Off-center adjustment apparatus

Abstract

According to an embodiment, an idler roller has an insertion through-hole through which a rotation shaft is inserted. Collar-shaped stopper portions are formed on the rotation shaft and are located on both left and right sides of the idler roller when the rotation shaft is inserted and provided at a normal position. Coil springs are attached between the stopper portions and base surfaces of concave groove portions of the idler roller. The idler roller is held at the normal position by biasing force of both the coil springs when paper is not seized. When paper is seized, the idler roller is moved in a lateral direction by elastic restoring force caused by a torsion phenomenon occurring in the paper. The idler roller returns to the normal position due to biasing force of both the coil springs after the paper has passed through the idler roller.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a whole configuration of an image forming apparatus comprising an off-center adjustment apparatus of the present invention.

FIGS. 2( a) and 2(b) show an exemplary configuration of a paper transport position detecting means for detecting a paper transport position of stopped paper seized by registration rollers and pre-registration rollers. FIG. 2(a) is a side view, and FIG. 2(b) is a plan view.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIGS. 4( a) and 4(b) show an exemplary mechanism structure for moving the pre-registration rollers in a lateral direction. FIG. 4(a) is a cross-sectional, partially cut-away view as viewed the front, and FIG. 4(b) is a cross-sectional view as viewed from the side.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a regulation structure for regulating a drive roller and a rotation shaft to be rotated together.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing a configuration of a paper transport path before a transfer portion.

FIGS. 7( a) and 7(b) are a chart showing operation timing of registration rollers and pre-registration rollers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an off-center adjustment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a whole configuration of an image forming apparatus comprising the off-center adjustment apparatus of this embodiment.

The image forming apparatus 1 is a digital image forming apparatus which has modes of, for example, copier, printer, scanner, and fax machine, and is provided with an operation panel 10 on a front surface thereof.

An original stage 11 formed of hard and transparent glass is provided on an upper surface of the image forming apparatus 1. An automatic original feed apparatus 12 is provided above the original stage 11. An optical unit 13 is provided below the original stage 11.

A photosensitive drum 14 whose surface is formed of a photoconductive material is rotatably supported below the optical unit 13. Around the photosensitive drum 14, a charging apparatus 15, a development apparatus 16, a transfer unit 17, and a cleaner 18 are provided, facing the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 14.

When the image forming apparatus 1 thus configured is instructed by an operation of the operation panel 10 to start an image forming process, the optical unit 13 scans an image surface of an original placed on the original stage 11. In this case, light which is emitted by a copy lamp provided in the optical unit 13 is reflected from the original image surface, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 is then irradiated with the reflected light.

Prior to irradiation with the reflected light from the original, the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 is uniformly electrified with electrical charges having the same polarity by the charging apparatus 15. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 by a photoconductive action due to irradiation with the reflected light from the original. Developer is supplied from the development apparatus 16 to the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed, so that the electrostatic latent image is developed into a developer image.

A fixing unit 20 comprising a hot roller and a pressure roller is provided downstream from the photosensitive drum 14. A transfer belt 50 of the transfer unit 17 and a paper guide 19 are provided between the fixing unit 20 and the photosensitive drum 14. The transfer belt 50 and the paper guide 19 form a paper transport path extending from the photosensitive drum 14 to the fixing unit 20.

A paper discharge tray 33 is provided on a side surface of the image forming apparatus 1, and a paper discharge transport path 22 is formed between the fixing unit 20 and the paper discharge tray 33. A portion of the paper discharge transport path 22 is branched into a re-transport path 24 which extends via a branch gate 25 to a reversing automatic paper feed apparatus 23 provided below the photosensitive drum 14.

Four paper feed cassettes 26 which are detachably attached through the front surface of the image forming apparatus 1 are provided in a lower portion of the image forming apparatus 1. The paper feed cassettes 26 house paper of respective different sizes. Prior to rotation of the photosensitive drum 14, paper is fed from any one of the four paper feed cassettes 26 via a paper feed roller 27. The fed paper is transported via a common transport path 28 toward the photosensitive drum 14 by the transport rollers R31 and R32. Thereafter, the paper is stopped with the rear end being seized by the pre-registration rollers R41 and R42 and the front end being in contact with the registration rollers R51 and R52. This portion has the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 6. Also, the registration rollers R51 and R52 and the pre-registration rollers R41 and R42 have the same operation timing as that shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b).

