.

[0026] like Figure 1 to Figure 4 As shown, the image inspection device 3 includes conveying parts 21A, 21B, pressing rollers 22A, 22B, lifting motors 23A, 23B, a paper receiving part (transported object receiving part) 24, inspection parts 25A, 25B, an introduction guide part 26, an intermediate guide part 27, a discharge guide part 28, a control part 29, and a housing 30 for storing or holding each part. In addition, each part of the image inspection device 3 other than the inspection parts 25A, 25B constitutes a conveying device.

[0027] The conveying unit 21A conveys the paper P conveyed from the image forming apparatus 2 by holding it by air suction. The conveying unit 21A is arranged so that a conveying surface 31a described later becomes the upper surface side (facing upward). The conveying unit 21A includes a conveying belt 31, a driving roller 32, driven rollers 33 to 35, a belt motor 36, a paper pressing portion 37, a chamber 38, and a fan 39.

[0028] The conveyor belt 31 sucks and holds the paper P and conveys it. The conveyor belt 31 is an endless belt that is stretched over the driving roller 32 and the driven rollers 33 to 35. The conveyor belt 31 has many belt holes (not shown). The conveyor belt 31 uses the suction force generated by the belt holes driven by the fan 39 to suck and hold the paper P on the conveying surface 31a. The conveying surface 31a is the upper surface of the horizontal portion of the conveyor belt 31 located between the driving roller 32 and the driven roller 33. The conveyor belt 31 of the conveying unit 21A is moved toward the conveyor belt 31. Figure 3 The paper P held by the conveying surface 31 a is conveyed in the right direction by rotating in the clockwise direction.

[0029] The driving roller 32 rotates the conveyor belt 31 .

[0030] The driven rollers 33 to 35 support the conveyor belt 31 together with the driving roller 32. The driven rollers 33 to 35 rotate following the rotating conveyor belt 31. The driven roller 33 is arranged at the same height as the driving roller 32 and to the left of the driving roller 32. The driven rollers 34 and 35 are located below the driving roller 32 and the driven roller 33 and are arranged at the same height to be separated from each other in the left-right direction.

[0031] The belt motor 36 drives and rotates the driving roller 32 .

[0032] The paper pressing part 37 is located between the driving roller 32 and the driven roller 33 and disposed below the conveyor belt 31, and slidably supports the lower surface of the conveyor belt 31. The paper pressing part 37 has a plurality of suction holes (not shown) formed at the portion where the belt hole of the conveyor belt 31 passes.

[0033] The chamber 38 forms a negative pressure chamber for generating an adsorption force on the belt holes of the conveyor belt 31 through the suction holes of the paper pressing portion 37. The chamber 38 is located between the driving roller 32 and the driven roller 33 and is provided on the lower surface side of the paper pressing portion 37.

[0034] The fan 39 exhausts air from the chamber 38. Thus, the fan 39 generates negative pressure in the chamber 38 and sucks air through the suction holes of the paper pressing portion 37 and the belt holes of the conveyor belt 31. Thus, the fan 39 generates negative pressure in the belt holes, so that the paper P is attracted to the conveyor surface 31a.

[0035] The conveying unit 21B holds the paper P conveyed from the conveying unit 21A by air suction and conveys it to the post-processing device 4. The conveying unit 21B has the same structure as the conveying unit 21A, but the conveying unit 21A is turned upside down. Thus, the conveying unit 21B is arranged so that the conveying surface 31a is on the lower surface side (facing downward).

[0036] The conveyance unit 21B is disposed adjacent to the conveyance unit 21A on the downstream side (right side) of the conveyance unit 21A so that the height position of the conveyance surface 31a thereof is the same as the height position of the conveyance surface 31a of the conveyance unit 21A.

[0037] In the conveying section 21B, the conveying belt 31 passes through Figure 3 The conveying surface 31a rotates counterclockwise, thereby conveying the paper P adsorbed to the conveying surface 31a in the right direction.

[0038] The pressing rollers 22A and 22B are rollers for pressing the paper P against the conveying belts 31 of the conveying units 21A and 21B. The pressing rollers 22A and 22B rotate following the rotating conveying belts 31. The pressing rollers 22A and 22B are disposed at the upstream end of the conveying surface 31a of the conveying units 21A and 21B.

[0039] The lifting motors 23A and 23B respectively lift the conveying sections 21A and 21B between the conveying position and the retracted position.

