Patent Application
20180290848
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-076752, filed Apr. 7, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image forming apparatus.
There is an image forming apparatus such as a Multi-Function Peripheral (hereinafter, referred to as an “MFP”) or a printer. The image forming apparatus forms an image while conveying a sheet-like recording medium such as a paper (hereinafter, collectively referred to as a “sheet”). The image forming apparatus includes a fixing device, a guide and a conveyance roller. The fixing device fixes an image by applying heat and pressure to the sheet. The sheet includes a label sheet containing a label main body having an adhesive surface such as a pasted surface and a mount adhering to the adhesive surface.
In a case of conveying the label sheet, the label sheet is heated by passing through the fixing device, and thus, there is a case in which a small amount of glue protrudes from a sheet edge. If the glue protrudes from the sheet edge, there is a case in which the glue adheres to the guide or the conveyance roller. If the glue adheres to the guide or the conveyance roller, the glue is stacked on the guide or the conveyance roller, and thus, there is a possible that a conveyance jam occurs.
In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming section, a guide, a conveyance roller and a movement mechanism. The image forming section forms an image on an image receiving medium. The guide is arranged at a downstream side of the image forming section in a conveyance direction of the image receiving medium. The guide guides the image receiving medium. The conveyance roller is arranged at the downstream side of the image forming section in the conveyance direction of the image receiving medium. The conveyance roller conveys the image receiving medium along the guide. The movement mechanism moves at least one of the guide and the conveyance roller in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the image receiving medium.
Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus of an embodiment is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, in each diagram, the same component is given the same reference numeral.
As shown in
The scanner 12 reads an image of an original document. The control panel 13 includes an input key 13a and a display section 13b. For example, the input key 13a receives an input by a user. For example, the display section 13b is a touch panel type. The display section 13b receives an input by the user and displays it to the user.
The sheet feed cassette section 16 includes a sheet feed cassette 16a and a pickup roller 16b. The sheet feed cassette 16a houses a sheet P which is the image receiving medium, also known as image recording medium. In the embodiment, the sheet P includes a label sheet. The pickup roller 16b picks up the sheet P from the sheet feed cassette 16a.
The sheet feed cassette 16a feeds an unused sheet P. A sheet feed tray 17 feeds the unused sheet P with a pickup roller 17a.
The printer section 18 executes an image formation. For example, the printer section 18 forms an image of the original document read by the scanner 12. The printer section 18 includes an intermediate transfer belt 21. The printer section 18 supports the intermediate transfer belt 21 with a backup roller 40, a driven roller 41 and a tension roller 42. The backup roller 40 includes a driving section (not shown). The printer section 18 rotates the intermediate transfer belt 21 in an arrow m direction.
The printer section 18 includes four sets of image forming stations 22Y, 22M, 22C and 22K. The image forming stations 22Y, 22M, 22C and 22K are used for forming images of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan) and K (black), respectively. The image forming stations 22Y, 22M, 22C and 22K are arranged in parallel along a rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 21 at the lower side of the intermediate transfer belt 21.
The printer section 18 includes cartridges 23Y, 23M, 23C and 23K above the image forming stations 22Y, 22M, 22C and 22K. The cartridges 23Y, 23M, 23C and 23K store toner for replenishment of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan) and K (black), respectively.
The description below is given by taking the image forming station 22Y of Y (yellow) as an example among the image forming stations 22Y, 22M, 22C and 22K. The image forming stations 22M, 22C and 22K have the same arrangement as the image forming station 22Y, and thus a detailed description thereof is omitted.
The image forming station 22Y includes an electric charger 26, an exposure scanning head 27, a developing device 28 and a photoconductor cleaner 29. The electric charger 26, the exposure scanning head 27, the developing device 28 and the photoconductor cleaner 29 are arranged around the photoconductive drum 24 rotating in an arrow n direction.
The image forming station 22Y includes a primary transfer roller 30. The primary transfer roller 30 faces the photoconductive drum 24 across the intermediate transfer belt 21.
The image forming station 22Y charges the photoconductive drum 24 with the electric charger 26 and then exposes it with the exposure scanning head 27. The image forming station 22Y forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive drum 24. The developing device 28 develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive drum 24 using a two-component developer formed by toner and carrier.
