Feeding device

Abstract

To provide a feeding device capable of measuring the thickness or stiffness of a sheet with stable accuracy.SOLUTION: A feeding device 13 of the invention includes a transport path 20, a transmitter 24, a receiver 25, and an actuator 21. The transport path 20 carries the sheet S. The transmitter 24 ejects an airborne transmission medium. The receiver 25 receives a reflective medium reflected by the airborne transmission medium. The actuator 21 is pivoted rotatably to a rotary shaft. The actuator 21 has a first leg 40 and a second leg 41 extending in different directions from the rotary shaft. The first leg 40 extends to the transport path 20 and intersects the transport path 20, and the second leg 41 intersects the path of the airborne transmission medium emitted by the transmitter 24. The first leg 40 collides with the sheet S and rotates. The second leg 41 has a reflecting surface intersecting the path of the airborne transmission medium. The reflecting surface is formed so that the reflecting medium in which the reflecting surface is reflected by the emitted airborne transmission medium enters the receiver 25 regardless of the angle of rotation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a feeding device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a recording medium identification device that uses a medium sensor to detect the amount of sagging at the trailing edge of a recording medium being transported by a paper feed roller. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-259038 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the distance between the medium sensor and the recording medium becomes unstable due to vibrations during transport of the recording medium, which reduces detection accuracy.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding device that can measure the thickness or stiffness of a sheet with stable accuracy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The feeding device according to the present invention includes a conveying path, a transmitter, a receiver, and an actuator. Sheets are conveyed along the conveying path. The transmitter emits an airborne transmission medium. The receiver receives a reflection medium reflected by the airborne transmission medium. The actuator is rotatably supported on a rotation shaft. The actuator has a first leg and a second leg extending in different directions from the rotation shaft, the first leg extending to the conveying path and intersecting the conveying path, and the second leg intersecting the path of the airborne transmission medium emitted by the transmitter. The first leg rotates upon impact with the sheet, and the second leg has a reflective surface intersecting the path of the airborne transmission medium, the reflective surface being shaped so that the reflection medium, which is the emitted airborne transmission medium reflected by the reflective surface, is incident on the receiver regardless of the rotation angle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the feeding device of the present invention, the thickness or stiffness of a sheet can be measured with stable accuracy. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a multifunction peripheral (image forming apparatus) having a feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing an actuator of a feeding device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing an actuator of a feeding device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] 3(a) to 3(c) are diagrams showing an actuator of the feeding device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing distance characteristics of the feeding device according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] 10(a) and 10(b) are diagrams showing the X angle characteristic and the Y angle characteristic of the feeding device according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated. In this embodiment, the drawings show an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis that are orthogonal to each other. The Z-axis is parallel to a vertical plane, and the X-axis and Y-axis are parallel to a horizontal plane.

[0010] In this embodiment, in the image forming unit 14, the Z-axis direction, which is the conveying direction of the sheet S, may be referred to as the main scanning direction. The Y-axis direction may be referred to as the sub-scanning direction. The X-axis direction may be referred to as the direction intersecting the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

[0011] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, a multifunction peripheral 1 (image forming apparatus 3) having a feeding device 13 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the multifunction peripheral 1 (image forming apparatus 3) having a feeding device 13 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are diagrams showing the actuator 21 of the feeding device 13 according to this embodiment. FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are diagrams showing the actuator 21 of the feeding device 13 according to this embodiment. FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c) are diagrams showing the actuator 21 of the feeding device 13 according to this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the distance characteristics of the feeding device 13 according to this embodiment. FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are diagrams showing the X angle characteristics and the Y angle characteristics of the feeding device 13 according to this embodiment.

[0012] The multifunction device 1 will be described with reference to Figure 1. The multifunction device 1 is, for example, an MFP (Multi Function Printer) that combines the functions of a scanner, copier, printer, copy machine, facsimile, and others. The multifunction device 1 is, for example, a copier, a facsimile, or a multifunction device that combines these functions.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction peripheral 1 includes a document reading device 2 and an image forming device 3.

