BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet detecting apparatus for detecting the sheet conveyed and an image forming apparatus having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a sheet conveying portion of an image forming apparatus includes a sheet detecting apparatus capable of detecting a front end position of the sheet in order to match the timing for sending the sheet to a transfer position and the timing for sending the image formed in the image forming portion to the transfer position (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,948).
Here, FIGS. 26 and 27A to 27C illustrate the sheet detecting apparatus of the related art. As illustrated in FIG. 26, the sheet detecting apparatus of the related art is provided on the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction of a pair of conveying rollers 618 and 619 closest to the transfer position at which the image formed in the image forming portion is transferred. The sheet detecting apparatus includes a lever member 623 that abuts on the sheet, an optical sensor 624, a light-shielding flag 625 for shielding an optical path starting from the light-emitting portion of the optical sensor 624 and ending at the light-receiving portion, and a stopper portion 626 for positioning the lever member 623 at the home position. The lever member 623 is rotatably formed by a rotational axis 627 and is adapted to return to the home position by a pressing force of a return spring 628 even when it rotates. The light-shielding flag 625 is formed integrally with the lever member 623 and rotates along with the lever member 623.
As illustrated in FIG. 27A, if a front end of the sheet S is brought into contact with the lever member 623, the lever member 623 rotates in the direction of the arrow of FIG. 27A with respect to the rotational axis 627 from the home position, and the light-shielding flag 625 blocks off the optical path of the optical sensor 624. If the optical sensor 624 detects that the optical path is blocked, the sheet detecting apparatus recognizes that the front end of the sheet S has arrived at the lever member 623. Then, the sheet S moves while being in contact with the front end of the lever member 623. If the rear end of the sheet S is separated from the lever member 623, the lever member 623 rotates in the direction of the arrow of FIG. 27C by the return spring 628 and returns to the home position. At this moment, the light-shielding flag 625 retracts from the optical path, and the light-receiving portion of the optical sensor 624 receives the light emitted from the light-emitting portion again so that the sheet detecting apparatus recognizes that the rear end of the sheet S has passed through the lever member 623.
However, in recent years, users demand still higher throughput for the image forming apparatus. In order to improve the throughput in the image forming apparatus, it is necessary to improve the conveying speed of the sheet or to shorten the distance (hereinafter, referred to as a “sheet interval”) between the rear end of the preceding sheet and the front end of the subsequent sheet. Therefore, it is necessary for the sheet detecting apparatus to return the lever member 623 to the home position within a period corresponding to a short sheet interval after the preceding sheet S has passed.
Meanwhile, as the front end of the sheet S having passed a pair of conveying rollers 618 and 619 abuts on an abutting portion, the lever member 623 of the related art rotates by being pressed by the sheet S. As the rear end of sheet S is separated from the abutting portion, the lever member 623 is reversely rotated and returns to the home position. For this reason, a distance necessary as the sheet interval becomes the sum of the distances D1 and D2, in which D1 denotes a distance between the position where the rear end of the preceding sheet passes through the abutting portion of the lever member 623 and the home position where the front end of the subsequent sheet abuts on the abutting portion, and D2 denotes a distance at which the subsequent sheet is conveyed therebetween (refer to FIG. 27B).
Here, the distance D2 is set to Δt×v, in which Δt denotes the time taken for the lever member 623 to move by the distance D1, and v denotes the sheet conveying speed. When the lever member 623 performs a reciprocating movement, the distance D1 for returning the lever member 623 to the home position is generated, and distance D2 at which the subsequent sheet S is conveyed in the return operation is lengthened as the sheet conveying speed increases. For this reason, the sheet detecting apparatus of the related art has a problem in that the distance of sheet interval becomes longer as the conveying speed of the sheet S becomes faster. This suppresses further improvement in throughput.
In this regard, the invention provides a sheet detecting apparatus capable of improving the throughput by suppressing the sheet interval from being lengthened even when the sheet conveying speed increases and an image forming apparatus having the same.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a sheet detecting apparatus that detects a sheet conveyed by a conveying portion that conveys the sheet, the sheet detecting apparatus comprising: a lever member having an abutting surface that abuts against a leading end of a sheet conveyed by the conveying portion; a biasing portion that applies a biasing force to the lever member to position the lever member at a first position where the abutting surface abuts against the leading end of the sheet; a supporting mechanism that movably supports the lever member so that the lever member moves in an order of the first position, a second position to which the lever member moves by the sheet being conveyed against the biasing force of the biasing member, and a third position where the lever member abuts on a surface of the sheet being conveyed and waits in order to move to the first position when a trailing end of the sheet passes the lever member, while keeping the abutting surface facing upstream in a sheet conveying direction; an interlocking portion that interlock with the lever member; and a detector that detects a position of the interlocking portion.
According to the invention, it is possible to shorten the time between a point in time when the sheet has passed and a point in time when the lever member is positioned in the first position which is a standby position. Therefore, it is not necessary to obtain a long distance as the sheet interval is reduced, and thus possible to improve the throughput.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the entire structure of the image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating the sheet conveying portion of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2B is a perspective view illustrating the sheet conveying portion of FIG. 2A as seen from the opposite side;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a part of the sheet detector according to the first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a state that the sheet is conveyed to the sheet conveying portion according to the first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a rotating lever in a state that the sheet is conveyed to the sheet conveying portion; FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating a light-shielding flag in a state that the sheet is conveyed to the sheet conveying portion;
FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a sheet conveying portion in a state that the front end of the sheet abuts on the abutting surface of the rotating lever; FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a rotating lever in a state that the front end of the sheet abuts on the abutting surface; FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating a light-shielding flag in a state that the front end of the sheet abuts on the abutting surface of the rotating lever;
FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating the sheet conveying portion in a state that the rotating lever is rotated while it is pressed by the front end of the sheet; FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating the rotating lever rotated by the pressing of the front end of the sheet; FIG. 6C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag in a state that the rotating lever is rotated while it is pressed by the front end of the sheet;
FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating the sheet conveying portion in a state that the rotating lever is located in the second position while it is pressed by the front end of the sheet; FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating the rotating lever in a state that the rotating lever is located at the second position by the pressing of the front end of the sheet; FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag in a state that the rotating lever is located at the second position by the pressing of the front end of the sheet;
FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating the sheet conveying portion in a state that the rotating lever moves from the second position to the third position; FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating the rotating lever which moves from the second position to the third position; FIG. 8C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag in a state that the rotating lever moves from the second position to the third position;
FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating the sheet conveying portion in a state that the rotating lever moves from the third position to the first position; FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating the rotating lever in a state that it moves from the third position to the first position; FIG. 9C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag in a state the rotating lever moves from the third position to the first position;
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a rotating trajectory of the abutting surface of the rotating lever which cyclically moves from the first position to the third position while the abutting surface is directed to an upstream side;
FIG. 11A is a perspective view illustrating the sheet conveying portion of the image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 11B is a perspective view illustrating the sheet conveying portion of FIG. 11A as seen from the opposite side;
FIG. 12A is a diagram illustrating the sheet conveying portion of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 12B is a diagram illustrating a state that the rotating lever of the sheet conveying portion of FIG. 12A waits at the third position;
FIG. 13A is a perspective view illustrating the sheet conveying portion of the image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention; FIG. 13B is a perspective view illustrating the sheet conveying portion of FIG. 13A as seen from the opposite side;
FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a part of the sheet detector according to the third embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 15A is a diagram illustrating a state that the sheet is conveyed in the sheet conveying portion according to the third embodiment of the invention; FIG. 15B is a diagram illustrating the rotating lever in a state that the sheet is conveyed to the sheet conveying portion; FIG. 15C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag in a state that the sheet is conveyed to the sheet conveying portion;
