Medium conveyance device

Abstract

To provide a medium conveyance device capable of suppressing possible damaging or jamming of a medium.SOLUTION: A medium conveyance device 1 comprises: a conveyance roller pair 401 that conveys a medium S on a conveyance path T; a deformation softening part 300 that is provided upstream of the conveyance roller pair 401 in the conveying direction B of the medium S and that applies a force to the medium S in a direction intersecting the surface of the medium S to soften deformation of the medium S.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a medium conveyance device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1, there is known a sheet feeding device that separates only the uppermost recording sheet among the recording sheets stacked on a sheet tray and supplies it to a conveyance roll. This sheet feeding device includes a conveyance belt that adsorbs the stacked recording sheets, and a corrugator that projects downward from the peripheral surface of the conveyance belt to impart a wavy deformation to the adsorbed recording sheets. With this configuration, even when a plurality of recording sheets are adsorbed on the conveyance belt, the recording sheets other than the uppermost layer are likely to peel off due to the deformation. Therefore, double feeding in which a plurality of recording sheets are supplied is suppressed. Further, it is described that by retracting the corrugator immediately before the leading edge of the recording sheet is fed into the conveyance roll, the deformation of the recording sheet can be alleviated, and damage and jams of the recording sheet can be suppressed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, depending on the type of the recording sheet and the environment in which the device is installed, simply retracting the corrugator may not be able to alleviate the deformation of the recording sheet, and there is a risk that the recording sheet is sent to the conveyance roll while being deformed. Further, even when intentional deformation is not applied as in the prior art, the recording sheet may be deformed unexpectedly and the deformation may remain. When the recording sheet enters the conveyance roll while being deformed in this way, there is a possibility that damage and jams of the recording sheet may occur.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The medium conveyance device includes a pair of conveyance rollers that convey a medium along a conveyance path, and a deformation relaxation unit that is provided upstream of the pair of conveyance rollers in the conveyance direction of the medium and applies a force to the medium in a direction intersecting the surface of the medium, thereby relaxing the deformation of the medium.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

Figure 1

Figure 2A

Figure 2B

Figure 2C

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0007] 1. Embodiment 1 The schematic configuration of the medium conveyance device 1 according to Embodiment 1 will be described. The medium conveyance device 1 of the present embodiment is a recording device that records an image or the like on the medium S while conveying the medium S.

[0008] In the following description, as shown in each figure, three axes orthogonal to each other are defined as the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, respectively. The directions indicated by the arrows of the three axes are the + directions of each direction, and the opposite directions are the - directions. The Z-axis direction corresponds to the vertical direction, that is, the direction in which gravity acts. The +Z direction indicates vertically upward, and the -Z direction indicates vertically downward. The X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction correspond to the horizontal direction.

[0009] The X-axis direction is the depth direction of the medium conveyance device 1. The X-axis direction is also the width direction of the medium S and is a direction intersecting the conveyance direction B of the medium S. Among the X-axis directions, the +X direction is the direction from the front of the device to the back of the device, and the -X direction is the direction from the back of the device to the front of the device. The Y-axis direction is the width direction of the medium conveyance device 1. Among the Y-axis directions, the +Y direction is the left direction toward the front of the medium conveyance device 1, and the -Y direction is the right direction toward the front of the medium conveyance device 1. The front of the medium conveyance device 1 is the surface on the side where the operation unit 800 located for the user to give instructions to the medium conveyance device 1 is positioned.

[0010] Also, in the following description, the direction intersecting the surface of the medium S means the direction intersecting both the front and back surfaces of the medium S. The direction intersecting the surface of the medium S is a direction intersecting both the conveyance direction B of the medium S and the width direction of the medium S.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the medium conveyance device 1 includes a housing 2, a supply unit 100, a deformation imparting unit 200, a deformation relaxation unit 300, a conveyance unit 400, a recording unit 500, a discharge unit 600, a control unit 700, and an operation unit 800. The deformation relaxation unit 300, the conveyance unit 400, the recording unit 500, and the control unit 700 are provided inside the housing 2.

[0012] The operation unit 800 is provided above the side surface on the -X direction side, which is the front side of the housing 2 of the medium conveyance device 1. The operation unit 800 has a touch panel type display unit, operation buttons, etc. By operating the operation unit 800, the user can set and register information related to the conveyance of the medium S, information related to recording, and information related to the size and type (plain paper, glossy paper, thick paper, etc.) of the medium S.

[0013] The control unit 700 includes a CPU, a flash ROM, and a RAM. The CPU performs various arithmetic processes according to the programs stored in the flash ROM and controls the operation of the entire medium conveyance device 1. The flash ROM, which is an example of the storage means, is a non-volatile memory that can be read from and written to. Various information is temporarily stored in the RAM, which is an example of the storage means. The control unit 700 can receive a supply start signal for the medium S from an external device. The control unit 700 may receive a supply start signal for the medium S from the operation unit 800.

[0014] The supply unit 100 includes a placement unit 101, a belt conveyance unit 103, and a blower unit 107. The supply unit 100 supplies the medium S to the conveyance path T along the supply direction A. The conveyance path T is the path along which the medium S is conveyed in the medium conveyance device 1. Specifically, the conveyance path T is the path along which the medium S is conveyed inside the housing 2. In the present embodiment, the supply direction A is the +Y direction.

