JPH0549589B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Technical Field> The present invention relates to an electrostatic copying apparatus, and more particularly, to an electrostatic copying apparatus having an intermediate stock section for temporarily storing copy sheets with copies made on one side. Regarding.

<Prior Art> In recent years, with the diversification of copying, electrostatic copying devices capable of copying on both sides of copy paper have been proposed and put into practical use. This type of double-sided copying apparatus generally includes a first copy paper transport path for transporting copy paper as required, and a second copy paper transport path to transfer the copy paper conveyed through this copy paper transport path to the first copy paper transport path. The second copy paper transport path is provided with an intermediate storage section for temporarily storing copy paper. The intermediate stock section is provided with an intermediate tray on which copy sheets are placed in a stacked state, and a width alignment member for aligning the widths of the copy sheets placed on the intermediate tray. In this type of double-sided copying apparatus, a copy is made as required on one side of the copy paper while the copy paper is conveyed through a first copy paper conveyance path;
The copy paper with copies made on one side is conveyed to the intermediate stock section through the second copy paper conveyance path. When the copy sheets are conveyed to the intermediate stock section, they are placed in a stacked state on the intermediate tray, and the copy sheets placed on the intermediate tray are aligned as required by the action of the width alignment member, and then It is temporarily stored in the stock section. The copy paper stored in this intermediate stock section is then conveyed to the upstream side of the first copy paper conveyance path through a second copy paper conveyance path, and is reversed while being conveyed through the second copy paper conveyance path. The pressed copy paper is conveyed again through the copy paper conveyance path, and during this conveyance, the other side of the copy paper is also copied, thus achieving double-sided copying as desired.

In the double-sided copying apparatus as described above, in order to place copy sheets with copies on one side in a desired stacked state on the intermediate tray, the copy sheets are moved onto the intermediate tray with a relatively weak feeding force. In addition, in order to send out the uppermost copy sheet of the stacked copy sheets on the intermediate tray from the intermediate tray, it is necessary to use a relatively strong feeding force to move the copy paper from the intermediate tray to the copy paper reversing conveyance path. need to be sent to. However, in conventional double-sided copying machines,
Above the intermediate tray, there is a conveyance auxiliary roller for placing the copy paper on the intermediate tray (the conveyance auxiliary roller presses the copy paper relatively weakly and conveys it) and a conveyance auxiliary roller for feeding the copy paper from the intermediate tray. A feeding roller (such a feeding roller presses the copy paper relatively strongly and feeds it) is provided separately, and the conveyance auxiliary roller and the feeding roller act on the copy paper. and a non-operating state in which it is separated from the copy paper. That is, when the copy paper is placed on the intermediate tray, the conveyance auxiliary roller is kept in an active state, and the feed roller is kept in a non-operative state, and when the width of the copy paper is aligned, the conveyance assist roller is kept in an active state. The rollers and the feed roller are held in a non-active state, and when sending out a copy sheet, the conveyance auxiliary roller is held in a non-active state and the feed roller is activated. Therefore, in the double-sided copying apparatus as described above, the conveyance auxiliary roller and the feed roller exist separately, and an operating mechanism is required to selectively bring the conveyance auxiliary roller and the feed roller into an operative state and a non-operative state, respectively. Therefore, there was a problem that the structure was complicated and the control thereof was also complicated. Further, due to the above-mentioned factors, the manufacturing cost is also high, and furthermore, a relatively large installation space is required.

<Object of the Invention> The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and its main purpose is to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide an electrostatic copying apparatus whose configuration and control are relatively simple. be.

