JP5266726B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device in which paper is fed in a plurality of directions while suppressing an increase in the quantity of parts. <P>SOLUTION: This dye sublimation printer 100 (image forming device) comprises a paper feeding means (a feed roller 8, a paper feed roller 12, and a stepping motor 18) for feeding paper 50 to a paper feed path T1 and a paper discharge path U1 and an upper paper guide 40 for guiding the paper 50 fed to the paper feed path T1 and the paper discharge path U1 by the paper feeding means. The upper paper guide 40 comprises a guide part 41 for guiding the paper 50 fed to the paper feed path T1 and the paper discharge path U1 for the paper 50 and a roller part 42 rotated by the contact of the paper 50 therewith while the paper 50 is fed to at least the paper feed path T1 by the paper feeding means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet conveying unit.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus including a sheet conveying unit is known (for example, see Patent Documents 1 to 5).

  The above-mentioned Patent Document 1 includes an image including a transport roller (paper transport unit) for transporting paper and a switchback roller (paper transport unit) for transporting the paper in the transport direction and in the direction opposite to the transport direction. A forming apparatus is disclosed. In this image forming apparatus, a double-sided recording path having a conveyance direction and a direction opposite to the conveyance direction is provided. A brush roller having a large number of hairs on the outer peripheral surface is arranged at the branch portion of the double-sided recording path, and the brush roller is rotated by a motor for rotating the brush roller. As a result, when the sheet is conveyed by the switchback roller in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction, the sheet is guided by the brush roller so as to be conveyed to the correct duplex recording path.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, a transport roller (paper transport unit) that transports a sheet (paper) in the transport direction, a guide element that is rotatable by contacting the sheet, and a guide element are moved. A printer (image forming apparatus) is disclosed that includes an activation unit for switching the positional relationship between the guide element and the transport roller between a closed state and an open state. In this printer, when the positional relationship between the transport roller and the guide element is closed, the sheet is conveyed in the direction in which the transport roller rotates. On the other hand, when the positional relationship between the transport roller and the guide element is in an open state, the sheet is not transported in the direction in which the transport roller rotates, and is separated by a transport means provided separately from the transport roller. Transported in the direction.

  Patent Document 3 discloses an image forming unit that prints on a sheet, a conveyance roller (sheet conveying unit) that serves as a power for conveying the sheet to the image forming unit, and a sheet for conveying the sheet to the image forming unit. An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes a paper conveyance path that is a path, a reversal path that branches from the paper conveyance path, and a paper reversing unit that reverses the paper to perform double-sided printing on the paper that has passed through the reversal path. The branching point between the sheet conveyance path and the reversing path of the image forming apparatus includes a first guide surface along the surface of the sheet conveyed to the reversing path, and a sheet conveyed from the reversing path toward the sheet conveying path. A branch claw having a second guide surface along the surface is provided. The branching claw is configured such that the second guide surface of the branching claw is pushed up when the sheet is conveyed to the reverse path. Further, four or five branch claws are provided at a predetermined interval in the width direction of the sheet in order to reliably guide the conveyance of the sheet.

  Further, in Patent Document 4, a recording sheet storage unit for storing a recording sheet (paper), an image forming unit that prints on a sheet, a recording sheet that is conveyed, and provided on the image forming unit side. A recording roller that includes one conveyance roller (paper conveyance unit), a second conveyance roller (paper conveyance unit) that conveys the recording sheet and is provided on the recording sheet storage unit side, and a pressing roller that sandwiches the recording sheet together with the second conveyance roller. An apparatus (image forming apparatus) is disclosed. The image forming apparatus further includes a link member that adjusts a pressure for sandwiching the recording sheet with the pressing roller by moving the second conveying roller.

