Patent Application
20080070772
The present invention relates to a folding device for folding continuous paper along fold lines of the paper in a zigzag pattern.
Commonly in a printing device, such as a printer and a printing machine, which prints on continuous paper previously provided with fold lines at given intervals as viewed in a paper-feeding direction, a folding device is used to refold the printed continuous paper. In this specification, each of the given intervals is called a top-and-bottom length.
Especially in case that the printing device is an electrophotographic printer, the paper is often heated and pressed in a fixing process. The heating and the pressing make the continuous paper expand and contract. As a result, occasionally, the paper is wrinkled or tensed, and the rigidity of the paper is increased by moisture loss of the paper. Therefore, the folding of the continuous paper is sometimes difficult, so that the above-mentioned folding device is used in many cases.
In general, the folding device is made up of a feeding member for feeding continuous paper, a swinger fin that swings using its one end as a fulcrum like a pendulum in synchronization with fold lines while feeding the continuous paper into its inside, a paddle member for pressing a fold line portion of the continuous paper fed to the swinger fin, a table to be surmounted by the continuous paper that has been folded, a jam-detection sensor for monitoring the continuous paper in the process of being folded on the table and detecting a folding jam, etc. A folding jam here means a state in which the continuous paper is folded or bent in areas other than the preformed fold lines or a state in which there generates a folding defect in a part of a fold line, which is so called tenting.
The paddle member is formed of a pair of paddle units, and in many cases, the distance between the paddle units can be so changed as to correspond to the top-and-bottom length of the continuous paper.
Various data necessary for the folding operation, which includes, for example, the top-and-bottom length, printing speed and the like, is exchanged between the folding device and a printing device, such as a printer and a printing machine, by using proper communication means.
The feed rate of the continuous paper in the folding device is usually set faster than the feed rate of the continuous paper in the printing device. Accordingly, as illustrated in
In recent years, along with the diversification of continuous paper, there is a tendency to print on continuous paper that is thinner than ever before and special-purpose papers called label paper, tack paper, etc.
The thin continuous paper expands and contracts to a large degree due to heating and pressing in the fixing process, and is then liable to be wrinkled and tensed. For this reason, there occurs a folding jam more easily. The thin paper here is thinner than paper that weighs about 64 g/m2 in basis weight.
If the printer or printing device performs the fixing process by a flash-fixing method, a folding jam occurs more often for the following reason. According to the flash-fixing method, a toner-applied area of the printed continuous paper absorbs more energy of flash lights than a non-applied area does. Accordingly, the toner-applied area and the non-applied area are different in heating degree, so that there occur imbalanced expansion and contraction, wrinkles and tension.
In a conventional folding device, when a folding jam occurs, the continuous paper or paper fragments that have caused the jam remain in the inside of the swinger fin. In order to remove them from the inside of the swinger fin, it is required to stick a hand or fingers into the narrow swinger fin. Particularly when the printing is applied onto continuous papers, such as label papers, tack papers and the like, with back sides applied with an adhesive agent and attached onto the peelable paper, if there occurs a folding jam, released labels or the like are stuck to the inside of the swinger fin. It is sometimes extremely difficult to get rid of them.
In the course of long-period use, paper powder, dust, dirt and the like are sometimes firmly stuck in the swinger fin. In order to remove and clean them, the swinger fin has needed to be disassembled.
Generally, in a pair of feed rollers for feeding a sheet-like article such as continuous paper, only one of the feed rollers is driven by a proper driving source (so-called driving roller). In this case, the other feed roller (called a driven roller) is biased by a proper biasing member such as a spring member toward the driving roller, and is pressed against the driving roller through the continuous paper or the like to rotate together.
The conventional folding device has a structure in which only one of a pair of feed rollers located in the swinger fin is driven. As stated above, however, the swinger fin makes a swinging motion using its end portion as a fulcrum. In other words, the swinger fin constantly receives acceleration and deceleration in the swinging direction. Due to the inertia created by the acceleration/deceleration, the driven roller moves away from the driving roller, and a pressing force upon the driving roller is reduced to destabilize the rotation of the driven roller. As a result, the feed of the continuous paper becomes unstable, which occasionally causes a folding jam.
Furthermore, the conventional folding device has a structure in which the pair of feed rollers is provided only to the tip end portion of the swinger fin. With this structure, however, sometimes the continuous paper cannot be stably fed within the swinger fin at a correct rate.
According to the conventional folding device, while the continuous paper is fed in the folding device, the paper gets static electricity due to friction or the like in some cases. Due to attraction of static electricity, friction resistance between the continuous paper and the inner surface of the swinger fin and the like is increased, which hampers the paper feedability. This occasionally causes a folding jam in the swinger fin or on the table to be surmounted by the continuous paper that has been folded.
It is generally ideal for a member that makes a swinging motion using its one end as a fulcrum like a swinger fin 2 to be caused to make a swinging motion of a natural rigid pendulum, or to have a sine wave-like velocity curve. However, in order to mechanically achieve the sine wave-like velocity curve, a cam and a link mechanism are required. To add to such a complicated mechanism, if swing velocity and swing width are changed according to the top-and-bottom length of the paper and the paper feed rate, a more complicated adjustment mechanism is furthermore required.
If a pulse motor is employed as a driving source of the swinger fin, it is possible to relatively easily obtain a pseudo-sine wave-like curve by properly controlling the frequency of drive pulses and the number of applied pulses. Even in this case, however, in order to change the swing velocity and the swing width so as to corresponding to the top-and-bottom length of the paper and the feed rate, it is required to maintain the frequency and the number of the applied pulses in the form of a table as many as there are combinations of top-and-bottom lengths and feed rates.