<Summary of the Invention> According to the present invention, there is provided a first copy paper transport path in which copy paper is transported and a copy is made on one side thereof during transport; a second copy paper conveyance path for guiding the copy paper on which copies have been made to the upstream side of the first copy paper conveyance route; and a second copy paper conveyance path for guiding the copy paper on which one side has been copied to the first copy paper conveyance path. An electrostatic copying apparatus comprising an intermediate stock section for temporarily storing paper before being fed to the upstream side of a path, wherein the intermediate stock section has copy sheets having a copy image on one side placed in a stacked state. an intermediate tray, a width aligning means for aligning the widths of the copy sheets placed on the intermediate tray, a feeding means disposed above the intermediate tray, and a copy sheet placed on the intermediate tray. a first active state in which the copy paper on the intermediate tray is pressed relatively weakly; and a second active state in which the copy paper on the intermediate tray is pressed relatively strongly. an actuating mechanism for selectively activating the feeding means, the actuating mechanism maintaining the feeding means in the first operating state when a copy sheet having a copy image on one side is placed on the intermediate tray; , when aligning the widths of copy sheets placed on the intermediate tray, the feeding means is held in the inactive state, and when feeding copy sheets from the intermediate tray, the feeding means is held in the non-operating state. An electrostatographic reproduction apparatus is provided, wherein the electrostatographic reproduction apparatus is maintained in two operating states.

<Preferred Embodiments of the Invention> Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an electrostatic copying apparatus constructed according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1, which is a simplified view of a part of an electrostatic copying apparatus capable of copying on both sides, the illustrated electrostatic copying apparatus has a first copy paper conveying path 2 (only the upstream side is shown in FIG. 1). ) and a second copy paper conveyance path 4 (only the downstream side connected to the copy paper conveyance path 2 is shown in FIG. 1). 1st
The copy paper conveying path 2 extends from the right to the left in FIG. 1, and a copy paper feeding mechanism 6 is disposed at the upstream end (right end) thereof. The illustrated copy paper feeding mechanism 6 includes a copy paper cassette 8 that is detachably attached and a feeding roller 12 that rotates in the direction shown by the arrow 10. When the copy paper cassette 8 is rotated, the uppermost copy paper among the stacked copy papers P in the copy paper cassette 8 is sent out from the copy paper cassette 8 by the action of the feeding roller 12.

The copy paper sent out from the copy paper cassette 8 is
The conveying roller pair 20 passes between the upper guide portion 14a of the guide plate 14 and a part of the guide plate 16 and the guide plate 18.
and 22, and further transported downstream by the action of the pair of transport rollers 20 and 22.
In this specific case, as can be easily understood from FIG. The upstream side of the conveyance path 2 is defined.

On the other hand, the second copy paper conveyance path 4 extends from the downstream side of the first copy paper conveyance path 2, passing below it and upstream thereof from the left to the right in FIG. An intermediate stock section 24 (described later) is disposed at. Guide plates 26 and 2 are provided on the downstream side of the intermediate stock section 24 when viewed in the copy paper conveyance direction.
8 and a pair of transport rollers 30 and 32 are disposed, so that the copy paper sent out from the intermediate stock section 24 as described later is transferred to the guide plates 26 and 2.
The transport rollers 30 and 32 further pass between the guide plate 34 and the lower guide portion 14b of the guide plate 14 and a part of the guide plate 16. The copy paper is conveyed to the upstream side of the first copy paper conveyance path 2. In this specific example, as can be easily understood from FIG. A downstream side portion of the second copy paper transport path 4 is defined.

In the electrostatic copying apparatus having the above-described structure, while the copy paper sent out from the copy paper cassette 8 is conveyed through the first copy paper conveyance path 2, it is processed by means known per se (not shown). One side of the copy paper is copied, and the copied copy paper passes through the upstream side (not shown) of the second copy paper transport path 4 and is temporarily stored in the intermediate stock section 24. That is, when double-sided copying is performed on one sheet, one sheet of copy paper with copies made on one side is stored in the intermediate stock section 24, but when double-sided copies are made on multiple sheets, copies are made on one side. A plurality of sheets of copy paper are stored in a stack. The copy sheets stored in the intermediate stock section 24 are then sent out from the intermediate stock section 24 and transferred to the second copy paper.
The copy paper is transported to the upstream side of the first copy paper transport path 2 through the downstream side of the copy paper transport path 4 . The copy paper with copies made on one side is reversed while being transported through the second copy paper transport path 4, and the reversed copy paper is then transported to the upstream side of the first copy paper transport path 2. The copy sheet is further conveyed downstream through the copy sheet conveyance path 2, and during this conveyance, a copy is made on the other side of the reversed copy sheet, thus achieving double-sided copying as required. The action as described above is
It is substantially the same as a known double-sided copying device.

