JPH0115465B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a curl correction device for correcting curl of transfer paper in a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or the like.

Generally, the process of copying an original onto transfer paper using a copying machine can be divided into five steps: charging, exposure, development, transfer, and fixing. Among these five processes, the process in which the transfer paper is involved is the transfer and fixing process, and curls occur in the transfer paper in this process. moreover,
In the case of roll-shaped transfer paper, curls remain after it is cut to an appropriate length.

Curls (or curls) on transfer paper
This poses a problem when storing the transferred transfer paper in a container such as a tray. For example, when a transfer sheet P with an arcuate curl is discharged from the transfer roller 1 of a copying machine and stored in the tray 2 as shown in FIG. When storing trays so that the center part is high, place tray 2 in front.
The leading edge of the transfer paper P' that is about to be ejected from the fixing roller 1 hits the transfer paper P stored in the tray 2, and the transfer paper P' does not overlap the transfer paper P on the tray 2, causing it to break. Yes, and Figure 1b
When storing the transfer paper P so that the center part is lowered as shown in , the transfer paper P' that is about to be ejected from the transfer roller 1 may slip under the transfer paper P that was previously stored in the tray 2. In either case, the transfer paper cannot be stored efficiently.

Therefore, in order to efficiently store the transfer paper in the container, it is possible to correct the curl that occurs in the transfer paper using a curl correction device, but it is difficult to completely flatten the curled transfer paper. Therefore, in the case of transfer paper with an arcuate curl as described above, considering the storage efficiency of tray 2, the tip of the transfer paper P on the fixing roller 1 side should be moved as shown in FIG. It is desirable to correct the curl so that the front end of the transfer paper P faces downward and the opposite end faces upward, that is, the front part of the transfer paper P has a concave waveform when it is discharged to the tray 2. FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams showing the principle of a conventional curl correction device.

FIG. 2 shows a unidirectional curl correction device, in which a correction shaft 6 is installed under pressure with an appropriate pressure on a paper feed belt 5 stretched between two paper feed rollers 3 and 4. The curl of the transfer paper P is corrected by rotating the paper feed rollers 3 and 4 in the direction of arrow A and force-feeding the curled transfer paper P between the paper feed belt 5 and the correction shaft 6. FIG. 3 shows a two-way curl correction device, in which a paper feed belt 9 is stretched between two sets of paper feed rollers 7 and 8, and a paper feed belt 9 is stretched between two sets of paper feed rollers 7 and 8. The paper feed belt 12 stretched between the two correction shafts 1
3 and 14 are installed in contact with each other with an appropriate pressure, and the paper feed rollers 7, 8, 10, and 11 are rotated in the direction of arrow A, and a curl occurs between the paper feed belt 9 and the paper feed belt 12. Curling of the transfer paper is corrected by force-feeding the paper.

However, the one-direction curl correction device (see Figure 2) covers the entire surface of the transfer paper from one direction, and the two-direction curl correction device (see Figure 3) covers the entire surface of the transfer paper from two directions, and the same In order to correct the curl of the transfer paper by applying pressure, when it is discharged into the container as shown in FIG. The problem was that it was not possible to do so. Note that even if the transfer paper is not curled in an arcuate manner as described above, applying the same pressure over the entire surface of the transfer paper as in the past will not cause curling. There was a problem in that it was difficult to correct the curling of the transfer paper into a desired shape.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a curl correction device that corrects the curl of curled transfer paper so that the curled transfer paper can be efficiently accommodated.

Therefore, in the present invention, in order to store curled transfer paper in a container with high efficiency, the transfer paper is run between a paper feed belt and a correction shaft, and the transfer paper is adjusted according to the shape of the curl. A predetermined pressure or frictional force is applied to a portion of the

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the paper curl correction device according to the present invention, which is installed in a copying machine having a sorter function. In addition, in this embodiment, when the transfer paper with arc-shaped curls as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b is discharged into the container as shown in FIG. The curl is corrected to a waveform in which the rear part is concave and the rear part is convex.

The transfer paper P discharged from the fixing roller 21 of the copying machine is transferred to a sorter along with a paper feed belt 25 wrapped around paper feed rollers 22, 23, and 24 arranged at appropriate intervals and rotating in the direction of arrow A. 26
Run in the direction where is placed. As the transfer paper P moves, the paper feed rollers 22 and 23
The pin plunger 28 protruding from the control circuit 27 disposed between the paper feed belt 25 and the correction shaft 29 rotating in contact with the paper feed belt 25 is pressed down.
The paper is further guided to the paper feed roller 30, paper guide 31, and indexer 32 in the sorter 26, and is stored in one of the trays 33. Note that the paper guide 34 is provided to prevent the transfer paper P from flying out from the paper feed belt 25.

When the pin plunger 28 is pressed down by the transfer paper P, the control circuit 27 immediately activates a built-in timing circuit, and when a preset time elapses, outputs a signal to energize a solenoid 35 (described later) for a certain period of time. do. Note that the preset time is for the transfer paper P running at a constant speed together with the paper feed belt 25.
is the time required from when the pin plunger 28 is pressed down until the portion of the transfer paper P whose curl is to be corrected (from the center to the rear) reaches the correction shaft 29.

Further, the fixed time period during which the solenoid 35 is energized is the time required to correct the transfer paper P.