In some cases, the sine wave-like velocity curve is given up, and simple trapezoidal velocity control is carried out. In this case, a gradient of velocity in the trapezoidal velocity control at the time of acceleration/deceleration is fixed. Therefore, when the top-and-bottom length of the paper is changed, swinging time at the maximum swing velocity is also changed. This causes the disadvantage that the swinging motion of the swinger fin becomes unnatural, and that smooth paper folding is discouraged.
In the electrophotographic printer, the paper is often heated and pressed in the fixing process as described, and the heating and the pressing sometimes contracts the continuous paper. Due to the contraction, the continuous paper comes off the feeding member of the folding device, and travels obliquely or meanderingly in the folding device instead of traveling through a proper feed path. The oblique travel and the meandering travel often cause a folding jam. As illustrated in
Thin continuous paper has a great degree of paper expansion/contraction caused by the heating and the pressing in the fixing process. This produces the problem that the oblique or meandering travel is liable to occur, incurring more folding-jammed continuous paper.
In case that the printer or printing device has the fixing process performed by the flash-fusing method, there also is the problem that, due to the imbalanced expansion and contraction of the paper, the oblique or meandering travel more easily occurs, incurring more folding-jammed continuous paper.
In the conventional folding device, the fold lines of the continuous paper in the process of being fed to the swinger fin and folded on the table are pressed by a vane member of the paddle member, whereby the continuous paper is laid on the table. Distance between a pair of paddle units constructing the paddle member of the folding device is often set so as to correspond to the top-and-bottom length of the continuous paper to be folded.
The conventional folding device, however, has sometimes caused a folding defect attributable to a setting mistake or setting failure in respect of the distance between the paddle units, or the like. For example, the distance between the paddle units is mistakenly set to 254 mm (10 inches), 152.4 mm (6 inches) or the like when the top-and-bottom length of the continuous paper to be folded is 203.2 mm (8 inches).
In the conventional art, the vane member rotates at constant rate all the time regardless of travel timing of the fold lines. Accordingly, sometimes not only the fold lines of the continuous paper but also areas other than the fold lines are also pressed by the vane member, and sometimes the vane member hampers the feed of the fold line portions. The vane member has occasionally caused a paper jam or folding defect.
In the conventional folding device, the setting of the continuous paper prior to the folding has been carried out manually by the operator. In order to start a smooth folding operation, the tip end of the continuous paper is preferably set to a preset optimum position, or so-called standby position. However, if the tip end of the continuous paper is set to a wrong position, it is impossible to start a smooth folding operation, which incurs a folding defect from time to time. It is preferable that not only the continuous paper but also the swinger fin, the paddle member, and the table be set to standby positions. In some cases, however, the swinger fin, the paddle member, and the table cause a folding defect by being set to different positions from their respective standby positions.
In the conventional folding device, the direction of the first fold line of the continuous paper to be folded is limited to prescribed one direction, such as a mountain fold. Therefore, if the direction of the first fold direction of the continuous paper is opposite to the prescribed direction, it is required to carry out arrangements including alignment of the folding direction of the first fold line with the prescribed direction by cutting away and discard the first page of the continuous paper.
In many cases, after all the continuous paper is folded, the continuous paper that has been folded on the table is checked. During this process, in the conventional folding device, the swinger fin is in the way for checking the folding condition of the continuous paper. Furthermore, the folded continuous paper is taken out usually after the table is lowered. If the number of laid sheets of the paper is small, the paper is often taken out from the top portion of the table without taking the trouble to lower the table. In this process, the swinger fin gets in the way and hampers the removal of the continuous paper.
According to the conventional folding device, if the continuous paper has sprocket holes in both side edges thereof, the paper sometimes comes off the feeding member of the folding device due to contraction of the continuous paper which is caused by the heating and the pressing in the fixing process of the printing device. For this reason, there occasionally generates a feeding defect of the continuous paper and a folding defect attributable to the feeding defect.
In general, a pair of pin tractors is used as a feeding member of the folding device. Distance between the pin tractors is so fixed as to correspond to the width of the continuous paper, and the pins of the pin tractors are interfitted in the sprocket holes formed in both side-edge portions of the continuous paper, to thereby feed the continuous paper. However, if the continuous paper contracts in the width direction, distance between the sprocket holes of the side-edge portions of the continuous paper becomes shorter than the distance between the pins of the pin tractors due to the contraction. As a result, the pins come off the sprocket holes to produce a feeding defect. Particularly, thin continuous paper contracts to a great degree and causes a feeding defect more often.
In case that the printing device has the fixing process performed by a flash-fusing device, sometimes more feeding defects attributable to contraction of the continuous paper are produced. According to the flash-fixing method, a toner-applied area of the continuous paper absorbs more energy of flash lights than a non-applied area does. Therefore, the toner-applied area and the non-applied area are different in degree of the heating of the continuous paper, so that there often generate fluctuations in contraction degree of the width direction as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the continuous paper.
The conventional folding device performs the folding operation through an intermittent operation as described above. In many cases, a folding defect has been caused at the start of a folding operation during the intermittent operation. The folding defect at the start of the folding operation has occurred more often in case that the continuous paper is thin or that the printing device has the fixing process performed by the flash-fusing method.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems and an object thereof is to provide a folding device that facilitates maintenance such as cleaning, enables stable feed of continuous paper, and is capable of restraining occurrence of a folding defect such as a folding jam to perform stable folding, and a printing system provided with such a folding device.