FIG. 16A is a diagram illustrating the sheet conveying portion in a state that the front end of the sheet abuts on the abutting surface of the rotating lever; FIG. 16B is a diagram illustrating the rotating lever in a state that the front end of the sheet abuts on the abutting surface; FIG. 16C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag in a state that the front end of the sheet abuts on the abutting surface;
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a rotating trajectory of the abutting surface of the rotating lever which cyclically moves from the first position to the third position while the abutting surface is directed to an upstream side;
FIG. 18A is a perspective view illustrating the sheet conveying portion of the image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; FIG. 18B is a perspective view illustrating the sheet conveying portion of FIG. 18A as seen from the opposite side;
FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a portion of the sheet detector according to the fourth embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 20A is a diagram illustrating the second rotating lever in a state that the sheet is conveyed to the sheet conveying portion; FIG. 20B is a diagram illustrating the first rotating lever in a state that the sheet is conveyed to the sheet conveying portion; FIG. 20C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag in a state that the sheet is conveyed to the sheet conveying portion; FIG. 20D is a diagram illustrating the biasing portion in a state that the sheet is conveyed to the sheet conveying portion;
FIG. 21A is a diagram illustrating the second rotating lever in a state that the front end of the sheet abuts on the abutting surface of the first rotating lever; FIG. 21B is a diagram illustrating the first rotating lever in a state that the front end of the sheet abuts on the abutting surface; FIG. 21C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag in a state that the front end of the sheet abuts on the abutting surface of the first rotating lever; FIG. 21D is a diagram illustrating the biasing portion in a state that the front end of the sheet abuts on the abutting surface of the first rotating lever;
FIG. 22A is a diagram illustrating a state that the abutting surface of the first rotating lever is pressed by the front end of the sheet so that the second rotating lever is rotated along with the first rotating lever; FIG. 22B is a diagram illustrating a state that the first rotating lever is rotated by the pressing of the front end of the sheet; FIG. 22C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag in a state that the first rotating lever is rotated by the pressing of the front end of the sheet; FIG. 22D is a diagram illustrating the biasing portion in a state that the first rotating lever abuts on the front end of the sheet and is rotated;
FIG. 23A is a diagram illustrating the second rotating lever in a state that the first rotating lever is rotated to the second position; FIG. 23B is a diagram illustrating the first rotating lever rotated to the second position; FIG. 23C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag in a state that the first rotating lever is rotated to the second position; FIG. 23D is a diagram illustrating the biasing portion in a state that the first rotating lever is rotated to the second position;
FIG. 24A is a diagram illustrating a state that the front end of the second rotating lever rotated along with the first rotating lever abuts on the front end of the conveyed sheet and waits at the third position; FIG. 24B is a diagram illustrating the first rotating lever in a state that the second rotating lever waits; FIG. 24C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag in a state that the second rotating lever waits at the third position; FIG. 24D is a diagram illustrating the biasing portion in a state that the second rotating lever waits at the third position.
FIG. 25A is a diagram illustrating a state that the second rotating lever is rotated to the first position; FIG. 25B is a diagram illustrating the first rotating lever in a state that the second rotating lever is rotated to the first position; FIG. 25C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag in a state that the second rotating lever is moved to the first position; FIG. 25D is a diagram illustrating the biasing portion in a state that the second rotating lever is moved to the first position;
FIG. 26 is a perspective diagram illustrating the sheet conveying portion of the image forming apparatus in the related art;
FIG. 27A is a diagram illustrating a state that the front end of the sheet abuts on the light-shielding flag of the sheet detector of the sheet conveying portion in the related art; FIG. 27B is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag in a state that it waits until the sheet passes; and FIG. 27C is a diagram illustrating a state that the sheet passes, and the light-shielding flag is returned to the home position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus including the sheet conveying portion according to the embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention is an image forming apparatus including a sheet conveying portion having a sheet detection function capable of detecting a position of the conveyed sheet, such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile, and a multi-function peripheral having a combination of the functions thereof. In the following embodiments, it will be described using the electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms a toner image of four colors.
First Embodiment
The image forming apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. First, the entire structure of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the entire structure of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the invention.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the invention includes a sheet feeding portion 8 that feeds the sheet S and a sheet conveying portion 9 which conveys the sheet S fed from the sheet feeding portion 8 and detects the position of the sheet S. The image forming apparatus 100 includes an image forming portion 14 that forms a toner image on the sheet S conveyed from the sheet conveying portion 9, a fixing portion 10 that fixes an unfixed toner image formed in the image forming portion 14 onto the sheet, and a sheet discharge portion 13 that discharges the sheet where the toner image is fixed.
The sheet feeding portion 8 includes a sheet cassette 80 where the sheets S are housed, a feeding roller 81 that feeds the sheets S housed in the sheet cassette 80 to the sheet conveying portion 9, and a separating portion (not illustrated) that separates the sheets S one by one. The sheet feeding portion 8 separates the sheets S housed in the sheet cassette 80 one by one and feeds the sheets S to the sheet conveying portion 9 using the feeding roller 81.
The sheet conveying portion 9 is provided on the downstream side of the sheet feeding portion 8. The sheet conveying portion 9 conveys the sheet S fed from the sheet feeding portion 8 or the sheet S conveyed from the duplex conveying path 15b described below. In addition, the sheet conveying portion 9 includes a sheet detector 200 as a sheet detecting apparatus for detecting that the sheet passes through a predetermined position. Moreover, the sheet detector 200 will be described in detail in conjunction with the sheet conveying portion 9 described below.
The image forming portion 14 initiates the image forming operation at a predetermined timing when the sheet detector 200 detects that the sheet S arrives at a predetermined position. Specifically, the image forming portion 14 forms the toner image based on predetermined image information at a predetermined timing and transfers the toner image onto the sheet S conveyed by the sheet conveying portion 9. The image forming portion 14 includes photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, charging portions 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, exposing portions 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d, development portions 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d, transfer rollers 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d, and cleaning portions 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d. In addition, the image forming portion 14 includes a transfer belt 14a.
The photosensitive drums 1a to 1d serving as an image bearing member are formed by coating an organic photo conductor (OPC) layer on the outer circumferential surface of an aluminum cylinder. Both ends of photosensitive drums 1a to 1d are rotatably supported by the flanges and are rotationally driven in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 by transmitting a driving force from a driving motor (not illustrated) to the one end. Charging portions 2a to 2d make the conductive roller formed in a roller shape abut on the surface of photosensitive drums 1a to 1d and uniformly charge the surfaces of photosensitive drums 1a to 1d by applying a charging bias voltage using a power supply (not illustrated). The exposing portions 3a to 3d form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d by irradiating a laser beam based on image information.
The development portions 4a to 4d include toner storage portions 4a1, 4b1, 4c1, and 4d1, and developing roller portions 4a2, 4b2, 4c2, and 4d2. The toner storage portions 4a1 to 4d1 house black, cyan, magenta, and yellow toners in each color. The developing roller portions 4a2 to 4d2 are arranged adjacently to the photosensitive member surface, and the toner in each color is adhered to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d by applying a developing bias voltage to develop the latent image as a toner image.
The transfer rollers 5a to 5d are arranged in the inner side of the transfer belt 14a so as to abut on the transfer belt 14a oppositely to the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d. The transfer rollers 5a to 5d are connected to the power supply for the transfer bias (not illustrated), and the positive charge from the transfer rollers 5a to 5d is applied to the sheet S through the transfer belt 14a. By this electric field, each negative color toner image on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d is sequentially transferred onto the sheet S making contact with the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d so as to form the color image. The cleaning portions 6a to 6d remove the toner remained on the surface of the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d after transferring.
In addition, according to the present embodiment, the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, the charging portions 2a to 2d, the development portions 4a to 4d, and the cleaning portions 6a to 6d integrally constitute the process cartridge portions 7a to 7d.
The fixing portion 10 fixes the unfixed toner image by heating the sheet S where the unfixed toner image has been transferred. The sheet discharge portion 13 includes a pair of discharge rollers 11 and 12 by which the sheet S having an image is conveyed by positive rotation or is inverted by reverse rotation and a discharging portion 13a from which the sheet S having an image is discharged.
