JPH11291574A - Machine glazed paper unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a machine glazed paper unit for effectively forming a loop of a predetermined shape without influence of an environment of a circumference of a drape of a rolled sheet. SOLUTION: A machine glazed paper lower guiding surface 120a inclined to descend toward a downstream side of a machine glazed paper feeding direction is formed. A rear surface of a supplied machine glazed paper 72 is brought into contact with the guiding surface 120a. A rolled sheet upper guiding plate 140 is disposed slightly above a cutter lower blade guiding plate 120. A lower surface of the plate 140 corresponds to a machine glazed paper upper guiding surface 140a for guiding the machine glazed paper 72 to a cutter 100. The surface 140a is opposed to the surface 120a, and inclined to descend toward the downstream side of the machine glazed paper feeding direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a roll paper unit provided in an image forming apparatus for forming an image on roll paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an output device of a computer or a work station, a print medium (recording medium) is formed by discharging ink.
An inkjet image forming apparatus for forming an image on
2. Related Art An electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms an image on a print medium using a developer (toner) or the like is known. Some of these image forming apparatuses can selectively use both cut paper and roll paper as a print medium. Also,
Some types use only roll paper as the print medium. An image forming apparatus of the type capable of forming an image on roll paper in this manner includes a roll paper unit for storing roll paper, and the roll paper is fed from the roll paper unit to an image forming unit inside the apparatus. An image is formed.

In forming an image on roll paper, an image in an image area longer than the transport distance from the roll paper storage position where the roll paper is stored to the image forming section is formed on the roll paper. There is. For this reason, the roll paper is cut by a length corresponding to the length of the image area while forming an image by forming a loop of the roll paper when feeding and transporting the roll paper. This cutting is performed while the loop of the roll paper is being formed, and the feeding operation and the image formation are continued even during the cutting. In order to cut the roll paper in this way,
The roll paper unit is provided with a cutter for cutting the roll paper and a guide member for guiding the roll paper to the image forming unit.

A conventional roll paper unit will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged schematic view of a main part of a conventional roll paper unit, showing a state in which the leading end of the roll paper is guided toward a decurling roller. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the roll paper is guided by the guide member and is held between the curl removing rollers. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a state where an “S” -shaped loop is formed in a space between the guide plate and the guide member.

The roll paper 72 is sandwiched between a pressure roller 84 and a paper feed roller 86, and is guided by a cutter lower blade guide 78, a guide plate 80, and a guide member 87 by rotation thereof, and is fed to a curl removing roller 90. You. Roll paper 72
Is disposed downstream of the cutter lower blade guide 78 in the roll paper transport direction (roll paper feed direction, arrow F direction). The cutter 100 is usually located at a standby position separated from both ends in the width direction of the roll paper 72 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIGS. 7 to 9), and is configured not to hinder the passage of the roll paper 72. ing.

[0007] The guide member 87 is rotatably supported by a support portion 87b. The guide member 87 is provided on the support portion 87b.
A torsion spring 130 for urging the spring upward (in the direction of arrow J) is disposed. Therefore, the guide member 87 is urged by the torsion spring 130 in the direction of arrow J and lifted. An upper stopper 103 is arranged above the guide member 87, and the guide member 87 comes into contact with the upper stopper 103 and stops. When the roll paper 72 forms a loop, the guide member 87 is formed by “straining” the roll paper 72.
Rotates about the support portion 87b in the downward direction (the direction opposite to the arrow J direction). Thereby, a large loop forming space is formed between the guide member 87 and the guide plate 80.

[0008]

As described above, the guide member 87 is urged upward by the spring force (urging force) of the torsion spring 130. When the roll paper 72 forms a loop, as shown in FIG. 8, the guide member 87 is rotated downward (in the direction of arrow K) by "straining" the roll paper 72. However, when the “strain” of the roll paper 72 is weak in a high-humidity environment or when using a roll paper with a weak “strain” such as the second original drawing, the “strain” of the roll paper 72 pushes the guide member 87 downward. The force is weaker than the spring force of the torsion spring 130. For this reason, the guide member 87 is not sufficiently lowered, and as a result, only a narrow space that is insufficient for forming a loop is secured between the guide member 87 and the guide plate 80.

