Transport device and image forming system

Abstract

To make it possible to store a sheet on which an image is formed when an abnormality is detected.SOLUTION: A transport device 3 includes a transport unit 31A, a storage unit 40, reversing units 34, 35, and a switching unit 33A. The transport unit 31A sequentially transports a sheet on top of which an image has been formed, from an image forming device 2 in a predetermined direction M. The storage unit 40 stores the sheet transported from the transport unit 31A. The reversing units 34, 35 reverse the face of the sheet transported from the transport unit 31A. The switching unit 33A switches between supplying the sheet from the transport unit 31A to the storage unit 40 and supplying the sheet from the transport unit 31A to the reversing units 34, 35. The reversing units 34, 35 have a reversing supply path 31F that supplies the sheet whose surface has been reversed to the image forming device 2 and an ejection path 31G that ejects the sheet whose surface has been reversed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveying device and an image forming system. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Sheet conveying devices have been developed that include a storage unit that stores sheets present in a sheet conveying path when an abnormality such as double feeding is detected (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-86455 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The sheet conveying device in Patent Document 1 is for supplying sheets to an image forming apparatus, and is not for storing the sheets on which images have been formed in a storage section when an abnormality is detected.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a conveying device and an image forming system that can store a sheet on which an image is formed when an abnormality is detected. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The conveying device according to the present invention comprises a conveying section, a storage section, an inversion section, a switching section, and a control section. The conveying section sequentially conveys sheets having an image formed on their upper surface in a predetermined direction from an image forming device. The storage section stores the sheets conveyed from the conveying section. The inversion section inverts the surface of the sheets conveyed from the conveying section. The switching section switches between supplying the sheets from the conveying section to the storage section or to the inversion section. The inversion section has an inversion supply path that supplies the sheets with the inverted surface to the image forming device, and a discharge path that discharges the sheets with the inverted surface.

[0007] An image forming system according to the present invention includes the above-described conveying device and an image forming device that forms the image on the upper surface of the sheet. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, when an abnormality is detected, the sheet on which the image is formed can be accommodated. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system having a conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a transport device according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a storage section according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a storage section according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] 1 is a block diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters and description thereof will not be repeated.

[0011] First, an image forming system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image forming system 1 having a conveying device 3 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the image forming system 1 has an image forming device 2, a conveying device 3, and a discharge device 4.

[0012] The conveying device 3 is connected to the image forming device 2. The conveying device 3 is connected to the image forming device 2 on the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction.

[0013] The discharge device 4 is connected to the conveying device 3. The discharge device 4 is connected to the downstream side of the conveying device 3 in the sheet conveying direction. The discharge device 4 discharges the sheet conveyed from the conveying device 3. The discharge device 4 may have a paper output tray 140 that stores the discharged sheets.

[0014] The image forming device 2 forms an image on a sheet based on image data. The image forming device 2 acquires image data from a document, or acquires image data from an external server, cloud, or terminal. The image forming device 2 may be a device that combines an image data transmission / reception function, an image reading function, and an image forming function. The image forming device 2 has functions such as a scanner, printer, copier, telephone, printing machine, and facsimile, for example.

[0015] The cloud is a form of utilization in which computer resources are provided via a computer network such as the Internet, and includes, for example, applications, a platform, and an infrastructure.

[0016] The server stores the data and provides the corresponding data when requested via a communication line.

[0017] Specifically, the image forming apparatus 2 has a feeding section 20, a feeding section 21, a conveying section 22, a conveying section 23, a conveying section 24, an image forming section 25, a conveying belt 26, and a double-sided conveying path 27.

[0018] The feeding section 20 stores and feeds sheets.

[0019] The feeding section 21 mainly performs manual feeding.

[0020] The transport section 22 transports the sheet fed from the feeding section 20 toward the image forming section 25. The transport section 22 includes a transport roller 22A.

[0021] The conveying section 23 conveys the sheet manually fed from the feeding section 21 toward the image forming section 25 .

[0022] The conveying section 24 conveys the sheet to the conveying device 3.

[0023] The image forming unit 25 forms an image on a sheet using toner or ink. When the image forming apparatus 2 is of an electrophotographic type, the image forming unit 25 includes a photoconductor, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, a cleaning device, and a charge removing device.

