JP5929018B2 - Medium supply apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a medium supply device and an image forming apparatus.

Techniques described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 below are known regarding a medium supply device that supplies a medium stacked on a stacking member.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-19978 as Patent Document 1, the paper is stacked on the stack (56) of the liftable paper tray (120) that moves up and down, and is supplied in the supply direction with the vacuum paper contact surface (122) adsorbed. A paper feeder plenum (58) which is movable forward is described. Patent Document 1 describes an adaptive levitation device (140) that blows air from the rear in the supply direction to sheets on the stack (56) to separate the sheets.
That is, Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which air is blown from the back in the supply direction to a bundle of paper before the vacuum paper contact surface (122) is adsorbed when the paper is supplied.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-89625 as Patent Document 2 discloses a feeding belt (4) that sucks the uppermost sheet document (1) stacked on the loading tray (2) to the lower surface by air suction. Is described. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a technique of separating the originals by blowing air from the air outlet (5) forward in the feeding direction to the stacked originals.
That is, Patent Document 2 describes a configuration in which air is blown from the front in the feeding direction to a bundle of documents before the lower surface of the feeding belt (4) is attracted when the documents are fed.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-094603 as Patent Document 3 describes a suction cup (201) that sucks the uppermost sheet of a stack of stacked sheets by air suction. Further, in Patent Document 3, when the uppermost sheet is sucked by lowering the suction cup (201), air is blown from the front in the sheet conveying direction to the stack of stacked sheets while separating the sheets from each other. 201) is described.
That is, Patent Document 3 describes a configuration in which air is blown from the front of a sheet conveying direction to a bundle of sheets after a suction cup (201) adsorbs the uppermost sheet during sheet conveyance.

JP 2002-19978 ("0018" to "0023", "0029", FIGS. 14 to 18) JP-A-7-89625 ("0031", FIGS. 1 to 3) JP 2008-094603 A (“0066”, “0067”, FIG. 16)

  An object of the present invention is to reduce medium supply failure.

In order to solve the technical problem, the medium supply device according to claim 1 comprises:
A loading member on which the medium is loaded;
A holding member main body disposed opposite to the stacking member and supported so as to be movable along the conveyance direction of the medium, a gas suction opening formed in the holding member main body, and the gas suction opening A suction device that is connected to the suction device and sucks the gas, and a contact portion that comes into contact with the medium moved from the stacking member as the gas is sucked when the suction device sucks the gas. Holding member to hold and
A conveying member that is disposed downstream of the holding member in the conveying direction of the medium and conveys the medium adsorbed by the holding member toward the downstream side;
A spraying device capable of cleaning the contact part by spraying gas on the contact part ;
A cleaning time determining means for determining whether or not a preset cleaning time for cleaning the contact portion has been reached;
When it is determined that the cleaning time has come, the spraying device is controlled to spray gas onto the contact portion to clean the contact portion, and the suction device is controlled to control from the gas suction opening. Cleaning control means for sucking gas ;
It is provided with.

The invention described in claim 2 is the medium supply apparatus according to claim 1 ,
The spraying device for blowing gas to a preset spraying position;
When it is determined that the cleaning time has come, the holding member is controlled to move the contact portion toward the spraying device along the transport direction so that the contact portion corresponding to the spray position is sprayed. The cleaning control means for changing the position along the transport direction;
It is provided with.

The invention described in claim 3 is the medium supply apparatus according to claim 2,
Separation control means for controlling the spraying device to blow a gas to the medium to separate the media when transporting the medium adsorbed by the holding member from the stacking member to the downstream side in the transport direction;
It is provided with.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the medium supply device according to any one of the first to third aspects,
A suction position facing the medium on the stacking member and capable of sucking the medium; a supply position set downstream of the suction position in the transport direction and capable of supplying the medium to the transport member; The position to be cleaned set outside the moving range between the suction position and the supply position, and the holding member supported to be movable between,
A cleaning member that is arranged corresponding to the position to be cleaned, and that contacts and cleans the contact portion of the holding member that is moved to the position to be cleaned;
It is provided with.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the medium supply device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects,
A transport detection member that is disposed at a preset detection position downstream of the transport member in the transport direction and detects a medium transported to the transport member;
A means for determining the cleaning time for determining that the cleaning time is reached when a detection time when the medium is detected by the transport detection member is later than a preset arrival time for the medium to reach the detection position;
It is provided with.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is the medium supply apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects,
A clogging detection member that is disposed downstream of the holding member in the transport direction and detects clogging of a medium;
Based on the detection result of the clogging detection member, when it is determined that the medium is clogged, the cleaning time determination means for determining that the cleaning time has come,
It is provided with.

The invention according to claim 7 is the medium supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
An enclosure member disposed so as to surround the opening and extending from the holding member main body toward the stacking member side and supported so as to be movable toward and away from the stacking member, and formed inside the enclosure member And a space surrounded by the surrounding member, and the suction device for sucking the gas in the space, and the medium at one end of the surrounding member on the stacking member side as the suction device sucks The holding member for adsorbing and holding
The contact portion including the surface of the holding member main body on which the gas suction opening is formed and one end of the surrounding member on the stacking member side;
It is provided with.

In order to solve the technical problem, an image forming apparatus according to claim 8 is provided.
The medium supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
It is provided with.

According to the first and eighth aspects of the invention, it is possible to reduce the supply failure of the medium as compared with the case where the contact portion is not configured to be cleaned when it is determined that the cleaning time has come.
Moreover, according to invention of Claim 1, 8 , a spraying apparatus sprays gas on a contact part, and can clean a contact part.
According to the first and eighth aspects of the invention, when it is determined that the cleaning time has come, the spraying device blows gas to the contact portion, and the suction device sucks the gas and is removed from the contact portion. It is possible to reduce the rise of paper dust and the like, and to reduce reattachment to the contact portion.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the range in which the contact portion is cleaned compared to the case where the contact portion is not moved to the cleaning member side along the transport direction when it is determined that the cleaning time has come. Can be widened.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the separation member that separates the media and the cleaning member can be shared.
According to invention of Claim 4 , the contact part of the holding member moved to the cleaning position can be made to contact a cleaning member, and a contact part can be cleaned.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the contact portion can be cleaned when the conveyance delay of the medium is detected.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the contact portion can be cleaned when the clogging of the medium is detected.
According to invention of Claim 7 , the surface in which the opening for gas suction was formed and the end of the surrounding member at the side of the stacking member can be cleaned.

FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the paper feed tray according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the paper feed tray according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the position of the stacking plate according to the first embodiment, FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram of the state where the stacking plate is moved to the lowered position, and FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram of the state where the stacked plate is moved to the raised position. . 5A and 5B are explanatory views of the suction head according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5A is a front view and FIG. 5B is a plan view. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the suction head according to the first embodiment when viewed obliquely from below. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 5B. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the position of the suction head according to the first embodiment, FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram of the state where the suction head has moved to the suction position, and FIG. 8B is an explanatory diagram of the state where the suction head has moved to the supply position. . FIG. 9 is a functional diagram of the control unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment, which is a so-called block diagram. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a flowchart of sheet supply processing according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a flowchart of the cleaning time determination process according to the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the head cleaning process according to the first embodiment, which is a subroutine of ST205 and ST208 in FIG. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the first embodiment, FIG. 13A is a timing chart regarding control of each member of the sheet feeding device of the sheet supply process of the first embodiment, and FIG. 13B is a feed of the head cleaning process of the first embodiment. It is a timing chart regarding control of each member of a paper device. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the first embodiment, FIG. 14A is an explanatory diagram of the state of the paper feed tray before the job start of the first embodiment, and FIG. 14B is a job started from the state shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the state moved to the raise position. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the continuation of FIG. 14. FIG. 15A shows a state in which the exhaust fan is operated from the state shown in FIG. 14B and the sheet is adsorbed by the adsorption head and the sheet is blown by blowing air by the air blowing mechanism. FIG. 15B is an explanatory diagram of a state where the suction head has been moved to the supply position from the state shown in FIG. 15A. 16 is an explanatory diagram continued from FIG. 15. FIG. 16A is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the operation of the exhaust fan is stopped from the state shown in FIG. 15B and the conveyance roll conveys the sheet to the downstream side in the conveyance direction. FIG. 16B is an explanatory diagram of a state where the suction head is returned to the suction position from the state shown in FIG. 16A. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the first embodiment, FIG. 17A is a diagram illustrating the state of the paper feed tray before the head cleaning process according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 17B is a diagram illustrating spraying from the state illustrated in FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the state which moves a suction head to a supply position, and cleans a contact part, blowing air to the range. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. 3 of the first embodiment, and is a plan view of the paper feed tray of the second embodiment. 19 is an explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. 8 of the first embodiment, and is an explanatory diagram of the position of the suction head of the second embodiment. FIG. 19A is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the suction head is moved to the suction position, and FIG. FIG. 19C is an explanatory diagram of a state where the suction head has moved to the supply position, and FIG. 19C is an explanatory diagram of a state where the suction head has moved to the cleaning position. FIG. 20 is an enlarged perspective view of the cleaning brush according to the second embodiment. FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. 9 of the first embodiment, and is a block diagram of a control unit of the image forming apparatus of the second embodiment. FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. 12 of the first embodiment, is a flowchart of the head cleaning process of the second embodiment, and is a subroutine of ST205 and ST208 of FIG. FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. 13B of the first embodiment, is an operation explanatory diagram of the second embodiment, and is a timing chart regarding the control of the head driving device of the head cleaning process of the second embodiment. FIG. 24 is an operation explanatory view of the second embodiment, FIG. 24A is an enlarged explanatory view of a main part in a state before the left end of the suction head moving to the cleaning position reaches the cleaning brush, and FIG. 24B is a left end of the suction head. FIG. 24C is a main part enlarged explanatory view in a state where the right end part of the suction head moved to the cleaning position is arranged above the cleaning brush. It is.

Next, specific examples of embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as examples) will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.
In order to facilitate understanding of the following description, in the drawings, the front-rear direction is the X-axis direction, the left-right direction is the Y-axis direction, the up-down direction is the Z-axis direction, and arrows X, -X, Y, -Y, The direction indicated by Z and -Z or the indicated side is defined as the front side, the rear side, the right side, the left side, the upper side, the lower side, or the front side, the rear side, the right side, the left side, the upper side, and the lower side, respectively.
In the figure, “•” in “○” means an arrow heading from the back of the page to the front, and “×” in “○” is the front of the page. It means an arrow pointing from the back to the back.
In the following description using the drawings, illustrations other than members necessary for the description are omitted as appropriate for easy understanding.

FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment.
In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus U includes a user interface UI as an example of an operation unit, an image scanner U1 as an example of an image information input device, a paper feeding device U2 as an example of a medium supply device, and an image forming apparatus body U3. And a paper processing device U4.
The user interface UI includes an input key such as a copy start key, a copy number setting key, a numeric keypad, and a display unit UI1.
The image scanner U1 includes an automatic document conveying device that automatically conveys a document, a scanner main body as an example of an image reading device, and the like. In FIG. 1, an image scanner U1 reads a document (not shown), converts it into image information, and inputs it to the image forming apparatus body U3.
The sheet feeding device U2 is an example of a storage container, and a plurality of sheet feeding trays TR1 and TR2 as an example of a sheet feeding unit, and a sheet as an example of a medium fed from each of the sheet feeding trays TR1 and TR2. A sheet feeding path SH1 is provided as an example of a conveyance path for conveying S to the image forming apparatus main body U3.

In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus main body U3 includes an image recording unit that records an image on the sheet S conveyed from the sheet feeding device U2, a toner dispenser device U3a as an example of a developer replenishing unit, and a sheet conveyance path SH2. , A paper discharge path SH3, a paper reversal path SH4, a paper circulation path SH6, and the like. The image recording unit will be described later.
The image forming apparatus main body U3 includes a control unit C, a laser drive circuit D as an example of a drive circuit for latent image writing controlled by the control unit C, and a power supply circuit controlled by the control unit C. E and the like. The laser drive circuit D, the operation of which is controlled by the control unit C, in advance receives a laser drive signal corresponding to image information of Y: yellow, M: magenta, C: cyan, K: black input from the image input device U1. At the set time, the image is output to the latent image forming apparatuses ROSy, ROSm, ROSc, and ROSk of each color.

In FIG. 1, a black image carrier unit UK includes a photoconductor Pk as an example of an image carrier, a charger CCk, and a photoconductor cleaner CLk as an example of a cleaner for an image carrier. In addition, the image carrier units UY, UM, and UC of other colors Y, M, and C are also charged with photoreceptors Py, Pm, and Pc, chargers CCy, CCm, and CCc as examples of a discharger, and photoreceptor cleaners CLy and CLm. , CLc. In Example 1, the K photoconductor Pk, which is frequently used and has a lot of surface wear, has a larger diameter than the other photoconductors Py, Pm, and Pc, and is capable of high-speed rotation and has a long service life. Has been changed.
Toner image forming members UY + GY, UM + GM, UC + GC, UK + GK are constituted by the image carrier units UY, UM, UC, UK and developing units GY, GM, GC, GK having a developing roll R0.

In FIG. 1, photoconductors Py, Pm, Pc and Pk are uniformly charged by chargers CCy, CCm, CCc and CCk, respectively, and then the latent images output from the latent image forming devices ROSy, ROSm, ROSc and ROSk are output. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface by laser beams Ly, Lm, Lc, and Lk as an example of image writing light. The electrostatic latent images on the surfaces of the photoreceptors Py, Pm, Pc, and Pk are visible images of Y: yellow, M: magenta, C: cyan, and K: black by developing units GY, GM, GC, and GK. The toner image is developed as an example.
The toner images on the surfaces of the photoreceptors Py, Pm, Pc, and Pk are transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt B as an example of an intermediate transfer member by primary transfer rolls T1y, T1m, T1c, and T1k as an example of a primary transfer unit. In this way, a multicolor image, so-called color image, is formed on the intermediate transfer belt B. The color image formed on the intermediate transfer belt B is conveyed to a secondary transfer area Q4 as an example of an image recording area.
In the case of black image data only, only K: black photoconductor Pk and developing unit GK are used, and only a black toner image is formed.
After the primary transfer, residual toner on the surfaces of the photoconductors Py to Pk is cleaned by the photoconductor cleaners CLy to CLk.

  A belt module BM as an example of an intermediate transfer device is disposed below the image carrier units UY to UK. The belt module BM includes an intermediate transfer belt B as an example of an intermediate transfer member, belt support rolls Rd, Rt, Rw, Rf, and T2a as examples of support members for the intermediate transfer member, and the primary transfer rolls T1y to T1y. T1k. Belt support rolls Rd, Rt, Rw, Rf, and T2a include a belt drive roll Rd as an example of a drive member, a tension roll Rt as an example of a tension applying member, a walking roll Rw as an example of a meandering prevention member, and a driven member A plurality of idler rolls Rf as an example and a backup roll T2a as an example of a secondary transfer counter member are included. The intermediate transfer belt B is supported by the belt support rolls Rd, Rt, Rw, Rf, T2a so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow Ya.

A secondary transfer unit Ut is disposed below the backup roll T2a. A secondary transfer roll T2b as an example of a secondary transfer member of the secondary transfer unit Ut is disposed so as to be separated from and contactable with the backup roll T2a with the intermediate transfer belt B interposed therebetween, and the secondary transfer roll T2b is A secondary transfer region Q4 is formed by the region in pressure contact with the intermediate transfer belt B. Further, a contact roll T2c as an example of a voltage application contact member is in contact with the backup roll T2a, and a secondary transfer device T2 is configured by the rolls T2a to T2c.
A secondary transfer voltage having the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the contact roll T2c from a power supply circuit controlled by the control unit C at a preset time.

  A sheet conveyance path SH2 is disposed below the belt module BM. The sheet S fed from the sheet feeding path SH1 of the sheet feeding device U2 is conveyed to the sheet conveying path SH2 by a conveying roll Ra as an example of a conveying member, and by a registration roll Rr as an example of a delivery timing adjusting member. The toner image is sent to the secondary transfer area Q4 through the medium guide member SGr and the medium guide member SG1 before transfer in accordance with the time when the toner image is conveyed to the secondary transfer area Q4. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt B is transferred to the sheet S by the secondary transfer unit T2 when passing through the secondary transfer region Q4. In the case of a full-color image, the toner images primarily transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt B are secondarily transferred onto the sheet S at once.

The intermediate transfer belt B after the secondary transfer is cleaned, that is, cleaned by a belt cleaner CLB as an example of an intermediate transfer member cleaner. The secondary transfer roll T2B is supported so as to be separated from and contactable with the intermediate transfer belt B.
The primary transfer rolls T1y to T1k, the intermediate transfer belt B, the secondary transfer unit T2, the belt cleaner CLB, and the like constitute a transfer device T1 + B + T2 + CLB that transfers the image on the surface of the photoreceptors Py to Pk onto the sheet S.
The photoconductors Py, Pm, Pc, Pk, the developing units GY, GM, GC, GK, the transfer device T1 + B + T2 + CLB, and the like constitute a printer unit U3b as an example of the image recording apparatus of the first embodiment.

The sheet S on which the toner image has been secondarily transferred is conveyed to the fixing device F through a medium guide member SG2 after transfer and a sheet conveying belt BH as an example of a medium conveying member before fixing. The fixing device F has a heating roll Fh as an example of a heat fixing member and a pressure roll Fp as an example of a pressure fixing member, and is fixed by a region where the heating roll Fh and the pressure roll Fp are in pressure contact with each other. Region Q5 is formed.
The toner image on the sheet S is heated and fixed by the fixing device F when passing through the fixing region Q5. A first gate GT1 as an example of a conveyance path switching member is provided on the downstream side of the fixing device F. The first gate GT1 selectively switches the sheet S conveyed through the sheet conveyance path SH2 and heated and fixed in the fixing region Q5 to the sheet discharge path SH3 or the sheet reversing path SH4 of the sheet processing apparatus U4. The sheet S conveyed to the sheet discharge path SH3 is conveyed to the sheet conveyance path SH5 of the sheet processing apparatus U4.

  A curl correction device U4a as an example of a curvature correction device is disposed in the middle of the paper transport path SH5, and a curl switching gate G4 as an example of a transport path switching member is disposed in the paper transport path SH5. Yes. The curl switching gate G4 causes the sheet S conveyed from the sheet conveying path SH3 of the image forming apparatus body U3 to bend, that is, a so-called curl direction, the first curl correction member h1 or the second curl correction member h2. Transport to the side. The sheet S conveyed to the first curl correction member h1 or the second curl correction member h2 is curled when passing. The sheet S with the curl corrected is placed in a so-called face-up state in which the image fixing surface of the sheet faces upward from a discharge roll Rh as an example of a discharge member to a discharge tray TH1 as an example of a discharge unit of the paper processing device U4. Discharged.

The sheet S conveyed to the sheet reversing path SH4 side of the image forming apparatus main body U3 by the first gate GT1 pushes away the second gate GT2 as an example of a conveying direction regulating member formed of an elastic thin film member. And is conveyed to the sheet reversing path SH4 of the image forming apparatus main body U3.
A sheet circulation path SH6 and a sheet reversing path SH7 are connected to the downstream end of the sheet reversing path SH4 of the image forming apparatus main body U3, and a third gate as an example of a regulating member in the conveying direction is also connected to the connecting portion. GT3 is arranged. The sheet transported to the sheet transport path SH4 through the first gate GT1 passes through the third gate GT3 and is transported to the sheet reversing path SH7 side of the sheet processing apparatus U4. When performing duplex printing, the sheet S that has been transported through the paper reversing path SH4 passes through the third gate GT3 as it is, is transported to the paper reversing path SH7, and then transported in the opposite direction. When switched back, the transport direction is regulated by the third gate GT3, and the switched back sheet S is transported to the paper circulation path SH6 side. The sheet S conveyed to the sheet circulation path SH6 is retransmitted to the secondary transfer area Q4 through the sheet feeding path SH1.

On the other hand, when the sheet S conveyed on the sheet reversing path SH4 is switched back after the trailing end of the sheet S in the medium conveyance direction passes through the second gate GT2 and before passing through the third gate GT3, the second gate GT2 The transport direction of the sheet S is regulated, and the sheet S is transported to the paper transport path SH5 with the front and back sides reversed. After the curl correction member U4a corrects the curl of the sheet S whose front and back sides are reversed, the sheet fixing tray U1 of the sheet processing apparatus U4 is placed on the sheet fixing tray U1 in a state where the image fixing surface of the sheet S faces downward, so-called face-down state. Can be discharged.
A sheet transport path SH is constituted by the elements indicated by the symbols SH1 to SH7. Further, a medium transport system SU is constituted by elements indicated by the symbols SH, Ra, Rr, Rh, SGr, SG1, SG2, BH, GT1 to GT3, and the like.

