U.S. patent application number 14/871334 was filed with the patent office on 2016-01-21 for paper sheet conveyance device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Funai Electric Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Shouichi FUKUYAMA, Yutaka HORI, Masaaki TAKAGI.
Application Number | 20160016742 14/871334 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51658151 |
Filed Date | 2016-01-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160016742 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TAKAGI; Masaaki ; et
al. |
January 21, 2016 |
Paper Sheet Conveyance Device
Abstract
This paper sheet conveyance device (100) includes an
upstream-side roller pair (3) and a downstream-side roller pair (4)
as well as an upstream-side guide member (8) and a downstream-side
guide member (9). The upstream-side guide member is arranged to
traverse a tangent (11) to the upstream-side roller pair extending
along a conveyance direction, while the downstream-side guide
member is arranged to traverse a tangent (12) to the
downstream-side roller pair extending along the conveyance
direction.
Inventors: |
TAKAGI; Masaaki;
(Kashihara-shi, JP) ; HORI; Yutaka; (Osaka,
JP) ; FUKUYAMA; Shouichi; (Osaka, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Funai Electric Co., Ltd. |
Osaka |
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JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
51658151 |
Appl. No.: |
14/871334 |
Filed: |
September 30, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/JP2014/056957 |
Mar 14, 2014 |
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14871334 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
271/272 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 5/062 20130101;
B65H 2220/09 20130101; B65H 2801/06 20130101; B65H 2404/14
20130101; B65H 2404/6111 20130101; B65H 5/38 20130101; B65H 2404/14
20130101; B65H 2220/09 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65H 5/06 20060101
B65H005/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 1, 2013 |
JP |
2013-076180 |
Claims
1. A paper sheet conveyance device (100, 200) comprising: an
upstream-side roller pair (3, 23) and a downstream-side roller pair
(4, 24) arranged to hold a paper sheet (S) therebetween for
conveying the held paper sheet in a prescribed conveyance
direction; and an upstream-side guide member (8, 26) and a
downstream-side guide member (9, 27) arranged to separate from each
other in the vicinity of the upstream-side roller pair and the
downstream-side roller pair for guiding the paper sheet along the
conveyance direction, wherein arrangement positions of the
upstream-side guide member and the downstream-side guide member
with respect to the upstream-side roller pair and the
downstream-side roller pair are set to include at least one of a
structure that the upstream-side guide member is arranged to
traverse a tangent (11, 16) to the upstream-side roller pair
extending along the conveyance direction and a structure that the
downstream-side guide member is arranged to traverse a tangent (12,
18) to the downstream-side roller pair extending along the
conveyance direction.
2. The paper sheet conveyance device according to claim 1, wherein
the upstream-side guide member is arranged to traverse the tangent
to the upstream-side roller pair extending along the conveyance
direction, and the downstream-side guide member is arranged to
traverse the tangent to the downstream-side roller pair extending
along the conveyance direction.
3. The paper sheet conveyance device according to claim 2, having
at least a structure that the upstream-side guide member is
arranged to traverse the tangent to the upstream-side roller pair
extending along the conveyance direction, wherein at least the
upstream-side guide member is arranged to extend in a direction
intersecting with the conveyance direction in the vicinity of the
upstream-side roller pair.
4. The paper sheet conveyance device according to claim 2, wherein
the upstream-side guide member is arranged on a downstream side
with respect to the upstream-side roller pair and on an outer side
with respect to the conveyance direction, while the downstream-side
guide member is arranged on an upstream side with respect to the
downstream-side roller pair and on an outer side with respect to
the conveyance direction, and a vicinity of an upstream-side end
portion of the downstream-side guide member is arranged on an outer
side beyond a vicinity of a downstream-side end portion of the
upstream-side guide member with respect to the conveyance
direction.
5. The paper sheet conveyance device according to claim 1, wherein
the vicinity of the downstream-side end portion of the
upstream-side guide member and the vicinity of the upstream-side
end portion of the downstream-side guide member are arranged
separately from each other not to overlap with each other.
6. The paper sheet conveyance device according to claim 5, wherein
the vicinity of the downstream-side end portion of the
upstream-side guide member and the vicinity of the upstream-side
end portion of the downstream-side guide member are arranged
separately from each other on positions close to each other not to
overlap with each other.
7. The paper sheet conveyance device according to claim 4, wherein
a first inclined surface (8b) inclined to separate from the
vicinity of the upstream-side end portion of the downstream-side
guide member is formed on a surface of the vicinity of the
downstream-side end portion of the upstream-side guide member on
the side of the downstream-side guide member, and a second inclined
surface (9b) inclined to separate from the vicinity of the
downstream-side end portion of the upstream-side guide member is
formed on a surface of the vicinity of the upstream-side end
portion of the downstream-side guide member on the side of the
upstream-side guide member.
8. The paper sheet conveyance device according to claim 4, wherein
the upstream-side guide member (26) is arranged to extend over both
of an upstream side and a downstream side with respect to the
upstream-side roller pair.
9. The paper sheet conveyance device according to claim 8, wherein
the upstream-side guide member is arranged that at least the
downstream side with respect to the upstream-side roller pair
traverses the tangent to the upstream-side roller pair extending
along the conveyance direction.