Even in such a case, since the roll paper 72 is fed into this narrow space, an attempt is made to form a loop in the narrow space between the guide member 87 and the guide plate 80. As a result, an "S" -shaped loop is formed between the guide member 87 and the guide plate 80, as shown in FIG. When such an "S" -shaped loop is formed, this loop is wound around the curl removing roller 90 and the press roller 88, and the roll paper 72 is bent into a "Z" shape or a jam (paper jam) occurs. May occur. In this case, the roll paper 72 does not reach the lower exit guide 67 or the upper exit guide 92, and an image forming unit (not shown)
The roll paper 72 is not conveyed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a roll paper unit that can reliably form a loop of a predetermined shape without being affected by the surrounding environment or the "strain" of roll paper.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a roll paper unit according to the present invention is provided in an image forming apparatus having an image forming section for forming an image on roll paper in a paper feed direction from a predetermined paper feed direction. A cutter that cuts the roll paper that has been cut, a cutter guide member that guides the roll paper to the cutter, and is disposed upstream of the cutter in the paper feeding direction, and downstream of the cutter in the paper feeding direction. In a roll paper unit having a guide member that rotates between a predetermined guide position and a loop formation position below the guide position to form a roll paper loop that is curved downward on the side, 1) The cutter guide member has a roll paper lower guide surface that is inclined so as to descend toward the downstream side in the paper feed direction and that comes into contact with the fed roll paper. It is an butterfly.

Here, the guide member has (2) a guide surface with which the fed roll paper comes into contact, and the cutter guide member has (3) a lower roll paper guide surface. A surface extending in the paper feeding direction may intersect the guide surface of the guide member located at the guide position.

The roll paper unit may further comprise: (4) a roll paper extending above the lower guide surface of the roll paper in parallel with the lower guide surface of the roll paper and passing the roll paper passing between the lower guide surface of the roll paper and the cutter; May be provided on the roll paper.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the roll paper unit of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a copying machine in which a roll paper unit according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated.

An openable / closable platen cover 12 is arranged on the top surface of a copying machine (an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention) 10, and the platen cover 12 sends a document to a platen. Also serves as a document feeder (DF).
An operation unit 14 for inputting the number of copies and the like is arranged on the front side of the top surface.

The copying machine 10 can selectively form an image on both cut paper and roll paper, and has four cassettes 16, 18, 20, and 22 in which a plurality of cut papers are respectively stored.
Is provided so as to be freely inserted into and removed from the main body of the copying machine 10.
Further, a roll paper unit 70 in which the roll paper is stored is incorporated in the main body of the copying machine 10 so as to be freely taken in and out.
The copier 10 also includes a manual tray 23 on which small-sized recording paper such as a postcard can be placed. Further, a paper output tray 25 on which recording paper on which an image is formed is stacked is provided.

Referring to FIG. 2, a procedure for forming an image in the copying machine 10 of FIG. 1 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of the internal structure of the copying machine 10. As shown in FIG.

Below the platen cover 12 (see FIG. 1),
A document glass 24 on which a document is placed is arranged. An exposure optical system that irradiates a document and obtains an image signal carrying image information is arranged below the document glass 24. The exposure optical system includes a light source 26, a lens 28, and mirrors 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40. The original placed on the original glass 24 is irradiated with light from the light source 26, and the reflected light 42 from the original is converted into an image signal by the lens 28 and the mirrors 30, 32, 34, 3
After passing through 6, 38, and 40, the light is irradiated on a photosensitive drum 44 disposed below the exposure optical system. As shown in FIG.
Has a rotating shaft 44a extending in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of
It is rotating in the direction of arrow A. A primary charger 4 for uniformly charging the photosensitive drum 44 is provided upstream of the irradiation position where the reflected light 42 from the document is irradiated in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 44.
6 are arranged. After the photosensitive drum 44 is uniformly charged by the primary charger 46 to form a charged surface,
The charged surface is irradiated with the reflected light 42 from the document to form an electrostatic latent image.

A developing device 48 for developing an electrostatic latent image is disposed downstream of the irradiation position in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 44. The area where the photosensitive drum 44 and the developing device 48 face each other is a developing area where the electrostatic latent image is developed.
When the electrostatic latent image reaches the developing area by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 44, the developing device 48 develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image (developed image).