The primary transfer roller 30 primarily transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductive drum 24 onto the intermediate transfer belt 21. The image forming stations 22Y, 22M, 22C and 22K form a color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21 with the primary transfer roller 30. The color toner image is formed by sequentially superimposing toner images of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan) and K (black). The photoconductor cleaner 29 removes the toner remaining on the photoconductive drum 24 after the primary transfer.
The printer section 18 includes a secondary transfer roller 32. The secondary transfer roller 32 faces the backup roller 40 across the intermediate transfer belt 21. The secondary transfer roller 32 secondarily transfers the color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21 onto the sheet P collectively. The sheet P is fed from the sheet feed cassette section 16 or the sheet feed tray 17 along a conveyance path 33.
The printer section 18 includes a belt cleaner 43 opposite to the driven roller 41 across the intermediate transfer belt 21. The belt cleaner 43 removes the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 21 after the secondary transfer.
The printer section 18 includes a resist roller 33a and a fixing device 34 along the conveyance path 33. The printer section 18 includes a bifurcating section 37 and a reverse conveyance section 38 at the downstream of the fixing device 34. The bifurcating section 37 sends the sheet P after fixing to the sheet discharge unit 60 or the reverse conveyance section 38. In the case of duplex printing, the reverse conveyance section 38 conveys the sheet P sent from the bifurcating section 37 in a direction of the resist roller 33a by reversing the sheet P. The MFP 10 forms a fixed toner image on the sheet P with the printer section 18. The MFP 10 discharges the sheet P after fixing to a sheet discharge section 20 via the sheet discharge unit 60.
The MFP 10 is not limited to a tandem development system and the number of the developing devices 28 is not limited. The MFP 10 may directly transfer the toner image from the photoconductive drum 24 onto the sheet P.
As mentioned above, the sheet P is conveyed from the sheet feed cassette section 16 to the sheet discharge section 20.
Hereinafter, the sheet feed cassette section 16 side is referred to as an “upstream side” in the conveyance direction V1 of the sheet P (hereinafter, also referred to as a “sheet conveyance direction V1”). In the sheet conveyance direction V1, the sheet discharge section 20 side is referred to as a “downstream side”.
Next, the fixing device 34 is described.
As shown in
First, the heat roller 45 (rotating body) which is a heating unit is described.
The heat roller 45 is arranged at the downstream side of the intermediate transfer belt 21 (refer to
The fixing device 34 further includes a heat source (not shown) for heating the heat roller 45. For example, the heat source may be a resistance heating element such as a thermal head, a ceramic heater, a halogen lamp, an electromagnetic induction heating unit, or the like. The heat source may be arranged at the inner side or outer side of the heat roller 45.
The pressure unit 50 is described.
The pressure unit 50 includes a plurality of rollers 51 and 52, a belt 53 (rotating body) and a pressure pad 54 (pressure member).
The plurality of rollers 51 and 52 is arranged within the belt 53. In the present embodiment, each of the plurality of rollers 51 and 52 are composed of a first roller 51 and a second roller 52. The plurality of rollers 51 and 52 may be the same roller or different rollers.
The plurality of rollers 51 and 52 are rotatable around a plurality of rotation axes 51a and 52a parallel to the first axis 45a. The plurality of rollers 51 and 52 are arranged at positions that contribute to the formation of a nip 46.
The first roller 51 is arranged at the upstream side of the second roller 52 in the sheet conveyance direction V1. The first roller 51 has a columnar shape. For example, the first roller 51 is made of metal such as iron. The first roller 51 is rotatable around a first rotation axis 51a parallel to the first axis 45a. The first rotation axis 51a means a central axis of the first roller 51.
The second roller 52 is arranged at the downstream side of the first roller 51 in the sheet conveyance direction V1. The second roller 52 has a cylindrical shape. For example, the second roller 52 is made of metal such as iron. The second roller 52 is rotatable about a second rotation axis 52a parallel to the first axis 45a. The second rotation axis 52a means a central axis of the second roller 52.
The belt 53 faces the heat roller 45. The belt 53 is stretched over the first roller 51 and the second roller 52. The belt 53 has an endless shape.
The belt 53 includes a base layer 53a and a release layer (not shown). For example, the base layer 53a is formed of polyimide resin (PI). For example, the release layer is formed of a fluororesin such as tetrafluoroethylene·perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer resin (PFA). The layer structure of the belt 53 is not limited thereto. The belt 53 includes a film-like member.
