U.S. patent application number 10/902888 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-21 for sheet member transporting device and method of controlling the same.
Invention is credited to Tsuzawa, Yoshiyuki.
Application Number | 20050082746 10/902888 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34527570 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050082746 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tsuzawa, Yoshiyuki |
April 21, 2005 |
Sheet member transporting device and method of controlling the
same
Abstract
The sheet member transporting device moves sheet members of a
predetermined length in a distributing direction perpendicular to a
transporting direction to change from transportation in a single
row to that in plural rows or vise versa. The device includes a
transporting roller pair for nipping and transporting a sheet
member, a moving member on which the roller pair is provided and
which is movable in the distributing direction, a rotation movement
mechanism for transmitting rotation to the roller pair and allowing
the moving member to move in the distributing direction, a driving
unit for driving the mechanism and a nip canceling unit for
controlling nipping and releasing by the roller pair. The driving
unit is provided as a component separate from the moving
member.
Inventors: |
Tsuzawa, Yoshiyuki;
(Kanagawa, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
34527570 |
Appl. No.: |
10/902888 |
Filed: |
August 2, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/184 ;
271/185 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2801/15 20130101;
B65H 29/58 20130101; B65H 2301/4455 20130101; B65H 2404/1442
20130101; B65H 2220/09 20130101; B65H 29/12 20130101; B65H
2404/1424 20130101; B65H 2404/1424 20130101; B65H 2220/09
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/184 ;
271/185 |
International
Class: |
B65H 029/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 4, 2003 |
JP |
2003-205656 |
Aug 4, 2003 |
JP |
2003-205631 |
Sep 3, 2003 |
JP |
2003-311607 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A sheet member transporting device which is adapted to perform
one or both of: moving sheet members of a predetermined length,
which are being transported in a single row, in a distributing
direction perpendicular to a transporting direction to transport
said sheet members in plural rows; and moving said sheet members of
said predetermined length, which are transported in plural rows, in
the distributing direction to transport said sheet members in a
single row, said sheet member transporting device comprising: a
transporting roller pair for nipping and transporting one sheet
member in said sheet members; a moving member on which said
transporting roller pair is provided and which is movable in said
distributing direction; a rotation movement mechanism for allowing
said transporting roller pair to rotate by transmitting rotation
force to said transporting roller pair to transport said one sheet
member and allowing said moving member to move in said distributing
direction; a driving means connected to said rotation movement
mechanism, for driving said rotation movement mechanism to move
said moving member in said distributing direction; and a nip
canceling means for controlling nipping of said one sheet member
and releasing of said nipping thereof by said transporting roller
pair, wherein said driving means is provided as a component
separate from said moving member.
2. The sheet member transporting device according to claim 1,
wherein said rotation movement mechanism comprises: a cylindrical
sleeve having rotation transmitting means for transmitting said
rotation force to said transporting roller pair, which is created
on an outer peripheral surface of said cylindrical sleeve, and an
elongated hole which extends in an axial direction of said
cylindrical sleeve and is formed in said outer peripheral surface;
at least a pair of bearings for rotatably supporting said
cylindrical sleeve on said moving member; at least a pair of slide
bearings provided in an inner peripheral surface at both ends of
said cylindrical sleeve; a rotation shaft inserted into each of
said pair of slide bearings so as to be movable in said axial
direction; and a rotation transmitting member provided on an outer
peripheral surface of said rotation shaft, said rotation
transmitting member regulating movement of said rotation shaft in
said axial direction and being adapted to abut said elongated hole
at a time of rotation of said rotation shaft to transmit rotation
of said rotation shaft to said cylindrical sleeve, and wherein,
said cylindrical sleeve rotates by rotating said rotation shaft to
transmit said rotation force to said transporting roller pair.
3. The sheet member transporting device according to claim 1,
wherein said rotation movement mechanism is provided on a frame
body and comprises a spline shaft fixed to said frame body and
equipped with a rotation transmitting means for transmitting said
rotation force to said transporting roller pair, and wherein said
rotation transmitting means follows relative movement of said
moving member in said distributing direction and transmits said
rotation force to said transporting roller pair while moving in an
axial direction of said spline shaft.
4. The sheet member transporting device according to claim 3,
wherein said rotation movement mechanism further comprises a guide
shaft inserted into at least each of a pair of slide bearings
provided on said moving member and fixed to said frame body, for
guiding movement of said moving member in said distributing
direction.
5. The sheet member transporting device according to claim 1,
wherein, when said moving member is moved beyond a predetermined
position in said distributing direction by said driving means, said
nip canceling means releases said nipping by said transporting
roller pair.
6. The sheet member transporting device according to claim 5,
wherein said nip canceling means releases said nipping by said
transporting roller pair by using a translation cam mechanism based
on a moving position of said moving member in said distributing
direction.
7. The sheet member transporting device according to claim 5,
wherein said transporting roller pair comprises: a transporting
roller; and a nip roller capable of being brought into and out of
contact with said transporting roller, wherein said nip canceling
means comprises: a guide member which is a plate member extending
in a direction parallel to a moving direction of said moving member
and which has a slope at a position to be matched with said
predetermined position; a support member fixed to said moving
member, said support member rotatably supporting said nip roller as
well as pivotally supporting said nip roller so as to allow said
nip roller to come into and out of contact with said transporting
roller; and a driven member provided on said support member and
adapted to come into contact with said guide member, and wherein,
when said driven member passes said slope as said moving member
moves, said support member pivots said nip roller to separate said
nip roller from said transporting roller or to touch said nip
roller to said transporting roller.
8. The sheet member transporting device according to claim 7,
wherein said support member further comprises: a fixing member
fixed to said moving member; and a canceling member pivotally
supported by said fixing member, and rotatably supporting said nip
roller as well as allowing said nip roller to come into and out of
contact with said transporting roller, wherein said driven member
is provided on said, canceling member of said support member, and
wherein, when said driven member passes said slope as said moving
member moves, said canceling member pivots against said fixing
member and said nip roller is separated from or touched to said
transporting roller.
9. The sheet member transporting device according to claim 1,
wherein said nip canceling means releases said nipping by said
transporting roller pair by using a translation cam mechanism based
on a moving position of said moving member in said distributing
direction.
10. The sheet member transporting device according to claim 1,
wherein said transporting roller pair comprises: a transporting
roller; and a nip roller capable of being brought into and out of
contact with said transporting roller, wherein said nip canceling
means comprises: a guide member which is a plate member extending
in a direction parallel to a moving direction of said moving member
and which has a slope at a predetermined position; a support member
fixed to said moving member, said support member rotatably
supporting said nip roller as well as pivotally supporting said nip
roller so as to allow said nip roller to come into and out of
contact with said transporting roller; and a driven member provided
on said support member and adapted to come into contact with said
guide member, and wherein, when said driven member passes said
slope as said moving member moves, said support member pivots said
nip roller to separate said nip roller from said transporting
roller or to touch said nip roller to said transporting roller.
11. The sheet member transporting device according to claim 10,
wherein said support member further comprises: a fixing member
fixed to said moving member; and a canceling member pivotally
supported by said fixing member, and rotatably supporting said nip
roller as well as allowing said nip roller to come into and out of
contact with said transporting roller, wherein said driven member
is provided on said canceling member of said support member, and
wherein, when said driven member passes said slope as said moving
member moves, said canceling member pivots against said fixing
member and said nip roller is separated from or touched to said
transporting roller.
12. A sheet member transporting device for transporting sheet
members in one of a single row and plural rows according to widths
of said sheet members, comprising: plural transporting units
adapted to be able to transport said sheet members independently of
each other and arranged parallel to each other; and a control unit
for adjusting a transporting speed of each transporting unit,
wherein, when sheet members having a width extending over two or
more transporting units in said plural transporting units are to be
transported in said single row, said control unit adjusts an
orientation of a sheet member by one of increasing and decreasing
said transporting speed of said sheet member in at least one of
said plural transporting units.
13. The sheet member transporting device according to claim 12,
wherein said plural transporting units are connected to an inlet of
another apparatus, each comprising an adjustment transporting unit
provided in a vicinity of an outlet for said sheet members of said
plural transporting units, said adjustment transporting unit
adjusting said transporting speed of said sheet member, and wherein
said adjustment transporting unit is controlled by said control
unit.
14. The sheet member transporting device according to claim 12,
wherein each of said plural transporting units is equipped with a
nipping and transporting roller pair and a transporting roller pair
provided on a downstream side of said nipping and transporting
roller pair with respect to a transporting direction, wherein
nipping of said sheet member and releasing of said nipping thereof
by said nipping and transporting roller pair are controlled by said
control unit, and transportation of said sheet member by said
transporting roller pair is controlled by said control unit, and
wherein, when said orientation of said sheet member is to be
adjusted by said transporting roller pair, said control unit
releases said nipping of said sheet member by said nipping and
transporting roller pairs.
15. A method of controlling a sheet member transporting device
having plural transporting units adapted to transport sheet members
independently of each other, said plural transporting units being
arranged parallel to each other and allowing adjustment of their
respective transporting speeds, with said sheet members being
transported in one of a single row and plural rows according to
widths of said sheet members, comprising the steps of: detecting a
width of a sheet member; detecting an orientation of said sheet
member with respect to a perpendicular direction perpendicular to a
transporting direction of said sheet member; and adjusting, when a
result of detection of said width of said sheet members indicates
that said sheet member is to be transported in the single row over
said plural transporting units, said orientation of said sheet
member by one of increasing and decreasing said transporting speed
of said sheet member in at least one of said plural transporting
units based on said result of said detection of said width of said
sheet member and of said orientation of said sheet member with
respect to said perpendicular direction.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet member transporting
device and a method of controlling the same.
[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to a sheet
member transporting device which moves sheet members of a
predetermined length, which are transported in a single row, in a
distributing direction to transport them in a plurality of rows or
which moves sheet members of a predetermined length, which are
transported in a plurality of rows, in a distributing direction to
transport them in a single row. In particular, the present
invention relates to a sheet member transporting device which
realizes, while ensuring high durability and small mass and at
restrained cost, a system in which sheet members being transported
in a transporting direction are moved in a direction perpendicular
to the transporting direction to thereby transport the sheet
members in a single row or transport them in a plurality of
rows.
[0003] Further, the present invention relates to a sheet member
transporting device equipped with a nip roller pair having a
transporting roller for transporting sheet members and a nip roller
for nipping and transporting sheet members together with the
transporting roller, and more particularly to a sheet member
transporting device which effects canceling of the nipping by the
nip roller through a movement in a distributing direction
perpendicular to the sheet member transporting direction.
[0004] Further, the present invention relates to a sheet member
transporting device which transports sheet members in a single row
or a plurality of rows according to their width and a method of
controlling the device, and more particularly to a sheet member
transporting device which adjusts the sheet member transporting
speed and, at the same time, adjusts the attitude of the sheet
members, such as the orientation thereof, and a method of
controlling the device.
[0005] Recently, a printing device utilizing digital exposure, that
is, a digital photo printer has been put into practical use, which
photoelectrically reads an image recorded on a film and turns the
read image into a digital signal, performs various kinds of image
processing thereon to obtain recording image data, scans a
photosensitive material through exposure to a light beam modulated
according to the image data to record an image (latent image), and
performs development thereon to output a print (photograph).
[0006] Basically, this digital photo printer is composed of an
input machine having a scanner (image reading device) and an image
processing device, and an output machine having a printing device
(image recording device) and a processor (developing device).
[0007] In the scanner, projection light of an image photographed on
a film is photoelectrically read by an image sensor, such as a CCD
sensor, and is sent to the image processing device as film image
data (image data signal).
[0008] The image processing device performs predetermined image
processing on the image data and sends the processed image data to
the printing device as image data for image recording (exposure
condition).
[0009] When the printing device is of the type which utilizes light
beam scanning exposure, cut sheets of photosensitive material
obtained by cutting a roll of long photosensitive material into a
predetermined length, are transported to an exposure position. At
the same time, a light beam modulated according to the supplied
image data is deflected in a one-dimensional direction, that is, in
the main scanning direction and impinges on the photosensitive
material and, further, the photosensitive material is scanned and
transported in a sub scanning direction perpendicular to the main
scanning direction to thereby two-dimensionally scan the
photosensitive material by exposure to the light beam to form a
latent image.
[0010] In the processor, a predetermined development process is
performed on the photosensitive material that has been subjected to
exposure (hereinafter also referred to as simply the "exposed
photosensitive material"), and a print is obtained on which the
image photographed on the film is reproduced.
[0011] In such a digital photo printer, in order to efficiently
output a large amount of prints, it is necessary to scan a
photosensitive material by exposure in a short time and perform the
development thereon. Thus, it is necessary to achieve an
improvement in the processing efficiency of the development, and,
in order to perform the development while transporting the
photosensitive material in a plurality of rows, there have been
proposed various distributing devices for transporting the
photosensitive material in a plurality of rows through
distribution.
[0012] In particular, in a digital photo printer in which scanning
and exposure are performed on a photosensitive material being
transported while deflecting a light beam within a predetermined
range, it is desirable to avoid a situation in which the image to
be recorded is recorded on the photosensitive material in an
inclined state or recorded in an offset state; in this respect, it
is desirable to perform post-exposure distribution in which, after
recording on a photosensitive material by exposure, the
photosensitive material is distributed into a plurality of rows and
transported.
[0013] For example, in some conventional distributing devices, a
motor for rotating a roller which transports a photosensitive
material is mounted on a moving member for distributing the
photosensitive material into a plurality of rows. In such
conventional distributing devices, an FPC (flexible printed
circuit) cable which is superior in resistance to flexing and
buckling is often used to supply electric power to the motor. In
such conventional distributing devices, the moving member is moved
with the motor mounted thereon.