A transfer charger 5 for transferring a toner image onto recording paper is provided downstream of the developing area in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 44.
0 is arranged. Photosensitive drum 44 and transfer charger 50
Is a transfer area where the toner image is transferred onto the recording paper. When the toner image reaches the transfer area by rotation of the photosensitive drum 44, the toner image is transferred onto the recording paper conveyed to the transfer area. Transcribed.

The recording paper is stored in cassettes 16, 18, 20, and 2.
2 and roll paper unit 70 and are conveyed to the transfer area. In transporting the recording paper to the transfer area, for example, the cut paper 16a sent out from the cassette 16 or the like by the paper feed roller 16b is caused to stand by in a state where the leading end of the cut paper 16a contacts the registration roller 54 to form a loop. The recording paper is conveyed to the transfer area at the timing when the toner image reaches the transfer area.

The recording paper onto which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 44 by a separation charger 56, conveyed to a conveyor belt 58 rotating in the direction of arrow B, and reaches a fixing unit 60. The toner image is fixed on the recording paper. After the toner image is fixed on the recording paper, the recording paper is discharged to a paper discharge tray 25 from a paper discharge port (not shown). In addition,
The residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 44 after the transfer is removed from the photosensitive drum 44 by the cleaning device 64. Further, the residual charges remaining on the photosensitive drum 44 are discharged by a discharge lamp (not shown). As a result, the photosensitive drum 44 is ready for the next image formation.

The roll paper unit 70 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a roll paper unit 70 incorporated in the main body of the copying machine 10. In this figure, the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The roll paper unit 70 is characterized by a cutter lower blade guide plate (a cutter guide according to the present invention) having a roll paper lower guide surface 120a inclined downward toward the downstream side in the paper feeding direction (the direction of arrow F). 1)
20 and a roll paper upper guide surface 140a formed above the roll paper lower guide surface 120a. The cutter lower guide surface 120a and the roll paper upper guide surface 1
40a will be described later with reference to FIG.

The roll paper 72 is formed by fixing both ends of a spool 74 on which the roll paper 72 is set to a spool holder 76 so as to be rotatable.
0. The roll paper 72 accommodated in the roll paper unit 70 stands by until the start of paper feeding with the leading end portion thereof being sandwiched between the pressure roller 84 and the paper feeding roller 86.

When the roll paper 72 starts to be fed, the roll paper 72 is moved to the cutter lower blade guide plate 120 and the guide plate 8.
The guide roller 87 is guided by the guide member 87, the guide plate 140 on the roll paper, and the like, and is held between the pressing roller 88 and the curl removing roller (feed roller) 90. The press roller 88 is made of metal, and the curl removing roller 90 is a sponge wound around the outer peripheral surface. Paper feed roller 86 and curl removing roller 9
By rotating 0, the roll paper 72 is transported in the paper feeding direction.

As described later, the "strain" of the roll paper 72
As a result, the guide member 87 rotates from the guide position to the loop forming position, and stops at this loop forming position. In this state, the roll paper 72 forms a loop, and the paper is fed while maintaining the loop of the roll paper 72 until the cutter 100 cuts the roll paper 72.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, roll paper 7
A process in which the guide member 87 is rotated from the guide position to the loop forming position by the “strain” of No. 2 to form a loop will be described.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic view showing a part of the roll paper unit 70 in a state where the roll paper 72 has begun to be fed. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a roll paper loop in the roll paper unit of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state in the middle of forming. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a state where a predetermined loop is formed in the roll paper unit of FIG. In these figures, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In addition, since each component is schematically shown in an enlarged manner, there are some components that are the same as those in FIGS. 2 and 3 but have slightly different shapes.

As described above, the roll paper unit 70 is characterized in that the roll paper lower guide surface 120a is inclined so as to descend toward the downstream side in the paper feeding direction (the direction of arrow F). And the upper guide surface 140a formed above the roll paper.