[0024] An example of the photoconductor is a photoconductor drum. The photoconductor drum has a photosensitive layer on its outer circumferential surface. An example of the photoconductor drum is a selenium drum or an OPC (Organic Photoconductor).

[0025] The charging device charges the photosensitive layer of the photoreceptor to a predetermined potential. One example of the charging device is a corona discharger.

[0026] The exposure device irradiates the photosensitive layer of the photoconductor with laser light to expose it. The exposure device exposes the photosensitive layer of the photoconductor based on image data. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor. An example of the exposure device is an LED (Light Emitting Diode).

[0027] The developing device, for example, contains a two-component developer containing a carrier made of a magnetic material and a toner. The developing device develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor with the toner to form a toner image on the photoreceptor. The transfer device transfers the toner image on the photoreceptor to a sheet. The cleaning device removes residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor after transfer. The static eliminator eliminates static electricity from the photoreceptor.

[0028] When the image forming device 2 is an inkjet printer, the image forming section 25 includes an ink cartridge, an ink tank, a pump, a head, a nozzle, and electrodes.

[0029] The ink cartridges and ink tanks store, for example, water-based inks of the following colors: Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and Bk (black).

[0030] The pump supplies ink from the ink tank to the head.

[0031] The head has a large number of nozzles that make up pixels. Ink of a color that corresponds to the image data is supplied to the head from an ink tank based on the image data. The ink is ejected from the nozzles toward the sheet.

[0032] The electrodes include, for example, a charging electrode and a deflection electrode. The charging electrode charges the ink ejected from the nozzle. The deflection electrode controls the flying direction of the charged ink.

[0033] The conveyor belt 26 is disposed opposite the nozzles of the head and conveys the sheet. An image is formed on the sheet conveyed by the conveyor belt 26 with ink ejected from the nozzles of the head.

[0034] The double-sided conveying path 27 conveys the sheet conveyed from the conveying device 3 with the print side facing up to the image forming unit 25 with the non-print side facing up (with the print side facing down).

[0035] Next, the conveying device 3 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the conveying device 3 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, the conveying device 3 includes a drying device 30, a conveying section 31, a conveying roller 32, a switching section 33, a first drum conveying section 34, and a second drum conveying section 35. The first drum conveying section 34 and the second drum conveying section 35 are examples of a "reversing section."

[0036] The transport rollers 32 include a transport roller 32A, a transport roller 32B, a transport roller 32C, a transport roller 32D, a transport roller 32E, a transport roller 32F, a transport roller 32G, a transport roller 32H, and a transport roller 32I.

[0037] The switching unit 33 includes a switching unit 33A, a switching unit 33B, a switching unit 33C, a switching unit 33D, a switching unit 33E, and a switching unit 33F.

[0038] The conveying section 31 has a conveying path 31A, a reversing conveying path 31B, a reversing conveying path 31C, a first evacuation conveying path 31D, a first evacuation conveying path 31E, a first U-turn conveying path 31F, and a first discharge conveying path 31H. The conveying path 31A is an example of a "conveying section." The first U-turn conveying path 31F is an example of a "reversing supply path."

[0039] The conveying path 31A is formed to extend in the M direction (arrow left direction) from the conveying unit 24 of the image forming device 2. The M direction is an example of a "predetermined direction." A sheet discharged from the conveying unit 24 of the image forming device 2 is conveyed in the M direction (arrow left direction) on the conveying path 31A.

[0040] The print surface (upper surface) of the sheet conveyed in the direction of arrow M by conveying rollers 32A of conveying device 3 is dried by drying device 30.

[0041] The first discharge transport path 31H is formed to extend to the discharge device 4.

[0042] The reverse conveying path 31B is connected to the conveying path 31A and is formed by branching off from the conveying path 31A in the N direction to a first discharge conveying path 31H. The sheet conveyed in the M direction on the conveying path 31A is conveyed in the N direction on the reverse conveying path 31B.

[0043] The switching unit 33A can be switched to side A or side B. When the switching unit 33A is switched to side B, the sheet is transported through the discharge transport path 31H and discharged to the discharge device 4. On the other hand, when the switching unit 33A is switched to side A, the sheet is transported through the reverse transport path 31B in the direction of arrow N by the transport rollers 32B.