(Description of Paper Feeding Device U2 of First Embodiment)
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the paper feed tray according to the first embodiment.
Here, for each of the paper feed trays TR1 and TR2 of the first embodiment, only the second paper feed tray TR2 will be described in detail, and for each of the other paper feed trays TR1, the second paper feed tray TR2 is described. Since it is the same structure, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

(Description of the second paper feed tray TR2 of the first embodiment)
In FIG. 2, rails 1 and 1 as examples of guide members extending in the front-rear direction, that is, in the X-axis direction, are disposed outside the left and right ends of the second paper feed tray TR2. Rollers 2 and 2 as examples of rotating members are rotatably supported on the lower sides of the rails 1 and 1, respectively. The upper portions of the rollers 2 and 2 protrude above the rails 1 and 1 from holes formed in the lower surfaces of the rails 1 and 1.
Further, guided rails 3 and 3 as examples of guided members that bulge outwardly are provided at the lower portions on both the left and right sides of the second paper feed tray TR2, respectively. The rails 3 and 3 are supported on the upper surfaces of the rollers 2 and 2 on the lower surface of the rail 1. Therefore, the second paper feed tray TR2 is configured to be able to enter and exit in the front-rear direction along the left and right rails 1 and 1. That is, the second paper feed tray TR2 is configured to be movable between a drawing position drawn from the paper feeding device U2 and an insertion position inserted into the paper feeding device U2.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the paper feed tray according to the first embodiment.
2 and 3, the second paper feed tray TR2 includes a bottom plate 4, and a front wall 6, a rear wall 7, a left wall 8, and a right wall 9 that extend upward to surround the front, rear, left, and right of the bottom plate 4. . In FIG. 3, a groove-shaped end guide groove 4a extending in the left-right direction is formed on the left side of the bottom plate 4 of the second paper feed tray TR2 as an example of the first guide portion. The part is formed with a groove-shaped side guide groove 4b extending in the front-rear direction as an example of the second guide part. 2 and 3, the upper end of the right wall 9 is formed with an inclined portion 9a which is inclined leftward as it goes upward, and the inclined portion 9a guides the sheet S to be fed to the transport roll Ra. . Moreover, in Example 1, the notch part 9b notched below is formed in the center part in the front-back direction of the inclined part 9a.

(Description of Loading Plate 11 and Lifting Mechanism SK of Embodiment 1)
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the position of the stacking plate according to the first embodiment, FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram of the state where the stacking plate is moved to the lowered position, and FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram of the state where the stacked plate is moved to the raised position. .
On the upper surface of the bottom plate 4, a flat stacking plate 11 on which sheets S are stacked is disposed as an example of a stacking member. The stacking plate 11 has a left opening 11a extending from the left toward the center corresponding to the end guide groove 4a, and a front opening extending from the front and rear ends toward the center corresponding to the side guide groove 4b. 11b and a rear opening 11c are formed. The stacking plate 11 according to the first embodiment is configured to be lifted and lowered by an elevating mechanism SK using a wire as an example of a linear member (not shown) as an example of a stacking member moving mechanism. That is, the stacking plate 11 is lowered as shown in FIG. 4A where the sheet S can be stacked by lowering as an example of the retreat position, and raised as shown in FIG. 4B as an example of the attracted position. It can be moved up and down between positions. The lifting mechanism SK of the sheet S using a wire is conventionally known as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-143658, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-149882, and the like. The detailed description is omitted.

  An end guide 12 as an example of a first alignment member is supported in the end guide groove 4a so as to be movable in the left-right direction along the end guide groove 4a. The end guide 12 has a slide portion 12a as an example of a flat plate-shaped aligning member main body along the bottom plate 4, and an aligning contact portion 12b extending upward from the left end of the slide portion 12a, as viewed from the front. In some cases, it is formed in a substantially L shape. A contact surface 12c is formed on the right side surface of the contact portion 12b. The contact surface 12c can be in contact with the left end, which is the edge of the sheet S stacked on the stacking plate 11. The left edge of the bundle is aligned.

  As an example of the second alignment member, a pair of front and rear side guides 13 is supported in the side guide groove 4b so as to be movable in the front-rear direction along the side guide groove 4b. The pair of side guides 13 is configured to be movable in conjunction with a direction in which the pair of side guides 13 approach and separate from each other by a pinion gear as an example of a gear (not shown) and a rack in which a gear is formed on a flat plate. Note that the configuration in which the pinion gear and the rack gear move together in the direction of approaching and separating from each other is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-106567 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-24057. Therefore, detailed description is omitted.

(Description of the sheet take-out device 21 of the first embodiment)
5A and 5B are explanatory views of the suction head according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5A is a front view and FIG. 5B is a plan view.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the suction head according to the first embodiment when viewed obliquely from below.
7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 5B.
2 and 4 to 7, a sheet take-out device 21 as an example of a medium take-out member is disposed above the second paper feed tray TR2. The sheet take-out device 21 includes a suction head 22 that can suck and hold the sheets S on the stacking plate 11 as an example of a holding member.

(Description of the suction head 22 of the first embodiment)
The suction head 22 has a box-shaped head body 23 as an example of a holding member body. The head body 23 includes a flat bottom plate portion 24 and side walls 26, 27, 28, and 29 extending in the vertical direction from the front, rear, left and right of the bottom plate portion 24. The said baseplate part 24 has the lower surface 24a as an example of the surface in which the opening for gas suction was formed. The bottom plate portion 24 is formed with a plurality of intake ports 31 penetrating in the vertical direction as an example of an opening for gas suction. On the right part of the lower surface 24a, as an example of a bend imparting part, an inclined surface 32 that is inclined downward as it goes to the right and inclined left as it goes to the center in the front-rear direction is formed. In addition, a plurality of plate-like ribs 33 extending downward are formed at both front and rear end portions of the lower surface 24a as an example of a bending imparting portion with a gap therebetween.
5A and 7, a plurality of pins 34 projecting outward are supported on the outer surfaces of the side walls 26 to 29 as an example of the surrounding support member.

(Description of Sealing Skirt 36 of Example 1)
5A, 6, and 7, a plate-like sealing skirt 36 that extends downward is disposed on the outer surface of the head main body 23 as an example of a surrounding member so as to surround the outer periphery. In the sealing skirt 36, a long hole 36a extending in the vertical direction is formed at a position corresponding to the pin 34, and the pin 34 is supported through the long hole 36a. Therefore, the sealing skirt 36 of the first embodiment is supported so as to be movable in the vertical direction with respect to the head body 23, that is, in the direction of approaching and separating from the stacking plate 11 and the stacked sheets S.
The sealing skirt 36 has a lower surface 36b as an example of one end on the stacking member side. Therefore, the air inlet 31 is disposed inside the sealing skirt 36 and the side walls 26 to 29, and the space surrounded by the sealing skirt 36, the lower surface 24 a of the bottom plate portion 24, and the side walls 26 to 29. Thus, the intake space 37 of the first embodiment is configured.

(Description of Position Sensor SN1 of Example 1)
5 to 7, a lid-like cover 39 is supported on the head main body 23 as an example of a cover member. The cover portion 39 includes a plate-like upper plate portion 39a that covers the space surrounded by the bottom plate portion 24 and the side walls 26 to 29, and side plate portions 39b, 39c, and 39d that extend downward from the front, rear, left, and right of the upper plate portion 39a. , 39e. On the upper surface of the rear portion of the upper plate portion 39a, a head light shielding portion 39a1 protruding upward is formed as an example of a detected portion for moving the holding member. The head light-shielding portion 39a1 is detected by a position sensor SN1 supported by the main body of the paper feeding device U2 as an example of a position detection member for a holding member.

(Description of Exhaust Fan HF of Example 1)
4B and 5, an exhaust duct 39f extending forward is formed as an example of a connection portion on the right side of the front side plate portion 39b. One end of a bellows 40 as an example of a flexible member is connected to the exhaust duct 39f, and an exhaust fan HF as an example of a suction device shown in FIG. 5B is connected to the other end of the bellows 40. Yes.
Therefore, the exhaust fan HF is connected to the intake port 31 via the exhaust port 26a, the exhaust duct 39f, and the bellows 40 as an example of the opening formed in the front side wall 26, and when the exhaust fan HF is activated, Gas and air in the intake space 37 are exhausted from the intake port 31.
The suction head 22 of the first embodiment is configured by the members having the reference numerals 23 to 39.

3 to 7, a plate-shaped sheet front end guide 39g extending rightward is supported on the right side plate portion 39e of the cover portion 39 as an example of a front end support portion. The sheet front end guide 39g according to the first exemplary embodiment has a lower surface 39h as an example of a surface that contacts the front end in the conveyance direction of the sheet S so that the sheet front end guide 39g can pass between conveyance rolls Ra that are spaced apart in the front-rear direction. In addition, the length in the front-rear direction is set.
In the first embodiment, the transport roll Ra is disposed so that at least a part of the roller is disposed on the inner side of the outer end of the head body 23 in the front-rear direction, and between the inner ends of the transport roll Ra. The interval is set to be smaller than the width of the minimum size sheet S. Therefore, even when the minimum-size sheet S is supplied, the transport roll Ra can be transported downstream with the sheet S interposed therebetween.
In the first embodiment, the contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h are configured by the bottom plate 24, the sealing skirt 36, the lower surfaces 24a, 36b, 39h, the inclined surfaces 32, and the ribs 33 of the sheet front end guide 39g.