The roll paper lower guide surface 120a corresponds to the upper surface of the cutter lower blade guide plate 120 having a substantially U-shaped cross section. The cutter lower blade guide plate 120 guides the cutter 100 in a width direction (a direction orthogonal to the arrow F direction) of a portion of the roll paper 72 cut by the cutter 100. The opening of the substantially U-shaped cutter lower blade guide plate 120 faces downstream in the paper feeding direction,
The entire cutter lower blade guide plate 120 is inclined such that the portion on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction is downward. Therefore, the roll paper lower guide surface 120a is inclined so as to descend toward the downstream side in the paper feeding direction. This roll paper lower guide surface 120a
Contacts the back surface of the fed roll paper 72.
When the roll paper lower guide surface 120a is extended in the paper feeding direction, the extended surface intersects the guide surface 87a of the guide member 87 located at the guide position. For this reason, the roll paper 72 that has passed through the roll paper lower guide surface 120a is
Will be guided exactly.

A roll paper upper guide plate 140 is disposed slightly above the cutter lower blade guide plate 120. The lower surface of the upper roll paper guide plate 140 corresponds to the upper roll paper guide surface 140a that guides the roll paper 72 to the cutter 100. The upper roll paper guide surface 140a faces the lower roll paper guide surface 120a, and the roll paper 72 passes between them. Further, the roll paper upper guide surface 140a is also inclined like the roll paper lower guide surface 120a so as to descend toward the downstream side in the paper feeding direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, until the leading end 72a of the roll paper 72 reaches the guide surface 87a of the guide member 87, the guide member 87 is urged by the torsion spring 130 in the direction of arrow J and lifted. To stop against the upper stopper 103. This stopped position is an example of the guide position according to the present invention.

When the roll paper 72 is further fed, the guide member 87 starts rotating toward the loop forming position due to the “strain” of the roll paper 72. "Koshi" of roll paper 72
Is normal strength, the guide member 87 is pushed down to the loop forming position by this "strain", and a loop having a predetermined shape is formed. Here, a case will be described in which a roll paper having a weak "stiffness" due to the influence of the environment or a roll paper having a weak "stiffness" such as the second original drawing is fed.

When the roll paper having a weak "strain" is conveyed as described above, the torsion spring 13 does not have the force of the roll paper 72 pushing down the guide member 87 downward (in the direction of arrow K).
0 pushes the guide member 87 upward (in the direction of the arrow J). Therefore, the roll paper 72 is guided by the guide member 8.
The guide member 87 hardly goes down even if the user attempts to push down 7. For this reason, the portion of the roll paper 72 that is passing through or passes through the cutter lower blade guide plate 120 is caused by the repulsive force from the guide member 87, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (2), the cutter lower blade guide plate 120 rises from the roll paper lower guide surface 120a.

The raised portion hits the roll paper upper guide surface 140a of the roll paper upper guide plate 140.
As described above, since the upper roll paper guide surface 140a is inclined downward toward the downstream side in the paper feeding direction, the roll paper 7 guided by the upper roll paper guide surface 140a is used.
2, a guide surface 8 of the guide member 87, as shown in FIG.
The paper is fed in a direction (arrow R direction) substantially orthogonal to 7a. As a result, the “strain” of the roll paper 72 is used to the maximum extent with respect to the guide member 87, and the “strain” of the roll paper 72 causes the guide member 87 to move in the direction of the arrow K
In the direction.

As described above, while the guide member 87 is rotated to the loop forming position by the "strain" of the roll paper 72, as shown in FIG.
A loop having a predetermined shape is formed in a space sandwiched by zero.
The loop of a predetermined shape formed in this space is
It comes into contact with the portion of the roll 2 which is wound in a roll shape, and the predetermined shape is more reliably maintained with the help of the rotation of this portion in the direction of arrow S. The roll paper 72 is fed while maintaining this predetermined shape until cutting of the roll paper 72 is started. When the cutting is started, the supply of the roll paper to the cutter 100 is interrupted from the upstream side of the cutter 100 in the paper supply direction, but the loop of the roll paper 72 is formed and the portion is formed downstream of the paper supply direction. Paper.

Roll paper 72 fed downstream in the paper feeding direction
Is guided by the guide member 87 and the curl removing roller 90
And reaches the holding roller 88 and is clamped. An outlet upper guide 92 and an outlet lower guide 67 are disposed downstream of the curl removing roller 90 and the pressing roller 88 in the sheet feeding direction.
An exit sensor 110 that detects the roll paper 72 is disposed on these exit sides.