[0014] The document reading device 2 includes, for example, a document feeding device 10 and an image reading device 11. The document feeding device 10 includes, for example, a document tray, a document feeding unit, a document sensor, and a document discharge unit. An example of the document feeding device 10 is an ADF (Auto Document Feeder).

[0015] The image reading device 11 has an optical system, which includes, for example, a light emitting unit, a lens, a reflecting mirror, and a light receiving unit.

[0016] The image reading device 11 reads an image from the document G transported by the document feeding device 10. The image reading device 11 generates image data from the read image. An example of the image reading device 11 is a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) type or a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) type scanner.

[0017] Next, the image forming apparatus 3, for example, in the case of an electrophotographic system, has a sheet feeding device 12, a sheet conveying device 13 (feeding device 13), an image forming section 14 (image forming apparatus 14), a fixing device 15, a sheet discharge device 16, and a control device 17.

[0018] When the image forming device 3 is, for example, an inkjet printer, the image forming unit 14 has at least an ink tank, an ink cartridge, and an ink head, which are not shown.

[0019] If the image forming apparatus 3 is, for example, an inkjet printer, the fixing unit 15 may be omitted.

[0020] The sheet feeding device 12 includes, for example, a sheet tray and a pickup roller.

[0021] The sheet transport device 13 (feeding device 13) includes a transport path 20, an actuator 21, a transport roller 22, a transport motor, a transmitter 24, a receiver 25, and an elastic member .

[0022] The conveying path 20 conveys the sheet S.

[0023] The conveying path 20 may be a curved conveying path 30 as shown in Figures 4(a) to (c), or may be a straight conveying path 31 as shown in Figure 3(a) or (b). The curved conveying path 30 is a conveying path 20 formed in a curved shape. The conveying path 20 may include a curved conveying path 30 in part and a straight conveying path 31 in part.

[0024] Next, a detailed description will be given of the actuator 21. The actuator 21 is a detection member that detects the stiffness or thickness of the sheet S conveyed through the conveying path 20.

[0025] The actuator 21 is rotatably supported on a rotation shaft and has a first leg 40 and a second leg 41 extending in different directions from the rotation shaft, the first leg 40 extending to the conveying path 20 and intersecting with the conveying path 20, the second leg 41 intersecting with the path of the airborne transmission medium emitted by the transmitter 24, the first leg 40 rotating upon colliding with the sheet S, the second leg 41 having a reflective surface intersecting with the path of the airborne transmission medium, and the reflective surface is formed so that the reflective medium reflected by the emitted airborne transmission medium enters the receiver 25 regardless of the rotation angle.

[0026] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 2(a), the actuator 21 is rotatably supported on a rotation shaft. The actuator 21 has a first leg 40 and a second leg 41. The first leg 40 and the second leg 41 extend in different directions from the rotation shaft. In the example of Fig. 2(a), the first leg 40 and the second leg 41 extend in opposite directions by 180 degrees from the rotation shaft.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 3(a), the first leg 40 extends to the conveying path 20 (linear conveying path 31) and intersects with the conveying path 20. The second leg 41 intersects with the path of the air-borne transmission medium emitted by the transmitter 24. An example of the air-borne transmission medium is light or ultrasonic waves.

[0028] As shown in Figures 2(b), 3(a) and (b), the first leg 40 hits the seat S and rotates. By rotating, the first leg 40 transmits information for detecting the characteristics or type of the seat S.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 2(a), the second leg 41 has a reflecting surface that intersects with the path of the airborne transmission medium. As shown in Fig. 2(b), the reflecting surface is formed so that the reflective medium, which is the emitted airborne transmission medium reflected by the reflecting surface, enters the receiving unit 25 regardless of the rotation angle. The reflecting surface may be formed so that the reflective medium, which is the emitted airborne transmission medium reflected by the reflecting surface, enters the receiving unit 25 regardless of the rotation angle.

[0030] Furthermore, the actuator 21 may have a curved reflecting surface, and the angle of incidence of the air-transmitting medium on the reflecting surface may be the same as the angle of reflection of the reflecting medium reflected by the reflecting surface.

[0031] Furthermore, the curved surface of the reflecting surface of the actuator 21 may include a part of a cylinder having a center at the intersection of the path of the air transmission medium and the axis of the second leg 41 extending from the rotation axis.

