JPH07210049A - Medium processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform accurate medium processing at a low cost while conserving a space by providing a rotor absorbing a foreign matter from a hole provided on a surface and carrying a medium to a medium processing means. CONSTITUTION:The rotor 2 abuts on the medium and rotates so as to carry the medium and also to absorb the foreign matter incorporated from the hole provided on the rotor 2. Since the foreign matter is removed by the rotor 2 carrying the medium, the accurate medium processing and the stable carriage of the medium can be realized at the low cost without taking up the space. The medium adhering to the rotor 2 by the absorbing function of the rotor 2 is peeled by a medium peeling means 3. Thus, the medium is conveyed to a medium processing means 1 without being rolled up by the rotor 2. Furthermore, a contact pressure adjusting means 4 adjusts contact pressure between the medium and the rotor 2, so that the absorbing ability of the rotor 2 is adjusted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a printer, a copier,
The present invention relates to a medium processing apparatus such as a FAX that performs processing such as printing or image formation on a medium, and particularly to a medium processing apparatus used in an image forming apparatus that fixes a powder image on a medium by causing a flash lamp to emit light. In an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, the toner on the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred onto the paper to print on the medium, but foreign matter is mixed in when the medium is conveyed. Then, if a foreign substance adheres to the portion where the toner should be transferred, the toner is transferred to the foreign substance and is not transferred to the medium.
Missing data will occur.

Further, when foreign matter is mixed in the transfer portion, a short circuit occurs in the transfer portion and a hole is formed in the photosensitive drum, and a toner latent image is always formed in the portion where the hole is formed.
The toner is also transferred to a portion where the toner should not be transferred, resulting in garbled data. Moreover, when the mixed foreign matter is accumulated on the transport roller, there is a possibility that transport failure such as skewing of the medium or jamming of the medium may occur.

In order to prevent such erroneous image formation and poor conveyance, there is a demand for a technique for removing foreign matter mixed in.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art In the prior art, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.
As described in Japanese Patent No. 55128, foreign matter mixed in the medium is installed by installing a rotatable cylinder member and sucking the foreign matter from an opening provided in the cylinder member before the medium enters the transfer step. Was being removed.

[0005]

In the prior art, since the cylinder member is only for removing foreign matters, it needs to be installed separately from the roller as the conveying means, which is costly and requires a space for installation. There were problems such as having to think about. An object of the present invention is to realize a medium processing apparatus which can eliminate the foreign matter mixed in the medium, solve the problems of the above-described conventional techniques, and can perform accurate medium processing at low cost and in a small space. That is.

[0006]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle configuration of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a medium processing means, which processes a medium that has been conveyed. Reference numeral 2 denotes a rotating body, which treats the medium while sucking the foreign matter from a hole provided on the surface thereof.
Carry to.

Reference numeral 3 is a medium separating means, and the medium is a rotating body 2.
To prevent being caught in. Reference numeral 4 is a contact pressure adjusting means for adjusting the contact pressure between the medium and the rotating body 2. 5A,
5B is a detection means, and the detection means 5A detects that the leading edge of the medium has been conveyed to the vicinity of the rotating body 2, and the detection means 5A is detected.
B detects that the rear end of the medium has been conveyed to the position where it passes through the rotating body 2.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a control means, which activates the suction function of the rotating body 2 based on the detection of the detecting means 5A, and stops the suction function of the rotating body 2 based on the detection of the detecting means 5B.

[0009]

According to the operation of claim 1, the rotating body 2 is brought into contact with the medium to rotate to convey the medium and
A foreign substance mixed in the medium is sucked through a hole provided on the surface of the rotating body. Since the foreign matter is also removed by the rotating body that conveys the medium, accurate medium processing and stable medium conveyance can be realized at low cost and in a small space.

