JP2015000800A - Carrier device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a carrier device capable of detecting the presence or absence of a recording medium and an opening/closing state of an opening/closing guide member without increasing a device cost and the number of components for the device, and an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: An opening/closing guide member 54 for guiding conveyance of a recording medium passing through a conveyance path is formed to be capable of opening the conveyance path in a closed state. A second photosensor 59 (detection sensor) functioning as a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the recording medium also functions as a sensor for detecting an opening/closing state of the opening/closing guide member 54.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a complex machine thereof, and a conveying device installed there.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, a state where a recording medium is jammed (paper jam) is detected in a conveyance path through which the recording medium is conveyed, and an open / close guide plate (open / close guide) is detected based on the detection result. A technique is disclosed in which the recording medium jammed by opening the member is removed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Specifically, in Patent Document 1 and the like, a plurality of guide plates that guide the conveyance of the recording medium, a plurality of jam detection sensors that detect a jam of the recording medium, and the like are installed in the conveyance path. Some of the plurality of guide plates are configured as open / close guide plates so that the conveyance path can be opened so that the recording medium jammed in the conveyance path can be removed. Furthermore, an open detection sensor for detecting the open / close state of the open / close guide plate, a light emitting unit for notifying the jammed position, and the like are also installed.
When a jam detection state is detected by the jam detection sensor, the light emitting unit installed near the opening / closing guide plate corresponding to the position emits light and should be opened for jam processing. The position of the opening / closing guide plate is notified. When an opening / closing guide plate different from the opening / closing guide plate to be opened has been opened, the state is detected by the opening detection sensor, and the light emitting unit installed in the vicinity of the opening / closing guide plate corresponding to the position Is emitted and a warning is given for erroneous operation.

  Since the conventional conveying device is provided with a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a recording medium and a sensor for detecting the open / closed state of the open / close guide plate (open / close guide member), the cost of the device is increased.・ It was multi-part.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can detect the presence / absence of a recording medium and the open / closed state of an open / close guide member without increasing the cost and the number of parts of the apparatus. Another object of the present invention is to provide a conveying device and an image forming apparatus.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conveyance device for conveying a recording medium, the detection device being installed in a conveyance path for conveying the recording medium and detecting the presence or absence of the recording medium at the position. And an opening / closing guide member formed so as to guide the conveyance of the recording medium passing through the conveyance path and open the conveyance path in a closed state, and the opening / closing guide member by the detection sensor. This is also configured to detect the open / closed state.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a transport device and an image forming apparatus in which the presence / absence of a recording medium and the open / close state of an open / close guide member can be detected without increasing the cost and the number of parts of the apparatus. .

1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is the schematic which shows operation | movement of a conveying apparatus. It is the schematic which shows the state by which the opening / closing guide member is open | released in the conveying apparatus. It is the schematic which shows operation | movement of the conveying apparatus in Embodiment 2 of this invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which an opening / closing guide member is opened in the transport device of FIG. 4.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is the same or it corresponds, The duplication description is simplified or abbreviate | omitted suitably.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
First, the configuration and operation of the entire image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment is a tandem type color printer. Four bottles 102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K corresponding to the respective colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) are detachably (replaceable) installed in the bottle housing portion 101 above the image forming apparatus main body 1. ing.
An intermediate transfer unit 85 is disposed below the bottle housing portion 101. Image forming units 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K corresponding to the respective colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) are arranged in parallel so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 78 of the intermediate transfer unit 85.
Below the image forming apparatus main body 1, a paper feeding unit 12 (paper feeding cassette) in which a plurality of recording media P such as transfer paper are stacked and stored is installed.
Further, on the right side of the image forming apparatus main body 1, a conveying device 30 (double-sided conveying path K5) for conveying the recording medium P reversed (switched back) after the fixing step toward the secondary transfer nip is installed. Has been.

  In each of the image forming units 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K, photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K are disposed as image carriers. Further, around each of the photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K, a charging unit 75, a developing unit 76, a cleaning unit 77, a charge eliminating unit (not shown), and the like are disposed. Then, an image forming process (charging process, exposure process, development process, transfer process, cleaning process) is performed on each of the photoconductive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K. An image of each color is formed on 5K.

The photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K (image carriers) are rotationally driven in a clockwise direction in FIG. 1 by a drive motor (not shown). Then, the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K are uniformly charged at the position of the charging unit 75 (a charging process).
Thereafter, the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K reach the irradiation position of the laser light L emitted from the exposure unit 3, and electrostatic latent images corresponding to the respective colors are formed by exposure scanning at this position. (It is an exposure process.)