[0015] The placement unit 101 includes a placement table 102 on which a plurality of media S are placed and a lifting unit (not shown). The placement table 102 is movable up and down in the Z-axis direction by the lifting unit.

[0016] The belt conveyance unit 103 is provided at a position in the +Z direction directly above the placement table 102 and facing the placement table 102 while being held by a holding unit (not shown). The belt conveyance unit 103 adsorbs and conveys the medium S placed on the placement table 102. In other words, the belt conveyance unit 103 adsorbs the uppermost medium S among the plurality of media S placed on the placement unit 101 and feeds it into the conveyance path T.

[0017] The belt conveyance unit 103 includes a belt 104, a pair of pulleys 105, and a suction fan 106. Each pulley 105 extends along the X-axis direction and is provided at an interval in the Y-axis direction from each other. The belt 104 is looped around the pair of pulleys 105. The belt conveyance unit 103 is a so-called suction conveyance mechanism that adsorbs and conveys the medium S to the adsorption surface of the belt 104 by the suction force of the suction fan 106.

[0018] The belt conveyor unit 103 conveys the medium S in the supply direction A by rotating the belt 104 as the pulley 105 rotates while the medium S is adsorbed on the adsorption surface which is the outer peripheral surface of the belt 104. Note that the supply unit 100 may electrostatically adsorb and convey the medium S on the adsorption surface of the belt 104 without having a suction fan 106.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the air blowing unit 107 is provided adjacent to the mounting table 102 in the +Y direction of the mounting table 102. The air blowing unit 107 is provided in the -Z direction which is vertically below the conveyance path T. The air blowing unit 107 blows air toward the medium S placed on the mounting table 102.

[0020] The air blowing unit 107 has a floating unit 108 and a separating unit 112. The floating unit 108 floats the medium S in the +Z direction by blowing air toward the medium S placed on the mounting table 102. The floating unit 108 has a gas flow path 109 and a fan 110. The fan 110 is located in the gas flow path 109. The gas flow path 109 has a blowout port 111 that opens in the -Y direction. The floating unit 108 blows the air taken in from the outside by the fan 110 toward the medium S from the blowout port 111.

[0021] The separating unit 112 is provided adjacent to the floating unit 108 in the +Y direction of the floating unit 108. The separating unit 112 separates the medium S adsorbed by the belt conveyor unit 103 and the medium S that falls onto the mounting table 102 by blowing air toward the plurality of floating media S from the mounting table 102. In other words, the separating unit 112 separates the plurality of floating media S so that the belt conveyor unit 103 adsorbs only the uppermost medium S among the plurality of media S placed on the mounting table 102.

[0022] The separating unit 112 has a gas flow path 113 and a fan 114. The fan 114 is located in the gas flow path 113. The gas flow path 113 has an air outlet 115 that opens in the -Y direction. The air outlet 115 of the separating unit 112 is located in the +Z direction relative to the air outlet 111 of the floating upper part 108. The separating unit 112 blows the air taken in from the outside by the fan 114 toward the medium S from the air outlet 115.

[0023] Returning to FIG. 1, the deformation imparting unit 200 deforms the medium S supplied by the supply unit 100, that is, the medium S adsorbed on the belt 104 of the belt conveying unit 103. Specifically, the deformation imparting unit 200 deforms the medium S adsorbed on the belt 104 into a wave shape. The wave shape means a state in which convex portions curved in a direction intersecting the surface of the medium S and concave portions curved in a direction opposite to the convex portions are alternately located in the X-axis direction. Also, the wave shape may mean a state in which one convex portion or one concave portion is formed on the medium S and the medium S is gently curved. In the following description, the convex portions and concave portions may be referred to as the curved portions of the medium S.

[0024] The deformation imparting unit 200 has a plurality of corrugators 201 held by the belt conveying unit 103. The plurality of corrugators 201 are provided at predetermined intervals in the X-axis direction and protrude further below the surface of the belt 104 facing downward. As a result, when the medium S is adsorbed on the peripheral surface of the belt 104, the portion in contact with the corrugator 201 protrudes below the portion adsorbed on the belt 104, so that the medium S is adsorbed on the belt 104 in a deformed wave shape.

[0025] The medium S is imparted with rigidity by being deformed into a wave shape. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the tip of the medium S from drooping. Also, when the medium S is wave-shaped, when a plurality of medium S are adsorbed on the belt 104, a gap is formed between the plurality of medium S and it becomes easier for the medium S other than the uppermost medium S to peel off. Since the air blown from the separating unit 112 enters this gap, the belt conveying unit 103 can adsorb the uppermost medium S among the plurality of medium S placed on the mounting table 102.

[0026] Incidentally, the amount of protrusion of the corrugator 201 downward may be changeable. Also, the amount of protrusion of the corrugator 201 may be changed according to the type of the supplied medium S. By changing the amount of protrusion of each corrugator 201, the shape and degree of deformation imparted to the medium S can be changed. The amount of protrusion may be changed by the control unit 700 transmitting a driving force to the corrugator 201, or may be manually changed by the user. Also, there may be one corrugator 201. In this case, by positioning the corrugator 201 at the center in the X-axis direction of the belt conveyance unit 103, one curved portion can be formed on the medium S, and the medium S can be made into a gently curved state.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the conveyance unit 400 includes a plurality of conveyance roller pairs 401 and a path forming unit 402. The conveyance roller pair 401 conveys the medium S along the conveyance path T by nipping the medium S. Also, the conveyance roller pair 401 conveys the medium S in the conveyance direction B by nipping the medium S. The conveyance roller pair 401 conveys the medium S supplied to the conveyance path T by the supply unit 100. The path forming unit 402 is substantially flat plate-shaped and is disposed at a position facing the air outlet 303 described later. The path forming unit 402 extends in the X-axis direction and forms a part of the conveyance path T. The path forming unit 402 may be one member, or may be a part of a member constituting a wide range of the conveyance path T. As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, a part of the conveyance path T may be curved. Incidentally, when the conveyance path T is curved, the conveyance direction B changes along the curve.