The pressure pad 54 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. For example, the pressure pad 54 is formed of a resin material such as heat resistant polyphenylene sulfide resin (PPS), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), phenol resin (PF) or the like. The pressure pad 54 is arranged at a position facing the heat roller 45 across the belt 53. The pressure pad 54 is energized toward the heat roller 45 by an energizing member (not shown) such as a spring. The pressure pad 54 abuts against an inner peripheral surface of the belt 53 to press the belt 53 against the heat roller 45 to form the nip 46. The pressure pad 54 presses the inner peripheral surface of the belt 53 toward the heat roller 45 side, thereby forming the nip 46 between the belt 53 and the heat roller 45.
The rotation direction of the heat roller 45 is described.
The heat roller 45 rotates in an arrow R1 direction by a motor (not shown). The heat roller 45 rotates independently of the pressure unit 50 in the arrow R1 direction. In the embodiment, the heat roller 45 is a driving roller.
The belt 53 is driven by the heat roller 45 and rotates in an arrow R2 direction. The belt 53 abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the heat roller 45 that rotates in the arrow R1 direction, thereby rotating accordingly.
The first roller 51 is driven by the belt 53 and rotates in an arrow R3 direction. The second roller 52 is driven by the belt 53 and rotates in an arrow R4 direction. The first roller 51 and the second roller 52 are driven to rotate by contacting with the inner peripheral surface of the belt 53 rotating in the arrow R2 direction.
The sheet discharge unit 60 is described.
As shown in
As shown in
The guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 are located at the downstream side of the fixing device 34 in the sheet conveyance direction V1 (refer to
The guide rib 62 protrudes toward the sheet P conveyed along the sheet conveyance direction V1. The guide rib 62 extends along the sheet conveyance direction V1. A plurality of the guide ribs 62 is arranged at intervals in a direction V2 (hereinafter, referred to as a “sheet width direction V2”) which is parallel to a surface of the sheet P and orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction V1.
The rib connection section 63 connects the two guide ribs 62 adjacent to each other in the sheet width direction V2. The rib connection section 63 has a thickness in a normal line direction of one surface of the sheet P conveyed along the sheet conveyance direction V1. The rib connection section 63 functions as a reinforcing section of the guide 61.
As shown in
The guide 61 is arranged apart from the two conveyance rollers 36 adjacent to each other in the sheet width direction V2. In the sheet width direction V2, a distance W1 between the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 is larger than a width W2 of the guide rib 62 (W1>W2). A downstream end of the guide rib 62 in the sheet conveyance direction V1 is curved to avoid the shaft 68.
The drive mechanism 65 is described.
As shown in
The conveyance roller 36 rotates in a direction of the arrow J1 by driving of the drive mechanism side motor (refer to
The movement mechanism 70 is described.
The movement mechanism 70 moves the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 in a direction intersecting the sheet conveyance direction V1. In the embodiment, the movement mechanism 70 moves the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 in the sheet width direction V2.
As shown in
As shown in
A pair of support pieces 72b and 72c extends from the rack section 72a toward both sides of the driven gear 67 in the drive mechanism 65 (refer to
A diameter D2 of the through hole 72h in each of support pieces 72b and 72c is larger than a maximum length D1 of the through hole 67h in the driven gear 67 (D2>D1). The maximum length D1 of the through hole 67h in the driven gear 67 is a length of the diagonal of the rectangular through hole 67h. The length of the diagonal of the rectangular through hole 67h corresponds to a maximum width of the prismatic shaft 68. In other words, the diameter D2 of the through hole 72h in each of the support pieces 72b and 72c is larger than the maximum width of the prismatic shaft 68.
In the through hole 72h of each of the support pieces 72b and 72c, a bearing (not shown) for rotatably supporting the shaft 68 is provided. The rack member 72 regulates movement of the shaft 68 in the sheet width direction V2 while allowing rotation of the shaft 68. As the rack member 72 moves in the sheet width direction V2, the conveyance roller 36 fixed to the shaft 68 also moves in the sheet width direction V2.
As shown in
The position sensor 73 detects a movement amount and a movement direction of the rack member 72 in the sheet width direction V2. For example, the position sensor 73 is a non-contact sensor such as a laser displacement meter or an ultrasonic sensor. The detection result of the position sensor 73 is output to the system controller 100 (refer to
The sheet P is described.
In the embodiment, the sheet P includes the label sheet.