In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a sheet conveying path 15a which conveys the sheet S and the like where the toner image has been formed in the image forming portion 14, a duplex conveying path 15b, a pair of oblique feeding rollers 16, and a pair of U-turn rollers 17. The sheet conveying path 15a is a conveying path for conveying the sheet S fed from the sheet feeding portion 8 or the sheet S conveyed from the duplex conveying path 15b and the like and is provided with the sheet conveying portion 9 and the image forming portion 14. The duplex conveying path 15b is a conveying path for conveying the sheet S reversed in a pair of discharge rollers 11 and 12 in order to perform duplex printing to the sheet conveying path 15a. A pair of oblique feeding rollers 16 is arranged in the duplex conveying path 15b and conveys the reversed sheet S. A pair of U-turn rollers 17 is arranged in the duplex conveying path 15b and re-conveys the sheet S conveyed through the duplex conveying path 15b to the sheet conveying path 15a.
The sheet S fed to the sheet conveying path 15a from the sheet feeding portion 8 is conveyed to the image forming portion 14 through the sheet detector 200 of the sheet conveying portion 9. In the sheet detector 200, the front end position of the sheet S is detected. As the front end position of the sheet S is detected in the sheet detector 200, the forming of the toner image (image forming operation) by the image forming portion 14 is initiated at the timing when the sheet S arrives at the transfer rollers 5a to 5d. After the toner image is formed, as the sheet S reaches the transfer roller 5a to 5d, each color of toner image on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d is sequentially transferred onto the sheet S. Then, the unfixed toner image is fixed to the sheet S in the fixing portion 10, and the sheet S is discharged to the discharging portion 13a by a pair of discharge rollers 11 and 12.
In addition, at the time of duplex printing, the unfixed toner image is fixed to the sheet S in the fixing portion 10, and then, a pair of discharge rollers 11 and 12 are reversely rotated before the sheet S is discharged to the discharging portion 13a by the a pair of discharge rollers 11 and 12. As a result, the sheet S is conveyed to the duplex conveying path 15b. The sheet S conveyed to the duplex conveying path 15b is re-conveyed to the image forming portion 14 through the sheet detector 200 by a pair of oblique rollers 16 and a pair of U-turn rollers 17 so as to perform duplex printing.
Next, the sheet conveying portion 9 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2A to 10. First, the entire structure of the sheet conveying portion 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 3. FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating the sheet conveying portion 9 of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the sheet conveying portion 9 of FIG. 2A as seen from the opposite side. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a part of the sheet detector 200 according to the first embodiment of the invention. In addition, arrows illustrated in the FIGS. 2A and 2B represent the conveying direction of the sheet S.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the sheet conveying portion 9 includes a paper feeding frame 20, a guide frame 28, a pair of conveying rollers 18 and 19 as a conveying portion for conveying the sheet S conveyed along the sheet conveying path 15a to the image forming portion 14, and a sheet detector 200. The paper feeding frame 20 and the guide frame 28 are arranged in the vicinity of the upstream side of the image forming portion 14 with respect to the sheet conveying path 15a and support a pair of conveying rollers 18 and 19 and the sheet detector 200. A pair of conveying rollers 18 and 19 includes a plurality of conveying rollers 19 and a plurality of conveying rollers 18 arranged oppositely to each of the conveying rollers 19. The conveying roller 19 is fixed to the rotational axis 19a axially supported in parallel with the rotational axial direction of the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d and rotates integrally with the rotational axis 19a. The conveying roller 18 is rotatably and axially supported by the paper feeding frame 20. In addition, the conveying roller 18 is biased to the conveying roller 19 by the conveying roller spring 21 mounted on the paper feeding frame 20 and serves as a follower rotating member of the conveying roller 19 for conveying the sheet S using this biasing force.
The sheet detector 200 is supported by the paper feeding frame 20 in the downstream side of the sheet conveying direction and the guide frame 28 from a pair of conveying rollers 18 and 19 along the sheet conveying path. The sheet detector 200 detects the front end position of the sheet S conveyed to the image forming portion 14 by a pair of conveying rollers 18 and 19. The sheet detector 200 includes a rotating lever 23 as a lever member, a support axis 31 serving as a support mechanism, a pair of rotating members 24 and 25 serving as a rotating member of a support mechanism, and rotating axes 24a and 25a which rotate a pair of rotating members 24 and 25. The support mechanism movably supports the rotating lever 23 so that rotating lever 23 can perform a crank-movement. In addition, the sheet detector 200 includes a lever driving member 26 as a connection rotating member, a bias spring 27 as a biasing member, a light-shielding flag 29 as an interlocking portion, and an optical sensor 30 as a sensor.
The rotating lever 23 includes a main portion 23e formed in a long plate shape (straight line shape), an abutting portion 23a formed integrally with the main portion 23e at one end of the main portion 23e in the longitudinal direction, and a long hole portion 23b formed in the other end side. In addition, the rotating lever 23 includes a connected portion 23c formed between the abutting portion 23a and the long hole portion 23b.
The abutting portion 23a includes an abutting surface 23d capable of abutting on the front end of the sheet S conveyed along the sheet conveying path 15a by a pair of conveying rollers 18 and 19. The abutting surface 23d is arranged to protrude to the sheet conveying path 15a so as to abut against the front end (leading end) of the sheet S conveyed by a pair of conveying rollers 18 and 19. Hereinafter, a position where the front end of the sheet S in the downstream side of the sheet conveying direction of a pair of conveying rollers 18 and 19 abuts on the abutting surface 23d is called a “first position.”
The long hole portion 23b is formed along the longitudinal direction of the main portion 23e in the other end portion of the main portion 23e, and the fixed support axis 31 positioned in the paper feeding frame 20 is slidably engaged thereto (refer to FIG. 2B). The connected portion 23c is rotatably connected to a pair of rotating members 24 and 25 such that the rotating lever 23 can rotate along with a pair of rotating members 24 and 25. The support axis 31 serves as a slide support portion for supporting the main portion 23e of the rotating lever 23 slidably.
A pair of rotating members 24 and 25 is formed in a disk shape and rotating axes 24a and 25a is connected to each center of rotation. The rotating member 24 is provided with a connecting axis 24b formed to protrude as a connecting portion that can penetrate the connected portion 23c of the rotating lever 23 at a position (eccentric position) offset from the rotational center of the rotating member 24 to a radial direction. The rotating member 25 is provided with a connection hole 25b where the connecting axis 24b that penetrates the connected portion 23c can be connected. The connection hole 25b is formed at a position (eccentric position) offset from the rotational center of the rotating member 25 to a radial direction. A pair of rotating members 24 and 25 are connected to the rotating lever 23 by making the connection axis 24b be formed in an eccentric position from the rotational center penetrate the connected portion 23c and fit to the connection hole 25b formed in an eccentric position from the rotational center by insertion.
The lever driving member 26 is formed in a disk shape and is fixed to the end of the rotational axis 25a so as to match the rotational axis 25a with the rotational center of the lever driving member 26. According to the present embodiment, the lever driving member 26 is fixed to the rotational axis 25a by pressedly inserting the D-shaped portion formed in the front end of the rotational axis 25a into the D-cut hole formed in the rotational center of the lever driving member 26. The lever driving member 26 includes a connection support portion 26a formed to protrude in a position (eccentric position) offset from the rotational center to a radial direction. The connection supporting portion 26a is connected to one end of the biasing spring 27 and is provided to make the abutting surface 23d locate at the first position while the biasing spring 27 is at the minimum biasing state (no extending state).
One end of the biasing spring 27 is connected to the connection supporting portion 26a of the lever driving member 26, and the other end is fixedly positioned in the paper feeding frame 20. The biasing spring 27 applies a force to the rotating lever 23 through the lever driving member 26, the rotating axes 24a and 25a, and a pair of rotating members 24 and 25 in the upstream side of the sheet conveying direction so that the abutting surface 23d is located at the first position. For example, the biasing spring 27 makes the abutting portion 23a locate at the first position by applying a force to the rotating lever 23, rotated by a collision to the front end of the sheet, in the Z3 direction (refer to FIG. 7B described below) through the lever driving member 26.