(Description of the head driving devices 46 to 50 of the first embodiment)
A shaft guide portion 41 as an example of a guided portion is supported on the upper surface of the cover portion 39. As an example of the guide member, the shaft guide portion 41 is supported by the main body of the paper feeding device U2 and is supported in a state in which a guide shaft 42 extending along the left-right direction that is the medium transport direction passes therethrough. The shaft guide portion 41 according to the first embodiment is supported in a state in which it can move in the left-right direction along the guide shaft 42 and cannot rotate via a linear ball bearing 43 as an example of a bearing member.
A wire fixing portion 44 as an example of a connecting member is supported on the upper surface of the shaft guide portion 41.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the position of the suction head according to the first embodiment, FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram of the state where the suction head has moved to the suction position, and FIG. 8B is an explanatory diagram of the state where the suction head has moved to the supply position. .
A wire 46 as an example of a wire is fixedly supported on the wire fixing portion 44. As an example of the support member, the wire 46 is stretched around a pair of pulleys 47, a drive pulley 48, and a driven pulley 49 disposed on the left and right of the wire fixing portion 44. The drive pulley 48 includes an example of a drive source. The rotation is transmitted from a motor 50 capable of rotating in the normal and reverse directions. Accordingly, the wire 46 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise in FIG. 4B in accordance with the forward / reverse rotation of the motor 50, and the suction head 22 is configured to be movable in the left-right direction along the guide shaft.

Therefore, the suction head 22 faces the sheet S on the stacking plate 11 moved to the raised position and can suck the sheet S. The suction position shown in FIG. 8A is closer to the conveyance direction of the sheet S than the suction position. It moves between the supply positions shown in FIG. 8B set on the downstream side. In the first embodiment, the position sensor SN1 is set to detect the head light-shielding portion 39a1 at the suction position, and the position sensor SN1 detects the head light-shielding portion 39a1, so that the suction head 22 is home. It is determined that the position has been moved to the suction position. The width of the notch 9b in the front-rear direction is set wider than the width of the suction head 22, and the lower end of the notch 9b is set lower than the lower surface 36b of the lowered sealing skirt 36. For this reason, in Example 1, even if the suction head 22 is moved in a state where the sealing skirt 36 is lowered, the sealing skirt 36 does not interfere with the inclined portion 9a.
The wire 46, the pulleys 47 to 49, the motor 50, and the like constitute the head driving devices 46 to 50 according to the first embodiment as an example of a holding member moving mechanism. The suction head 22, the bellows 40, the exhaust fan HF, the head driving devices 46 to 50, and the like constitute the sheet take-out device 21 of the first embodiment.

(Description of Air Blowing Mechanism 51 of Example 1)
2, the main body of the paper feeding device U2 is an example of a cleaning member corresponding to the right side of the paper feeding trays TR1 and TR2 inserted at the insertion position, and is an example of a spraying device. An air blowing mechanism 51 is installed as an example of a whirling mechanism. As shown in FIG. 3, the air blowing mechanism 51 is a sheet S in which air as an example of a soaking gas, so-called air, is adsorbed by the suction head 22 diagonally from the lower right to the upper left of the suction head 22. It sprays on spraying range AR1 as an example of the spraying position preset at the conveyance direction front end. As a result, when a plurality of sheets S are adsorbed, they are separated and separated by air. In the first embodiment, the blowing range AR1 is set to extend in the width direction of the sheet S, that is, the front-rear direction, and the air blowing mechanism 51 performs air from the front end to the rear end that are both ends in the width direction of the sheet S. Can be sprayed.
The air blowing mechanism 51 is conventionally known, and for example, a configuration described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2005-194027 and 2008-94603 can be applied, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

(Description of the paper feed path SH1 and the transport roll Ra of the first embodiment)
2 and 8, on the right side of the suction head 22, as an example of a medium supply path, a sheet feeding path for conveying the sheet S supplied from the suction head 22 moved to the supply position to the image forming apparatus main body U3. SH1 is formed. In the sheet feeding path SH1, when the suction head 22 sucks the sheet S and moves to the supply position, the transport roller Ra is positioned at a position where the front end of the sheet S sucked by the suction head 22 can be sandwiched. Is arranged. The transport roll Ra transports the sheet S supplied from the suction head 22 moved to the supply position to the image forming apparatus main body U3. Note that a sheet sensor SN2, which is an example of a clogging detection member and is an example of a conveyance detection member, is disposed at the detection position P2 set on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the conveyance roll Ra. The sheet sensor SN2 detects the sheet S delivered from the suction head 22 to the transport roll Ra.
The stacking plate 11, the lifting mechanism SK, the sheet take-out device 21, the air blowing mechanism 51, the transport roll Ra, the paper feed path SH1, and the like constitute the paper feed device U2 of the first embodiment.

(Description of the control part of Example 1)
FIG. 9 is a functional diagram of the control unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment, which is a so-called block diagram.
In FIG. 9, the control unit C includes an input / output interface I / O for inputting / outputting signals from / to the outside, a ROM storing a program and information for performing necessary processing, a read-only memory, a necessary RAM for temporarily storing data: Random access memory; CPU for performing processing according to the program stored in the ROM: Central processing unit; Small information processing apparatus having an oscillator, etc., so-called microcomputer Therefore, various functions can be realized by executing a program stored in the ROM.

(Signal output element connected to the control unit C of the first embodiment)
The control unit C receives an output signal from a signal output element such as a user interface UI or each of the sensors SN1 and SN2.
The user interface UI includes a display unit UI1, a power button UI2, a copy start key UI3 and a numeric keypad UI4 as examples of input buttons.
The position sensor SN1 detects the presence or absence of the head light-shielding portion 39a1, and detects whether or not the suction head 22 has moved to the suction position that is the home position.
The sheet sensor SN2 detects the presence or absence of the sheet S delivered from the suction head 22 to the transport roll Ra.

(Controlled element connected to the control unit C of the first embodiment)
The control unit C is connected to a laser drive circuit D, a main motor drive circuit D1, which is an example of a drive circuit for a main drive source, a power supply circuit E, and other control elements (not shown). Output.
The laser driving circuit D drives the latent image forming devices ROSy to ROSk to form latent images on the surfaces of the photoreceptors Py to Pk.
The main motor drive circuit D1 rotationally drives the photoreceptors Py to Pk, the intermediate transfer belt B, and the like via a main motor M1 as an example of a main drive source.
E: Power Supply Circuit The power supply circuit E includes a developing power supply circuit Ea, a charging power supply circuit Eb, a transfer power supply circuit Ec, and a fixing power supply circuit Ed.
The developing power supply circuit Ea applies a developing voltage to the developing roll R0 of the developing units GY to GK.
The charging power supply circuit Eb applies a charging voltage to the chargers CCy to CCk.
The transfer power supply circuit Ec applies a transfer voltage to each roll T1y to T1k, T2c of the transfer device T1 + B + T2 + CLB.
The fixing power supply circuit Ed applies heating power to a heater as an example of a heating member of the heating roll Fh of the fixing device F.

(Function of the control unit C of the first embodiment)
The controller C has the following function realizing means by a program for controlling the operation of each controlled element D1, E according to the output signal of each signal output element UI, SN1, SN2. C1: Job Control Unit The job control unit C1, which is an example of a control unit for image forming operation, receives the latent image forming devices ROSy to ROSk, the toner image forming members UY + GY to UK + GK, and the fixing device F according to the input of the copy start key UI3. Then, the medium transport system SU and the like are controlled to execute a job as an example of an image forming operation.
C2: Main motor control means The main motor control means C2 as an example of the drive control means of the main drive source controls the rotation of the main motor M1 via the main motor drive circuit D1, and the photoreceptors Py to Pk, the developing device. The rotational driving of the developing roll R0 of GY to GK, the heating roll Fh of the fixing device F, the transport roll Ra, and the like is controlled.

C3: Power Supply Control Unit The power supply control unit C3 includes a development voltage control unit C3A, a charging voltage control unit C3B, a transfer voltage control unit C3C, and a fixing power source control unit C3D. By controlling the operation, voltage application and power supply to each member are controlled.
The developing voltage control means C3A controls the developing power supply circuit Ea to control the developing voltage applied to the developing roll R0 of the developing devices GY to GY.
The charging voltage control means C3B controls the charging power supply circuit Eb to control the charging voltage applied to the chargers CCy to CCk.
The transfer voltage control means C3C controls the transfer power supply circuit Ec to control the transfer voltage applied to each of the rolls T1y to T1k, T2c of the transfer device T1 + B + T2 + CLB.
The fixing power supply control means C3D controls the fixing power supply circuit Ed to control the temperature of the heater of the heating roll Fh of the fixing device F, that is, the fixing temperature.

C4: Latent image formation control means The latent image formation control means C4 controls the latent image forming devices ROSy to ROSk via the laser drive circuit D to form electrostatic latent images on the surfaces of the photoreceptors Py to Pk.
C5: Plate lifting / lowering means The plate lifting / lowering means C5 as an example of the control means of the lifting / lowering mechanism of the stacking member controls the lifting / lowering mechanism SK to load between the lowered position shown in FIG. 4A and the raised position shown in FIG. 4B. The raising and lowering of the plate 11 is controlled. The plate raising / lowering means C5 of the first embodiment moves the stacking plate 11 from the lowered position to the raised position at the start of the job and moves the loaded plate 11 from the raised position to the lowered position at the end of the job.

C6: Head moving means The head moving means C6 as an example of the control means of the holding member moving mechanism determines whether or not the head light-shielding portion 39a1 is detected by the position sensor SN1, thereby moving the suction head 22 to the suction position. It has a suction position discriminating means C6A for discriminating whether or not it is done. The head moving means C6 controls the forward / reverse rotation of the motor 50 of the head driving devices 46 to 50 to control the movement of the suction head 22 between the suction position shown in FIG. 8A and the supply position shown in FIG. 8B. To do.
C7: Air Suction Unit The air suction unit C7 as an example of a control unit of the suction device controls the operation of the exhaust fan HF of the sheet take-out device 21 and sucks it through the exhaust port 26a, the exhaust duct 39f, and the bellows 40. The suction of air from the air inlet 31 of the head 22 is controlled.
C8: Air spraying means An example of the cleaning member control means, an example of the spraying device control means, and an example of the medium blowing mechanism control means, the air spraying means C8 controls the air spraying mechanism 51. Then, the blowing of air to the blowing range AR1 shown in FIG. 3 is controlled.

C9: Sheet adsorption unit The sheet adsorption unit C9 as an example of the medium adsorption unit includes an adsorption start determination unit C9A and an adsorption end determination unit C9B, and adsorbs the sheet S through the air suction unit C7. Adsorbed to the head 22. When it is determined that the suction timing ta for starting the suction of the sheet S has come, the sheet suction means C9 of the first embodiment sucks air from the intake port 31 by the exhaust fan HF, thereby reducing the intake space 37 to a low pressure. In this state, the sheet S is adsorbed on the lower surface 36 b of the sealing skirt 36. When the intake space 37 whose lower end is substantially sealed by the sheet S is further exhausted, the uppermost sheet S on the stacking plate 11 rises together with the sealing skirt 36, and the sheet S is adsorbed by the adsorption head 22. To do.

