Patent Grant
9618896
The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-168418 filed on Aug. 21, 2014 including description, claims, drawings, and abstract are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a paper sheet conveying apparatus that conveys a paper sheet, and an image forming system that includes the paper sheet conveying apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
When an image forming apparatus is connected to a paper sheet processing apparatus that performs a process, for example, for binding paper sheets, a conveyance route on which a paper sheet is conveyed is provided between the image forming apparatus and the paper sheet processing apparatus. When a jam of the conveyed paper sheet occurs and the paper sheet causing the jam is embedded in one of the image forming apparatus and the paper sheet processing apparatus, the rack including the conveyance path is drawn such that the paper sheet causing the jam is removed. Alternatively, when the paper sheet causing the jam extends over the apparatuses, the paper sheet is manually conveyed to one of the apparatuses and the rack is drawn such that the paper sheet causing the jam is removed.
However, if a long paper sheet extends over a plurality of apparatuses, it is necessary to manually convey a large amount of the paper sheet. This conveyance increases the time of removal work. Depending on the state of the paper sheet causing the jam, it may be impossible to manually convey the paper sheet causing the jam. This makes it difficult to remove the paper sheet causing the jam.
In light of the foregoing, a technique for discharging a paper sheet causing a jam from an apparatus that conveys a long paper sheet such as a roll of paper is proposed (For example, see JP 10-198098 A). In the technique, the paper sheet is drawn from the roll of paper by a length short enough to be conveyed. Then, the paper sheet is cut and discharged. A technique in which the paper sheet is cut and discharged regardless of the length of the drawn paper sheet when a jam occurs is also proposed (For example, see JP 07-264348 A).
By cutting the paper sheet causing a jam, a part in which the jam occurs can be removed. Meanwhile, a part in which the jam does not occur also needs to be removed such that the next paper sheet can be conveyed. However, it is also difficult to remove a part in which a jam does not occur in a long paper sheet. If the long paper sheet is a roll of paper, the part in which the jam does not occur can be reused. However, if a long paper sheet having a predetermined length is cut in the middle of the sheet, the part in which the jam does not occur is also not reusable. Thus, the part also needs to be removed.
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a paper sheet conveying apparatus in which a paper sheet causing a jam can easily be removed, and an image forming system that includes the paper sheet conveying apparatus.
To achieve the abovementioned object, according to an aspect, a paper sheet conveying apparatus reflecting one aspect of the present invention comprises: a first storage unit; a second storage unit; a first conveyance path used to convey a paper sheet to the first storage unit; a second conveyance path used to convey a paper sheet to the second storage unit; a first conveyance unit configured to convey a paper sheet along the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path; a first switching unit configured to switch a conveyance path of a paper sheet to one of the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path; a first cutting unit provided on a side upstream from the first switching unit in a paper sheet conveyance direction, and configured to cut a paper sheet at a cutting position; the first cutting unit being configured to detect an occurrence of a jam; and a control unit, when the detecting unit detects a jam in a paper sheet conveyed on the first conveyance path, configured to cut a part of the paper sheet, the part being positioned on a side upstream from the cutting position in the paper sheet conveyance direction, to a predetermined length with the first cutting unit, switch a conveyance path of the paper sheet from the first conveyance path to the second conveyance path with the first switching unit, and store the paper sheet cut to the predetermined length in the second storage unit through the second conveyance path with the first conveyance unit.
The paper sheet conveying apparatus of Item. 2 is the paper sheet conveying apparatus according to Item. 1, wherein the control unit preferably controls the first conveyance unit and the first cutting unit such that the predetermined length of a paper sheet to be cut with the first cutting unit is equal to or longer than a length long enough to be conveyed with the first conveyance unit, and equal to or shorter than a length short enough to be stored in the second storage unit.
The paper sheet conveying apparatus of Item. 3 is the paper sheet conveying apparatus according to Item. 1 or 2, preferably further comprising a notifying unit configured to notify a user of an occurrence of a jam, wherein the control unit notifies an occurrence of a jam with the notifying unit after the part positioned on the side upstream from the cutting position in the paper sheet conveyance direction is stored in the second storage unit.
The paper sheet conveying apparatus of Item. 4 is the paper sheet conveying apparatus according to Item. 1 or 2, wherein, after the jam detected with the detecting unit is resolved, the control unit preferably cuts the part positioned on the side upstream from the cutting position in the paper sheet conveyance direction to the predetermined length with the first cutting unit, and stores the paper sheet cut to the predetermined length in the second storage unit through the second conveyance path with the first conveyance unit.