The light-shielding flag 29 blocks the light path L of the optical sensor 30. The light-shielding flag 29 is fixed to the rotational axis 24a and rotates integrally with a pair of rotating members 24 and 25 with respect to the rotating axes 24a and 25a. That is, the light-shielding flag 29 interlocks with rotation of the rotating lever 23. In addition, the light-shielding flag 29 includes a slit portion 29a for transmitting the light of the optical sensor 30. The slit portion 29a is formed to transmit the light of the optical sensor 30 when the abutting surface 23d of the abutting portion 23a provided in the rotating lever 23 is located at the first position (refer to FIG. 4C described below). The light-shielding flag 29 is configured to be rotated along with the rotating lever 23 when the rotating lever 23 is pressed and rotated by the front end of the sheet S so as to block the light path L of the optical sensor 30.
The optical sensor 30 is provided in the middle of the rotating path of the light-shielding flag 29 and includes a light-emitting portion (not illustrated) that emits the light and a light-receiving portion (not illustrated) that receives the light emitted from the light-emitting portion. The light emitted from the light-emitting portion is received at the light-receiving portion so as to form the light path L. As the light-shielding flag 29 blocks the light emitted from the light-emitting portion, the signal (optical signal) output from the light-emitting portion is blocked, and the received signal is changed. The optical sensor 30 detects the movement position of the light-shielding flag 29 based on the change of the received signal.
Next, the operation of the sheet conveying portion 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A to 10 in addition to FIG. 1. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a state that the sheet S is conveyed to the sheet conveying portion 9 according to the first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a rotating lever 23 in a state that the sheet S is conveyed to the sheet conveying portion 9. FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag 29 in a state that the sheet S is conveyed to the sheet conveying portion 9. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a sheet conveying portion 9 in a state that the front end of the sheet S abuts on the abutting surface 23d of the rotating lever 23. FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a rotating lever 23 in a state that the front end of the sheet S abuts on the abutting surface 23d. FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag 29 in a state that the front end of the sheet S abuts on the abutting surface 23d of the rotating lever 23. FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating the sheet conveying portion 9 in a state that the rotating lever 23 is rotated by the pressing of the front end of the sheet S. FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating the rotating lever 23 rotated by the pressing of the front end of the sheet S. FIG. 6C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag 29 in a state that the rotating lever 23 is rotated by the pressing of the front end of the sheet S.
FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating the sheet conveying portion 9 in a state that the rotating lever 23 is located at the second position by the pressing of the front end of the sheet S. FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating the rotating lever 23 in a state that the rotating lever 23 is located at the second position by the pressing of the front end of the sheet S. FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag 29 in a state that the rotating lever 23 is located at the second position by the pressing of the front end of the sheet S. FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating the sheet conveying portion 9 in a state that the rotating lever 23 moves from the second position to the third position. FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating the rotating lever 23 which moves from the second position to the third position. FIG. 8C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag 29 in a state that the rotating lever 23 moves from the second position to the third position. FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating the sheet conveying portion 9 in a state that the rotating lever 23 moves from the third position to the first position. FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating the rotating lever 23 in a state that it moves from the third position to the first position. FIG. 9C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag 29 in a state that the rotating lever 23 moves from the third position to the first position. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a rotating trajectory T of the abutting surface 23d of the rotating lever 23 which cyclically moves from the first position to the third position in a state that it is directed to the upstream side.
As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the abutting portion 23a of the rotating lever 23 is held at the first position in a standby state by virtue of a biasing force of the biasing spring 27 while the front end of the sheet S does not abut on the abutting surface 23d of the rotating lever 23. In addition, at the first position, as illustrated in FIG. 4C, the light path L of the optical sensor 30 is held in a state that the light does not blocked by the slit portion 429b of the light-shielding flag 29.
Next, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, as the front end of the sheet S conveyed by a pair of conveying rollers 18 and 19 abuts on the abutting surface 23d of the rotating lever 23, the sheet S presses the abutting surface 23d against the holding force of the lever driving member 26 biased by the biasing spring 27. As the abutting surface 23d is pressed by the sheet S, the lever driving member 26 is rotated to the arrow direction r of FIG. 5A against the biasing force of the biasing spring 27. At this time, the light-shielding flag 29 of FIG. 5C is also rotated to the arrow direction r of FIG. 5C. As the lever driving member 26 and the light-shielding flag 29 are rotated to the arrow direction r, the long hole portion 23b is guided to the support axis 31b and slides, and the rotating lever 23 is rotated. As the rotating lever 23 is rotated, the abutting surface 23d moves to the arrow direction z1 of FIG. 5B.
At this time, the front end of the sheet S is guided by the sheet-passing guide arranged in the downstream side of the sheet conveying direction of a pair of conveying rollers 18 and 19. As illustrated in FIG. 5C the sheet-passing guide includes a paper feeding frame 20 and a guide frame 28. For this reason, the front end of the sheet S from being separated may be prevented from the abutting surface 23d and rotation while the abutting surface 23d of the rotating lever 23 is reliably pressed may be provided by the front end of the sheet S.
As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, as the abutting surface 23d is pressed by the front end of the sheet S, the long hole portion 23b is guided to the support axis 31b and slides, and the rotating lever 23 is rotated against the biasing force of the biasing spring 27. As the rotating lever 23 is rotated, the abutting surface 23d moves to the arrow direction z2 of FIG. 6B. Similarly, the lever driving member 26 is rotated to the arrow direction r of FIG. 6A, and the light-shielding flag 29 is also rotated to the arrow direction r of FIG. 6C.
As the rotating lever 23 is further rotated, as illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the connected portion 23c of the rotating lever 23 arrives at the top dead point (hereinafter, refer to as a “second position”) of the lever driving member 26 where the biasing spring 27 is biased at maximum. As the rotating lever 23 arrives at the second position, the force for rotating the lever driving member 26 is switched from the force of the sheet S for pressing the rotating lever 23 to the biasing force of the biasing spring 27 for returning the abutting portion 23a to the first position. Moreover, the abutting surface 23d of the rotating lever 23 moves to the arrow direction z3 of FIG. 7B by virtue of the biasing force of the biasing spring 27, the abutting portion 23a is retracted from the sheet conveying path 15a, and the abutting surface 23d is retracted from the front end of the sheet S. Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 7C, the light path L of the optical sensor 30 is blocked by the light-shielding flag 29. If the light path L of the optical sensor 30 is blocked, the sheet detector 200 detects that the rotating lever 23 is rotated to a predetermined rotating position, and the front end of the sheet S is conveyed to a desired position. In addition, a predetermined signal is transmitted to the image forming portion 14, and the image forming portion 14 initiates formation of the toner image when the image forming portion 14 receives this signal.
Here, although the rotating lever 23 moves to the arrow direction z3 of FIG. 7B by the biasing force of the biasing spring 27, the sheet S is conveyed by a pair of conveying rollers 18 and 19 (while it passes through the first position in sheet conveying path 15a). Therefore, as illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the rotating lever 23 waits in a state that the front end of the abutting portion 23a abuts on the surface of the sheet S while the rotating lever 23 is biased by the biasing spring 27 (hereinafter, referred to as a “third position”). In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 8C, the light path L of the optical sensor 30 is blocked by the light-shielding flag 29 even in this state.
Moreover, as the rear end (trailing end) of the sheet S passes through the front end of the abutting portion 23a, the rotating lever 23 initiates rotation to make the abutting portion 23a locate at the first position by the biasing force of the biasing spring 27. Furthermore, as the rear end of the sheet S recedes from the abutting portion 23a, the rotating lever 23 has a state that the abutting portion 23a protrudes to the sheet conveying path 15a, and the abutting surface 23d waits at the first position for aligning the front end of the next sheet S as illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B. At this time, in the light path L of the optical sensor 30, the light-blocking by the light-shielding flag 29 is removed, and the optical sensor 30 generates a transmission signal as illustrated in FIG. 9C. As a result, the rear end of the sheet S may be detected.