Thereafter, the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K reach a position facing the developing unit 76, and the electrostatic latent image is developed at this position to form toner images of each color (development process). .)
Thereafter, the surfaces of the photoconductive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K reach the positions facing the intermediate transfer belt 78 and the first transfer bias rollers 79Y, 79M, 79C, and 79K, and at these positions, the photoconductive drums 5Y, 5M. The toner images on 5C and 5K are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 78 (this is a primary transfer process). At this time, a small amount of untransferred toner remains on the photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K.

Thereafter, the surfaces of the photoconductive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K reach a position facing the cleaning unit 77, and untransferred toner remaining on the photoconductive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K is removed at this position. 77 is mechanically collected by a cleaning blade (cleaning process).
Finally, the surfaces of the photoconductive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K reach a position facing a neutralization unit (not shown), and the residual potential on the photoconductive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K is removed at this position. The
Thus, a series of image forming processes performed on the photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K is completed.

Thereafter, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the respective photosensitive drums through the developing process are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 78 in an overlapping manner. In this way, a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 78.
Here, the intermediate transfer unit 85 includes an intermediate transfer belt 78, four primary transfer bias rollers 79Y, 79M, 79C, and 79K, a secondary transfer backup roller 82, a cleaning backup roller 83, a tension roller 84, and an intermediate transfer cleaning unit 80. , Etc. The intermediate transfer belt 78 is stretched and supported by three rollers 82 to 84, and is moved endlessly in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 by the rotational drive of one roller 82 connected to a drive motor (not shown).

The four primary transfer bias rollers 79Y, 79M, 79C, and 79K sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 78 with the photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K, respectively, thereby forming primary transfer nips. Then, a transfer bias reverse to the polarity of the toner is applied to the primary transfer bias rollers 79Y, 79M, 79C, and 79K.
The intermediate transfer belt 78 travels in the direction of the arrow and sequentially passes through the primary transfer nips of the primary transfer bias rollers 79Y, 79M, 79C, and 79K. In this way, the toner images of the respective colors on the photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K are primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 78 (primary transfer process).

Thereafter, the intermediate transfer belt 78 onto which the toner images of the respective colors are transferred in an overlapping manner reaches a position facing the secondary transfer roller 89. At this position, the secondary transfer backup roller 82 sandwiches the intermediate transfer belt 78 between the secondary transfer roller 89 and forms a secondary transfer nip. Then, the four color toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt 78 are transferred onto the recording medium P conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer nip (secondary transfer step). At this time, untransferred toner that has not been transferred to the recording medium P remains on the intermediate transfer belt 78.
Thereafter, the intermediate transfer belt 78 reaches the position of the intermediate transfer cleaning unit 80. At this position, the untransferred toner on the intermediate transfer belt 78 is collected.
Thus, a series of transfer processes performed on the intermediate transfer belt 78 is completed.

Here, the recording medium P transported to the position of the secondary transfer nip is transported from the paper feeding unit 12 disposed below the apparatus main body 1 via the first transport path K1.
Specifically, a plurality of recording media P such as transfer paper are stored in the paper supply unit 12 in an overlapping manner. When the paper feed roller 31 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 1, the uppermost recording medium P sandwiched between the paper feed roller 31 and the friction pad 32 is moved to the first transport path K1. While being guided by a guide plate (not shown) that forms a roller, the sheet is fed toward the rollers of the registration roller pair 33 (timing roller pair).

  The recording medium P conveyed to the registration roller pair 33 (timing roller pair) temporarily stops at the position of the registration roller pair 33 that has stopped rotating. Then, the registration roller pair 33 is rotated in synchronization with the color image on the intermediate transfer belt 78, and the recording medium P is conveyed toward the secondary transfer nip (image forming portion). In this way, a desired color image is transferred onto the recording medium P.

  Thereafter, the recording medium P on which the color image has been transferred at the position of the secondary transfer nip (image forming unit) is conveyed to the position of the fixing unit 20 (fixing device). Then, at this position (a fixing nip formed by pressing the fixing roller 21 as a fixing rotator and the pressure roller 22 as a pressure rotator), the image is transferred to the surface by heat and pressure. The color image is fixed on the recording medium P.