The image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment also comprises a large capacity paper feed unit (LCC) 60. The structure of the large capacity paper feed unit 60 will not be described in detail. Paper fed from the large capacity paper feed unit 60 is transported by the transport rollers R31 and R32 toward the photosensitive drum 14 via a unit-side transport path 61 which merges into the common transport path 28 before the transport rollers R31 and R32. Thereafter, the paper is stopped with the rear end being seized by the pre-registration rollers R41 and R42 and the front end being in contact with the registration rollers R51 and R52.

The registration rollers R51 and R52 are rotated in synchronization with rotation of the photosensitive drum 14, thereby leading paper to a nip portion (image formation region) N1 between the photosensitive drum 14 and the transfer unit 17. The paper disposed in the image formation region is subjected to corona discharge by the transfer unit 17 so that a developer image carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 is transferred to a surface of the paper.

The paper on which the developer image has been transferred is transported along the transfer belt 50 and the paper guide 19 to the fixing unit 20. In the fixing unit 20, the paper is heated and pressed so that the developer image is fused and fixed to the surface of the paper.

During a one-side printing mode in which an image is printed on one side of paper, the paper which has passed through the fixing unit 20 is discharged via the paper discharge transport path 22 through a paper discharge slot 32 onto the paper discharge tray 33 by a paper discharge roller 31. In this case, the paper discharge roller 31 is reciprocatively driven in the paper transport direction by a paper discharge roller driving portion (not shown).

During a both-side printing mode in which images are printed on both sides of paper, the branch gate 25 overlaps a portion of the paper discharge transport path 22, the paper which has passed through the fixing unit 20 is transported via the re-transport path 24 comprising a transport roller 34 to the reversing automatic paper feed apparatus 23. The transport direction of the paper transported in the reversing automatic paper feed apparatus 23 is reversed and fed by paper re-feed rollers 35. The paper is transported via the common transport path 28 toward the photosensitive drum 14 again by re-transport rollers 36 with the front and back sides of the paper being reversed. Thereafter, the paper is stopped with the rear end being seized by the pre-registration rollers R41 and R42 and the front end being in contact with the registration rollers R51 and R52.

FIGS. 2( a) and 2(b) show an exemplary configuration of a paper transport position detecting means 70 for detecting a paper transport position (a displacement from a paper transport reference (center position) C) of the stopped paper P seized by the registration rollers R51 and R52 and the pre-registration rollers R41 and R42.

As shown in FIG. 2(b), the registration rollers R51 and R52 and the pre-registration rollers R41 and R42 include five pairs of registration rollers R51 and R52 and five pairs of pre-registration rollers R41 and R42, respectively, which are arranged at predetermined intervals in a lateral direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction). The paper transport position detecting means 70 is provided in the vicinity of the registration rollers R51 and R52. Specifically, a light emitting-side line sensor 70a and a light receiving-side line sensor 70b constituting the paper transport position detecting means 70 are vertically provided, facing each other via the paper transport path (FIG. 2(a)), and are laterally arranged along the registration rollers R51 and R52 (FIG. 2(b)). The paper transport position detecting means 70 thus arranged is formed to have a length which can cover a minimum width (e.g., a postcard size) to a maximum width (e.g., an A3 portrait size) of the transported paper P so that one side edge P1 of the paper P can be detected.

Next, a configuration of a control system of the image forming apparatus 1 thus configured will be described with reference to a block diagram shown in FIG. 3.

A central processing unit (control portion) 101 manages, by a sequential control, drive mechanism portions included in the image forming apparatus 1, such as the automatic original feed apparatus 12, the optical unit 13, an image forming portion 102, a paper transport system 103, and the like, and outputs a control signal to each portion based on a detection value of a sensor portion 106 including the paper transport position detecting means 70 (the light emitting-side line sensor 70a and the light receiving-side line sensor 70b).

