MEDIUM CONVEYING UNIT AND MEDIUM PROCESSING SYSTEM

Abstract

A medium conveying unit is configured to be attached to a medium processing unit. The medium conveying unit includes: a first conveying portion configured to convey a medium toward the medium processing unit along an upstream path; a receiving portion configured to receive the medium processed by the medium processing unit; and a second conveying portion configured to convey the medium toward the receiving portion along a downstream path different from the upstream path.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-186938 filed on Oct. 31, 2023. The entire content of the priority application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND ART

The present disclosure relates to a medium conveying unit configured to be attached to a medium processing unit, and a medium processing system including the medium conveying unit, the medium processing unit, and an arithmetic device.

In a related art, a paper feeder is arranged laterally of an image forming apparatus (a processing apparatus) including a photosensitive drum. A recording sheet (a sheet member) fed by the paper feeder is transported to the image forming apparatus through a sheet receiving section of the image forming apparatus and conveyed along a sheet transport path of the image forming apparatus. After an image is formed on the recording sheet by the photosensitive drum, the recording sheet is ejected onto an ejected sheet tray provided in the image forming apparatus.

DESCRIPTION

In the above-described image forming apparatus, the recording sheet after the image formation is ejected onto the ejected sheet tray of the image forming apparatus. On the other hand, it may be conceivable to cause a sheet feeding device to receive a sheet after an image formation to be received. For example, a sheet discharged from a sheet feeding device and on which an image is formed by a photosensitive drum is returned to the sheet feeding device by reversing a conveying direction, thereby being received by the sheet feeding device.

However, to achieve the conceivable configuration, when a path along which the sheet is conveyed toward a sheet receiving port of an image forming device and a path along which the sheet is conveyed from the sheet receiving port of the image forming device toward a receiving portion of the sheet feeding device are common, the next sheet cannot be conveyed toward the sheet receiving port, for example, until the sheet is received by the receiving portion. In this case, the sheet cannot be continuously conveyed to a medium processing portion of the image forming device, and a processing speed cannot be improved.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a medium conveying unit and a medium processing system capable of improving the processing speed.

The present disclosure provides a medium conveying unit configured to be attached to a medium processing unit, the medium conveying unit including: a first conveying portion configured to convey a medium toward the medium processing unit along an upstream path; a receiving portion configured to receive the medium processed by the medium processing unit; and a second conveying portion configured to convey the medium toward the receiving portion along a downstream path different from the upstream path.

The present disclosure provides a medium processing system including: a medium conveying unit including: a first conveying portion configured to convey a medium along an upstream path; a second conveying portion configured to convey the medium along a downstream path different from the upstream path; and a receiving portion configured to receive the medium conveyed by the second conveying portion; a medium processing unit configured to allow the medium conveying unit to be attached thereto, the medium processing unit including: a third conveying portion configured to convey the medium along a merging path in which the upstream path and the downstream path are to be merged; and a medium processing portion configured to process the medium conveyed by the third conveying portion at a processing position provided in the merging path; and an arithmetic unit including a controller configured to control the first conveying portion, the second conveying portion, the third conveying portion, and the medium processing portion, in which: the controller is configured to execute: a first conveying operation to cause the first conveying portion to convey the medium along the upstream path toward the merging path in a direction including a first direction component; a second conveying operation to cause, after the first conveying operation, the second conveying portion to convey the medium from the merging path toward the downstream path in a direction including a second direction component opposite to the first direction component, to allow the receiving portion to receive the medium; and a medium processing operation to cause the medium processing portion to process the medium while the third conveying portion conveys the medium in a state in which the medium is positioned over the merging path and the downstream path.

According to the present disclosure, the upstream path and the downstream path are different from each other and are not common to each other. Therefore, even before the medium is received in the receiving portion, when the medium is arranged outside the upstream path, the next medium can be conveyed toward the medium processing unit (merging path) along the upstream path. Accordingly, the medium can be continuously conveyed to the medium processing portion, and a processing speed can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a cutting system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conveying unit and a cutting unit included in the cutting system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the conveying unit included in the cutting system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view the cutting unit included in the cutting system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the conveying unit and the cutting unit included in the cutting system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a program executed by a CPU of the conveying unit included in the cutting system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a program executed by a CPU of the cutting unit included in the cutting system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a program executed by a CPU of a PC included in the cutting system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a cutting system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a program executed by a CPU of a conveying unit included in the cutting system of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a program executed by a CPU of a cutting unit included in the cutting system of FIG. 9.