In order to achieve this object, the folding device according to an aspect of the present invention is a folding device for folding continuous paper, which is previously provided with fold lines at given intervals, along the fold lines in a zigzag pattern. The folding device comprises a feeding member of the continuous paper, a swinger fin that swings using one end thereof as a fulcrum like a pendulum in synchronization with the fold lines while feeding the continuous paper into the inside thereof, a table to be surmounted by the continuous paper that has been folded. The swinger fin has a feed roller pair for feeding the continuous paper while sandwiching the paper therebetween, and at least a pair of guide plates facing each other with a given gap therebetween, in which the continuous paper is fed through the gap. One of the feed rollers constructing the feed roller pair and one of the guide plates, which are located on one side of the continuous paper, can be integrally opened or detached from the swinger fin.
By constructing the device as described, the continuous paper previously provided with fold lines at given intervals is fed by the feeding member. The continuous paper fed into the swinger fin is properly folded by a swinging motion of the swinger fin, which is synchronized with the fold lines, to be laid on the table. When the inside of the swinger fin needs cleaning or the like, one of the feed rollers and one of the guide plates, which are located on one side of the continuous paper, are integrally opened or detached from the swinger fin.
Therefore, at the time of troubles, such as a folding defect of the continuous paper or a case in that part of the continuous paper peels off and sticks to the swinger fin, the user is not forced to do a bothersome cancel operation or the like, and can perform a cleaning operation of the inside of the swinger fin and the like without difficulty.
In the folding device, it is preferable that both the feed rollers constructing the feed roller pair be driven by a drive motor.
By constructing the device as described, the feed of the continuous paper is not destabilized, and a folding jam can be prevented.
In the folding device, it is preferable that the swinger fin has the feed roller pair in a tip end portion thereof and in an intermediate portion between the tip end portion and the fulcrum.
The above-described construction makes it possible to stably feed the continuous paper in the swinger fin at correct rate.
Furthermore in the folding device, it is preferable that the feed roller pair, the guide plates, and the table are earthed through a main body of the folding device.
The above-described construction prevents the continuous paper from being charged with electricity due to friction or the like.
In order to accomplish the aforementioned object, a folding device according to another aspect of the present invention is a folding device for folding continuous paper, which is previously provided with fold lines at given intervals, along the fold lines in a zigzag pattern. The folding device comprises a feeding member of the continuous paper, a swinger fin that swings using one end thereof as a fulcrum like a pendulum in synchronization with the fold lines while feeding the continuous paper into the inside thereof, and a table to be surmounted by the continuous paper that has been folded. The swinger fin is driven by a pulse motor and controlled in swing velocity step by step. The number of drive pulses of the pulse motor in each step is determined according to top-and-bottom length of the continuous paper. Maximum swing velocity of the swinger fin and pulse frequency in each step are determined according to feed rate of the continuous paper.
By constructing the device as described, when the continuous paper fed into the swinger fin is folded by a swinging motion of the swinger fin driven by the pulse motor to be laid on the table, the swing velocity of the swinger fin is controlled step by step. The number of drive pulses of the pulse motor in each step is determined by the top-and-bottom length of the continuous paper. The maximum swing velocity of the swinger fin and the pulse frequency in each step are determined by the feed rate of the continuous paper.
By thus controlling the swinging motion of the swinger fin, the swing velocity and swing width of the swinger fin can be easily changed according to the top-and-bottom length of the paper and the feed rate with a simple construction without using a complicated mechanism and control method, and smooth folding of the continuous paper can be realized.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a folding device according to further another aspect of the present invention is a folding device for folding continuous paper, which is previously provided with fold lines at given intervals, along the fold lines in a zigzag pattern. The folding device comprises a feeding member of the continuous paper, a swinger fin that swings using one end thereof as a fulcrum like a pendulum in synchronization with the fold lines while feeding the continuous paper into the inside thereof, and a table to be surmounted by the continuous paper that has been folded, which are disposed in the order named as viewed in a feeding direction of the continuous paper. A travel sensor for detecting a traveling condition of the continuous paper is disposed between the feeding member and the swinger fin, as viewed in the feeding direction of the continuous paper.
By constructing the device as described, when the continuous paper previously provided with the fold lines at the given intervals is fed by the feeding member, and the continuous paper fed into the swinger fin is folded by a swinging motion of the swinger fin to be laid on the table, the traveling condition of the continuous paper is detected by the travel sensor in between the feeding member and the swinger fin. This makes it possible to achieve the folding device that detects oblique travel and meandering travel of the paper, which cause a folding jam, in an early stage, and does not very often produce a folding jam.
In the above-mentioned folding device, it is preferable that the continuous paper has sprocket holes in both side edges thereof, that the feeding member be a pin tractor, and that the travel sensor detect the sprocket holes.
In order to attain the above-mentioned object, a folding device according to further another aspect of the present invention is a folding device for folding continuous paper, which is previously provided with fold lines at given intervals, along the fold lines in a zigzag pattern. The folding device comprises a feeding member of the continuous paper, a swinger fin that swings using one end thereof as a fulcrum like a pendulum in synchronization with the fold lines while feeding the continuous paper into the inside thereof, a paddle member for pressing a fold line portion of the continuous paper fed to the swinger fin, a table to be surmounted by the continuous paper that has been folded, and top-and-bottom length setting means arranged for setting top-and-bottom length of the continuous paper. The paddle member includes a pair of paddle units in which distance therebetween is variable so as to correspond to the top-and-bottom length of the continuous paper and a distance-detecting member for detecting the distance between the paddle units.
