Conveyor device

Abstract

To suppress occurrence of a skew of a medium with a simple constitution, in a conveying device.SOLUTION: A conveying device comprises: a first individual conveyance path P1 (an example of a conveyance path) having a first curving part C1 (an example of a curving part); and a pair of second conveyance rollers 22 (an example of a pair of conveyance members) which is arranged on the first individual conveyance path P1 and conveys a medium M while nipping. The medium M enters the pair of second conveyance rollers 22 in a state where at least a part of it is curved at the first curving part C1. The first individual conveyance path P1 (a protruding part P1e) guides the medium M toward a drive roller 22a being one example out of the pair of second conveyance rollers 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in order to correct the inclination of a sheet with respect to the conveying direction when the conveying path of the sheet is bent, a post-processing device that detects the inclination of the sheet and corrects the inclination of the sheet has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a conveying device that conveys a medium such as a sheet, when the conveying path has a curved portion, the medium to be conveyed enters a pair of conveying members arranged on the downstream side of the curved portion or in the curved portion, and at least a part thereof is in a curved state at the curved portion.

[0005] In the curved portion of the conveyance path, in order to reduce the conveyance resistance, the distance between a pair of guide plates may be wider than that in the straight portion. Particularly in this case, the degree of freedom of the medium becomes higher in the curved portion, and the position of the tip of the medium becomes unstable. Therefore, for example, the tip on one side in the width direction of the medium (for example, the front side of the apparatus) may contact one of the pair of conveyance members, and the tip on the other side in the width direction of the medium (for example, the rear side of the apparatus) may contact the other of the pair of conveyance members. When the tip of the medium contacts different conveyance members on one side and the other side in the width direction in this way, skew of the medium is likely to occur due to the difference in the frictional force (conveyance force) between the pair of conveyance members. Note that the smaller or thinner the medium, the higher the degree of freedom in the curved portion, and the easier it is for the tip of the medium to contact different conveyance members on one side and the other side in the width direction, so skew is likely to occur.

[0006] Therefore, although it is conceivable to detect the inclination of the medium as described above and correct the inclination of the medium, since a sensor for detecting the skew of the medium and a skew correction unit for correcting the skew of the medium based on the detection result of this sensor are to be arranged, the structure becomes complicated.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a conveyance device that can suppress the occurrence of skew of a medium with a simple configuration.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0008] In one aspect, a conveyance device includes a conveyance path having a curved portion, and a pair of conveyance members arranged in the conveyance path for conveying the medium while nipping the medium. At least a part of the pair of conveyance members is curved in the curved portion so that the medium enters, and the conveyance path guides the medium toward one of the pair of conveyance members.

Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the above aspect, the occurrence of skew of the medium can be suppressed with a simple configuration.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, the conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the internal structure of the printing system 100.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the control configuration of the medium supply device 1 and the printing device 101.

[0014] Note that the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3 to 5 described later are merely directions for convenience of explanation. For example, the front-rear direction and the left-right direction are horizontal directions, and the up-down direction is a vertical direction.

[0015] The printing system 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a medium supply device 1 and a printing device 101. The conveying device according to the present embodiment may include a conveying path such as the first individual conveying path P1 described later of the medium supply device 1 and a pair of conveying members such as the second conveying roller pair 22 described later of the medium supply device 1. Therefore, in the present embodiment, each of the medium supply device 1 and the printing system 100 functions as an example of a conveying device that conveys the medium M. However, the conveying device according to the present embodiment may be a processing device that performs processing such as printing on the medium M, such as the printing device 101, or a conveying device that only conveys the medium M.

[0016] The media supply device 1 supplies the media M to a printing device 101 which is an example of a device to which the media M is to be supplied. Note that the device to which the media is to be supplied may be another device such as a post-processing device. Also, the media supply device 1 may be integrally provided in a device to which the media is to be supplied, such as the printing device 101. Further, the media M is, for example, paper (sheet-fed paper), but may be other sheet-like media such as film.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the media supply device 1 includes a first supply unit 11, a second supply unit 12, a first individual conveyance path P1, a second individual conveyance path P2, a merging conveyance path P3, first to ninth conveyance roller pairs 21 to 29, first to fourth conveyance drive units D1 to D4, a first entrance passage detection sensor S1, a first exit passage detection sensor S2, a second entrance passage detection sensor S3, and a second exit passage detection sensor S4. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the media supply device 1 includes a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, and an interface unit 33.

[0018] The media supply device 1 is divided into an upper stage 1a and a lower stage 1b, with the first supply unit 11 arranged in the upper stage 1a and the second supply unit 12 arranged in the lower stage 1b. Thus, the first supply unit 11 and the second supply unit 12 are arranged side by side vertically. The first supply unit 11 and the second supply unit 12 are an example of supply units that supply the media M. This supply unit may be a single supply unit or three or more supply units. Also, the direction in which a plurality of supply units are arranged may be the front-rear direction or the left-right direction, and is not particularly limited.