[0044] The reversing conveying path 31C is connected to the reversing conveying path 31B, and is formed extending from the switching portion 33A through the switching portion 33B to the switching portion 33C. The sheet conveyed from the reversing conveying path 31B continues to be conveyed in the N direction on the reversing conveying path 31C.

[0045] Switching unit 33C can be switched to side C or side D. When switching unit 33C is switched to side C, the sheet transported through transport path 31A, reverse transport path 31B, and reverse transport path 31C is transported to first evacuation transport path 31D and first evacuation transport path 31E of first drum transport unit 34 by transport rollers 32C, 32D, and 32E.

[0046] The first evacuation conveying path 31D is connected to the reversing conveying path 31C at the point where the switching section 33C is disposed, and is formed to extend in the direction of arrow O to the first drum conveying section .

[0047] The first evacuation conveying path 31E is connected to the first evacuation conveying path 31D to form the first drum conveying section 34. A part of the first evacuation conveying path 31D and the first evacuation conveying path 31E may form the first drum conveying section 34. The first evacuation conveying path 31E conveys the sheet in the direction of the arrow O continuously from the first evacuation conveying path 31D.

[0048] The sheet conveyed to the first drum conveying section 34 is conveyed along the first retreat conveying path 31D to a position downstream in the conveying direction from the point where the rear end of the sheet is positioned at the switching section 33D, and is retreated to the first retreat conveying path 31E.

[0049] The first U-turn transport path 31F is formed by branching off from the first evacuation transport path 31D at a point where a switching section 33D is disposed.

[0050] The switching unit 33D can be switched to the side of the arrow E or the side of the arrow F. When the switching unit 33D is switched to the side of the arrow F, the transport rollers 32E and 32F of the transport device 3 transport the sheet in the direction of the arrow P.

[0051] The sheet switched back from the first retreat conveying path 31E is conveyed from the first U-turn conveying path 31F toward the image forming device 2. The sheet that has entered the image forming device 2 is conveyed along the double-sided conveying path 27 by the conveying rollers 27A with the print surface facing up (facing upward).

[0052] As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet conveyed along the double-sided conveying path 27 is turned upside down (with the print surface facing down) when conveyed to the conveying unit 24, and is printed on both sides again in the image forming unit 25.

[0053] The transport section 31 further includes a first discharge transport path 31G, a second evacuation transport path 31I, a second evacuation transport path 31J, a second U-turn transport path 31K, and a second U-turn transport path 31L. The first discharge transport path 31G is an example of a "discharge path".

[0054] When the switching section 33C is switched to the side of the arrow D, the sheet transported through the reverse conveying path 31A, the reverse conveying path 31B and the reverse conveying path 31C is transported to the second evacuation conveying path 31I and the second evacuation conveying path 31J of the second drum conveying section 35 by the conveying rollers 32C and 32H.

[0055] The second drum conveying section 35 is formed by a second evacuation conveying path 31I, a second evacuation conveying path 31J, and a second U-turn conveying path 31K.

[0056] The second evacuation conveying path 31I is formed by being connected to the reversing conveying path 31C, and is further formed by being branched off from the first evacuation conveying path 31D. The second evacuation conveying path 31I evacuates the sheets conveyed by the reversing conveying path 31A, the reversing conveying path 31B, and the reversing conveying path 31C.

[0057] The second U-turn conveying path 31K and the second U-turn conveying path 31L are formed by branching off from the second evacuation conveying path 31I and the second evacuation conveying path 31J at a point where the switching unit 33F is disposed.

[0058] The switching unit 33F can be switched to the side of the arrow I or the side of the arrow J. When the switching unit 33F is switched to the side of the arrow J, the transport rollers 32H of the transport device 3 transport the sheet in the directions of the arrow S and the arrow T.

[0059] Switching unit 33E can be switched to the side of arrow G or the side of arrow H. When switching unit 33E is switched to the side of arrow H, transport rollers 32E and 32J of transport device 3 transport the sheet in the direction of arrow P. The sheet that has entered image forming device 2 is transported along duplex transport path 27 by transport rollers 27A with the print surface facing up (upward).