Then, the recording medium P after the fixing process is guided to the paper discharge conveyance path K2 by the switching member 45 (branch claw), and the paper discharge roller 41 (paper discharge driving roller) and the paper discharge driven roller 42 (first paper discharge). It is guided to the nip portion with the driven roller) and discharged out of the apparatus along with the rotation of both rollers 41 and 42. The recording medium P discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the paper discharge roller 41 and the paper discharge driven roller 42 is sequentially stacked on the stack unit 100 as an output image.
Thus, a series of image forming processes in the image forming apparatus is completed.

Here, the operation of the recording medium P (or the image forming apparatus 1) from the paper feeding unit 12 to the stack unit 100 described above is a single-sided print mode (a mode in which an image is formed only on the front side of the recording medium P). ) Is selected.
In the single-sided printing mode (or when the recording medium P after completion of printing on both sides in the double-sided printing mode is discharged to the stack unit 100), the paper discharge transport path K2 is opened and the relay transport path is opened. The switching member 45 stops at a position (rotation position) rotated counterclockwise around the support shaft so as to close K3. At this time, the paper discharge roller 41 is rotated in the clockwise direction, and the first paper discharge driven roller 42 (pressed against the paper discharge roller 41 by a biasing member (not shown)) is connected to the paper discharge roller 41. It is driven to rotate counterclockwise by the frictional resistance.

On the other hand, when the double-sided print mode (the mode in which images are formed on the front side and the back side of the recording medium P) is selected, the recording medium P (or the image is set as follows). The forming apparatus 1) will operate.
The process until the recording medium P fed from the paper feeding unit 12 reaches the fixing unit 20 via the first transport path K1 and the secondary transfer nip is the same as that in the single-sided printing mode. After the fixing process, the recording medium P (with the image formed on the front side) is guided by the switching member 45 to the switchback transport path K4 via the relay transport path K3. At this time, the switching member 45 stops at a position (rotation position) rotated clockwise about the support shaft so as to close the discharge conveyance path K2 and open the relay conveyance path K3. At this time, the paper discharge roller 41 is rotated counterclockwise, and the second paper discharge driven roller 43 (pressed against the paper discharge roller 41 by a biasing member (not shown)) is discharged. It will be rotated in the clockwise direction by the frictional resistance.
When the rear end of the recording medium P reaches the vicinity of the nip portion between the paper discharge roller 41 and the second paper discharge driven roller 43 in the switchback transport path K4 (the rear end of the recording medium P passes through the relay transport path K3). When the sheet passes, the rotation driving of the sheet discharge roller 41 is stopped.
Thereafter, the conveyance direction of the recording medium P is reversed, and the recording medium P is conveyed toward the double-sided conveyance path K5. At this time, the switching member 45 stops at a position rotated counterclockwise about the support shaft so as to close the relay conveyance path K3 and open the paper discharge conveyance path K2 (and the double-sided conveyance path K5). ing. At this time, the paper discharge roller 41 is rotated in the clockwise direction, and the second paper discharge driven roller 43 is driven to rotate counterclockwise by the frictional resistance with the paper discharge roller 41.

Thereafter, with reference to FIG. 1, the recording medium P guided to the double-sided conveyance path K5 is conveyed by a conveyance device 30 provided with a plurality of conveyance rollers 34 to 36 (see also FIG. 2). Guided to the position of the secondary transfer nip. Then, the recording medium P is subjected to the secondary transfer process to the back surface at this position in the same manner as the secondary transfer process to the front surface, and then conveyed toward the fixing unit 20. A fixing process to the back surface is performed.
Then, the recording medium P after the fixing process (the recording medium P after the printing on both sides is completed) and the first discharge roller 41 via the discharge conveyance path K2 as described above. It is guided to the nip portion with the paper driven roller 42, discharged outside the apparatus along the rotation of both rollers 41, 42, and sequentially stacked on the stack portion 100.