  In the first embodiment, the sheet S sucked by the suction head 22 comes into contact with the inclined surface 32 and the rib 33, bends along the inclined surface 32 and the rib 33, and becomes wavy. The sheet suction means C9 sucks air from the intake port 31 by the exhaust fan HF when it is determined that the suction time ta calculated backward from the transfer time when the toner image reaches the secondary transfer region Q4 is reached. Thus, the sheet S is adsorbed by the adsorption head 22. In addition, the sheet suction unit C9 is configured to supply time from when the suction of air is started at the suction time ta to when the suction head 22 moves to the supply position and the sucked sheet S is delivered to the transport roll Ra. When t1 has elapsed, the suction of the air is stopped and the suction of the sheet S to the suction head 22 is stopped.

C9A: Adsorption start determination means The adsorption timing determination means C9A determines whether or not the adsorption of the sheet S is started by determining whether or not the adsorption timing ta has been reached.
C9B: Adsorption end determination means The adsorption end determination means C9B determines whether or not to end the adsorption of the sheet S by determining whether or not the supply time t1 has elapsed from the adsorption timing ta.

C10: Sheet Rolling Unit A sheet rolling unit C10, which is an example of a separation control unit and is an example of a medium rolling unit, includes a separation start determination unit C10A and a separation end determination unit C10B. The sheet blowing means C10 blows air to the sheet S adsorbed by the adsorption head 22 via the air blowing means C8, and a plurality of sheets S are adsorbed by the adsorption head 22 due to static electricity or the like. Then, the sheet S is separated and spread. In the first embodiment, the uppermost sheet S is attracted to the suction head 22 and undulates, and when two or more sheets are attracted, the size of the undulation between the second and subsequent sheets S from the top is obtained. A difference occurs, and a gap is formed between the sheets S. In the first exemplary embodiment, a range corresponding to the front end in the conveyance direction of the sheet S sucked by the suction head 22 disposed at the suction position is set as the spray range AR1. In other words, the front end of the gap in the conveyance direction is arranged in the spray range AR1.

  For this reason, the sheet rolling means C10 of Example 1 is adsorbed in a state where the sheet S rises together with the sealing skirt 36, bends along the inclined surface 32 and the rib 33, and undulates from the adsorption time ta. When it is determined that the suction time t2 has elapsed, the uppermost sheet S that has been sucked and the second and subsequent sheets S from the top are separated by blowing air into the gap disposed in the spray range AR1. And ask. Further, the sheet blowing means C10 performs air blowing for a separation time t3 in which air is blown to separate the sheets S from the start of separation, and stops the air blowing when the separation time t3 has elapsed. Then, the rolling of the sheet S is stopped.

C10A: Separation start determination means The separation start determination means C10A determines whether or not the separation of the sheet S is started by determining whether or not the suction time t2 has elapsed from the suction timing ta. The suction time t2 of the first embodiment is a time sufficient for the sheet S to come into contact with the inclined surface 32 or the rib 33 and become undulated according to the air suction force by the exhaust fan HF or the like. It is set in advance by experiments or the like.
C10B: Separation End Determination Unit The separation end determination unit C10B determines whether the separation of the sheet S is finished by determining whether the separation time t3 has elapsed since the start of separation. Note that the separation time t3 of the first embodiment is set in advance by experimentation or the like in accordance with the wind force of the air blown by the air blowing mechanism 51.

C11: Sheet Supply Unit A sheet supply unit C11 as an example of a medium supply unit includes a supply start determination unit C11A and a supply end determination unit C11B, and is sucked to the suction head 22 via the head moving unit C6. Then, the sheet S is delivered to the transport roll Ra on the downstream side in the transport direction. When it is determined that the air blowing is finished, the sheet supply unit C11 according to the first exemplary embodiment rotates the motor 50 of the head driving devices 46 to 50 in the forward direction to move the suction head 22 from the suction position to the supply position. As a result, the sheet S sucked by the suction head 22 is transferred to the transport roll Ra. In addition, when the supply time t1 has elapsed, that is, when the sheet S has been delivered to the transporting roll Ra, the sheet supply unit C11 detects that the position sensor SN1 has the head light shielding portion 39a1 by the suction position determination unit C6A. Until the motor 50 is detected, the motor 50 is reversely rotated to return the suction head 22 from the supply position to the suction position.

C11A: Supply start determination means The supply start determination means C11A starts moving the suction head 22 to the supply position by determining whether or not the blowing of air is finished by the separation stop determination means C10B. It is determined whether or not.
C11B: Supply end determination means The supply end determination means C11B determines whether or not the supply time t1 has elapsed by the suction end determination means C9B, thereby ending the movement of the suction head 22 to the supply position. It is determined whether or not to do so.

C12: Cleaning determination means The cleaning determination means C12 as an example of the cleaning time determination means includes a job end determination means C12A for determining whether or not a job has ended, a conveyance delay determination means C12B, and a jam determination means C12C. It is determined whether or not the cleaning time tb for cleaning the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h of the suction head 22 has come. The cleaning determination unit C12 according to the first exemplary embodiment determines when the job is completed, when it is determined that the conveyance of the sheet S is delayed based on the detection signal of the sheet sensor SN2, or when the sheet S is jammed, so-called When it is determined that a jam has occurred, it is determined that the cleaning time tb has come.

C12B: Conveyance Delay Determination Unit The conveyance delay determination unit C12B determines whether the conveyance of the sheet S is delayed. In the conveyance delay determination unit C12B according to the first exemplary embodiment, is the detection time when the sheet S is detected by the sheet sensor SN2 later than the arrival time when the sheet S is scheduled to reach the detection position P2 where the sheet sensor SN2 is arranged? Determine whether or not. Note that the arrival time in the first embodiment is set in advance based on a time calculated backward from the transfer time and an allowable time error, that is, a so-called margin, similarly to the adsorption time ta.
C12C: Jam determination means Jam determination means C12C as an example of a medium jam determination means determines whether or not a jam has occurred. In the jam determination unit C12C according to the first exemplary embodiment, the sheet sensor SN2 detects the front end in the conveyance direction of the sheet S and the detection timing P2 in which the rear end in the conveyance direction of the sheet S passes the detection position P2. When the detection time when the sheet sensor SN2 is scheduled to be in an off state where the sheet S is not detected is exceeded, it is determined that a jam has occurred. The jam determination means C12C removes the jammed sheet S when the opening / closing detection member (not shown) detects the opening / closing of the front panel (not shown) of the sheet feeding device U2 and the sheet sensor SN2 is turned off. It is determined that the jam has been resolved.

C13: Head Cleaning Unit The head cleaning unit C13 as an example of the cleaning control unit includes a cleaning start determination unit C13A, a timer TM, and a cleaning end determination unit C13B, and cleans the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h of the suction head 22. To do. When it is determined that the cleaning time tb is reached, the head cleaning unit C13 according to the first exemplary embodiment blows air to the blowing range AR1 through the air blowing unit C8 and also through the head moving unit C6. The suction head 22 is moved from the suction position to the supply position. The head cleaning means C13 returns the suction head 22 from the supply position to the suction position when the suction head 22 moves to the supply position. The head cleaning means C13 stops blowing air when the suction head 22 returns to the suction position.
That is, the head cleaning unit C13 according to the first exemplary embodiment cleans the contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h by blowing air while the suction head reciprocates between the suction position and the supply position.
In the head cleaning unit C13 according to the first exemplary embodiment, the moving speed at the time of cleaning the suction head 22 is set to be slower than the moving speed at the time of job execution. The part 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h is easy to clean.

C13A: Cleaning start determining means When the cleaning determining means C12 determines that the cleaning time tb is reached, the cleaning start determining means C13A determines that it is time to start cleaning the contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h.
TM: Timer The timer TM as an example of the time-counting means of the return time is supplied from the suction position by the suction head 22 when it is determined by the cleaning start determination means C13A that the cleaning of the contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h has started. Counts the time until the position is folded. In the first embodiment, a cleaning time t4 is set in advance as a time corresponding to a time in which the suction head 22 reciprocates once at a moving speed at the time of cleaning slower than that at the time of job execution. Measures the half of the cleaning time t4 (t4 / 2) as the turn-back time.

C13B: Cleaning end determination means The cleaning end determination means C13B determines whether or not the cleaning of the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h is completed by determining whether or not the return from the supply position of the suction head 22 to the suction position is completed. Is determined. The cleaning completion determination unit C13B according to the first exemplary embodiment determines whether or not the cleaning is to be ended by determining whether or not the position sensor SN1 has detected the head light shielding portion 39a1 by the suction position determination unit C6A. To do.
C14: Job Interruption Control Unit The job interruption control unit C14 as an example of an image formation operation interruption control unit controls job interruption via the job control unit C1. The job interruption control unit C14 according to the first exemplary embodiment interrupts a job until it is determined that the cleaning is started by the cleaning start determination unit C13A until the cleaning end determination unit C13B determines that the cleaning is ended. . Further, when the jam determination unit C12C determines that a jam has occurred, the job interruption control unit C14 interrupts the job until it is determined that the jam has been resolved.

(Explanation of flowchart of Example 1)
Next, the flow of control in the image forming apparatus U according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart, a so-called flowchart.
(Description of Flowchart of Sheet Supply Processing in Embodiment 1)
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a flowchart of sheet supply processing according to the first embodiment.
The processing of each step ST in the flowchart of FIG. 10 is performed according to a program stored in the control unit C of the image forming apparatus U. This process is executed in parallel with other various processes of the image forming apparatus U.
The flowchart shown in FIG. 10 is started when the image forming apparatus U is turned on.

  In ST101 of FIG. 10, it is determined whether or not the job has been started. If yes (Y), the process transfers to ST102, and, if no (N), ST101 is repeated.

