Sensor structure for image forming device and image forming device

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensor structure for an image forming device and the image forming device, the sensor structure comprises a first contact part and a second contact part, the first contact part and the second contact part are respectively arranged on two different sheet transmission paths of the image forming device; the switch further comprises a pivot, a sensing piece and a triggering piece, the first contact part, the second contact part and the triggering piece are arranged in a radial mode with the pivot as the center, and the sensing piece is arranged adjacent to the pivot. The pivot is configured to enable the pivot to rotate circumferentially around the axis of the pivot in the process that a sheet on a first sheet conveying path pushes the first contact part or a sheet on a second sheet conveying path pushes the second contact part, and then the trigger piece can make contact with or be separated from the induction piece. According to the sensor structure, detection of the sheets on the two sheet conveying paths can be achieved only through one induction piece, the sensor structure becomes simple, and then the image forming device becomes small.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of image forming devices, and in particular to a sensor structure used in an image forming device and an image forming device. Background Art

[0002] Image forming devices such as printers, copiers and multifunction printers are usually equipped with sensors for checking the position of sheets (specifically paper). The sensors are arranged on the sheet travel path to check whether the sheets arrive at or leave the sensor position at a predetermined time.

[0003] Usually, multiple sensors are set in an image forming device. For example, the Chinese invention patent with application number CN202410517812.7 (application publication number CN118259567A) discloses an image forming device, a sheet conveying control method, and a sheet conveying control device. In the image forming device, a first sensor is provided at the first position, and the first sensor is triggered when the sheet arrives at the first position. A second sensor is provided at the second position, and the second sensor is triggered when the sheet arrives at the second position. The first sensor is used to sense whether there is a sheet at the first position, and the second sensor is used to sense whether there is a sheet at the second position. At the same time, it can be regarded as a ready sensor in the double-sided printing process to determine whether the corresponding sheet has arrived at the corresponding alignment position. The first sensor and the second sensor can adopt the same structure. The first sensor and the second sensor both include a movable triggering part arranged on the corresponding transmission path. When the sheet arrives at the corresponding first position or second position, the triggering part is pushed to trigger the sensor located outside the transmission path to realize sheet detection.

[0004] However, the image forming device in the prior art has the following limitations: since multiple sensors (at least two sensors) need to be set in the image forming setting, and each sensor in the prior art is installed through a corresponding structure, the multiple sensor devices will occupy a large structural space, the structure becomes complicated, and the image forming device becomes large. Therefore, further improvements are needed to the prior art. Summary of the invention

[0005] The first technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a sensor structure for an image forming device which has a simple structure and can detect two different sheet positions in view of the above-mentioned prior art.

[0006] The second technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an image forming device using the above sensor structure, so that the structure of the image forming device is miniaturized.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned first technical problem is: a sensor structure for an image forming device, comprising a first contact portion and a second contact portion, wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion are respectively located on two different sheet transport paths of the image forming device, and the two different sheet transport paths of the image forming device are respectively recorded as a first sheet transport path and a second sheet transport path;

[0008] It also includes a pivot, a sensing member and a trigger member, wherein the first contact portion, the second contact portion and the trigger member are arranged radially with the pivot as the center, the sensing member is arranged adjacent to the pivot, and the pivot is configured so that: when a sheet on a first sheet transport path pushes the first contact portion or a sheet on a second sheet transport path pushes the second contact portion, the pivot can rotate circumferentially around its axis, thereby enabling the trigger member to contact or separate from the sensing member.

[0009] Due to different structures of the pattern forming device, preferably, the rotation direction of the pivot is the same when the sheet on the first sheet conveying path pushes the first contact portion and when the sheet on the second sheet conveying path pushes the second contact portion.

[0010] In order to simplify the sensor structure, the first contact portion, the second contact portion and the trigger member are all arranged on the outer wall of the pivot.

[0011] Due to different structures of the pattern forming apparatus, preferably, the rotation direction of the pivot is reversed during a process in which a sheet on the first sheet conveying path pushes the first contact portion and during a process in which a sheet on the second sheet conveying path pushes the second contact portion.

[0012] Preferably, the pivot is sleeved with a sleeve rod extending along the length direction of the pivot, and the sleeve rod is connected to the pivot via a first return spring, the first contact portion is arranged on the outer wall of the pivot, and the second contact portion and the trigger member are arranged on the outer wall of the sleeve rod. The first return spring can exert a force on the pivot, thereby pushing the pivot to rotate in the opposite direction.