FIRST EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1, a cutting system 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a conveying unit 101, a cutting unit 102, and a PC 103.

The cutting system 100 corresponds to a “medium processing system” of the present disclosure. The conveying unit 101 corresponds to a “medium conveying unit” of the present disclosure. The cutting unit 102 corresponds to a “medium processing unit” of the present disclosure. The PC 103 corresponds to an “arithmetic unit” of the present disclosure.

The conveying unit 101 (see FIG. 3) is attachable to and detachable from the cutting unit 102 (see FIG. 4), that is, attachable to the cutting unit 102. In FIGS. 2 and 5, the conveying unit 101 is fixed to a front end of the cutting unit 102 and is located in front of the cutting unit 102.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the conveying unit 101 includes a sheet feeding tray 2, a sheet discharging tray 5, a first conveying portion 31, a second conveying portion 32, a sheet sensor 7S, and a control device 80. As shown in FIG. 5, the sheet feeding tray 2 and the sheet discharging tray 5 can support one or more sheets P. The sheet feeding tray 2 supports the sheet P to be cut by the cutting unit 102, and forms a starting point of a conveyance path of the sheet P in the conveying unit 101. The sheet discharging tray 5 receives the sheet P cut by the cutting unit 102, and forms an end point of a conveyance path of the sheet P in the conveying unit 101. The sheet discharging tray 5 corresponds to a “receiving portion” of the present disclosure. The sheet P corresponds to a “medium” of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 5, the conveying unit 101 is formed with an upstream path R1 along which the sheet P is conveyed from the sheet feeding tray 2 rearward in an oblique manner and toward the cutting unit 102, and a downstream path R2 along which the sheet P cut by the cutting unit 102 is conveyed forward and toward the sheet discharging tray 5. The upstream path R1 is located above the downstream path R2. The upstream path R1 and the downstream path R2 are different from each other and do not have a common portion.

The first conveying portion 31 includes rollers 311, 312, and 313 arranged on the upstream path R1, and a first conveying motor 31M (see FIG. 1).

The rollers 311, 312, and 313 convey the sheet P toward the cutting unit 102 along the upstream path R1. Among the rollers 311, 312, and 313, the roller 311 is arranged at the foremost position (that is, a position farthest from the cutting unit 102), and the roller 313 is arranged at the rearmost position (that is, a position closest to the cutting unit 102). The roller 312 is located between the roller 311 and the roller 313 in a front-rear direction.

The second conveying portion 32 includes a roller 321 arranged on the downstream path R2 and the first conveying motor 31M (see FIG. 1). The first conveying motor 31M is shared by the first conveying portion 31 and the second conveying portion 32.

The roller 321 conveys the sheet P toward the sheet discharging tray 5 along the downstream path R2.

The rollers 311, 312, and 313 and the roller 321 are coupled to each other via a plurality of gears and coupled to the first conveying motor 31M (see FIG. 1). The rollers 311, 312, and 313 and the roller 321 are rotated by driving the first conveying motor 31M.

The sheet sensor 7S outputs a signal indicating a presence or absence of the sheet P (either an ON signal indicating the presence of the sheet P or an OFF signal indicating the absence of the sheet P), which is located downstream of the roller 313 on the upstream path R1.

In the cutting unit 102, a merging path R3 in which the upstream path R1 and the downstream path R2 are merged is formed.

The cutting unit 102 includes a third conveying portion 33, a cutting portion 4, and a control device 90.

The third conveying portion 33 includes a roller 331 arranged on the merging path R3 and a second conveying motor 32M (see FIG. 1). The roller 331 is coupled to the second conveying motor 32M. The roller 331 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 5 (in a direction in which the sheet P is conveyed rearward) by driving the second conveying motor 32M to rotate in the forward direction, and is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 5 (in a direction in which the sheet P is conveyed forward) by driving the second conveying motor 32M to rotate in the reverse direction. That is, the third conveying portion 33 can convey the sheet P in a direction from the merging path R3 toward the downstream path R2 (forward) and a direction from the downstream path R2 toward the merging path R3 (rearward).