The operation panel 10 is connected to the control portion 101 in a manner which enables the operation panel 10 and the control portion 101 to mutually communicate with each other. The image forming apparatus 1 is operated under printing process conditions which are set and input by the user operating the operation panel 10.

Also, a memory 104 and an image data communication unit 105 are connected to the control portion 101. In the memory 104, various pieces of control information required to control the drive mechanism portions included in the image forming apparatus 1 are stored. Also in the memory 104, a detection value indicating a position in a lateral direction (a distance from the paper transport reference (center position) C) of one side edge P1 of the paper P detected by the paper transport position detecting means 70, is stored. The image data communication unit 105 is a communication unit provided for enabling information communication of image information, an image control signal or the like with other digital image apparatuses.

The control portion 101 performs a printing process control under printing process conditions which have been input and set by the user operating the operation panel 10. In this case, the control portion 101 controls the paper transport system 103 based on a detection value of the paper transport position detecting means 70 to move the registration rollers R51 and R52 in the lateral direction, thereby performing center position adjustment with respect to transported paper.

Note that various conventional well-known mechanism structures are applicable as the mechanism for moving the registration rollers R51 and R52 in the lateral direction, which, therefore, is not shown. For example, an eccentric cam is provided in sliding contact with end surfaces of rotation shafts of the registration rollers R51 and R52. By rotating the eccentric cam, the rotation shaft can be moved in the lateral direction.

In this case, the pre-registration rollers R41 and R42 can be moved in the lateral direction by elastic restoring force caused by a torsion phenomenon of the paper P occurring when the registration rollers R51 and R52 are moved.

FIGS. 4( a) and 4(b) show an exemplary mechanism structure for moving the pre-registration rollers R41 and R42 in the lateral direction.

Of the drive roller R42 and the idler roller R41 consisting of the pre-registration rollers R41 and R42, the idler roller R41 has a movable mechanism structure in this embodiment.

Specifically, laterally symmetrical concave groove portions 43 and 43 are formed at middle portions of both end surfaces of the idler roller R41 having a cylindrical shape. An insertion through-hole 45 for inserting a rotation shaft 46 is formed in a bottom surface of the concave groove portion 43. In the idler roller R41, the rotation shaft 46 is simply inserted through the insertion through-hole 45, i.e., the idler roller R41 is loosely fitted with the rotation shaft 46. On the other hand, collar-shaped stopper portions 47 and 47 are formed on the rotation shaft 46 and are located on both left and right sides of the idler roller R41 when the idler roller R41 has been inserted and disposed at a normal position. Coil springs 48 and 48 are attached between the stopper portions 47 and the base surfaces of the concave groove portions 43 of the idler roller R41 while being slightly compressed. In other words, the idler roller R41 is seized from both left and right sides thereof by both the coil springs 48 and 48. By being seized by the coil springs 48 and 48, the idler roller R41 is held at a normal position (a position shown in FIG. 4(a)), facing the drive roller R42.

Specifically, the idler roller R41, when paper is not seized, is held at the normal position due to balance between biasing forces of the coil springs 48 and 48. When paper is seized, the idler roller R41 is moved in the lateral direction by the elastic restoring force of the paper torsion phenomenon, resisting the biasing forces of the coil springs 48 and 48. Thereby, the paper torsion phenomenon is eliminated. After paper has passed through the idler roller R41, the idler roller R41 returns to the normal position due to balance between the biasing forces of both the coil springs 48 and 48.

As can be understood by the above description, in this embodiment, the biasing forces of the coil springs 48 are set to be weaker than the elastic restoring force of the paper torsion phenomenon.

Although the movement mechanism structure is provided in the idler roller R41 in the above-described embodiment, the movement mechanism structure may be provided in the drive roller R42. In this case, when the drive roller R42 is freely rotated with respect to its rotation shaft, driving force cannot be transferred. To avoid this, the drive roller R42 needs to be regulated so that the drive roller R42 is rotated together with the rotation shaft in the rotation direction. FIG. 5 shows an example of such a regulation structure.