[0014] Further, JP 9-329885 A discloses a distributing device in
which exposed printing paper is distributed into two rows on the
downstream side of the transporting path. FIG. 17 is a schematic
perspective view of a conventional printing paper distributing
device as disclosed in JP 9-329885 A.
[0015] As shown in FIG. 17, in a distributing device 500 disclosed
in JP 9-329885 A, a main carriage 520 and a sub carriage 521 are
arranged so as to be opposed to each other with respect to the
transporting path. The main carriage 520 is equipped with idle
rollers 522 and 524 on the upstream and downstream sides thereof in
the transporting direction D, respectively, and thrust bushes 530
are provided at both ends of the idle rollers 522 and 524. Guide
shafts 510 are passed through the idle rollers 522 and 524 and the
thrust bushes 530.
[0016] The sub carriage 521 is equipped with drive rollers 526 and
528 on the upstream and downstream sides thereof in the
transporting direction D, respectively; the thrust bushes 530 are
provided at both ends of the drive rollers 526 and 528. Drive
shafts 512 are passed through the drive rollers 526 and 528 and the
thrust bushes 530.
[0017] A timing belt (not shown) is mounted on the main carriage
520 and the sub carriage 521, and the main carriage 520 and the sub
carriage 521 are driven by a motor (not shown) in synchronism with
each other in main scanning directions M.sub.1 and M.sub.2
perpendicular to the transporting direction D while being guided by
the thrust bushes 530.
[0018] At the ends of the guide shafts 510 and the drive shafts
512, there are provided pulleys 514, between which spring rings 515
are stretched, whereby the idle rollers 522 and 524 and the drive
rollers 526 and 528 are reliably held in contact with each other,
making it possible to prevent slippage during transportation of a
photosensitive material P.
[0019] In this way, the idle rollers 522 and 524 and the drive
rollers 526 and 528 are moved in the main scanning directions
M.sub.1 and M.sub.2 while being rotated, thereby making it possible
to perform distribution of the photosensitive material P.
[0020] However, in the above-described conventional distributing
device using a moving member with a motor mounted thereon, the
motor is mounted on the moving member which distributes a
photosensitive material into a plurality of rows, so that the
device size is rather large, which involves a large mass and high
cost. Further, the large mass leads to an increase in load moment
of inertia, and, when the distributing speed is to be raised, the
upper limit thereof is rather low; further, the device readily
causes step-out. Further, the FPC cable is inferior in durability,
and breakage, etc. occurs at the buckled portion.
[0021] Further, in the distributing device as disclosed in JP
9-329885 A, it is impossible to avoid sliding between the thrust
bushes 530 on one hand, and the guide shafts 510 and the drive
shafts 512 on the other hand. As a result, the inner surfaces of
the thrust bushes 530 are rasped off, resulting in a rather poor
durability. Further, when the slidability of the thrust bushes 530
deteriorates, skewing of the photosensitive material P will occur,
making it impossible to effect distribution in a stable manner and
with high accuracy. Further, when the driving speed of the main
carriage 520 and the sub carriage 521 is increased, step-out will
occur due to the sliding resistance of the thrust bushes 530.
[0022] As described above, the distributing device as disclosed in
JP 9-329885 A involves a deterioration in transporting accuracy,
such as skewing of the photosensitive material, and a deterioration
in durability; in addition, when an attempt is made to raise the
distributing speed in order to achieve an improvement in production
efficiency, the problem as mentioned above is involved, which means
the device cannot be operated in the proper fashion when there is
an increase in speed.
[0023] Apart from this, as a conventional distributing device in
which a moving member is moved with a motor mounted thereon as
described above, there exists a nip distributing device in which
after recording on a photosensitive material by exposure, the
photosensitive material is, for example, nipped and distributed in
a plurality of rows before transporting it.
[0024] However, also in this conventional nip distributing device,
no distribution is effected on a photosensitive material whose size
exceeds a predetermined size. Thus, in this conventional
distributing device, when no distribution is to be effected on the
photosensitive material, it is necessary to cancel the nipping of
the photosensitive material, which means it is necessary for the
distributing device to be equipped with a nipping canceling
mechanism. In this way, in the conventional digital photo printer,
it is determined as to whether distribution is to be effected or
not according to the size of the photosensitive material, thus
making is possible to obtain prints of various sizes.
[0025] However, this conventional nip distributing device also
involves various problems similar to those associated with the
above-described conventional distributing device in which a moving
member is moved with a motor mounted thereon.
[0026] Thus, this conventional nip distributing device has a
problem in that it is impossible to perform with high durability
the distributing operation accompanied by a nip canceling
operation.
[0027] Further, a conventional distributing device in which
distribution is effected after exposure has independent delivery
portions respectively corresponding to the rows obtained by
distribution. The delivery portions supply a photosensitive
material to the processor, with the transporting speed
adjusted.
[0028] For example, JP 2001-194733 A discloses a transporting
mechanism for transporting a photosensitive material, which has
been subjected to exposure, in a number of rows. FIGS. 18A through
18C are schematic diagrams each showing the transporting mechanism
of the photographic processing device as disclosed in JP
2001-194733 A and the transporting state therein.
[0029] A conventional transporting mechanism 600, shown in FIGS.
18A through 18C, transports to a processor a photosensitive
material distributed into four or two rows by a distributing device
or a photosensitive material of a size not suited for
distribution.
[0030] The conventional transporting mechanism 600 has four
transporting lines 610, 612, 614, and 616, and the transporting
lines 610, 612, 614, and 616 have stepping motors 620, 622, 624,
and 626, driver circuits 630, 632, 634, and 636, control circuits
640, 642, 644, and 646, a main control portion 650, a clock
distribution circuit 652, and a distribution control circuit
654.
[0031] In the conventional transporting mechanism 600, on the basis
of a transporting line switching signal output from the main
control portion 650 to the distribution control circuit 654, the
distribution control circuit 654 outputs predetermined control
signals S.sub.1, S.sub.2, and S.sub.3 to the clock distribution
circuit 652. To this clock distribution circuit 652, driving clock
signals are input from the control circuits 640, 642, 644, and 646,
and it outputs, based on the control signals S.sub.1, S.sub.2, and
S.sub.3, the driving clocks to the stepping motors 620, 622, 624,
and 626 of the transporting lines 610, 612, 614, and 616.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 18A, when, for example, a photosensitive
material distributed into four rows is to be transported, a driving
clock C.sub.L is output from the control circuits 640, 642, 644,
and 646 to the driver circuits 630, 632, 634, and 636 by the
control signal S.sub.1, and a photosensitive material Pa is
transported in four rows by the transporting lines 610, 612, 614,
and 616.
[0033] Further, as shown in FIG. 18B, when, for example, a
photosensitive material distributed into two rows is to be
transported, a driving clock C.sub.L1 output from the control
circuit 640 to the clock distribution circuit 652 is output to the
driver circuits 630 and 632 by the control signal S.sub.2, and a
photosensitive material Pb is transported through cooperation of
the two transporting lines 610 and 612. Similarly, a driving clock
C.sub.L2 output from the control circuit 644 to the clock
distribution circuit 652 is output to the driver circuits 634 and
636 by the control signal S.sub.2, and the photosensitive material
Pb is transported through cooperation of the two transporting lines
614 and 616.
[0034] Further, as shown in FIG. 18C, when, for example, transport
is to be performed in a single row without effecting distribution,
a driving clock C.sub.L3 output from the control circuit 640 to the
clock distribution circuit 652 is output to the driver circuits
630, 632, 634, and 636 by the control signal S.sub.3, and a
photosensitive material Pc is transported through cooperation of
the four transporting lines 610, 612, 614, and 616.
[0035] The respective sizes of the photosensitive materials Pa, Pb
and Pc are such that Pa<Pb<Pc.
[0036] In the conventional transporting mechanism 600, when a
photosensitive material is to be transported through cooperation of
a plurality of transporting lines, the cooperating transporting
lines are driven by one driving clock, so that there is no
operational deviation among the stepping motors due to element
variation or variation in the software command timing, and even if
the photosensitive material is transported over a plurality of
rows, it is possible to restrain generation of meandering of the
photosensitive material.
[0037] However, there is a difference in reference between a
printer and a processor, and the transporting mechanism after
distribution is required to absorb the deviation between the
printer and processor.
[0038] At present, this deviation is absorbed by improving the
design accuracy of the printer and processor, resulting in an
increase in production cost. Further, when the positions of the
printer and processor are deviated from reference positions, and
there is a difference between the vertical direction in the printer
and the vertical direction in the processor, the photosensitive
material must be intentionally caused to undergo skewing by the
transporting mechanism, transporting it to the processors after
being adjusted to the proper angle. In particular, in the case of a
photosensitive material of the size requiring no distribution, if
it is not transported to the processor properly, there is a danger
of an image deterioration occurring at the time of development.
[0039] Further, while the above-described conventional transporting
mechanism is capable of restraining meandering of the
photosensitive material, it is not capable of properly transporting
a photosensitive material taking processing errors into
consideration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0040] The present invention has been made in view of the
above-mentioned problems in the prior art. It is a first object of
the present invention to provide a sheet member transporting device
capable of realizing, while ensuring high durability, small mass,
and low cost, a system which, while transporting sheet members in
the transporting direction, moves the sheet members in a direction
perpendicular to the transporting direction, thereby transporting
the sheet materials in a single row or in a plurality of rows.
[0041] Further, it is a second object of the present invention,
which has been made in view of the above problems in the prior art,
to provide a sheet member transporting device capable of realizing,
while ensuring high durability and low cost, a system in which a
nipping canceling operation can be effected whenever it is
necessary to release nipping of sheet members by a transporting
roller pair.
[0042] Further, it is a third object of the present invention,
which has been made in view of the above problems in the prior art,
to provide a sheet member transporting device capable of adjusting
the speed at which a photosensitive material is transported and
capable of correcting the attitude of the photosensitive material
or intentionally skewing the photosensitive material, and a control
method for the sheet member transporting device.
[0043] In order to attain the first object described above, the
first aspect of the present invention provides a sheet member
transporting device which is adapted to perform one or both of:
moving sheet members of a predetermined length, which are being
transported in a single row, in a distributing direction
perpendicular to a transporting direction to transport the sheet
members in plural rows; and moving the sheet members of the
predetermined length, which are transported in plural rows, in the
distributing direction to transport the sheet members in a single
row, the sheet member transporting device comprising: a
transporting roller pair for nipping and transporting one sheet
member in the sheet members; a moving member on which the
transporting roller pair is provided and which is movable in the
distributing direction; a rotation movement mechanism for allowing
the transporting roller pair to rotate by transmitting rotation
force to the transporting roller pair to transport the one sheet
member and allowing the moving member to move in the distributing
direction; a driving means connected to the rotation movement
mechanism, for driving the rotation movement mechanism to move the
moving member in the distributing direction; and a nip canceling
means for controlling nipping of the one sheet member and releasing
of the nipping thereof by the transporting roller pair, wherein the
driving means is provided as a component separate from the moving
member.
[0044] Preferably, the rotation movement mechanism comprises a
cylindrical sleeve having rotation transmitting means for
transmitting the rotation force to the transporting roller pair,
which is created on an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical
sleeve, and an elongated hole which extends in an axial direction
of the cylindrical sleeve and is formed in the outer peripheral
surface; at least a pair of bearings for rotatably supporting the
cylindrical sleeve on the moving member; at least a pair of slide
bearings provided in an inner peripheral surface at both ends of
the cylindrical sleeve; a rotation shaft inserted into each of the
pair of slide bearings so as to be movable in the axial direction;
and a rotation transmitting member provided on an outer peripheral
surface of the rotation shaft, the rotation transmitting member
regulating movement of the rotation shaft in the axial direction
and being adapted to abut the elongated hole at a time of rotation
of the rotation shaft to transmit rotation of the rotation shaft to
the cylindrical sleeve; and the cylindrical sleeve rotates by
rotating the rotation shaft to transmit the rotation force to the
transporting roller pair.
[0045] It is preferred that the rotation movement mechanism is
provided on a frame body and comprises a spline shaft fixed to the
frame body and equipped with a rotation transmitting means for
transmitting the rotation force to the transporting roller pair,
and that the rotation transmitting means follows relative movement
of the moving member in the distributing direction and transmits
the rotation force to the transporting roller pair while moving in
an axial direction of the spline shaft.
[0046] It is preferred that the rotation movement mechanism further
comprises a guide shaft inserted into at least each of a pair of
slide bearings provided on the moving member and fixed to the frame
body, for guiding movement of the moving member in the distributing
direction.
[0047] The nip canceling means preferably releases the nipping by
the transporting roller pair by using a translation cam mechanism
based on a moving position of the moving member in the distributing
direction.
[0048] Preferably, the transporting roller pair comprises a
transporting roller and a nip roller capable of being brought into
and out of contact with the transporting roller; the nip canceling
means comprises a guide member which is a plate member extending in
a direction parallel to a moving direction of the moving member and
which has a slope at a predetermined position, a support member
fixed to the moving member, the support member rotatably supporting
the nip roller as well as pivotally supporting the nip roller so as
to allow the nip roller to come into and out of contact with the
transporting roller and a driven member provided on the support
member and adapted to come into contact with the guide member; and
when the driven member passes the slope as the moving member moves,
the support member pivots the nip roller to separate the nip roller
from the transporting roller or to touch the nip roller to the
transporting roller.
[0049] Preferably, the support member further comprises a fixing
member fixed to the moving member and a canceling member pivotally
supported by the fixing member, and rotatably supporting the nip
roller as well as allowing the nip roller to come into and out of
contact with the transporting roller; the driven member is provided
on the canceling member of the support member; and when the driven
member passes the slope as the moving member moves, the canceling
member pivots against the fixing member and the nip roller is
separated from or touched to the transporting roller.