[0028] Returning to FIG. 1, the recording unit 500 performs recording on the medium S conveyed by the conveyance roller pair 401. The recording unit 500 may be, for example, a liquid discharge unit that discharges a liquid to perform recording.

[0029] In the discharge unit 600, the medium S recorded by the recording unit 500 is discharged. The discharge unit 600 of the present embodiment is a tray extending in the -Y direction from the housing 2 of the medium conveyance device 1. The discharge unit 600 is located in the +Z direction, which is vertically above the supply unit 100. The discharge unit 600 is not limited to a tray extending in the -Y direction from the housing 2 of the medium conveyance device 1, and may be a tray extending in the +Y direction from the housing 2 of the medium conveyance device 1. The discharge unit 600 may have a plurality of trays.

[0030] The deformation relaxation unit 300 is provided downstream of the supply unit 100 in the supply direction A in which the medium S is supplied from the supply unit 100. Also, the deformation relaxation unit 300 is provided upstream of the conveyance roller pair 401 in the conveyance direction B of the medium S. Specifically, it is provided further upstream of the conveyance roller pair 401 that is located most upstream in the conveyance direction B among the plurality of conveyance roller pairs 401. The deformation relaxation unit 300 relaxes the deformation of the medium S by applying a force to the medium S in a direction intersecting the surface of the medium S.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the deformation relaxation unit 300 includes a gas flow path 301, a fan 302, and a detection unit 304. The detection unit 304 detects the medium S supplied from the supply unit 100 to the conveyance path T. The detection unit 304 is provided upstream of a blowout port 303, which will be described later, in the conveyance direction B. The detection unit 304 may be either a non-contact sensor such as an optical sensor or an ultrasonic sensor, or a contact sensor that detects the medium S by contacting the medium S.

[0032] The gas flow path 301 of this embodiment is provided in the -Z direction, which is vertically below the transport path T. The fan 302 is located in the gas flow path 301. The gas flow path 301 has an air outlet 303 that opens toward the transport path T. Specifically, the air outlet 303 opens toward the medium S being transported along the transport path T. The deformation relaxation unit 300 blows out the air taken in from the outside by the fan 302 from the air outlet 303. The fan 302 takes in air by sucking air from the side opposite to the air outlet 303 in the gas flow path 301. The blowing direction of the air is a direction that intersects the surface of the medium S being transported along the transport path T. Preferably, this blowing direction does not include a component in the direction opposite to the transport direction B so as not to impede the transport of the medium S. In this embodiment, the blowing direction of the air is the +Z direction.

[0033] The deformation relaxation unit 300 relaxes the deformation of the medium S by blowing air onto the medium S by the fan 302 and pressing the medium S against the path forming unit 402. That is, a force is applied to the medium S in a direction intersecting the surface of the medium S, and the curved portion of the medium S is pressed against the path forming unit 402, so that the medium S becomes substantially flat.

[0034] There may be one air outlet 303, or a plurality of air outlets 303 may be provided at predetermined intervals along the X-axis direction. Further, the air outlet 303 may be provided at a position corresponding to the position of the corrugator 201 in the width direction of the medium S, that is, at a position where a convex portion is formed on the medium S. The fan 302 may be one, or a plurality of fans 302 may be provided at predetermined intervals along the X-axis direction.

[0035] The path forming unit 402 facing the air outlet 303 may have at least one convex portion (not shown) protruding toward the transport path T. The convex portion may be composed of a rib, a driven roller, a gear roller, or the like.

[0036] The path forming unit 402 may or may not have a plurality of ventilation holes 403 that open to the transport path T. The plurality of ventilation holes 403 are provided at positions different from the convex portions described above. The plurality of ventilation holes 403 may communicate with a gas flow path 404 located in the +Z direction, which is vertically above the path forming unit 402. In this case, the air blown out by the fan 302 is discharged outside the housing 2 through the gas flow path 404. The gas flow path 301 is not limited to a configuration provided in the -Z direction, which is vertically below the transport path T, and may be provided in the +Z direction, which is vertically above the transport path T.

[0037] Next, the flow until the medium S is supplied from the supply unit 100 to the transport path T, enters the transport roller pair 401, and is transported to the recording unit 500 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C.

[0038] When the control unit 700 receives a supply start signal of the medium S from an external device, it controls the elevating unit of the placement unit 101 to raise and lower the placement table 102 to adjust the position of the placement table 102. Then, the control unit 700 drives the fan 110 of the floating unit 108 to blow out the air taken in by the fan 110 from the air outlet 111 toward the medium S. Similarly, the control unit 700 drives the fan 114 of the separation unit 112 to blow out the air taken in by the fan 114 from the air outlet 115 toward the medium S. At this time, the control unit 700 drives the suction fan 106 of the belt transport unit 103 to adsorb the medium S that has floated from the placement table 102 to the belt 104.