In an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, improvements have been made to the intermediate stock section 24. Referring to FIG. 2 together with FIG. 1, the illustrated intermediate stock section 24 includes an intermediate tray 36 on which copy sheets are placed in a stacked state, a feeding means 38 disposed on the intermediate tray 365, and the feeding means 38 disposed on the intermediate tray 365. An actuation mechanism 40 is provided for moving the feeding means 38 as required. The intermediate tray 36 is composed of a plate-shaped member and extends substantially horizontally in the copy paper conveyance direction. A pair of width adjusting members 42 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1) constituting a width adjusting means is attached to the intermediate tray 36 so as to be movable in the lateral direction (in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 1). Referring primarily to FIG. 2, the illustrated feeding means 38 includes a feeding roller 44 for feeding copy paper. A support shaft 46 is rotatably mounted between a pair of substrates (not shown) of the electrostatic copying device.
Approximately L-shaped swing support members 48a and 48b are swingably attached to both ends of the support member 48a and 48b. A rotary shaft 50 is further rotatably mounted between the distal ends of the swing support members 48a and 48b.
A pair of feed rollers 44 are attached to the. The feed roller 44 can be made of sponge, for example. A sprocket 52 is further fixed to one end of the rotating shaft 50, and a sprocket portion 56a of a transmission member 56, in which the sprocket 52 is fixed to one end of the support shaft 46 via a chain 54.
Further, a sprocket portion 56b of the transmission member 56 is drivingly connected to a drive source (not shown) such as an electric motor via a chain 58. As shown above, the driving source (not shown)
The driving force from is transmitted to the feed roller 44 via the chain 58, the transmission member 56, the chain 54, and the sprocket 52, and the feed roller 44 is moved in the direction of the arrow 60.
(Fig. 2).

Further, the illustrated actuation mechanism 40 includes a first actuation means constituted by an electromagnetic solenoid 62 and a second actuation means constituted by an electromagnetic solenoid 64,
In the specific example, it is disposed on one end side of the support shaft 46 in relation to one swing support member 48a. This actuation mechanism 40 can also be arranged at both ends of the support shaft 46 in connection with both swing support members 48a and 48b. A long hole 66 extending in the vertical direction is formed at the rear end of the swing support member 48a described above. A connecting member 68 is inserted through this long hole 66, and the inner end of the connecting member 68 is inserted into the long hole 66. It is connected to the output end 62a of the electromagnetic solenoid 62, and its outer end is connected to the output end 64a of the electromagnetic solenoid 64. The width of the elongated hole 66 is somewhat larger than the outer diameter of the connecting member 68 so as to allow the swinging support member 48a to swing as described later. Further, spring members 70 and 72 are interposed between the main body of the electromagnetic solenoid 62 and the inner end of the connecting member 68, and between the main body of the electromagnetic solenoid 64 and the outer end of the connecting member 68. There is.