[0050] In order to attain the second object described above, the
second aspect of the present invention provides a sheet member
transporting device being the sheet member transporting device of
the first aspect of the present invention, wherein, when the moving
member is moved beyond a predetermined position in the distributing
direction by the driving means, the nip canceling means releases
the nipping by the transporting roller pair.
[0051] The nip canceling means preferably releases the nipping by
the transporting roller pair by using a translation cam mechanism
based on a moving position of the moving member in the distributing
direction.
[0052] Preferably, the transporting roller pair comprises a
transporting roller and a nip roller capable of being brought into
and out of contact with the transporting roller; the nip canceling
means comprises a guide member which is a plate member extending in
a direction parallel to a moving direction of the moving member and
which has a slope at a position to be matched with the
predetermined position, a support member fixed to the moving
member, the support member rotatably supporting the nip roller as
well as pivotally supporting the nip roller so as to allow the nip
roller to come into and out of contact with the transporting roller
and a driven member provided on the support member and adapted to
come into contact with the guide member; and when the driven member
passes the slope as the moving member moves, the support member
pivots the nip roller to separate the nip roller from the
transporting roller or to touch the nip roller to the transporting
roller.
[0053] Preferably, the support member further comprises a fixing
member fixed to the moving member and a canceling member pivotally
supported by the fixing member, and rotatably supporting the nip
roller as well as allowing the nip roller to come into and out of
contact with the transporting roller; the driven member is provided
on the canceling member of the support member; and when the driven
member passes the slope as the moving member moves, the canceling
member pivots against the fixing member and the nip roller is
separated from or touched to the transporting roller.
[0054] In order to attain the third object described above, the
third aspect of the present invention provides a sheet member
transporting device for transporting sheet members in one of a
single row and plural rows according to widths of the sheet
members, comprising: plural transporting units adapted to be able
to transport the sheet members independently of each other and
arranged parallel to each other; and a control unit for adjusting a
transporting speed of each transporting unit, wherein, when sheet
members having a width extending over two or more transporting
units in the plural transporting units are to be transported in the
single row, the control unit adjusts an orientation of a sheet
member by one of increasing and decreasing the transporting speed
of the sheet member in at least one of the plural transporting
units.
[0055] Preferably, the plural transporting units are connected to
an inlet of another apparatus, each comprising an adjustment
transporting unit provided in a vicinity of an outlet for the sheet
members of the plural transporting units, the adjustment
transporting unit adjusting the transporting speed of the sheet
member; and the adjustment transporting unit is controlled by the
control unit.
[0056] It should be noted that in the third aspect of the present
invention, another apparatus described above is, for example, a
processor for photosensitive materials.
[0057] Preferably, each of the plural transporting units is
equipped with a nipping and transporting roller pair and a
transporting roller pair provided on a downstream side of the
nipping and transporting roller pair with respect to a transporting
direction; nipping of the sheet member and releasing of the nipping
thereof by the nipping and transporting roller pair are controlled
by the control unit, and transportation of the sheet member by the
transporting roller pair is controlled by the control unit; and
when the orientation of the sheet member is to be adjusted by the
transporting roller pair, the control unit releases the nipping of
the sheet member by the nipping and transporting roller pairs.
[0058] In order to attain the third object described above, the
fourth aspect of the present invention provides a method of
controlling a sheet member transporting device having plural
transporting units adapted to transport sheet members independently
of each other, the plural transporting units being arranged
parallel to each other and allowing adjustment of their respective
transporting speeds, with the sheet members being transported in
one of a single row and plural rows according to widths of the
sheet members, comprising the steps of: detecting a width of a
sheet member; detecting an orientation of the sheet member with
respect to a perpendicular direction perpendicular to a
transporting direction of the sheet member; and adjusting, when a
result of detection of the width of the sheet members indicates
that the sheet member is to be transported in the single row over
the plural transporting units, the orientation of the sheet member
by one of increasing and decreasing the transporting speed of the
sheet member in at least one of the plural transporting units based
on the result of the detection of the width of the sheet member and
of the orientation of the sheet member with respect to the
perpendicular direction.
[0059] This application claims priority on Japanese patent
applications No. 2003-205656, No. 2003-311607 and No. 2003-205631,
the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by
reference.
[0060] In addition the entire contents of literatures cited in this
specification are incorporated by reference.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0061] In the accompanying drawings:
[0062] FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of an
image recording apparatus in which a sheet member transporting
device according to the present invention is used;
[0063] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a delivery portion of the
image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 when it is seen from the
above;
[0064] FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing an
embodiment of the sheet member transporting device which is applied
to a distributing portion of the image recording apparatus shown in
FIG. 1;
[0065] FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing the
arrangement and construction of a moving member in the sheet member
transporting device shown in FIG. 3;
[0066] FIG. 5 is a sectional view schematically showing the
construction of a seamless pipe slide of the moving member shown in
FIG. 4;
[0067] FIG. 6 is a partly exploded perspective view showing how the
seamless pipe slide and a nip canceling mechanism in the moving
member of the sheet member transporting device shown in FIG. 3 are
arranged;
[0068] FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing the
construction of the nip canceling mechanism in the distributing
portion of the sheet member transporting device shown in FIG.
3;
[0069] FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view showing the nip
canceling mechanism (except large diameter transporting rollers)
shown in FIG. 7;
[0070] FIG. 9A is a schematic side sectional view showing the state
of the nip canceling mechanism shown in FIG. 7 when distribution is
to be effected;
[0071] FIG. 9B is a schematic side sectional view showing the state
of the nip canceling mechanism when no distribution is to be
effected;
[0072] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing another
embodiment of the sheet member transporting device which is applied
to the distributing portion of the image recording apparatus shown
in FIG. 1;
[0073] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of the sheet member
transporting device shown in FIG. 10 as seen from the sheet member
discharge side;
[0074] FIGS. 12A and 12B are enlarged schematic side views of a
transporting path F and a transporting path R in the delivery
portion of the image recording apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
respectively;
[0075] FIG. 13 is a sectional view schematically showing the
construction of an embodiment of a processor used in the image
recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
[0076] FIGS. 14A through 14J are exemplary timing charts showing
how cut sheet members distributed into two rows are transported in
the delivery portion shown in FIGS. 2, 12A and 12B;
[0077] FIGS. 15A through 15J are exemplary timing charts showing
how cut sheet members are transported in a single row in the
delivery portion shown in FIGS. 2, 12A and 12B;
[0078] FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing how skewing is
eliminated in the delivery portion of the image recording apparatus
shown in FIG. 1;
[0079] FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective view showing a
conventional device for distributing printing paper; and
[0080] FIGS. 18A through 18C are schematic diagrams each showing
the transporting mechanism and transporting condition of a
photographic processing apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0081] A sheet member transporting device and a method of
controlling the same according to the present invention will now be
described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments shown
in the accompanying drawings.
[0082] First, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an image recording
apparatus using a sheet member transporting device according to the
present invention will be described.
[0083] FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment
of an image recording apparatus in which a sheet member
transporting device according to the present invention is used.
[0084] As shown in FIG. 1, an image recording apparatus 10 forms,
together with a scanner 12, an image processing apparatus 14, and a
processor 16, a digital photo printer (hereinafter also simply
referred to as the printer). The image recording apparatus 10 is a
recording apparatus which performs exposure recording on a
photosensitive material by utilizing light beam scanning exposure.
A long photosensitive material A wound into a roll is pulled out by
a predetermined length and cut into a sheet and the cut sheet
(sheet member) is transported to an exposure position; at the same
time, a light beam L modulated according to image data supplied
from the image processing apparatus 14 is deflected in a main
scanning direction, and the photosensitive material is
scan-transported in a sub scanning direction perpendicular to the
main scanning direction, whereby the photosensitive material is
two-dimensionally scan-exposed by the light beam L to thereby form
a latent image.
[0085] The image recording apparatus 10 is connected to the image
processing apparatus 14, which is connected to the scanner 12. The
processor 16 is connected to the image recording apparatus 10 so
that it can receive the exposed photosensitive material delivered
from the image recording apparatus 10. The image recording
apparatus 10 has a control portion 34 for controlling the operation
of the image recording apparatus 10.
[0086] The scanner 12 photoelectrically reads projection light of
an image taken on a film by an image sensor, such as a CCD sensor,
and captures film image data (image data signal) before sending it
to the image processing apparatus 14.
[0087] The image processing apparatus 14 performs predetermined
image processing on this image data and sends the processed image
data to a printing device as image data (exposure condition) for
image recording. It is also possible for the image processing
apparatus 14 to be constructed so as to send to the printing device
image data obtained by photographing with a digital still camera
(DSC) or the like.
[0088] The processor 16 performs a predetermined development
process on the exposed photosensitive material on which a latent
image is formed, and outputs it as a print on which an image
photographed on a film or an image photographed by a DSC is
reproduced.
[0089] The image recording apparatus 10 is constructed so as to
perform each processing while transporting a cut sheet member
obtained by cutting a roll of long photosensitive material A into a
predetermined length. The image recording apparatus 10 has,
starting from the upstream side in the transporting direction, a
supply portion 20, a back printing portion 22, a registration
portion 24, an exposure portion 26, a sub scanning reception
portion 28, a distributing portion 30, and a delivery portion 32;
in each of these portions, there are provided, along the
transporting path, a plurality of transporting roller pairs
consisting of rollers or driving rollers and nip rollers paired
with the driving rollers. These transporting roller pairs are
provided at intervals shorter than the length in the transporting
direction of the minimum size cut sheet member used in the image
recording apparatus 10. Further, although not shown, in and between
these portions, there are provided transporting guides, and there
may be provided some other transporting means.
[0090] The supply portion 20 is a portion loaded with magazines 20a
and 20b in which rolls of long photosensitive material A are
contained in lightproof casings with the recording surfaces facing
outside.
[0091] Usually, the magazines 20a and 20b contain different kinds
of photosensitive materials A differing in size (width), type of
photosensitive surface (silk, mat, etc.), specifications (thickness
and base type), etc. While in this embodiment two magazines 20a and
20b are provided, there are no particular limitations in the
present invention regarding the number of magazines. In the present
invention, it is also possible to use one or three or more
magazines.
[0092] The magazines 20a and 20b are equipped with pull-out roller
pairs 38a and 38b for pulling out and transporting the
photosensitive material A contained therein.
[0093] Further, at positions spaced apart from the outlets of the
magazines 20a and 20b by a predetermined distance, there are
provided cutters 40a and 40b. The photosensitive material A is
pulled out and cut into a predetermined length to provide cut sheet
members.
[0094] To obtain cut sheet members with a predetermined length by
the cutters 40a and 40b, the pull-out roller pairs 38a and 38b pull
out the photosensitive material A by a predetermined length
according to the print length, and then stop the pullout
operation.
[0095] The cutters 40a and 40b cut the photosensitive material A
pulled out of the magazines 20a and 20b based on a control signal
supplied from the control portion 34 of the image recording
apparatus 10. The cut sheet members cut into a predetermined length
by the cutters 40a and 40b are conveyed to the back printing
portion 22.
[0096] The back printing portion 22 serves to record on the
non-recording surface (non-emulsion surface=back surface) a
so-called back print consisting of various items of information
including the photographing date of the picture, printing date,
frame number, film ID number (code), the ID number of the camera
used for photographing, the ID number of the photo printer. The
back printing portion 22 has transporting roller pairs 42a, 42b,
42c, 42d, 42e, and 42f, and a back printing head 44 arranged
between the transporting roller pairs 42d and 42e.
[0097] As a cut sheet member is transported upward by the rollers
and roller pairs, a back print is recorded on the non-recording
surface by the back printing head 44. As the back printing head 44,
there is used a well-known printing head, such as an ink jet head,
a dot impact printing head, or a thermal transfer printing head.
The back printing head 44 is adapted to the Advanced Photo System
and is capable of printing/recording characters in two or more
lines.
[0098] The registration portion 24 curves the transporting path for
the cut sheet members transported after having been cut into a
predetermined length, from the vertical direction to the horizontal
direction, and performs adjustment on the skewing or the position
in the width direction of the cut sheet members such that the cut
sheet members are arranged in a predetermined position in the width
direction in the transporting path without being inclined with
respect to the transporting path. The registration portion 24 has a
registration roller pair 46, a transporting roller pair 48a, and
transporting roller pairs capable of nip canceling (hereinafter
also simply referred to as the nip roller pairs) 48b and 48c. The
registration roller pair 46 is provided adjacent to the back
printing portion 22. The nip roller pairs 48b and 48c transport the
cut sheet members having been adjusted in skewing and width
direction position so that the cut sheet members are protected
against any impact and skewing or positional deviation does not
occur. As a result, in exposure recording in the exposure portion
26, which is a post-process, it is possible to perform
scan-exposure recording at a predetermined position on the cut
sheet member. Regarding the adjustment of the cut sheet members in
terms of skewing and position in the width direction performed in
the registration portion 24, it is possible to adopt a well-known
method; for example, it is possible to adopt the skew adjusting
method and the width direction position adjusting method as
disclosed in JP 60-153358 A and JP 11-349191 A.
[0099] As shown in FIG. 1, when passing through the registration
portion 24, the cut sheet members are changed in transporting
direction from the vertical transporting to the horizontal
transporting along the transporting guides (not shown) between the
registration roller pair 46 and the transporting roller pair 48a
before being transported to the exposure portion 26.
[0100] The exposure portion 26 has an exposure unit 36 connected to
the image forming apparatus 14, two sub scanning transporting
roller pairs 50 and 54 (hereinafter also referred to as the sub
scanning roller pairs) which are provided on the upstream and
downstream sides in the transporting direction with respect to an
exposure position r at which scan-exposure is effected on the cut
sheet members by a light beam L emitted from the exposure unit 36,
and which transport the cut sheet members at a predetermined speed
to perform sub scanning thereon, and a position detecting sensor 52
provided between the exposure position r and the sub scanning
roller pair 50 and adapted to detect passing of the cut sheet
members. The position detecting sensor 52 is an optical sensor
adapted to detect the presence of an object by shading and
consisting of a pair of a light emitting element and a light
receiving element. The light emitting element and the light
receiving element are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the
transporting path, with the light emitting element being arranged
on the non-recording surface side of the photosensitive material P.