10. The paper sheet conveyance device according to claim 4, wherein
the downstream-side guide member (27) is arranged to extend over
both of an upstream side and a downstream side with respect to the
downstream-side roller pair.
11. The paper sheet conveyance device according to claim 10,
wherein the downstream-side guide member is arranged that at least
the upstream side with respect to the downstream-side roller pair
traverses the tangent to the downstream-side roller pair extending
along the conveyance direction.
12. The paper sheet conveyance device according to claim 1, wherein
a vicinity of a downstream-side end portion of the upstream-side
guide member is formed to taper toward a downstream side in the
conveyance direction.
13. The paper sheet conveyance device according to claim 1, further
comprising a printing portion (1) for printing images on the paper
sheet, wherein the downstream-side roller pair includes a discharge
roller (5a) arranged to come into contact with a surface of the
paper sheet on a side opposite to a side printed with the images
and rotatable in a direction for discharging the paper sheet, and a
driven roller (5b) arranged to come into contact with a surface of
the paper sheet on the side printed with the images and rotating
following the discharge roller, and the driven roller includes a
thin disc member (50b) arranged to be orthogonal to the paper sheet
and having an outer peripheral portion of an irregular shape.
14. The paper sheet conveyance device according to claim 1, further
comprising a printing portion for printing images on the paper
sheet, wherein the downstream-side roller pair includes a discharge
roller arranged to come into contact with a surface of the paper
sheet on a side opposite to a side printed with the images and
rotatable in a direction for discharging the paper sheet, and a
driven roller arranged to come into contact with a surface of the
paper sheet on the side printed with the images and rotating
following the discharge roller, and the downstream-side guide
member (10) arranged in the vicinity of the discharge roller and
the driven roller is arranged on an upstream side of the discharge
roller and the driven roller and on a side opposite to a side where
the printing portion is arranged.
15. The paper sheet conveyance device according to claim 14,
further comprising an intermediate member (11) arranged on an inner
side with respect to the conveyance direction and including a
curved surface portion (11b) bent in the form of a curved surface
along the conveyance direction, wherein the paper sheet is conveyed
to be along the curved surface portion of the intermediate member,
and the downstream-side guide member (10) arranged in the vicinity
of the discharge roller and the driven roller is integrally formed
on the intermediate member.
16. The paper sheet conveyance device according to claim 1, further
comprising a reading portion (21) for performing image reading
processing with respect to the paper sheet, wherein the
downstream-side guide member (28) arranged on a downstream side of
the reading portion is arranged on an upstream side of the
downstream-side roller pair (25) arranged on the downstream side of
the reading portion and on a side opposite to a side where the
reading portion is arranged, and arranged to traverse the tangent
to the downstream-side roller pair extending along the conveyance
direction.
17. The paper sheet conveyance device according to claim 1, further
comprising an intermediate member (11, 29) arranged on an inner
side with respect to the conveyance direction and including a
curved surface portion (11b, 29a) bent in the form of a curved
surface along the conveyance direction, wherein the paper sheet is
conveyed to be along the curved surface portion of the intermediate
member, and the upstream-side guide member and the downstream-side
guide member are arranged on an outer side with respect to the
conveyance direction.
18. The paper sheet conveyance device according to claim 17,
wherein the curved surface portion is at least provided between the
upstream-side roller pair (23) and the downstream-side roller pair
(24) in the conveyance direction.
19. The paper sheet conveyance device according to claim 17,
wherein at least either one (3) of the upstream-side roller pair
and the downstream-side roller pair is arranged on a position
corresponding to the curved surface portion.
20. The paper sheet conveyance device according to claim 17,
wherein the upstream-side roller pair and the downstream-side
roller pair both include driving rollers (3a, 4a, 23a, 24a)
rotatable in a direction for conveying the paper sheet and driven
rollers (3b, 4b, 23b, 24b) rotating following the driving rollers,
and the driving roller of the upstream-side roller pair and the
driving roller of the downstream-side roller pair are both arranged
on an inner side with respect to the conveyance direction, and the
driven roller of the upstream-side roller pair and the driven
roller of the downstream-side roller pair are both arranged on an
outer side with respect to the conveyance direction.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The priority application number JP2013-076180, Paper Sheet
Conveyance Device, Apr. 1, 2013, Masaaki Takagi, Yutaka Hori, and
Shouichi Fukuyama, upon which this patent application is based is
hereby incorporated by reference. This application is a
continuation of PCT/JP2014/056957, Paper Sheet Conveyance Device,
Mar. 14, 2014, Masaaki Takagi, Yutaka Hori, and Shouichi
Fukuyama.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a paper sheet conveyance
device, and more particularly, it relates to a paper sheet
conveyance device including an upstream-side roller pair and a
downstream-side roller pair for conveying a paper sheet.
[0004] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0005] A paper sheet conveyance device including an upstream-side
roller pair and a downstream-side roller pair for conveying a paper
sheet is known in general. Such a paper sheet conveyance device is
disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3453508, for example.
[0006] In Japanese Patent No. 3453508, there is disclosed a sheet
material conveyance device (a paper sheet conveyance device)
including sheet material conveyance portions consisting of roller
pairs for holding and conveying a sheet material (a paper sheet).