[0019] Each of the first supply unit 11 and the second supply unit 12 has loading tables 11a, 12a, suction conveyance units 11b, 12b, and media thickness setting units 11c, 12c.

[0020] A plurality of media M are loaded on the loading tables 11a, 12a.

[0021] The suction conveyance units 11b and 12b have, for example, two pulleys and a belt wound around these pulleys, and feed out the media M adsorbed to the belt one by one, for example, by air suction. The suction conveyance units 11b and 12b are an example of a feeding unit that feeds out the media M of the first supply unit 11 and the second supply unit 12 one by one.

[0022] The media thickness setting units 11c and 12c set the thickness of the media M loaded on the loading tables 11a and 12a by the user. For example, the media thickness setting units 11c and 12c have a lever or dial that can move to a position described as "cardboard" indicating that the media M is cardboard, a position described as "plain paper" indicating that the media M is plain paper, and a position described as "thin paper" indicating that the media M is thin paper. The control unit 31 described later acquires information on the thickness of the media M set in the media thickness setting units 11c and 12c. Note that the control unit 31 may acquire information on the thickness of the media M set on the printing job, the operation panel of the printing apparatus 101, or the like.

[0023] Also, although not shown, the first supply unit 11 and the second supply unit 12 include a loading table lifting drive unit such as a motor (an example of an actuator) that moves the loading tables 11a and 12a up and down, and a feeding drive unit such as a motor (an example of an actuator) that rotates a drive pulley that is one of the two pulleys of the suction conveyance units 11b and 12b.

[0024] Also, in the first supply unit 11 and the second supply unit 12, it is preferable to arrange a floating air blowing mechanism that blows out floating air that floats a plurality of media M including the uppermost media M loaded on the loading tables 11a and 12a, a separation air blowing mechanism that blows out separation air that separates the uppermost media M and the lower media M, and the like.

[0025] The first individual conveyance path P1 is connected to the first supply unit 11. The second individual conveyance path P2 is connected to the second supply unit 12. The confluence conveyance path P3 is a conveyance path where the first individual conveyance path P1 and the second individual conveyance path P2 merge, and extends to the resist roller pair 131 of the printing apparatus 101. Note that the first individual conveyance path P1 and the second individual conveyance path P2 are examples of a plurality of individual conveyance paths each connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of supply units (the first supply unit 11 and the second supply unit 12).

[0026] Most of the first individual conveyance path P1 is disposed in the upper stage 1a of the medium supply apparatus 1, and the second individual conveyance path P2 is disposed in the lower stage 1b of the medium supply apparatus 1. The first individual conveyance path P1 merges with the second individual conveyance path P2 in the confluence conveyance path P3 disposed in the lower stage 1b. Thus, the conveyance path of the medium supply apparatus 1 includes the first individual conveyance path P1, the second individual conveyance path P2, and a part of the confluence conveyance path P3. Note that the first individual conveyance path P1 is longer than the second individual conveyance path P2 in the conveyance direction T.

[0027] Since the medium M supplied from the first supply unit 11 is conveyed in the first individual conveyance path P1 and the confluence conveyance path P3, the conveyance path of the medium M supplied from the first supply unit 11 passes through the first individual conveyance path P1 and the confluence conveyance path P3. Also, since the medium M supplied from the second supply unit 12 is conveyed in the second individual conveyance path P2 and the confluence conveyance path P3, the conveyance path of the medium M supplied from the second supply unit 12 passes through the second individual conveyance path P2 and the confluence conveyance path P3.

[0028] The first individual conveyance path P1 is provided between the first conveyance roller pair 21 and the second conveyance roller pair 22, and has a first curved portion C1 that curves from the right direction downward in the conveyance direction T, and is provided between the fifth conveyance roller pair 25 and the eighth conveyance roller pair 28, and has a second curved portion C2 that curves from the downward direction to the lower right direction in the conveyance direction T.

[0029] The second individual conveyance path P2 is provided between the seventh conveyance roller pair 27 and the eighth conveyance roller pair 28, and has a third curved portion C3 that curves from the right direction to the lower right direction in the conveyance direction T.

[0030] The confluence conveyance path P3 is provided between the ninth conveyance roller pair 29 and the resist roller pair 131 across the medium supply device 1 and the printing device 101, and has a fourth curved portion C4 that curves from the lower right direction to the upper right direction in the conveyance direction T.