By constructing the device as described, when the continuous paper previously provided with the fold lines at the given intervals is fed by the feeding member, and the continuous paper fed into the swinger fin is folded by a swinging motion of the swinger fin to be laid on the table, the fold line portion of the continuous paper is pressed by the paddle units, the distance of which is adjusted according to the top-and-bottom length of the continuous paper, which is set by the top-and-bottom length setting means, and the folding of the continuous paper is smoothly performed. In this process, since the distance between the paddle units is detected by the distance-detecting member, it is possible to detect that the distance between the paddle units is properly adjusted according to the top-and-bottom length of the continuous paper.
In the above-mentioned folding device, preferably, the folding device further comprises comparison means arranged for comparing the top-and-bottom length set by the top-and-bottom length setting means with the distance between the paddle units detected by the distance-detecting member. Moreover, option is available between a mode that displays a warning and/or inhibits the start of a folding operation when the set top-and-bottom length differs from the detected distance between the paddle units and a mode that permits the folding operation regardless of difference between the set top-and-bottom length and the detected distance between the paddle units.
By constructing the device as described, when the top-and-bottom length set by the top-and-bottom length setting means differs from the distance between the paddle units, the display of a warning and/or the inhibition of start of the folding operation can be carried out. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a folding defect caused by a setting mistake or setting failure in respect of the distance between the paddle units. It is also possible to perform the folding, giving priority to the set top-and-bottom length regardless of the detected distance between the paddle units.
In the above-mentioned folding device, preferably, the folding device further comprises communication means arranged for communicating with a printing device for printing on the continuous paper and comparison means arranged for comparing a communicated top-and-bottom length obtained from the printing device by using the communication means with the set top-and-bottom length and/or the detected distance between the paddle units. Option is available between a mode that displays a warning and/or inhibits the start of a folding operation when the communicated top-and-bottom length differs from the set top-and-bottom length and/or the detected distance between the paddle units and a mode that permits the folding operation regardless of whether or not the communicated top-and-bottom length differs from the set top-and-bottom length and/or the detected distance between the paddle units.
By constructing the device as described, a comparison is made between the communicated top-and-bottom length of the continuous paper, which is obtained by the communication means from the printing device for printing on the continuous paper, with the set top-and-bottom length and/or the detected distance between the paddle units. If they are different from each other, the display of a warning and/or the inhibition of start of the folding operation can be implemented. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a folding defect caused by a setting mistake or setting failure of the distance between the paddle units. It is also possible to carry out the folding, giving priority to the set top-and-bottom length or the detected distance between the paddle units regardless of the communicated top-and-bottom length.
In the above-mentioned folding device, preferably, each of the paddle units has a vane member arranged rotatably around a rotary shaft that is substantially parallel to the fold lines. The vane member is driven and rotated in synchronization with timing of the fold lines, to thereby press the fold lines.
By constructing the device as described, the vane member presses only the fold lines of the paper and places the continuous paper on the table. Accordingly, the folding of the continuous paper is smoothly carried out. Even if the continuous paper is stacked in many layers, the continuous paper can be maintained in a good folded appearance.
In the above-mentioned folding device, preferably, the vane member presses a fold line of the continuous paper with timing when the fold line protrudes from the tip end of the swinger fin by a certain amount.
By constructing the device as described, the vane member presses the fold line at a proper position, so that the continuous paper is smoothly folded.
In order to accomplish the aforementioned object, a folding device according to further another aspect of the present invention is a folding device for folding continuous paper, which is previously provided with fold lines at given intervals, along the fold lines in a zigzag pattern. The folding device comprises a feeding member of the continuous paper, a swinger fin that swings using one end thereof as a fulcrum like a pendulum in synchronization with the fold lines while feeding the continuous paper into the inside thereof, a paddle member for pressing a fold line portion of the continuous paper fed to the swinger fin, a table to be surmounted by the continuous paper that has been folded, and an autoloading mechanism that automatically feeds the continuous paper, an end portion of which is set in the feeding member, to a given standby position, and automatically sets the swinger fin, the paddle member, and the table into given standby positions.
By constructing the device as described, in the folding device that feeds the continuous paper previously provided with the fold lines at the given intervals using the feeding member, and folds the continuous paper that has been fed into the swinger fin by a swinging motion of the swinger fin to lay the paper on the table, when the folding of the continuous paper is started, the continuous paper that has been set in the feeding member is automatically fed to the given standby position, and the swinger fin, the paddle member, and the table are automatically set in their respective given standby positions by the autoloading mechanism.
Consequently, it is possible to prevent the problem that the continuous paper is set in a wrong position, and the folding operation cannot be satisfactorily started to cause a folding defect. Since not only the continuous paper but also the swinger fin, the paddle member, and the table are set into the proper standby positions, it is also possible to prevent the problem that they are set in wrong standby positions to cause a folding defect.
The folding device preferably further comprises a folding-direction designation member to be designated whether the direction of a first fold line of the continuous paper is a valley or mountain fold. Based on the designation given to the folding-direction designation member, the standby position of the swinger fin and/or paddle member is changed.
By constructing the device as described, according to the designation informing whether the direction of the first fold line of the continuous paper is a valley or mountain fold, the standby position of the swinger fin and/or paddle member is changed. Therefore, the position of the swinger fin and/or paddle member before the start of the folding operation is properly set, which enables efficient start of the folding operation.