The correction shaft 29 has very low frictional resistance with a bearing (not shown) of the correction shaft 29.
rotates smoothly and lightly as the paper feed belt 25 runs, but a plurality of pins 36 are attached at regular intervals around one end of the correction shaft 29, and one of the pins 36 The stopper 38 is stopped by engagement with one end of a stopper 38 which is rotatable about a shaft 37 disposed near the stopper 36 . The engagement between the pin 36 and the stopper 38 is such that the solenoid 35 that drives the plunger 39 connected to the other end of the stopper 38 is controlled by the control circuit 27 that detects the running position of the transfer paper P as described above.
This is done by moving the plunger 39 when it is energized for a certain period of time by a signal output from the plunger 39.

Next, the operation of the curl correction device according to the present invention will be explained as the transfer paper P travels.

First, the transfer paper P discharged from the fixing roller 21 pushes down the pin plunger 28, so the control circuit 27 starts measuring time. Next, paper feed belt 2
The transfer paper P that is traveling with the transfer paper P passes between the paper feed belt 25 and the correction shaft 29, but since it is within the set time described above, the frictional force applied to the transfer paper P is small and the transfer paper P does not move much. Not corrected.
Further, when the portion of the transfer paper P whose curl is to be corrected reaches between the paper feed belt 25 and the correction shaft 29, that is, when the time measured by the control circuit 27 exceeds the preset time, the control circuit 27 immediately activates the solenoid 35.
is energized for a certain period of time, the pin 36 and the stopper 38 engage, and the correction shaft 29 stops. Therefore, the frictional force applied to the transfer paper P increases, and the curl of the transfer paper P is corrected. Corrected transfer paper P
are efficiently accommodated in one of the trays 33 within the sorter 26.

When the rear end of the transfer sheet P passes over the post-control circuit 27, the pin plunger 28 returns to its original position, resets the timer circuit of the control circuit 27, and prepares for the next transfer sheet to be sent out.

Further, FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the curl correction device according to the present invention, which is installed in a copying machine having a sorter function like the previous embodiment, and the same parts as in FIG. 4 are shown. , the explanation thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, an elastic material 41 is attached to one end of a correction arm 40 that is rotatable about a shaft 37.
Since the elastic material 41 is directly pressed against the correction shaft 29 to stop the correction shaft 29, the frictional force applied to the transfer paper P gradually increases.
Curls can be corrected smoothly.

Further, FIG. 6 shows still another embodiment of the curl correction device according to the present invention, which is installed in a copying machine having a sorter function like the embodiment (FIG. 4).

In this embodiment, a correction shaft 29 is fixedly disposed at one end of a correction arm 40 that is rotatable about a shaft 37 so as to lightly contact a stretchable paper feed belt 42, and the other end is connected to a control circuit. It is connected to a plunger 39 of a solenoid 35 which is energized by a solenoid 27.

In this device, the portion of the transfer paper P where curl correction is to be performed (i.e. from the center to the rear) is aligned with the correction shaft 29.
When passing between the paper feed belt 42 and the elastic paper feed belt 42, the solenoid 35 is energized, and the correction shaft 29 further moves in the direction in which it comes into pressure contact with the paper feed belt 42, increasing the frictional force applied to the transfer paper P and This is to correct the paper P.

Although the correction shaft 29 disposed at one end of the correction arm 40 is fixedly arranged, it may be arranged so as to be freely rotatable.

Further, FIG. 7 shows still another embodiment of the curl correction device according to the present invention, which is installed in a copying machine having a sorter function like the embodiment shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, a correction shaft 45 with a large diameter is provided at one end of a correction arm 44 that is rotatable about a shaft 43, and a correction shaft 45 is provided at one end of a correction arm 47 that is rotatable about a shaft 46. Correction shaft 48 with a small diameter
The other ends of the correction arms 44 and 47 are connected to plungers 49 and 50, respectively, and when not much correction is applied to the transfer paper P, a correction shaft 45 with a large diameter is used.
However, when making a large correction, the solenoids 51 and 52 are energized by the control circuit 27 in response to the movement of the transfer paper P so that the correction shaft 48 with a small diameter comes into pressure contact with the transfer paper P. It is.

As described above, according to the present invention, curled transfer paper is actually curled into a waveform in which the front part of the paper is concave and the rear part is convex when the paper is discharged to the storage container. Since the correction is made, the paper can be efficiently stored in a storage unit such as a tray.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the shape of curls generated on transfer paper, FIGS. 2 and 3 are principle diagrams of a conventional curl correction device, and FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a paper curl correction device according to the present invention. Side view showing , Figure 5, Figure 6
7 are side views showing other embodiments of the paper curl correction device according to the present invention. 1, 21... Fixing roller, 2, 33... Tray, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 22 to 24
...Paper feed roller, 5, 9, 12, 25, 42...
...Paper feed belt, 6, 13, 14, 29, 45, 4
8... Correction axis, 26... Sorter, 27... Control circuit, 28... Pin plunger, 30... Paper feed roller, 31, 34... Paper guide, 32
... Indexer, 35, 51, 52 ... Solenoid, 36 ... Pin, 37, 43, 46 ... Axis,
38...stopper, 39,49,50...plunger, 40,44,47...correction arm, 41...
...Elastic material.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a paper curl correction device that corrects the curl amount of a curled paper P before discharging the paper to a paper storage unit 33 such as a tray or a sorter, the curled paper P A predetermined pressure or frictional force is applied on the sheet feeding belts 25, 42 to a portion of the curled sheet P conveyed by the sheet feeding belts 25, 42. is added, and when the paper is discharged to the paper storage section 33,
1. A paper curl correction device comprising means for correcting curl in a waveform in which the front part of the paper P is concave and the rear part is convex.