Since the photosensitive material P is detected in this embodiment,
a sensor using light at a wavelength causing no fogging such as a
flashing infrared sensor is suitably used for the position
detecting sensor 52.
[0101] The exposure unit 36 is a well-known light beam scanning
device using a light beam such as a laser beam as the recording
light, and has a light source emitting a light beam L corresponding
to each of read (R) exposure, green (G) exposure, and blue (B)
exposure of the cut sheet members, a modulating means such as an
AOM (acoustic optical modulator) for modulating the light beam L
emitted from the light source according to image data supplied from
the image processing apparatus 14 and subjected to image
processing, an optical deflector such as a polygon mirror for
deflecting the modulated light beam L in a direction (main scanning
direction) perpendicular to the transporting direction of the cut
sheet members, an f.theta. (scanning) lens optical path adjusting
mirror for imaging the light beam L deflected in the main scanning
direction so as to have a predetermined beam diameter at a
predetermined position in the exposure position r.
[0102] Further, it is also possible to adopt a digital exposure
means using various light emitting arrays or spatial modulation
element arrays, etc. extending in the main direction perpendicular
to the transporting direction, such as a PDP (plasma display)
array, ELP (electroluminescent display) array, LED (light emitting
diode) array, LCD (liquid crystal display) array, DMD (digital
micro mirror device (registered trademark)) array, and laser
array.
[0103] The width of the light beam L for the main scanning effected
at the exposure position r of the exposure unit 36 is set so as to
be in conformity with the width of the cut sheet members.
[0104] The above operation of the exposure unit 36 is controlled by
a control signal from the control portion 34.
[0105] While in the above-described example of the present
invention image recording is effected by the exposure unit 36, this
should not be construed restrictively; for example, it is also
possible to adopt the ink jet recording system.
[0106] The light beam L constituting the recording light is
deflected in the main scanning direction (the direction
perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1) and the cut sheet members are
transported by the two sub scanning roller pairs 50 and 54, so that
the cut sheet members are two-dimensionally scan-exposed by the
light beam L modulated according to the image data, and a latent
image is recorded.
[0107] Instead of the sub scanning roller pairs 50 and 54, it is
also possible to adopt a scanning/transporting mechanism using an
exposure drum transporting a cut sheet member while retaining it at
the exposure position r and two nip rollers abutting the exposure
drum with the exposure position r therebetween. There are no
particular limitations regarding its construction as long as it is
one which performs scan-recording in the main scanning direction
perpendicular to the cut sheet transporting direction to thereby
record images on cut sheet members being transported.
[0108] The sub scanning reception portion 28 is a portion equipped
with two nip roller pairs 56 (56a, 56b) and 58 (58a, 58b)
supporting the leading edge portions of cut sheet members
transported during recording in the exposure portion 26 and
protruding from the exposure portion 26, and two nip roller pairs
60 (60a, 60b) and 62 (62a, 62b) converting the transporting path
for the cut sheet members received from the exposure portion 26
from the horizontal direction to the vertical and downward
direction. The four nip roller pairs 56, 58, 60, and 62
respectively consist of driving rollers 56a, 58a, 60a, and 62a and
nip rollers 56b, 58b, 60b, and 62b movable with respect to the
driving rollers 56a, 58a, 60a, and 62a and capable of nip
canceling. The transporting of cut sheet members by the nip roller
pairs 56, 58, 60, and 62 is effected at the same speed as the
transporting speed of the sub scanning roller pairs 50 and 54.
[0109] As described below, the nip rollers 56b and 58b are
controlled such that, during exposure recording, they are spaced
apart from the driving rollers 56a and 58a and do not nip the cut
sheet member and that, when the exposure recording on the trailing
edge portion of the cut sheet member is completed, they come into
contact with the driving rollers 56a and 58a and transport the cut
sheet member while nipping them. This is for the purpose of
preventing generation of deviation in exposure position and
unevenness in exposure in the cut sheet member due to generation of
fine vibration as a result of starting of nipping when the nip
rollers 56b and 58b abut the cut sheet member during exposure
recording on the cut sheet member. Of course, the operation of the
sub scanning reception portion 28 is controlled by a control signal
supplied from the control portion 34. This will be described in
more detail below.
[0110] The distributing portion 30 serves to distribute cut sheet
members having been transported in a single row into, for example,
two rows according to the widths, lengths, etc. of the cut sheet
members without stopping them and to transport them in the main
scanning direction (distributing direction). In this embodiment, a
judgment as to whether or not distribution is to be effected is
made according, for example, to the widths of the cut sheet
members.
[0111] This distributing portion 30 corresponds to the sheet member
transporting devices according to first and second aspects of the
present invention. The distributing portion 30 and the sheet member
transporting devices of the first and second aspects of the present
invention will be described in detail below.
[0112] Between the distributing portion 30 and the delivery portion
32, there are provided position detecting sensors (detecting means)
64, 66, and 68.
[0113] The position detecting sensors 64, 66 and 68 are fixed to a
moving table (not shown) immediately on the downstream side in the
transporting direction of the position where the nip roller pair 62
is arranged so that they may move with the movement of the moving
table (not shown), and the leading edges of cut sheet members
having passed between the nip roller pair 62 are detected
immediately after the passage. This will be described in detail
below. The position detecting sensors 64, 66 and 68 used may be of
a construction similar to that of the position detecting sensor
52.
[0114] Further, in the image recording apparatus 10, the
distributing device 30 is provided in a corner portion in the
transporting path so that the transporting direction may be changed
from the horizontal direction to the downward direction (an
anti-plane direction of the recording surfaces of the cut sheet
members) during the distribution of the cut sheet members, whereby
it is possible to endow the cut sheet members with curvature in an
anti-plane direction of the recording surfaces of the cut sheet
members, thereby lessening the rigidity of the cut sheet members to
make it possible to perform distribution smoothly while suppressing
occurrence of jamming.
[0115] The delivery portion 32 serves to transport the cut sheet
members distributed into two rows by the distributing portion 30
independently for each row. For the sake of convenience, FIG. 1
shows the transporting paths F and R as arranged in parallel.
Actually, however, the rollers in the transporting paths F and R
are arranged with their axes aligned with each other as shown in
FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the transporting paths F
and R of the delivery portion 32 as seen from the above.
[0116] As shown in FIG. 2, nip roller pairs 70 and 72 and a
governor roller pair 74 are provided in the transporting path F,
and nip roller pairs 71 and 73 and a governor roller pair 75 are
provided in the transporting path R. Further, there are arranged
delivery roller pairs 76 over the transporting paths F and R.
[0117] The nip roller pairs 70 and 72 and the nip roller pairs 71
and 73 are controlled so as to transport cut sheet members
independently of each other, each being composed of two rollers of
70a and 70b, 72a and 72b, 71a and 71b, and 73a and 73b. The nip
roller pairs 70, 71, 72, and 73 respectively have nip rollers, for
example, the rollers 70b, 71b, 72b, and 73b, which are freely
movable with respect to the driving rollers and capable of nip
canceling, for example, the rollers 70a, 71a, 72a, and 73a. On the
downstream side in the transporting direction of the governor
transporting roller pair (hereinafter simply referred to as the
governor roller pair) 74, there are provided position detecting
sensors 80a through 80c, making it possible to detect the position
of a cut sheet member P in the transporting direction. The position
detecting sensors 80a through 80c may also be of a construction
similar to that of the sensor 52. The governor roller pairs 74 and
75 are respectively composed of rollers 74a and 74b and rollers 75a
and 75b.
[0118] In the delivery portion 32, cut sheet members P distributed
into two rows by the nip roller pairs 70 and 72 and the nip roller
pairs 71 and 73 are transported separately and independently
through the transporting paths F and R. When the leading edge
positions of the cut sheet members P are detected by the position
detecting sensors 80a through 80c, the transporting speed is
reduced by the governor roller pairs 74 and 75. That is, in the
image recording apparatus 10, the cut sheet members P are
transported at a fixed speed, for example, of 100 mm/sec in the
transporting path including the back printing portion 22, the
registration portion 24, the exposure portion 26, the sub scanning
reception portion 28, the distributing portion 30, and the nip
roller pairs 70 and 72 and nip roller pairs 71 and 73 in the
delivery portion 32, and the transporting speed of the cut sheet
members P is reduced from 100 mm/sec to 45.3 mm/sec by the governor
roller pairs 74 and 75. In this process, immediately before the
start of the speed reduction by the governor roller pairs 74 and
75, the nip roller pairs 70 through 73 are controlled such that the
nip rollers are spaced apart from the driving rollers to effect nip
canceling. This speed reduction is effected for the purpose of
making the transporting speed in conformity with the processing
speed in the development process in the processor 16 constituting
the post-processing.
[0119] The cut sheet members P transported in parallel in two rows
are discharged from the delivery outlet 11a by the transporting
roller pair 76 and supplied to the processor 16 adjacent
thereto.
[0120] Of course, the operation of the delivery portion 32 is
controlled by a control signal supplied from the control portion
34.
[0121] The control portion 34 is connected to a plurality of
sensors (not shown) including the above-mentioned position
detecting sensors arranged in the image recording apparatus 10, and
receives detection signals from these sensors to thereby generate
control signals for controlling the operations and processing in
the supply portion 20, the cutters 40a and 40b, the back printing
portion 22, the registration portion 24, the exposure portion 26,
the sub scanning reception portion 28, the distributing portion 30,
and the delivery portion 32. The generated control signals are sent
to these portions. For example, as described below, the control
portion 34 receives detection signals sent from the exposure
portion 26, the distributing portion 30, and the delivery portion
32, and controls a series of operations including exposure,
distribution, transport and governing. In FIG. 1, the connection
between the control portion 34 and the respective portions through
wiring is omitted.
[0122] Incidentally, the delivery portion 32 and the control
portion 34 controlling the delivery portion 32 correspond to the
sheet member transporting device according to a third aspect of the
present invention. The delivery portion 32, the control portion 34,
and the sheet member transporting device according to the third
aspect of the present invention will be described in detail
below.
[0123] Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 through 11, the sheet member
transporting devices according to the first and second aspects of
the present invention will be described in detail.
[0124] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the distributing portion 30
to which a first embodiment of the sheet member transporting device
in each of the first and second aspects of the present invention is
applied.
[0125] The distributing portion 30 has a moving member 108 for
distributing cut sheet members, a driving portion (driving means)
120 for moving the moving member to the right and left, and a nip
canceling mechanism (nip canceling means) 140.
[0126] In the distributing portion 30, the moving member 108 and
the driving portion 120 are provided as separate components on a
frame member 92 with side plates 92a and 92b having window portions
94a and 94b.
[0127] A support shaft 96 is fixed to the side plates 92a and 92b,
and, further, fixed thereto is a guide shaft 104a that is passed
through a slide bearing 106 provided in the nip canceling mechanism
140 described below.
[0128] As described below, the moving member 108 is equipped with a
transporting roller pair 113. The transporting roller pair 113 has
large diameter transporting rollers 114a and 114b and two sets of
small diameter nip rollers 115a, 115b and 117a, 117b (see FIGS. 7
and 8) respectively abutting the large diameter transporting
rollers 114a and 114b and adapted to distribute photosensitive
materials by nipping therebetween and transporting them.
[0129] Further, the moving member 108 has a seamless pipe slide
(hereinafter also referred to as the pipe slide) 130 which is a
rotary moving mechanism for moving the transporting rollers 114a
and 114b to the right and left in a rotating state, and the nip
canceling mechanism 140 for controlling the nipping and releasing
of the nip rollers 115a, 115b, 117a, and 117b provided for the
transporting rollers 114a and 114b.
[0130] The moving member 108 has a long casing 110 provided at a
position matched with the window portions 94a and 94b of the side
plates 92a and 92b, and the casing 110 is equipped with a pair of
guide plates 110a and 10b having slits through which cut sheet
members are passed.
[0131] Further, in the longitudinal direction thereof, the casing
110 is equipped with a support shaft 112 to which the transporting
rollers 114a and 114b and a gear 116 are mounted. This support
shaft 112 is parallel to the guide shaft 104.
[0132] Further, the driving portion 120 serves to move the moving
member 108 in the main scanning direction (hereinafter also
referred to as the distributing direction), and it does not move in
the distributing direction together with the moving member 108. The
driving portion 120 has a pair of pulleys 122 and an endless belt
124 wrapped around these pulleys 122. The pulleys 122 are connected
to the casing through a rotation transmitting mechanism composed of
a gear and a rotation shaft. Through the rotation of the pulleys
122, the moving member 108 moves in the distributing direction
parallel to the guide shaft 104, that is, in the main scanning
direction.
[0133] Further, a motor 150 is connected to the other pulley (not
shown). By rotating the motor 150 in the normal or reverse
direction, it is possible to move the moving member 108 in the main
scanning direction. The motor 150 is also connected to the control
portion 34, and its rotation is controlled by the control portion
34.
[0134] FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing the
arrangement and construction of the moving member in the sheet
member transporting device shown in FIG. 3 which is applicable to
the distributing portion of this embodiment. In FIG. 4, the
components that are the same as those shown in FIG. 3 are indicated
by the same reference numerals, and a detailed description of such
components will be omitted.
[0135] As shown in FIG. 4, provided on a lower surface 110c of the
casing 110 is the pipe slide 130 as described below. Due to the
pipe slide 130, the casing 110 can protrude from the window
portions 94a and 94b through distribution at the time of
distribution. In the following, the construction of the pipe slide
130 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4.