[0013] In order to enable the sensor structure to simultaneously meet the installation requirements of the first sheet material transmission path, the second sheet material transmission path and the induction member, preferably, the installation positions of the first contact portion, the second contact portion and the trigger member are spaced apart along the axial direction of the pivot.

[0014] Preferably, the sensing element is a photoelectric sensor, which includes a light emitter and a light receiver arranged relative to the light emitter. When the trigger element is in contact with the sensing element, the end of the trigger element is arranged between the light emitter and the light receiver; when the trigger element is separated from the sensing element, the end of the trigger element is away from between the light emitter and the light receiver.

[0015] Furthermore, the photoelectric sensor also includes a U-shaped mounting seat, which includes two opposite side walls for the light emitter and the light receiver and a groove arranged between the two opposite side walls, and the groove can be used for the end of the trigger member to be inserted.

[0016] Preferably, it further comprises a reset member acting on the pivot, and the reset member always has a force capable of restoring the pivot to a state where there is no sheet pushing.

[0017] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above second technical problem is: an image forming device, using the sensor structure for the image forming device as described above.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are: by providing a first contact part, a second contact part, a pivot, a sensing member and a triggering member, and the first contact part, the second contact part and the triggering member are all arranged radially with the pivot as the center, when the sheet on the first sheet transmission path pushes the first contact part or the sheet on the second sheet transmission path pushes the second contact part, the pivot can rotate circumferentially around its axis, thereby enabling the triggering member to contact or separate from the sensing member. Therefore, the sensor structure only needs one sensing member to realize the detection of sheets on two sheet transmission paths, making the sensor structure simpler, thereby miniaturizing the image forming device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 It is a partial structural schematic diagram of an image forming device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a sensor structure used in an image forming device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the first sheet material pushing the first contact portion in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the first sheet leaving the first contact portion in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the second sheet material pushing the second contact portion in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the second sheet leaving the second contact portion in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a sensor structure used in an image forming device in a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the first sheet material pushing the first contact portion in the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Fig. 9 This is a schematic diagram of the first sheet leaving the first contact portion in the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Fig.10 This is a schematic diagram of the second sheet material pushing the second contact portion in the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Fig.11 It is a schematic diagram of the second sheet leaving the second contact portion in the second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0031] Embodiment 1:

[0032] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, this embodiment relates to an image forming device. In this embodiment, the image forming device is a printer, a copier, a multifunctional all-in-one machine, etc.

[0033] The image forming device has a sensor structure. The sensor structure in this embodiment includes a first contact portion 1, a second contact portion 2, a pivot 3, a sensing member 4 and a trigger member 5. The first contact portion 1 and the second contact portion 2 are respectively located on two different sheet transport paths of the image forming device, and the two different sheet transport paths of the image forming device are respectively recorded as a first sheet transport path X and a second sheet transport path Y; the first contact portion 1, the second contact portion 2 and the trigger member 5 are all arranged radially with the pivot 3 as the center, the sensing member 4 is arranged adjacent to the pivot 3, and the pivot 3 is configured such that: in the process of a sheet on the first sheet transport path X pushing the first contact portion 1 or a sheet on the second sheet transport path Y pushing the second contact portion 2, the pivot 3 can rotate circumferentially around its axis, thereby enabling the trigger member 5 to contact or separate from the sensing member 4.

[0034] like Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, in the process of the sheet on the first sheet transport path X pushing the first contact portion 1 and the sheet on the second sheet transport path Y pushing the second contact portion 2 in this embodiment, the rotation direction of the pivot 3 is reversed (i.e., one rotates clockwise and the other rotates counterclockwise). The sheet on the first sheet transport path X is the first sheet a, and the sheet on the second sheet transport path Y is the second sheet b. In this embodiment, the first sheet transport path X is adjacent to the second sheet transport path Y.

[0035] like Figure 2As shown, in this embodiment, a sleeve rod 6 is sleeved on the pivot 3 and extends along the length direction of the pivot 3, and the sleeve rod 6 is connected to the pivot 3 through a first return spring 7, the first contact portion 1 is arranged on the outer wall of the pivot 3, and the second contact portion 2 and the trigger member 5 are arranged on the outer wall of the sleeve rod 6. It also includes a return member 8 acting on the pivot 3, and the return member 8 always has a force that can restore the pivot 3 to a state without sheet pushing. In this embodiment, the return member 8 is a second return spring, such as Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, one end of the second return spring abuts against the pivot 3 (specifically, against the mounting block 30 of the pivot 3), and the other end abuts against the housing 10 of the image forming device. The function of the second return spring is to store energy in the process of the sheet on the first sheet transport path X pushing the first contact portion 1 to move, and to release energy after the sheet on the first sheet transport path X leaves the first contact portion 1, thereby restoring the sensor structure to its initial state; the function of the first return spring 7 is to provide a force for the pivot 3 when the first sheet a and the second sheet b push the rotation direction of the pivot 3 in the opposite direction.