As shown in
As shown in
For example, the label sheet 80 is a fixed single sheet such as A4 or B5. The mount 82 has substantially the same contour as the label paper 81. An edge 82e of the mount 82 substantially overlaps with an edge 81e of the label paper 81 in a thickness direction of the label sheet 80. No margin is provided between the edge 82e of the mount 82 and the edge 81e of the label paper 81. The edge 82e of the mount 82 constitutes an edge 80e (hereinafter, also referred to as a “sheet edge 80e”) of the label sheet 80. Hereinafter, the sheet edge 80e in the sheet width direction V2 is also referred to as a “sheet width direction edge 80e”.
The function of the movement mechanism 70 is described.
The system controller 100 (refer to
The home position of the sheet discharge unit 60 is a reference position before the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 move in the sheet width direction V2. As shown in
The control of the movement mechanism 70 is described. For example, the control of the movement mechanism 70 is executed based on an instruction input by the user to the control panel 13 (refer to
The system controller 100 (refer to
For example, the movement amount controller 100a controls the movement mechanism 70 in such a manner that the guide rib 62 moves to the inside of the sheet width direction edge 80e of the first sheet P1 in a case in which the guide rib 62 overlaps with the sheet width direction edge 80e of the label sheet 80 (hereinafter, also referred to as a “first sheet P1”) at the home position. The movement mechanism 70 moves the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 in the first direction V21 (refer to
If a plurality of the label sheets 80 having substantially the same size are conveyed consecutively, the system controller 100 (refer to
For example, the movement direction controller 100b controls the movement mechanism 70 in such a manner that the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 alternately move in the first direction V21 (refer to
The system controller 100 (refer to
A case in which the width of the label sheet 80 to be conveyed next is different from that of the label sheet 80 one sheet before refers to that the width of the label sheet 80 to be conveyed next is larger than or smaller than that of the label sheet 80 one sheet before.
For example, if the width of the label sheet 80 to be conveyed next is a B5 size width and the width of the label sheet 80 one sheet before is an A4 size width, the movement timing controller 100c controls the movement mechanism 70 to stop the movement of the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 in the sheet width direction V2. The guide mechanism 70 stops the movement of the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 in the sheet width direction V2 so that an overlapping position of a label sheet edge of A4 size and an overlapping position of a label sheet edge of B5 size are different from each other with respect to the guide rib 62 in the sheet width direction V2.
For example, if the width of the label sheet 80 to be conveyed next is the A4 size width and the width of the label sheet 80 one sheet before is the B5 size width, the movement timing controller 100c controls the movement mechanism 70 to stop the movement of the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 in the sheet width direction V2. The movement mechanism 70 stops the movement of the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 in the sheet width direction V2 so that the guide rib 62 overlapping with the label sheet edge of B5 size can be arranged inside the label sheet edge of A4 size in the sheet width direction V2.
The functional components of the image forming apparatus 10 are described.
As shown in
The system controller 100 controls the operation of each functional section of the image forming apparatus 10. The system controller 100 executes various processing by executing programs. The system controller 100 acquires an instruction input by the user from the control panel 13. The system controller 100 executes a control processing based on the acquired instruction.
A network interface 102 transmits and receives data to and from other devices. The network interface 102 operates as an input interface to receive data transmitted from other devices. The network interface 102 also operates as an output interface to transmit data to other devices.
The storage device 103 stores various data. For example, the storage device 103 is a hard disk or an SSD (Solid State Drive). For example, various data are digital data, screen data of a setting screen, setting information, a job, job log, and the like. Various data includes the scan data including the sheet information such as the sheet size, the print data, the coordinate data, and the like. The digital data is generated by the scanner 12. The setting screen is used for setting operation of the movement mechanism 70. The setting information relates to an operation setting of the movement mechanism 70.
The memory 104 temporarily stores data used by each functional section. For example, the memory 104 is a RAM (Random Access Memory). For example, the memory 104 temporarily stores the digital data, the jobs, the job log, and the like.
In a case of conveying the label sheet, there is a case in which a little amount of the glue protrudes from the sheet edge by being heated at the time the label sheet passes through the fixing device. If the glue protrudes from the sheet edge, the glue adheres to the guide or the conveyance roller in some cases. If the glue adheres to the guide or the conveyance roller, a conveyance jam may occur due to accumulation of the glue on the guide or the conveyance roller.