  Patent Document 5 discloses a recording head for printing on recording paper, a conveyance driving roller for feeding the recording paper to the recording head, and a discharge driving roller for discharging the recording paper printed by the recording head from the recording head. A recording apparatus is disclosed that includes a retracting tray for retracting a recording sheet printed by a recording head when printing on both sides of the recording sheet, and a swinging unit that discharges the recording sheet on which recording has been completed. . In this recording apparatus, the recording paper is transported through a path that is a path toward the retraction tray and a paper discharge path that is a direction toward the swing unit and a direction that is different from the retraction path. Including. In addition, a bidirectional transport driving roller is disposed between the retract path and the paper discharge path. Then, after recording by the recording head, the recording paper is conveyed to a retracting tray through a retracting path when double-sided printing is performed. Further, when printing of the recording paper is completed, the swinging unit moves so as to swing in the direction of the bidirectional transport driving roller. As a result, the recording paper on which printing has been completed is transported in the direction of the paper discharge path instead of the escape path while being guided by the bidirectional transport driving roller.

JP 2006-219239 A JP 2007-169065 A JP 2002-205861 A JP 2007-145466 A JP 2003-226053 A

  However, the image forming apparatus according to Patent Document 1 requires a motor for rotating a brush roller provided at a branch portion in two conveyance directions of a sheet in order to convey the sheet in two directions. There is a problem that the score increases.

  Further, in the printer (image forming apparatus) according to Patent Document 2, an active unit for moving the guide element is necessary to transport the sheet (paper) in a plurality of transport directions, and accordingly, the number of parts is increased accordingly. There is a problem that increases.

  Further, the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 3 has a problem in that the number of parts increases because four or more branching claws are provided at the branching point between the paper conveyance path and the reversing path.

  Further, the recording apparatus (image forming apparatus) according to Patent Document 4 has only one recording sheet (paper) conveyance direction, and therefore has a problem that the recording sheet conveyance direction cannot be changed. .

  In addition, in the image forming apparatus according to Patent Document 5, although not specified, components such as a motor for swinging the swinging portion in order to branch the recording paper transport direction into a retract path and a discharge path. Therefore, there is a problem that the number of parts increases.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and one object of the present invention is an image capable of transporting paper in a plurality of directions while suppressing an increase in the number of parts. A forming apparatus is provided.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

In one aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus conveys a sheet to a first conveyance path and a second conveyance path, and conveys the sheet to the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path. A sheet guide member for guiding the sheet, the one sheet guide member for guiding the sheet conveyed to the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path of the sheet, and the sheet conveyance means At least when the paper is transported to the first transport path, the first transport path is a paper feed path, and the second transport path is a paper discharge path. The guide portion of the paper guide member includes a paper feed guide portion that guides when the paper is transported to the paper feed path by the paper transport means, and a discharge guide that guides when the paper is transported to the paper discharge path by the paper transport means. paper Includes integrally a id portion, the sheet feeding guide part and the paper discharge guide portion of the guide portion is integrally formed by one wire rod, the paper guide member, the downstream end of the feed path A roller part is provided, and it is configured to be able to swing up and down together with the roller part with a mounting part provided at an end opposite to the roller part as a fulcrum. In a state prior to printing, the sheet guide member is disposed between the roller portion and the mounting portion.

  In the image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, as described above, the sheet conveyance unit for conveying the sheet to the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path, and the first conveyance path and the second conveyance by the sheet conveyance unit. A sheet guide member that guides the sheet conveyed to the path, and the sheet guide member includes a guide unit for guiding the sheet conveyed to the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path of the sheet; When the paper is transported by the paper transport means to the first transport path and the second transport path, the paper is transported to the first transport path or the second transport path without being transported to the wrong path. Can do. In addition, since a part for moving the paper guide member is not required for transporting the paper to one of the first transport path and the second transport path, the number of parts increases accordingly. Can be suppressed. In addition, since only one paper guide member needs to be provided in order to transport the paper to one of the first transport path and the second transport path, compared to the case where a plurality of paper guide members are provided, Accordingly, the increase in the number of parts can be suppressed. Further, by providing a roller portion that rotates when the paper comes into contact with the paper when the paper is conveyed to at least the first conveyance path by the paper conveyance means, the roller when the paper comes into contact with the roller portion of the paper guide member Since the part rotates, unlike the case where the tip of the plate-shaped guide part contacts the printing surface (front surface) of the paper, the occurrence of damage to the paper surface due to the paper contacting the paper guide member is suppressed. can do. Further, since the roller portion rotates when the paper comes into contact, it is not necessary to separately provide a component serving as a drive source for rotating the roller portion. Thereby, it can suppress that the number of parts increases correspondingly. As a result, the sheet can be conveyed in a plurality of directions while suppressing an increase in the number of parts.