Here, referring to FIG. 1, in the first embodiment, the conveyance device 30 allows the user to easily remove the jammed (paper jammed) recording medium P in the double-sided conveyance path K5 (can perform jam processing). The image forming apparatus main body 1 can be rotated and opened around the hinge 110 as a rotation center. Then, with the conveying device 30 (the portion separated by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 1 and can be referred to FIG. 2) being opened from the image forming apparatus main body 1, the opening / closing guide member 54 is moved as shown in FIG. By rotating about the rotation shaft portion 54a, the double-sided conveyance path K5 is exposed, and the recording medium P jammed at that position is removed. 3 (and FIG. 5), the conveyance device 30 is illustrated in a state where it is not rotated around the hinge 110 for easy understanding.
In the first exemplary embodiment, the conveyance device 30 is configured to be able to be rotated and released from the image forming apparatus main body 1 around the hinge 110 during the jam processing. However, the conveyance device 30 is attached to the rail portion 110 during the jam processing. The image forming apparatus main body 1 can be configured to be pulled out to the front side in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the conveyance device 30 (or the image forming apparatus 1), which is characteristic in the first embodiment, will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, in the transport device 30, a transport path (the double-side transport path K <b> 5 described in FIG. 1) through which the recording medium P is transported is formed by a plurality of guide members 51 to 55. ing.
Specifically, a guide member 52 and an opening / closing guide member 54 are installed on the side of the recording medium P facing the front surface in order from the upstream side in the transport direction. Further, on the side facing the back surface of the recording medium P, a first counter guide member 51, a second counter guide member 53, and a third counter guide member 55 are installed in this order from the upstream side in the transport direction. The plurality of guide members 51 to 55 conveys the recording medium P passing through the double-sided conveyance path K5 (formed so that the back surface side of the recording medium P is curved and conveyed). To guide you.

Further, the open / close guide member 54 is formed so as to be able to open the transport path (double-side transport path K5) in a closed state. That is, the open / close guide member 54 is formed to be rotatable about the rotation shaft portion 54a, and is configured to be switched between a closed state shown in FIG. 2 and an open state shown in FIG.
Specifically, during normal image formation (during conveyance), as shown in FIG. 2, the opening / closing guide member 54 is installed at opposing guide members 51, 53, 55 (positions facing the opening / closing guide member 54). ) To form a conveyance path. Then, during the jam processing described above, as shown in FIG. 3, the opening / closing guide member 54 is rotated in the direction of the broken line arrow about the rotation shaft portion 54a by the user's manual operation to open the conveyance path. Will do. Then, in the opened state shown in FIG. 3, the recording medium P jammed in the conveyance path is removed.

Here, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the conveyance device 30 has a detection sensor (detection means) on a conveyance path (the double-sided conveyance path K5 described in FIG. 1) along which the recording medium P is conveyed. And a first photo sensor 58 as a second detection sensor (second detection means).
Specifically, the first photosensor is located at the upstream side (inlet side) in the transport direction of the transport path (double-sided transport path K5) of the transport device 30 and at the position where the first opposing guide member 51 faces the open / close guide member 54. 58 (second detection sensor) is installed on the first opposing guide member 51. Further, on the downstream side (exit side) in the transport direction of the transport path (double-side transport path K5) of the transport device 30, the position where the open / close guide member 54 faces the third counter guide member 55 (in the vicinity of the rotating shaft portion 54a). The second photosensor 59 (detection sensor) is installed on the open / close guide member 54 at a position facing the curved conveyance path.

Each of the two photosensors 58 and 59 is a reflection type photosensor (a known photosensor including a light emitting element and a light receiving element) installed so as to optically detect the recording medium P passing through the transport path. .)
Specifically, the photosensors 58 and 59 detect the presence or absence of the recording medium P based on the amount of light received by the light receiving element (the amount of reflected light) with respect to the infrared light emitted from the light emitting element. Specifically, when the recording medium P is at that position (for example, the state as shown in FIG. 2A), the amount of reflected light becomes large, and the sensor outputs (signal information) of the photosensors 58 and 59 are obtained. When “high level” is reached and there is no recording medium P at that position (for example, the state as shown in FIG. 2B), the amount of reflected light becomes small and the sensor outputs of the photosensors 58 and 59 ( (Signal information) becomes “low level”.

  Note that the two photosensors 58 and 59 are both opposed guide members (first) when there is no recording medium P at the opposed positions (for example, the state shown in FIG. 2B). In the case of the photosensor 58, it is the open / close guide member 54, and in the case of the second photosensor 59, it is the third opposing guide member 55). Therefore, at least the opposing position (light irradiation position) of the guide member is formed with a low reflectance color (for example, black), or a hole is formed at the opposing position (light irradiation position) of the guide member. It is preferable to reliably reduce the amount of light reflected to the photosensors 58 and 59 when there is no recording medium P at that position. That is, the opposing positions of the guide members that face the two photosensors 58 and 59 in a state where the open / close guide member 54 is closed are formed as low reflection portions.