As a function of the second aspect, the medium adhering to the rotating body 2 is peeled off by the medium peeling means 3 by the suction function of the rotating body 2. As a result, the medium is conveyed to the medium processing means 1 without being caught in the rotating body 2.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the suction pressure of the rotating body 2 is adjusted by adjusting the contact pressure between the medium and the rotating body 2 by the contact pressure adjusting means 4.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the control means 6 operates the suction function of the rotating body 2 based on the detection means 5A detecting that the leading end of the medium has been conveyed to the vicinity of the rotating body 2 and the medium is operated. The foreign matter mixed in the sheet is sucked in, and it is detected that the rear end of the medium has been conveyed to a position where it passes through the rotating body 5.
Based on the detection by B, the control means 6 stops the suction function of the rotating body 2 and finishes the suction of the foreign matter.

As a result, the suction function of the rotating body 2 can be activated only when the medium passes through the rotating body.

[0013]

FIG. 2 shows an image forming section of an image forming apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. A medium supply unit 7 supplies a medium to be processed by the image forming apparatus to the apparatus. A conveyance roller 8 conveys the medium. A photosensitive drum 9 serves as an image carrier on which an image to be transferred to a medium is formed. Reference numeral 10 is a charger, which charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 9. An exposure device 11 forms a latent image corresponding to a recorded image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 9. A developing device 12 forms a latent image formed by the exposing device into a toner image by ejecting toner.

A transfer unit 13 transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 9 onto a medium. A flash fixing device 14 fixes the toner image transferred to the medium. A cleaner 15 cleans the photosensitive drum 9. 16A, 16
B is a conveyance suction roller, which conveys the medium and
The transport suction roller 16A sucks foreign matter on the upper surface of the medium, and the transport suction roller 16B sucks foreign matter on the lower surface of the medium.

The transport suction rollers 16A and 16B are capable of transporting the medium similarly to the transport rollers, and the distance between the rollers is so large that stable transport is possible even with the smallest medium. 17A and 17B are opposed rollers. The facing roller 17A is installed at a position facing the transport suction roller 16A with respect to the transport path. The transport suction roller 16A and the counter roller 17A transport the medium while sandwiching the medium between the rollers 16A and 17A.

The facing roller 17B is installed at a position facing the carrying suction roller 16B with respect to the carrying path. The transport suction roller 16B and the opposing roller 17B are both rollers 16
The medium is conveyed with the medium being sandwiched between B and 17B.
By removing foreign matter on both sides in this way, even when performing double-sided printing, there is no obstacle to image formation on both sides.

Reference numeral 18 is a suction blower, which causes the suction rollers 16A and 16B for suction to suck foreign matter. Reference numeral 19 is a filter that stores the inhaled foreign matter. 20A and 20B are connecting pipes and suction blower 1
8. The connection pipe 20A is directly connected to the transport suction roller 16A, and the connection pipe 20B is connected to the transport suction roller 16B.

Reference numerals 21A and 21B are guides, and guide 2
1A causes the intake air of the transport suction roller 16A to act only on the contact portion with the medium, and also transports the medium suction roller 16A.
Prevents entrapment in A. Further, the guide 21B causes the intake air of the transport suction roller 16B to act only on the contact portion with the medium, and prevents the medium from being caught in the suction roller 16B.

22A and 22B are plunger magnets, and the plunger magnet 22A is a facing roller 17A.
By adjusting the contact pressure between the medium and the medium, the contact pressure between the transport suction roller 16A and the medium is consequently adjusted. Further, the plunger magnet 22B adjusts the contact pressure between the opposing roller 17B and the medium, and consequently adjusts the contact pressure between the transport suction roller 16B and the medium.

Reference numeral 23 is a suction start sensor, which is installed at a position for detecting that the front end of the medium has been transported to the vicinity of the transport suction roller 16A. Reference numeral 24 denotes a suction end sensor, which is installed at a position for detecting that the trailing end of the medium has been conveyed to a position where it passes through the conveyance suction roller 16B.
Reference numeral 25 denotes a control unit, which operates the suction blower 18 based on the detection of the suction start sensor 23 and causes the suction end sensor 24 to operate.
The operation of the suction blower 18 is stopped based on the detection of.