[0136] FIG. 5 is a sectional view schematically showing the
construction of the seamless pipe slide of the moving member in
this embodiment shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 5, the pipe slide
130 is provided on flanges 111a and 111b erected on the lower
surface 110c of the casing 110 of the moving member 108, for
example through a pair of ball bearings 136.
[0137] The pipe slide 130 has a sleeve 132, at least one pair of
slide bearings 134, and a rotation shaft 138.
[0138] The sleeve 132 has a cylindrical shape, and has on the outer
peripheral surface thereof a pair of opposing elongated holes 132a
extending in the longitudinal direction (axial direction). The
sleeve 132 is provided on the flanges 111a and 111b, for example
through a pair of ball bearings 136a. Further, the sleeve 132 is
equipped, for example, with the pair of slide bearings 134 on the
inner peripheral surfaces in both the end portions. Further, as
described below, on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 132,
there is provided a gear 160 (see FIG. 4).
[0139] While at least one pair of ball bearings 136 suffice, it is
also possible to provide more than one pair of such ball
bearings.
[0140] A rotation shaft 138 is formed in the slide bearings 134.
The rotation shaft 138 is fixed to the side plates 92a and 92b, and
rotation transmitting members 139 are provided at positions in
alignment with the elongated holes 132a of the sleeve 132. The
rotation transmitting members 139 include bearings 139a and shaft
portions 139b provided at the centers of the bearings 139a. An end
of each shaft portion 139b is threaded.
[0141] While at least one pair of slide bearings 134 suffices, it
is also possible to provide more than one pair of them.
[0142] When the rotation shaft 138 moves relative to the sleeve
132, the rotation transmitting members 139 move longitudinally
inside the elongated holes 132a and abut the ends of the elongated
holes 132a to regulate the rotation shaft 138, thus serving as
anti-detachment members. Further, when the support shaft rotates,
the rotation transmitting members 139 press the elongated holes
132a to thereby transmit the rotation of the rotation shaft 138 to
the sleeve 132. The sleeve 132 is supported by the ball bearings
136, so that the sleeve 132 also rotates, whereby the rotation of
the rotation shaft 138 is transmitted to the sleeve 132.
[0143] Further, the rotation shaft 138 has at its end a gear 154,
to which a motor 152 is connected. The motor 152 is also connected
to the control portion 34, by means of which the rotation of the
motor 152 is controlled, thereby controlling the rotation of the
transporting rollers 114a and 114b.
[0144] FIG. 6 is a partly exploded perspective view showing how the
seamless pipe slide 130 and the nip canceling mechanism 140 in the
moving member 108 of this embodiment are arranged.
[0145] As shown in FIG. 6, a gear 160 is provided on the sleeve 132
of the pipe slide 130. The gear 160 is connected with a gear 116,
whereby the rotation of the rotation shaft 138 is transmitted to
the support shaft 112 through the gears 160 and 116, and the
transporting roller pair 113 rotates.
[0146] Further, as shown in FIG. 6, in the second aspect of the
present invention, the length G of the groove 132a of the sleeve
132 of the distributing portion 30 is at least two times as long as
the distributing width S.
[0147] There is provided a guide member 156 extending in a
direction parallel to the direction in which the guide shaft 104
(see FIG. 3) extends, that is, in the direction parallel to the
moving direction of the moving member 108. The guide member 156 is
a long slender plate member having a slope 156a at an end thereof.
The slope 156a is in a position aligned with the position of the
rotation transmitting member 139 when it has moved by a movement
distance E from the longitudinal center position (hereinafter
referred to as the center position) of the sleeve 132.
[0148] In the distributing portion 30, to cancel nipping, the
moving member 108 is moved at least by the movement distance E from
the center position toward the slope 156a. This movement distance E
as measured from the center position is larger than the
distributing width S, so that, at the time of distribution, the
nipping by the nip rollers 115a, 115b, 117a, and 117b is not
canceled.
[0149] While this embodiment is configured to have a single slope
156a for canceling nipping, this should not be construed
restrictively. It is also possible to provide two slopes at the
ends of the guide member 156 so as to be larger than the
distributing width S and as to be within the groove length G of the
sleeve 132. In this case, it is possible to shorten the requisite
time for nip canceling by moving the moving member 108 to the
nearer slope according to the position of the moving member
108.
[0150] On the other hand, there is provided in the upper portion of
the casing a nip canceling mechanism 140 for controlling the
nipping and releasing of the nip rollers 115a, 115b, 117a, and 117b
provided for the transporting rollers 114a and 114b.
[0151] FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing the
construction of the nip canceling mechanism in the distributing
portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 8 is a partial
perspective view of the nip canceling mechanism (except large
diameter transporting rollers) shown in FIG. 7.
[0152] The nip canceling mechanism 140 has a canceling member 142
and a fixing member 145 which rotatably supports the canceling
member 142 and is fixed to the moving member 108. The canceling
member 142 and the fixing member 145 constitute a support member of
the present invention. The support member rotatably supports the
small diameter nip rollers 115a, 115b, 117a and 117b and pivotally
supports these nip rollers 115a, 115b, 117a and 117b so that they
can be brought into contact with or moved away from the large
diameter transporting rollers 114a and 114b.
[0153] The canceling member 142 includes a rectangular base member
142a, one end portion of which is bent into a hook-like shape, and
a driven member 144 is provided on a bent portion 142b located at a
tip end thereof.
[0154] Below the driven member 144, there is provided a guide
member 156. This guide member 156 is a long slender plate member
extending in a direction parallel to the direction in which the
moving member 108 is moved, and a slope 156a is provided at an end
thereof. The slope 156a is provided at a position spaced apart by a
distance larger than the distributing width. The driven member 144
and the guide member 156 form a translation cam mechanism. In the
nip canceling mechanism 140, nipping by the nip rollers is
controlled by this translation cam mechanism. As described below,
with a distributing width in ordinary distribution, no nip
canceling is effected. While in this embodiment the driven member
144 is kept in contact with the guide member 156, this should not
be construed restrictively; it is also possible for the driven
member 144 to be brought into contact with the guide member 156
only at the time of nip canceling.
[0155] Further, below an upper portion 142c which is perpendicular
to the base member 142a and which is formed by bending one end
thereof into a hook-like shape, the canceling member 142 has
support members 143a and 143b which extend from the long sides of
the base member 142a so as to be opposed to each other on the side
where the driven member 144 is provided. In these support members
143a and 143b, a pivot shaft 147 is provided pivotally with respect
to the fixing member 145. The canceling member 142 is thus
pivotally connected to the fixing member 145 through this pivot
shaft 147.
[0156] Further, shaft support members 143c and 143d extend from the
long sides of the base member 142a at the end opposite to the upper
surface 142c toward the side opposite to the side where the driven
member 144 is provided and are opposed to each other. The shaft
support members 143c and 143d rotatably support the rotation shaft
119a of the nip rollers 115a and 117b and the rotation shaft 119b
of the nip rollers 115b and 117a such that they extend in parallel
in the longitudinal direction of the base member 142a.
[0157] The fixing member 145 includes a pair of L-shaped side
surface members 145a and 145b and a rectangular connecting member
145c connecting one end of the side surface member 145a and one end
of the side surface member 145b to each other. In the fixing member
145, the other ends of the side surface members 145a and 145b are
free, and the length of the connecting member 145c is larger than
the short side length of the base member 142a. The other ends of
the fixing member 145 are connected to the canceling member 142
through the pivot shaft 147, whereby there is no fear of the
canceling member 142 coming into contact with the fixing member
145. In other words, in the upper portions of the side surface
members 145a and 145b, the fixing member 145 pivotally supports the
pivot shaft 147 passing through the members 143a and 143b of the
canceling member 142. In the present invention however, the pivot
shaft 147 may be attached to the side surface members 145a and 145b
in a fixed manner so that the members 143a and 143b of the
canceling member 142 can be pivoted on the pivot shaft 147.
[0158] Further, a guide shaft 158 is passed through the side
surface members 145a and 145b of the fixing member 145 so as to be
parallel to the long side of the connecting member 145c. This guide
shaft 158 is a shaft parallel to the support shaft 112, and is
fixed to the side plates 92a and 92b. Between the side surface
members 145a and 145b and the guide shaft 158, there are provided
slide bearings (not shown).
[0159] In the nip canceling mechanism 140, the moving member 108 is
moved in the distributing direction by a distance larger than the
distributing width, and, when the driven member 144 climbs the
slope 156a of the guide member 156, the canceling member 142 pivots
on the pivot shaft 147 toward the guide shaft 158 side, and the nip
rollers 115a, 115b, 117a, and 117b are spaced apart from the
transporting rollers 114a and 114b, whereby the cut sheet members
being transported are transported as they are without being
distributed.
[0160] In the following, the construction and operation of the nip
canceling mechanism 140 of this embodiment and the second aspect of
the present invention will be described.
[0161] FIG. 9A is a schematic side sectional view showing the state
of the nip canceling mechanism when distribution is to be effected,
and FIG. 9B is a schematic side sectional view showing the state of
the nip canceling mechanism when no distribution is to be
effected.
[0162] As shown in FIG. 9A, an elastic member 148 is provided
between the back surface of the base member 142a of the canceling
member 142 and a fixing wall 149 of the fixing member 145 (see FIG.
7). This elastic member 148 urges the nip rollers 115a, 115b, 117a,
and 117b toward the transporting rollers 114a and 114b, pressing
the nip rollers 115a, 115b, 117a, and 117b against the transporting
rollers 114a and 114b. This elastic member 148 is for example a
spring member.
[0163] When, in the distributing portion 30, cut sheet members P of
a size requiring distributing are transported, the cut sheet
members P are alternately distributed, for example, into two rows
with the distributing width S from the center position in the
distributing direction while the cut sheet members P are being
transported, with the nip rollers 115a, 115b, 117a, and 117b being
pressed against the transporting rollers 114a and 114b. In this
case, the transporting rollers 114a and 114b are on standby at the
center position. When the cut sheet members P are transported, the
moving member 108 is alternately moved in one and the other
distributing directions by the distributing width S to thereby
distribute the cut sheet members P into two rows.
[0164] On the other hand, when, in the distributing portion 30, cut
sheet members P.sub.L of a size requiring no distribution are
transported, the moving member 108 is moved by the driving portion
120 in one distributing direction by the movement distance E,
causing the driven member 144 of the nip canceling member 140 to
climb the slope 156a, whereby, as shown in FIG. 9B, the canceling
member 142 is inclined using the pivot shaft 147, and the surface
of the base member 142a of the canceling member 142 is brought from
the position b shown in FIG. 9A to the position b.sub.1 shown in
FIG. 9B. As a result, the nip rollers 115a, 115b, 117a, and 117b
are separated from the transporting rollers 114a and 114b, and the
nipping by the nip rollers 115a, 115b, 117a, and 117b is canceled.
Thus, the cut sheet members P.sub.L are allowed to pass the
distributing portion 30 as they are. Thus, even when exposure on
the cut sheet members P.sub.L has not been completed yet, no impact
or vibration is imparted to the cut sheet members P.sub.L, thus
making it possible to prevent unevenness in exposure.
[0165] In this embodiment, the cut sheet members to be distributed
have a length in the distributing direction (main scanning
direction) of 152 mm or less and a length in the sub scanning
direction of 254 mm or less, and no distribution is effected on cut
sheet members exceeding this size.
[0166] Further, in this embodiment, it is also possible to mount a
motor on the moving member, and to provide a rotary cam causing the
nip roller pairs to be separated from the transporting roller
through the rotation of this motor, thus canceling the nipping by
the nip roller pairs by means of this rotary cam.
[0167] Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a solenoid, for
example, on the canceling member, causing the nip roller pairs to
be separated from the transporting rollers by means of this
solenoid.
[0168] While in this embodiment a translation cam mechanism is used
as the nip canceling mechanism 140, this should not be construed
restrictively. Instead of using the guide member 156, it is also
possible to form in a plate member a guide groove of a sectional
configuration similar to that of the guide member 156. A driven
member equipped with a bar-like guide member is inserted into that
guide groove; when the canceling member 142 moves, the position of
the guide bar is changed to thereby cancel the nipping.
[0169] Further, it is also possible to provide, at a position that
is the same as the position where the slope 156a is provided, a
wedge member to be inserted between the transporting rollers and
the nip rollers, whereby the nip rollers are separated from the
transporting rollers by moving the moving member by a predetermined
distance. Thus, as in the case of the translation cam mechanism, it
is possible to cancel the nipping.
[0170] Further, while in the above construction the guide member
156 is equipped with one slope 156a, this embodiment is not
restricted to this arrangement. It is also possible to provide
slopes at both ends of the guide member 156. In this case, since
there is a slope at either end of the guide member, the guide
member is moved to the nearer slope whenever nipping is to be
canceled, whereby the requisite time for nip canceling can be
shortened.
[0171] In this embodiment, the distributing portion 30 is provided
at a position spaced apart from the exposure portion 26 by a
distance larger than the maximum length in the transporting
direction of the cut sheet members used. That is, the distributing
portion 30 and the exposure portion 26 are spaced apart from each
other by a distance larger than the maximum length in the
transporting direction of the cut sheet members of a size requiring
no distribution. Thus, the exposure is not affected even if the
distribution is effected while nipping the cut sheet members by the
nip rollers 115a, 115b, 117a, and 117b.
[0172] When no distribution is to be effected, the moving member
108 is moved to the slope 156a side to separate the nip rollers
115a, 115b, 117a, and 117b from the transporting rollers 114a and
114b to effect nip canceling, and then cut sheet members are
allowed to pass as they are. In this embodiment, cut sheet members
of a small size are distributed but cut sheet members of a large
size are not distributed, so that even the length in the
transporting direction of the maximum size cut sheet members to be
distributed is smaller than the length in the transporting
direction of the longest cut sheet members not to be distributed.
Thus, it goes without saying that exposure is not affected even
when no distribution is to be effected.