Further, when the paper is fed by the paper feed guide portion of the paper guide member, it is possible to reliably guide the paper carried to the paper feed path by the paper carrying means. In addition, when a sheet is discharged, the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit to the sheet discharge path can be reliably guided by the sheet discharge guide portion of the sheet guide member. Thus, when the paper is fed and discharged, the paper can be reliably conveyed without an error in the paper conveyance path. Further, by providing the paper feed guide portion and the paper discharge guide portion integrally, an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the above aspect, the guide portion of the paper guide member is preferably formed of a wire having a round cross section. With this configuration, even when the surface of the paper comes into contact with the guide portion instead of the roller portion, the paper surface comes into contact with the guide portion having a round cross section. Unlike the case where the sheet contacts the printing surface (front surface) of the sheet, the sheet can be prevented from being damaged when the sheet contacts the guide portion.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the one aspect, preferably, the paper guide member further includes a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the roller portion, and the guide portion and the bearing portion of the paper guide member are integrally formed. ing. If comprised in this way, it can suppress that a number of parts increases compared with the case where the bearing part and guide part of a roller part are provided separately.

  In this case, preferably, when the sheet is conveyed to the sheet feeding path by the sheet conveying unit, the leading end of the sheet moves while contacting the sheet feeding guide unit, so that the sheet feeding guide unit is pushed upward. Later, the surface of the paper is configured to come into contact with the roller portion. If configured in this way, the leading edge of the paper pushes up the paper feed guide part, so that the roller part arranged below can be moved up to a position where it comes into contact with the surface of the paper. Before the surface of the paper comes into contact with the paper feed guide portion, it can be brought into contact with the roller portion. As a result, it is possible to further suppress the occurrence of damage to the paper surface due to contact with the paper guide member.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a sublimation printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the paper feed cassette is omitted from the main body of the sublimation printer according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 to 8 are diagrams showing the detailed configuration of the sublimation printer according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. First, the configuration of a sublimation printer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to a sublimation printer which is an example of an image forming apparatus will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a sublimation printer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an apparatus main body 1 configured to be capable of mounting a paper cassette 60 that stores paper 50 (see FIG. 1), a housing 2, The power button 3 disposed on the upper surface of the housing 2 and the opening 2a provided on the front surface (side surface in the direction of arrow B) of the housing 2 so as to mount the paper cassette 60 can be opened and closed. And an attached lid 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the sublimation printer 100 (see FIG. 1) includes a metal chassis 5, a print head 6 for performing printing, and a print in the housing 2 (see FIG. 1). A platen roller 7 (see FIG. 4) arranged to face the head 6, a metal feed roller 8 (see FIG. 4), a feed roller gear 9, and a metal that contacts the feed roller 8 with a predetermined pressing force. A pressing roller 10 made of plastic (see FIG. 4), a lower paper guide 11 made of resin, a rubber paper feed roller 12, a paper feed roller gear 13, a rubber paper discharge roller 14, and a paper discharge roller gear 15. Is further provided. The sublimation printer 100 (see FIG. 1) further includes an ink sheet take-up reel 16, a sheet metal motor bracket 17, a stepping motor 18 for transporting paper 50 (see FIG. 1), and a print head. 6 includes a stepping motor 19 serving as a drive source for rotating 6, a swingable swinging gear 20, and a plurality of intermediate gears 21 to 24 (see FIG. 3). Further, in the sublimation printer 100 (see FIG. 1) according to the present embodiment, an ink sheet cartridge 70 in which an ink sheet 71 (see FIG. 4) capable of printing 20 sheets of paper 50 is detachable can be attached and detached. It is installed. The feed roller 8, the pressing roller 10, the paper feed roller 12, the paper discharge roller 14, and the stepping motor 18 are examples of the “paper transport unit” in the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the metal chassis 5 has one side surface 5a, the other side surface 5b, and a bottom surface 5c connecting the one side surface 5a and the other side surface 5b. Further, the above-described sheet metal motor bracket 17 is attached to one side surface 5 a of the chassis 5. An insertion hole 5d for inserting the ink sheet cartridge 70 is provided on the other side surface 5b of the chassis 5.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the print head 6 has a support shaft 6a, an arm portion 6b, a head portion 6c, and a resin paper feed guide member 6d attached from the lower surface side of the head portion 6c (FIG. 4). For example). The print head 6 is attached to be rotatable about a support shaft 6a. In addition, the head portion 6c of the print head 6 is provided with a heating element 6e that generates heat when a voltage pulse is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the feed roller 8 has a feed roller gear insertion portion 8 a that is inserted into the feed roller gear 9. The feed roller 8 is rotatably supported by a feed roller bearing (not shown) attached to the chassis 5 and is in a direction (arrow C and D directions) orthogonal to the direction in which the paper 50 is fed. A rotation axis is arranged. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the feed roller 8 is arranged on the paper feed direction (arrow A direction) side of the paper 50 with respect to the paper feed roller 12.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower sheet guide 11 is installed in the vicinity of the feed roller 8 and the pressing roller 10. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower paper guide 11 has a notch 11a at the center and a pedestal 11b for supporting the fed paper 50 from below, and a leg 11c provided below the pedestal 11b. A pair of left and right guide portions 11d for guiding the conveyance of paper during paper feeding and paper discharge, and a mounting portion provided so as to protrude upward from the leg portion 11c and to be attached to an upper paper guide 40 described later. A pair of attachment portions 11e having holes 11f.

  Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper paper guide 40 is attached to the attachment hole 11 f of the attachment portion 11 e of the lower paper guide 11. The upper paper guide 40 is an example of the “paper guide member” in the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the upper paper guide 40 includes a guide portion 41 formed of a wire having a spring shape and a round cross section, and a roller portion 42. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the roller portion 42 includes a contact portion 42 a that contacts the surface of the paper 50 (see FIG. 4) and a shaft portion 42 b that serves as a rotation shaft. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the guide portion 41 of the upper paper guide 40 is a pair of paper feeds that guide the paper transported to the paper feed path T <b> 1 (see FIG. 4) that is the path in the paper feed direction. The guide portion 41a is connected to the pair of paper feed guide portions 41a and is transported to a connection portion 41b that does not contact the paper 50 (see FIG. 1) and a paper discharge path U1 (see FIG. 13) that is a path in the paper discharge direction. And a pair of paper discharge guide portions 41c for guiding the paper to be printed. Further, the end of the paper feed guide 41a of the guide 41 in the paper feed direction (arrow A direction) and the end of the paper discharge guide 41c in the paper feed direction (arrow A) are coiled with a wire. A pair of bearing portions 41d formed in the above are provided. The inner diameter of the coil-shaped bearing portion 41d is configured to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the shaft portion 42b of the roller portion 42. Thereby, the roller part 42 is rotatably supported by the bearing part 41d. Further, the paper feed guide portion 41a, the connecting portion 41b, the paper discharge guide portion 41c, and the bearing portion 41d of the guide portion 41 are integrally formed.