According to the embodiment, the image forming apparatus includes the printer section 18, the guide 61, the conveyance roller 36 and the movement mechanism 70. The printer section 18 forms an image on the label sheet 80. The guide 61 is located at the downstream side of the printer section 18 in the sheet conveyance direction V1. The guide 61 guides the label sheet 80. The conveyance roller 36 is located at the downstream side of the printer section 18 in the sheet conveyance direction V1. The conveyance roller 36 conveys the label sheet 80 along the guide 61. The movement mechanism 70 moves the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 in the sheet width direction V2. With the above arrangement, the following effects are achieved. The guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 move in the sheet width direction V2, and thus, even if the glue protrudes from the sheet width direction edge 80e, it is possible to suppress adhesion of the glue moves to the same place of the guide 61 or the conveyance roller 36. By suppressing the glue from adhering to the same place of the guide 61 or the conveyance roller 36, it is possible to suppress the glue from stacking in the same place of the guide 61 or the conveyance roller 36. Consequently, it is possible to suppress the conveyance jam.
The system controller 100 includes the movement amount controller 100a for controlling the movement amount of the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 in such a manner that the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 move towards the inside of edge 80e of the label sheet 80 (first sheet P1) one sheet before in the sheet width direction V2, and in this way, the following effects are achieved. By moving the guide rib 62 towards the inside of the sheet width direction edge 80e of the first sheet P1, the guide rib 62 can be positioned at the inside of the sheet width direction edge 80e of the label sheet 80 (second sheet P2) conveyed next to the first sheet Pl. Even if the glue protruding from the sheet width direction edge 80e of the first sheet P1 adheres to the guide rib 62, the glue attached to the guide rib 62 can be transferred onto the second sheet P2. By transferring the glue adhering to the guide rib 62 onto the second sheet P2, the glue adhering to the guide rib 62 can be cleaned. Consequently, it is possible to suppress the conveyance jam.
The system controller 100 further includes the movement direction controller 100b for controlling the movement direction of the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 in such a manner that the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 move alternately in the sheet width direction V2 each time one label sheet 80 is conveyed if a plurality of the label sheets 80 is continuously conveyed, and in this way, the following effects are achieved. By alternatively repeating the state (overlapping state) in which the guide rib 62 overlaps with the width direction edge 80e and the state (inside arrangement state) in which the guide rib 62 is located at the inside of the sheet width direction edge 80e through moving the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 alternately in the first direction V21 and the second direction V22, it is possible to above that the guide rib 62 continues to overlap with the sheet width direction edge 80e at the same position. By avoiding the situation where the guide rib 62 continues to overlap with the sheet width direction edge 80e at the same position, even if the glue protrudes from the sheet width direction edge 80e, it is possible to suppress the glue from stacking in the same place in the guide 61. Thus, the conveyance jam can be suppressed.
In particular, if plural label sheets 80 of the same size are conveyed in succession, even if the glue protruding from the sheet width direction edge 80e adheres to the guide rib 62, the glue adhering to the guide rib 62 can be transferred onto the next label sheet 80 to be cleaned. In the case in which a plurality of the label sheets 80 of the same size is continuously conveyed, it is preferable to effectively suppress the conveyance jam.
The system controller 100 further includes the movement timing controller 100c for controlling the movement timing of the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 to stop the movement of the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 in the sheet width direction V2 if the width of the label sheet 80 to be conveyed next differs from that of the label sheet 80 one sheet before, and in this way, the following effects are achieved. By stopping the movement of the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 in the sheet width direction V2 if the width of the label sheet 80 to be conveyed next is shorter than the width of the label sheet 80 one sheet before, the overlapping position between the sheet width direction edge 80e of each label sheet 80 and the guide rib 62 can be different from each other. By making the overlapping position between the sheet width direction edge 80e of each label sheet 80 and the guide rib 62 different from each other, even if the glue protrudes from the sheet width direction edge 80e, it is possible to suppress the glue from stacking at the same position of the guide rib 62. On the other hand, if the width of the label sheet 80 to be conveyed next is longer than the width of the label sheet 80 one sheet before, by stopping the movement of the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 in the sheet width direction V2, it is possible to position the guide rib 62 that overlaps with the sheet width direction edge 80e of the label sheet 80 one sheet before at the inside of the sheet width direction edge 80e of the next label sheet 80 to be conveyed next. Even if the glue that protrudes from the sheet width direction edge 80e of the label sheet 80 one sheet before adheres to the guide rib 62, it is possible to transfer the glue adhering to the guide rib 62 onto the label sheet 80 to be conveyed next to be cleaned. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the conveyance jam.