[0032] According to this embodiment, the emitted air transmission medium is reflected by the reflecting surface, and the resulting reflection medium is incident on the receiving unit 25 regardless of the rotation angle.

[0033] Next, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the transport rollers 22 are disposed in the transport path 20 and transport the sheet S.

[0034] A transport motor (not shown) drives the transport roller 22 to rotate.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3(a), the transmitter 24 emits an air transmission medium.

[0036] The transmitter 24 may be a light emitting unit 50. The light emitting unit 50 emits light. An example of the light emitting unit 50 is an LED (Light Emitting Diode).

[0037] The transmitter 24 may be an ultrasonic transmitter 51. An example of the ultrasonic transmitter 51 is an electrostrictive vibrator made of lead zirconate titanate or the like that vibrates when an AC voltage is applied.

[0038] 3(a), the receiving unit 25 receives a reflection medium that is an air-transmitting medium reflected by the reflecting surface of the actuator 21, and outputs received information. The received information may be light intensity information or volume information.

[0039] According to this embodiment, the thickness or stiffness of the sheet S can be measured with stable accuracy.

[0040] The receiving unit 25 may be a light receiving unit 52. The light receiving unit 52 receives light reflected by a reflective surface and outputs light amount information. An example of the light receiving unit 52 is a CCD (Charged Coupled Device). The light amount information may include information indicating the intensity of the light amount.

[0041] According to this embodiment, the light emitting unit 50 and the light receiving unit 52 transmit and receive the amount of light, so that the distance between the reflecting surface of the actuator 21 and the receiving unit 25 can be measured with high accuracy.

[0042] The receiving unit 25 may be an ultrasonic receiving unit 53. The ultrasonic receiving unit 53 receives ultrasonic waves reflected by a reflecting surface and outputs volume information.

[0043] According to this embodiment, the ultrasonic transmitter 51 and the ultrasonic receiver 53 transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, so that the distance between the reflecting surface of the actuator 21 and the receiver 25 can be measured with high accuracy.

[0044] 4(a) to 4(c), the elastic member 26 biases the actuator 21. The elastic member 26 biases the first leg 40 of the actuator 21 in a direction against the biasing force of the conveyed sheet S biasing the first leg 40 of the actuator 21.

[0045] The elastic member 26 may bias the second leg 41 of the actuator 21 in a direction that resists the biasing force of the conveyed sheet S biasing the first leg 40 of the actuator 21 .

[0046] An example of the elastic member 26 is a spring.

[0047] Generally, the thickness and stiffness of the sheet S differ depending on the type. When a thick and stiff sheet S is conveyed along a curved conveying path 30 with a large bending stress as shown in FIG. 4(a), the sheet S rubs against the outer wall of the curved conveying path 30 in the curvature radius direction.

[0048] Therefore, the first leg 40 of the actuator 21 receives a large biasing force from the seat S. The elastic member 26 biases the second leg 41 against the biasing force that the first leg 40 receives from the seat S.

[0049] 4(b), when a sheet S with high stiffness (a thick sheet S) is conveyed, the second leg 41 of the actuator 21 moves away (distance N1) from the transmitter 24 and the receiver 25. The receiver 25 outputs reception information based on the intensity (volume, amount of light) of the reflective medium.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 4(c), when a sheet S with low rigidity (a thin sheet S) is conveyed, the sheet S is bent as the elastic member 26 gives in to the biasing force of the actuator 21.

[0051] Therefore, as shown in Figure 4(c), when a sheet S with low rigidity (a thin sheet S) is conveyed, the second leg 41 of the actuator 21 approaches the transmitter 24 and the receiver 25 (distance N2). Here, distance N1 is greater than distance N2. The receiver 25 outputs reception information based on the intensity (volume, amount of light) of the reflective medium.

[0052] According to this embodiment, the stiffness or thickness of the sheet S can be suitably measured.

[0053] 1, in the case of an electrophotographic system, the image forming unit 14 forms a toner image (not shown) on the sheet S based on the document image data. In the case of an inkjet printer, the image forming unit 14 forms an ink image (not shown) on the sheet S based on the document image data.