[0173] Further, while in the above described embodiment the
distributing portion 30 distributes cut sheet members being
transported in a single row into two rows, this should not be
construed restrictively. For example, it is also possible to apply
the present invention to a case in which cut sheet members being
transported in a plurality of rows are distributed so as to be
transported in a single row; thus, cut sheet members being
transported in two rows may be distributed so as to be transported
in a single row.
[0174] Further, it is also possible to provide a sensor immediately
before the distributing portion 30. The size of the cut sheet
members is known in advance at the time of cutting by the cutter.
Thus, when the cut sheet members are of a size requiring
distribution, distribution is effected with the moving member 108
being kept on standby at the center position. On the other hand,
when the cut sheet members are of a size not requiring
distribution, the moving member 108 may be moved to the position
where nip canceling is effected by the nip canceling mechanism
140.
[0175] Next, with reference to FIGS. 1 through 9B, the operation of
the image recording apparatus 10 of this embodiment will be
described.
[0176] In the image recording apparatus 10 of this embodiment shown
in FIG. 1, the photosensitive material A is first pulled out by a
predetermined length from the magazines 20a and 20b set in the
supply portion 20 and is cut by the cutters 40a and 40b to thereby
provide cut sheet members.
[0177] Back print recording is effected on the cut sheet members in
the back printing portion 22. Thereafter, the cut sheet members are
transported upward along the transporting path to the registration
portion 24. In the registration portion 24, in order that the cut
sheet members may be arranged at a predetermined position in the
width direction of the transporting path without being inclined
with respect to the transporting path, adjustment is effected on
the cut sheet members in terms of skewing and the position in the
main scanning direction. The transporting direction of the cut
sheet members having passed through the registration portion 24 is
changed from the upward direction to the horizontal direction
before the cut sheet members are transported to the exposure
position 20.
[0178] In the exposure position 20, when the leading edge of a cut
sheet member passes between the light emitting element and the
light receiving element of the position detecting sensor 52, a
detection signal of the position detecting sensor 52 is sent to the
control portion 34, and the light beam L of the exposure unit 36
comes on to start exposure recording.
[0179] The cut sheet members having been exposed are transported to
the distributing portion 30 by the nip roller pairs 56, 58, 60, and
62 without receiving any impact.
[0180] In the distributing portion 30, the moving member 108, for
example, is on standby at the center position, and the transporting
rollers 114a and 114b are constantly rotating. When the size
(width) of the cut sheet members being transported is one requiring
distribution, the driving motor is rotated to effect distribution
in either the transporting path F or the transporting path R. At
this time, since the pipe slide 130 is used in this embodiment, it
is possible to simultaneously perform the transport in the main
scanning direction (which is perpendicular to the transporting
direction) and the transport in the sub scanning direction
(transporting direction). That is, it is possible to transport the
cut sheet members in the transporting direction while distributing
them. Further, since no driving means such as a motor is provided
on the pipe slide 130, it is possible to achieve a reduction in
mass and increase the moving speed of the moving member in the main
scanning direction, and, furthermore, it is also possible to avoid
a problem such as step-out.
[0181] Further, when cut sheet members of a size (width) requiring
distribution are successively transported, they are transported
while being alternately distributed to the transporting path F and
the transporting path R. Since the transporting rollers 114a and
114b are constantly rotating, there is no need to stop the cut
sheet members, and it is possible to restrain a reduction in the
transporting speed, whereby it is also possible to achieve an
improvement in terms of transporting efficiency. In this case, the
slope is at a position spaced apart by a distance larger than the
distributing width, so that there is no fear of the nipping being
canceled. It is also possible to detect the end portions in the
main scanning direction of the cut sheet members, move the moving
member 108 by an amount according to the end portions and restore
it to the home position.
[0182] In the delivery portion 32, the cut sheet members
distributed to the transporting paths F and R by the distributing
portion 30 are transported independently of each other.
[0183] For example, a cut sheet member P distributed to the
transporting path F (see FIG. 2) is transported while being nipped
by the nip roller pairs 70 and 72 and is transported by the
governor rollers 74; when the leading edge of the cut sheet member
P is detected by the sensor 80a (see FIG. 2), the transporting
speed of the governor roller pair 74 is reduced, for example, from
100 mm/sec to 45.3 mm/sec. In this way, adjustment to the
transporting speed at the processor 16 is effected, and the cut
sheet member P is transported to the transporting roller pair 76,
and, further, transported to the processor 16 at a predetermined
transporting speed.
[0184] Further, regarding the cut sheet member P transported to the
transporting path R (see FIG. 2), it is also possible to effect
transporting in the same manner as in the transporting path F.
[0185] When the size of the cut sheet members P.sub.L (see FIG. 2)
is one not requiring distribution by the distributing portion 30,
the moving member 108 is moved toward the slope 156a by the
movement distance E (not less than the distributing width), and the
driven member 144 is caused to climb the slope 156a to separate the
nip rollers 115a, 115b, 117a, and 117b from the transporting
rollers 114a and 114b to effect nip canceling, allowing the cut
sheet members to pass as they are.
[0186] Next, their leading edges are detected by the sensors 64
through 68, and the skewing of the cut sheet members P.sub.L is
measured. When there is skewing in the cut sheet members P.sub.L,
the skewing is eliminated by adjusting the rotation speed, the
degree of acceleration or deceleration, or the rotation start
timing of the governor roller pairs 74 and 75.
[0187] For example, when the leading edge of a cut sheet member
P.sub.L on the transporting path R side is upstream in the sub
scanning direction from the leading edge of the sheet member
P.sub.L, the skewing of the cut sheet member P.sub.L is eliminated
by increasing the rotation speed of the governor roller pair 74 or
lowering the rotation speed of the governor roller pair 75. In this
case, the nipping by the nip roller pairs 70 and 71 is
canceled.
[0188] Further, when the leading edge of the cut sheet member
P.sub.L on the transporting path F side is upstream in the sub
scanning direction from the leading edge of the sheet member
P.sub.L, the skewing of the cut sheet member P.sub.L is eliminated
by increasing the rotation speed of the governor roller pair 75 or
lowering the rotation speed of the governor roller pair 74. In this
case also, the nipping by the nip roller pairs 70 and 71 is
canceled.
[0189] In this way, when, in the delivery portion 32, there is any
skewing in the cut sheet members P.sub.L of a size not requiring
distribution, it is possible to eliminate the skewing. Thus, even
in the case of a cut sheet member P.sub.L of a size having little
margin with respect to the processor, it is possible to transport
it in the proper attitude.
[0190] As described above, in the image recording apparatus 10 of
this embodiment, when distribution is effected, it is possible to
perform transporting in the main scanning direction (distributing
direction) while performing transporting in the transporting
direction, so that it is possible to effect distribution without
having to stop transporting. Accordingly, it is possible to
increase the number of sheet members processed per unit time, thus
providing a superior processing capacity. Further, in the
distributing portion 30, no driving means such as a motor is
provided on the moving member, so that it is possible to achieve a
reduction in mass, making it possible to perform distributing at
high speed without involving step-out. Further, the distributing
portion 30 is supported by bearings both in the main scanning
direction and in the rotating direction, so that it involves little
frictional resistance and is superior in durability. That is, the
moving member can move smoothly while maintaining durability.
[0191] Further, according to the second aspect of the present
invention, when the size of the cut sheet members is one not
requiring distribution, movement in the distributing direction is
effected by the movement distance E (see FIG. 6), thereby making it
possible to cancel the nipping by the nip rollers. In this way, in
this embodiment, in the distributing operation, the movement
distance of the moving member is adjusted, whereby it is possible
to selectively control the nipping by the nip rollers on cut sheet
members requiring distribution and cut sheet member requiring no
distribution. Furthermore, in the distributing portion, there is no
need to provide a driving means, such as a motor, or a solenoid or
the like for nip canceling, nor is there any need to supply power.
Thus, there is no need to provide an FPC or the like on the moving
member, so that it is possible to achieve superior durability and
reliability; further, since it allows simplification of the
mechanism, it is also possible to achieve a reduction in cost.
[0192] Next, a sheet member transporting device according to the
second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0193] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a
distributing portion to which the sheet member transporting device
according to the second embodiment of the present invention is
applied. FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of the
distributing portion of this embodiment as seen from the sheet
member discharge side. In FIG. 10, the slide mechanism shown in
FIG. 11 is omitted. Further, the arrow a in FIG. 11 indicates the
direction in which cut sheet members are carried in, and the arrow
b indicates the direction in which they are discharged.
[0194] In this embodiment, the components that are the same as
those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 8 are
indicated by the same reference numerals, and a detailed
description of such components will be omitted. Further, as in the
first embodiment, the distributing portion of this embodiment is
applied to an image recording apparatus. That is, a distributing
portion 30a of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 can replace
the distributing portion 30 of the first embodiment of the image
recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
[0195] As shown in FIG. 10, the distributing portion 30a of this
embodiment differs from the distributing portion 30 of the first
embodiment in that the driving mechanism for the moving member 108
does not have the pipe slide 130 but a spline mechanism 170 and a
slide mechanism 180; otherwise, it is of the same construction as
the distributing portion 30 of the first embodiment, so that a
detained description thereof will be omitted.
[0196] In the distributing portion 30a of this embodiment, the
spline mechanism 170 has a spline shaft 172, a gear (rotation
transmitting member) 174 slidably provided on the spline shaft 172,
and a driving gear 176 provided at an end of the spline shaft
172.
[0197] The spline shaft 172 is fixed to the side plates 92a and
92b, and the spline shaft 172 has in the outer peripheral surface
thereof a spline groove 172a extending in the axial direction.
[0198] The gear 174 has a fitting portion (not shown) to be fitted
into the spline groove 172a of the spline shaft 172, and this
fitting portion can move in the axial direction of the spline shaft
172. Transmitted to this gear 174 is the rotation of the spline
shaft 172 by means of the fitting portion. Further, the gear 174 is
engaged with a gear 118 rotating the support shaft 112 of the
transporting rollers 114a and 114b. Further, the spline shaft 172
is equipped with a driving gear 176, which is meshed with a
transmission gear (not shown). The spline shaft 172 is rotated by
the transmission gear. Since the gear 174 is provided on the spline
shaft 172, it follows the movement of the moving member 108 in the
main scanning direction (distributing direction), making it
possible to transmit rotation to the transporting rollers 114a and
114b while moving in the axial direction of the spline shaft
172.
[0199] Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the slide mechanism 180 is
provided between the side plates 92a and 92b, and has a guide shaft
182 fixed to the side plates 92a and 92b and a guide member 184
provided so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction with
respect to the guide shaft 182. The guide member 184 is connected
to the moving member 108, and the guide member 184 moves on the
guide member 182 with the movement of the moving member 108. Due to
this slide mechanism 180, the movement of the moving member 108 in
the main scanning direction is effected smoothly.
[0200] As the guide member 184, it is possible to use, for example,
a slide bearing; in this embodiment, a pair of slide bearings are
provided. However, the guide member 184 is not restricted to that
of this embodiment; any type of member will serve the purpose as
long as it is capable of reciprocating in the longitudinal
direction while being guided by the guide shaft 182; further, there
are no particular limitations regarding the size and number of such
guide members as long as they allow connection to the moving member
108 and are capable of moving while supporting the moving member
108. For example, instead of the pair of guide members 184 shown,
it is also possible to provide a single guide member having a large
longitudinal size, or not less than a pair of, that is, not less
than two guide members.
[0201] Further, it is not always necessary to provide this slide
mechanism 180; it is not absolutely necessary if the spline shaft
172 has sufficient strength.
[0202] Also in the distributing portion 30a of this embodiment, no
driving means, such as a motor, is provided on the moving member
108, so that it is possible to achieve a reduction in weight,
whereby it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the
distributing portion 30 of the first embodiment.
[0203] Further, the operation of the distributing portion 30a is
the same as that described above, so that a detailed description
thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment also, the driving
roller is constantly rotating, and, in this state, the moving
member 108 is moved in the distributing direction (main scanning
direction), thereby distributing cut sheet members into, for
example, two rows. Further, when the cut sheet members are of a
size requiring no distribution, the moving member is moved, that
is, retracted, by the movement distance E to thereby effect nip
canceling, allowing the cut sheet members to pass as they are. As
in the above-described first embodiment, in this embodiment, the
movement distance of the moving member is adjusted in the
distributing operation, whereby it is possible to selectively
control the nipping/releasing of the nip rollers for cut sheet
members requiring distribution and cut sheet members requiring no
distribution. That is, this embodiment is the same as the first
embodiment also in its operation, providing the same effect as the
first embodiment.
[0204] While in either of the above-described embodiments the sheet
transporting device of the first and second aspects of the present
invention is applied to a distributing device, this should not be
construed restrictively. For example, the present invention is
naturally also applicable to a sheet member transporting device of
the type which transports cut sheet members by a transporting
roller pair having a transporting roller and a nip roller, wherein
canceling of the nipping by this nip roller is required.
[0205] Next, with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 12A through 16, a
sheet member transporting device according to a third aspect of the
present invention and a method of controlling a sheet member
transporting device according to a fourth aspect thereof will be
described in detail.
[0206] Here, a description will be made of a delivery portion of an
image recording apparatus to which an embodiment of the sheet
member transporting device of the third aspect of the present
invention is applied, a control portion for controlling the same,
and a photosensitive material processing device (processor)
connected to the image recording apparatus.
[0207] First, the delivery portion 32 of this embodiment applicable
to the image recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be
described in detail.
[0208] As described above, the delivery portion 32 shown in FIG. 1
is adapted to independently transport cut sheet members distributed
into two rows by the distributing portion 30.
[0209] Here, FIG. 12A is an enlarged schematic side view of the
transporting path F shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 12B is an enlarged
schematic side view of the transporting path R shown in FIG. 1.