  In the present embodiment, the discharge guide part 41c of the guide part 41 has a hook-shaped attachment part 41e as shown in FIGS. The attachment portion 41e is attached by being inserted into and engaged with the attachment hole 11f of the attachment portion 11e of the lower paper guide 11 (see FIG. 5). The pair of paper discharge guide portions 41c has a shape that spreads from the bearing portion 41d provided on the center side toward the mounting portions 41e provided on both ends as viewed in a plan view. As a result, when the paper 50 (see FIG. 1) is discharged, conveyance can be guided over the entire range of the paper 50 in the width direction by the paper feed guide portion 41c. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lower paper guide 11 is configured such that the paper feed guide portion 41a and the paper discharge guide portion 41c are inclined in the paper discharge direction (arrow B direction) with the roller portion 42 facing down. It is attached so as to extend upward. Thus, the upper paper guide 40 is attached so as to be swingable in the vertical direction with the attachment portion 41e as a fulcrum. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the roller part 42 is configured to fall downward into a notch 11a provided at the center part of the pedestal part 11b of the lower paper guide 11 except during paper feeding.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the paper feed roller 12 is rotated by using a stepping motor 18 as a drive source, whereby the paper in the paper cassette 60 (see FIG. 1) mounted on the apparatus main body 1 (see FIG. 1). 50 (see FIG. 1) is supplied to the inside of the apparatus main body 1. Further, the paper discharge roller 14 is rotated by using a stepping motor 18 as a drive source, whereby the printed paper 50 (see FIG. 1) on which printing has been performed inside the apparatus main body 1 (see FIG. 1). 1 has a function of discharging to the outside.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the ink sheet take-up reel 16 (see FIG. 2) is engaged with a take-up bobbin 70b that is rotatably arranged inside a take-up portion 70a of the ink sheet cartridge 70. The ink sheet 71 is wound around the winding bobbin 70b. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the gear portion 16 a of the ink sheet take-up reel 16 is disposed so as to be able to engage with the swing gear 20 when the swing gear 20 swings.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a motor gear 25 is attached to the rotation shaft of the stepping motor 18 attached to the motor bracket 17. The stepping motor 18 has a function as a drive source for driving the gear portion 16 a of the ink sheet take-up reel 16, the paper feed roller gear 13, the paper discharge roller gear 15, and the feed roller gear 9. The stepping motor 19 serves as a drive source for a pressing member (not shown) that presses the upper surface of the print head 6 so as to press the print head 6 (see FIG. 4) against the platen roller 7 (see FIG. 4). It has a function.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the ink sheet cartridge 70 is provided with a supply unit 70d in which a supply bobbin 70c around which the ink sheet 71 is wound is rotatably arranged. The ink sheet 71 protects the printing surface of the printed paper 50 and the three color ink sheets of the Y color (yellow) print sheet, the M color (magenta) print sheet, and the C color (cyan) print sheet. Transparent OP (overcoat) sheets are sequentially connected. In addition, printing that is recognized by an ink sheet cueing sensor (not shown) at the start of printing is performed between the printing sheets of each color and at the connection portion between the C (cyan) printing sheet and the OP (overcoat) sheet. A sheet cue identification unit (not shown) is provided.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 9 to 13, a paper feeding operation and a paper discharging operation of the sublimation printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  First, when the printing operation is started, as shown in FIG. 3, the stepping motor 18 is driven, and as the stepping motor 18 is driven, the motor gear 25 attached to the stepping motor 18 rotates in the direction of the arrow C <b> 3. The feed roller gear 9 rotates in the direction of the arrow C1 via the intermediate gears 21 and 22. As the feed roller gear 9 rotates in the direction of the arrow C1, the paper feed roller gear 13 rotates in the direction of the arrow C4 via the intermediate gears 23 and 24. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, as the paper feed roller gear 13 rotates, the paper feed roller 12 rotates in the direction of arrow C4, so that the paper 50 in contact with the lower surface side of the paper feed roller 18 is fed to the paper feed path T1. Transport to is started.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the leading edge 50a of the paper 50 conveyed by the paper supply roller 18 contacts the paper supply guide 41a of the upper paper guide 40 and further conveyed to the paper supply path T1, The paper feed guide portion 41a is pushed up in the direction of arrow E1. That is, the upper paper guide 40 is rotated in the direction of the arrow E1 around the attachment portion 41e of the paper discharge guide portion 41c by being pressed by the leading end portion 50a of the paper 50. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, cutout portions 50 b that are not printed are provided at both ends including the leading end portion 50 a of the paper 50. Accordingly, it is possible to configure so that the paper feed guide 41c (see FIG. 9) does not come into contact with the printing surface 50c of the paper 50.

  Here, in the present embodiment, when the paper 50 is conveyed to a position as shown in FIG. 11, the print surface 50 c of the paper 50 comes into contact with the roller portion 42 of the upper paper guide 40. When the paper 50 is further conveyed in this state, the roller part 42 is rotated in the direction of the arrow E <b> 2 by the contact between the roller part 42 and the paper 50. Thereby, the contact pressure between the roller part 42 and the printing surface 50c of the paper 50 can be reduced.