[0031] Each of the first to ninth conveyance roller pairs 21 to 29 has a driving roller and a driven roller arranged to face each other, and conveys the medium M while nipping it.

[0032] The first to fifth conveyance roller pairs 21 to 25 convey the medium M in the first individual conveyance path P1 in the upper stage 1a of the medium supply device 1. The sixth and seventh conveyance roller pairs 26 and 27 convey the medium M in the second individual conveyance path P2 in the lower stage 1b of the medium supply device 1. The eighth and ninth conveyance roller pairs 28 and 29 convey the medium M in the confluence conveyance path P3 in the lower stage 1b of the medium supply device 1. Incidentally, the first to fifth conveyance roller pairs 21 to 25 and the sixth and seventh conveyance roller pairs 26 and 27 are an example of a plurality of individual conveyance units that convey the medium M in the first individual conveyance path P1 and the second individual conveyance path P2 (a plurality of individual conveyance paths). Also, the eighth and ninth conveyance roller pairs 28 and 29 and the receiving roller pair 132 of the printing device 101 described later are an example of a confluence conveyance unit that conveys the medium M in the confluence conveyance path P3.

[0033] FIG. 3 is a front view showing the structure around the first curved portion C1. In FIG. 3, the illustration of the first entrance passage detection sensor S1 shown in FIG. 1 is omitted.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 3, the first individual conveyance path P1 has a pair of guide plates P1a and P1b provided in the first curved portion C1 to guide the medium M, and a pair of guide plates P1c and P1d provided in the straight portion on the downstream side of the first curved portion C1 to guide the medium M. Incidentally, although it is an example, the first curved portion C1 forms an arc with a curvature center at the curvature center C1a and a central angle of 90 degrees.

[0035] Due to the provision of the first curved portion C1, the medium M in a state where a part of the conveyance direction T is curved in the first curved portion C1 enters the second conveyance roller pair 22. Then, the second conveyance roller pair 22 conveys the medium M while nipping it. When the medium M enters the second conveyance roller pair 22, the medium M is nipped by the first conveyance roller pair 21 on the upstream side in the conveyance direction T.

[0036] Here, the second conveyance roller pair 22 is an example of a pair of conveyance members that are arranged in the first individual conveyance path P1 (an example of a conveyance path) and convey the medium M while nipping it. As this conveyance member, it is not limited to a roller, and other conveyance members such as a belt may be used. Also, as a pair of conveyance members, as long as they convey the medium M while nipping it facing each other, the shape, size, material, etc. of one conveyance member and the other conveyance member may be different.

[0037] The interval W between the pair of guide plates P1a, P1b is desirably determined so as to be widened within a range where the inclination (skew amount) of the conveyance direction of the medium M with respect to the conveyance direction T of the guide plates P1a, P1b at the time of the medium M entering the second conveyance roller pair 22 is equal to or less than a specified value. For example, under the condition where the inclination of the medium M becomes the largest (for example, the condition using thin paper of A5 size, etc., where the size of the medium M such as the width is small and the medium M is thin), the inclination of the conveyed medium M is repeatedly measured, and the maximum interval W is determined among those where the average value, maximum value, etc. of this inclination are equal to or less than the specified value. If the interval W is narrow, it becomes a conveyance resistance for the medium M, so from the viewpoint of reducing the conveyance resistance, it is desirable that the interval W be wide. Also, the reason why the inclination of the medium M becomes large under the condition where the size of the medium M such as the width is small and the medium M is thin is that deformation (stress) occurs in the medium M in the first curved portion C1, but a medium M with a large size or a thick medium M has a large rigidity and is less likely to deform, while a medium M with a small size or a thin medium M has a small rigidity, and deformation occurs and the degree of freedom increases.

[0038] Note that the distance W between the guide plates P1a and P1b does not have to be constant throughout the entire first curved portion C1. Also, the inclination measurement may be performed on the first individual conveyance path P1 provided with the protrusion P1e, that is, the first individual conveyance path P1 that guides the medium M toward one of the second conveyance roller pairs 22. However, it may also be performed on the first individual conveyance path P1 before the protrusion P1e is provided, that is, the first individual conveyance path P1 that does not guide the medium M toward one of the second conveyance roller pairs 22.