[0040] The conveying positions of the conveying units 21A and 21B are positions when conveying the paper P, which are Figure 3 The positions of the conveying sections 21A and 21B are indicated by solid lines.

[0041] The retracted positions of the conveying units 21A and 21B are positions at which a jam of the paper P is released.

[0042] The retracted position of the conveying unit 21A is Figure 3 The position of the conveying portion 21A indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 1 is a position lower than the conveying position of the conveying portion 21A.

[0043] The retracted position of the conveying unit 21B is Figure 3 The position of the conveying unit 21B indicated by the dotted line is a position higher than the conveying position of the conveying unit 21B. When the conveying unit 21B is at the retracted position, the conveying surface 31a of the conveying unit 21B is arranged at a position higher than the lower intermediate guide plate 27b and the lower discharge guide plate 28b described later.

[0044] The paper receiving unit 24 is disposed below the conveying unit 21B and receives the paper P dropped from the conveying unit 21B. Figure 4 As shown, the paper receiving unit 24 is composed of a metal plate disposed below the conveying unit 21B. The paper receiving unit 24 is not limited to a metal plate, and may be any structure as long as it can receive the paper P dropped from the conveying unit 21B.

[0045] The inspection unit 25A reads, for inspection, an image formed on the upward surface (front surface) of the paper P transported by the transport unit 21A. The inspection unit 25A is disposed above the transport unit 21A.

[0046] The inspection unit 25B reads, for inspection, an image formed on the downward surface (back surface) of the paper P transported by the transport unit 21B. The inspection unit 25B is disposed below the transport unit 21B.

[0047] The inspection units 25A and 25B include a CIS (Contact Image Sensor). In addition, the inspection units 25A and 25B are not limited to the CIS, and may be sensors of other principles or structures, or may be cameras.

[0048] The introduction guide 26 guides the paper P conveyed from the image forming device 2 to the image inspection device 3 to the conveying portion 21A. The introduction guide 26 is arranged near the upstream side of the conveying portion 21A. The introduction guide 26 includes an upper side introduction guide plate 26a for guiding the upper surface side of the paper P and a lower side introduction guide plate 26b for guiding the lower surface side of the paper P.

[0049] The intermediate guide 27 guides the paper P between the conveying section 21A and the conveying section 21B. The intermediate guide 27 is arranged near the downstream side of the conveying section 21A and near the upstream side of the conveying section 21B. The intermediate guide 27 includes an upper intermediate guide plate 27a for guiding the upper surface side of the paper P and a lower intermediate guide plate 27b for guiding the lower surface side of the paper P. The lower intermediate guide plate 27b functions as a support portion for supporting the paper P.

[0050] The discharge guide 28 guides the paper P discharged from the conveying section 21B to the post-processing device 4. The discharge guide 28 is arranged near the downstream side of the conveying section 21B. The discharge guide 28 includes an upper discharge guide 28a that guides the upper surface side of the paper P and a lower discharge guide 28b that guides the lower surface side of the paper P. The lower discharge guide 28b functions as a support portion that supports the paper P.

[0051] The control unit 29 controls the operation of each unit of the image inspection device 3. The control unit 29 is configured to include a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, and the like.

[0052] Next, the operation of the image forming system 1 will be described.

[0053] Here, double-sided printing is performed by the image forming device 2. The image forming device 2 conveys the paper P by the conveying unit 13 and prints on one side by the inkjet head 11, and then turns the paper P printed on one side over on the conveying path 12 and supplies it to the conveying unit 13 again. Then, the image forming device 2 conveys the paper P printed on one side by the conveying unit 13 and prints on the other side by the inkjet head 11. Thus, images are printed on both sides of the paper P. The paper P printed on both sides is conveyed from the image forming device 2 to the image inspection device 3.

[0054] The paper P conveyed from the image forming device 2 to the image inspection device 3 is guided to the conveying unit 21A by the introduction guide 26. The paper P guided to the conveying unit 21A is pressed against the conveying surface 31a by the pressing roller 22A. The conveying unit 21A conveys the paper P while holding it on the conveying surface 31a by air suction. The inspection unit 25A reads the image formed on the upward surface of the paper P conveyed by the conveying unit 21A for inspection.