[0039] The medium S adsorbed on the belt 104 is deformed into a wave shape by the deformation imparting unit 200 to impart rigidity. As a result, the tip of the medium S is suppressed from drooping. Further, when a plurality of media S are adsorbed on the belt 104, a gap is generated between the plurality of media S due to the deformation, so that the media S other than the uppermost medium S among the plurality of media S are likely to peel off. When air blown from the separation unit 112 enters this gap, the media S other than the uppermost medium S among the plurality of media S are more likely to peel off. In this way, the belt conveyance unit 103 adsorbs the uppermost medium S among the plurality of media S placed on the mounting table 102. FIG. 2A shows a state in which the belt conveyance unit 103 adsorbs the uppermost medium S among the plurality of media S placed on the mounting table 102.

[0040] Next, the control unit 700 stops driving the floating unit 108 and the separation unit 112, and drives the pair of pulleys 105 to rotate the belt 104. By the rotation of the belt 104, the medium S is supplied in the supply direction A, and transitions from the state shown in FIG. 2A to the state shown in FIG. 2B. FIG. 2B shows a state in which the tip of the medium S is detected by the detection unit 304.

[0041] When the detection unit 304 detects the tip of the medium S, the control unit 700 drives the fan 302 of the deformation relaxation unit 300 to blow out air from the air outlet 303 of the gas flow path 301. In this state, when the control unit 700 further rotates the belt 104 to convey the medium S and the medium S reaches a position facing the air outlet 303, as shown in FIG. 2C, the medium S is pressed against the path forming unit 402 by the blown air. As a result, the deformation of the medium S is relaxed and it becomes substantially flat.

[0042] When the control unit 700 further rotates the belt 104 to convey the medium S, the medium S enters the nip of the conveyance roller pair 401. When the detection unit 304 detects the tip of the medium S and the tip of the medium S is nipped by the conveyance roller pair 401, the control unit 700 stops the fan 302 of the deformation relaxation unit 300. The medium S nipped by the conveyance roller pair 401 is conveyed to the recording unit 500 along the conveyance path T.

[0043] Whether the tip of the medium S is nipped by the transport roller pair 401 can be determined based on the rotation amount of the pulley 105 since the detection unit 304 detects the tip of the medium S. In other words, whether the tip of the medium S is nipped by the transport roller pair 401 can be determined based on the transport amount of the medium S by the belt transport unit 103 since the detection unit 304 detects the tip of the medium S. Note that, not limited to this configuration, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the detection unit 304 detected the tip of the medium S, the fan 302 of the deformation relaxation unit 300 may be stopped. Also, when the rear end of the medium S transported by the transport roller pair 401 passes through the position of the detection unit 304, the detection unit 304 stops detecting the medium S. The control unit 700 may stop the fan 302 of the deformation relaxation unit 300 when the detection unit 304 stops detecting the medium S. In this case, deformation can be relaxed in the range from the tip to the rear end of the medium S.

[0044] As described above, according to the medium transport device 1 according to Embodiment 1, the following effects can be obtained.

[0045] The medium transport device 1 includes a transport roller pair 401 that transports the medium S along the transport path T, and a deformation relaxation unit 300 that is provided upstream of the transport roller pair 401 in the transport direction B and applies a force to the medium S in a direction intersecting the surface of the medium S to relax the deformation of the medium S. According to this, since the deformation relaxation unit 300 that relaxes the deformation of the medium S is upstream of the transport roller pair 401 in the transport direction B, it is possible to suppress the deformed medium S from entering the transport roller pair 401. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of damage and jams in the medium S.

[0046] The medium conveying device 1 includes a path forming unit 402 that forms a conveyance path T. The deformation relaxation unit 300 blows air onto the medium S by a fan 302 and presses the medium S against the path forming unit 402. That is, the deformation relaxation unit 300 applies a force to the medium S in a direction intersecting the surface of the medium S. Therefore, the deformation of the medium S can be relaxed, the medium S can be made substantially flat, and it is possible to suppress the deformed medium S from entering the conveyance roller pair 401. That is, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of damage or jamming of the medium S.

[0047] The path forming unit 402 has a convex portion that protrudes toward the conveyance path T. According to this, since the convex portion can secure a path for air to escape, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of jamming due to the medium S sticking too much to the path forming unit 402.

[0048] The medium conveying device 1 includes a supply unit 100 that supplies the medium S to the conveyance path T, and a deformation applying unit 200 that deforms the medium S supplied by the supply unit 100. The deformation relaxation unit 300 is provided downstream of the supply unit 100 in the supply direction A. According to this, by deforming the medium S with the deformation applying unit 200, rigidity can be imparted to the medium S in the supply unit 100. Then, by relaxing the deformation of the medium S with the deformation relaxation unit 300 provided downstream of the supply unit 100 in the supply direction A, the medium S can be fed into the conveyance roller pair 401 in a substantially flat state. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the deformed medium S from entering the conveyance roller pair 401. That is, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of damage or jamming of the medium S.

[0049] The supply unit 100 includes a placement unit 101 for placing a plurality of media S, and a belt conveyance unit 103 that adsorbs the uppermost medium S among the plurality of media S placed on the placement unit 101 and feeds it into the conveyance path T. The deformation imparting unit 200 deforms the medium S held by the belt conveyance unit 103. According to this, while suppressing double feeding by supplying the medium S with the belt conveyance unit 103, the deformation relaxation unit 300 can relax the deformation of the medium S caused by the deformation imparting unit 200. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the deformed medium S from entering the conveyance roller pair 401. That is, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of damage or jamming of the medium S.