[0039] A pair of guide plates P1c and P1d are provided with holes for the second conveyance roller pair 22 to protrude into the conveyance path of the medium M. For example, one of the guide plates P1c is provided with a hole for the driving roller 22a of the second conveyance roller pair 22 to protrude into the conveyance path of the medium M, and the other guide plate P1d is provided with a hole for the driven roller 22b of the second conveyance roller pair 22 to protrude into the conveyance path of the medium M. Note that there is a gap between the pair of guide plates P1a and P1b and the pair of guide plates P1c and P1d, but the guide plate P1a and the guide plate P1c may be integrally provided, or the guide plate P1b and the guide plate P1d may be integrally provided.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 4, the guide plate P1d is integrally provided, for example, with a protrusion P1e that protrudes into the conveyance path of the medium M between the pair of guide plates P1c and P1d. It is desirable that this protrusion P1e is provided across one side and the other side in the width direction of the medium M, or one or more are provided on each of one side and the other side in the width direction of the medium M. Further, the protrusion P1e is inclined so that the amount of protrusion into the conveyance path increases as it advances in the conveyance direction T in order to guide the medium M toward the driving roller 22a of the second conveyance roller pair 22. In this way, the protrusion P1e guides the medium M toward the driving roller 22a on the curvature center C1a side (inner side) of the curved portion C1 of the second conveyance roller pair 22.

[0041] Note that, as in the modified example shown in FIG. 5, instead of the guide plate P1d, a protruding portion P1f protruding into the conveyance path of the medium M between the pair of guide plates P1c and P1d may be integrally provided on the guide plate P1c, for example. The amount of protrusion of the protruding portion P1f into the conveyance path is less than the amount of protrusion of the protruding portion P1e into the conveyance path shown in FIG. 4. The protruding portion P1f is desirably provided across one side and the other side in the width direction of the medium M, or one or more are provided on each of one side and the other side in the width direction of the medium M. Further, the protruding portion P1f is inclined so that the amount of protrusion into the conveyance path increases as it advances in the conveyance direction T in order to guide the medium M toward the driven roller 22b of the second conveyance roller pair 22. In this way, the protruding portion P1f guides the medium M toward the driven roller 22b on the side opposite to (the outside of) the center of curvature C1a of the curved portion C1 of the second conveyance roller pair 22.

[0042] The first individual conveyance path P1 guides the medium M toward one of the pair of conveyance members (the second conveyance roller pair 22) by having the above-described protruding portion P1e or protruding portion P1f.

[0043] Note that, in order for the first individual conveyance path P1 to guide the medium M toward one of the second conveyance roller pairs 22, for example, the medium M may be guided by a protruding portion provided separately from the pair of guide plates P1c and P1d of the first individual conveyance path P1, or by blowing air from an air blowing portion of the first individual conveyance path P1. Further, only the second conveyance roller pair 22, or both the second conveyance roller pair 22 and the pair of guide plates P1c and P1d, and the pair of guide plates P1a and P1b may be shifted in the thickness direction of the medium M and arranged, or the positions of the drive roller 22a and the driven roller 22b in the conveyance direction T may be shifted to change the roller facing angle. In this way, the configuration for guiding the medium M toward one of the second conveyance roller pairs 22 is not limited to the configuration using the protruding portions P1e and P1f provided on the pair of guide plates P1c and P1d.

[0044] Further, although the second pair of conveying rollers 22 is arranged in the straight portion of the first individual conveying path P1, it may be arranged in the first curved portion C1, or may be arranged in another curved portion or the like on the downstream side of the first curved portion C1. Also, the medium M enters the second pair of conveying rollers 22 in a state of being nipped by the first pair of conveying rollers 21, but the medium M may enter the second pair of conveying rollers 22 in a state of not being nipped by the first pair of conveying rollers 21. In that case, since the medium M is more likely to skew in the first curved portion C1, the distance W between the pair of guide plates P1a and P1b may be further defined to be narrower under conditions where the skew of the medium M is also less likely to occur. Here, "skew" refers to a state in which the positions in the conveying direction T are different between one side and the other side in the width direction of the medium M.

[0045] Taking the first individual conveying path P1 as an example of the conveying path, for example, the medium M may be guided toward one of the eighth pair of conveying rollers 28 that conveys the medium M while nipping the medium M that enters in a partially curved state in the second curved portion C2 or the third curved portion C3, or may be guided toward one of the pair of receiving rollers 132, which will be described later, that conveys the medium M while nipping the medium M that enters in a partially curved state in the fourth curved portion C4.

[0046] Returning to FIG. 1, the first to fourth conveyance driving units D1 to D4 are motors (an example of an actuator) that rotate the drive rollers of the first to ninth conveyance roller pairs 21 to 29. The first conveyance driving unit D1 rotates the drive rollers of the first and second conveyance roller pairs 21 and 22. The second conveyance driving unit D2 rotates the drive rollers of the third to fifth conveyance roller pairs 23 to 25. The third conveyance driving unit D3 rotates the drive rollers of the sixth and seventh conveyance roller pairs 26 and 27. The fourth conveyance driving unit D4 rotates the drive rollers of the eighth and ninth conveyance roller pairs 28 and 29. The first and second conveyance driving units D1 and D2 and the third conveyance driving unit D3 are an example of individual conveyance driving units that drive a plurality of individual conveyance units (the first to fifth conveyance roller pairs 21 to 25 and the sixth and seventh conveyance roller pairs 26 and 27). The fourth conveyance driving unit D4 and a conveyance driving unit (not shown) that drives the receiving roller pair 132 are an example of a merging conveyance driving unit that drives a merging conveyance unit (the eighth and ninth conveyance roller pairs 28 and 29 and the receiving roller pair 132).