In this sheet material conveyance device, the sheet material
conveyance portions are provided one by one on an upstream side and
a downstream side of a conveyance direction for the sheet material.
These sheet material conveyance portions on the upstream side and
the downstream side are so arranged that a tangent to the roller
pair constituting the sheet material conveyance portion on the
upstream side and a tangent to the roller pair constituting the
sheet material conveyance portion on the downstream side intersect
with each other. Thus, a conveyance path for the sheet material is
configured to bend between the sheet material conveyance portion on
the upstream side and the sheet material conveyance portion on the
downstream side. An upper guide and a downstream guide portion for
guiding the sheet material along the conveyance direction are
provided between the sheet material conveyance portion on the
upstream side and the sheet material conveyance portion on the
downstream side. These upper guide and downstream guide portion are
formed to linearly extend parallelly with respect to the tangents
to the roller pairs constituting the sheet material conveyance
portions on the upstream side and the downstream side respectively,
while a vicinity of a downstream-side end portion of the upper
guide and a vicinity of an upstream-side end portion of the
downstream guide portion are fixed to each other in a state in
contact with each other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A paper sheet conveyance device according to one aspect of
the present invention includes an upstream-side roller pair and a
downstream-side roller pair arranged to hold a paper sheet
therebetween for conveying the held paper sheet in a prescribed
conveyance direction and an upstream-side guide member and a
downstream-side guide member arranged to separate from each other
in the vicinity of the upstream-side roller pair and the
downstream-side roller pair for guiding the paper sheet along the
conveyance direction, while arrangement positions of the
upstream-side guide member and the downstream-side guide member
with respect to the upstream-side roller pair and the
downstream-side roller pair are set to include at least one of such
a structure that the upstream-side guide member is arranged to
traverse a tangent to the upstream-side roller pair extending along
the conveyance direction and such a structure that the
downstream-side guide member is arranged to traverse a tangent to
the downstream-side roller pair extending along the conveyance
direction.
[0008] In the paper sheet conveyance device according to the aspect
of the present invention, the conveyance path for the paper sheet
can be easily bent in the form of a curved surface (in the form of
a curve) through at least one of the upstream-side guide member
arranged to traverse the tangent to the upstream-side roller pair
and the downstream-side guide member arranged to traverse the
tangent to the downstream-side roller pair by structuring the paper
sheet conveyance device in the aforementioned manner. Thus,
downsizing of the device can be attained by folding back the
conveyance path for the paper sheet while smoothly conveying the
paper sheet along the conveyance path in the form of a curved
surface, dissimilarly to a case where the conveyance path for the
paper paths is constituted of a plurality of linearly extending
conveyance paths. Further, the upstream-side guide member and the
downstream-side guide member are so arranged to separate from each
other that a downstream-side end portion of the upstream-side guide
member and an upstream-side end portion of the downstream-side
guide member may not be elongated up to positions coming into
contact with the downstream-side guide member and the upstream-side
guide member respectively dissimilarly to a case where a vicinity
of the downstream-side end portion of the upstream-side guide
member and a vicinity of the upstream-side end portion of the
downstream-side guide member come into contact with each other,
whereby the respective lengths of the upstream-side guide member
and the downstream-side guide member can be shortened, and
downsizing of the device can be attained also according to
this.
[0009] Preferably in the paper sheet conveyance device according to
the aforementioned aspect, the upstream-side guide member is
arranged to traverse the tangent to the upstream-side roller pair
extending along the conveyance direction, and the downstream-side
guide member is arranged to traverse the tangent to the
downstream-side roller pair extending along the conveyance
direction. When structuring the paper sheet conveyance device in
this manner, the conveyance path for the paper sheet can be more
easily bent in the form of a curved surface (in the form of a
curve) through both of the upstream-side guide member arranged to
traverse the tangent to the upstream-side roller pair and the
downstream-side guide member arranged to traverse the tangent to
the downstream-side roller pair.
[0010] Preferably, the paper sheet conveyance device according to
the aforementioned aspect has at least such a structure that the
upstream-side guide member is arranged to traverse the tangent to
the upstream-side roller pair extending along the conveyance
direction, and at least the upstream-side guide member is arranged
to extend in a direction intersecting with the conveyance direction
in the vicinity of the upstream-side roller pair. When structuring
the paper sheet conveyance device in this manner, at least the
upstream-side guide member is arranged to traverse the tangent to
the upstream-side roller pair, whereby the conveyance path for the
paper sheet can be easily and reliably bent in the form of a curved
surface through this upstream-side guide member. Thus, downsizing
of the device can be easily and reliably attained while smoothly
conveying the paper sheet.