The printer section 18 includes the fixing device 34 which applies heat to the label sheet 80 to fix the image. The guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 are located at the downstream side of the fixing device 34 in the sheet conveyance direction V1. With the above constitution, the following effects are achieved. If the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 are located at the downstream side of the fixing device 34 in the sheet conveyance direction V1, as the label sheet 80 is heated bypassing through the fixing device 34, a little amount of the glue easily protrudes from the sheet edge 80e, and thus, there is a high possibility that the glue protruding from the sheet edge 80e adheres to the guide 61 or the conveyance roller 36 and stacks thereon. According to the embodiment, as the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 move in the sheet width direction V2, even if the glue protrudes from the sheet width direction edge 80e, it is possible to prevent the glue from stacking at the same position of the guide 61 or the conveyance roller 36. Therefore, it is possible to effectively suppress the conveyance jam. In particular, if the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 are located immediately after the fixing device 34, even if the glue protruding from the sheet width direction edge 80e adheres to the guide 61 or the conveyance roller 36, the glue immediately after adhesion can be easily transferred onto the next label sheet 80 to be cleaned. If the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 are arranged immediately after the fixing device 34, it is preferable as the conveyance jam can be effectively suppressed.
The modification is described below.
The movement mechanism 70 is not limited to moving the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 in the sheet width direction V2. For example, the movement mechanism 70 may move either the guide 61 or the conveyance roller 36 in the sheet width direction V2. The movement mechanism 70 may move at least one of the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 in the sheet width direction V2.
The rack member 72 is not limited to regulating the movement of the shaft 68 in the sheet width direction V2. For example, the rack member 72 may allow the movement of the shaft 68 in the sheet width direction V2. If the rack member 72 moves in the sheet width direction V2, the conveyance roller 36 fixed to the shaft 68 may stop moving in the sheet width direction V2.
The rack member 72 is not limited to regulating the movement of the guide 61 in the sheet width direction V2. For example, the rack member 72 may allow the movement of the guide 61 in the sheet width direction V2. If the rack member 72 moves in the sheet width direction V2, the guide 61 may stop moving in the sheet width direction V2.
The guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 are not limited to being arranged at the downstream side of the fixing device 34 in the sheet conveyance direction V1. For example, the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 may be arranged between the intermediate transfer belt 21 and the fixing device 34 in the sheet conveyance direction V1. The guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 may be located at the downstream side of the printer section 18 in the sheet conveyance direction V1.
The system controller 100 is not limited to controlling the movement mechanism 70 in such a manner that the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 move in the sheet width direction V2. For example, the movement mechanism 70 may unconditionally move the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 in the sheet width direction V2 without control. For example, the movement mechanism 70 may include a motor and a cam mechanism so that the guide 61 and the conveyance roller 36 are alternately and constantly moved in the first direction V21 and the second direction V22.
The fixing device 34 is not limited to including the heat roller 45 and the belt 53. For example, the fixing device 34 may include a fixing belt and a pressure roller.
It is not limited that there is no margin between the edge 82e of the mount 82 and the edge 81e of the label paper 81. For example, a margin may be provided between the edge 82e of the mount 82 and the edge 81e of the label paper 81. The margins may be provided on both sides in the sheet width direction V2 of the label sheet 80. The margin may be provided all around the label sheet 80.
According to the image forming apparatus of at least one embodiment described above, the conveyance jam can be suppressed.
The function of the image forming apparatus in the embodiment described above may be realized by a computer. In that case, it may be realized by recording a program for realizing the function in a computer-readable recording medium and enabling a computer system to read and execute the program recorded in the recording medium. The “computer system” mentioned above includes an OS or hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM and the like, or a storage device such as a hard disk built in the computer system. Furthermore, the “computer-readable recording medium” may also include a medium for dynamically holding the program for a short time, such as a communication wire for transmitting the program via a network such as an Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, or a medium for holding the program for a certain time such as a volatile memory inside a computer system serving as a server or a client in that case. The program mentioned above may be used for realizing a part of the above-described functions, or may be used to realize the above-described function by a combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-076752 | Apr 2017 | JP | national |