[0047] The first inlet passage detection sensor S1, the first outlet passage detection sensor S2, the second inlet passage detection sensor S3, and the second outlet passage detection sensor S4 are, for example, reflective or transmissive photoelectric sensors that detect the passage of the medium M.

[0048] The first inlet passage detection sensor S1 is disposed adjacent to the first conveyance roller pair 21 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction T of the first conveyance roller pair 21. The first outlet passage detection sensor S2 is disposed adjacent to the fifth conveyance roller pair 25 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction T of the fifth conveyance roller pair 25. Thereby, the first inlet passage detection sensor S1 detects the passage of the medium M near the inlet of the first individual conveyance path P1, and the first outlet passage detection sensor S2 detects the passage of the medium M near the outlet of the first individual conveyance path P1.

[0049] The second entrance passage detection sensor S3 is arranged adjacent to the sixth pair of conveying rollers 26 on the downstream side in the conveying direction T of the sixth pair of conveying rollers 26. The second exit passage detection sensor S4 is arranged adjacent to the ninth pair of conveying rollers 29 on the downstream side in the conveying direction T of the ninth pair of conveying rollers 29. Thereby, the second entrance passage detection sensor S3 detects the passage of the medium M near the entrance of the second individual conveying path P2, and the second exit passage detection sensor S4 detects the passage of the medium M near the exit of the medium supply device 1 in the confluence conveying path P3.

[0050] Note that the first entrance passage detection sensor S1, the first exit passage detection sensor S2, and the second entrance passage detection sensor S3 are arranged in a plurality of individual conveying paths (the first individual conveying path P1 and the second individual conveying path P2), and are an example of a plurality of passage detection sensors that detect the passage of the medium M before reaching the arrival detection sensor (the resist sensor S10 described later).

[0051] The control unit 31 shown in FIG. 2 has a processor (for example, a CPU: Central Processing Unit) that functions as an arithmetic processing unit for controlling the operation of the entire medium supply device 1, and controls each part of the medium supply device 1. For example, the control unit 31 controls the first to seventh pairs of conveying rollers 21 to 27 (individual conveying parts) and the eighth and ninth pairs of conveying rollers 28, 29 (confluence conveying parts) using the first to fourth conveying drive parts D1 to D4. Note that when the medium supply device 1 is integrally provided in a supply destination device such as a printing device 101, the control unit of the supply destination device (for example, the control unit 151 of the printing device 101 described later) may function as the control unit 31.

[0052] The storage unit 32 includes, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), which is a read-only semiconductor memory in which a predetermined control program is pre-recorded, and a RAM (Random Access Memory), which is a semiconductor memory that can be written to and read from at any time and is used as a working storage area as needed when the processor executes various control programs. When the medium supply device 1 is integrally provided in a destination device such as the printing device 101, the storage unit of the destination device (for example, the storage unit 152 of the printing device 101 described later) may function as the storage unit 32.

[0053] The interface unit 33 exchanges various information with external devices such as the printing device 101. For example, the interface unit 33 receives information such as a medium supply start request and a resist sensor arrival timing from the interface unit 153 of the printing device 101, and the control unit 31 controls the operations of each part of the medium supply device 1 based on this information.

[0054] Next, the printing device 101 will be described.

[0055] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printing device 101 includes a printing unit 110, a suction conveyance unit 120, a conveyance unit 130, a resist sensor S10, a destination conveyance path P11, a circulation inversion conveyance path P12, an inversion unit 140, a control unit 151, a storage unit 152, and an interface unit 153. In FIG. 1, the confluence conveyance path P3 and the destination conveyance path P11 are shown by solid lines, and the circulation inversion conveyance path P12 is shown by a dashed line.

[0056] The printing unit 110 has, for example, line head type inkjet heads for each color used in printing. Note that the printing method of the printing unit 110 may be a printing method other than the inkjet printing method.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 1, the suction conveyance unit 120 is arranged to face the printing unit 110. The suction conveyance unit 120 conveys the medium M by a conveyance belt while sucking the medium M.