The cutting portion 4 cuts the sheet P at a cutting position A provided in the merging path R3. The cutting portion 4 includes a cutter, a traveling mechanism that travels to move the cutter in a left-right direction, and a cutting motor 4M (see FIG. 1), and corresponds to a “medium processing portion” of the present disclosure. The traveling mechanism travels by being driven by the cutting motor 4M. The cutting position A corresponds to a “processing position” of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conveying unit 101, the cutting unit 102, and the PC 103 include control devices 80, 90, and 180, respectively.

The control devices 80, 90, and 180 include CPU 81, 91, and 181, ROM 82, 92, and 182, and RAM 83, 93, and 183. The CPU 81 corresponds to a “controller of the medium conveying unit” according to the present disclosure. The CPU 181 corresponds to a “controller of the arithmetic unit” according to the present disclosure. The ROM 82, 92, and 182 store programs and data for the CPU 81, 91, and 181 to perform various controls. The RAM 83, 93, and 183 temporarily store data used when the CPU 81, 91, and 181 execute the programs.

The control device 80 of the conveying unit 101 is electrically connected to the first conveying motor 31M and the sheet sensor 7S.

The control device 90 of the cutting unit 102 is electrically connected to the second conveying motor 32M and the cutting motor 4M.

The control devices 80 and 90 are each electrically connected to the control device 180.

Next, the program executed by the CPU 81 of the conveying unit 101 will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

First, the CPU 81 determines whether a supply instruction is received from the PC 103 (S1).

When it is determined that the supply instruction is not received (S1: NO), the CPU 81 repeats the processing of S1.

When it is determined that the supply instruction is received (S1: YES), the CPU 81 drives the first conveying motor 31M to rotate in the forward direction in accordance with the instruction (S2).

At this time, the roller 311 rotates clockwise in FIG. 5 in a state in which the sheet P is sandwiched between the roller 311 and an upper surface of the sheet feeding tray 2, the roller 312 rotates clockwise in FIG. 5 in a state in which the sheet P is sandwiched between the roller 312 and a plate member arranged below the roller 312, and the roller 313 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 5 in a state in which the sheet P is sandwiched between the roller 313 and a roller arranged above the roller 313. Thus, the uppermost sheet P in the sheet feeding tray 2 is conveyed toward the merging path R3 along the upstream path R1 (first conveying operation). A rear direction corresponds to the “first direction component” of the present disclosure. A direction from the upstream path R1 toward the merging path R3 corresponds to a “direction including the first direction component”.

After S2, the CPU 81 determines whether the ON signal is received from the sheet sensor 7S (S3).

When it is determined that the ON signal is not received from the sheet sensor 7S (S3: NO), the CPU 81 repeats the processing of S3.

When it is determined that the ON signal is received from the sheet sensor 7S (S3: YES), the CPU 81 notifies the PC 103 that the ON signal is received from the sheet sensor 7S (S4).

After S4, the CPU 81 stops the first conveying motor 31M after a predetermined time has elapsed from a time point when the ON signal is received from the sheet sensor 7S (S5). A timing for stopping the first conveying motor 31M is after a leading end of the sheet P reaches the roller 331. After the first conveying motor 31M is stopped, the rollers 311, 312, and 313 rotate as the sheet P is conveyed by the rotation of the roller 331 of the cutting unit 102 as described later.

After S5, the CPU 81 determines whether the OFF signal is received from the sheet sensor 7S (S6).

When it is determined that the OFF signal is not received from the sheet sensor 7S (S6: NO), the CPU 81 repeats the processing of S6.

When it is determined that the OFF signal is received from the sheet sensor 7S (S6: YES), the CPU 81 notifies the PC 103 that the OFF signal is received from the sheet sensor 7S (S7). At this time, the CPU 81 arranges a flap (not shown) provided at a branch point between the upstream path R1 and the downstream path R2 in the conveying unit 101 at a position to close the upstream path R1. Accordingly, the sheet P is prevented from being conveyed to the upstream path R1 during execution of a cutting step and a second conveying operation described later. The cutting step corresponds to the “cutting operation” of the present disclosure.