[0055] The paper P conveyed by the conveying unit 21A is guided to the conveying unit 21B by the intermediate guide 27. The paper P guided to the conveying unit 21B is pressed against the conveying surface 31a by the pressing roller 22B. The conveying unit 21B conveys the paper P by holding it on the conveying surface 31a by air suction. The inspection unit 25B reads the image formed on the downward surface of the paper P conveyed by the conveying unit 21B for inspection.

[0056] The paper P conveyed by the conveying unit 21B is guided to the post-processing device 4 by the discharge guide 28. The post-processing device 4 performs post-processing on the paper P conveyed from the image inspection device 3.

[0057] Next, the operation of the image inspection device 3 when a jam of the paper P occurs during the operation of printing and image inspection using the image forming system 1 as described above will be described.

[0058] When a jam of the paper P occurs in the image forming system 1 , the image forming device 2 , the image inspection device 3 , and the post-processing device 4 stop conveyance of the paper P.

[0059] In the image inspection apparatus 3, the control unit 29 stops the belt motor 36 and the fan 39 of the conveying units 21A and 21B. This releases the suction force (holding force) of the paper P on the conveying surface 31a in the conveying units 21A and 21B, and stops conveying the paper P by the conveying belt 31.

[0060] Next, the control unit 29 uses the lifting motor 23A to lower the conveying unit 21A from the conveying position to the retreat position. In addition, the control unit 29 uses the lifting motor 23B to raise the conveying unit 21B from the conveying position to the retreat position. As a result, the image inspection device 3 is in a jam-free state for the user to perform a jam-free operation of removing the paper P remaining in the device.

[0061] Here, when the paper P remains in the conveying section 21B when the conveying stops due to a jam, the fan 39 of the conveying section 21B is stopped as described above to release the suction force of the conveying surface 31a, so that the paper P falls from the conveying section 21B. Figure 5As shown, the paper P dropped from the conveying unit 21B is received by the paper receiving unit 24. The paper P is removed by the user who performs a jam clearing operation.

[0062] In addition, when the paper P remains at a position across the conveying surface 31a of the conveying section 21B and the intermediate guide section 27 when the conveying is stopped due to a jam, when the image inspection device 3 is in a jam-free state, as shown in FIG. Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1 , the paper P is supported by the lower intermediate guide 27b. That is, by releasing the adsorption force of the conveying surface 31a, the downstream end of the paper P is separated from the conveying surface 31a and hangs down to the downstream side of the lower intermediate guide 27b, and the paper P is supported by the lower intermediate guide 27b. The paper P is removed by the user who performs the jam removal operation.

[0063] In addition, when the paper P remains at the position straddling the conveying surface 31a of the conveying section 21B and the lower discharge guide 28b when the conveying is stopped due to a jam, when the image inspection device 3 is in a jam-free state, the paper P is supported by the lower discharge guide 28b. That is, by releasing the adsorption force of the conveying surface 31a, the paper P is supported by the lower discharge guide 28b in a state where the upstream end of the paper P is separated from the conveying surface 31a and hangs down to the upstream side of the lower discharge guide 28b. The paper P is removed by the user who performs the jam-free operation.

[0064] As described above, the image inspection device 3 includes the paper receiving portion 24 that receives the paper P dropped from the conveying portion 21B.

[0065] Here, unlike the present embodiment, it is difficult for the user to determine where the paper P dropped from the conveying section 21B has dropped in the device (inside the housing 30) without the paper receiving section 24. In addition, if the fan 39 is not stopped to prevent the paper P from dropping, the user may not notice the paper P being sucked and held by the conveying section 21B.

[0066] In contrast, in the image inspection device 3, since the paper receiving unit 24 receives the paper P dropped from the conveying unit 21B when the jam is released, the user who performs the jam release operation can easily identify the position of the paper P dropped into the device by observing the paper receiving unit 24. Then, the user can easily remove the paper P.

[0067] In addition, in the image inspection device 3, when the jam is released, the conveying section 21B releases the adsorption force of the conveying surface 31a and rises from the conveying position to the retreat position. Therefore, in the case of a sheet of paper P remaining at a position across the conveying surface 31a of the conveying section 21B and the lower intermediate guide 27b, the sheet of paper P is supported by the lower intermediate guide 27b, so that the downstream end of the sheet of paper P is drooped toward the downstream side of the lower intermediate guide 27b. In addition, in the case of a sheet of paper P remaining at a position across the conveying surface 31a of the conveying section 21B and the lower discharge guide 28b, the sheet of paper P is supported by the lower discharge guide 28b, so that the upstream end of the sheet of paper P is drooped toward the upstream side of the lower discharge guide 28b. Thus, the user who performs the jam release operation can easily see the sheet of paper P supported by the lower intermediate guide 27b and the sheet of paper P supported by the lower discharge guide 28b. Thus, the user can easily remove the sheet of paper P.