[0011] Preferably in the paper sheet conveyance device according to
the aforementioned aspect, the upstream-side guide member is
arranged on a downstream side with respect to the upstream-side
roller pair and on an outer side with respect to the conveyance
direction, while the downstream-side guide member is arranged on an
upstream side with respect to the downstream-side roller pair and
on an outer side with respect to the conveyance direction, and a
vicinity of an upstream-side end portion of the downstream-side
guide member is arranged on an outer side beyond a vicinity of a
downstream-side end portion of the upstream-side guide member with
respect to the conveyance direction. When structuring the paper
sheet conveyance device in this manner, the paper sheet can be
inhibited from advancing in a direction deviating from the original
conveyance direction due to such a situation that the forward end
portion of the paper sheet conveyed from the upstream-side guide
member toward the downstream side come into contact with the
vicinity of the upstream-side end portion of the downstream-side
guide member, dissimilarly to a case where the vicinity of the
upstream-side end portion of the downstream-side guide member is
arranged on an inner side beyond the vicinity of the
downstream-side end portion of the upstream-side guide member with
respect to the conveyance direction. Thus, paper jamming can be
inhibited from occurring also in the case of bending the conveyance
path for the paper sheet in the form of a curved surface.
[0012] Preferably in this case, the vicinity of the downstream-side
end portion of the upstream-side guide member and the vicinity of
the upstream-side end portion of the downstream-side guide member
are arranged separately from each other not to overlap with each
other. When structuring the paper sheet conveyance device in this
manner, the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion of the
downstream-side guide member can be reliably arranged on the outer
side beyond the vicinity of the downstream-side end portion of the
upstream-side guide member with respect to the conveyance
direction, whereby paper jamming can be reliably inhibited from
occurring due to such a situation that the forward end portion of
the paper sheet conveyed from the upstream-side guide member toward
the downstream side comes into contact with the vicinity of the
upstream-side end portion of the downstream-side guide member also
in the case of bending the conveyance path for the paper sheet in
the form of a curved surface.
[0013] Preferably in the aforementioned paper sheet conveyance
device in which the vicinity of the downstream-side end portion of
the upstream-side guide member and the vicinity of the
upstream-side end portion of the downstream-side guide member are
arranged not to overlap with each other, the vicinity of the
downstream-side end portion of the upstream-side guide member and
the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion of the
downstream-side guide member are arranged separately from each
other on positions close to each other not to overlap with each
other. When structuring the paper sheet conveyance device in this
manner, formation of a large clearance between the vicinity of the
downstream-side end portion of the upstream-side guide member and
the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion of the
downstream-side guide member can be suppressed, dissimilarly to a
case where the vicinity of the downstream-side end portion of the
upstream-side guide member and the vicinity of the upstream-side
end portion of the downstream-side guide member are arranged to
extremely separate from each other. Thus, paper jamming can be
easily inhibited from occurring due to such a situation that the
forward end portion of the paper sheet conveyed from the
upstream-side guide member toward the downstream side enters a
clearance between the vicinity of the downstream-side end portion
of the upstream-side guide member and the vicinity of the
upstream-side end portion of the downstream-side guide member.
[0014] Preferably in the aforementioned paper sheet conveyance
device in which the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion of
the downstream-side guide member is arranged on the outer side
beyond the vicinity of the downstream-side end portion of the
upstream-side guide member with respect to the conveyance
direction, a first inclined surface inclined to separate from the
vicinity of the upstream-side end portion of the downstream-side
guide member is formed on a surface of the vicinity of the
downstream-side end portion of the upstream-side guide member on
the side of the downstream-side guide member, and a second inclined
surface inclined to separate from the vicinity of the
downstream-side end portion of the upstream-side guide member is
formed on a surface of the vicinity of the upstream-side end
portion of the downstream-side guide member on the side of the
upstream-side guide member. When structuring the paper sheet
conveyance device in this manner, the vicinity of the upstream-side
end portion of the downstream-side guide member can be more
reliably arranged on the outer side beyond the vicinity of the
downstream-side end portion of the upstream-side guide member with
respect to the conveyance direction by forming the first inclined
surface and the second inclined surface on the upstream-side guide
member and the downstream-side guide member respectively. Thus,
paper jamming can be inhibited from occurring due to such a
situation that the forward end portion of the paper sheet conveyed
from the upstream-side guide member toward the downstream side
comes into contact with the vicinity of the upstream-side end
portion of the downstream-side guide member, also in the case of
bending the conveyance path for the paper sheet in the form of a
curved surface.
[0015] Preferably in the aforementioned paper sheet conveyance
device in which the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion of
the downstream-side guide member is arranged on the outer side
beyond the vicinity of the downstream-side end portion of the
upstream-side guide member with respect to the conveyance
direction, the upstream-side guide member is arranged to extend
over both of an upstream side and a downstream side with respect to
the upstream-side roller pair. When structuring the paper sheet
conveyance device in this manner, the paper sheet can be guided on
both of the upstream side and the downstream side with respect to
the upstream-side roller pair, whereby the paper sheet can be
reliably conveyed.
[0016] Preferably in the aforementioned paper sheet conveyance
device in which the upstream-side guide member extends over both of
the upstream side and the downstream side, the upstream-side guide
member is arranged in such a manner that at least the downstream
side with respect to the upstream-side roller pair traverses the
tangent to the upstream-side roller pair extending along the
conveyance direction. When structuring the paper sheet conveyance
device in this manner, the conveyance path for the paper sheet can
be bent in the form of a curved surface (in the form of a curve) on
the downstream side with respect to the upstream-side roller pair,
whereby the paper sheet can be inhibited from advancing in a
direction deviating from the original conveyance direction between
the upstream-side roller pair and the downstream-side roller pair.