  Then, the paper 50 is conveyed to a printing start position as shown in FIG. 12 by the rotation of the feed roller 8 in the C1 direction. When the paper 50 reaches the printing start position, the stepping motor 19 (see FIG. 3) is driven. Then, when a pressing member (not shown) is rotated by the stepping motor 19 (see FIG. 3), the head portion 6c of the print head 6 presses the platen roller 7 from the state shown in FIG. 4 as shown in FIG. Is rotated. Since the swingable swing gear 20 (see FIG. 3) does not mesh with the gear 16a (see FIG. 3) of the take-up reel 16 (see FIG. 3), the gear of the take-up reel 16 (see FIG. 3). 16a (see FIG. 3) does not rotate. Thereby, at the time of paper feeding, the ink sheet 71 (see FIG. 4) wound around the take-up bobbin 70b (see FIG. 4) and the supply bobbin 70c (see FIG. 4) is not taken up.

  In the present embodiment, when the paper 50 reaches the print start position as shown in FIG. 12, the paper 50 and the print surface 50c are separated from each other. The original state as shown in FIG. 12 is restored.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, as the stepping motor 18 is driven, the motor gear 25 attached to the stepping motor 18 rotates in the direction of the arrow D3, and the feed roller gear via the intermediate gears 21 and 22 is rotated. 9 rotates in the direction of arrow D1. As a result, the feed roller 8 rotates in the direction of arrow D1 in FIG. 12 as the feed roller gear 9 rotates in the direction of arrow D1, so that the paper 50 is conveyed to the paper discharge path U1.

  At this time, while the paper 50 is conveyed to the paper discharge path U1 and the ink sheet 71 is taken up, the heating element 6e of the print head 6 causes the ink of the Y color (yellow) print sheet (not shown) to be transferred to the paper 50. Printing (thermal transfer) is performed. When the printing of the Y (yellow) print sheet is completed, as shown in FIG. 13, the paper 50 can be conveyed by the paper discharge roller 14 while being guided by the paper discharge guide portion 41 c of the upper paper guide 40. It is conveyed to.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the swingable swinging gear 20 is swung in a direction (arrow D2 direction) to engage with the gear portion 16a of the ink sheet take-up reel 16, and the ink sheet take-up reel. It engages with 16 gear portions 16a. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, the gear portion 16a (see FIG. 3) of the ink sheet take-up reel 16 (see FIG. 3) rotates in the direction of arrow D4. The wound ink sheet 71 is wound around the winding bobbin 70b.

  Further, as a printing operation (printing process) continued for the above-described Y color (yellow) printing, when a pressing member (not shown) is rotated upward by the stepping motor 19 (see FIG. 3), the print head 6 ( The head portion 6c (see FIG. 4) of FIG. 4 is rotated in a direction away from the platen roller 7 (see FIG. 4). Further, a print sheet cueing identifying unit (not shown) at the head of the M color (magenta) print sheet (not shown) is recognized by an ink sheet cueing sensor (not shown). As a result, cueing of the M (magenta) print sheet is performed. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, as the stepping motor 18 is driven, the motor gear 25 attached to the stepping motor 18 rotates in the direction of the arrow C3, and the feed roller gear 9 is interposed via the intermediate gears 21 and 22. Rotates in the direction of arrow C1. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 13, as the feed roller 8 rotates in the direction of the arrow C <b> 1, the paper 50 is conveyed again to the print start position by the feed roller 8 and the pressing roller 10.

  Thereafter, the ink of a C color (cyan) print sheet (not shown) is printed (thermally transferred) on the paper 50 by the same operation as that for the Y color (yellow) and M color (magenta) printing.

  Then, for the purpose of protecting the surface of the printed paper 50, ink of a transparent OP (overcoat) sheet (not shown) is printed (thermally transferred) on the paper 50. Then, an operation similar to the operation at the time of printing each color is performed, so that ink of an OP (overcoat) sheet (not shown) is printed and the printing operation on the paper 50 is finished.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the printed paper 50 is discharged by the paper discharge roller 14 while being guided by the paper discharge guide portion 41 c of the upper paper guide 40. At this time, the stepping motor 18 (see FIG. 4) and various gears perform the same operation as when the paper 50 is conveyed to the paper discharge path U1 during printing.