With this structure, when the electromagnetic solenoids 62 and 64 are deenergized, the connecting member 68 is moved to the longitudinal (i.e., vertical) intermediate portion of the elongated hole 66 by the action of the spring members 70 and 72. (see FIG. 2), and thus the swinging support members 48a and 48b move counterclockwise (second direction) in FIG. (counterclockwise when viewed from the lower right in the figure), and the feeding roller 44 is in contact with the upper surface of the intermediate tray 36;
That is, it is maintained in the state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
Then, when the electromagnetic solenoid 64 is energized from the above-mentioned state, the connecting member 68 is moved downward against the force of the spring member 72, and the connecting member 68 is connected to the elongated hole 64.
6 and rotates the swinging support member 48a clockwise in FIG. 1 about the support shaft 46 (at this time, the other swinging support member 48b
Thus, the feed roller 44 is maintained at a predetermined distance from the upper surface of the intermediate tray 36, ie, in the state shown by the solid line in FIG. On the other hand, when the electromagnetic solenoid 62 is energized instead of the electromagnetic solenoid 64 from the above-mentioned state, the connecting member 68 is moved upward against the force of the spring member 70, and the connecting member 68 is moved toward the upper edge of the elongated hole 66. The swing support member 48a is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1 about the support shaft 46. At this time, the feed roller 44 is in contact with the upper surface of the intermediate tray 36, and therefore the force acting on the swing support member 48a is transmitted to the feed roller 44 via the connecting member 68, and the force acting on the swing support member 48a is transmitted to the feed roller 44. is relatively strongly pressed against the upper surface of the intermediate tray 36 by the magnetic attraction force of the electromagnetic solenoid 62 which attempts to electromagnetically attract the output end 62a.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the intermediate stock section 24 described above further includes a movement prevention member 74 and a pair of rollers 76 and 78. The movement prevention member 74 is composed of a plate-shaped member, and is disposed on the front end side of the intermediate tray 36. The lower end of this movement blocking member 74 is fixed to an output end 80a of an electromagnetic solenoid 80 disposed below the intermediate tray 36, and a spring member 82 ( 3-A, 3-B) are interposed. When the electromagnetic solenoid 80 is deenergized, the movement blocking member 74 has an upper end formed in the intermediate tray 36 by the action of the spring member 82. ), but when the electromagnetic solenoid 80 is energized, it is moved to the non-blocking position where it retreats from the upper surface of the intermediate tray 36. In the specific example, the movement blocking member 74 is made to move forward and backward in the vertical direction, but instead of this, the movement blocking member 74 may be rotatably provided to selectively move between the blocking position and the non-blocking position. good.

Further, the pair of rollers 76 and 78 are disposed on the leading end side of the intermediate tray 36 and on the downstream side of the movement blocking member 74 when viewed in the copy paper conveyance direction. The upper roller 76 of the pair of rollers is rotated in the copy paper transport direction as shown by the arrow, and acts as a transport roller that transports the copy paper toward the upstream side of the first copy paper transport path 2. The roller 78 located on the lower side is rotated in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the copy paper as shown by the arrow, and acts as a separation roller for preventing two copies from being fed. This roller 78 is in contact with the roller 76 through an opening (not shown) formed in the intermediate tray 36 (FIGS. 3-A and 3-B).
(See also figure). In the pair of rollers described above, it is important that the friction coefficient of the upper roller 76 is larger than the friction coefficient of the lower roller 78. For example, the roller 76 is made of rubber or the like, and the roller 78 is made of rubber or the like. Preferably, it is formed from sponge or the like. Note that instead of the separation roller 78, a separation pad made of urethane rubber or the like may be provided below the conveyance roller 76.

Next, with reference mainly to FIGS. 3-A and 3-B, the effects of the electrostatic copying apparatus provided with the intermediate stock section 24 having the above-described configuration will be described.

When performing double-sided copying, the electromagnetic solenoid 6
2, 64, and 80 are deenergized, so that the feed roller 44 comes into contact with the upper surface of the intermediate tray 36 due to its own weight, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
The movement preventing member 74 is held in a first operating state in which the upper surface thereof is pressed relatively weakly, and the upper end side of the movement preventing member 74 is held upward from the upper surface of the intermediate tray 36, as shown in FIGS. 3-A and 3-B. It is held in the protruding blocking position. When the copy paper with copies made on one side is conveyed to the intermediate stock section 24 as described above, the copy paper is placed on the intermediate tray 36 and moved along the upper surface thereof. When the copy paper is moved to the feed roller 44, the feed roller 44 acts relatively weakly on the upper surface of the copy paper, causing the copy paper to rotate in the direction shown by arrow 60 (FIG. 2). is moved further downstream by the action of When the copy paper is moved to the movement prevention member 74, the leading edge of the copy paper comes into contact with the movement prevention member 74 at the prevention position, and the movement of the copy paper is reliably prevented. At this time, since the feed roller 44 is in the first operating state and presses the copy paper relatively weakly, if the movement of the copy paper is blocked, a slip occurs between the copy paper and the feed roller 44. Thus, the copy paper is reliably stopped without being bent by the action of the feeding roller 44.