Thus, paper jamming can be inhibited from occurring also in the
case of bending the conveyance path for the paper sheet in the form
of a curved surface.
[0017] Preferably in the aforementioned paper sheet conveyance
device in which the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion of
the downstream-side guide member is arranged on the outer side
beyond the vicinity of the downstream-side end portion of the
upstream-side guide member with respect to the conveyance
direction, the downstream-side guide member is arranged to extend
over both of an upstream side and a downstream side with respect to
the downstream-side roller pair. When structuring the paper sheet
conveyance device in this manner, the paper sheet can be guided on
both of the upstream side and the downstream side with respect to
the downstream-side roller pair, whereby the paper sheet can be
reliably conveyed.
[0018] Preferably in the aforementioned paper sheet conveyance
device in which the downstream-side guide member extends over both
of the upstream side and the downstream side, the downstream-side
guide member is arranged in such a manner that at least the
upstream side with respect to the downstream-side roller pair
traverses the tangent to the downstream-side roller pair extending
along the conveyance direction. When structuring the paper sheet
conveyance device in this manner, the conveyance path for the paper
sheet can be bent in the form of a curved surface (in the form of a
curve) on the upstream side with respect to the downstream-side
roller pair, whereby the paper sheet can be inhibited from
advancing in a direction deviating from the original conveyance
direction between the upstream-side roller pair and the
downstream-side roller pair. Thus, paper jamming can be inhibited
from occurring also in the case of bending the conveyance path for
the paper sheet in the form of a curved surface.
[0019] Preferably in the paper sheet conveyance device according to
the aforementioned aspect, a vicinity of a downstream-side end
portion of the upstream-side guide member is formed to taper toward
a downstream side in the conveyance direction. When structuring the
paper sheet conveyance device in this manner, the thickness of the
upstream-side guide member can be inhibited from enlarging in the
vicinity of the downstream-side end portion of the upstream-side
guide member, whereby downsizing of the device can be further
attained.
[0020] Preferably, the paper sheet conveyance device according to
the aforementioned aspect further includes a printing portion for
printing images on the paper sheet, the downstream-side roller pair
includes a discharge roller arranged to come into contact with a
surface of the paper sheet on a side opposite to a side printed
with the images and rotatable in a direction for discharging the
paper sheet, and a driven roller arranged to come into contact with
a surface of the paper sheet on the side printed with the images
and rotating following the discharge roller, and the driven roller
includes a thin disc member arranged to be orthogonal to the paper
sheet and having an outer peripheral portion of an irregular shape.
When structuring the paper sheet conveyance device in this manner,
contact areas between the driven roller and the surface of the
paper sheet on the side printed with the images can be reduced
dissimilarly to a case of constituting the driven roller of a disc
member with a large thickness having no irregularities on the outer
peripheral portion, whereby such a situation can be suppressed that
the driven roller rubs against the surface of the paper sheet on
the side printed with the images to lower the qualities of the
images.
[0021] Preferably, the paper sheet conveyance device according to
the aforementioned aspect further includes a printing portion for
printing images on the paper sheet, the downstream-side roller pair
includes a discharge roller arranged to come into contact with a
surface of the paper sheet on a side opposite to a side printed
with the images and rotatable in a direction for discharging the
paper sheet and a driven roller arranged to come into contact with
a surface of the paper sheet on the side printed with the images
and rotating following the discharge roller, and the
downstream-side guide member arranged in the vicinity of the
discharge roller and the driven roller is arranged on an upstream
side of the discharge roller and the driven roller and on a side
opposite to a side where the printing portion is arranged. When
structuring the paper sheet conveyance device in this manner, the
paper sheet can be guided toward the discharge roller while
inhibiting the surface of the paper sheet on the side printed with
the images from coming into contact with the downstream-side guide
member.
[0022] Preferably in this case, the paper sheet conveyance device
further includes an intermediate member arranged on an inner side
with respect to the conveyance direction and including a curved
surface portion bent in the form of a curved surface along the
conveyance direction, the paper sheet is conveyed to be along the
curved surface portion of the intermediate member, and the
downstream-side guide member arranged in the vicinity of the
discharge roller and the driven roller is integrally formed on the
intermediate member. When structuring the paper sheet conveyance
device in this manner, the conveyance path for the paper sheet can
be more reliably bent in the form of a curved surface (in the form
of a curve) through the curved surface portion of the intermediate
member. Further, the downstream-side guide member arranged in the
vicinity of the discharge roller and the driven roller may not be
provided independently of the intermediate member, whereby
downsizing of the device can be effectively attained.
[0023] Preferably, the paper sheet conveyance device according to
the aforementioned aspect further includes a reading portion for
performing image reading processing with respect to the paper
sheet, and the downstream-side guide member arranged on a
downstream side of the reading portion is arranged on an upstream
side of the downstream-side roller pair arranged on the downstream
side of the reading portion and on a side opposite to a side where
the reading portion is arranged, and arranged to traverse the
tangent to the downstream-side roller pair extending along the
conveyance direction. When structuring the paper sheet conveyance
device in this manner, the conveyance path for the paper sheet can
be easily bent in the form of a curved surface (in the form of a
curve) while inhibiting the surface of the paper sheet on the side
to be read from coming into contact with the downstream-side guide
member.