[0058] The conveying unit 130 includes a registration roller pair 131 that corrects the skew of the medium M by abutting the medium M conveyed toward the printing unit 110, a receiving roller pair 132 that conveys the medium M in the merging conveyance path P3 continuing from the medium supply device 1, and a plurality of conveying roller pairs 133 that convey the medium M in the supply destination conveyance path P11 or the circulation reversal conveyance path P12. The registration roller pair 131, the receiving roller pair 132, and the plurality of conveying roller pairs 133 convey the medium M while nipping it. As described above, the protrusion P1e is provided in the first individual conveyance path P1, so the occurrence of skew of the medium M is suppressed. However, if the protrusion P1e is not provided, the skew of the medium M will increase, and a situation may occur where the skew cannot be completely corrected by the registration roller pair 131.

[0059] The registration sensor S10 is disposed near the registration roller pair 131 in the merging conveyance path P3 on the upstream side in the conveyance direction T of the registration roller pair 131. The registration sensor S10 is an example of a arrival detection sensor that is disposed in the merging conveyance path P3 and detects the arrival timing, which is an example of the arrival time of the medium M. As this arrival detection sensor, the above-described second exit passage detection sensor S4 disposed in the merging conveyance path P3 of the medium supply device 1 may be used. Note that the conveyance device in the present embodiment may be regarded as including the medium supply device 1 and the configuration of the conveyance path from the medium supply device 1 to the registration roller pair 131 of the printing device 101. In that case, the receiving roller pair 132 and the registration sensor S10 can be said to be part of the conveyance device.

[0060] The supply destination conveyance path P11 is connected to the merging conveyance path P3 continuing from the medium supply device 1 and extends downstream in the conveyance direction T from the registration roller pair 131. In the printing system 100 shown in FIG. 1, when other printing devices or a medium discharge device are disposed downstream in the conveyance direction T of the printing device 101, the supply destination conveyance path P11 is connected to the conveyance paths of these devices.

[0061] In the circulation reverse conveyance path P12, the medium M is conveyed when printing is to be performed on the opposite surface of the medium M on which single-sided printing has been performed by the printing unit 110, etc.

[0062] The reversing unit 140 has a reversing path, a switchback roller pair, etc. for reversing the front and back of the medium M conveyed to the circulation reverse conveyance path P12.

[0063] The control unit 151 shown in FIG. 2 has a processor (e.g., a CPU) that functions as an arithmetic processing unit for controlling the operations of the entire printing apparatus 101, and controls each part of the printing apparatus 101.

[0064] The storage unit 152 has memories such as a ROM which is a read-only semiconductor memory in which a predetermined control program is recorded in advance, and a RAM which is a semiconductor memory that can be written to and read from at any time and is used as a working storage area as needed when the processor executes various control programs.

[0065] The interface unit 153 exchanges various information with external devices such as the medium supply device 1 and a user terminal that transmits print data. For example, as described above, the interface unit 153 sends information such as a supply start request for the medium M and a registration sensor arrival timing to the interface unit 33 of the medium supply device 1.

[0066] Hereinafter, regarding each operation of supplying, conveying, and printing the medium M, matters that overlap with the above description will be appropriately omitted and described.

[0067] First, when the interface unit 33 receives a supply start request for the medium M from the printing apparatus 101 (interface unit 153), the control unit 31 shown in FIG. 2 controls the first supply unit 11 and the second supply unit 12 to alternately supply the medium M of the first supply unit 11 and the medium M of the second supply unit 12, or to supply only one of the media M.

[0068] When the control unit 31 causes the first supply unit 11 to supply the medium M, the control unit 31 controls the first to fifth conveyance roller pairs 21 to 25 using the first conveyance drive unit D1 and the second conveyance drive unit D2 so as to convey the medium M supplied from the first supply unit 11 in the first individual conveyance path P1. When the medium M is conveyed in the first individual conveyance path P1, the passage thereof is detected by the first entrance passage detection sensor S1 and the first exit passage detection sensor S2. Also, as described above, the medium M is guided by the protruding portion P1e shown in FIG. 4 toward the drive roller 22a of the second conveyance roller pair 22. Therefore, the leading end in the width direction of the medium M is conveyed by the second conveyance roller pair 22 after contacting the drive roller 22a.

[0069] When the control unit 31 causes the second supply unit 12 to supply the medium M, the control unit 31 controls the sixth and seventh conveyance roller pairs 26 and 27 using the third conveyance drive unit D3 so as to convey the medium M supplied from the second supply unit 12 in the second individual conveyance path P2. When the medium M is conveyed in the second individual conveyance path P2, the passage thereof is detected by the second entrance passage detection sensor S3.

[0070] Also, the control unit 31 controls the eighth and ninth conveyance roller pairs 28 and 29 using the fourth conveyance drive unit D4 so as to convey the medium M conveyed from the first individual conveyance path P1 or the second individual conveyance path P2 in the confluence conveyance path P3. When the medium M is conveyed in the confluence conveyance path P3, the passage thereof is detected by the second exit passage detection sensor S4.