In the above-described folding device, preferably, the autoloading mechanism fixes the swinger fin in a maximum swing position in the folding operation or in a position therebeyond, and automatically feeds the continuous paper that has been set in the feeding member to the given standby position.
By constructing the device as described, the swinger fin is placed in a proper position for starting the folding operation according to the direction of the first fold line of the continuous paper, which enables the efficient start of the folding operation.
The above-described folding device preferably further comprises an auto-ejecting mechanism of the continuous paper. During an auto-ejecting operation, the swinger fin is swung and fixed to the opposite side to a retrieving direction of the continuous paper that has been folded on the table.
By constructing the device as described, when the folding of all the continuous paper is completed, the swinger fin is automatically moved and fixed to the opposite side to the retrieving direction of the paper, to thereby easily check the condition of the continuous paper that has been folded, and retrieve the folded continuous paper without difficulty.
In order to accomplish the aforementioned object, a folding device according to further another aspect of the present invention is a folding device for folding continuous paper with sprocket holes formed in both edges, the folding device having a pair of pin tractors for feeding the continuous paper. At least one of the pin tractors is disposed to be movable in a width direction of the continuous paper according to width-directional contraction of the continuous paper.
By constructing the device as described, even if the continuous paper is contracted in the width direction, at least one of the pin tractors is movable following the contraction of the continuous paper. Therefore, the continuous paper does not come off the pin tractors, which enables the smooth feed of the continuous paper.
In the above-described folding device, preferably, maximum distance between the pin tractors is changeable according to the width of the continuous paper.
Preferably, the above-described folding device further comprises a regulating member for regulating the maximum distance between the pin tractors. At least one of the pin tractors is biased by a spring member to contact with the regulating member.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a folding device according to further another aspect of the present invention is a folding device for folding continuous paper previously provided with fold lines at given intervals. The folding device comprises a plurality of sensors for detecting a slack amount of the continuous paper to be folded. Folding speed of the continuous paper is variable in accordance with the slack amount.
By constructing the device as described, since the folding speed of the continuous paper is varied according to the slack amount of the continuous paper, which is detected by the sensors, it is possible to fold the continuous paper without stopping the folding device intermittently. As a consequence, it is also possible to suppress the generation of a folding defect that is liable to be caused at the start of the folding, and to realize a smooth folding operation.
In the above-described folding device, preferably, the sensors optically detect the continuous paper, and are disposed at respective heights from a floor surface.
The above-described folding device preferably further comprises a control substrate for controlling the operation of the folding device. The folding speed is varied by changing a clock frequency of the control substrate.
In any one of the above-mentioned folding devices, preferably, the continuous paper has a basic weight of 64 g/m2 or less.
It is also preferable that the continuous paper be label paper or tack paper.
In order to accomplish the aforementioned object, a printing system of the present invention has an image-forming device capable of forming an image on continuous paper and the folding device as described above.
By constructing the printing system as described, it is possible to smoothly fold the continuous paper on which an image is formed.
In the above-described printing system, preferably, the image-forming device includes a heat-fixing device.
Moreover, in the above-mentioned printing system, preferably, the heat-fixing device operates by a flash-fixing method.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to drawings.
In
The pin tractor 1a is supported to be movable in a longitudinal direction of the support shaft 20 and the drive shaft 21 (namely, a width direction of the continuous paper P). The pin tractor 1a is biased toward an E-type snap ring 22 serving as a regulating member by a compression coil spring 23 serving as a spring member to contact with the E-type snap ring 22. Similarly to the pin tractor 1a, the pin tractor 1b is also supported to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the support shaft 22 and the support shaft 23. The pin tractor 1b can be fixed into an arbitrary position as viewed in the longitudinal direction according to the width of the continuous paper P.
If the pin tractor 1b is fixed into an arbitrary position as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the support shaft 20 and the drive shaft 21, maximum distance between the pin tractors 1a and 1b is regulated by the E-type snap ring 22. That is to say, the position of the pin tractor 1b is adjusted and fixed so that the maximum distance between the pin tractors 1a and 1b equals the width of the continuous paper P in a state of not being contracted.
As stated above, if one of the pin-tractor units is biased by the spring member and brought into contact to the regulating member to be positioned, the distance between the pin-tractor units can be changed according to paper width. Furthermore, the pin tractor can be movable following the width-directional contraction of the continuous paper, which enables the continuous paper to be fed without coming off the pin tractors.
In
Reference character “3” in
The feed roller 3a is biased toward the feed roller 3b by a spring member, not shown, and is brought into pressing contact to the feed roller 3b with the continuous paper P interposed therebetween. Simultaneously, the feed roller 3a is applied with a driving force from the feed roller 3b side by gears 14a and 14b as illustrated diagrammatically in
In a similar fashion, the feed roller 4a is also biased toward the feed roller 4b by a spring member, not shown, and is brought into pressing contact to the feed roller 4b with the continuous paper P interposed therebetween. Simultaneously, the feed roller 4a is applied with a driving force from the feed roller 4b by gears 15a and 15b. Accordingly, even if the feed roller 4a more or less moves away from the feed roller 4b or is reduced in a pressing-contact force against the feed roller 4b by being affected by acceleration during the swinging motion of the swinger fin 2, as long as the gears 15a and 15b are not disengaged from each other, the feed roller 4a can receive driving torque from the feed roller 3b. The feed roller 4a is not destabilized in rotation, and therefore the feed of the continuous paper does not become unstable.