FIG. 3 is an external view of the transport suction roller 16A. Innumerable puddle holes are irregularly formed on the surface of the conveyance / intake roller 16A, and foreign matter mixed in the medium is sucked in by suction from the puddle holes. A roller shaft 26A is connected to a motor (not shown) through a gear (not shown).

FIG. 4 shows the transport suction roller 16A shown in FIG.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line CC ′ of FIG. 27A is a bearing,
The connection pipe 20A and the transport suction roller 16A are connected, the connection pipe 20A is fixed by the bearing 27A, and the transport suction roller 16A is rotatable. A slit hole is formed in the connection pipe 20A directly connected to the suction blower 18, and the suction air from the suction blower 18 acts on the transport suction roller 16A via the slit.

FIG. 5 shows the transport suction roller 16A shown in FIG.
6 is a sectional view taken along line DD ′ of FIG. Although the conveying / suction roller 16A is covered by the guide 21A, only the portion that comes into contact with the medium is exposed, and the foreign matter mixed in the medium is removed by suction from the exposed portion. In addition, the medium adhered to the transport suction roller 16A by the suction is guided by the guide 2
1A separates the medium, so that the medium is conveyed by the suction roller 1
Don't worry about getting caught in 6A.

The sucked foreign matter is sucked into the connecting pipe 20A through the slit and accumulated in the filter 19. The transport suction roller 16B also has the same structure as the transport suction roller 16A, and a description thereof will be omitted. The transport / suction roller 16A removes foreign matter mixed on the upper surface of the medium, and the transport / suction roller 16B removes foreign matter mixed on the lower surface of the medium, so that all the foreign matter on the medium is removed.

It is possible to directly adjust the output of the suction blower 18 when adjusting the suction input of the transport suction rollers 16A, 16B.
It is also possible to adjust the suction force by adjusting the contact pressure with the medium of 6B. In the former case, it is necessary to provide an adjusting means for adjusting the blower output, and in the latter case, it is necessary to provide a contact pressure adjusting means, but the latter can be realized at a lower cost than the former. .

In FIG. 2, the plunger magnet 22 is shown.
A is connected to a counter roller 17A that faces the transport suction roller 16A, and adjusts the contact pressure between the counter roller 17A and the medium. Since the opposing roller 17A sandwiches the medium with the transport / intake roller 16A, adjusting the contact pressure between the opposing roller 17A and the medium is synonymous with adjusting the contact pressure between the transport / intake roller 16A and the medium.

Therefore, the plunger magnet 22A adjusts the contact pressure between the transport suction roller 16A and the medium, and the suction force of the transport suction roller 16A is adjusted.
Similarly, the plunger magnet 22B adjusts the contact pressure between the transport suction roller 16B and the medium, so that the suction force of the transport suction roller 16B is adjusted. The adjustment by the plunger magnets 22A and 22B is performed by sending an instruction to the control unit by an input instruction unit (not shown).

FIG. 6 is a blower control flowchart of the control unit 25. When the image data is sent to the control unit 25, the control unit actuates a motor (not shown) to drive the transport rollers 8 (including the transport suction rollers 16A and 16B and the opposing rollers 17A and 17B) in the apparatus, Transport the media into the device. The transported medium is the suction start sensor 23.
Based on the fact that it has shielded (step 31), the control unit 25
Actuates the blower 18 to cause the transport suction rollers 16A, 1
Foreign matter is inhaled by 6B (step 32).

Based on the fact that the medium shields the suction completion sensor 24 (step 33), the controller 25 stops the blower 18 and finishes the suction of the foreign matter (step 34).
The medium from which the foreign substances have been removed by the transport / suction rollers 16A and 16B is subjected to an accurate image forming process and then discharged to the outside of the apparatus. In this embodiment, the transport suction roller 16A,
With 16B, it is possible to thoroughly remove foreign matter mixed on the upper and lower surfaces of the medium.