Upon receiving the notification of S7, the PC 103 sends a cutting instruction to the cutting unit 102 as described later. After the cutting by the cutting unit 102 is completed, the PC 103 sends a discharge instruction to the conveying unit 101.

After S7, the CPU 81 determines whether a discharge instruction is received from the PC 103 (S8).

When it is determined that the discharge instruction is not received (S8: NO), the CPU 81 repeats the processing of S8.

When it is determined that the discharge instruction is received (S8: YES), the CPU 81 drives the first conveying motor 31M to rotate in the reverse direction in accordance with the instruction (S9).

At this time, the roller 321 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 5 in a state in which the sheet P is sandwiched between the roller 321 and a roller arranged below the roller 321. Thus, the sheet P is conveyed toward the sheet discharging tray 5 along the downstream path R2 (second conveying operation). A forward direction corresponds to the “second direction component” of the present disclosure. A direction toward the sheet discharging tray 5 along the downstream path R2 corresponds to a “direction including the second direction component”.

After S9, when the sheet P is received in the sheet discharging tray 5, the CPU 81 stops the first conveying motor 31M and ends the program.

Next, the program executed by the CPU 91 of the cutting unit 102 will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

First, the CPU 91 determines whether a conveying instruction is received from the PC 103 (S11). As will be described later, the PC 103 sends the conveying instruction to the cutting unit 102 after the notification (S4) indicating that the ON signal is received from the sheet sensor 7S is received from the conveying unit 101.

When it is determined that the conveying instruction is not received (S11: NO), the CPU 91 repeats the processing of S11.

When it is determined that the conveying instruction is received (S11: YES), the CPU 91 drives the second conveying motor 32M to rotate in the forward direction in accordance with the instruction (S12).

At this time, the roller 331 rotates clockwise in FIG. 5 in a state in which the sheet P is sandwiched between the roller 331 and a roller arranged below the roller 331. Thus, the sheet P conveyed from the upstream path R1 to the merging path R3 is conveyed rearward along the merging path R3.

After S12, the CPU 91 determines whether the cutting instruction is received from the PC 103 (S13). As will be described later, the PC 103 sends the cutting instruction to the cutting unit 102 after the notification (S7) indicating that the OFF signal is received from the sheet sensor 7S is received from the conveying unit 101.

When it is determined that the cutting instruction is not received (S13: NO), the CPU 91 repeats the processing of S13.

When it is determined that the cutting instruction is received (S13: YES), the CPU 91 executes the cutting step in accordance with the instruction (S14). The cutting step S14 serves as an example of “processing operation” of the present disclosure.

During the execution of the cutting step S14, the sheet P is positioned over the merging path R3 and the downstream path R2. The CPU 91 selectively drives the second conveying motor 32M to rotate in the forward direction and to rotate in the reverse direction, and selectively rotates the roller 331 clockwise and counterclockwise in FIG. 5. Accordingly, the sheet P is selectively conveyed in the direction from the merging path R3 toward the downstream path R2 (forward) and in the direction from the downstream path R2 toward the merging path R3 (rearward).

In the cutting step S14, the CPU 91 drives the cutting motor 4M to cut the sheet P by the cutting portion 4 while conveying the sheet P by rotating the roller 331 as described above. After S14, the CPU 91 determines whether the cutting is completed (S15).

When it is determined that the cutting is not completed (S15: NO), the CPU 91 repeats the processing of S15.

When it is determined that the cutting is completed (S15: YES), the CPU 91 drives the second conveying motor 32M to rotate in the reverse direction to rotate the roller 331 counterclockwise in FIG. 5 until the sheet P reaches the roller 321 when the sheet P does not reach the roller 321, and then notifies the PC 103 that the cutting is completed (S16).

After S16, the CPU 91 ends the program.

Next, the program executed by the CPU 181 of the PC 103 will be described with reference to FIG. 8.

First, the CPU 181 sends the supply instruction to the conveying unit 101 (S21).