[0036] like Figure 2 As shown, the installation positions of the first contact portion 1, the second contact portion 2 and the trigger member 5 are spaced apart along the axial direction of the pivot 3. This arrangement allows the first contact portion 1 to be arranged on the first sheet material transmission path X, the second contact portion 2 to be arranged on the second sheet material transmission path Y, and also allows the trigger member 5 to contact the sensing member 4.

[0037] The sensing element 4 in this embodiment is a photoelectric sensor, which includes a light emitter and a light receiver arranged relative to the light emitter. When the trigger element 5 is in contact with the sensing element 4, the end of the trigger element 5 is located between the light emitter and the light receiver; when the trigger element 5 is separated from the sensing element 4, the end of the trigger element 5 is away from the light emitter and the light receiver. Figure 2 As shown, the photoelectric sensor further includes a U-shaped mounting seat 43, which includes two opposite side walls for the light emitter and the light receiver and a groove 430 provided between the two opposite side walls, and the groove 430 can be inserted into the end of the trigger member 5. In this embodiment, the end of the trigger member 5 is a shielding portion, which can shield the light transmitted between the light emitter and the light receiver.

[0038] The working process of the sensor structure in this embodiment is as follows:

[0039] 1. When the first sheet a reaches the first contact portion 1 (such as Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the first sheet a is transported along the first sheet transport path X, and the first sheet a pushes the first contact portion 1 so that the pivot 3 can rotate circumferentially around its axis (as shown in FIG. 1 ). Figure 3As shown, the pivot 3 rotates counterclockwise), so that the trigger member 5 can be separated from the sensing member 4; at this time, the photoelectric sensor can recognize that the sheet has reached the sensor position;

[0040] When the first sheet a leaves the first contact portion 1 (such as Figure 4 As shown), under the action of the second return spring, the pivot 3 is returned to the initial state (as shown Figure 4 As shown, the pivot 3 rotates clockwise), so that the trigger member 5 can contact the sensing member 4 (that is, the end of the trigger member 5 is inserted into the groove 430); at this time, the photoelectric sensor can recognize that the sheet leaves the sensor position;

[0041] 2. When the second sheet material b reaches the second contact portion 2 (such as Figure 5 As shown), the second sheet b is transported along the second sheet transport path Y, the second sheet b pushes the second contact portion 2, and under the action of the first return spring 7, the pivot 3 can rotate circumferentially around its axis (as shown in FIG. Figure 5 As shown, the pivot 3 rotates clockwise), so that the trigger member 5 can be separated from the sensing member 4; at this time, the photoelectric sensor can recognize that the sheet has reached the sensor position;

[0042] When the second sheet material b leaves the second contact portion 2 (eg Figure 6 As shown), under the action of the second return spring, the pivot 3 is returned to the initial state (as shown Figure 6 As shown, the pivot 3 rotates counterclockwise), so that the trigger member 5 can contact the sensing member 4 (that is, the end of the trigger member 5 is inserted into the groove 430); at this time, the photoelectric sensor can recognize that the sheet leaves the sensor position;

[0043] In addition, only one of the first sheet a and the second sheet b is used at a time in the image forming apparatus, so the sensor structure of the present invention can realize the detection of the sheets.

[0044] Embodiment 2:

[0045] like Figures 7 to 11 As shown, different from the first embodiment, in this embodiment, during the process in which the sheet on the first sheet conveying path X pushes the first contact portion 1 and during the process in which the sheet on the second sheet conveying path Y pushes the second contact portion 2, the rotation direction of the pivot 3 is the same (i.e., simultaneously rotating clockwise or simultaneously rotating counterclockwise).

[0046] In this embodiment, Figure 7 As shown, the first contact portion 1 , the second contact portion 2 and the trigger member 5 are all arranged on the outer wall of the pivot 3 .