Further, since the transport suction rollers 16A and 16B also have transport capability, they can be realized at a lower cost and in less space than the transport means and the foreign matter removing means are separately provided. Also, the guides 21A and 21B
As a result, the suction of the transport / suction rollers 16A and 16B can be limited to the portion where the medium comes into contact, and the shaking of the medium due to the suction can be prevented.

Moreover, the guides 21A and 21B peel off the medium adhering to the conveying and sucking rollers 16A and 16B, so that the medium can be prevented from being caught in the conveying and sucking rollers 16A and 16B. In addition, the plunger magnets 22A and 22B facilitate the conveyance and suction roller 1
The suction force of 6A and 16B can be adjusted.

Further, the control unit 25, the conveyance start sensor 23,
Also, since the transport end sensor 24 activates the suction blower only when the medium is transported between the transport suction rollers 16A and 16B, unnecessary output of the blower 18 can be reduced.

[0033]

According to the present invention, since the rotating body has both the conveying function and the foreign matter removing function, in terms of cost and space, it is possible to convey the medium more efficiently than performing the respective functions by separate means. Therefore, foreign matter can be removed. Further, it is possible to prevent the medium from being caught in the rotating body by the medium peeling means, and it is possible to smoothly carry the medium by the rotating body.

Moreover, since the contact pressure adjusting means adjusts the contact pressure between the rotating body and the medium to indirectly adjust the suction ability of the rotating body, the adjustment is cheaper than the direct suction force adjustment. Is possible. Further, since the control unit activates and stops the suction function based on the detection of the detection unit, the foreign matter is sucked only when the medium passes through the rotating body, so that the foreign matter can be removed without waste.

As described above, it is possible to realize a medium processing apparatus capable of performing accurate medium processing and stable medium transportation while satisfying the desire for cost saving and space saving.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a principle configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outer appearance of a transport suction roller 16A in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line CC ′ of the transport suction roller 16A in FIG.
FIG.

5 is a sectional view taken along line DD of the transport / intake roller 16A in FIG.
FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a blower 18 control of a control unit 25.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Medium processing means 2 ... Rotating body 3 ... Medium peeling means 4 ... Contact pressure adjusting means 5A, 5B ... Detection means 6 ... Control means 7 ... Medium supply section 8・ ・ ・ Conveying roller 9 ・ ・ ・ Photosensitive drum 10 ・ ・ ・ Charging device 11 ・ ・ ・ Exposure device 12 ・ ・ ・ Developing device 13 ・ ・ ・ Transfer device 14 ・ ・ ・ Flash fixing device 15 ・ ・ ・ Cleaner 16A, 16B ... Conveying suction rollers 17A, 17B ... Opposing rollers 18 ... Suction blower 19 ... Filters 20A, 20B ... Connection pipes 21A, 21B ... Guides 22A, 22B ... Plunger magnets 23. ..Insertion start sensor 24 ... Inhalation end sensor 25 ... Control unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location B41J 29/17 B65H 5/00 B

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A medium processing means (1) for treating a conveyed medium, and a rotating body (2) for conveying the medium by sucking a foreign substance on the medium through a hole provided in the surface and contacting the medium. ) Has a medium processing device. 2. The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a medium peeling unit (3) for preventing the medium from being caught in the rotating body (2). 3. The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising contact pressure adjusting means (4) for adjusting a contact pressure between the rotating body (2) and the medium. 4. A detection means (5A) for detecting that the front end of the medium has been conveyed to the vicinity of the rotating body (2), and a rear end of the medium is conveyed to a position where it passes through the rotating body (2). The detection means (5B) for detecting that the foreign matter suction function of the rotating body (2) is activated based on the detection by the detection means (5A).
The medium processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit (6) for stopping the foreign substance suction function of the rotating body (2) based on the detection of B).