Here, the conveyance device 30 according to the first embodiment is configured to detect the open / close state of the open / close guide member 54 by the second photosensor 59 as a detection sensor (detection means).
Specifically, when the second photosensor 59 (detection sensor) detects the absence of the recording medium P with the open / close guide member 54 closed, the signal information (sensor) of the second photosensor 59 at that time is detected. When the output) changes, the open state of the open / close guide member 54 is detected. That is, when the opening / closing guide member 54 is opened as shown in FIG. 3 from the state shown in FIG. 2B, the signal information (sensor output) of the second photosensor 59 changes and the state is detected. Is done.
Further, the closed state of the open / close guide member 54 is detected by changing signal information (sensor output) of the second photosensor 59 (detection sensor) when the open state of the open / close guide member 54 is detected. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when the opening / closing guide member 54 is closed from the state where the opening / closing guide member 54 is opened, the signal information (sensor output) of the second photosensor 59 changes and the state is detected. The

More specifically, when the open / close guide member 54 is in the closed state (the state shown in FIG. 2B), the first of the third opposing guide member 55 that the second photosensor 59 (reflective photosensor) opposes. The second photosensor 59 faces when the light reflectance of the facing position (not the high reflecting portion 55a but the low reflecting portion) and the open / close guide member 54 are in the open state (the state shown in FIG. 3). The light reflectance of the second facing position (the high reflection portion 55a) of the third facing guide member 55 is different from each other.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a white sheet material is provided at a position (second opposed position) of the third opposed guide member 55 facing the second photosensor 59 in a state where the opening / closing guide member 54 is opened. The high reflection part 55a formed by sticking etc. is provided. In order to prevent a step between the highly reflective portion 55a and the conveying surface of the third opposing guide member 55, the third opposing guide member 55 is formed with a step portion corresponding to the sheet thickness and area of the highly reflective portion 55a. The high reflection portion 55a is attached to the step portion. In addition, on the transport surface of the third opposing guide member 55, a portion other than the high reflection portion 55a is formed as a low reflection portion by using a black material.

With such a configuration, when the open / close guide member 54 is in an open state as shown in FIG. 3, the amount of light reflected from the high reflection portion 55a to the second photosensor 59 increases, so that the signal information of the second photosensor 59 ( Sensor output) changes from “low level” to “high level”. That is, when the second photosensor 59 detects that the recording medium P is not present at the position of the second photosensor 59 in the closed state before the opening / closing guide member 54 is opened, the sensor of the second photosensor 59. When the output changes, it is detected that the open / close guide member 54 has been opened.
In addition, when the open / close guide member 54 is closed after detecting the open state of the open / close guide member 54 in this manner, the sensor output of the second photosensor 59 changes to “low level” again. It will be detected that 54 is closed.

  As described above, in the transport device 30 according to the first embodiment, the second photo sensor 59 (detection sensor) detects the open / close state of the open / close guide member 54 in addition to the presence / absence of the recording medium P at the position. It is configured to be able to. Therefore, compared with the case where a sensor for detecting the presence / absence of the recording medium P and a sensor for detecting the open / close state of the open / close guide member 54 are provided separately, the transport device 30 is reduced in cost, reduced in number of parts, and reduced in weight. be able to.

  Here, the transport device 30 according to the first embodiment includes a second photosensor 59 (detection sensor) and a first photosensor 58 (second detection) installed on the upstream side of the second photosensor 59 in the transport direction. Sensor), and the jammed recording medium P is detected while the open / closed state of the open / close guide member 54 is detected by the second photosensor 59. Is informed.

Specifically, the presence / absence of a jam in the recording medium P and the jam occurrence position are detected by the combination of sensor outputs of the two photosensors 58 and 59, the output time, the output timing, and the like. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, when the recording medium P is jammed at a position between the two photosensors 58 and 59, the rear end of the recording medium P is moved by the first photosensor 58. Since the second photosensor 59 cannot detect the leading edge of the recording medium P even after a predetermined time has elapsed after detecting the disconnection, the sensor outputs of the two photosensors 58 and 59 are not able to detect such a state. The state will be detected.
When such a jam state is detected, jam processing is performed on a display panel (not shown) installed on the exterior of the apparatus body 1 in addition to information such as the jammed state and the jam position. Information such as a procedure for performing and progress is displayed (notified). For example, immediately after the state of FIG. 2B is detected by the two photosensors 58 and 59, the jam position and the procedure for opening the open / close guide member 54 are displayed on the display panel, and the state of FIG. Immediately after being detected by the second photosensor 59, the procedure for removing the jammed paper and closing the open / close guide member 54 is displayed, and immediately after the closed state is detected again by the second photosensor 59, it is safe. A message indicating that the jam processing has been completed is displayed.
As described above, according to the first embodiment, the jam processing procedure is notified to the user without providing a sensor for detecting the open / close state of the open / close guide member 54 in addition to the sensor for detecting the jam of the recording medium P. can do.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, one second photosensor 59 (detection sensor) functions as a sensor for detecting the presence / absence of the recording medium P, and the open / close state of the open / close guide member 54. It is comprised so that it may function also as a sensor for detecting. As a result, the presence / absence of the recording medium P and the open / closed state of the open / close guide member 54 can be detected without increasing the cost and the number of parts of the apparatus.