After S21, the CPU 181 determines whether the notification (S4) indicating that the ON signal is received from the sheet sensor 7S is received from the conveying unit 101 (S22).

When it is determined that the notification (S4) is not received (S22: NO), the CPU 181 repeats the processing of S22.

When it is determined that the notification (S4) is received (S22: YES), the CPU 181 sends the conveying instruction to the cutting unit 102 (S23).

After S23, the CPU 181 determines whether the notification (S7) indicating that the OFF signal is received from the sheet sensor 7S is received from the conveying unit 101 (S24).

When it is determined that the notification (S7) is not received (S24: NO), the CPU 181 repeats the processing of S24.

When it is determined that the notification (S7) is received (S24: YES), the CPU 181 sends the cutting instruction to the cutting unit 102 (S25).

After S25, the CPU 181 determines whether the notification (S16) of the completion of the cutting is received from the cutting unit 102 (S26).

When it is determined that the notification (S16) is not received (S26: NO), the CPU 181 repeats the processing of S26.

When it is determined that the notification (S16) is received (S26: YES), the CPU 181 sends the discharge instruction to the conveying unit 101 (S27).

After S27, the CPU 181 ends the program.

As described above, according to the conveying unit 101 of the present embodiment, the upstream path R1 and the downstream path R2 are different from each other and are not common to each other (see FIG. 5). Therefore, even before the sheet P is received in the sheet discharging tray 5, when the sheet P is arranged outside the upstream path R1, the next sheet P can be conveyed toward the cutting unit 102 (merging path R3) along the upstream path R1. Accordingly, the sheet P can be continuously conveyed to the cutting portion 4, and a processing speed related to the cutting can be improved.

In addition, according to the conveying unit 101 of the present embodiment, since the second conveying portion 32 that conveys the sheet P toward the sheet discharging tray 5 along the downstream path R2 is provided, the sheet P hardly remains in the downstream path R2 and can be continuously conveyed.

Further, according to the cutting system 100 (see FIG. 1) of the present embodiment, the PC 103 is electrically connected to each of the conveying unit 101 and the cutting unit 102 and controls an operation of each unit of the conveying unit 101 and the cutting unit 102. In this case, it is not necessary to electrically connect the conveying unit 101 and the cutting unit 102, and versatility of each unit can be enhanced.

The conveying unit 101 has the control device 80 including the CPU 81, and the CPU 81 executes the first conveying operation and the second conveying operation in accordance with the instructions from the PC 103. Accordingly, the respective conveying operations can be smoothly performed.

When receiving the ON signal from the sheet sensor 7S (S3: YES), the CPU 81 of the conveying unit 101 notifies the PC 103, which is an external device, that the ON signal is received from the sheet sensor 7S (S4). In this case, the PC 103 that has received the notification (S4) sends the conveying instruction to the cutting unit 102, so that the sheet P can be smoothly conveyed from the upstream path R1 to the merging path R3.

When receiving the OFF signal from the sheet sensor 7S (S6: YES), the CPU 81 of the conveying unit 101 notifies the PC 103, which is the external device, that the OFF signal is received from the sheet sensor 7S (S7). When the cutting step starts in a state in which a part of the sheet P is arranged on the upstream path R1, the sheet P to be conveyed to the downstream path R2 is conveyed to the upstream path R1, and the sheet cannot be cut and discharged appropriately. In this regard, according to the present embodiment, the PC 103 that has received the notification (S7) sends the cutting instruction to the cutting unit 102, and the cutting step is executed thereafter, whereby the above situation can be avoided.

A unit to which the conveying unit 101 can be attached is the cutting unit 102 that cuts the sheet P. In this case, feeding of the sheet P before cutting and receiving of the sheet P after cutting can be realized by the conveying unit 101 alone.

Second Embodiment

In a second embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 9, the conveying unit 101 is not electrically connected to the PC 103 but is electrically connected to the cutting unit 102. Except for this point, a configuration of the cutting system 100 according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.

The program executed by the CPU 81 of the conveying unit 101, the program executed by the CPU 91 of the cutting unit 102, and the program executed by the CPU 181 of the PC 103 are different from those of the first embodiment in the following points.