According to the present embodiment, the feed rollers 3a and 4a receive driving torque from the gears 14a and 14b and the gears 15a and 15b from the respective feed rollers 3b and 4b sides. The feed rollers 3a and 4a may receive the torque directly from a driving source such as a motor by using proper torque-transmitting means, such as a gear row, a timing belt, and a pulley.
Reference character “16” in
As to the swinging motion of the swinger fin, it is ideal to operate the swinger fin slowly in the vicinity of both end areas of the swinging motion (
FIGS. 12 to 14 show velocity curves of a drive pulse motor of the swinger fin 2 according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, while being used, the pulse motor is skillfully controlled in frequency of drive pulse thereof (drive frequency) and the number of applied pulses. By so doing, an optimum pseudo-sine wave-like curve can be obtained correspondingly to the top-and-bottom length and the feed rate with a simple mechanism and without requiring various kinds of tables.
Referring to
Comparison between
Reference character “5” in
Reference characters “6” and “7” denote a pair of paddle units, which construct a paddle member. The paddle unit 6 is formed of a paddle rotary shaft 6a and paddle plates 6b serving as a vane member fixed to the paddle rotary shaft 6a. The paddle unit 7 is formed of a paddle rotary shaft 7a and paddle plates 7b serving as a vane member fixed to the paddle rotary shaft 7a.
The paddle plates 6b and 7b are made of rubber plates having proper elasticity, or the like, and are arranged around the respective paddle rotary shafts at a pitch of 180 degrees. The paddle rotary shafts 6a and 7a are so constructed to be driven and rotated by a driving mechanism, not shown, in directions of arrows B and C, respectively, in the drawing, whereby the paddle plates 6b and 7b press fold line portions of the continuous paper P every half rotation. The paddle plates 6b and 7b are driven to make half rotation in synchronization with timing of a fold line of the continuous paper P, namely a swinging motion of the swinger fin, so as to press the fold line with timing when the fold line protrudes from the tip end of the swinger fin 2 by a certain amount.
Reference character “8” of
The swinger fin 2 makes a swinging motion substantially symmetrically with the position in
Referring to
The operation of the folding device S will be described below in the order of operating procedures.
First, an autoloading operation will be explained. The end portion of the continuous paper P is set to the pin tractors 1, and in this state, an autoloading button 4b of the operation panel 11 illustrated in
During the autoloading operation, regardless of the top-and-bottom length of the continuous paper P to be folded, the swinger fin 2 first stops at the position shown in
Next, the intermediate feed roller pair 3, the feed roller pair 4, and the pin tractors 1 are driven, thereby feeding the continuous paper P until the end of the continuous paper P reaches a position most suitable for starting smooth folding, which is a so-called standby position. The standby position of the continuous paper P is a position in which the end of the continuous paper P protrudes from the swinger fin 2 by a certain distance, or 50.8 mm (2 inches) in the present embodiment. This distance may be changed according to conditions, such as kinds or thickness of the continuous paper to be folded.
Subsequently, the swinger fin 2, the table 5 and the paddle members 6 and 7 are set in standby positions.
The swinger fin 2 once swings to and stops in the home position shown in
Designation of a folding direction of the first fold line of the continuous paper P is carried out using a folding-direction setting button 11c of the operation panel 11 shown in
The procedure of shifting the table 5 to the standby position will be described below. In case that at least one of the paper-surface sensors 103a and 103b is in the process of detecting the top surface of the table 5 or the top surface of the continuous paper P folded on the table 5, the descending mechanism, not shown, is activated to lower the table 5 to the position where both the paper-surface sensors do not detect the top surface of the table 5 or the top surface of the continuous paper P folded on the table 5 (standby position) and then stop the table 5.
The standby positions of the paddle members 6 and 7 are such positions that the paddle plates 6b and 7b are substantially parallelized with the table 5, and the rotary shafts 6b and 7b are driven and stopped so that the paddle plates 6b and 7b come into the standby positions. The rotary shafts 6b and 7b are driven by a pulse motor, not shown. By driving the pulse motor with a given number of pulses, the paddle members 6 and 7 are set into the prescribed standby positions.
Subsequently, the top-and-bottom length of the continuous paper P is set. Information about the top-and-bottom length of the continuous paper is classified into three kinds including a set top-and-bottom length to be inputted by the operator using a top-and-bottom length setting button 11e of the operation panel 11, a communicated top-and-bottom length obtained from the printing device such as a printer through communication, and a detected paddle unit distance detected by the paddle unit distance detection sensor. In the present embodiment, the operator can choose one among three modes to prioritize one of the three set values of the top-and bottom length of the continuous paper.
A first mode is a mode for prioritizing the communicated top-and-bottom length obtained from the printing device such as a printer through communication. As to the printing device such as a printer, it is usually the case that printing is performed with respect to each top-and-bottom length, and that data to be printed and operation of the printer are also controlled on the basis of the top-and-bottom length. There is an advantage that if a top-and-bottom length set value of the folding device is always set at the top-and-bottom length of the continuous paper to be printed by the printer, the operator can save the trouble of inputting the top-and-bottom length into the folding device each time.
In this mode, the input of the top-and-bottom length from the operation panel 11 of the folding device may be disregarded; or alternatively, the input itself may be counted as invalid. If the communicated top-and-bottom length and the detected paddle unit distance are different from each other, a warning may be displayed on the operation panel. It is possible not to allow the folding operation to begin unless the operator sets the distance between the paddle units to be an equal value to the communicated top-and-bottom length.