[0050] The medium conveyance device 1 includes a recording unit 500 that records on the medium S. According to this, when the medium S is conveyed to the recording unit 500, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of damage or jamming of the medium S.

[0051] 2. Embodiment 2 Next, the schematic configuration of the medium conveyance device 1 according to Embodiment 2 will be described. The same components as those in Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted. In Embodiment 2, the operation of the fan 302 is different from that in Embodiment 1. Further, the conveyance unit 400 includes a path forming unit 405.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 3, similar to Embodiment 1, the deformation relaxation unit 300 includes a gas flow path 301 and a fan 302, and the gas flow path 301 opens toward the conveyance path T. The path forming unit 405 is substantially flat plate-shaped and is provided so as to cover this opening. The path forming unit 405 extends in the X-axis direction and forms a part of the conveyance path T. The path forming unit 405 may be a single member or a part of a member that constitutes a wide range of the conveyance path T. The path forming unit 405 has at least one ventilation hole 406 that communicates the gas flow path 301 and the conveyance path T.

[0053] The fan 302 sucks in the air in the conveyance path T through the ventilation holes 406. Further, when the conveyance path T communicates with the gas flow path 404 through the ventilation holes 403 of the path forming portion 402, the fan 302 sucks in the air outside the housing 2 through the gas flow path 404. The air suction direction intersects the surface of the medium S conveyed in the conveyance path T. The deformation relaxation portion 300 relaxes the deformation of the medium S by sucking in air by the fan 302 and pressing the medium S against the path forming portion 405. That is, a force is applied to the medium S in a direction intersecting the surface of the medium S, and the curved portion of the medium S is pressed against the path forming portion 405, so that the medium S becomes substantially flat.

[0054] The path forming portion 405 may have at least one convex portion (not shown) protruding toward the conveyance path T. The convex portion may be composed of a rib, a driven roller, a serrated roller, or the like. The convex portion is provided at a position different from the plurality of ventilation holes 406.

[0055] The gas flow path 301 may have a pressure regulating valve that regulates the pressure between the fan 302 and the path forming portion 405. By having the pressure regulating valve, it is possible to suppress an excessive increase in negative pressure.

[0056] As described above, according to the medium conveyance device 1 according to the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0057] The medium conveyance device 1 includes a path forming portion 405 that forms the conveyance path T, and the path forming portion 405 has ventilation holes 406. Further, the deformation relaxation portion 300 has a fan 302, and the fan 302 sucks in air and presses the medium S against the path forming portion 405. That is, the deformation relaxation portion 300 applies a force to the medium S in a direction intersecting the surface of the medium S. Therefore, the deformation of the medium S can be relaxed and the medium S can be made substantially flat, and it is possible to suppress the deformed medium S from entering the conveyance roller pair 401. That is, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of damage or jamming of the medium S.

[0058] The path forming unit 405 has a convex portion that protrudes toward the conveyance path T. Although the medium S is pressed against the path forming unit 405 by the deformation relaxation unit 300, if the medium S blocks all the ventilation holes 406, the medium S may be strongly pressed by the negative pressure generated by the fan 302 and completely adsorbed. On the other hand, in the configuration having the convex portion, an escape path for air can be secured by the convex portion, so that the risk of the medium S sticking too much to the path forming unit 405 and causing a jam can be suppressed.

[0059] 3. Embodiment 3 Next, a schematic configuration of the medium conveyance device 1 according to Embodiment 3 will be described. The same components as those in Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted. In Embodiment 3, the configuration of the deformation relaxation unit 300 is different from that in Embodiment 1. Further, the conveyance unit 400 has a path forming unit 407.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 4, the deformation relaxation unit 300 includes a flap 305 as a contact portion, a rotation shaft 306, and a biasing member 307. The flap 305 can contact the surface of the medium S. The flap 305 is located in the +Z direction, which is vertically above the conveyance path T. The flap 305 is a member extending in the X-axis direction. The flap 305 is a substantially L-shaped member when viewed from the X-axis direction. The flap 305 is configured to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 306 along the X-axis direction. The biasing member 307 biases the flap 305 toward the medium S. Note that the biasing member 307 is not an essential configuration, and the flap 305 may be in contact with the medium S by its own weight.

[0061] The path forming unit 407 extends in the X-axis direction and forms a part of the conveyance path T. The path forming unit 407 is provided at a position facing the surface of the medium S in contact with the flap 305 in the conveyance path T. The deformation relaxation unit 300 relaxes the deformation of the medium S by pressing the medium S against the path forming unit 407 with the flap 305. That is, a force is applied to the medium S in a direction intersecting the surface of the medium S, and the curved portion of the medium S is pressed against the path forming unit 407, so that the medium S becomes substantially flat.

[0062] The coefficient of friction of the surface of the flap 305 is preferably smaller than the coefficient of friction of the surface of the conveying roller pair 401. The flap 305 may be formed of a material having a smaller coefficient of friction than the conveying roller pair 401, or may have a sheet-like member having a smaller coefficient of friction than the conveying roller pair 401 at a portion that contacts the medium S.