In ST102, the lifting mechanism SK is controlled to move the stacking plate 11 from the lowered position to the raised position. Then, the process proceeds to ST103.
In ST103, it is determined whether or not the suction timing ta for starting the suction of the sheet S has come. If yes (Y), the process transfers to ST104, and, if no (N), ST103 is repeated.
In ST104, the following processes (1) to (3) are executed, and the process proceeds to ST105.
(1) The exhaust fan HF is actuated to start the adsorption of the sheet S.
(2) The timing of the supply time t1 from when the suction of air is started at the suction timing ta to when the suction head 22 moves to the supply position and the sucked sheet S is delivered to the transport roll Ra is started.
(3) The counting of the adsorption time t2 when the sheet S rises together with the sealing skirt 36, bends along the inclined surface 32 and the rib 33 and undulates is started.

In ST105, it is determined whether or not the separation of the sheet S is started by determining whether or not the suction time t2 has elapsed from the suction timing ta. If yes (Y), the process transfers to ST106, and, if no (N), ST105 is repeated.
In ST106, the following processes (1) and (2) are executed, and the process proceeds to ST107.
(1) The air blowing mechanism 51 is controlled to start air blowing in the blowing range AR1. That is, the rolling of the sheet S is started.
(2) The timing of the separation time t3 for separating the sheets S by blowing air is started.
In ST107, it is determined whether or not the movement of the suction head 22 to the supply position is started by determining whether or not the separation time t3 has elapsed since the start of separation. If yes (Y), the process transfers to ST108, and, if no (N), ST107 is repeated.
In ST108, the following processes (1) and (2) are executed, and the process proceeds to ST109.
(1) The motor 50 is rotated forward to start the movement of the suction head 22 from the suction position to the supply position.
(2) The control of the air blowing mechanism 51 is stopped, and the air blowing is finished. That is, the rolling of the sheet S is finished.

In ST109, it is determined whether or not the supply time t1 has elapsed from the start of the movement, thereby determining whether or not to end the movement of the suction head 22 to the supply position and start the return to the suction position. If yes (Y), the process proceeds to ST110, and, if no (N), ST109 is repeated.
In ST110, the following processes (1) and (2) are executed, and the process proceeds to ST111.
(1) The motor 50 is rotated in the reverse direction and the return from the supply position of the suction head 22 to the suction position is started.
(2) The operation of the exhaust fan HF is stopped and the suction of the sheet S is finished.

In ST111, it is determined whether or not the return from the supply position of the suction head 22 to the suction position has been completed by determining whether or not the position sensor SN1 has detected the head light shielding unit 39a1. If yes (Y), the process proceeds to ST112, and, if no (N), ST111 is repeated.
In ST112, the motor 50 is stopped and the return of the suction head 22 to the suction position is completed. Then, the process proceeds to ST113.
In ST113, it is determined whether or not the job is finished. If yes (Y), the process proceeds to ST114, and, if no (N), the process returns to ST103.
In ST114, the lifting mechanism SK is controlled to move the stacking plate 11 from the raised position to the lowered position. Then, the process returns to ST101.

(Description of Flowchart of Cleaning Time Discrimination Processing in Embodiment 1)
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a flowchart of the cleaning time determination process according to the first embodiment.
The processing of each step ST in the flowchart of FIG. 11 is performed according to a program stored in the control unit C of the image forming apparatus U. This process is executed in parallel with other various processes of the image forming apparatus U.
The flowchart shown in FIG. 11 is started when the image forming apparatus U is turned on.

In ST201 of FIG. 11, it is determined whether or not the job has been started. If yes (Y), the process transfers to ST202, and, if no (N), ST201 is repeated.
In ST202, it is determined whether or not the detection time when the sheet S is detected by the sheet sensor SN2 at the detection position P2 is later than the arrival time when the sheet S is scheduled to reach the detection position P2. If no (N), the process moves to ST203, and if yes (Y), the process moves to ST204.
In ST203, it is determined whether or not a jam has occurred by determining whether or not the detection time for which the sheet sensor SN2 is scheduled to be in an OFF state has been exceeded from the detection timing. If yes (Y), the process proceeds to ST204, and, if no (N), the process proceeds to ST207.

In ST204, a job interruption process for interrupting the job from the start to the end of cleaning of the suction head 22 is executed. Then, the process proceeds to ST205. Note that the job suspension process only suspends the job until the head cleaning process shown in FIG. 12 described later is executed, and if a jam occurs, the job is only suspended until the jam is resolved. Detailed description will be omitted.
In ST205, a head cleaning process shown in FIG. Then, the process proceeds to ST206.
In ST206, a job restart process for restarting the interrupted job is executed. Then, the process proceeds to ST207.
In ST207, it is determined whether or not the job is finished. If yes (Y), the process proceeds to ST208, and, if no (N), the process returns to ST202.
In ST208, a head cleaning process shown in FIG. Then, the process returns to ST201.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the head cleaning process according to the first embodiment, which is a subroutine of ST205 and ST208 in FIG.
In ST251 of FIG. 12, the following processes (1) to (3) are executed, and the process proceeds to ST252.
(1) The air blowing mechanism 51 is controlled to start air blowing in the blowing range AR1. That is, cleaning of the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h is started.
(2) The motor 50 is rotated forward to start the movement of the suction head 22 from the suction position to the supply position.
(3) The turn-back time (t4 / 2) that is half the cleaning time t4 is set in the timer TM.
In ST252, it is determined whether or not the return time (t4 / 2) has elapsed from the start of movement due to the timer TM being timed up. If yes (Y), the process proceeds to ST253, and, if no (N), ST252 is repeated.

In ST253, the motor 50 is reversely rotated to start the return from the supply position of the suction head 22 to the suction position. Then, the process proceeds to ST254.
In ST254, it is determined whether or not the return from the supply position of the suction head 22 to the suction position has been completed by determining whether or not the position sensor SN1 has detected the head light shielding unit 39a1. If yes (Y), the process transfers to ST255, and, if no (N), ST254 is repeated.
In ST255, the following processes (1) and (2) are executed, the head cleaning process is terminated, and the process returns to ST205 or ST208 in FIG.
(1) The control of the air blowing mechanism 51 is stopped, and the air blowing is finished.
(2) The motor 50 is stopped and the return of the suction head 22 to the suction position is completed.

(Operation of Example 1)
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the first embodiment, FIG. 13A is a timing chart regarding control of each member of the sheet feeding device of the sheet supply process of the first embodiment, and FIG. 13B is a feed of the head cleaning process of the first embodiment. It is a timing chart regarding control of each member of a paper device.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the first embodiment, FIG. 14A is an explanatory diagram of the state of the paper feed tray before the job start of the first embodiment, and FIG. 14B is a job started from the state shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the state moved to the raise position.
In the image forming apparatus U according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention having the above-described configuration, when a job is started, a sheet supply process is executed, and the sheet S on the stacking plate 11 of the sheet feeding trays TR1 and TR2 is fed. The image is supplied to the image forming apparatus main body U3 via the path SH1. In the sheet supply process according to the first exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 13A and 14, when the job is started, the stacking plate 11 is moved from the lowered position to the raised position. At this time, as shown in FIG. 14B, the lower surface 36b of the sealing skirt 36 and the uppermost sheet S of the bundle of sheets S on the stacking plate 11 are close to each other.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the continuation of FIG. 14. FIG. 15A shows a state in which the exhaust fan is operated from the state shown in FIG. 14B so that the sheet is adsorbed by the adsorption head and the sheet is blown by the air blowing mechanism FIG. 15B is an explanatory diagram of a state where the suction head has been moved to the supply position from the state shown in FIG. 15A.
Further, at the suction time ta shown in FIG. 13A, the air in the intake space 37 is sucked by the exhaust fan HF, and the sheet S is sucked to the lower surface 36b. As the air is sucked, the uppermost sheet S sucked by the suction head 22 ascends together with the sealing skirt 36 as shown in FIG. 15A.
When the suction time t2 elapses, the air spray mechanism 51 sprays air onto the spray range AR1 corresponding to the front end of the sucked sheet S in the conveyance direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 15A, when two or more sheets S are adsorbed, the second and subsequent sheets S2 are separated from the uppermost sheet S1 and placed on the bundle of sheets S. Fall and get hit.

In the first embodiment, even when air is blown onto the sheet S, the upper surface of the front end portion in the conveyance direction of the sheet S is supported by the sheet front end guide 39g, and the sheet S is prevented from being curled upward or curved. Has been.
When the separation time t3 elapses, the motors 50 of the head driving devices 46 to 50 are rotated forward, and the suction head 22 is moved from the suction position to the supply position. As a result, as shown in FIG. 15B, the front end in the transport direction of the sheet S attracted by the suction head 22 reaches the transport roll Ra while being guided by the sheet front end guide 39g, and the sheet S that has reached the transport roll Ra is supplied. It is conveyed to the path SH1.

16 is an explanatory diagram continued from FIG. 15. FIG. 16A is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the operation of the exhaust fan is stopped from the state shown in FIG. 15B and the conveyance roll conveys the sheet to the downstream side in the conveyance direction. FIG. 16B is an explanatory diagram of a state where the suction head is returned to the suction position from the state shown in FIG. 16A.
When the supply time t1 has elapsed, as shown in FIG. 16A, the suction of air by the exhaust fan HF is stopped and the motor 50 is rotated in the reverse direction, so that the suction head 22 moves from the supply position toward the suction position. . When the position sensor SN1 detects the head light shielding part 39a1, the motor 50 is stopped and the suction head 22 returns to the suction position.
When the upstream end in the transport direction of the sheet S transported to the transport roller Ra passes the upstream end in the transport direction of the sealing skirt 36, the sealed state of the intake space 37 is released, and as shown in FIG. 36 descends due to gravity, and the lower surface 36b and the next sheet S2 come close to each other. Therefore, when the next sheet S2 that has become the uppermost sheet S comes to the next adsorption time ta, air is sucked and adsorbed to the lower surface 36b. Therefore, the process of FIG. 13A and FIGS. 14-16 is repeated, and the sheet | seat S is supplied.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the first embodiment, FIG. 17A is a diagram illustrating the state of the paper feed tray before the head cleaning process according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 17B is a diagram illustrating spraying from the state illustrated in FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the state which moves a suction head to a supply position, and cleans a contact part, blowing air to the range.
In the first embodiment, when the job is completed, a head cleaning process, so-called cleaning mode, is executed. In the head cleaning process of the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 13B and 17, when the job ends and the cleaning time tb is reached, the suction head 22 moves to the suction position while the air blowing mechanism 51 blows air to the blowing range AR <b> 1. And the supply position are reciprocated once. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus U according to the first embodiment, air is blown while changing the position of the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h corresponding to the spray range AR1, and paper dust or the like attached to the position corresponding to the spray range AR1 is blown off. It is possible to clean a wide range of contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h.