The paper sheet conveying apparatus of Item. 5 is the paper sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of Items. 1 to 4, preferably further comprising a paper sheet binding unit configured to bind paper sheets stored in the second storage unit, wherein the control unit binds the paper sheets cut to the predetermined length and stored in the second storage unit with the paper sheet binding unit.
The paper sheet conveying apparatus of Item. 6 is the paper sheet conveying apparatus according to Item. 5, wherein, when a predetermined number of paper sheets cut to the predetermined length are stored in the second storage unit, the control unit preferably binds the paper sheets with the paper sheet binding unit.
The paper sheet conveying apparatus of Item. 7 is the paper sheet conveying apparatus according to Item. 5, wherein the control unit preferably determines whether to bind the paper sheets cut to the predetermined length and stored in the second storage unit in accordance with a switch of settings by a user.
The paper sheet conveying apparatus of Item. 8 is the paper sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of Items. 1 to 7, preferably further comprising: a third storage unit; a third conveyance path used to convey a paper sheet to the third storage unit; a fourth conveyance path provided on a side upstream from the first switching unit in the paper sheet conveyance direction; a second conveyance unit configured to convey a paper sheet along the third conveyance path and the fourth conveyance path; a second switching unit configured to switch a conveyance path of a paper sheet to one of the third conveyance path and the fourth conveyance path; and a second cutting unit provided on a side upstream from the second switching unit in the paper sheet conveyance direction and configured to cut a paper sheet at a cutting position, wherein, when the detecting unit detects a jam in a conveyed paper sheet, the control unit controls the first switching unit, the second switching unit, the first cutting unit, the second cutting unit, the first conveyance unit, and the second conveyance unit such that paper sheets cut to the predetermined length with the first cutting unit and the second cutting unit are stored in the second storage unit, the third storage unit, or both of the second storage unit and the third storage unit.
To achieve the abovementioned object, according to an aspect, an image forming system reflecting one aspect of the present invention comprises: an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a paper sheet; and a paper sheet conveying apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus, the paper sheet conveying apparatus including: a first storage unit; a second storage unit; a first conveyance path used to convey a paper sheet to the first storage unit; a second conveyance path used to convey a paper sheet to the second storage unit; a conveyance unit configured to convey a paper sheet along the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path; a switching unit configured to switch a conveyance path of a paper sheet to one of the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path; a cutting unit provided on a side upstream from the switching unit in a paper sheet conveyance direction, the cutting unit being configured to cut a paper sheet at a cutting position; a detecting unit configured to detect an occurrence of a jam; and a control unit, when the detecting unit detects a jam in a paper sheet conveyed on the first conveyance path, configured to cut a part of the paper sheet, the part being positioned on a side upstream from the cutting position in the paper sheet conveyance direction, to a predetermined length with the cutting unit, switch a conveyance path of the paper sheet from the first conveyance path to the second conveyance path with the switching unit, and store the paper sheet cut to the predetermined length in the second storage unit through the second conveyance path with the conveyance unit.
The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the appended drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention, and wherein:
Hereinafter, embodiments of a paper sheet conveying apparatus and an image forming system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the illustrated examples.
<Exemplary Configuration of the Paper Sheet Conveying Apparatus of the Present Embodiment>
The paper sheet conveying apparatus 1A further includes a path switching gate 5 that switches the conveyance route of the paper sheet P to one of the paper discharge units 4, and a cutter 6 that cuts the paper sheet P conveyed on the conveyance path 2. The paper sheet conveying apparatus 1A further includes a the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a and a second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b that detect the presence or absence of the paper sheet P conveyed on the conveyance path 2, and a jam detecting sensor 7c that detects an occurrence of a jam in the paper sheet P conveyed on each conveyance paths.
Each of the conveyance rollers 3 is an exemplary conveyance unit, and includes a pair of a driving roller 30 and a driven roller 31 that hold the paper sheet P therebetween. Driving the driving roller 30 conveys the paper sheet P. The conveyance path 2 is provided with a plurality of conveyance rollers 3 in a direction in which the paper sheet P is conveyed.