[0210] As shown in FIGS. 2, 12A, and 12B, provided in the
transporting path F, starting from the upstream side in the
transporting direction, are the nip roller pairs 70 and 72 and the
governor roller pair 74; similarly, provided in the transporting
path R, starting from the upstream side in the transporting
direction, are the nip roller pairs 71 and 73 and the governor
roller pair 75. Further, in the vicinity of the outlets of the
transporting paths F and R, there are provided the delivery roller
pairs (adjustment transporting portions) 76 over the transporting
paths F and R.
[0211] In the transporting path F and the transporting path R, the
nip roller pairs 70 through 73 and the governor roller pairs 74 and
75 are connected to the control portion 34. The rotation and the
nipping/releasing of the nip roller pairs 70 through 73 and the
governor roller pairs 74 and 75 are controlled independently of
each other, transporting cut sheet members independently.
[0212] Further, as shown in FIG. 12A, in the transporting path F of
the delivery portion 32, the nip roller pairs 70 and 72 have
driving rollers 70a and 72a and nip rollers 70b and 72b. The nip
roller pairs 70 and 72 are equipped with an opening/closing means
78a for effecting nipping/releasing of the nip rollers 70b and 72b.
The opening/closing means 78a serves to bring the nip rollers 70b
and 72b into or out of contact with the driving rollers 70a and
72a. This opening/closing means 78a is driven by the control
portion 34 based on a detection signal output to the control
portion 34 from the position detecting sensor 80a described
below.
[0213] On the upstream side of the nip roller pair 70, there is
provided the position detecting sensor 64.
[0214] On the downstream side of the nip roller pair 72, there is
provided the governor roller pair 74. The governor roller pair 74
serves to perform adjustment, such as increasing or reducing the
sheet member transporting speed, and effects no nip canceling. In
this embodiment, the governor roller pair 74 reduces the
transporting speed.
[0215] On the downstream side of the governor roller pair 74, there
is provided the delivery roller pair 76, and the position detecting
sensor 80a is provided between the governor roller pair 74 and the
delivery roller pair 76.
[0216] The position detecting sensor 80a serves to detect a cut
sheet member, and is connected to the control portion 34. When a
cut sheet member is detected by the position detecting sensor 80a,
a detection signal is output to the control portion 34, and the nip
roller 70b is separated from the driving roller 70a.
[0217] The delivery roller pair 76 serves to carry the cut sheet
member having been adjusted in transporting speed, into the
processor 16 at a predetermined delivery speed.
[0218] The transporting path R shown in FIG. 12B is of the same
construction as the transporting path F shown in FIG. 12A, so that
a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the transporting
path R shown in FIG. 12B, the nip roller pairs 71 and 73 correspond
to the nip roller pairs 70 and 72 (see FIG. 12A), the governor
roller pair 75 corresponds to the governor roller pair 74 (see FIG.
12A), the opening/closing means 78b corresponds to the
opening/closing means 78a (see FIG. 12A), and the position
detecting sensor 80c corresponds to the position detecting sensor
80a (see FIG. 12A).
[0219] As shown in FIG. 2, in the transporting paths F and R of the
delivery portion 32, cut sheet members P distributed into two rows
by the nip roller pairs 70 and 72 and the nip roller pairs 71 and
73 are transported independently of each other. As for cut sheet
members P.sub.L whose width requires no distribution and which are
thus transported in a single row, they are transported astride the
transporting path F and the transporting path R.
[0220] As described above, in the delivery portion 32, when the
leading edges of cut sheet members P are detected by the position
detecting sensors 80a through 80c, the transporting speed of the
cut sheet members P is reduced from 100 mm/sec to 45.3 mm/sec by
the governor roller pairs 74 and 75 controlled by a control signal
supplied from the control portion 34 in order to be in conformity
with the processing speed of the post-processing or the development
in the processor 16. In this process, immediately before the start
of the speed reduction by the governor rollers 74 and 75, the nip
roller pairs 70 through 73 are controlled such that the nip rollers
are separated from the driving rollers to effect nip canceling.
[0221] The cut sheet members P transported in parallel in two rows
are discharged from the delivery outlet 11a by the transporting
roller pair 76, and are supplied to the processor 16 adjacent
thereto. Also, the cut sheet members P.sub.L transported in a
single row are discharged from the delivery outlet 11a by the
transporting roller pair 76, and are supplied to the processor 16
adjacent thereto.
[0222] As stated above, the control portion 34 is connected to a
plurality of sensors (not shown) including the position detecting
sensors arranged in the image recording apparatus 10, and receives
detection signals from these sensors, whereby it generates control
signals for controlling the operations and processing of the
various portions and the delivery portion 32 of the image recording
apparatus 10, and sends the control signals to the various portions
including the delivery portion 32. For example, as described below,
it receives detection signals sent from the exposure portion 26,
the distributing portion 30, and the delivery portion 32 to control
a series of operations including exposure, distribution, transport,
and governing.
[0223] On the downstream side of the delivery portion 32, there is
provided the processor 16, and the exposed cut sheet members P are
developed by the processor 16.
[0224] FIG. 13 is a sectional view schematically showing the
construction of the processor in the image recording apparatus of
this embodiment.
[0225] As shown in FIG. 13, the processor 16 has a developing
portion 18 and a drying portion 19, and the cut sheet members P are
developed and dried to obtain prints. As an example of this
processor 16, an automatic developing device disclosed in JP
2002-55422 A may be mentioned. This automatic developing device has
a photosensitive material in-liquid transporting construction
capable of reliably preventing leakage between the processing
vessels with a small number of components.
[0226] As shown in FIG. 13, in the developing portion 18, there are
horizontally provided, starting from the upstream side in the
transporting direction of the cut sheet members P, a developing
vessel 200, a fixing/bleaching vessel 202, a first washing vessel
204, a second washing vessel 206, a third washing vessel 208, and a
fourth washing vessel 210. The drying portion 19 is provided on the
downstream side of the fourth washing vessel 210.
[0227] The developing vessel 200 stores a predetermined amount of
developing liquid and the fixing/bleaching vessel 202 stores a
predetermined amount of fixing/bleaching liquid.
[0228] Inside the developing vessel 200 and the fixing/bleaching
vessel 202, there is provided a transporting device 212 consisting
of a plurality of rollers transporting cut sheet members P
substantially in a U-shaped route within the vessel.
[0229] Above the developing vessel 200, there are provided nip
rollers 214 for transporting the cut sheet members P into the
developing vessel 200 and nip rollers 216 for transporting the
developed cut sheet members P to the fixing/bleaching vessel 202
side.
[0230] Further, above the fixing/bleaching vessel 202, there are
provided nip rollers 218 for transporting the cut sheet members P
transported from the developing vessel 200 side into the
fixing/bleaching vessel 202 and nip rollers 220 for transporting
the fixed cut sheet members P to the first washing vessel 204
side.
[0231] Further, each of the first washing vessel 204, the second
washing vessel 206, the third washing vessel 208, and the fourth
washing vessel 210 stores a predetermined amount of washing
water.
[0232] Above the first washing vessel 204, there are provided nip
rollers 222 for transporting the fixed cut sheet members P into the
first washing vessel 204.
[0233] First, a partition wall 224a between the first washing
vessel 204 and the second washing vessel 206, a partition wall 224b
between the second washing vessel 206 and the third washing vessel
208, and a partition wall 224c between the third washing vessel 208
and the fourth washing vessel 210 are equipped with photosensitive
material passage members 226a, 226b, and 226c allowing passage of
the cut sheet members P and capable of preventing passage of
liquid. The photosensitive material passage members 226a, 226b, and
226c have blades; after the passing of the cut sheet members P,
passage of liquid is prevented by the blades.
[0234] Further, the first washing vessel 204, the second washing
vessel 206, the third washing vessel 208, and the fourth washing
vessel 210 are equipped with nip rollers 228a, 228b, and 228c
serving as transporting means for transporting the cut sheet
members P. The second washing vessel 206 and the third washing
vessel 208 are equipped with guide plate pairs 230a and 230b.
[0235] Above the fourth washing vessel 210, there are provided nip
rollers 232 for transporting the washed cut sheet members P to the
drying portion 19.
[0236] Further, above the fourth washing vessel 210, there is
arranged an end portion of a pipe 236 for supplying the fourth
washing vessel 210 with fresh washing liquid stored in a
replenishing tank 234. This pipe 236 is equipped with a pump 238
for supplying the washing liquid of the replenishing tank 234 to
the fourth washing vessel 210.
[0237] Connected to the pump 238 is a pump driving device 240, by
means of which the pump 238 is operated with a predetermined
timing.
[0238] Further, the first washing vessel 204 is equipped with an
overflow pipe 243 for discharging washing liquid exceeding a
predetermined amount, and the overflowing washing liquid is stored
in a storage vessel 244 through an overflow pipe 243.
[0239] In this processor 16, the cut sheet members P immersed in
the developing liquid in the developing vessel 200 are then
immersed in the fixing liquid in the fixing/bleaching vessel 202
before being transported to the first washing vessel 204. In this
embodiment, the cut sheet members P are transported with the
recording surfaces (emulsion surface) facing upward and the
non-recording surfaces facing downward.
[0240] The cut sheet members P sent into the first washing vessel
204 are washed in the washing water stored in the first washing
vessel 204.
[0241] The cut sheet members P washed in the first washing vessel
204 are transported toward the second washing vessel 206 by the nip
rollers 228a, and passed through the photosensitive material
passage member 226a before being carried into the second washing
vessel 206.
[0242] Thereafter, the cut sheet members P pass through the
photosensitive material passage members 226b and 226c in a similar
fashion and are washed in the washing water in the second washing
vessel 206, the third washing vessel 208, and the fourth washing
vessel 210 before being transported to the drying portion 19 by the
nip roller pair 232. In this drying portion 19, the cut sheet
members P are dried.
[0243] In the processor 16 of this embodiment, the replenishment of
the washing waster is effected by a so-called cascade system, and
fresh washing water is supplied to the fourth, most downstream
washing vessel 210 in the transporting direction of the cut sheet
members P according to the processing amount of cut sheet members
P.
[0244] Next, a description will be made of the operations of the
image recording apparatus 10 of this embodiment and of the sheet
member transporting device according to the third aspect of the
present invention and the control method for the sheet member
transporting device according to the fourth aspect of the present
invention.
[0245] As described above, in the image recording apparatus 10 of
this embodiment, processing similar to that in the first and second
aspects of the present invention, described above, are conducted in
the supply portion 20, the back printing portion 22, the
registration portion 24, the exposure portion 20, and the
distributing portion 30.
[0246] In the distributing portion 30, when the width of the cut
sheet members to be transported is one requiring distribution, the
driving motor is rotated and the cut sheet members are distributed
in the transporting path F or the transporting path R.
[0247] Further, when cut sheet members of a width requiring
distribution have been transported successively, the cut sheet
members are transported while being alternately distributed to the
transporting path F and the transporting path R.
[0248] The delivery portion 32 independently transports the cut
sheet members distributed to the transporting paths F and R by the
distributing portion 30, or transports in a single row the cut
sheet members that have not been distributed by the distributing
portion 30.
[0249] A case will be described in which, in the distributing
portion 30, cut sheet members P of a width requiring distribution
(see FIG. 2) are transported while being distributed.
[0250] FIGS. 14A through 14J are timing charts illustrating how the
cut sheet members distributed into two rows are transported in the
delivery portion 32; the horizontal axis indicates time. FIG. 14A
is the timing chart of the position detecting sensor 68, FIG. 14B
is the timing chart of the position detecting sensor 64, FIG. 14C
is the timing chart of the position detecting sensor 66, FIG. 14D
is the timing chart of the opening/closing means 78a, FIG. 14E is
the timing chart of the opening/closing means 78b, FIG. 14F is the
timing chart of the governor motor 74, FIG. 14G is the timing chart
of the governor motor 75, FIG. 14H is the timing chart of the
position detecting sensor 80a, FIG. 14I is the timing chart of the
position detecting sensor 80b, and FIG. 14J is the timing chart of
the position detecting sensor 80c.
[0251] First, a cut sheet member P is transported to the
distributing portion 30 (see FIG. 2), and, as shown in FIG. 14C, at
time .alpha.1, the leading edge of the cut sheet member P is
detected by the position detecting sensor 66 (see FIG. 2). Next,
the cut sheet member is distributed to the transporting path R by
the distributing portion 30, and, as shown in FIG. 14A, at time
.beta., the leading edge of the cut sheet member P is detected by
the position detecting sensor 68 (see FIG. 12B), and the leading
edge is not detected by the other position detecting sensors 64 and
66.
[0252] The cut sheet member P passes through the nip roller pairs
71 and 73 (see FIG. 12B), and, further, passes through the governor
roller pair 75 (see FIG. 12B). At this time, as shown in FIG. 14G,
the governor roller pair 75 is rotating with a predetermined
timing.
[0253] Next, the cut sheet member P passes through the governor
roller pair 75, and, as shown in FIG. 14J, its leading edge is
detected at time .delta. by the position detecting sensor 80c (see
FIG. 12B), and a detection signal is output from the position
detecting sensor 80c to the control portion 34, and, as shown in
FIG. 14E, the opening/closing means 78a is driven for a
predetermined period of time by the control portion 34, and the nip
roller 71b of the nip roller pair 71 is separated from the driving
roller 71a. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 14G, the rotation
speed of the governor roller pair 75 is reduced to the transporting
speed of the processor 16 with a time delay t from the time
.delta..
[0254] In this way, the rotation speed of the governor roller pair
75 is reduced and adjusted to the transporting speed in the
processor 16, with the nipping of the trailing edge of the cut
sheet member P canceled, and the cut sheet member P (see FIG. 12B)
is transported to the transporting roller pair 76, and, further, to
the processor 16.
[0255] Next, as shown in FIG. 14C, at time .alpha.2, the cut sheet
member P is detected by the position detecting sensor 66 (see FIG.