In the first embodiment, the second photosensor 59 (detection sensor) is installed on the open / close guide member 54, and the high reflection portion 55 a is installed on the third opposing guide member 55. On the other hand, the second photosensor 59 (detection sensor) can be installed on the third opposing guide member 55, and the high reflection portion 55 a can be installed on the open / close guide member 54. Even in such a case, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.
In the first embodiment, the opening / closing guide member 54 is configured to rotate to open and close the conveyance path. However, the opening / closing guide member slides (translates) with respect to the opposing guide member to open and close the conveyance path. It can also be configured to. Even in such a case, the configuration is such that the facing position of the facing guide member facing the second photosensor is changed by sliding, so that the light reflectance is changed. Similar effects can be obtained.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the transport device 30 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a state where the opening / closing guide member 54 is opened in the transport device 30.
The conveying device 30 according to the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in the configuration of a detection sensor that detects the open / closed state of the open / close guide member 54 in addition to the presence / absence of the recording medium P.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the transport apparatus 30 according to the second embodiment is also transported along the transport path along which the recording medium P is transported by the plurality of guide members 51 to 55 as in the first embodiment. Is formed. The open / close guide member 54 is formed so as to be able to open the conveyance path in a closed state.

  Here, in the transport device 30 according to the second embodiment, a transmission type photosensor 61 (and a filler 62) as a detection sensor (detection unit) and a second detection are provided on a transport path along which the recording medium P is transported. A second photosensor 59 (reflection photosensor) as a sensor (second detection means) is installed. Similar to the first embodiment, these photosensors 59 and 61 detect the presence or absence of the recording medium P at each position, and detect a jam condition in the conveyance path based on the detection results of both. belongs to.

Specifically, a detection sensor (detection) is located at the upstream side (inlet side) in the transport direction of the transport path (double-sided transport path K5) of the transport device 30 and at the position where the first opposing guide member 51 faces the open / close guide member 54. A transmissive photosensor 61 and a filler 62 as means are installed on the first opposing guide member 51. The transmissive photosensor 61 optically detects the operation of the filler 62 that is pushed by the recording medium P passing through the conveyance path to change the rotation posture.
Further, a second detection sensor is provided at a position on the downstream side (exit side) in the transport direction of the transport path (double-side transport path K5) of the transport device 30 and the opening / closing guide member 54 faces the third counter guide member 55. The second photosensor 59 is installed on the open / close guide member 54. In the second embodiment, since the high reflection portion 55a is not formed on the third opposing guide member 55, the second photosensor 59 is different from that of the first embodiment in that the recording medium P at that position is the second photosensor 59. It functions as a sensor that detects only the presence or absence.

More specifically, the transmissive photosensor 61 is a known photosensor in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are installed so as to face each other with a gap.
The filler 62 is supported by the first opposing guide member 51 so as to be rotatable about the rotation shaft 62b. The first arm portion 62a is formed on one end side, and the second arm portion 62c is formed on the other end side. Has been. Although not shown, the filler 62 is provided with a biasing member such as a torsion spring, and the force (biasing force) for rotating the filler 62 in the direction of the arrow (clockwise) in FIG. Is working. Thus, in a normal state (when the force is not applied to the filler 62 from the recording medium P or the like in the closed state), the filler 62 is in contact with the contact portion 54b (concave portion) of the open / close guide member 54. become. The first arm portion 62a of the filler 62 is configured to contact the recording medium P being conveyed or to contact the contact portion 54b. The second arm portion 62c of the filler 62 is configured to block or not block the gap between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the transmissive photosensor 61.
The opening / closing guide member 54 has a contact portion 54b formed at a position recessed from the conveying surface of the opening / closing guide member 54 in order to contact the first arm portion 62a. In order to prevent jamming due to the recording medium P being conveyed being caught by the concave contact portion 54b, a taper portion is provided on the downstream side of the contact portion 54b in the transport direction, or recording media of various sizes. It is preferable to form the contact portion 54b with an appropriate size in the width direction at a position that does not coincide with both ends of the width direction of P.