A roller pitch M1 is an interval between the conveyance rollers 3 in the paper sheet conveyance direction. The roller pitch M1 is set at a predetermined length shorter than the conveyance-direction length of the paper sheet having the shortest conveyance-direction length among the paper sheets to be conveyed such that the downstream conveyance roller 3 in the paper sheet conveyance direction can hold the front end of the shortest paper sheet before the rear end of the paper sheet passes through the upstream conveyance roller 3 in the conveyance direction.
In the example of
The conveyance path 2 branches into a first conveyance path 20a used to convey the paper sheet P to the first storage unit 40a, and a second conveyance path 20b used to convey the paper sheet P to the second storage unit 40b. Note that each of the first conveyance path 20a and the second conveyance path 20b is provided also with conveyance rollers at intervals of predetermined roller pitches.
The path switching gate 5 is an exemplary switching unit and provided at the branch point into the first conveyance path 20a and the second conveyance path 20b so as to switch the conveyance route of the paper sheet P conveyed on the conveyance path 2 to the first conveyance path 20a or the second conveyance path 20b. The cutter 6 is an exemplary cutting unit and provided on a side upstream from the path switching gate 5 in the conveyance direction of the paper sheet P.
For example, the cutter 6 cuts a long paper sheet P conveyed from the conveyance path 2 to the first conveyance path 20a. This cut enables the paper sheet P remaining on the side upstream from the cutter 6 to be conveyed to the second conveyance path 20b after the conveyance route is switched at the path switching gate 5.
When a conveyance jam (hereinafter, referred to as a jam) occurs in a long paper sheet P on the first conveyance path 20a while the paper sheet P is conveyed from the conveyance path 2 to the first conveyance path 20a, the cutter 6 cuts the paper sheet P so as to separate the paper sheet P into a part in which the jam occurs and a part in which the jam does not occur. One of the separated paper sheets that includes the part in which the jam occurs is referred to as a jam paper sheet and the other sheet that is the part in which the jam does not occur is referred to as a remaining paper sheet.
As described above, by cutting the paper sheet P with the cutter 6, the remaining paper sheet on the side upstream from the cutter 6 can be conveyed to the second conveyance path 20b after the path switching gate 5 switches the conveyance route.
Each of the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a and the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b is an exemplary paper sheet detecting unit, and provided at a predetermined position so as to detect a paper sheet P conveyed on the conveyance path 2. Detecting the presence or absence of a paper sheet P with the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a and the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b can calculate the length of the paper sheet P.
In the example of
The jam detecting sensor 7c is an exemplary detecting unit and provided at a predetermined place on the first conveyance path 20a in the example of
The conveyance motor 32 drives the driving roller 30 of the conveyance roller 3 illustrated in
The controller 8 is an exemplary control unit and includes a CPU and a memory. The controller 8 makes the CPU execute a program stored in the memory. This execution makes the solenoid 60 drive the cutter 6 to cut the paper sheet P in accordance with the output about the detection of a jam from the jam detecting sensor 7c. This separates the paper sheet P into a jam paper sheet and a remaining paper sheet.
Similarly, the controller 8 makes the solenoid 50 drive the path switching gate 5, and makes the conveyance motor 32 drive the conveyance roller 3 to convey the remaining paper sheet without a jam through the conveyance route that is currently available so as to discharge the remaining paper sheet to the paper discharge unit 4.
To store the remaining paper sheet without a jam in the first storage unit 40a or the second storage unit 40b in the example in
The controller 8 conveys and cuts the remaining paper sheet such that a length L1 of the cut remaining paper sheet satisfies the following expression (1).
Roller pitch M1≦Length L1 of the cut remaining paper sheet≦Storage length N1 (1)
If the length L1 of the cut remaining paper sheet is shorter than the roller pitch M1, the rear end of the remaining paper sheet passes through the upstream conveyance roller 3 in the conveyance direction before the downstream conveyance roller 3 in the conveyance direction holds the front end of the remaining paper sheet. Thus, the length L1 of the cut remaining paper sheet is made longer than the roller pitch M1. If the length L1 of the cut remaining paper sheet is longer than the storage length N1, it may be impossible to store the cut remaining paper sheet in the first storage unit 40a or the second storage unit 40b. Thus, the length L1 of the cut remaining paper sheet is equal to or shorter than the storage length N1.