As shown in FIG. 10, the CPU 81 of the conveying unit 101 executes processing S1 to S3 similar to those of the first embodiment (see FIG. 6). However, in S1, instead of the PC 103, the CPU 81 determines whether a supply instruction is received from the cutting unit 102.

When it is determined that an ON signal is received from the sheet sensor 7S (S3: YES), the CPU 81 notifies the cutting unit 102 that the ON signal is received from the sheet sensor 7S (S34).

After S34, the CPU 81 executes processing S5 and S6 similar to those of the first embodiment (see FIG. 6).

When it is determined that an OFF signal is received from the sheet sensor 7S (S6: YES), the CPU 81 notifies the cutting unit 102 that the OFF signal is received from the sheet sensor 7S (S37).

After S37, the CPU 81 executes processing S8 and S9 similar to those of the first embodiment (see FIG. 6). However, in S8, instead of the PC 103, the CPU 81 determines whether a discharge instruction is received from the cutting unit 102.

As shown in FIG. 11, the CPU 91 of the cutting unit 102 first determines whether a processing start instruction is received from the PC 103 (S41).

When it is determined that the processing start instruction is not received (S41: NO), the CPU 91 repeats the processing of S41.

When it is determined that the processing start instruction is received (S41: YES), the CPU 91 sends the supply instruction to the conveying unit 101 (S42).

After S42, the CPU 91 determines whether the notification (S34) indicating that the ON signal is received from the sheet sensor 7S is received from the conveying unit 101 (S43).

When it is determined that the notification (S34) is not received (S43: NO), the CPU 91 repeats the processing of S43.

When it is determined that the notification (S34) is received (S43: YES), the CPU 91 drives the second conveying motor 32M to rotate in the forward direction (S12) similar to that in S12 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 7).

After S12, the CPU 91 determines whether the notification (S37) indicating that the OFF signal is received from the sheet sensor 7S is received from the conveying unit 101 (S44).

When it is determined that the notification (S37) is not received (S44: NO), the CPU 91 repeats the processing of S44.

When it is determined that the notification (S37) is received (S44: YES), the CPU 91 executes the cutting step similar to that of the first embodiment (see FIG. 7) (S14).

After S14, the CPU 91 executes processing S15 similar to that of the first embodiment (see FIG. 7).

When it is determined that the cutting is completed (S15: YES), the CPU 91 sends the discharge instruction to the conveying unit 101 (S45).

After S45, the CPU 91 ends the program.

In the second embodiment, the CPU 181 of the PC 103 only sends the processing start instruction to the cutting unit 102.

As described above, the conveying unit 101 of the present embodiment executes each conveying operation in accordance with the instruction from the cutting unit 102 as an external device, and sends the notification to the cutting unit 102. In this case, the conveying unit 101 can execute control in accordance with the instruction from the cutting unit 102 or the notification to the cutting unit 102.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with various example structures outlined above and illustrated in the figures, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that may be presently unforeseen, may become apparent to those having at least ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the example embodiments of the disclosure, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative of the invention, and not limiting the invention. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to embrace all known or later developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents. Some specific examples of potential alternatives, modifications, or variations in the described invention are provided below:

Modification

Although a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various design modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

For example, an arithmetic device is not limited to a PC, and may be a mobile terminal such as a tablet or a mobile phone.

In the first embodiment (see FIG. 1), the cutting unit 102 may be electrically connected to the conveying unit 101 without being electrically connected to the PC 103. In this case, the conveying unit 101 may send a conveying instruction and a cutting instruction to the cutting unit 102, and the cutting unit 102 may send a notification of cutting completion to the conveying unit 101.

The controller of the medium conveying unit is not limited to executing the first conveying operation or the second conveying operation by receiving a medium supply instruction or a medium discharge instruction from the external device. For example, the controller of the medium conveying unit may execute the first conveying operation or the second conveying operation in accordance with a signal from a sensor provided in the medium conveying unit.

In the second embodiment (see FIG. 9), the conveying unit 101 may not include the control device 80, and the control device 90 (CPU 91) of the cutting unit 102 may control the first conveying motor 31M to receive the signal from the sheet sensor 7S.