In the present embodiment, a sheet conveying means (feed roller 8, sheet feeding roller 12, and stepping motor 18) for conveying the sheet 50 to the sheet feeding path T1 and the sheet discharging path U1, and the sheet feeding path T1 and the sheet conveying path by the sheet conveying means. And an upper sheet guide 40 for guiding the sheet 50 conveyed to the sheet discharge path U1. The upper sheet guide 40 guides the sheet 50 conveyed to the sheet supply path T1 of the sheet 50 and the sheet discharge path U1. By providing the guide portion 41, when the paper 50 is transported to the paper feed path T1 and the paper discharge path U1 by the paper transporting means, the paper 50 is not transported to the wrong path, and the paper feed path T1 or the discharge path is discharged. It can be configured to be conveyed to the paper path U1. In addition, since the paper 50 is branched and conveyed to the paper feed path T1 and the paper discharge path U1, no part for moving the upper paper guide 40 is required, so that the increase in the number of parts is suppressed accordingly. can do. Further, in order to convey the sheet 50 in any one path of the feeding path T1 and the discharge path U1, since the upper paper guide 40 need only one provided, and if the upper paper guide 40 is provided multiple comparison As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of parts. In addition, when the paper 50 is conveyed by at least the paper feeding path T1 by the paper conveying means, the roller portion 42 that rotates when the paper 50 comes into contact with the paper 50 is provided on the roller portion 42 of the upper paper guide 40. Since the roller portion 42 rotates when contacted, unlike the case where the tip of the plate-shaped guide portion contacts the printing surface 50 c of the paper 50, the paper is caused by the paper 50 coming into contact with the upper paper guide 40. The occurrence of damage to the 50 printing surfaces 50c can be suppressed. Moreover, since the roller part 42 rotates when the paper 50 contacts, it is not necessary to provide the component used as the drive source for rotating the roller part 42. FIG. Thereby, it can suppress that the number of parts increases correspondingly. As a result, it is possible to correctly convey the paper 50 in the two directions of the paper feed path T1 and the paper discharge path U1 while suppressing an increase in the number of parts.

  In the present embodiment, the paper guide 50a is guided to the guide 41 of the upper paper guide 40 when the paper 50 is transported through the paper feed path T1 by the paper transport means, and the paper 50 is transported by the paper transport means. A paper discharge guide portion 41c that guides when the paper is transported to the paper discharge path U1 is integrally provided. Thus, when the paper 50 is fed by the paper feed guide portion 41a of the upper paper guide 40, the paper 50 conveyed to the paper feed path T1 by the paper conveyance unit can be reliably guided. Further, when the paper 50 is discharged, the paper discharge guide portion 41c of the upper paper guide 40 ensures that the paper 50 conveyed to the paper discharge path U1 by the paper conveying means when the paper 50 is discharged. Can guide. As a result, when the paper 50 is fed and discharged, the paper 50 can be reliably conveyed without an error in the conveyance path. Further, by integrally providing the paper feed guide portion 41a and the paper discharge guide portion 41c, an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the guide portion 41 of the upper paper guide 40 is formed of a wire having a round cross section, so that when the surface of the paper 50 contacts the guide portion 41 instead of the roller portion 42, Since the surface of the sheet 50 is in contact with the guide section 41 having a round cross section, the sheet 50 is in contact with the guide section 41, unlike the case where the tip of the plate-shaped guide section is in contact with the print surface 50c of the sheet. It is possible to suppress damage of the paper 50 at the time.

  In the present embodiment, the upper paper guide 40 is further provided with a bearing portion 41d for rotatably supporting the roller portion 42, and the guide portion 41 and the bearing portion 41d of the upper paper guide 40 are integrally formed. . Thereby, compared with the case where the bearing part 41d and the guide part 41 of the roller part 42 are provided separately, it can suppress that a number of parts increases.