Here, in the configuration in which the sheet S is sucked when the job is executed, when the sheet S is supplied, there is a possibility that paper dust or the like may adhere to the contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h. In particular, when so-called burrs such as paper scum and scraps adhere to the cut portion of the sheet S cut by cutting or the like, there is a problem that burrs are likely to adhere to the contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h. .
As a result, when the supply of the sheet S in large quantities is repeated, paper dust or the like adheres to the contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h, and becomes slippery. Therefore, the sheet S slips with respect to the movement of the suction head 22, and there is a high possibility that a conveyance delay downstream of the sheet S in the conveyance direction or a supply failure such as a jam will occur. In particular, as the moving speed of the suction head 22 increases, the sheet S becomes more slippery, and there is a problem that the possibility of occurrence of supply failure increases.
And in the structure of the conventional patent documents 1-3 etc., the structure which removes the paper dust etc. which adhered to the contact part 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h is not provided, and when paper dust etc. adhere, a delay of conveyance, jam, etc. There was a problem that supply failure was likely to occur.

On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus U of the first embodiment, when the job is finished, the head cleaning process is executed, air is blown to the contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h, and paper dust or the like is blown away for cleaning. As a result, the image forming apparatus U according to the first embodiment can reduce the supply failure of the sheet S compared to the configurations of Patent Documents 1 to 3 and the like in which the head cleaning process is not executed.
Further, in the image forming apparatus U according to the first exemplary embodiment, the head cleaning process is performed even when a conveyance failure of the sheet S or a supply failure such as a jam actually occurs, and the contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h can be cleaned. It has become. As a result, the image forming apparatus U according to the first embodiment is easier to eliminate the supply failure than the configurations of Patent Documents 1 to 3 in which the head cleaning process is not executed when the supply failure of the sheet S occurs.

Further, in the image forming apparatus U according to the first embodiment of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h is cleaned after the job is finished by using the air blowing mechanism 51 that separates the sheets S sucked during job execution. doing.
As a result, in the image forming apparatus U according to the first exemplary embodiment, the medium spreading member and the cleaning member are shared, and the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the configuration in which the medium spreading member and the cleaning member are provided separately. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the cleaning member.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the second embodiment, components corresponding to the components of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. To do.
This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following points, but is configured in the same manner as the first embodiment in other points.

(Description of the head driving devices 46 to 50 of the second embodiment)
FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. 3 of the first embodiment, and is a plan view of the paper feed tray of the second embodiment.
19 is an explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. 8 of the first embodiment, and is an explanatory diagram of the position of the suction head of the second embodiment. FIG. 19A is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the suction head is moved to the suction position, and FIG. FIG. 19C is an explanatory diagram of a state where the suction head has moved to the supply position, and FIG. 19C is an explanatory diagram of a state where the suction head has moved to the cleaning position.
In FIG. 18, the guide shaft 42 according to the second embodiment is formed to extend longer to the left as the upstream side in the transport direction than the first embodiment. Further, in the head driving devices 46 to 50 of the second embodiment, the left pulley 47 is arranged on the left side of the first embodiment, and the wire 46 stretched between the left and right pulleys 47 is the second embodiment. Compared to 1, it extends longer to the left. Therefore, the suction head 22 of the second embodiment can be moved upstream of the suction position by the head driving devices 46 to 50 in the transport direction.

  As a result, the suction head 22 is located downstream of the suction position shown in FIG. 19B and the suction position where the sheet S can be sucked as shown in FIG. 19A by the forward / reverse rotation of the motor 50 of the head driving devices 46-50. It is supported so as to be movable between a supply position set on the side and a cleaning position set on the upstream side in the transport direction of the suction position shown in FIG. 19C. That is, in the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the suction head 22 can be moved to a cleaning position arranged on the left side of the suction position that is outside the moving range between the suction position and the supply position. It is configured.

(Description of Cleaning Brush 61 of Example 2)
FIG. 20 is an enlarged perspective view of the cleaning brush according to the second embodiment.
18 to 20, a cleaning brush 61 as an example of a cleaning member is supported below the right end of the suction head 22 that has moved to the cleaning position.
The cleaning brush 61 according to the second embodiment includes a pedestal portion 62 that extends in the front-rear direction, which is the width direction. The pedestal 62 in the second embodiment extends from the front end to the rear end of the suction device U2 and is supported by a frame (not shown) of the suction device U2. The upper surface 63 of the pedestal 62 has a horizontal direction on the left side. A planar portion 63a that extends and a slope portion 63b that slopes downward as it proceeds from the right end of the planar portion 63a to the right are formed.
In the second embodiment, the right end of the inclined portion 63b is disposed below the lower surface 36b of the sealing skirt 36 that is supported by the suction head 22 and descends. As a result, when the suction head 22 moves to the left toward the cleaning position, the lower surface 36b of the sealing skirt 36 is guided to the inclined portion 63b, and the sealing skirt 36 can ride on the flat portion 63a. It has become. In the second embodiment, the flat portion 63 a is disposed below the lower ends of the side plate portions 39 b to 39 e of the cover portion 39 of the suction head 22. As a result, when the suction head 22 moves to the left toward the cleaning position, the lower surface 24a, the inclined surface 32, and the rib 33 of the head main body 23 do not contact the upper surface 63 of the pedestal 62, and the suction head 22 It can move to the position to be cleaned.

In addition, a large number of brush hairs 64 extending upward are supported on the upper surface 63 as an example of a cleaning unit. The width in the front-rear direction of the brush bristles 64 of Example 2 is formed longer than the width of the suction head 22, and the brush bristles 64 are examples of the main cleaning unit planted in the left plane portion 63 a. It has the left brush hair 64a and the right brush hair 64b as an example of the guide cleaning part planted by the right inclination part 63b.
In the second embodiment, the right bristle 64b has a height in the vertical direction, that is, the length of the bristles becomes longer from the left end to the right, and the height of the tip of the bristle 64 is The right brush bristles 64b to the left brush bristles 64a are set to be the same. Further, the height of the tip of the brush bristles 64 is set at a position higher than the height of the lower surface 24 a of the head body 23. Therefore, in the second embodiment, when the suction head 22 moves to the left from the suction position, the tip of the bristle 64 can come into contact with the lower surface 24a, the inclined surface 32, and the rib 33 of the head body 23.

(Description of Control Unit of Example 2)
FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. 9 of the first embodiment, and is a block diagram of a control unit of the image forming apparatus of the second embodiment.
(Function of the control part C of Example 2)
The control unit C according to the second embodiment includes a head moving means C6 ′ and a head cleaning means C13 ′ instead of the head moving means C6 and the head cleaning means C13 according to the first embodiment.
C6 ′: Head Moving Unit The head moving unit C6 ′ according to the second embodiment includes the suction position determination unit C6A, and controls forward / reverse rotation of the motor 50 of the head driving devices 46 to 50, as shown in FIG. 19A. The movement of the suction head 22 between the suction position, the supply position shown in FIG. 19B, and the position to be cleaned shown in FIG. 19C is controlled.

C13 ′: Head Cleaning Unit The head cleaning unit C13 ′ according to the second embodiment includes the cleaning start determination unit C13A, the timer TM, and the cleaning end determination unit C13B, and the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h of the suction head 22 is provided. Clean. When it is determined that the cleaning time tb is reached, the head cleaning unit C13 'according to the second exemplary embodiment moves the suction head 22 from the suction position to the cleaning position via the head moving unit C6'. The head cleaning means C13 ′ returns the suction head 22 from the cleaning position to the suction position when the suction head 22 moves to the cleaning position. That is, the head cleaning means C13 ′ according to the second embodiment cleans the suction head by reciprocating between the suction position and the position to be cleaned by bringing the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h into contact with the cleaning brush 61.

(Explanation of flowchart of Example 2)
FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. 12 of the first embodiment, is a flowchart of the head cleaning process of the second embodiment, and is a subroutine of ST205 and ST208 of FIG.
Next, a processing flow of the image forming apparatus U according to the second exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart. In the second embodiment, the head cleaning process shown in FIG. 22 is executed instead of the head cleaning process of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

(Description of Flowchart of Head Cleaning Process of Example 2)
In FIG. 22, the head cleaning process of the second embodiment is simply executed by performing ST251 ′, ST253 ′, and ST255 ′ instead of ST251, ST253, and ST255 of the head cleaning process of the first embodiment. Detailed description of the ST process is omitted.
In ST251 ′ of FIG. 22, the following processes (1) and (2) are executed, and the process proceeds to ST252.
(1) The motor 50 is reversely rotated to start the movement of the suction head 22 from the suction position to the cleaning position.
(2) The return time (t4 / 2), which is half the cleaning time t4, is set in the timer TM.
If yes (Y) in ST252, the process moves to ST253.
In ST253, the motor 50 is rotated forward and the return of the suction head 22 from the cleaning position to the suction position is started. Then, the process proceeds to ST254.
If yes (Y) in ST254, the process moves to ST255.
In ST255, the motor 50 is stopped and the return of the suction head 22 to the suction position is completed. Then, the head cleaning process is terminated, and the process returns to ST205 or ST208 in FIG.

(Operation of Example 2)
FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. 13B of the first embodiment, is an operation explanatory diagram of the second embodiment, and is a timing chart regarding the control of the head driving device of the head cleaning process of the second embodiment.
In the image forming apparatus U according to the second embodiment of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the head cleaning process is executed when the job is completed. In the head cleaning process of the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 19, when the job is finished and the cleaning time tb is reached, the suction head 22 is reciprocated once between the suction position and the cleaning position.