In this manner, by repeating the state illustrated in FIGS. 4A to 9C, the rotating lever 23 cyclically moves to the first position, to the second position, and to the third position along a rotating trajectory T of FIG. 10 while the abutting surface 23d is directed to the upstream side of the sheet conveying direction. In other words, the abutting surface 23d performs an approximate elliptical movement by the unidirectional rotation of a pair of rotating members 24 and 25 and the lever driving member 26.
The image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment having the configuration described above, it is possible to obtain the following effects. The sheet detector 200, of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the invention cyclically moves to the first position, to the second position, and to the third position while the abutting surface 23d of the rotating lever 23 is directed to the upstream side, and waits in the third position of the upstream side until the sheet S passes. Then, the abutting portion 23a is located at the first position as the sheet S passes through the front end of the rotating lever 23. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time that the rotating lever 23 returns to the first position from the standby position until the sheet S passes through the abutting portion 23a in comparison with a reciprocating movement of the related art. As a result, it is possible to suppress the sheet interval from being lengthened even when the conveying speed of the sheet S increases. Therefore, it is possible to return the abutting portion 23a to the first position within a short sheet interval under a fast conveying speed condition unlike the related art. As a result, it is possible to improve the throughput.
For example, according to the first embodiment of the invention, it is possible to reduce the sheet interval to approximately a half compared to the rotating lever of the related art which performs the reciprocating movement. Therefore, it is possible to satisfy user's demands for further improving the throughput of the image forming apparatus. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 10, it is possible to reduce the rotating trajectory T of the abutting surface 23d of the rotating lever 23 in a small elliptical shape. Therefore, it is possible to arrange the image forming apparatus, for example, even in areas where space or arrangement is limited.
According to the first embodiment of the invention, the rotating lever 23 is supported by the supporting mechanism having the support axis 31 and a pair of rotating members 24 and 25. Therefore, it is possible to transmit the rotational driving force to the rotating lever 23 with a simple configuration. As a result, it is possible to, for example, manufacture the image forming apparatus at low cost or suppress a manufacturing cost. In addition, according to the embodiment described above, the main portion 23e of the rotating lever 23 is slidably supported by forming the long hole portion 23b in the rotating lever 23 and fitting the support axis 31 of the paper feeding frame 20 to the long hole portion 23b by insertion. However, for example, the main portion 23e of the rotating lever 23 may be slidably configured by forming, in the paper feeding frame 20, the long hole where a pin protruding from the rotating lever 23 is fitted by insertion.
Second Embodiment
Next, the image forming apparatus 100A according to a second embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 11A to 12B along with FIG. 1. The image forming apparatus 100A according to the second embodiment of the invention is different from that of the first embodiment in that the follower roller 22 is provided in the front end of the rotating lever 223 as a follower roller. For this reason, in the second embodiment, a description will be made by focusing on a difference from the first embodiment, that is, the follower roller 22 provided in the front end of the rotating lever 223. In the second embodiment, like reference numerals denote like elements as in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated. According to the second embodiment of the invention, it is possible to obtain the effects similar to those of the first embodiment in the configuration similar to that of the first embodiment.
First, the entire structure of the image forming apparatus 100A according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11A to 12B. FIG. 11A is a perspective view illustrating the sheet conveying portion 9A of the image forming apparatus 100A according to the second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 11B is a perspective view illustrating the sheet conveying portion 9A illustrated in FIG. 11A as seen from the opposite side. FIG. 12A is a diagram illustrating the sheet conveying portion 9A of the image forming apparatus 100A according to the second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 12B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the rotating lever 223 of the sheet conveying portion 9A illustrated in FIG. 12A waits in the third position. Arrows illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B represent the conveying direction of the sheet S.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100A includes the sheet feeding portion 8, the sheet conveying portion 9A which conveys the sheet S while detecting the front or rear end of the sheet S fed from the sheet feeding portion 8, the image forming portion 14, the fixing portion 10, and the sheet discharge portion 13. As illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the sheet conveying portion 9A includes the paper feeding frame 20, the guide frame 28, a pair of conveying rollers 18 and 19, and the sheet detector 200A. The sheet detector 200A includes the rotating lever 223, the support axis 31, a pair of rotating members 24 and 25, the rotating axes 25a and 24a, the lever driving member 26, the biasing spring 27, the light-shielding flag 29, and the optical sensor 30.
As illustrated in FIG. 12A, the rotating lever 223 includes the main portion 23e, the abutting portion 23a, the follower roller 22 provided in the front end of the abutting portion 23a, the long hole portion 23b, and the connected portion 23c. The follower roller 22 is formed such that the roller surface of the follower roller 22 is contacted by rolling with the surface (rear surface) of sheet S conveyed along the sheet conveying path 15a when the rotating lever 23 waits in the third position as illustrated in FIG. 12B.
Next, the operation of the sheet conveying portion 9A of the image forming apparatus 100A according to the second embodiment of the invention will be described. Since the basic operation of the sheet conveying portion 9A is similar to that of the first embodiment, the description thereof will not be repeated, and the operation of the rotating lever 223 of the sheet detector 200A at the third position will be only described. As illustrated in FIG. 12B, in the third position, while the rotational force is generated in the rotating lever 223 by the biasing spring 27 and the lever driving member 26, the rotating lever 223 is held in balance between the rotational force and the stiffness of the sheet S. In this state, the follower roller 22 provided in the front end of the rotating lever is contacted by rolling with the sheet S in the middle of conveying, and the rotating lever 223 waits in the third position while the front end is contacted by rolling. Then, as the rear end of the sheet S passes, the rotating lever 223 is rotated to the first position from the third position.
In the image forming apparatus 100A according to the second embodiment having the configuration described above, it is possible to obtain the following effects. In the sheet detector 200A of the image forming apparatus 100A according to the second embodiment, the follower roller 22 is provided in the front end of the rotating lever 3. For this reason, the front end of the rotating lever 23 can wait in the third position in contact with the sheet S while the front end of the rotating lever 223 is contacted by rolling with the surface (rear surface) of the sheet S conveyed along the sheet conveying path 15a. As a result, it is possible to suppress formation of the contact traces or the like on the surface (rear surface) of the sheet S generated when the surface (rear surface) of the sheet S and the front end of the rotating lever 23 rub with each other.
Third Embodiment
Next, the image forming apparatus 100B according to a third embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 13A to 17 along with FIG. 1. The image forming apparatus 100B according to the third embodiment of the invention is different from the first embodiment in terms of the rotating lever 323 and the supporting mechanism of the rotating lever 323. For this reason, in the third embodiment, description will be made by focusing on a difference from the first embodiment, that is, the rotating lever 323 and the supporting mechanism of the rotating lever 323. In the third embodiment, like reference numerals denote like elements as in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated. In the third embodiment, it is possible to obtain the effects similar to those of the first embodiment in the configuration similar to that of the first embodiment.
Next, the entire structure of the image forming apparatus 100B according to the third embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 13A to 15C along with FIG. 1. FIG. 13A is a perspective view illustrating the sheet conveying portion 9B of the image forming apparatus 100B according to the third embodiment of the invention. FIG. 13B is a perspective view illustrating the sheet conveying portion 9B of FIG. 13A as seen from the opposite side. FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a portion of the sheet detector 200B according to the third embodiment of the invention. FIG. 15A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the sheet S is conveyed in the sheet conveying portion 9B according to the third embodiment of the invention. FIG. 15B is a diagram illustrating the rotating lever 323 in a state in which the sheet S is conveyed in the sheet conveying portion 9B. FIG. 15C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag 29 in a state in which the sheet S is conveyed in the sheet conveying portion 9B. Arrows illustrated in FIGS. 13A and 13B represent the conveying direction of the sheet S.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100B includes the sheet feeding portion 8, the sheet conveying portion 9B which conveys the sheet S while detecting the front or rear end of the sheet S fed from the sheet feeding portion 8, the image forming portion 14, the fixing portion 10, and the sheet discharge portion 13. As illustrated in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the sheet conveying portion 9B includes the paper feeding frame 20, the guide frame 28, a pair of conveying rollers 18 and 19, and the sheet detector 200B.