[0024] Preferably, the paper sheet conveyance device according to
the aforementioned aspect further includes an intermediate member
arranged on an inner side with respect to the conveyance direction
and including a curved surface portion bent in the form of a curved
surface along the conveyance direction, the paper sheet is conveyed
to be along the curved surface portion of the intermediate member,
and the upstream-side guide member and the downstream-side guide
member are arranged on an outer side with respect to the conveyance
direction. When structuring the paper sheet conveyance device in
this manner, the conveyance path for the paper sheet can be more
reliably bent in the form of a curved surface (in the form of a
curve) through the curved surface portion of the intermediate
member, whereby downsizing of the device can be attained by folding
back the conveyance path for the paper sheet while more smoothly
conveying the paper sheet along the conveyance path in the form of
a curved surface. Further, the paper sheet can be guided from the
inner side with respect to the conveyance direction through the
curved surface portion of the intermediate member while the paper
sheet can be guided from the outer side with respect to the
conveyance direction through the upstream-side guide member and the
downstream-side guide member, whereby the paper sheet can be
reliably conveyed by guiding the paper sheet from both sides.
[0025] Preferably in this case, the curved surface portion is at
least provided between the upstream-side roller pair and the
downstream-side roller pair in the conveyance direction. When
structuring the paper sheet conveyance device in this manner, the
conveyance path for the paper sheet can be more reliably bent in
the form of a curved surface (in the form of a curve) between the
upstream-side roller pair and the downstream-side roller pair.
[0026] Preferably in the aforementioned paper sheet conveyance
device including the intermediate member including the curved
surface portion, at least either one of the upstream-side roller
pair and the downstream-side roller pair is arranged on a position
corresponding to the curved surface portion. When structuring the
paper sheet conveyance device in this manner, the paper sheet can
be reliably conveyed through at least either one of the
upstream-side roller pair and the downstream-side roller pair
arranged on the position corresponding to the curved surface
portion also in the state where the conveyance path for the paper
sheet is bent in the form of a curved surface (in the form of a
curve) through the curved surface portion.
[0027] Preferably in the aforementioned paper sheet conveyance
device including the intermediate member including the curved
surface portion, the upstream-side roller pair and the
downstream-side roller pair both include driving rollers rotatable
in a direction for conveying the paper sheet and driven rollers
rotating following the driving rollers, the driving roller of the
upstream-side roller pair and the driving roller of the
downstream-side roller pair are both arranged on an inner side with
respect to the conveyance direction, and the driven roller of the
upstream-side roller pair and the driven roller of the
downstream-side roller pair are both arranged on an outer side with
respect to the conveyance direction. When structuring the paper
sheet conveyance device in this manner, the driving rollers are so
arranged on the inner side provided with the intermediate member
that the driving rollers and a driving mechanism or the like for
driving the driving rollers may not be provided on the outer side
with respect to the conveyance direction, whereby the device can be
inhibited from size increase.
[0028] According to the present invention, as hereinabove
described, downsizing of the device can be attained while smoothly
conveying the paper sheet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of an ink
jet composite machine including a printer portion and a scanner
portion according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure
of the printer portion according to the embodiment of the present
invention;
[0031] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a discharge
roller pair of the printer portion according to the embodiment of
the present invention; and
[0032] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure
of the scanner portion according to the embodiment of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0033] An embodiment of the present invention is now described on
the basis of the drawings.
[0034] The structure of an ink jet composite machine 1000 including
a printer portion 100 and a scanner portion 200 according to the
embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to
FIGS. 1 to 4. The printer portion 100 and the scanner portion 200
are both examples of the "paper sheet conveyance device" in the
present invention.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet composite machine 100
includes the printer portion 100 having an image reading function
and the scanner portion 200 having an image printing function. In
the following, the specific internal structure of the printer
portion 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is
first described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, the printer portion 100 includes a
printing portion 1 of an ink jet system for performing image
printing processing with respect to a paper sheet S. Further, the
printer portion 100 includes a paper feed roller 2 arranged in the
vicinity of a paper feed portion 151 for feeding the paper sheet S,
conveyance roller pairs 3 and 4 for conveying the paper sheet S fed
by the paper feed roller 2 to the side of the printing portion 1,
and a discharge roller pairs arranged in the vicinity of a
discharge portion 152 for discharging the paper sheet S after
printing. In addition, the printer portion 100 includes two
auxiliary rollers 6 and 7 arranged in front of and at the back of
the printing portion 1 (between the printing portion 1 and the
conveyance roller pair 4 and between the printing portion 1 and the
conveyance roller pair 5). The paper feed roller 2, the conveyance
roller pairs 3 and 4, the discharge roller pair 5 and the auxiliary
rollers 6 and 7 are so arranged that a conveyance path for the
paper sheet S is bent in the form of a curved surface (in the form
of a curve) and has a folded shape (see arrowed one-dot chain lines
in FIG. 2) in the interior of the printer portion 100 (the portion
on the left side of FIG. 2). The printing portion 1 is arranged on
an outer side with respect to the conveyance direction for the
paper sheet S.