When the copy paper is thus placed, the electromagnetic solenoid 64 is then energized, and the corresponding rear width alignment member 42 is energized.
is moved laterally as required. When the electromagnetic solenoid 64 is energized, the swinging support members 48a and 48b are rotated clockwise in FIG. 1 and FIG. 1 at a predetermined distance from the upper surface of the tray 36, and 3-A.
It is positioned at the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in the figure, and is held in a non-active state away from the copy paper on the intermediate tray 36. Then, when the width alignment member 42 is moved as required, the inner surface of the width alignment member 42 acts on both side edges of the copy paper, and the copy paper on the intermediate tray 36 is positioned at a predetermined position.

When the above-described positioning of the copy paper is completed, the electromagnetic solenoid 64 is deenergized. As a result, the swing support members 48a and 48b are rotated counterclockwise in FIGS. 1 and 3-A by the weight of the feed roller 44, etc., and the feed roller 44 is rotated by the weight of the feed roller 44, etc. It is placed on the tray 36 and comes into contact with the upper surface of the copy paper, and presses the copy paper relatively weakly (into the first operating state).

Thus, when double-sided copying is performed on a single sheet, the copy paper with copies made on one side is temporarily stored on the intermediate tray 36 as described above.

When making double-sided copies of multiple sheets, after the copy sheets are placed on the intermediate tray 36 as described above,
The next copy sheet is placed on top of the copy sheet and moved along the top surface thereof. Then, when the next copy sheet is similarly conveyed to the movement blocking member 74, it comes into contact with this and its movement is blocked. Thereafter, when the electromagnetic solenoid 64 is energized and the width alignment member 42 is moved laterally, the next copy sheet is placed on the intermediate tray 3.
6, and the widths of the stacked copy sheets on the intermediate tray 36 are aligned. When this width alignment is completed, the electromagnetic solenoid 64 is deenergized again. When a large number of double-sided copies are to be made, the above-mentioned operations are repeated, and the copy sheets having a copy image on one side are aligned and stacked on the intermediate tray 36 as shown in FIG. 3-A. temporarily stored before copying to other surfaces.

Thereafter, in order to copy the other side of the copy paper placed on the intermediate tray 36, when feeding the copy paper from the intermediate tray 36, the electromagnetic solenoid 80
is energized, and the electromagnetic solenoid 62 is also energized. When the electromagnetic solenoid 80 is energized, the movement blocking member 74 is brought to a non-blocking position in which its upper edge is retracted from the upper surface of the intermediate tray 36, thus allowing feeding from above the intermediate tray 36. Further, when the electromagnetic solenoid 62 is energized, it is connected to the third swing support member 48a via the connection member 68.
The magnetic attraction force of the electromagnetic solenoid 62 which causes the electromagnetic solenoid 62 to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. The upper surface of the copy paper on 36 is relatively strongly pressed (into the second operating state). Thus, the copy paper on the intermediate tray 36 is fed toward the pair of rollers 76 and 78 by the action of the feed roller 44, which is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 60 (FIG. 2). Due to the relatively strong pressure applied by 44, its feeding is ensured.

When the copy sheets are placed on the intermediate tray 36 as required, the feed roller 44 is relatively strongly pressed against the top surface of the topmost copy paper in the stack of copies, and this The top copy sheet is fed toward a pair of rollers 76 and 78 as described above. Then, as the copy paper is fed, the intermediate tray 36
When the upper copy paper decreases, in the second operating state, the swing support members 48a and 48b move to the first position due to the magnetic attraction force of the electromagnetic solenoid 62 described above.
and FIG. 3-B, the feed roller 44 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG.
The uppermost copy paper is pressed with a relatively strong required pressure, regardless of the number of copies on top.

When the copy paper sent out from the intermediate tray 36 is conveyed to a pair of rollers 76 and 78, the roller 7
6 is rotated in the copy paper conveyance direction, and the roller 78 is rotated in the opposite direction to the copy paper conveyance direction. The copy paper is transported toward the upstream side of the copy paper transport path 2.