[0071] Thereby, the medium M is supplied to the confluence conveyance path P3 of the printing apparatus 101 connected to the confluence conveyance path P3 of the medium supply apparatus 1, abutted against the resist roller pair 131, and skew corrected, and then printing is performed by the printing unit 110. When the medium M is conveyed in the confluence conveyance path P3 of the printing apparatus 101, the passage (arrival) thereof is detected by the resist sensor S10. The arrival timing of the medium M at the resist sensor S10 is sent from the printing apparatus 101 (interface unit 153) to the medium supply apparatus 1 (interface unit 33).

[0072] In the embodiment described above, the conveying device (for example, the medium supply device 1) includes a first individual conveying path P1 (an example of a conveying path) having a first curved portion C1 (an example of a curved portion), and a second conveying roller pair 22 (an example of a pair of conveying members) disposed on the first individual conveying path P1 and configured to convey the medium M while nipping it. In the second conveying roller pair 22, the medium M enters in a state where at least a part thereof is curved in the first curved portion C1, and the first individual conveying path P1 guides the medium M toward a driving roller 22a which is an example of one of the second conveying roller pair 22.

[0073] By guiding the medium M that enters the second conveying roller pair 22 in a state where at least a part thereof is curved in the first curved portion C1 toward the driving roller 22a which is one of the second conveying roller pair 22, the tip of the medium M with increased freedom in the first curved portion C1 can be made to contact only the driving roller 22a out of the driving roller 22a and the driven roller 22b, or can be made to easily enter the intermediate position of the second conveying roller pair 22. Therefore, the occurrence of skewing of the medium M due to the difference in frictional force (conveying force) between the driving roller 22a and the driven roller 22b, which occurs when the tip of the medium M contacts the driving roller 22a on one side in the width direction and the driven roller 22b on the other side, can be suppressed. Further, since the occurrence of skewing of the medium M can be suppressed without arranging a sensor for detecting the skewing of the medium M or a skewing correction unit for correcting the skewing of the medium M, the conveying device can be configured simply.

[0074] Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the occurrence of skewing of the medium M can be suppressed with a simple configuration.

[0075] Further, in the present embodiment, the first individual conveying path P1 has protruding portions P1e, P1f that protrude into the conveying path of the medium M, and the protruding portions P1e, P1f guide the medium M toward one of the second conveying roller pair 22 (the driving roller 22a or the driven roller 22b).

[0076] As a result, with a simple configuration using the protruding portions P1e and P1f, it is possible to more reliably avoid the tip of the medium M from contacting the driving roller 22a on one side in the width direction and the driven roller 22b on the other side. Therefore, the occurrence of skew of the medium M can be further suppressed.

[0077] Further, in the present embodiment, the first curved portion C1 includes a pair of guide plates P1a and P1b that guide the medium M, and the distance W between the pair of guide plates P1a and P1b is widened within a range in which the inclination of the conveyance direction of the medium M with respect to the conveyance direction T of the guide plates P1a and P1b is equal to or less than a specified value when the medium M enters the second conveyance roller pair 22.

[0078] As a result, it is possible to more reliably avoid the tip of the medium M, which has a higher degree of freedom in the first curved portion C1, from contacting the driving roller 22a on one side in the width direction and the driven roller 22b on the other side. Therefore, the occurrence of skew of the medium M can be further suppressed. In addition, since the conveyance resistance of the medium M that increases when the distance W becomes narrow can be suppressed, a decrease in the conveyance speed of the medium M can be suppressed.

[0079] Further, in the present embodiment, the first individual conveyance path P1 guides the medium M toward the driving roller 22a on the side of the curvature center C1a of the first curved portion C1 among the second conveyance roller pair 22.

[0080] As a result, in the first curved portion C1, the medium M tends to move outward to the side opposite to the curvature center C1a of the first curved portion C1 due to centrifugal force. By making it easier to bring the medium M that has moved outward in this way into contact with, for example, the protruding portion P1e, it becomes easier to guide the medium M toward the driving roller 22a side.

[0081] Further, in a modification (FIG. 5) of the present embodiment, the first individual conveyance path P1 guides the medium M toward the driven roller 22b on the side opposite to the curvature center C1a of the curved portion C1 among the second conveyance roller pair 22.