FIG. 24 is an operation explanatory view of the second embodiment, FIG. 24A is an enlarged explanatory view of a main part in a state before the left end of the suction head moving to the cleaning position reaches the cleaning brush, and FIG. 24B is a left end of the suction head. FIG. 24C is a main part enlarged explanatory view in a state where the right end part of the suction head moved to the cleaning position is arranged above the cleaning brush. It is.
In the second embodiment, when the suction head 22 moves from the suction position to the cleaning position, the sealing skirt 36 is guided by the inclined portion 63b of the pedestal portion 62 and rides on the flat surface portion 63a as shown in FIG. 24B. However, the contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h come into contact with the brush bristles 64 of the cleaning brush 61, and the adhered paper dust or the like is scraped off. Here, in Example 2, as shown in FIGS. 19A and 24A, the left end of the suction head 22 moved to the suction position is arranged to the right of the right end of the brush bristles 64. In Example 2, as shown in FIGS. 19C and 24C, the right end of the sheet front end guide 39g of the suction head 22 that has moved to the cleaning position is disposed to the left of the right end of the brush bristles 64. As a result, when the suction head 22 reaches the position to be cleaned, the entire range of the contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h contacts the brush bristles 64, and paper dust and the like are scraped off.

Even when the suction head 22 is returned from the cleaning position to the suction position, the sealing skirt 36 is guided by the flat portion 63a and the inclined portion 63b and descends while the brush hair 64 of the cleaning brush 61 contacts the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h. The entire area of the contact is made, and the adhered paper dust and the like are scraped off.
Therefore, in the image forming apparatus U of Example 2, when the suction head 22 makes one reciprocation, the entire area of the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h passes through the cleaning brush 61, and the entire range of the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h can be cleaned.
In addition, the image forming apparatus U according to the second embodiment has the same effects as the image forming apparatus U according to the first embodiment.

(Example of change)
As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various change is performed within the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim. It is possible. Modification examples (H01) to (H07) of the present invention are exemplified below.
(H01) In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to a copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus, and can be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a FAX. Further, the present invention is not limited to a color image forming apparatus, and can be applied to a monochrome image forming apparatus. Further, the present invention is not limited to a tandem type image forming apparatus, and can be applied to a rotary type image forming apparatus.

(H02) In the above embodiment, the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h is cleaned by the air blowing mechanism 51 or the cleaning brush 61, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, in the second embodiment, the elastic deformation is performed instead of the cleaning brush 61. A possible sponge or the like is arranged, and the adhered powder is scraped off by elastically deforming the sponge according to the shape of the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h that reciprocates between the suction position and the cleaning position, so that the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h is removed. It is also possible to clean. In this case, a nonwoven fabric or the like can be supported on the upper surface of the sponge, and the nonwoven fabric can be brought into contact with the contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h to scrape paper dust or the like. Further, for example, a cylindrical brush-like cleaning brush extending in the front-rear direction is arranged instead of the cleaning brush 61 of the second embodiment, and the contact portion reciprocates between the suction position and the cleaning position while rotating the cleaning brush. It is also possible to scrape off paper dust and the like adhering to 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h by bringing the bristles into contact. Further, instead of the cleaning brush 61 of the second embodiment, a cleaning paddle in which a plurality of contacted parts having flexibility are supported is arranged on a cylindrical member extending in the front-rear direction, and the cleaning paddle is rotated. It is also possible to scrape off the paper dust and the like adhered by bringing the contacted portion into contact with the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h that reciprocates between the suction position and the cleaning position.

(H03) In the above embodiment, when cleaning the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h, the suction head 22 is moved in the transport direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the contact portion can be moved by moving the air blowing mechanism 51 or the cleaning brush 61. It is also possible to clean the transport direction of 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h. For example, in the first embodiment, a louver, which is an example of a wind direction control member, is arranged inside the blowing port of the air blowing mechanism 51, and the louver is controlled, thereby controlling the wind direction and setting the blowing range AR1 in the transport direction. It is also possible to clean the contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h by changing the length of the contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h. Further, for example, when the air blowing mechanism 51 is connected from the main body to the blowing port by a flexible member such as a bellows, the bellows is swung along the conveying direction, or the main body to the blowing port is connected by a cylindrical member. In this case, by rotating the free end on the spray port side along the transport direction around the base end on the main body side of the cylindrical member, the position of the spray port is changed to change the spray range AR1 along the transport direction. By changing the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h, the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h can be cleaned. In this case, not only the suction head 22 but also the surface of the transport roll Ra on the downstream side in the transport direction can be cleaned. Further, for example, in the second embodiment, the cleaning head 61 is moved to the right without moving the suction head 22 to the left, and the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h is cleaned below the suction head 22 disposed at the suction position. It is also possible to do. Furthermore, it is not limited to moving only one of the suction head 22 and the cleaning members 51 and 61, and it is also possible to clean by moving both. For example, in the second embodiment, the suction head 22 is moved to the left and the cleaning brush 61 is moved to the right, and the brush bristles 64 are brought into contact with the contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h to scrape paper dust and the like for cleaning. It is also possible.

(H04) In the first embodiment, when cleaning the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h, the suction head 22 is reciprocated once between the suction position and the supply position. In the second embodiment, the suction head 22 is moved to the suction position. Although it is made to reciprocate once between the positions to be cleaned, it is not limited to this, and it is also possible to reciprocate a plurality of times. Further, when cleaning the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h, the suction head 22 and the cleaning brush 61 are moved, or the spraying range AR1 of the air spraying mechanism 51 is changed, as in the above embodiment and the modified example (H03). However, it is preferable to clean a wide range of the contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the first embodiment, a part of the contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h corresponding to the spray range AR1 without moving the suction head 22 It is also possible to clean only.

(H05) In the above embodiment, when cleaning the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h, the suction head 22 is moved along the left-right direction which is the transport direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, an air blowing mechanism for cleaning It is also possible to arrange a cleaning member such as a cleaning brush in front of or behind the suction head 22 and move the suction head 22 along the front-rear direction which is the width direction to clean the contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h.
(H06) In the above embodiment, the time when the job is completed and the time when the conveyance delay or jam of the sheet S is detected are determined as the cleaning time tb, and the head cleaning process shown in FIGS. 12 and 22 is executed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to determine that the time when the job is started or the time when the paper feed trays TR1 and TR2 are mounted is the cleaning time tb. Further, for example, cleaning is performed when the cumulative number of sheets S supplied since the last head cleaning process or the continuous number of sheets S supplied continuously during job execution exceeds a preset number. It is also possible to determine that the time tb has come.

(H07) In the above-described embodiment, paper dust or the like adhering to the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h is blown off with air or scraped off with the brush bristles 64. However, the paper dust removed from the contact portion 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h is collected. It is also possible to provide it. For example, in the first embodiment, with the stacking plate 11 moved to the lowered position, the exhaust fan HF is operated and air is blown to the contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h while sucking air from the intake port 31, thereby causing the contact portions 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h. It is also possible to suck and collect the paper dust and the like removed from the paper. Further, in the second embodiment, a frame surrounding the periphery of the pedestal portion 62 of the cleaning brush 61 is provided, or the central portion of the upper surface 63 is formed in a concave shape so that the scraped paper dust or the like is disposed inside the pedestal portion 62. It can also be recovered. That is, the pedestal part 62 can be configured as a collection tray.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Loading member, 22 ... Holding member, 23 ... Holding member main body, 24a + 32 + 33 + 36b + 39h ... Contact part, 24a ... The surface in which the opening for gas suction was formed, 31 ... Opening for gas suction, 36 ... Enclosing member, 36b ... Enclosure One end of the member on the stacking member side, 37 ... space, 51, 61 ... cleaning member, 51 ... spraying device, AR1 ... spraying position, C10 ... separation control means, C12 ... discrimination means for cleaning time, C13 ... cleaning control means, HF ... suction device, Ra ... transport member, S ... medium, SN2 ... transport detection member, clogging detection member, tb ... cleaning time, U ... image forming apparatus, U2 ... medium supply device.

Claims (8)

A loading member on which the medium is loaded;
A holding member main body disposed opposite to the stacking member and supported so as to be movable along the conveyance direction of the medium, a gas suction opening formed in the holding member main body, and the gas suction opening A suction device that is connected to the suction device and sucks the gas, and a contact portion that comes into contact with the medium moved from the stacking member as the gas is sucked when the suction device sucks the gas. Holding member to hold and
A conveying member that is disposed downstream of the holding member in the conveying direction of the medium and conveys the medium adsorbed by the holding member toward the downstream side;
A spraying device capable of cleaning the contact part by spraying gas on the contact part ;
A cleaning time determining means for determining whether or not a preset cleaning time for cleaning the contact portion has been reached;
When it is determined that the cleaning time has come, the spraying device is controlled to spray gas onto the contact portion to clean the contact portion, and the suction device is controlled to control from the gas suction opening. Cleaning control means for sucking gas ;
A medium supply apparatus comprising: The spraying device for blowing gas to a preset spraying position;
When it is determined that the cleaning time has come, the holding member is controlled to move the contact portion toward the spraying device along the transport direction so that the contact portion corresponding to the spray position is sprayed. The cleaning control means for changing the position along the transport direction;
The medium supply device according to claim 1 , further comprising: Separation control means for controlling the spraying device to blow a gas to the medium to separate the media when transporting the medium adsorbed by the holding member from the stacking member to the downstream side in the transport direction;
The medium supply device according to claim 2 , further comprising: A suction position facing the medium on the stacking member and capable of sucking the medium; a supply position set downstream of the suction position in the transport direction and capable of supplying the medium to the transport member; The position to be cleaned set outside the moving range between the suction position and the supply position, and the holding member supported to be movable between,
A cleaning member that is arranged corresponding to the position to be cleaned, and that contacts and cleans the contact portion of the holding member that is moved to the position to be cleaned;
The medium supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: A transport detection member that is disposed at a preset detection position downstream of the transport member in the transport direction and detects a medium transported to the transport member;
A means for determining the cleaning time for determining that the cleaning time is reached when a detection time when the medium is detected by the transport detection member is later than a preset arrival time for the medium to reach the detection position;
Medium supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a. A clogging detection member that is disposed downstream of the holding member in the transport direction and detects clogging of a medium;
Based on the detection result of the clogging detection member, when it is determined that the medium is clogged, the cleaning time determination means for determining that the cleaning time has come,
The medium supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , further comprising: An enclosure member disposed so as to surround the opening and extending from the holding member main body toward the stacking member side and supported so as to be movable toward and away from the stacking member, and formed inside the enclosure member And a space surrounded by the surrounding member, and the suction device for sucking the gas in the space, and the medium at one end of the surrounding member on the stacking member side as the suction device sucks The holding member for adsorbing and holding
The contact portion including the surface of the holding member main body on which the gas suction opening is formed and one end of the surrounding member on the stacking member side;
The medium supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , further comprising: The medium supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images