The sheet detector 200B includes the rotating lever 323, the rotating member 25, the rotational axes 25a and 324a, the lever driving member 26, the biasing spring 27, the light-shielding flag 29, and the optical sensor 30. In addition, the sheet detector 200B includes the first and second gears 324 and 332 as the first and second rotating members which configure a support mechanism, and the linking gear 333 as the linking member which links the first and second gears 324 and 332 to rotate in the same direction at the same phase.
As illustrated in FIG. 14, the rotating lever 323 includes the main portion 323e formed in a strip shape, the abutting portion 323a formed in one end of the main portion 323e in the longitudinal direction, and the first connected portion 323b formed in the other end side of the main portion 323e. In addition, the rotating lever 323 includes the second connected portion 323c formed in a position parallel to the first connected portion 323b. As illustrated in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the abutting portion 323a is provided to protrude to the sheet conveying path 15a at the first position and includes the abutting surface 323d where the front end of the sheet S which moves along the sheet conveying path 15a can abut at the first position. The second connected portion 323c is formed in the vicinity of a base end of the abutting portion 323a in the rotating lever 323. The first connected portion 323b is formed in the opposite end of the second connected portion 323c.
The first gear 324 is connected to the rotational axis 324a and includes the first connecting axis 324b as the first connecting portion which extends in parallel with the rotational axis 324a in a position offset radially from the center of rotation (eccentric position). The first connecting axis 324b is formed to penetrate the second connected portion 323c and is fitted by insertion to the connection hole 25b of the rotating member 25 after penetrating the second connected portion 323c. As a result, the rotating lever 323 can rotate together with the first gear 324.
The second gear 332 is arranged around the axis parallel to the first gear 324. In addition, the second gear 332 includes the second connecting axis 332b as the second connecting portion which extends in parallel with the rotational axis 324a in a position radially offset from the center of rotation (eccentric position). The second connecting axis 332b is formed to be connectable to the first connected portion 323b, and rotates the rotating lever 323 along with the second gear 332. Moreover, the first and second gears 324 and 332 are formed to have a gear ratio of 1:1.
The linking gear 333 is arranged around the axis parallel to the first and second gears 324 and 332 and meshes with the first and second gears 324 and 332 to rotate the first and second gears 324 and 332 in the same direction at the same phase. The first and second gears 324 and 332 are rotated in the same direction at the same cycle by the linking gear 333.
Next, the operation of the sheet detector 200B will be described with reference to FIGS. 16A to 17 along with FIGS. 15A to 15C. FIG. 16A is a diagram illustrating the sheet conveying portion 9B in a state in which the front end of the sheet S abuts on the abutting surface 323d of the rotating lever 323. FIG. 16B is a diagram illustrating the rotating lever 323 in a state in which the front end of the sheet S abuts on the abutting surface 323d. FIG. 16C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag 29 in a state in which the front end of the sheet S abuts on the abutting surface 323d. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a rotating trajectory T2 of the abutting surface 323d of the rotating lever 323 cyclically moving from the first position to the third position while the abutting surface is directed to an upstream side.
As illustrated in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the abutting portion 323a of the rotating lever 323 is held at the first position in a standby state by virtue of a biasing force of the biasing spring 27 while the front end of the sheet S does not abut on the abutting surface 323d of the rotating lever 323. In addition, at the first position, as illustrated in FIG. 15C, the light path L of the optical sensor 30 is not blocked by the slit portion 29a of the light-shielding flag 29.
Next, as illustrated in FIG. 16A, as the front end of the sheet S conveyed by a pair of conveying rollers 18 and 19 abuts on the abutting surface 323d of the rotating lever 323, the sheet S presses the abutting surface 323d against the holding force of the lever driving member 26 biased by the biasing spring 27. As the abutting surface 323d of the sheet S is pressed, the lever driving member 26 is rotated to the arrow direction r of FIG. 16A against the biasing force of the biasing spring 27. At this time, the light-shielding flag 29 of FIG. 16C is also rotated to the arrow direction r of FIG. 16C. The first gear 324 is rotated as the lever driving member 26 and the light-shielding flag 29 are rotated to the direction r, and the second gear 332 is rotated by the linking gear 333 as the first gear 324 is rotated. The rotating lever 323 is rotated when the first gear 324 and the second gear 332 rotate. The abutting surface 323d moves to the arrow direction z1 of FIG. 16B as the rotating lever 323 is rotated.
At this time, the front end of the sheet S, as illustrated in FIG. 16C, includes the paper feeding frame 20 and the guide frame 28 and is guided by the sheet-passing guide arranged on the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction of a pair of conveying rollers 18 and 19. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the front end of the sheet S from being separated from the abutting surface 323d and provide rotation while the abutting surface 323d of the rotating lever 323 is reliably pressed by the front end of the sheet S.
As the rotating lever 323 is further rotated, the connected portion 323c of the rotating lever 323 arrives at the top dead point (second position) of the lever driving member 26 where the biasing spring 27 is biased at maximum. As the rotating lever 323 arrives at the second position, the force for rotating the lever driving member 26 is switched from the force that the sheet S presses the rotating lever 323 to the biasing force that the biasing spring 27 returns the abutting portion 323a to the first position. Moreover, the abutting surface 323d of the rotating lever 323 moves by the biasing force of the biasing spring 27, the abutting portion 323a is retracted from the sheet conveying path 15a, and the abutting surface 323d is retracted from the front end of the sheet S. Similarly, the light path L of the optical sensor 30 is blocked by the light-shielding flag 29. As the light path L of the optical sensor 30 is blocked, the sheet detector 200B detects that the rotating lever 323 is rotated to a predetermined rotating position and the front end of the sheet S is conveyed to a desired position. In addition, a predetermined signal is transmitted to the image forming portion 14, and the image forming portion 14 initiates formation of the toner image as the image forming portion 14 receives the signal. According to the present embodiment, the light path L of the optical sensor 30 is blocked by the light-shielding flag 29 at the second position.
Here, although the rotating lever 323 rotates around the rotating axes 25a and 324a by the biasing force of the biasing spring 27, the sheet S is conveyed by a pair of conveying rollers 18 and 19 (while passing through the first position in the sheet conveying path 15a). For this reason, the rotating lever 323 waits at the third position while it is biased by the biasing spring 27, and the front end of the abutting portion 323a abuts on the surface of the sheet S. In addition, the light path L of the optical sensor 30 is blocked by the light-shielding flag 29 even in this state.
Moreover, as the rear end of the sheet S passes through the front end of the abutting portion 323a, the rotating lever 323 initiates rotation such that the abutting portion 323a is located at the first position by the biasing force of the biasing spring 27. Furthermore, as the rear end of the sheet S recedes from the abutting portion 323a, the rotating lever 323 enters a state in which the abutting portion 323a protrudes to the sheet conveying path 15a, and the abutting surface 323d waits at the first position where the abutting surface 323d can abut on the front end of the subsequent sheet S. At this time, in the light path L of the optical sensor 30, the light blocking by the light-shielding flag 29 is released, and the optical sensor 30 generates a transmission signal. As a result, it is possible to detect that the sheet S passes.
In this manner, by repeating the process described above, the rotating lever 323 cyclically moves to the first position, to the second position, and to the third position along a rotating trajectory T2 of FIG. 17 while the abutting surface 323d is directed to the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction. In other words, the abutting surface 323d performs a circular movement by the unidirectional rotation of the first gear 324, the second gear 332, the linking gear 333, the rotating member 25, and the lever driving member 26.
In the image forming apparatus 100B according to the third embodiment having the configuration described above, it is possible to obtain the following effects. The sheet detector 200B of the image forming apparatus 100B according to the third embodiment includes the first gear 324, the second gear 332, and the linking gear 333 in order to rotate the rotating lever 323. Therefore, it is possible to rotate the rotating lever 323 smoothly. Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 17, it is possible to reduce the rotating trajectory T2 of the front end of the rotating lever 323 in the sheet conveying direction (vertical direction of FIG. 17), compared to the first embodiment, and alleviate restriction in space or arrangement of the image forming apparatus 100B.