The controller 8 determines the amount of a paper sheet or a remaining paper sheet to be conveyed, and whether the remaining paper sheet has been cut in accordance with the detection of the presence or absence of the rear end of the paper sheet before separated, and the presence or absence of the rear end of the separated remaining paper sheet with the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a and the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b. Then, the controller 8 makes the length L1 of the cut remaining paper sheet satisfy the expression (1) so as to convey and store the remaining paper sheet in the first storage unit 40a and the second storage unit 40b, avoiding the conveyance path on which the jam occurs. Note that the paper sheet conveying apparatus 1A includes an operation unit 9 including a display unit as a notifying unit and is configured to notify, for example, the user of the occurrence of a jam, for example, with visible information. The notifying unit may generate a predetermined sound.
<Exemplary Application of the Paper Sheet Conveying Apparatus of the Present Embodiment>
The image forming apparatus 11 includes the conveyance path 2 and the conveyance rollers 3 that are included in the paper sheet conveying apparatus 1A illustrated in
The image forming apparatus 11 includes a photoreceptor 11a that is an image carrier, an optical device 11b that forms an electrostatic latent image by scanning the photoreceptor 11a with light, and a developing device 11c that forms a toner image by visualizing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 11a. The image forming apparatus 11 further includes a transfer unit 11d that transfers the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 11a to the paper sheet P, and a fixing unit 11e that fixes the transferred toner image on the paper sheet P.
The post-processing apparatus 12 has a function for binding paper sheets with a binding needle in the example of
In the image forming system 10A, the connection between the image forming apparatus 11 and the post-processing apparatus 12 connects the conveyance path 2 of the image forming apparatus 11 to the first conveyance path 20a and the second conveyance path 20b of the post-processing apparatus 12.
The post-processing apparatus 12 includes a main tray 40a1, and a stacker 40b1. The main tray 40a1 corresponds to the first storage unit 40a illustrated in
Note that the post-processing apparatus 12 includes a conveyance route in which the second conveyance path 20b merges with the first conveyance path 20a on the side downstream from the stacker 40b1. In a normal state in which a failure such as a jam does not occur, paper sheets bound with the paper sheet binding unit 12a are discharged to the main tray 40a1 through the stacker 40b1.
The post-processing apparatus 12 includes the path switching gate 5 at the branch point into the first conveyance path 20a and the second conveyance path 20b, and the cutter 6 on the side upstream from the path switching gate 5.
The post-processing apparatus 12 switches the conveyance route of a paper sheet to the first conveyance path 20a in a mode in which paper sheets on which the image forming apparatus 11 forms an image are not bound and are discharged. Thus, the paper sheets are conveyed through the first conveyance path 20a and discharged to the main tray 40a1. The post-processing apparatus 12 switches the conveyance route of a paper sheet to the second conveyance path 20b in a staple mode in which a pile of paper sheets are bound. Thus, the pile of paper sheets are collected through the second conveyance path 20b on the stacker 40b1, bound with the paper sheet binding unit 12a, and discharged through the stacker 40b1 to the main tray 40a1.
<Exemplary Operation of the Paper Sheet Conveying Apparatus of the Present Embodiment>
Herein, on the assumption that the distance between the cutter 6 and the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a is M2 and the distance between the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a and the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b is M3 in the example illustrated in
2×M1<M2 (2)
M1<M3 (3)
2×M1<M2+M3<M1+N1 (4)
The example described below is a case in which a long paper sheet P is conveyed from the conveyance path 2 to the first conveyance path 20a, and a jam occurs on the first conveyance path 20a.
When detecting that a jam occurs on the first conveyance path 20a from the output from the jam detecting sensor 7c in step SA1 of
The controller 8 determines in step SA3 whether the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a detects the paper sheet P. When the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a detects the paper sheet P, the rear end of the paper sheet P has not passed through the position detected with the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a. On the other hand, when the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a does not detect the paper sheet P, the rear end of the paper sheet P has passed through the position detected with the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a.