[0060] As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet conveyed along the double-sided conveying path 27 is turned upside down (with the print surface facing down) when conveyed to the conveying unit 24, and is printed on both sides again in the image forming unit 25.

[0061] The first discharge conveying path 31G is connected to the first discharge conveying path 31H. The first discharge conveying path 31H is formed to extend to the discharge device 4.

[0062] The first discharge conveying path 31G and the first discharge conveying path 31H are formed by branching off from the first U-turn conveying path 31F, and the sheet switched back from the second U-turn conveying path 31L is conveyed toward the discharge device 4. That is, the first U-turn conveying path 31F branches off into the first U-turn conveying path 31F extending to the image forming device 2 and the first discharge conveying path 31G at a point where the switching unit 33E is disposed.

[0063] When the switching unit 33F is switched to the side of the arrow J and the switching unit 33E is switched to the side of the arrow G, the transport rollers 32H and 32G of the transport device 3 transport the sheet from the second U-turn transport path 31K and the second U-turn transport path 31L to the second discharge transport path 31G and the second discharge transport path 31H in the direction of the arrow Q. As a result, the face-down sheet is discharged to the discharge device 4.

[0064] The conveying section 31 further includes a long sheet conveying path 31M.

[0065] The switching unit 33B can be switched to the side of the arrow K or the side of the arrow L. When the switching unit 33B is switched to the side of the arrow L, the sheet is transported in the direction of the arrow U in the long sheet transport path 31M by the transport rollers 32D, 32C, and 32I.

[0066] Furthermore, the switching unit 33E is switched to the side of the arrow H, and the transport roller 32F transports the sheet in the direction of the arrow P. This allows double-sided printing to be performed by the image forming device 2. On the other hand, when the switching unit 33E is switched to the side of the arrow G, the transport roller 32G transports the sheet in the direction of the arrow Q from the second U-turn transport path 31L to the second discharge transport path 31G and to the second discharge transport path 31H. This allows the face-down large long sheet to be discharged to the discharge device 4.

[0067] Moreover, the conveying device 3 further includes a storage section 40. The storage section 40 stores the sheet conveyed from the conveying path 31A. As a result, according to this embodiment, the storage section 40 can store a sheet having an image formed on its upper surface. Specifically, the space available at the top can be effectively utilized. More specifically, according to this embodiment, the storage section 40 can store a sheet present in the vicinity of the drying device 30. As a result, the possibility of the sheet catching fire can be suppressed.

[0068] Next, the storage section 40 according to this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the storage section 40 according to this embodiment. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the storage section 40 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the shape of the storage section 40 is a semi-cylinder.

[0069] The storage section 40 has an upper semi-cylinder body 41 and a lower semi-cylinder body 42. The lower semi-cylinder body 42 faces the upper semi-cylinder body 41 with a gap therebetween and is disposed inside the upper semi-cylinder body 41. The sheet is stored between the upper semi-cylinder body 41 and the lower semi-cylinder body 42.

[0070] The length of the lower semi-cylinder body 42 is shorter than the length of the upper semi-cylinder body 41. Specifically, the length of the lower semi-cylinder body 42 in the front-rear direction is shorter than the length of the upper semi-cylinder body 41. As a result, with a simple configuration, it is possible for a person to easily take out the sheet in the storage unit 40.

[0071] More specifically, the difference in length in the front-rear direction between the upper end of the lower semi-cylinder 42 and the upper end of the upper semi-cylinder 41 is shorter than the difference in length between the lower end of the lower semi-cylinder 42 and the lower end of the upper semi-cylinder 41. As a result, with this simple configuration, it is possible for a person to more easily remove sheets from the storage section 40.

[0072] Furthermore, the conveying device 3 further includes a driving section 50. The driving section 50 supplies the sheet conveyed from the conveying path 31A to the storage section 40.

[0073] The driving unit 50 faces the lower end of the storage unit 40. Specifically, the driving unit 50 has an upper roller 51 and a lower roller 52. The lower roller 52 faces the upper roller 51 and is disposed in a predetermined direction M from the upper roller 51. As a result, the storage unit 40 stores the sheets such that the top surface of the sheet is on the inside of the semicylinder. The storage unit 40 sequentially stores the sheets such that the top surface of the sheet is on the inside of the sheets stored in the storage unit 40.