[0047] The working process of the sensor structure in this embodiment is as follows:

[0048] 1. When the first sheet a reaches the first contact portion 1 (such as Figure 8 As shown in FIG. 1 , the first sheet a is transported along the first sheet transport path X, and the first sheet a pushes the first contact portion 1 so that the pivot 3 can rotate circumferentially around its axis (as shown in FIG. 1 ). Figure 8 As shown, the pivot 3 rotates counterclockwise), so that the trigger member 5 can be separated from the sensing member 4; at this time, the photoelectric sensor can recognize that the sheet has reached the sensor position;

[0049] When the first sheet a leaves the first contact portion 1 (such as Fig. 9 As shown), under the action of the second return spring, the pivot 3 is returned to the initial state (as shown Fig. 9 As shown, the pivot 3 rotates clockwise), so that the trigger member 5 can contact the sensing member 4 (that is, the end of the trigger member 5 is inserted into the groove 430); at this time, the photoelectric sensor can recognize that the sheet leaves the sensor position;

[0050] 2. When the second sheet material b reaches the second contact portion 2 (such as Fig.10 As shown in FIG. 1 , the second sheet b is transported along the second sheet transport path Y, and the second sheet b pushes the second contact portion 2 so that the pivot 3 can rotate circumferentially around its axis (as shown in FIG. 1 ). Fig.10 As shown, the pivot 3 rotates counterclockwise), so that the trigger member 5 can be separated from the sensing member 4; at this time, the photoelectric sensor can recognize that the sheet has reached the sensor position;

[0051] When the second sheet material b leaves the second contact portion 2 ((as Fig.11 As shown), under the action of the second return spring, the pivot 3 is returned to the initial state (as shown Fig.11 As shown, the pivot 3 rotates clockwise), so that the trigger member 5 can contact the sensing member 4 (ie, the end of the trigger member 5 is inserted into the groove 430); at this time, the photoelectric sensor can recognize that the sheet leaves the sensor position.

Claims

1. A sensor structure for an image forming device, comprising a first contact portion (1) and a second contact portion (2), wherein the first contact portion (1) and the second contact portion (2) are respectively located on two different sheet transport paths of the image forming device, and the two different sheet transport paths of the image forming device are respectively denoted as a first sheet transport path (X) and a second sheet transport path (Y); Features The invention also comprises a pivot (3), a sensing member (4) and a trigger member (5); the first contact portion (1), the second contact portion (2) and the trigger member (5) are all arranged radially with the pivot (3) as the center; the sensing member (4) is arranged adjacent to the pivot (3); and the pivot (3) is configured such that when a sheet on a first sheet transport path (X) pushes the first contact portion (1) or a sheet on a second sheet transport path (Y) pushes the second contact portion (2), the pivot (3) can rotate circumferentially around its axis, thereby enabling the trigger member (5) to contact or separate from the sensing member (4).

2. The sensor structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: When a sheet on the first sheet transport path (X) pushes the first contact portion (1) and when a sheet on the second sheet transport path (Y) pushes the second contact portion (2), the pivot (3) rotates in the same direction.

3. The sensor structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first contact portion (1), the second contact portion (2) and the trigger member (5) are all arranged on the outer wall of the pivot (3).

4. The sensor structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotation direction of the pivot (3) is reversed during the process in which the sheet on the first sheet conveying path (X) pushes the first contact portion (1) and during the process in which the sheet on the second sheet conveying path (Y) pushes the second contact portion (2).

5. The sensor structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: The pivot (3) is sleeved with a sleeve rod (6) extending along the length direction of the pivot (3), and the sleeve rod (6) is connected to the pivot (3) via a first return spring (7); the first contact portion (1) is arranged on the outer wall of the pivot (3), and the second contact portion (2) and the trigger member (5) are arranged on the outer wall of the sleeve rod (6).

6. The sensor structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The installation positions of the first contact portion (1), the second contact portion (2) and the trigger member (5) are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the pivot (3).

7. The sensor structure according to claim 6, characterized in that: The sensing element (4) is a photoelectric sensor, comprising a light emitter and a light receiver arranged at a relative interval from the light emitter. When the trigger element (5) is in contact with the sensing element (4), the end of the trigger element (5) is arranged between the light emitter and the light receiver; when the trigger element (5) is separated from the sensing element (4), the end of the trigger element (5) is away from the light emitter and the light receiver.

8. The sensor structure according to claim 7, characterized in that: The photoelectric sensor further comprises a U-shaped mounting seat (43), the mounting seat (43) comprising two opposite side walls for accommodating a light emitter and a light receiver, and a groove (430) arranged between the two opposite side walls, wherein the groove (430) can be inserted into the end of the trigger member (5).

9. The sensor structure according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: It also comprises a reset member (8) acting on the pivot (3), wherein the reset member (8) always has a force capable of restoring the pivot (3) to a state without sheet material pushing.

10. An image forming device, characterized in that: The sensor structure for an image forming device described in any one of 1 to 9 above is applied.

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