When determining in step SA3 that the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a detects the paper sheet P, the controller 8 cuts the paper sheet P by driving the cutter 6 in step SA4 so as to separate the paper sheet P into the jam paper sheet P1 and the remaining paper sheet P2 as illustrated in
The controller 8 determines in step SA5 whether the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b detects the remaining paper sheet P2. When the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b detects the remaining paper sheet P2, the rear end of the remaining paper sheet P2 has not passed through the position detected with the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b and is positioned on the upstream side as illustrated in
When determining in step SA5 that the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b detects the remaining paper sheet P2, the controller 8 switches the conveyance route to the second conveyance path 20b with the path switching gate 5 and conveys the remaining paper sheet P2 by a first predetermined amount that corresponds to the roller pitch M1 in step SA6 as illustrated in
When determining in step SA3 that the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a does not detect the paper sheet P, the controller 8 notifies the user or a maintenance operator of the occurrence of the jam, for example, with the display unit of the operation unit 9 so as to enable the user or the maintenance operator to remove the jam paper sheet P1 remaining on the first conveyance path 20a in step SA7.
The next example will be described below. In the example, it is determined in step SA5 that the rear end of the remaining paper sheet P2 is positioned on the side upstream from the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b when a jam occurs. The remaining paper sheet P2 is conveyed by the first predetermined amount that corresponds to the roller pitch M1 in the process of step SA6. After that, as illustrated in
In such a state, it is determined in step SA3 that the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a detects the paper sheet P. The controller 8 cuts the remaining paper sheet P2 by driving the cutter 6 in step SA4 so as to separate the remaining paper sheet P2 into a preceding remaining paper sheet P21 and a subsequent remaining paper sheet P22 as illustrated in
When determining in step SA5 that the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b does not detect the paper sheet P, the controller 8 conveys each of the remaining paper sheet P21 and the remaining paper sheet P22 by the first predetermined amount corresponding to the roller pitch M1 in step SA8. In step SA9, the controller 8 cuts the remaining paper sheet P22 to a length short enough to be stored in the second storage unit 40b by driving the cutter 6 as illustrated in
Then, in step SA10, the controller 8 conveys the remaining paper sheet by a second predetermined amount that exceeds the amount corresponding to the storage length N1, and stores the separated remaining paper sheets P2 in the second storage unit 40b as illustrated in
The next example will be described below. In the example, it is determined in step SA5 that the rear end of the remaining paper sheet P2 is positioned between the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a and the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b as illustrated in
When determining in step SA5 that the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b does not detect the remaining paper sheet P2, the controller 8 switches the conveyance route to the second conveyance path 20b with the path switching gate 5 so as to convey the remaining paper sheet P2 by the first predetermined amount that corresponds to the roller pitch M1 in step SA8 as illustrated in
Then, the controller 8 conveys the remaining paper sheet by a second predetermined amount that exceeds the amount corresponding to the storage length N1, and stores the separated remaining paper sheets P2 in the second storage unit 40b as illustrated in
The jam paper sheet P1 separated from the remaining paper sheet P2 with the cutter 6 is short in length, and thus is easily removed, for example, by the conveyance by hand. The separation also prevents the jam paper sheet P1 from extending over a plurality of racks. Thus, the jam paper sheet P1 can easily be removed even in a manner in which the rack provided with the conveyance path is drawn to remove the jam paper sheet P1.
The image forming system 10A with the paper sheet conveying apparatus 1A illustrated in
The remaining paper sheet P2 does not exist on the conveyance path. This enables the user to remove the jam paper sheet by manually conveying the jam paper sheet to the image forming apparatus 11 or the post-processing apparatus 12 depending on the place in which the jam occurs and drawing a predetermined rack.
As described above, when the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b does not detect the remaining paper sheet P2 separated from the jam paper sheet P1 in step SA5, the rear end of the remaining paper sheet P2 is positioned between the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a and the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b.
In such a state, a length L2 of the remaining paper sheet P22 illustrated in
The remaining paper sheet is conveyed by the first predetermined amount that corresponds to the roller pitch M1 in step SA8. This makes a length L3 of the remaining paper sheet P222 cut in step SA4 and illustrated in
On the other hand, when the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a detects the paper sheet P in step SA3 described above and the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b detects the paper sheet P in step SA5, the rear end of the paper sheet P is positioned on the side upstream from the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b.
The expression (3) prescribes that the distance M3 between the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a and the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b is longer than the roller pitch M1. As a result, even when the remaining paper sheet P2 is conveyed by the first predetermined amount that corresponds to the roller pitch M1 in step SA6, the rear end of the remaining paper sheet P2 is positioned between the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a and the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b, or does not reach the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b. This means that the rear end of the remaining paper sheet P2 is not conveyed between the cutter 6 and the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a.