[0063] The flap 305 may be a single flap 305 extending in the X-axis direction. In this case, the length of the flap 305 in the X-axis direction, that is, the width of the flap 305, is preferably larger than the width of the medium S to be conveyed. By doing so, the entire width direction of the medium S can be pressed. A plurality of biasing members 307 may be provided along the X-axis direction. In this case, the biasing force of the biasing member 307 that biases the central portion of the flap 305 in the X-axis direction may be made smaller than the biasing force of the biasing member 307 that biases the end portion of the flap 305 in the X-axis direction. As a result, the end portion of the medium S in the X-axis direction is likely to escape in the X-axis direction, and the deformation of the medium S is likely to be alleviated.

[0064] A plurality of flaps 305 may be provided along the rotation axis 306. Each flap 305 may be provided at a position corresponding to the position of the collator 201 in the width direction of the medium S, that is, at a position where a convex portion is formed on the medium S. In this case, a plurality of biasing members 307 may be provided corresponding to each flap 305.

[0065] Instead of the flap 305, a configuration including a driven roller that rotates around the rotation axis 306 along the X-axis direction following the conveyance of the medium S may be employed. In this case, the driven roller corresponds to the contact portion. And the biasing member 307 biases the rotation axis 306. The driven roller may be a single driven roller extending in the X-axis direction, or a plurality of driven rollers may be provided along the X-axis direction. One biasing member 307 may be provided for one driven roller, or a plurality of biasing members 307 may be provided along the X-axis direction.

[0066] As described above, according to the medium conveyance device 1 according to the third embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0067] The deformation relaxation unit 300 has a flap 305 that can contact the surface of the medium S and a biasing member 307 that biases the flap 305 toward the medium S, and presses the medium S against the path forming portion 407 with the flap 305. That is, the deformation relaxation unit 300 applies a force to the medium S in a direction intersecting the surface of the medium S. Therefore, the deformation of the medium S can be relaxed, the medium S can be made substantially flat, and it is possible to suppress the deformed medium S from entering the transport roller pair 401. That is, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of damage or jamming of the medium S. Further, compared with the case of using the fan 302 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, since the configuration is simple, the power consumption of the apparatus can be suppressed.

[0068] 4. Fourth Embodiment Next, the schematic configuration of the medium transport apparatus 1 according to the fourth embodiment will be described. For the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and the overlapping description is omitted. In the fourth embodiment, the configuration of the deformation relaxation unit 300 is different from that of the first embodiment.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 5, the deformation relaxation unit 300 has a pair of deformation relaxation rollers 308. Each roller of the pair of deformation relaxation rollers 308 is a driven roller that can rotate around a rotation axis 309 along the X-axis direction and rotates following the conveyance of the medium S. The friction coefficient of the surface of the pair of deformation relaxation rollers 308 is smaller than the friction coefficient of the surface of the transport roller pair 401. Further, the diameter of each roller of the pair of deformation relaxation rollers 308 is larger than the diameter of each roller of the transport roller pair 401. The deformation relaxation unit 300 relaxes the deformation of the medium S by nipping the medium S with the pair of deformation relaxation rollers 308.

[0070] Using FIG. 6, the operation of the deformation relaxation roller pair 308 will be described. For convenience, the medium S that is curved so as to be convex in the -Z direction will be described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the same operation is also applicable to the medium S that is curved so as to be convex in the +Z direction. Further, the same operation is also applicable to the medium S in which convex portions that are curved in a direction intersecting the surface of the medium S and concave portions that are curved in a direction opposite to the convex portions are alternately positioned in the X-axis direction.

[0071] First, the tip of the medium S supplied by the supply unit 100 attempts to enter the nip N of the deformation relaxation roller pair 308. However, since the medium S is deformed in a wave shape, a part of the tip of the medium S cannot enter the nip N and contacts the surface of the deformation relaxation roller pair 308. During this time, the supply unit 100 continues to convey the medium S. In other words, a conveying force from the supply unit 100 is continuously applied to the medium S. Also, the friction coefficient of the surface of the deformation relaxation roller pair 308 is smaller than the friction coefficient of the surface of the conveying roller pair 401. As a result, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6, a part of the tip of the medium S that contacts the deformation relaxation roller pair 308 slides on the surface of the deformation relaxation roller pair 308 and enters the nip N. Then, the medium S is conveyed by the conveying force of the supply unit 100 while being nipped by the deformation relaxation roller pair 308, and the medium S enters the nip of the conveying roller pair 401.

[0072] The deformation relaxation roller pair 308 is a roller pair that extends in the X-axis direction. The length of the deformation relaxation roller pair 308 in the X-axis direction, that is, the width of the deformation relaxation roller pair 308, is larger than the width of the conveyed medium S. Note that a configuration in which a plurality of rollers having a width smaller than the conveyed medium S are provided on the rotation shaft 309 may also be adopted.

[0073] As described above, according to the medium conveying device 1 according to Embodiment 4, the following effects can be obtained.

[0074] The deformation relaxation unit 300 has a pair of deformation relaxation rollers 308 that can rotate around a rotation axis 309 along the width direction intersecting the conveyance direction B, and nip the medium S with the pair of deformation relaxation rollers 308. That is, the deformation relaxation unit 300 applies a force to the medium S in a direction intersecting the surface of the medium S. Therefore, the deformation of the medium S can be relaxed, and the medium S can be made substantially flat, and it is possible to suppress the deformed medium S from entering the pair of conveyance rollers 401. That is, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of damage and jamming of the medium S. Here, the friction coefficient of the surface of the pair of deformation relaxation rollers 308 is smaller than the friction coefficient of the surface of the pair of conveyance rollers 401. For this reason, a part of the tip of the medium S in contact with the pair of deformation relaxation rollers 308 slides on the surface of the pair of deformation relaxation rollers 308, and it becomes easier to enter the nip N of the pair of deformation relaxation rollers 308.