As shown in FIG. 4A, when the open / close guide member 54 is closed and the recording medium P is in a position facing the first arm portion 62a of the filler 62, the first arm portion 62a is biased. The filler 62 is pushed by the recording medium P so as to resist the urging force of the member, and the filler 62 rotates counterclockwise about the rotation shaft 62 b, so that the second arm portion 62 c does not block the gap of the transmission type photosensor 61. It will move to the position. At this time, in the transmissive photosensor 61, the light emitted from the light emitting element reaches the light receiving element and emits a “high level” sensor output (signal information).
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the open / close guide member 54 is closed and the recording medium P is not in a position facing the first arm portion 62a of the filler 62, the first arm The filler 62 rotates clockwise about the rotation shaft 62b until the portion 62a is urged by the urging member and contacts the contact portion 54b, and the second arm portion 62c clears the gap between the transmission type photosensors 61. It will move to the blocking position. At this time, the transmissive photosensor 61 emits “low level” sensor output (signal information) without the light emitted from the light emitting element reaching the light receiving element.

Here, the conveyance device 30 according to the second embodiment is configured to detect the open / close state of the open / close guide member 54 by using the transmission type photosensor 61 and the filler 62 as detection sensors.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the opening / closing guide member 54 is in a closed state and the filler 62 (first arm portion 62a) is in contact with the opening / closing guide member 54 (contact portion 54b). And the position of the second arm portion 62c with respect to the transmission type photosensor 61, and the opening / closing guide member 54 is in the open state as shown in FIG. 5, and the filler 62 (first arm portion 62a) is the opening / closing guide. It is formed so as to be different from the attitude (the position of the second arm portion 62c) (the position of the second arm portion 62c) with respect to the transmission type photosensor 61 when being separated from the member 54. Yes.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, when the open / close guide member 54 is moved to the open position, the contact portion 54b with which the filler 62 has been contacted is also moved to the open position. Due to the force, the filler 62 further rotates in the clockwise direction and comes into contact with a stopper portion (not shown). At this time, the second arm portion 62c moves to a position where the gap between the transmissive photosensors 61 is not blocked, and the transmissive photosensor 61 detects that the light emitted from the light emitting element reaches the light receiving element, and “high level”. Sensor output (signal information).

Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, when the open / close guide member 54 is opened, the filler 62 rotates, and the signal information (sensor output) of the transmission type photosensor 61 changes from “low level” to “high level”. Change. That is, the sensor output of the transmissive photosensor 61 changes in a state where the transmissive photosensor 61 detects that the recording medium P is not present at the position of the filler 62 in the closed state before the opening / closing guide member 54 is opened. By doing so, it is detected that the open / close guide member 54 has been opened.
In addition, when the open / close guide member 54 is closed after detecting the open state of the open / close guide member 54 in this manner, the sensor output of the transmissive photosensor 61 changes to “low level” again. It will be detected that 54 is closed.

  As described above, in the transport device 30 according to the second embodiment, the transmission type photosensor 61 (detection sensor) detects the open / closed state of the open / close guide member 54 in addition to the presence / absence of the recording medium P at the position. It is configured to be able to. Therefore, compared with the case where a sensor for detecting the presence / absence of the recording medium P and a sensor for detecting the open / close state of the open / close guide member 54 are provided separately, the transport device 30 is reduced in cost, reduced in number of parts, and reduced in weight. be able to.

  Also in the transport device 30 according to the second embodiment, the transmissive photosensor 61 (detection sensor) and the second photosensor 61 (second detection) installed downstream of the transmissive photosensor 61 in the transport direction. Sensor), and the jammed recording medium P is detected while detecting the open / close state of the open / close guide member 54 by the transmission type photosensor 61. Is informed.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, one transmissive photosensor 61 (detection sensor) functions as a sensor for detecting the presence / absence of the recording medium P and the open / close state of the open / close guide member 54. It is comprised so that it may function also as a sensor for detecting. As a result, the presence / absence of the recording medium P and the open / closed state of the open / close guide member 54 can be detected without increasing the cost and the number of parts of the apparatus.