A second mode is a mode for prioritizing the set top-and-bottom length to be inputted from the operation panel 11. This mode is suitable for the following situation.
As stated above, in the printing device such as a printer, printing is carried out with respect to each top-and-bottom length. However, there is a printing form called double-page printing, which prints data corresponding to two pages in one top-and-bottom length, multi printing or the like. In such a case, if the top-and-bottom length of the continuous paper P is, for example, 244 mm (10 inches), occasionally the communicated top-and-bottom length obtained from the printer is half of that, namely 127 mm (5 inches). Therefore, the above-described first mode is not suitable.
In this mode, if the set top-and-bottom length is different from the communicated top-and-bottom length or the detected paddle unit distance, a warning may be displayed on the operation panel in the same manner to urge the operator to reconfirm the set top-and-bottom length. Alternatively, the set top-and-bottom length may be always given first priority without warning.
A third mode is a mode that places first priority on the detected paddle unit distance, that is, paddle mode. In this mode, the detected paddle unit distance is given first priority, so that as long as at least the paddle unit distance is correctly set so as to correspond to the top-and-bottom length of the continuous paper P, the folding operation can be properly performed.
These three modes can be chosen from a mode option window that is displayed on a display panel 11m by pressing down a menu button 11h of the operation panel 11. The operator can properly choose and set a mode according to a printing form that is mainly implemented or the kind of paper to be primarily used. If communication with the printing device 100 is not carried out, a choice is made between the second and third modes.
As illustrated in
In conventional art, the feed rate of the continuous paper P in the folding device S is set to be a little higher than that of the printing device 100 such as a printer. If the folding operation (continuous-paper feeding operation of the folding device S) is started while printing is carried out by the printing device 100 such as a printer, the slack of the continuous paper P becomes small. When the folding operation (continuous-paper feeding operation of the folding device S) is stopped, a slack amount becomes great.
In addition, a state in which the slack amount is great means a state in which distance between a lowest point of the slack of the continuous paper P and a floor surface F shown in
In the present embodiment, it is possible to perform the folding operation continuously, not intermittently, by using the buffer sensors 102a, 102b and 102c, determining how great the slack is, and setting the folding speed to be variable.
As stated above, the buffer sensors 102a, 102b and 102c are reflected-light type optical sensors. They detect reflected light from a physical object (continuous paper P here), to thereby output the presence of the physical object in the form of ON and OFF signals. Maximum detectable distance of each of the buffer sensors is shorter than distance between the folding device S and the printing device 100, so that the printing device 100 is not mistakenly detected as the continuous paper P if there is no continuous paper P. If a plurality of buffer sensors are used as in the present embodiment, it is possible to determine the slack amount of the continuous paper P more precisely to change the folding speed of the folding device S by comparing outputs of the respective buffer sensors. The folding speed here means the feed rate of the continuous paper P by the tractor unit 1, the swing velocity and timing of the swinger fin 2, and the rotational frequency and timing of the paddle rotary shafts 6a and 6b.
When none of the buffer sensors 102a, 102b and 102c detects the continuous paper P, slack is extremely small as shown in
If the continuous paper P is detected only by the buffer sensor 102a, this is a state in which there is a relatively small slack as illustrated in
If the continuous paper P is detected by the buffer sensors 102a and 102b, it is determined that the state is as shown in
When the continuous paper P is detected by all the buffer sensors 102a, 102b and 102c, it is determined that there is a relatively great slack as shown in
In the above-stated embodiment, the buffer sensors 102a, 102b and 102c detect only the presence of the continuous paper P and determine the size of the slack from a detection result. It is possible, however, to determine the state of the slack more precisely if a buffer sensor that outputs analog voltage according to distance from the physical object is used.
In this case, distance to the continuous paper P is calculated from analog output of the buffer sensor, and the state of the slack is determined from the detected distance. For example, when
By determining the size of the slack from the outputs of the buffer sensors 102a, 102b and 102c and making the folding speed variable as stated above, the folding operation can be continued without stopping the feed of the continuous paper P, which makes it possible to prevent a folding defect from being caused at the start of the folding operation.
As to a method of changing the folding speed, in the present embodiment, activation of the tractor unit 1, the swinger fin 2, and the paddle units 6 and 7 of the folding device S and activation timing are all controlled by a control substrate 14. Accordingly, if clock frequency of the control substrate 14 is changed, operation speed and operation timing of all of them can be changed, which is very preferable because it is not required to perform speed control with respect to the tractor unit 1, the swinger fin 2, and the paddle units 6 and 7 individually, or to add a change to control software.
The folding operation will be explained below with reference to a timing chart of
First, in order to stretch the continuous paper P to rid the slack between the pin tractor 1 and the tip end of the swinger fin 2, the intermediate feed roller pair 3 and the feed roller pair 4 are driven for time T1, or 0.5 seconds here, with the pin tractor 1 remaining at rest. Subsequently, the pin tractor 1 is activated, and the continuous paper P is fed toward the table 5. The swinger fin 2 starts to swing with such timing of time (time T2) that the end of the continuous paper P is located at prescribed distance, or at a distance of 60 mm here, from the tip end of the swinger fin 2. The explanation here refers to a case in which the swinger fin 2 is suspended at a standby position shown in
The swinger fin 2 moves to a position shown in
The stop time T2 of the swinger fin 2 is time that defines amount of protrusion of the end or fold line of the continuous paper P from the tip end of the swinger fin 2, that is, positional relationship between the tip end of the swinger fin 2 and the top surface of the table 5 or the top surface of the continuous paper P folded on the table 5. The stop time T2 is an important value for actualizing a good folding operation. The time T2, namely the stop time T2 of the swinger fin 2 capable of satisfactorily folding the continuous paper P on the table 5 by properly setting the positional relationship, is stored in a nonvolatile memory in the form of a table divided by top-and-bottom lengths after time most suitable for each top-and-bottom length of the continuous paper P is predetermined. A plurality of tables divided by top-and-bottom lengths may be prepared and stored according to thickness or kinds of the paper.