[0075] The width of the pair of deformation relaxation rollers 308 is larger than the width of the medium S. According to this, it is possible to suppress the risk that the end portion in the width direction of the tip of the medium S contacts the rotation axis 309 and the medium S gets caught on the rotation axis 309 and jamming occurs.

[0076] 5. Embodiment 5 The configurations of Embodiments 1 to 4 can be arbitrarily combined. In Embodiment 5, a combination of Embodiments 1 to 4 will be described. For the same configurations as those in Embodiments 1 to 4, the same reference numerals are given, and redundant descriptions are omitted. In Embodiment 5, for the sake of convenience, the medium S that is curved so as to be convex in the -Z direction will be described as an example. The present invention is not limited to this, and the same operation is also applicable to the medium S that is curved so as to be convex in the +Z direction. Further, the same operation is also applicable to the medium S in which convex portions curved in a direction intersecting the surface of the medium S and concave portions curved in a direction opposite to the convex portions are alternately located in the X-axis direction.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 7, the deformation relaxation portion 300 includes a fan 312 and a fan 315 in addition to the fan 302 of Embodiment 2. The fans 312 and 315 are provided in the +Z direction of the conveyance path T. The fan 312 is located in the gas flow path 311, and the fan 315 is located in the gas flow path 314. The air outlet 313 of the gas flow path 311 and the air outlet 316 of the gas flow path 314 are located in the +Z direction of the conveyance path T and face the path forming portion 405.

[0078] The fan 312 takes in air by sucking air from the side opposite to the air outlet 313 in the gas flow path 311. The fan 312 blows the taken-in air from the air outlet 313 and presses the medium S against the path forming portion 405. The fan 315 takes in air by sucking air from the side opposite to the air outlet 316 in the gas flow path 314. The fan 315 blows air from the air outlet 316 and presses the medium S against the path forming portion 405 facing the air outlet 316. The fan 302 is provided in the -Z direction of the conveyance path T. The fan 302 presses the medium S against the path forming portion 405 by sucking the air in the conveyance path T through the vent hole 406 of the path forming portion 405.

[0079] The air outlets 313 and 316 are positioned so as to sandwich the vent hole 406 in the X-axis direction. The air outlets 313 and 316 are located at positions facing the ends in the width direction of the conveyed medium S. The vent hole 406 is located at a position facing the central portion in the width direction of the conveyed medium S. Thereby, the deformation of the medium S can be reliably relaxed.

[0080] Note that instead of the fans 312 and 315, a flap 305 may be used. And the flap 305 may be urged by an urging member 307.

[0081] 6. Embodiment 6 In Embodiment 6, similar to Embodiment 5, the combinations of Embodiments 1 to 4 will be described. The deformation relaxation portion 300 of Embodiment 6 includes a driven roller 317 instead of the fan 302 of Embodiment 5.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 8, the deformation relaxation unit 300 has fans 312 and 315, similar to Embodiment 5. The fans 312 and 315 are provided in the +Z direction of the transport path T. The fan 312 is located in the gas flow path 311, and the fan 315 is located in the gas flow path 314. The air outlet 313 of the gas flow path 311 and the air outlet 316 of the gas flow path 314 are located in the +Z direction of the transport path T and face the path forming portion 405.

[0083] The fan 312 takes in air by sucking air from the side opposite to the air outlet 313 in the gas flow path 311. The fan 312 blows the taken-in air from the air outlet 313 and presses the medium S against the path forming portion 405. The fan 315 takes in air by sucking air from the side opposite to the air outlet 316 in the gas flow path 314. The fan 315 blows air from the air outlet 316 and presses the medium S against the path forming portion 405 facing the air outlet 316.

[0084] The deformation relaxation unit 300 has a driven roller 317 as a contact portion in the +Z direction of the transport path T. The driven roller 317 presses the medium S against the path forming portion 405 by contacting the medium S. The driven roller 317 rotates around a rotation axis 318 along the X-axis direction following the conveyance of the medium S. Note that, instead of the driven roller 317, a configuration including a flap 305 may be provided. The driven roller 317 may be biased by a biasing member 307.

[0085] The air outlets 313 and 316 are positioned so as to sandwich the driven roller 317 in the X-axis direction. The air outlets 313 and 316 are positioned at positions facing the ends in the width direction of the conveyed medium S. The driven roller 317 is positioned at a position facing the central portion in the width direction of the conveyed medium S. Thereby, the deformation of the medium S can be reliably relaxed.

[0086] The deformation relaxation part 300 may have two flaps 305 or two driven rollers 317 instead of the fans 312, 315 in FIG. 8. Further, instead of one driven roller 317 in FIG. 8, it may have a fan 302 that blows air from above downward.

[0087] The medium conveyance device 1 of the present disclosure is basically configured as described above, but it is of course possible to make partial configuration changes, omissions, etc. within the scope not departing from the gist of the present disclosure. Also, the above-described embodiment and other embodiments described below can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically non-contradictory range. Hereinafter, other embodiments will be described.