Specifically, the movement mechanism structure itself is the same as that shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b). In FIG. 5, however, a guide piece 46a protruding along an axial center direction is formed on a circumferential surface of the rotation shaft 46 of the drive roller R42, and a concave guide groove portion 45a is formed, facing the guide piece 46a, along the axial center direction in an inner circumferential surface of the insertion through-hole 45 of the drive roller R42. When the rotation shaft 46 is inserted into the insertion through-hole 45, the guide piece 46a is inserted into the guide groove portion 45a. Thereby, when the rotation shaft 46 is rotated, the guide piece 46a is engaged with the guide groove portion 45a, so that the drive roller R42 is rotated together with the rotation shaft 46. In other words, the drive roller R42 is rotated together with the rotation shaft 46, while the drive roller R42 is slid and moved in the lateral direction along the rotation shaft 46.

Further, in the present invention, such a movement mechanism structure may be provided in both the idler roller R41 and the drive roller R42. In this case, both the drive roller R42 and the idler roller R41 are moved with respect to the elastic restoring force of paper due to the torsion phenomenon, thereby making it possible to more smoothly eliminate the paper torsion phenomenon.

Note that both the drive roller R42 and the idler roller R41 can be formed of a resin material or a rubber material. Alternatively, one of the drive roller R42 and the idler roller R41 can be formed of a resin material and the other can be formed of a rubber material. Further, for example, the drive roller R42 may be formed of a metal. In this case, by applying a voltage to the drive roller R42, paper debris occurring in the paper transport path can be adsorbed and removed. In this case, a removal blade is provided in contact with the surface of the drive roller R42, and a collection box for collecting the paper debris is provided below the removal blade.

Although the drive rollers R42 and the idler rollers R41 have one-to-one correspondence in the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, horizontally long drive roller(s) may be provided, while a plurality (e.g., three) of idler rollers may be provided for each drive roller, facing the drive roller.

Regarding industrial applicability, an image processing apparatus comprising the off-center adjustment apparatus of the present invention is suitable for a high-speed digital multifunction machine which has modes of copier, printer, scanner, and fax machine and performs a high-speed printing process to produce a large amount of printed materials.

The present invention can be embodied and practiced in other different forms without departing from the gist and essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, the above-described embodiments are considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All variations and modifications falling within the equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. An off-center adjustment apparatus for performing center position adjustment in a direction perpendicular to a transport direction of paper, the off-center adjustment apparatus being provided in an image forming apparatus, the off-center adjustment apparatus comprising: registration rollers provided upstream from an electrostatic latent image carrier; andpre-registration rollers provided upstream from the registration rollers,wherein the center position adjustment is performed by the registration rollers being moved in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction while the paper is being temporarily stopped with a front end thereof being seized by the registration rollers and a rear end thereof being seized by the pre-registration rollers, andthe pre-registration rollers are freely movable in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

2. The off-center adjustment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pre-registration rollers are movable in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction due to elastic restoring force caused by a torsion phenomenon of the paper occurring along with movement of the registration rollers.

3. The off-center adjustment apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pre-registration rollers include a drive roller and an idler roller, and at least one of the drive roller and the idler roller is freely movable.

4. The off-center adjustment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the roller is loosely fitted with a rotation shaft, while an elastic member is interposed between the rotation shaft and the roller, the roller is held at a normal position due to biasing force of the elastic member when the paper is not seized,the roller is moved in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction due to elastic restoring force of a torsion phenomenon of the paper, resisting the biasing force of the elastic member, when the paper is seized, andthe roller returns to the normal position due to the biasing force of the elastic member after the paper has passed through the roller.

5. The off-center adjustment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the roller is divided into a plurality of roller segments along the direction perpendicular to the transport direction, and each roller segment is freely movable.

6. The off-center adjustment apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the roller is divided into a plurality of roller segments along the direction perpendicular to the transport direction, and each roller segment is freely movable.

7. The off-center adjustment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pre-registration rollers include a drive roller and an idler roller, and at least one of the drive roller and the idler roller is freely movable.