[0037] The conveyance roller pairs 3 and 4 and the discharge roller
pair 5 include driving rollers 3a, 4a and 5a rotating/driving with
motors (not shown) serving as power sources and driven rollers 3b,
4b and 5b respectively rotating following rotation of the driving
rollers 3a, 4a and 5a respectively. The driving roller 5a is an
example of the "discharge roller" in the present invention. The
conveyance roller pair 3 is configured to hold the paper sheet S
conveyed from an upstream side (the side of the paper feed roller
2) and to convey the same to a downstream side (the side of the
discharge roller pair 4). The discharge roller pair 4 is configured
to hold the paper sheet S conveyed from an upstream side (the side
of the conveyance roller pair 3) and to convey the same to a
downstream side (the side of the discharge roller pair 5). The
discharge roller pair 5 is configured to hold the paper sheet S
conveyed from an upstream side (the side of the conveyance roller
pair 4) and to discharge the same. In other words, the conveyance
roller pair 3 is an example of the "upstream-side roller pair" in
the present invention through the relation to the conveyance roller
pair 4, while the conveyance roller pair 4 is an example of the
"downstream-side roller pair" in the present invention through the
relation to the conveyance roller pair 3. Further, the conveyance
roller pair 4 is an example of the "upstream-side roller pair" in
the present invention through the relation to the discharge roller
pair 5, while the discharge roller pair 5 is an example of the
"downstream-side roller pair" in the present invention through the
relation to the conveyance roller pair 4.
[0038] In the vicinity of the conveyance roller pairs 3 and 4,
guide members 8 and 9 for guiding the paper sheet S along the
conveyance direction (see the arrowed one-dot chain lines in FIG.
2) are arranged respectively. Also in the vicinity of the upstream
side of the discharge roller pair 5, a guide portion 10 for guiding
the paper sheet S along the conveyance direction (a discharge
direction) is arranged. The printing portion 1 is arranged on the
downstream side of the conveyance roller pair 4 and the guide
member 9 and on the upstream side of the discharge roller pair 5
and the guide portion 10. These guide members 8 and 9 and the guide
portion 10 are arranged to separate from each other along the
conveyance direction for the paper sheet S. The guide member 8 is
an example of the "upstream-side guide member" in the present
invention through the relation to the guide member 9, while the
guide member 9 is an example of the "downstream-side guide member"
in the present invention through the relation to the guide member
8. Further, the guide member 9 is an example of the "upstream-side
guide member" in the present invention through the relation to the
guide portion 10, while the guide portion 10 is an example of the
"downstream-side guide member" in the present invention through the
relation to the guide member 9.
[0039] The guide member 8 is formed to extend in a direction (a
direction from the lower left toward the upper right in FIG. 2)
along the conveyance direction (see the arrowed one-dot chain lines
in FIG. 2) for the paper sheet S from a vicinity of the driven
roller 3a of the conveyance roller pair 3. The guide member 8 is
arranged to extend in a direction (a direction from the lower right
toward the upper left in FIG. 2) substantially orthogonal to (a
direction intersecting with) the conveyance direction (see the
arrowed one-dot chain lines in FIG. 2) for the paper sheet S in the
vicinity of the conveyance roller pair 3 on the upstream side. The
guide member 9 is formed to extend in a direction (a direction from
the upper left toward the lower right in FIG. 2) along the
conveyance direction for the paper sheet S about the driven roller
4a, to include the driven roller 4a of the conveyance roller pair
4. The guide portion 10 is integrally formed on an intermediate
member 11 to protrusively extend in the direction (the direction
from the lower left toward the upper right in FIG. 2) along the
conveyance direction for the paper sheet S from a corner portion
11a in the vicinity of the driving roller 5a of the discharge
roller pair 5 in the intermediate member 11 (a member provided with
the driving rollers 3a, 4a and 5a) arranged in the vicinity of a
central portion of the printer portion 100 in the vertical
direction (a Z direction) and on an inner side of the conveyance
direction for the paper sheet S.
[0040] The intermediate member 11 is provided with a curved surface
portion 11b extending from a vicinity of the paper feed roller 2 up
to a vicinity of the conveyance roller pair 4 through a space
between the conveyance roller pair 3 and bent in the form of a
curved surface (in the form of a curve). In other words, the curved
surface portion 11b is formed at least between the conveyance
roller pair 3 and the conveyance roller pair 4, while the
conveyance roller pair 3 is arranged on positions corresponding to
the curved surface portion 11b. The paper sheet S is so conveyed
along this curved surface portion 11b that the conveyance path for
the paper sheet S is configured to be bent in the form of a curved
surface (in the form of a curve) in the interior (the portion on
the left side in FIG. 2) of the printer portion 100 and to have the
folded shape (see the arrowed one-dot chain lines in FIG. 2).