  In the present embodiment, the paper feed guide portion 41a of the upper paper guide 40 is provided so as to extend obliquely so that the roller portion 42 is positioned below the paper 50, and can swing in the vertical direction. Install. As a result, when the paper 50 transported to the paper feed path T1 comes into contact with the paper feed guide portion 41a extending obliquely with respect to the paper 50, the upper paper guide 40 is moved by the moving force of the paper 50 transported by the paper transporting means. On the other hand, when the paper 50 is transported to the paper discharge path U1, the upper paper guide 40 is not shaken upward when the paper 50 is transported to the paper discharge path U1. The paper can be branched into a paper feed path T1 and a paper discharge path U1.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the paper 50 is transported to the paper feed path T1 by the paper transporting means, the leading end portion 50a of the paper 50 moves while abutting against the paper feed guide portion 41a. It is configured such that the surface of the paper 50 comes into contact with the roller portion 42 after the 41a is pushed upward. As a result, the leading end portion 50a of the paper 50 pushes up the paper feed guide portion 41a, whereby the roller portion 42 disposed below is moved upward to a position where it contacts the print surface 50c of the paper 50. Therefore, the printing surface 50c of the paper 50 can be brought into contact with the roller unit 42 before contacting the paper feed guide unit 41a. Thereby, it is possible to further suppress the occurrence of damage to the printing surface 50c of the paper 50 due to contact with the upper paper guide 40.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description of the embodiments but by the scope of claims for patent, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims for patent.

  For example, in the above embodiment, a sublimation type printer is shown as an example of an image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any image forming apparatus including a sheet conveying unit and two or more conveyance paths can be used. The present invention can also be applied to other image forming apparatuses other than the sublimation printer.

  In the above embodiment, the example in which the guide portion and the bearing portion of the paper guide member are integrally formed has been shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be provided separately.

  Moreover, although the example which forms the guide part and bearing part of a paper guide member with a wire material was shown in the said embodiment, this invention is not restricted to this, You may form with materials other than a wire material.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an overall configuration of a sublimation printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the perspective view which showed the inside of the housing | casing of the sublimation type printer by one Embodiment shown in FIG. It is the side view which showed the arrangement structure of the stepping motor and various gears of the sublimation type printer by one Embodiment shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the internal structure of the sublimation type printer by one Embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining the structure of a lower paper guide and an upper paper guide of the sublimation printer according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining a detailed structure of an upper sheet guide according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a side view for explaining a detailed structure of an upper sheet guide according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a detailed structure of an upper sheet guide according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a paper feeding operation and a paper ejection operation of the sublimation printer according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a sheet of a sublimation printer according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a paper feeding operation and a paper ejection operation of the sublimation printer according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a paper feeding operation and a paper ejection operation of the sublimation printer according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a paper feeding operation and a paper ejection operation of the sublimation printer according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

8 Feed roller (paper transport means)
12 Paper feed roller (paper transport means)
18 Stepping motor (paper transport means)
40 Upper paper guide (paper guide member)
41 Guide portion 41a Paper feed guide portion 41c Paper discharge guide portion 41d Bearing portion 42 Roller portion 50 Paper 50a Front end portion 50c Printing surface (front surface)
100 Sublimation printer (image forming device)
T1 paper feed path U1 paper discharge path

Claims (4)

A paper transport means for transporting the paper to the first transport path and the second transport path;
A sheet guide member for guiding the sheet conveyed to the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path by the sheet conveyance unit;
The one paper guide member is
A guide portion for guiding the sheet conveyed to the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path;
A roller section that rotates when the paper comes into contact with the paper when the paper is transported to at least the first transport path by the paper transport means;
The first transport path is a paper feed path;
The second transport path is a paper discharge path,
The guide portion of the paper guide member includes a paper feed guide portion that guides paper when the paper is transported to the paper feed path by the paper transport means, and a paper guide when the paper is transported to the paper discharge path by the paper transport means. And a paper discharge guide part for guiding
The paper feed guide portion and the paper discharge guide portion of the guide portion are integrally formed by a single wire ,
The paper guide member is provided with the roller portion at the downstream end of the paper feed path, and with the roller portion in the vertical direction with an attachment portion provided at the end opposite to the roller portion as a fulcrum. Is configured to be movable
The image forming apparatus , wherein the paper feed path is disposed between the roller portion and the attachment portion of the paper guide member in a state before the paper is fed .   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide portion of the paper guide member is formed of a wire having a round cross section. The paper guide member further includes a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the roller portion,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide portion and the bearing portion of the paper guide member are integrally formed. The paper guide member moves upward while the front end of the paper abuts against the paper feed guide when the paper is transported to the paper feed path by the paper transport means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet surface is configured to come into contact with the roller unit after being pushed up in a direction.

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