[0054] In this embodiment, unless a special explanation is required as an inkjet printer, the image forming unit 14 will be basically of an electrophotographic type.

[0055] The image forming unit 14 includes, for example, an image data input unit, a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a cleaning unit, all of which are not shown.

[0056] The fixing device 15 applies heat and pressure to the toner image developed on the sheet S to fix the toner image to the sheet S. The fixing device 15 has, for example, a fixing belt, a pressure roller, and a heater.

[0057] The fixing belt is a hollow cylindrical belt. The pressure roller is pressed against the fixing belt to form a nip with the fixing belt. The pressure roller is driven to rotate by a drive unit (not shown), and forms a nip with the fixing belt, thereby rotating the fixing belt.

[0058] The heater receives power from a power source (not shown) and heats the fixing belt. The heater is disposed close to the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt. The sheet S conveyed to the sheet conveying device 13 (feeding device 13) is heated by the heater as it passes through the nip portion, and the toner image is fixed.

[0059] The sheet discharge unit 16 discharges the sheet S to the outside of the housing of the multifunction device 1. The sheet discharge unit 16 may have a discharge roller and a discharge tray. The discharge roller discharges the sheet S, which has been transported from the fixing device 15 by the transport roller 22, onto the discharge tray. The discharge tray holds the discharged sheet S.

[0060] Next, the control device 17 controls each part of the multifunction peripheral 1 or the image forming device 3. An example of the control device 17 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

[0061] The control device 17 includes a calculation unit 60 and a setting unit 61. The calculation unit 60 and the setting unit 61 can be realized by an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

[0062] The calculation unit 60 calculates the stiffness or thickness of the sheet S based on the light amount information output by the light receiving unit 52.

[0063] The calculation unit 60 may calculate the stiffness or thickness of the sheet S based on the volume information output by the ultrasonic wave receiving unit 53.

[0064] The setting unit 61 sets each device arranged in the image forming apparatus 3 including the feeding device 13 based on the stiffness or thickness of the sheet S.

[0065] According to this embodiment, the stiffness or thickness of the sheet S is calculated, and the devices arranged in the image forming apparatus 3 equipped with the feeding device 13 are appropriately set.

[0066] Next, the characteristics of the receiving unit 25 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. In Fig. 5, the horizontal axis represents the distance between the reflecting surface of the first leg 40 of the actuator 21 and the receiving unit 25. The vertical axis represents the output of the receiving unit 25.

[0067] 5, as the reflecting surface of the actuator 21 approaches the receiving unit 25, the output of the receiving unit 25 increases. As the reflecting surface of the actuator 21 moves away from the receiving unit 25, the output of the receiving unit 25 decreases.

[0068] The distance characteristic between the reflecting surface of the first leg 40 of the actuator 21 and the receiver 25 has a roughly linear characteristic that slopes downward to the right.

[0069] Next, with reference to Figures 6(a) and (b), we will explain the angular characteristics that show the relationship between the output of the receiving unit 25 and the tilt of the transmitting unit 24. Figures 6(a) and (b) show the X angle characteristics and Y angle characteristics of the receiving unit 25 when the actuator 21 shown in Figure 2(a) is fixed and the positions of the transmitting unit 24 and the receiving unit 25 are changed.

[0070] 6(a) and (b) show the state in which the transmitter 24 and receiver 25 are attached to a substrate. As shown in FIG. 6(a), when the transmitter 24 and receiver 25 are controlled to a horizontal position, the X angle characteristic of the receiver 25 is highest. When the transmitter 24 and receiver 25 are tilted to the left or right of the page, the output of the receiver 25 decreases.

[0071] 6(b), when the transmitter 24 and the receiver 25 are tilted toward the front of the paper, the output of the receiver 25 increases. When the transmitter 24 and the receiver 25 are tilted toward the back of the paper, the output of the receiver 25 decreases.

[0072] As shown in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b), the XY angle characteristics of the receiving unit 25 are best when the transmitting unit 24 and the receiving unit 25 are in horizontal positions in the left-right direction of the paper (the X-direction angle is 0 degrees in the X direction) and in horizontal positions in front of and behind the paper (the Y-direction angle is 0 degrees in the Y direction).