Thus, the procedures in step SA2 to step SA6 are repeated until the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a detects the remaining paper sheet P2 in step SA3 described above and the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b does not detect the remaining paper sheet P2 in step SA5, so that the remaining paper sheet P2 is cut in accordance with the length of the roller pitch M1 and is conveyed. After that, the procedures in step SA8 to step SA11 are performed and thus the separated remaining paper sheets P2 can be stored in the second storage unit 40b.
The image forming system 10A with the paper sheet conveying apparatus 1A illustrated in
The number of paper sheets to be bound with the paper sheet binding unit 12a is predetermined, for example, in accordance with the type of paper, or the basis weight. In terms of the foregoing, when the number of remaining paper sheets stored in the stacker 40b1 reaches the predetermined number of paper sheets to be bound, the paper sheets may be bound and discharged. This enables the image forming system 10A to discharge the remaining paper sheets by binding the remaining paper sheets by the predetermined number even when the number of remaining paper sheets is larger than the number of paper sheets to be bound with the paper sheet binding unit 12a. For example, a maintenance operator can determine whether to perform the binding process by operating the operation unit 9 and configuring the settings. When the maintenance operator operates the operation unit 9 to configure the setting for performing a binding process, the binding process is performed as described above. On the other hand, when the maintenance operator operates the operation unit 9 to configure the setting not to perform a binding process, the binding process is not performed.
When detecting in step SB1 of
The controller 8 determines in step SB3 whether the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a detects the paper sheet P. When determining in step SB3 that the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a detects the paper sheet P, the controller 8 cuts the paper sheet P by driving the cutter 6 so as to separate the paper sheet into the jam paper sheet P1 and the remaining paper sheet P2 in step SB4.
After separating the paper sheet P causing the jam into the jam paper sheet P1 and the remaining paper sheet P2, the controller 8 notifies the occurrence of the jam, for example, using the display unit of the operation unit 9 in step SB5. Once receiving the notification of the occurrence of the jam, the maintenance operator or someone completes the process for the jam paper sheet P1, for example, the removal of the jam paper sheet in step SB6.
After the completion of the process for the jam paper sheet P1, the controller 8 determines the position of the rear end of the remaining paper sheet P2 from the outputs from the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a and the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b in step SB7. The controller 8 determines in step SB8 whether the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a detects the remaining paper sheet P2.
When determining in step SB8 that the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a detects the remaining paper sheet P2, the controller 8 determines in step SB9 whether the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b detects the remaining paper sheet P2. When determining in step SB9 that the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b detects the remaining paper sheet P2, the controller 8 switches the conveyance route to the second conveyance path 20b with the path switching gate 5 so as to convey the remaining paper sheet P2 by the first predetermined amount that corresponds to the roller pitch M1 in step SB10.
After conveying the remaining paper sheet P2 by the first predetermined amount that corresponds to the roller pitch M1 in step SB10, the controller 8 cuts the remaining paper sheet P2 by driving the cutter 6 in step SB11. Then, the process goes back to step SB7.
When determining in step SB3 that the first paper sheet detecting sensor 7a does not detect the remaining paper sheet P2, the controller 8 notifies the occurrence of the jam in step SB12.
When determining in step SB9 that the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b does not detect the remaining paper sheet P2, the controller 8 switches the conveyance route to the second conveyance path 20b with the path switching gate 5 so as to convey the remaining paper sheet P2 by the first predetermined amount that corresponds to the roller pitch M1 in step SB13. The controller 8 cuts the remaining paper sheet P2 by driving the cutter 6 in step SB14.
Then, the controller 8 conveys the remaining paper sheet P2 by the second predetermined amount that exceeds the amount corresponding to the storage length N1, and stores the remaining paper sheet P2 in the second storage unit 40b in step SB15. The remaining paper sheet P2 is stored in the second storage unit 40b by the procedures in step SB13 to step SB15. Accordingly, no paper sheet remains on the conveyance path 2, the first conveyance path 20a, and the second conveyance path 20b. Then, the process, for example, for conveying a paper sheet is restarted in step SB16. When it is determined in step SB8 that the second paper sheet detecting sensor 7b does not detect the remaining paper sheet P2, no paper sheet remains on the conveyance path 2, the first conveyance path 20a, and the second conveyance path 20b. Thus, the process, for example, for conveying a paper sheet is restarted in step SB16.