In the second embodiment, the filler 62 and the transmissive photosensor 61 (detection sensor) are installed on the first opposing guide member 51, and the contact portion 54 b is installed on the open / close guide member 54. On the other hand, the filler 62 and the transmissive photosensor 61 (detection sensor) can be installed on the open / close guide member 54, and the contact portion can be installed on the first opposing guide member 51. Even in such a case, the same effect as that of the second embodiment can be obtained.
In the second embodiment, the opening / closing guide member 54 rotates to open and close the conveyance path. However, the opening / closing guide member slides (translates) with respect to the opposing guide member to open and close the conveyance path. It can also be configured to. Even in such a case, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the second embodiment by configuring the filler to contact and separate from the open / close guide member by sliding.

In each of the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to the conveyance device 30 in which the double-sided conveyance path K5 is formed. However, other conveyance paths (for example, the first conveyance path K1) are formed. Naturally, the present invention can also be applied to the transporting apparatus.
In each of the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to the conveyance device 30 installed in the color image forming apparatus 1. However, the present invention is naturally applied to the conveyance device installed in the monochrome image forming apparatus. The invention can be applied.
Further, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the conveyance device 30 installed in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 1, but the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and other methods can be used. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to a conveyance device installed in an image forming apparatus (for example, an inkjet image forming apparatus or an offset printing machine).
Even in those cases, the same effects as in the present embodiment can be obtained.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, the embodiments can be modified as appropriate in addition to those suggested in the embodiments. Is clear. In addition, the number, position, shape, and the like of the constituent members are not limited to the above embodiments, and can be set to a number, position, shape, and the like that are suitable for carrying out the present invention.

1 image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus main body, apparatus main body),
30 transport device,
34 to 36 transport rollers,
51 a first opposing guide member,
52 guide members,
53 second opposing guide member,
54 Opening and closing guide member,
54a rotating shaft part, 54b contact part (concave part),
55, a third opposing guide member,
55a High reflection part,
58 first photo sensor (second detection sensor),
59 Second photo sensor (detection sensor, reflection type photo sensor),
61 Transmission type photo sensor,
62 filler,
62a 1st arm part, 62b rotating shaft, 62c 2nd arm part,
K5 Double-sided conveyance path, P recording medium.

JP-A-5-92844

Claims (6)

A transport device for transporting a recording medium,
A detection sensor that is installed in a conveyance path through which the recording medium is conveyed and detects the presence or absence of the recording medium at the position;
An opening / closing guide member formed so as to guide the conveyance of the recording medium passing through the conveyance path and open the conveyance path in a closed state;
With
A transport device configured to detect an open / close state of the open / close guide member by the detection sensor. When the open / close guide member is closed and the detection sensor detects that there is no recording medium, the signal information of the detection sensor at that time changes to detect the open state of the open / close guide member. And
The conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the closed state of the open / close guide member is detected by changing signal information of the detection sensor when the open state of the open / close guide member is detected. An opposing guide member that is installed at a position facing the opening / closing guide member and guides the conveyance of the recording medium passing through the conveyance path formed between the opening / closing guide member;
The detection sensor is a reflective photosensor installed on the open / close guide member or the opposing guide member so as to optically detect a recording medium passing through the conveyance path,
When the open / close guide member is in a closed state, when the reflective photosensor is opposed to the opposite guide member or the light reflectance of the first opposed position of the open / close guide member, and when the open / close guide member is in an open state 3. The light guide device according to claim 1, wherein the reflective photosensor is formed so that a light reflectance at a second facing position of the facing guide member or the opening and closing guide member facing each other is different. Conveying device. An opposing guide member that is installed at a position facing the opening / closing guide member and guides the conveyance of the recording medium passing through the conveyance path formed between the opening / closing guide member;
The detection sensor is a transmission type installed in the opposed guide member or the open / close guide member so as to optically detect the operation of the filler that is pushed by the recording medium passing through the conveyance path to change the rotation posture. A photo sensor,
When the opening / closing guide member is in a closed state and the filler is in contact with the opening / closing guide member or the opposing guide member, the posture with respect to the transmission type photosensor is in an open state. The said filler is formed so that the attitude | position with respect to the said transmissive | pervious photosensor when it is in the state spaced apart from the said opening-and-closing guide member or the said opposing guide member may differ. Transport device. A second detection sensor that is installed at a position upstream or downstream in the transport direction of the transport path with respect to the detection sensor and detects the presence or absence of a recording medium at the position;
The detection sensor and the second detection sensor detect a jammed state of the recording medium being conveyed at a position between them, and the jammed recording medium is removed while detecting the open / close state of the open / close guide member by the detection sensor. The conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveying apparatus is configured to notify a procedure to be performed.   An image forming apparatus comprising the transport device according to claim 1.

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