2), and the cut sheet member P is distributed to the transporting
path F, and as in the case of the transporting path R, transported
to the processor 16 at an adjusted transporting speed. In this
case, at time .gamma., the leading edge of the cut sheet member P
is detected by the position detecting sensor 64 (see FIG. 12A), and
the leading edge is not detected by the other position detecting
sensors 66 and 68.
[0256] And, the cut sheet member P passes through the nip roller
pairs 70 and 72 (see FIG. 12A), and further, passes through the
governor roller pair 74 (see FIG. 12A). At this time, as shown in
FIG. 14F, the governor roller pair 74 is previously rotating with a
predetermined timing.
[0257] Next, the cut sheet member P passes through the governor
roller pair 74, and, when, as shown in FIG. 14H, the leading edge
thereof is detected by the position detecting sensor 80a at time
.epsilon. (see FIG. 12A), a detection signal is output from the
position detection sensor 80a to the control portion 34, and, as
shown in FIG. 14D, the opening/closing means 78a is driven for a
predetermined period of time by the control portion 34, and the nip
roller 71b of the nip roller pair 71 is separated from the driving
roller 71a. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 14F, the rotation
speed of the governor roller pair 74 is delayed by time t, and is
reduced to the transporting speed of the processor 16.
[0258] In this way, in the delivery portion 32, the cut sheet
members P distributed are alternately distributed to the
transporting path F and the transporting path R and transported to
the processor 16, with their transporting speed adjusted. For
example, the transporting speed that has been 100 mm/sec is reduced
to 45.3 mm/sec. That is, the delivery portion 32 adjusts the
transporting speed according to the transporting speed in the
processor 16.
[0259] Next, a case will be described in which cut sheet members
P.sub.L (see FIG. 2) of a width not requiring distribution at the
distributing portion 30 are transported in a single row. It is to
be assumed that the cut sheet members P.sub.L are free from skewing
(see FIG. 2), with the cut sheet members P.sub.L being transported
astride the transporting path F and the transporting path R. At
this time, regarding the distributing portion 30, the nipping has
been canceled as stated above, and the cut sheet members P.sub.L
pass through the distributing portion 30 as they are. It is
possible to detect the width of the cut sheet member P.sub.L from
the number of position detecting sensors through which the cut
sheet member P.sub.L passed among the sensors 64, 66 and 68.
[0260] FIGS. 15A through 15J are timing charts of cut sheet members
transported in a single row in the delivery portion; the horizontal
axis indicates time. FIG. 15A is the timing chart of the position
detecting sensor 68, FIG. 15B is the timing chart of the position
detecting sensor 64, FIG. 15C is the timing chart of the position
detecting sensor 66, FIG. 15D is the timing chart of the
opening/closing means 78a, FIG. 15E is the timing chart of the
opening/closing means 78b, FIG. 15F is the timing chart of the
governor motor 74, FIG. 15G is the timing chart of the governor
motor 75, FIG. 15H is the timing chart of the position detecting
sensor 80a, FIG. 15I is the timing chart of the position detecting
sensor 80b, and FIG. 15J is the timing chart of the position
detecting sensor 80c.
[0261] First, as shown in FIGS. 15A through 15C, cut sheet members
P.sub.L not distributed (see FIG. 2) are detected by the position
detecting sensors 64, 66 and 68 (see FIG. 2) at time a. In this
case, detection is effected at the same time a by the position
detecting sensors 64, 66 and 68, so that it is possible to detect
the width of the cut sheet members P.sub.L.
[0262] The cut sheet members P.sub.L pass through the nip roller
pairs 70 and 72 (see FIG. 12A) and the nip roller pairs 71 and 73
(see FIG. 12B) of the transporting paths F and R, and, further,
also pass through the governor roller pairs 74 and 75 (see FIGS.
12A and 12B). At this time, as shown in FIGS. 15F and 15G, the
governor roller pairs 74 and 75 are previously rotating so that
transportation may be effected with a predetermined timing and at a
predetermined transporting speed.
[0263] When the cut sheet members P.sub.L have passed through the
governor roller pairs 74 and 75 and when, as shown in FIGS. 15H
through 15J, the leading edges thereof are detected by the position
detecting sensors 80a through 80c at time .delta. (see FIG. 2),
detection signals are output from the position detecting sensors
80a through 80c to the control portion 34, and, as shown in FIGS.
15D and 15E, the opening/closing means 78a and 78b are driven for a
predetermined period of time by the control portion 34, and the nip
rollers 70b and 71b of the nip roller pairs 70 and 71 are separated
from the driving rollers 70a and 71a. At the same time, when the
leading edges are detected by the position detecting sensors 80a
through 80c, the rotation speed of the governor roller pairs 74 and
75 are, as shown in FIGS. 15F and 15G, reduced to the transporting
speed of the processor 16 with a time delay of t.
[0264] In this way, the rotation speed of the governor roller pairs
74 and 75 are reduced to the transporting speed in the processor
16, with the nipping of the trailing edge portions of the cut sheet
members P.sub.L transported in a single row being canceled, and the
cut sheet members P.sub.L are transported to the transporting
roller pair 76 and, further, to the processor 16.
[0265] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing how skewing in the
delivery portion of this embodiment is eliminated.
[0266] Next, to be described will be a skewing eliminating method
for a case in which the cut sheet members P.sub.L are transported
in a single row in the delivery portion 32 and in which, as shown
in FIG. 16, the cut sheet members P.sub.L are transported in a
skewed state from the upstream side.
[0267] First, as shown in FIG. 15A, the position detecting sensor
68 detects a leading edge earlier than the position detecting
sensor 66 by time f, and then, as shown in FIG. 15C, the position
detecting sensor 66 detects a leading edge at time .alpha.;
finally, as shown in FIG. 15B, the position detecting sensor 64
detects a leading edge later than the position detecting sensor 66
by time g. Due to this deviation in detection time among the
position detecting sensors 64, 66 and 68, skewing of the cut sheet
members P.sub.L can be detected. In this case also, the leading
edges are detected by the position detecting sensors 64, 66 and 68,
so that it is possible to detect the width of the cut sheet members
P.sub.L.
[0268] The cut sheet members P.sub.L pass through the nip roller
pairs 70 and 72 and the nip roller pairs 71 and 73 of the
transporting paths F and R, and, further, also pass through the
governor roller pairs 74 and 75. At this time, as shown in FIGS.
15F and 15G, the governor roller pairs 74 and 75 are previously
rotating so that transportation may be effected with a
predetermined timing and at a predetermined transporting speed.
However, when the cut sheet members P.sub.L are in a skewed state,
the timing at which the rotation of the governor roller pair 74 is
speeded up is delayed by time h.
[0269] When the cut sheet members P.sub.L pass through the governor
roller pairs 74 and 75 and the leading edges thereof are detected
by the position detecting sensor 80c, detection signals are output
from the position detecting sensor 80c to the control portion 34,
and, as shown in FIG. 15E, the opening/closing means 78b is driven
for a predetermined period of time by the control portion 34, and
the nip roller 71b of the nip roller pair 71 is separated from the
driving roller 71a. At the same time, the rotation speed of the
governor roller 75 is, as shown in FIG. 15G, reduced.
[0270] As shown in FIG. 15I, the leading edge of a cut sheet member
P.sub.L is detected by the position detecting sensor 80b later than
the position detecting sensor 80a by time k and, further, as shown
in FIG. 15H, the leading edge of a cut sheet member P.sub.L is
detected by the position detecting sensor 80c later than the
position detecting sensor 80a by time j. At this time, as shown in
FIG. 15D, a detection signal is output from the position detecting
sensor 80c to the control portion 34 with a time delay of j, and
the opening/closing means 78a is driven for a predetermined period
of time by the control portion 34, and the nip roller 70b of the
nip roller pair 70 is separated from the driving roller 70a. At the
same time, as shown in FIG. 15F, the rotation speed of the governor
roller pair 74 is reduced by time h.
[0271] As a result, as shown in FIG. 16, the cut sheet member
P.sub.L rotates in the direction .theta., making it possible to
eliminate skewing of the cut sheet member P.sub.L and to transport
the cut sheet member P.sub.L to the transporting roller pair 76 in
a state free from skewing. Further, it is also possible to
transport the cut sheet member P.sub.L to the transporting roller
pair 76 at a speed adjusted to the transporting speed in the
processor 16 and, further, transport it to the processor 16 at a
predetermined transporting speed.
[0272] While in the above-described method of this embodiment
skewing adjustment is performed on the cut sheet member P.sub.L
through speed reduction timing for the governor roller pairs 74 and
75, this should not be construed restrictively. Apart from this, it
is also possible to eliminate skewing of the cut sheet member
P.sub.L by adjusting the rotation speed or the degree of
acceleration or deceleration of the governor roller pairs 74 and
75.
[0273] Further, when the leading edge of a cut sheet member P.sub.L
on the transporting path F side is upstream in the transporting
direction from the leading edge of a cut sheet member P.sub.L on
the transporting path R side, the skewing of the cut sheet member
P.sub.L is eliminated by increasing the rotation speed of the
governor roller pair 75 or reducing the rotation speed of the
governor roller pair 74. In this case also, the nip rollers 70b and
71b are spaced apart from the driving rollers 70a and 71a.
[0274] In this way, when, in the delivery portion 32, there is
skewing in a cut sheet member P.sub.L of a width requiring
transportation in a single row, it is possible to effect governing
and eliminate the skewing. Thus, even in the case of a cut sheet
member P.sub.L of a width with little margin with respect to the
processor 16, it is possible to transport it to the processor 16 at
proper speed and with proper attitude (orientation).
[0275] As stated above, in the delivery portion 32, even when there
is no skewing in the delivery portion 32, depending on the
positional relationship between the image recording apparatus 10
and the processor 16, there may be some skewing in the processor
16. In this case, the attitude of the cut sheet P.sub.L is adjusted
by intentionally skewing the cut sheet member P.sub.L so that there
may be no skewing with respect to the processor 16, and governing
is effected.
[0276] The delivery portion 32 of this embodiment serves to
eliminate skewing in cut sheet members generated due to differences
between individual image recording apparatuses 10, such as
differences in assembling precision, parts precision, cut sheet
members, etc. Further, also in an image recording apparatus 10
using a plurality of kinds of cut sheet members, it is possible to
adjust the transporting speed of the cut sheet members and
eliminate skewing without being dependent on the kind of cut sheet
member.
[0277] Further, in the delivery portion 32 of this embodiment, it
is also possible to transport cut sheet members not distributed
previously and to ascertain the degree of skewing of the cut sheet
members by the position detecting sensors 64, 66 and 68. Due to
this arrangement, when cut sheet members of a width not requiring
distribution are transported, any skewing may be eliminated by
controlling the governor roller pairs 74 and 75.
[0278] It is to be noted that, in JP 2001-194733 A, synchronized
transportation is effected through hardware, it is impossible to
eliminate skewing as in this embodiment. Thus, the device disclosed
in the above publication is obviously unsuitable for an image
recording apparatus 10 using a plurality of kinds of cut sheet
members.
[0279] In the image recording apparatus 10 of this embodiment, cut
sheet members distributed into a single row or two rows are
transported at a speed adjusted to the transporting speed in the
processor; regarding cut sheet members transported in a single row,
skewing measurement is performed by position detecting sensors,
thereby making it possible to eliminate skewing and adjust the
transporting speed. Further, it is also possible to transport the
cut sheet members, with their attitude (orientation in a direction
perpendicular to the transporting direction) being adjusted
according to the positional relationship between the processor 16
and the image recording apparatus 10.
[0280] Further, while in all of the above-described embodiments any
skewing (inclination) of the sheet member is detected by a position
detecting sensor to eliminate the skewing, this should not be
construed restrictively. For example, by investigating skewing
peculiar to the apparatus beforehand, it is possible to eliminate
the skewing by controlling the governor roller pair according to
the skewing. Thus, it is not always necessary to provide the
position detecting sensor; for example, skewing can be eliminated
by setting the transporting timing for the cut sheet members by the
control portion.
[0281] As described in detail above, in the sheet member
transporting device according to the first aspect of the present
invention, while being transported in a transporting direction, the
sheet members are moved in a direction perpendicular to the
transporting direction, whereby it is possible to realize with high
durability a system in which sheet members are transported in a
single row or in a plurality of rows. Further, since no movement of
a driving means such as a motor is involved, it is possible to
achieve a reduction in mass, restrain step-out, etc., and achieve a
reduction in cost.
[0282] Further, as described in detail above, in the sheet member
transporting device according to the second aspect of the present
invention, when, in a transporting roller pair for transporting
sheet members while nipping them, it is necessary to cancel the
nipping by the transporting roller pair, it is possible to realize
a transporting roller pair canceling operation with high durability
and at low cost.
[0283] In the sheet member transporting device according to the
third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to adjust the
transporting speed of photosensitive materials and, at the same
time, rectify the attitude of the photosensitive material or
intentionally skew the photosensitive material.
[0284] Further, in the sheet member transporting device controlling
method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention,
when sheet members are to be transported in a single row, the sheet
member transporting speed in at least one of a plurality of
transporting portions is increased or decreased on the basis of
detection results regarding, for example, the width of the sheet
members and their orientation in a direction perpendicular to the
transporting direction, whereby it is possible to adjust the
attitude of the sheet members and the transporting speed of the
photosensitive material and to rectify the attitude of the
photosensitive material or intentionally skew the photosensitive
material.
[0285] The above detailed description of the embodiments of the
sheet member transporting device of the present invention and the
control method thereof should not be construed restrictively, and
various improvements and modifications are naturally possible
without departing from the scope of the present invention. For
example, the sheet member transporting device of the present
invention is applicable not only to an image recording apparatus
but also to a printer adapted to perform exposure recording by
using a light beam, an ink jet printer, etc.
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