[0074] In detail, the driving unit 50 faces the lower end of the storage unit 40 so that after the sheet is stored in the storage unit 40, the sheet can be drawn down.

[0075] Next, the image forming system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the image forming system 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in Fig. 5, the image forming system 1 further includes a detection unit 61, a control unit 62, and a storage unit 63.

[0076] The detection unit 61 detects an abnormality in the conveying device 3. Specifically, the detection unit 61 detects a paper jam in the conveying device 3. The detection unit 61 is disposed in the conveying device 3 or the image forming device 2.

[0077] The control unit 62 and the memory unit 63 are disposed in the conveying device 3 or the image forming device 2. The memory unit 63 stores a control program. The memory unit 63 is configured with, for example, a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM) and / or a Solid State Drive (SSD). The memory unit 63 may include an external memory. The external memory is a removable medium. The memory unit 63 may include, for example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory and / or a Secure Digital (SD) card as the external memory.

[0078] The control unit 62 is, for example, a processor. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 62 controls the conveying device 3 by executing a control program stored in the storage unit 63.

[0079] The control unit 62 controls the switching unit 33A based on the detection result of the detection unit 61. Specifically, when the control unit 62 detects a paper jam in the conveying device 3, it supplies the sheet present in the conveying path 31A to the storage unit 40. On the other hand, when the control unit 62 does not detect a paper jam in the conveying device 3, it supplies the sheet present in the conveying path 31A to the reversing conveying path 31B.

[0080] The control unit 62 also controls the drive unit 50. Specifically, the control unit 62 controls the rotation speeds of the upper roller 51 and the lower roller 52. More specifically, the brake speed is a speed that provides a jump amount that does not cause the falling rear end of the sheet present in the storage unit 40 to collide with the front end of the sheet supplied from the transport path 31A, and that can be exceeded up to the drawing omission point.

[0081] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented in various aspects without departing from the gist 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. Furthermore, components across different embodiments may be appropriately combined. The drawings are mainly shown schematically for ease of understanding, and the thickness, length, number, spacing, etc. of each component shown in the drawings may differ from the actual ones due to the convenience of drawing. In addition, the material, shape, dimensions, etc. of each component shown in the above embodiments are examples and are not particularly limited, and various changes are possible within a range that does not substantially deviate from the effects of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0082] The present invention is suitably used in a conveying device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 2. Image forming device 3. Conveyor 31A Conveyor 31F Reverse supply channel 31G Exhaust channel 33A switching section 34 Reversal section 35 Reversal section 40 Storage unit M Specified direction

Claims

1. a conveying section that conveys the sheets having the images formed on the upper surface thereof from the image forming apparatus in a predetermined direction; a storage section that stores the sheet transported from the transport section; an inverting unit that inverts a surface of the sheet conveyed from the conveying unit; a switching unit that switches whether the sheet is supplied from the conveying unit to the storage unit or to the reversing unit; Equipped with The inversion portion is a reversing supply path for supplying the sheet with the inverted face to the image forming device; a discharge path for discharging the sheet whose surface has been inverted; A conveying device comprising:

2. The shape of the container is semi-cylindrical, The sheet is placed so that the upper surface of the sheet is inside the semi-cylinder; The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the sheets are sequentially accommodated in the accommodation section so as to be on an inner side of the sheets accommodated in the accommodation section.

3. The storage section includes: An upper semi-cylinder; a lower semi-cylinder body disposed inside the upper semi-cylinder body and facing the upper semi-cylinder body with a gap therebetween; having The sheet is accommodated between the upper semi-cylinder and the lower semi-cylinder, The transport device of claim 2 , wherein the length of the lower semi-cylinder is shorter than the length of the upper semi-cylinder.

4. a drive unit that supplies the sheet conveyed from the conveying unit to the storage unit, The drive unit is An upper roller; a lower roller that faces the upper roller and is disposed in the predetermined direction relative to the upper roller; The transport device of claim 1 , further comprising:

5. The transport apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the rotational speeds of the upper and lower rollers are controlled.

6. The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the conveying section includes a drying section that dries an upper surface of the sheet.

7. A conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, an image forming device for forming the image on the upper surface of the sheet; An image forming system comprising:

Images