Note that the above-described feeding of the copy paper from the intermediate tray 36 is performed at predetermined intervals by controlling the rotation of the feeding roller 44, or by temporarily energizing the electromagnetic solenoid 64. Ru.

Although specific examples of a double-sided copying apparatus configured according to the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such specific examples, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is.

For example, in the above-mentioned specific example, the application has been described as being applied to a so-called double-sided copying device that can copy on both sides, but the present invention is not limited to this.
The present invention can also be applied to an electrostatic copying apparatus in which a copy is made on one side and then an overlapping copy is made on that other side.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a portion of an electrostatic copying apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 shows
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a feeding means and an operating mechanism in the electrostatic copying apparatus of FIG. 1; 3-A and 3-B are diagrams for explaining the operating state of the operating mechanism, respectively. 2...First copy paper transport path, 4...Second copy paper transport path, 24...Intermediate stock section, 36...
... intermediate tray, 38 ... feeding mechanism, 40 ... actuation mechanism, 42 ... width alignment member, 74 ... movement prevention member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A first copy paper transport path in which copy paper is transported and a copy is made on one side of the paper during transport; a second copy paper conveyance path for guiding the copy paper that has been copied to the upstream side of the first copy paper conveyance path; and a second copy paper conveyance path for guiding the copy paper with copying on one side to the upstream side of the first copy paper conveyance path. In an electrostatic copying apparatus, the intermediate stock section includes an intermediate tray for temporarily storing copies before being fed to a paper sheet, the intermediate stock section comprising an intermediate tray on which copy sheets having a copy image on one side are placed in a stacked state; , a width adjusting means for aligning the widths of the copy sheets placed on the intermediate tray; a feeding means disposed above the intermediate tray; a first operating state in which the copy paper on the intermediate tray is pressed relatively weakly; and a second operating state in which the copy paper on the intermediate tray is pressed relatively strongly. an actuation mechanism for holding the feeding means in the first operative state when a copy sheet having a copy image on one side is placed on the intermediate tray; The feeding means is held in the inactive state when aligning the width of the copy paper placed thereon, and the feeding means is held in the second operating state when feeding the copy paper from the intermediate tray. An electrostatic copying device, characterized in that: 2. The intermediate stock section further includes a movement prevention member disposed on the leading end side of the intermediate tray, and the movement prevention member is configured to hold a copy sheet having a copy image on one side on the intermediate tray. In some cases, the intermediate tray is placed in a blocking position protruding upward from the upper surface of the intermediate tray,
The electrostatic copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic copying apparatus is moved back from the top surface of the intermediate tray to a non-blocking position when the copy paper on the intermediate tray is fed. 3. The actuation mechanism includes a first actuation means and a second actuation means, the first actuation means and the second actuation means.
When the actuation means of is in the inoperative state, the supply means is maintained in the first operative state, and when the first actuation means is in the actuated state and the second actuation means is in the inoperative state, the supply means is maintained in the first operative state. is maintained in the second operative state, and the supply means is maintained in the inactive state when the first activating means is in the inactive state and the second activating means is in the operative state. The electrostatic copying apparatus according to item 1 or 2. 4. The feeding means includes a swinging support member that is swingably mounted, and a feeding roller that is mounted on the tip of the swinging support member and rotated in a predetermined direction, A long hole is formed in the part, and the first actuating means and the second actuating means are constituted by electromagnetic solenoids, and each output end of the electromagnetic solenoid is connected to the length of the swinging support member. The electrostatic copying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the electrostatic copying apparatus is connected via a connecting member inserted through the hole. 5. When the first actuating means and the second actuating means are in an inoperative state, the connecting member is positioned approximately at the center of the elongated hole of the swinging support member;
5. The electrostatic copying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the feed roller acts on the copy paper on the intermediate tray by its own weight and presses it relatively weakly. 6. The intermediate stock section further includes a pair of rollers disposed on the leading end side of the intermediate tray,
Claims: One of the pair of rollers is rotated in the copy paper conveyance direction and acts as a conveyance roller, and the other is rotated in the opposite direction to the copy paper conveyance direction and acts as a separation roller. The electrostatic copying apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 5.