[0088] The deformation imparting part 200 is not an essential configuration. The deformation relaxation part 300 is not limited to the medium S deformed by the deformation imparting part 200, and may relax the deformation of the unintentionally deformed medium S.

[0089] The corrugator 201 does not have to be held by the belt conveyance part 103. The deformation imparting part 200 may not be integrated with the belt conveyance part 103 and may be separate.

[0090] The deformation imparting part 200 may be composed of at least one first roller rotatable around a rotation axis along the X-axis direction and at least one second roller rotatable around a rotation axis along the X-axis direction instead of the corrugator 201. The rotation axis of the second roller is provided in the -Z direction, which is vertically below the rotation axis of the first roller, and the first roller and the second roller may be provided to be alternately positioned in the X-axis direction. In this case, it is preferable that a part of the first roller and a part of the second roller overlap when viewed from the X-axis direction. Thereby, the medium S can be deformed into a wave shape. Note that ribs with a small coefficient of friction may be arranged instead of the first roller or the second roller.

[0091] The supply unit 100 may also serve as the deformation imparting unit 200. For example, instead of the corrugator 201, the deformation imparting unit 200 can be constituted by a plurality of belt conveying units 103. By arranging the plurality of belt conveying units 103 so that their positions in the Z-axis direction are shifted, the medium S can be deformed into a wave shape while being supplied. Also, by arranging the belt conveying units 103 inclined in opposite directions around the rotation axis along the Y-axis direction in the X-axis direction, the medium S can be deformed into a wave shape while being supplied. Further, instead of the belt conveying unit 103, the medium S may be supplied by the first roller and the second roller described above.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0092] 1... Medium conveying device, 2... Housing, 100... Supply unit, 101... Placing unit, 102... Placing table, 103... Belt conveying unit, 104... Belt, 105... Pulley, 106... Suction fan, 107... Air blowing unit, 108... Floating unit, 112... Separation unit, 109, 113... Gas flow path, 110, 114... Fan, 111, 115... Air outlet, 200... Deformation imparting unit, 201... Corrugator, 300... Deformation relaxation unit, 301, 311, 314... Gas flow path, 302, 312, 315... Fan, 303... Air outlet, 304... Detection unit, 305... Flap, 306... Rotation axis, 307... Biasing member, 308... Deformation relaxation roller pair, 309... Rotation axis, 313, 316... Air outlet, 317... Driven roller, 318... Rotation axis, 400... Conveying unit, 401... Conveying roller pair, 402, 405, 407... Path forming unit, 403, 406... Vent hole, 404... Gas flow path, 500... Recording unit, 600... Discharge unit, 700... Control unit, 800... Operation unit, A... Supply direction, B... Conveying direction, N... Nip, S... Medium, T... Conveying path.

Claims

1. A pair of conveying rollers for conveying a medium along a conveying path, and a deformation relaxation unit provided upstream of the pair of conveying rollers in the conveying direction of the medium, and applying a force to the medium in a direction intersecting the surface of the medium to relax the deformation of the medium. A medium conveying device characterized by comprising:

2. The medium conveying device according to claim 1, comprising a path forming unit that forms the conveying path, wherein the deformation relaxation unit has a fan, and blows air onto the medium by the fan to press the medium against the path forming unit, thereby relaxing the deformation of the medium. A medium conveying device characterized by this.

3. The medium conveying device according to claim 1, comprising a path forming unit that forms the conveying path, wherein the path forming unit has ventilation holes, wherein the deformation relaxation unit has a fan, and sucks air through the ventilation holes by the fan to press the medium against the path forming unit, thereby relaxing the deformation of the medium. A medium conveying device characterized by this.

4. The medium conveying device according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the path forming unit has a convex portion protruding toward the conveying path. A medium conveying device characterized by this.

5. The medium conveying device according to claim 1, comprising a path forming unit that forms the conveying path, wherein the deformation relaxation unit has a contact portion that can contact the surface of the medium, and a biasing member that biases the contact portion toward the medium, and presses the medium against the path forming unit with the contact portion to relax the deformation of the medium. A medium conveying device characterized by this.

6. The medium conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the deformation relaxation unit has a pair of deformation relaxation rollers rotatable around a rotation axis along a width direction intersecting the conveying direction, and nips the medium with the pair of deformation relaxation rollers to relax the deformation of the medium, and the friction coefficient of the surface of the pair of deformation relaxation rollers is smaller than the friction coefficient of the surface of the pair of conveying rollers. A medium conveying device characterized by this.

7. The medium conveying device according to claim 6, wherein the width of the pair of deformation relaxation rollers is larger than the width of the medium. A medium conveying device characterized by this.

8. The medium conveying device according to claim 1, comprising a supply unit that supplies the medium to the conveying path, and a deformation imparting unit that deforms the medium supplied by the supply unit. The medium conveyance device is characterized in that the deformation relaxation part is provided downstream of the supply part in the supply direction in which the medium is supplied.

9. The medium conveyance device according to claim 8, wherein the supply part has a placement part on which a plurality of the media are placed, and a belt conveyance part that adsorbs the uppermost medium among the plurality of media placed on the placement part to the belt and feeds it into the conveyance path. The medium conveyance device is characterized in that the deformation imparting part deforms the medium adsorbed to the belt.

10. The medium conveyance device according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a recording part that records on the medium.

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