[0068] In the above-described embodiment, the lower intermediate guide plate 27b and the lower discharge guide plate 28b function as a support portion for supporting the paper P when the jam is released, but the support portion may be composed of a member other than the guide plate. In addition, the support portion of at least one of the upstream side and the downstream side of the conveying portion 21B may be omitted.

[0069] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the conveying units 21A and 21B convey the paper P by adsorbing and holding the paper P by air suction, but the method of holding and conveying the paper is not limited to this. For example, the paper may be conveyed by holding the paper on a belt by electrostatic adsorption or by adhering the paper to a roller or a belt by an adhesive.

[0070] In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the conveying parts 21A and 21B are arranged so that the conveying surface 31a becomes horizontal, but the conveying parts 21A and 21B may be arranged so that the conveying surface 31a is inclined in the conveying direction of the paper P. In this case, the following effects can be achieved: when the jam as described above is released, the paper receiving part 24 receives the paper P, so that the position of the paper P can be easily determined; when the jam is released, the paper P supported by the lower middle guide 27b and the paper P supported by the lower discharge guide 28b can be easily seen, and the image inspection device 3 can be miniaturized.

[0071] The embodiment of the present invention has the following structure, for example.

[0072] The conveying device includes: a conveying portion having a downward conveying surface for conveying a sheet-shaped conveyed object; and a conveyed object receiving portion, which is arranged below the conveying portion and is used to receive the conveyed object dropped from the conveying portion.

[0073] Alternatively, the conveying device further includes a supporting portion, which is arranged at at least one of the upstream side and the downstream side of the conveying portion in the conveying direction of the conveyed object, and is used to support the conveyed object, and when the jam of the conveyed object is released, the conveying portion releases the holding force that holds the conveyed object on the conveying surface, and rises to a position when the conveying surface is arranged at a position higher than the supporting portion.

[0074] The embodiments of the present invention are described above. However, the present invention may be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the technical ideas or technical features of the present invention. Therefore, the present embodiment is considered to be illustrative rather than restrictive in all aspects, and the protection scope of the present invention is determined by the claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes within the equivalent meanings and scopes of the claims are included in the protection scope of the present invention.

[0075] In addition, the effects described in the embodiments of the present invention are merely a list of optimal effects achieved by the present invention, and therefore, the effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described in the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A conveying device, characterized in that: The conveying device comprises: A conveying portion having a downward conveying surface for conveying a sheet-shaped object to be conveyed; a conveyed object receiving portion, which is disposed below the conveying portion and is used to receive the conveyed object dropped from the conveying portion; and a first guide plate which is at least partially separated from the conveying portion in the conveying direction of the conveyed object and is arranged on the upstream side of the conveying portion and is used to support the conveyed object; a second guide plate disposed on a downstream side of the conveying section in the conveying direction of the conveyed object and configured to support the conveyed object, The first guide plate supports and guides the conveyed object to the conveying portion, and is at least partially separated from the conveying portion in the conveying direction of the conveyed object, so that when the conveying of the conveyed object is stopped due to a jam, the conveyed object remains at a first position across the conveying surface and the first guide plate during a first time when the conveying of the conveyed object is stopped, and the upstream side of the conveyed object is supported but the downstream side of the conveyed object is not supported, so that the downstream side of the conveyed object hangs down toward the conveyed object receiving portion, so that the conveyed object supported by the first guide plate can be removed during the first time. The second guide plate is separated from the conveying portion in the conveying direction of the conveyed object, so as to support the downstream side of the conveyed object without supporting the upstream side of the conveyed object when the conveyed object remains at a second position spanning the conveying surface and the second guide plate during a second time when the conveying of the conveyed object is stopped due to the occurrence of the jam, whereby the upstream side of the conveyed object hangs down toward the conveyed object receiving portion, thereby enabling the conveyed object supported by the second guide plate to be removed during the second time.

2. The conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that When the jam of the conveyed object is released, the conveying unit releases the holding force holding the conveyed object on the conveying surface and rises to a position where the conveying surface is arranged at a position higher than the first guide plate and the second guide plate.

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