The outlet sensor 110 includes a support portion 110a serving as a rotation axis, an arm portion 110b rotatably supported by the support portion 110a, and a photo sensor 110c. As shown in FIG. 5, the leading end of the roll paper 72 guided by the upper exit guide 92 and the lower exit guide 67 pushes the arm 110b so that the roll paper 72 is pressed.
Is detected.

In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the roll paper 72 rises from the lower roll paper guide surface 120a has been described. However, since the lower roll paper guide surface 120a is inclined so as to descend to the downstream side in the paper feeding direction. Alternatively, the guide member 87 may be rotated to the loop forming position without the roll paper 72 floating. The reason for this is that the roll paper lower guide surface 1
Roll paper 72 guided to 20a is guided by guide member 87.
This is because the "strain" of the roll paper is efficiently utilized, and the "strain" causes the guide member located at the guide position to be strongly pushed down and rotated. As a result, a wide loop forming space is formed, so that a loop having a predetermined shape is reliably formed.

[0044]

As described above, in the roll paper unit of the present invention, the lower guide surface of the roll paper of the cutter guide member is inclined so as to descend toward the downstream side in the paper feeding direction. The roll paper guided on the guide surface strongly contacts the guide member. For this reason, the "strain" of the roll paper is used efficiently, and this "strain"
The guide member located at the guide position is strongly pushed down and rotated. As a result, the guide member rotates to the loop forming position, and a loop having a predetermined shape is reliably formed.

Here, the guide member has a guide surface with which the fed roll paper comes in contact, and a surface extending from the lower guide surface of the roll paper in the paper feeding direction is located at the guide position. If the cutter guide member is configured to intersect with the guide surface of the guide member, the force of the roll paper in contact with the guide member is further increased, and the influence of the surrounding environment and the "strain" of the roll paper Thus, a loop having a predetermined shape can be formed more reliably without being subjected to the above.

Further, in the case where a roll paper upper guide surface is provided which extends in parallel with the roll paper lower guide surface in parallel with the roll paper lower guide surface and guides the roll paper passing between the roll paper lower guide surface to the cutter. Since the roll paper is also guided by the guide surface on the roll paper, the force of the roll paper in contact with the guide member is further increased, and the predetermined shape of the roll paper is not affected by the surrounding environment and the stiffness of the roll paper. Loops can be formed even more reliably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a copying machine in which a roll paper unit according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of an internal structure of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a roll paper unit incorporated in a main body of the copying machine.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic view illustrating a part of the roll paper unit in a state where the roll paper has begun to be fed.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a roll paper loop is being formed in the roll paper unit of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a predetermined loop is formed in the roll paper unit of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged schematic view of a main part of a conventional roll paper unit, showing a state in which the leading end of the roll paper is guided toward a curling roller.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which roll paper is guided by a guide member and is held between curl removing rollers.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a state where an “S” -shaped loop is formed in a space sandwiched between a guide plate and a guide member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Copier 70 Roll paper unit 72 Roll paper 87 Guide member 100 Cutter 120 Cutter lower blade guide plate 120a Roll paper lower guide surface 140 Roll paper upper guide plate 140a Roll paper upper guide surface

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having an image forming section for forming an image on roll paper, a cutter for cutting roll paper fed from a predetermined paper feeding direction, and guiding the roll paper to the cutter. A cutter guide member disposed on the upstream side of the cutter in the sheet feeding direction, and a predetermined guide for forming a roll paper loop curved downward on the downstream side of the cutter in the sheet feeding direction. In a roll paper unit including a guide member that rotates between a position and a loop forming position below the guide position, the cutter guide member is inclined so as to descend toward the downstream side in the paper feeding direction. A roll paper unit having a roll paper lower guide surface with which the fed roll paper comes into contact. 2. The guide member has a guide surface with which the fed roll paper comes into contact, and the cutter guide member has a surface extending from the roll paper lower guide surface in the paper feeding direction. The roll paper unit according to claim 1, wherein the roll paper unit intersects the guide surface of the guide member located at the guide position. 3. A roll paper upper guide surface which extends above the lower roll paper guide surface in parallel with the lower roll paper guide surface and guides the roll paper passing between the lower roll paper guide surface to the cutter. The roll paper unit according to claim 1, wherein the roll paper unit is provided.