Fourth Embodiment
Next, the image forming apparatus 100C according to a fourth embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 18A to 25D along with FIG. 1. In the image forming apparatus 100C according to the fourth embodiment, the rotating member and the biasing portion which applies a force to the rotating lever are different from those of the first embodiment. For this reason, in the fourth embodiment, a description will be made by focusing on a difference from the first embodiment, that is, the rotating member and the biasing portion which applies a force to the rotating lever. In addition, in the fourth embodiment, like reference numerals denote like elements as in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated. In the fourth embodiment, it is possible to obtain the effects similar to those of the first embodiment using the configuration similar to that of the first embodiment.
First, the entire structure of the image forming apparatus 100C according to the fourth embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 18A to 20D along with FIG. 1. FIG. 18A is a perspective view illustrating the sheet conveying portion 9C of the image forming apparatus 100C according to the fourth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 18B is a perspective view illustrating the sheet conveying portion 9C of FIG. 18A as seen from the opposite side. FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a portion of the sheet detector 200C according to the fourth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 20A is a diagram illustrating the second rotating lever 523 in a state where the sheet S is conveyed to the sheet conveying portion 9C. FIG. 20B is a diagram illustrating the first rotating lever 423 in a state where the sheet S is conveyed to the sheet conveying portion 9C. FIG. 20C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag 429 in a state where the sheet S is conveyed to the sheet conveying portion 9C. FIG. 20D is a diagram illustrating a biasing portion in a state where the sheet S is conveyed to the sheet conveying portion 9C.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100C includes the sheet feeding portion 8, the sheet conveying portion 9C conveying the sheet S while it detects the front or rear end of the sheet S fed from the sheet feeding portion 8, the image forming portion 14, the fixing portion 10, and the sheet discharge portion 13. As illustrated in FIGS. 18A and 18B, the sheet conveying portion 9C includes the paper feeding frame 20, the guide frame 28, a pair of conveying rollers 18 and 19, and the sheet detector 200C.
The sheet detector 200C includes the first rotating lever 423 as the first lever member, the second rotating lever 523 as the second lever member, the support axis 31, the rotating axes 424a and 426c, the lever driving member 426, and a pair of rotating members 425 and 424. In addition, the sheet detector 200C includes the light-shielding flag 429, the optical sensor 30, the plate cam 430 as a rotating member, the cam follower 436, the pressing member 435, and the biasing spring 427. Moreover, the biasing spring 427, the pressing member 435, and the cam follower 436 configure the biasing portion.
The first and second rotating levers 423 and 523 are similar to the rotating lever 23 according to the first embodiment so that the description thereof will not be repeated. The first and second rotating levers 423 and 523 are arranged in a symmetrical position with respect to the rotational center of the plate cam 430 so as to alternately and cyclically move to the first position. The lever driving member 426 is formed in a disk shape and fixed to the end of the rotational axis 426c so as to match the rotational axis 426c and the rotational center of the lever driving member 426. The lever driving member 426 includes the first connecting axis 426b of a pair of connecting portions formed to protrude to a position (eccentric position) offset radially from the rotational center.
The rotating member 424 is formed in a disk shape and is fixed to the end of the rotational axis 424a so as to match the rotational axis 424a and the rotational center of the rotating member 424. The rotating member 424 includes the second connecting axis 424b of a pair of connecting portions formed to protrude to a position (eccentric position) offset radially from the rotational center. The second connecting axis 424b is formed to penetrate the connected portion 323c of the first rotating lever 423.
The rotating member 425 includes the first rotating member 425a, the second rotating member 425b, and the connecting portion 425c which connects the first rotating member 425a and the second rotating member 425b. The first rotating member 425a is formed in a disk shape and includes an insertion hole through which the second connecting axis 424b is fitted at a position (eccentric position) offset radially from the rotational center. The second rotating member 425b is formed in a disk shape and includes an insertion hole through which the first connecting axis 426b is fitted at a position (eccentric position) offset radially from the rotational center.
The light-shielding flag 429 blocks the light path L of the optical sensor 30. The light-shielding flag 429 is fixed to the rotational axis 424a and is rotated integrally with a pair of rotating members 424 and 425 around the rotational axis 424a. That is, the light-shielding flag 429 is rotated in synchronization with the first rotating lever 423 and the second rotating lever 523. In addition, the light-shielding flag 429 includes the first and second slit portions 429a and 429b that transmit the light of the optical sensor 30. The first slit portion 429a is formed to transmit the light of the optical sensor 30 when the abutting surface 423d of the abutting portion 423a provided in the first rotating lever 423 is located at the first position (refer to FIGS. 20A and 20C). The second slit portion 429b is formed to transmit the light of the optical sensor 30 when the abutting surface 523d of the abutting portion 523a provided in the second rotating lever 523 is located at the first position (refer to FIGS. 25A and 25C described below). The light-shielding flag 429 is configured to rotate along with the first and second rotating levers 423 and 523 when the first and second rotating levers 423 and 523 are rotated by the pressing of the front end of the sheet S to alternatively block the light path L of the optical sensor 30.
The plate cam 430 is formed in an elliptical shape having two top dead points and two bottom dead points. The rotational axis 424a is fixed to the rotational center of the plate cam 430. Specifically, the plate cam 430 is rotated so as to be alternately located between the top dead point and the bottom dead point with respect to the rotational axis 424a. The cam follower 436 is mounted on the pressing member 435 and is engaged with the outer circumferential surface of the plate cam 430. The pressing member 435 is rotatably mounted on the paper feeding frame 20 in the base end, and the front end thereof is engaged with the biasing spring 427. The pressing member 435 swingably supports the cam follower 436. In other words, the pressing member 435 swings by the cam follower 436. One end of the biasing spring 427 is fixed to the paper feeding frame 20, and the other end thereof is connected to the pressing member 435. The biasing spring 427 makes the first and second rotating levers 423 and 523 locate at the first position.
Next, the operation of the sheet detector 200C will be described with reference to FIGS. 21A to 25D along with FIGS. 20A to 20D. FIG. 21A is a diagram illustrating the second rotating lever 523 in a state where the front end of the sheet S abuts on the abutting surface 423d of the first rotating lever 423. FIG. 21B is a diagram illustrating the first rotating lever 423 in a state where the front end of the sheet S abuts on the abutting surface 423d. FIG. 21C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag 429 in a state where the front end of the sheet S abuts on the abutting surface 423d of the first rotating lever 423. FIG. 21D is a diagram illustrating the biasing portion in a state where the front end of the sheet S abuts on the abutting surface 423d of the first rotating lever 423. FIG. 22A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the abutting surface 423d of the first rotating lever 423 is pressed by the front end of the sheet S so that the second rotating lever 523 is rotated along with the first rotating lever 423. FIG. 22B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the first rotating lever 423 is rotated by the pressing of the front end of the sheet S. FIG. 22C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag 429 in a state where the first rotating lever 423 is rotated by the pressing of the front end of the sheet S. FIG. 22D is a diagram illustrating the biasing portion in a state where the front end of the sheet S abuts on the biasing portion, and the first rotating lever 423 is rotated.
FIG. 23A is a diagram illustrating the second rotating lever 523 in a state where the first rotating lever 423 is rotated to the second position. FIG. 23B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the first rotating lever 423 is rotated to the second position. FIG. 23C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag 429 in a state where the first rotating lever 423 is rotated to the second position. FIG. 23D is a diagram illustrating the biasing portion while the first rotating lever 423 is rotated to the second position. FIG. 24A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the front end of the second rotating lever 523 rotated along with the first rotating lever 423 abuts on the front end of the conveyed sheet S and waits at the third position. FIG. 24B is a diagram illustrating the first rotating lever 423 in a state where the second rotating lever 523 waits. FIG. 24C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag 429 in a state where the second rotating lever 523 waits at the third position. FIG. 24D is a diagram illustrating the biasing portion in a state where the second rotating lever 523 waits at the third position.