<Exemplary Variation of the Paper Sheet Conveying Apparatus of the Present Embodiment>
An image forming system 10B with a paper sheet conveying apparatus 1B includes an image forming apparatus 11, and one or more paper sheet processing apparatuses connected to the image forming apparatus 11. In the examples of
The paper sheet conveying apparatus 1B includes a plurality of cutters on a conveyance path 2. Three cutters 6a to 6c are provided on the conveyance path 2 in the present examples. In the examples of
In the image forming apparatus 11, a paper sheet conveying apparatus 1B includes a third conveyance path 20c that is a branch from the conveyance path 2, and a third storage unit 40c in which a paper sheet conveyed through the third conveyance path 20c is stored. The cutter 6b that is an example of another cutting unit is provided at the branch point into the conveyance path 2 that is an example of a fourth conveyance path and the third conveyance path 20c such that the conveyance route of the paper sheet cut with the cutter 6b is switched to the conveyance path 2 and the third conveyance path 20c with the path switching gate 5b that is an example of another switching unit. Furthermore, the cutter 6c that is an example of another cutting unit may be provided on the side upstream from the cutter 6b.
Each of the intervals among the cutters 6a to 6c is made longer than the roller pitch of the conveyance rollers 3. This is because an interval between the cutters made shorter than the roller pitch hinders the conveyance of the paper sheet cut between the cutters. Additionally, each of the positions to provide the cutters is preferably near the path switching gate and on the side upstream from the path switching gate.
When a paper sheet P long enough to extend over the post-processing apparatus 12 and the image forming apparatus 11 is conveyed, and a jam occurs on the side of the front end of the paper sheet P, the cutters 6a to 6c cut the remaining paper sheet. When there is a conveyance path just near each of the cutters 6a and 6b as the example of
In the example of
Thus, the jam paper sheet P1 remains on the first conveyance path 20a without extending over the post-processing apparatus 12 and the image forming apparatus 11, and thus can easily be removed. Furthermore, the remaining paper sheet can be stored in the storage unit though a short conveyance distance without extending over the post-processing apparatus 12 and the image forming apparatus 11.
In the example of
Thus, the jam paper sheet P1 remains on the first conveyance path 20a without extending over the post-processing apparatus 12 and the image forming apparatus 11, and thus can easily be removed. Furthermore, the remaining paper sheets can be stored in the same storage unit without extending over the post-processing apparatus 12 and the image forming apparatus 11.
The examples in which a jam occurs on the side of the front end of a long paper sheet have been described in the embodiments. Note that, however, even when a jam occurs on the side of the rear end of the paper sheet, it is determined, for example, how the paper sheet stops, or the length of the paper sheet in accordance with the information about the presence or absence of the paper sheet detected by a plurality of paper sheet detecting sensors. Subsequently, the paper sheet is conveyed and cut with the cutter. Thus, a remaining paper sheet separated from the jam paper sheet can be stored in the storage unit.
The present embodiments are applied to an apparatus including a conveyance route on which a long paper sheet is conveyed.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, if a jam is detected in a paper sheet conveyed on the first conveyance path, the paper sheet is separated into a part causing the jam and a part without the jam. Subsequently, the conveyance path of the part without the jam is switched to the second conveyance path. Meanwhile, the paper sheet is cut to a predetermined length and stored in the second storage unit through the second conveyance path.
Thus, even if the conveyed paper sheet is a long paper sheet, the part causing the jam is shortened, and thus can easily be removed. The part without the jam is cut to a predetermined length and stored in the storage unit, and thus does not need, for example, to manually be removed. Thus, the process, for example, for conveying the paper sheet can promptly be resumed.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustrated and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the scope of the present invention being interpreted by terms of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-168418 | Aug 2014 | JP | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6056460 | Suzuki | May 2000 | A |
| 6557849 | Wyss | May 2003 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| H07-264348 | Oct 1995 | JP |
| H10-181125 | Jul 1998 | JP |
| H10-198098 | Jul 1998 | JP |
| Entry |
|---|
| Notice of Reasons for Refusal dated Sep. 1, 2016 from the corresponding Japanese Application; Patent Application No. 2014-168418; Total of 11 pages. |
| Office Action dated Dec. 2, 2016 from the corresponding Chinese Application/Patent No. 20151516135.8; Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.; English translation of Office Action; Total of 24 pages. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20160054697 A1 | Feb 2016 | US |