The medium conveying unit may not include the sensor (sheet sensor 7S) that outputs the signal indicating the presence or absence of the medium in the upstream path. In this case, for example, when it is determined that the leading end of the sheet P reaches the roller 331 based on the number of rotations of the first conveying motor 31M, the CPU 81, which is the controller of the medium conveying unit, may stop the first conveying motor 31M and send a notification to the PC 103. In addition, for example, when it is determined that the sheet P is not in the upstream path R1 based on the number of rotations of the second conveying motor 32M, the CPU 91, which is the controller of the medium processing unit, may execute the cutting step.

The medium is not limited to sheet, and may be cloth, a resin member, or the like.

A part of the merging path may be provided in the medium conveying unit.

The medium processing unit is not limited to a unit that cuts the medium, and may be a unit that records an image on the medium (a unit having an ink jet head, a laser head, or the like).

The medium processing system according to the present disclosure is not limited to a cutting system, and may be a recording system or the like.

Claims

1. A medium conveying unit configured to be attached to a medium processing unit, the medium conveying unit comprising: a first conveying portion configured to convey a medium toward the medium processing unit along an upstream path;a receiving portion configured to receive the medium processed by the medium processing unit; anda second conveying portion configured to convey the medium toward the receiving portion along a downstream path different from the upstream path.

2. The medium conveying unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a controller configured to control the first conveying portion and the second conveying portion,wherein the controller is configured to execute: a first conveying operation to cause the first conveying portion to convey the medium along the upstream path toward the medium processing unit in a direction including a first direction component; anda second conveying operation to cause, after the first conveying operation, the second conveying portion to convey the medium along the downstream path toward the receiving portion in a direction including a second direction component opposite to the first direction component, to allow the receiving portion to receive the medium.

3. The medium conveying unit according to claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to execute the first conveying operation in response to receiving a medium supply instruction from an external device.

4. The medium conveying unit according to claim 3, wherein the external device is the medium processing unit.

5. The medium conveying unit according to claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to execute the second conveying operation in response to receiving a medium discharge instruction from an external device.

6. The medium conveying unit according to claim 5, wherein the external device is the medium processing unit.

7. The medium conveying unit according to claim 2, further comprising: a sensor configured to output a signal indicating a presence or absence of the medium in the upstream path,wherein the controller is configured to notify, in response to receiving the signal indicating the presence of the medium from the sensor, an external device that the signal indicating the presence of the medium is received from the sensor.

8. The medium conveying unit according to claim 7, wherein the external device is the medium processing unit.

9. The medium conveying unit according to claim 2, further comprising: a sensor configured to output a signal indicating a presence or absence of the medium in the upstream path,wherein the controller is configured to notify, in response to receiving the signal indicating the absence of the medium from the sensor, an external device that the signal indicating the absence of the medium is received from the sensor.

10. The medium conveying unit according to claim 9, wherein the external device is the medium processing unit.

11. The medium conveying unit according to claim 1, wherein the medium processing unit is configured to cut the medium.

12. A medium processing system comprising: a medium conveying unit comprising: a first conveying portion configured to convey a medium along an upstream path;a second conveying portion configured to convey the medium along a downstream path different from the upstream path; anda receiving portion configured to receive the medium conveyed by the second conveying portion;a medium processing unit configured to allow the medium conveying unit to be attached thereto, the medium processing unit comprising: a third conveying portion configured to convey the medium along a merging path in which the upstream path and the downstream path are to be merged; anda medium processing portion configured to process the medium conveyed by the third conveying portion at a processing position provided in the merging path; andan arithmetic unit comprising a controller configured to control the first conveying portion, the second conveying portion, the third conveying portion, and the medium processing portion,wherein the controller is configured to execute: a first conveying operation to cause the first conveying portion to convey the medium along the upstream path toward the merging path in a direction including a first direction component;a second conveying operation to cause, after the first conveying operation, the second conveying portion to convey the medium from the merging path toward the downstream path in a direction including a second direction component opposite to the first direction component, to allow the receiving portion to receive the medium; anda medium processing operation to cause the medium processing portion to process the medium while the third conveying portion conveys the medium in a state in which the medium is positioned over the merging path and the downstream path.