FIG. 25A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the second rotating lever 523 is rotated to the first position. FIG. 25B is a diagram illustrating the first rotating lever 423 in a state where the second rotating lever 523 is rotated to the first position. FIG. 25C is a diagram illustrating the light-shielding flag 429 in a state where the second rotating lever 523 is moved to the first position. FIG. 25D is a diagram illustrating the biasing portion in a state where the second rotating lever 523 is moved to the first position.
As illustrated in FIGS. 20A and 20B, the abutting portion 423a of the first rotating lever 423 is held at first position in a standby state by virtue of a holding force of the biasing spring 427 while the front end of the sheet S does not abut on the abutting surface 423d of the first rotating lever 423. In addition, when the first rotating lever 423 waits at the first position, the second rotating lever 523 waits at the position that the abutting surface 523d is retracted from the sheet conveying path 15a. At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 20C, the light path L of the optical sensor 30 is not blocked by the first slit portion 429a of the light-shielding flag 429. Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 20D, the plate cam 430 is positioned such that the bottom dead point of the one end is engaged with the cam follower 436, and the biasing spring 427 holds the plate cam 430 at the first position through the cam follower 436 and the pressing member 435.
Next, as illustrated in FIGS. 21A and 21B, as the front end of the sheet S conveyed by a pair of conveying rollers 18 and 19 abuts on the abutting surface 423d of the first rotating lever 423, the sheet S presses the abutting surface 423d against the holding force of the biasing spring 427 in order to hold the plate cam 430 through the pressing member 435 and the cam follower 436. If the abutting surface 423d is pressed by the sheet S, the plate cam 430 is rotated in the z3 direction of FIG. 21D, and the outer circumferential surface of the plate cam 430 presses the biasing spring 427 through the cam follower 436 and the pressing member 435. At this time, the light-shielding flag 429 is also rotated in the arrow direction z3 of FIG. 21C. In addition, as the abutting surface 423d is pressed by the sheet S, the first rotating lever 423 is rotated. As the first rotating lever 423 is rotated, the abutting surface 423d moves in the z2 direction of FIG. 21B, the second rotating lever 523 is rotated, and the abutting surface 523d moves in the arrow direction z1 of FIG. 21A.
At this time, the front end of the sheet S includes the paper feeding frame 20 and the guide frame 28 and is guided by the sheet-passing guide arranged on the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction of a pair of conveying rollers 18 and 19 as illustrated in FIG. 21C. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the front end of the sheet S from being separated from the abutting surface 423d. Further, it is possible to rotate the abutting surface 423d of the first rotating lever 423 while being reliably pressed by the front end of the sheet S.
Subsequently, as illustrated in FIGS. 22A and 22B, the first rotating lever 423 is further rotated in the z2 direction. Then, the light-shielding flag 429 illustrated in FIG. 22C is rotated in the z3 direction to block the light path L of the optical sensor 30 so as to synchronize with the arrival of the plate cam 430 illustrated in FIG. 22D at the second position. As the first rotating lever 423 is further rotated and arrives at the top dead point (the second position) of the plate cam 430 where the biasing spring 427 is biased at maximum as illustrated in FIG. 23D, the first rotating lever 423 arrives at the second position as illustrated in FIG. 23B. At the same time, as illustrated in FIG. 23A, movement to the arrow z1 direction is initiated such that the abutting surface 523d of the second rotating lever 523 is located in the sheet conveying path 15a. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 23C, the light path L of the optical sensor 30 is blocked by the light-shielding flag 429. If the light path L of the optical sensor 30 is blocked, the sheet detector 200C detects that the first rotating lever 423 is rotated to a predetermined rotating position, and the front end of the sheet S is conveyed to a desired position. In addition, a predetermined signal is transmitted to the image forming portion 14, and the image forming portion 14 initiates formation of the toner image as the image forming portion 14 receives the signal.
As illustrated in FIGS. 24A, 24C, and 24D, as the first rotating lever 423 arrives at the second position, the force for rotating the plate cam 430 is switched to the biasing force for retracting the abutting surface 423d of the first rotating lever 423 from the sheet conveying path 15a. Similarly, the force for rotating the plate cam 430 is switched to the biasing force for positioning the abutting surface 523d of the second rotating lever 523 to the first position.
Here, although the second rotating lever 523 receives the biasing force of the biasing spring 427 and is rotated to the first position, the sheet S is conveyed by a pair of conveying rollers 18 and 19 at this timing (while the sheet S passes through the first position in the sheet conveying path 15a). Therefore, the second rotating lever 523 waits at the third position where the front end of the abutting portion 523a abuts on the surface (or rear surface) of the sheet S while it is biased by the biasing spring 427 as illustrated in FIG. 24A. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 24C, the light path L of the optical sensor 30 is blocked by the light-shielding flag 429 even in this state.
Moreover, as the rear end of the sheet S passes through the front end of the abutting portion 523a, the second rotating lever 523 initiates rotation so that the abutting portion 523a is located at the first position by the biasing force of the biasing spring 427 as illustrated in FIG. 25A. Furthermore, as the rear end of the sheet S recedes from the abutting portion 523a, in the second rotating lever 523, the abutting portion 523a protrudes to the sheet conveying path 15a, and the abutting surface 523d waits at the first position where the abutting surface 523d can abut on the front end of the subsequent sheet S. At this time, in the light path L of the optical sensor 30, the light blocking by the light-shielding flag 429 is released, and the optical sensor 30 generates a transmission signal as illustrated in FIG. 25C. As a result, it is possible to detect that the sheet S passes. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 25D, since the bottom dead point of the other end of the plate cam 430 is engaged with the cam follower 436, the biasing spring 427 holds the plate cam 430 at the first position through the cam follower 436 and the pressing member 435. For this reason, the second rotating lever 523 is held at the first position. Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 25B, the first rotating lever 423 is held in a retracted state from the sheet conveying path 15a.
In the image forming apparatus 100C according to the fourth embodiment having the configuration described above, it is possible to obtain the following effects in addition to the effects of the first embodiment. The sheet detector 200C according to the fourth embodiment uses the plate cam as the rotating member and includes the pressing member 435, the cam follower 436, and the biasing spring 427 as the biasing member. For this reason, for example, it is possible to improve the position accuracy in a state where the rotating lever stops at the first position.
In addition, the sheet detector 200C according to the fourth embodiment includes the first rotating lever 423 and the second rotating lever 523. Using a plurality of rotating levers in this manner, for example, it is possible to suppress the scraping generated when sheet S passes through the rotating lever.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is noted that the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The effects described in the embodiment of the invention are merely listed the most suitable effects resulting from the invention, and the effect of the invention is not limited to those described in the embodiment of the invention.
For example, in the first embodiment, although formation of the toner image (image forming process) is initiated in the image forming portion 14 when the sheet detector 200 detects that the front end of the sheet S is conveyed to a desired position, the invention is not limited thereto. The image forming apparatus 100 may form the toner image (image forming process) using the image forming portion 14 in advance, and the image may be transferred to the transfer rollers 5a to 5d at the timing when the sheet S arrives at the transfer rollers 5a to 5d if sheet S is detected by the sheet detector 200.
Moreover, for example, in the present embodiment, although the biasing spring 27 makes the rotating lever wait at the first position, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, by controlling the weight balance of the rotating lever, the abutting surface of the rotating lever may wait at the first position using the weight. In addition, an elastic force of a plate spring, rubber, and the like may be used.
In the third embodiment, although the linking gear 333 is used as the linking member, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the linking member may be a timing belt, a timing chain, and the like. The linking member may rotate the first and second rotating members in the same direction at the same phase.
Furthermore, for example, in the present embodiment, although the sheet conveying portion 9 (sheet detector 200) is provided on the upstream side of the image forming portion 14, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the sheet conveying portion 9 (sheet detector 200) may be provided on the downstream side of the fixing portion 10. For example, if the sheet detector 200A according to the second embodiment is provided in the downstream side of the fixing portion 10, the sheet detector 200A waits in rolling contact with the surface of the sheet S where the toner image has been formed after the fixing. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a damage of the fixed toner image.
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-004918, filed Jan. 13, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Patent Application
20120181741