[0082] As a result, in the first curved portion C1, the medium M is attracted by the centrifugal force to the outer side (the side of the driven roller 22b) opposite to the center of curvature C1a of the first curved portion C1, making it easier to guide the medium M toward the driven roller 22b. Therefore, for example, when a protruding portion P1f for guiding the medium M as shown in FIG. 5 is used, compared with the case where a protruding portion P1e for guiding the medium M toward the driving roller 22a as shown in FIG. 4 is used, the protruding amount of the protruding portion P1f can be made smaller, resulting in a simpler configuration.

[0083] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and components can be modified and embodied without departing from the gist thereof at the implementation stage. Also, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, all the components shown in the embodiments may be appropriately combined. Of course, various modifications and applications are possible within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention. The inventions described in the claims of the present application at the time of filing and other inventions are appended below.

[0084] [Appendix 1] A conveyance path having a curved portion, and a pair of conveyance members disposed in the conveyance path and configured to convey the medium while nipping the medium. At least a part of the pair of conveyance members is curved in the curved portion, and the medium enters in a curved state. The conveyance path guides the medium toward one of the pair of conveyance members. A conveyance device characterized by the above. [Appendix 2] The conveyance path has a protruding portion that protrudes into the conveyance path of the medium. The protruding portion guides the medium toward one of the pair of conveyance members. The conveyance device according to Appendix 1, characterized by the above. [Appendix 3] The curved portion includes a pair of guide plates for guiding the medium. The distance between the pair of guide plates is determined to be widened within a range where the inclination of the conveyance direction of the medium with respect to the conveyance direction of the guide plates is equal to or less than a specified value when the medium enters the pair of conveyance members. The conveying device according to appended claim 1 or 2, characterized by this. [Appended claim 4] The conveyance path guides the medium toward the conveyance member on the center-of-curvature side of the curved portion among the pair of conveyance members. The conveying device according to any one of appended claims 1 to 3, characterized by this. [Appended claim 5] The conveyance path guides the medium toward the conveyance member on the side opposite to the center of curvature of the curved portion among the pair of conveyance members. The conveying device according to any one of appended claims 1 to 3, characterized by this.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0085] 1 Medium supply device 1a Upper stage 1b Lower stage 11 First supply unit 11a Loading table 11b Adsorption conveyance unit 11c Medium thickness setting unit 12 Second supply unit 12a Loading table 12b Adsorption conveyance unit 12c Medium thickness setting unit 21 to 29 First to ninth conveyance roller pairs 22a Driving roller 22b Driven roller 31 Control unit 32 Storage unit 33 Interface unit 100 Printing system 101 Printing device 110 Printing unit 120 Adsorption conveyance unit 130 Conveyance unit 131 Resist roller pair 132 Receiving roller pair 133 Conveyance roller pair 140 Reversing unit 151 Control Unit 152 Memory Unit 153 Interface Unit C1~C4 First to Fourth Bending Parts C1a Center of Curvature D1~D4 First to Fourth Conveyor Driving Parts M Medium P1 First Individual Conveyor Path P1a~P1d Guide Plates P1e, P1f Protrusions P2 Second Individual Conveyor Path P3 Merging Conveyor Path P11 Supply Destination Conveyor Path P12 Circulating and Reversing Conveyor Path S1 First Inlet Passage Detection Sensor S2 First Outlet Passage Detection Sensor S3 Second Inlet Passage Detection Sensor S4 Second Outlet Passage Detection Sensor S10 Resist Sensor T Conveyor Direction

Claims

1. A conveying path having a curved portion, and a pair of conveying roller pairs disposed on the conveying path and configured to convey a medium while nipping the medium. In the pair of conveying roller pairs, at least a part of the medium enters in a curved state in the curved portion, the conveying path has a protruding portion that protrudes into the conveying path of the medium, the curved portion forms an arc having a center of curvature, the protruding portion is provided across one side and the other side in the width direction of the medium orthogonal to the conveying direction such that the tip in the conveying direction of the medium contacts only the conveying roller on the center-of-curvature side of the curved portion, which is one of the pair of conveying roller pairs, or one or more are provided on each of one side and the other side in the width direction, and guides the medium entering the pair of conveying roller pairs toward the conveying roller on the center-of-curvature side of the pair of conveying roller pairs. A conveying device characterized by the above.

2. the curved portion includes a pair of guide plates for guiding the medium, and the interval between the pair of guide plates is determined to be wider within a range where the inclination of the medium in the conveying direction with respect to the conveying direction of the guide plates is equal to or less than a specified value when the medium enters the pair of conveying roller pairs. The conveying device according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The pair of conveying roller pairs is a pair of second conveying roller pairs, and the conveying path further includes a pair of first conveying roller pairs disposed upstream of the curved portion in the conveying direction of the medium and configured to convey the medium while nipping the medium. When the medium enters the pair of second conveying roller pairs, the medium is nipped by the pair of first conveying roller pairs. The conveying device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.

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