[0073] Conversely, when the positions of transmitter 24 and receiver 25 are fixed, if the reflecting surface of actuator 21 changes to maintain a position where transmitter 24 and receiver 25 have an X-direction angle of 0 degrees and a Y-direction angle of 0 degrees, receiver 25 will exhibit distance characteristics as shown in FIG. 5.

[0074] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The drawings mainly show each component in a schematic manner to facilitate understanding, and the number of each component shown may differ from the actual number due to the convenience of creating the drawings. Furthermore, the components shown in the above embodiments are merely examples and are not particularly limited, and various modifications are possible without substantially departing from the effects of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0075] The present invention can be used in the field of feeding devices. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1 Multifunction device 2 Document reader 3. Image forming device 12 Sheet feeding device 13 Sheet transport device (feeding device) 14 Image forming unit 15 Fixing device 16 Sheet ejection device 17 Control device 20 Conveyor path 21 Actuator 22 Transport roller 24 Communications Department 25 Receiving unit 26 Elastic member 30 Curved conveyor path 31 Straight conveying path 40 1st leg 41 Second leg 50 Light-emitting part 51 Ultrasonic transmitter 52 Light receiving section 53 Ultrasonic receiver 60 Calculation Unit 61 Setting section

Claims

1. a conveying path along which the sheet is conveyed; a transmitter that emits an airborne transmission medium; a receiving unit that receives a reflection medium reflected by the air transmission medium; An actuator rotatably supported on a rotation shaft; Equipped with The actuator is a first leg and a second leg extending in different directions from the rotation axis; the first leg extends to the transport path and intersects with the transport path; the second leg intersects with a path of the airborne transmission medium emitted by the transmitter; The first leg hits the seat and rotates, the second leg has a reflective surface that intersects with the path of the airborne transmission medium; the reflecting surface is formed so that the reflected medium, which is the emitted air-transmitting medium reflected by the reflecting surface, is incident on the receiving unit regardless of a rotation angle; A feeding device, wherein the reflecting surface is a curved surface, and the angle of incidence of the air-transmitting medium on the reflecting surface is the same as the angle of reflection of the reflecting medium reflected on the reflecting surface.

2. The feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein the curved surface includes a part of a cylinder having a center at an intersection of a path of the airborne transmission medium and an axis of the second leg extending from the rotation axis.

3. A conveying path along which a sheet is conveyed; a transmitter that emits an airborne transmission medium; a receiving unit that receives a reflection medium reflected by the air transmission medium; An actuator rotatably supported on a rotation shaft; Equipped with The actuator is a first leg and a second leg extending in different directions from the rotation axis; the first leg extends to the transport path and intersects with the transport path; the second leg intersects with a path of the airborne transmission medium emitted by the transmitter; The first leg hits the seat and rotates, the second leg has a reflective surface that intersects with the path of the airborne transmission medium; the reflecting surface is formed so that the reflected medium, which is the emitted air-transmitting medium reflected by the reflecting surface, is incident on the receiving unit regardless of a rotation angle; the conveying path is a curved conveying path formed in a curved shape, the actuator is disposed on the outer periphery of the curved conveying path, the first leg enters the curved conveying path from the outer periphery side of the curved conveying path and intersects with the curved conveying path; The feeding device further includes an elastic member that biases the first leg of the actuator in a direction against a biasing force that biases the first leg of the actuator by the sheet being conveyed.

4. the transmitting unit is a light emitting unit that emits light, 4. The feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving section is a light receiving section that receives light reflected by the reflecting surface and outputs light amount information.

5. the transmitting unit is an ultrasonic transmitting unit that transmits ultrasonic waves, The feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving unit is an ultrasonic receiving unit that receives ultrasonic waves reflected by the reflecting surface and outputs volume information.

6. The feeding device according to claim 4 , further comprising a calculation unit that calculates stiffness or thickness of the sheet based on the light amount information.

7. The feeding device according to claim 5 , further comprising a calculation unit that calculates stiffness or thickness of the sheet based on the volume information.

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