The paddle rotary shaft 7a is driven to make one rotation in a direction of arrow C in
In the same manner, the paddle rotary shaft 6a is driven to make one rotation in a direction of arrow B in
As described above, the paddle rotary shafts 6a and 7a press down the vicinity of the end or fold line of the continuous paper P laid on the table 5 from above by means of the paddle plates 6b and 7b while alternately repeating one rotation at a time, whereby the continuous paper P is surely folded on the table 5 along the original fold lines.
The waiting time T3 of the paddle rotary shafts 6a and 7a is stored in the nonvolatile memory in the form of a table divided by top-and-bottom lengths after time most suitable for each top-and-bottom length of the continuous paper P is predetermined. A plurality of tables divided by top-and-bottom lengths may be prepared and stored according to thickness or kinds of the paper. In the present embodiment, the paddle rotary shafts 6a and 7a are driven to make only one rotation, but they may be driven to make more than one rotations.
When the height of the top surface of the continuous paper P laid on the table 5 is raised by repeating the folding operation, this reduces the distance between the tip end of the swinger fin 2 and the top surface of the continuous paper P folded on the table 5. As a result, the positional relationship proper for good folding cannot be maintained. Therefore, when one or both of the paper-surface sensors 103a and 103b detects the top surface of the table 5 or the top surface of the continuous paper P laid on the table 5 during the folding operation, the table 5 is lowered at prescribed distance, for example, 5 mm, to thereby maintain the distance between the tip end of the swinger fin 2 and the top surface of the continuous paper P folded on the table 5 to be proper for good folding.
Detection of oblique travel and meandering travel of the continuous paper P, which is carried out by the travel sensor 101, will be explained below.
In order to monitor sprocket holes of the continuous paper P, the travel sensor 101 is disposed right under the sprocket holes. Since the travel sensor 101 is a reflected-light type optical sensor, the travel sensor 101 outputs periodical ON and OFF signals along with the travel of the continuous paper P correspondingly to pass of the sprocket holes according to the feed rate of the continuous paper P and distance between the sprocket holes. In other words, with timing when the sprocket hole is located immediately above, the travel sensor 101 outputs an ON signal. When being in between the sprocket holes, the travel sensor 101 outputs an OFF signal. When the period of the ON and OFF signals is monitored, and the detection cannot be performed for fixed multiple time, for example, 0.06 seconds, of a time period, for example, 0.03 second period, corresponding to the feed rate of the continuous paper P and the distance between the sprocket holes, it is determined that the continuous paper P has come off the pin tractor 1 and started traveling obliquely or meanderingly. Therefore, the folding operation is stopped.
Consequently, even if the continuous paper P comes off the pin tractor 1, and the oblique or the meandering travel occurs, it is possible to reduce the number of sheets of the continuous paper P damaged by a folding defect. Especially, the continuous paper P with small thickness, for example, 34 kg/ream weight, is expanded and contracted to a great degree by being heated or pressed during a fixing process of the printer, so that the continuous paper P easily comes off the pin tractor 1. The above-mentioned folding device S, however, is capable of detecting a folding defect in an early stage and has a great advantage of reducing the number of damaged sheets of the continuous paper P, attributable to a folding defect.
If the folding device S produces an error such as a folding defect, and the folding operation cannot be continued and is then stopped, the fact that the error occurs in the folding device S may be transmitted to the printer by using the communication means.
Once the printing of the printing device 100 is carried out through to a terminal end of the continuous paper P, and the terminal end is released from the printing device 100, the folding device S stops the folding operation at the point where the terminal end of the continuous paper P passes the buffer sensor 102b. In this state, if a release button 11i of the operation panel 11 is pressed down, a release operation is implemented. The continuous paper P remaining in the feed path of the folding device S is folded through to the terminal end. Subsequently, the swinger fin 2 is moved to the position shown in
By moving the swinger fin 2 to the position shown in
If there are a large number of laid sheets of the continuous paper P, the table-descending button 11h of the operation panel 11 is pressed down to lower the table 5 to a position high enough to take out the continuous paper P. Then, a stop button 11g of the operation panel 11 is pressed down to stop the descent of the table 5. Subsequently, the handle 5a is held, and the table 5 is pulled out. The continuous paper P folded on the table 5 is then removed. If maximum mountable sheets, for example, 3000 sheets, of the continuous paper P are laid on the table 5, the weight of the continuous paper P is considerably heavy. If the table 5 can be pulled out, however, it is possible to relatively easily take out the continuous paper P.
The explanation about the embodiments according to the present invention will be finished here, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-183870 | Jun 2004 | JP | national |
| 2004-183844 | Jun 2004 | JP | national |
| 2004-183843 | Jun 2004 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP05/11285 | 6/20/2005 | WO | 11/17/2006 |