[0041] According to this embodiment, the guide member 8 is arranged
to traverse a tangent 11 (see a thick dotted line in FIG. 2) to the
conveyance roller pair 3 extending along the conveyance direction
(see the arrowed one-dot chain lines in FIG. 2) for the paper sheet
S. The guide member 9 is arranged to traverse a tangent 12 (see a
thick dotted line in FIG. 2) to the conveyance roller pair 4
extending along the conveyance direction for the paper sheet S. On
the other hand, the guide portion 10 is arranged not to intersect
with a tangent 13 (see a thick dotted line in FIG. 2) to the
discharge roller pair 5 extending along the conveyance direction
for the paper sheet S. The tangent 11 to the conveyance roller pair
3 and the tangent 12 to the conveyance roller pair 4 intersect with
each other.
[0042] According to this embodiment, the guide member 8 is arranged
on a downstream side with respect to the conveyance roller pair 3
and on an outer side with respect to the conveyance direction (see
the arrowed one-dot chain lines in FIG. 2) for the paper sheet S.
The guide member 9 is arranged to extend over both of an upstream
side and a downstream side with respect to the conveyance roller
pair 4 and on an outer side with respect to the conveyance
direction for the paper sheet S. A vicinity of an upstream-side end
portion 9a of the guide member 9 is arranged on an outer side
beyond a vicinity of a downstream-side end portion 8a of the guide
member 8 with respect to the conveyance direction for the paper
sheet S. The guide portion 10 is arranged on an inner side with
respect to the conveyance direction for the paper sheet S. In other
words, the guide portion 10 is arranged on a side opposite to the
printing portion 1 arranged on the outer side with respect to the
conveyance direction for the paper sheet S.
[0043] According to this embodiment, the vicinity of the
downstream-side end portion 8a of the guide member 8 and the
vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 9a of the guide member 9
are arranged not to overlap with each other. In other words, a
straight line 14 of a thin dotted line extending in the vertical
direction (the Z direction) through the vicinity of the
downstream-side end portion 8a of the guide member 8 and a straight
line 15 of a thin dotted line extending in the vertical direction
through the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 9a of the
guide member 9 are configured to separate from each other at a
prescribed interval D1 in the horizontal direction (an X
direction), as shown in FIG. 2. The vicinity of the downstream-side
end portion 8a of the guide member 8 and the vicinity of the
upstream-side end portion 9a of the guide member 9 are arranged to
separate from each other on positions close to each other.
[0044] According to this embodiment, an inclined surface 8b
inclined to separate from the vicinity of the upstream-side end
portion 9a of the guide member 9 is formed on a surface of the
vicinity of the downstream-side end portion 8a of the guide member
8 on the side of the guide member 9. An inclined surface 9b
inclined to separate from the vicinity of the downstream-side end
portion 8a of the guide member 8 is formed on a surface of the
vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 9a of the guide member 9
on the side of the guide member 8. The vicinity of the
downstream-side end portion 8a of the guide member 8 is formed to
taper so that the thickness lessens toward the conveyance direction
for the paper sheet S. The inclined surfaces 8b and 9b are examples
of the "first inclined surface" and the "second inclined surface"
in the present invention respectively.
[0045] According to this embodiment, the driving roller 5a of the
discharge roller pair 5 arranged to come into contact with a rear
surface S1 (see FIG. 2) of the paper sheet S opposite to the side
printed with images is configured to include a column member 50a
(see FIG. 3) having a side surface coming into surface contact with
the rear surface S1 of the paper sheet S, as shown in FIGS. 2 and
3. The driven roller 5b of the discharge roller pair 5 arranged to
come into contact with a surface S2 (see FIG. 2) of the paper sheet
S on the side printed with the images is configured to include two
thin disc members 50b (see FIG. 3) arranged to be orthogonal to the
paper sheet S and having outer peripheral portions of irregular
shapes (concavo-convex shapes) whose forward ends are pointed.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 3, the column member 50a included in the
driving roller 5a is formed to extend in a direction (a Y
direction) orthogonal to the discharge direction for the paper
sheet S. The two disc members 50b included in the driven roller 5b
are arranged to separate from each other at an interval D2 in the Y
direction. The Y-directional interval D2 between the two disc
members 50b included in the driven roller 5b is smaller than the
Y-directional length L of the column member 50a included in the
driving roller 5a. As shown in FIG. 2, the auxiliary roller 7
arranged between the printing portion 1 and the discharge roller
pair 5 also has an outer peripheral portion of an irregular shape
whose forward end is pointed, similarly to the driven roller 5b of
the discharge roller pair 5. The driving rollers 3a, 4a and 5a are
provided on an inner side with respect to the conveyance direction
for the paper sheet S together, while the driven rollers 3b, 4b and
5b are provided on an outer side with respect to the conveyance
direction for the paper sheet S together.
[0047] The specific internal structure of the scanner portion 200
according to the embodiment of the present invention is now
described with reference to FIG. 4.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 4, the scanner portion 200 includes a
reading portion 21 for performing image reading processing with
respect to the paper sheet S. Further, the scanner portion 200
includes a paper feed roller 22 arranged in the vicinity of a paper
feed portion 251 for feeding the paper sheet S, conveyance roller
pairs 23 and 24 for conveying the paper sheet S fed by the paper
feed roller 22 to the side of the reading portion 1, and a
discharge roller pair 25 arranged in the vicinity of a discharge
portion 252 for discharging the paper sheet S after reading. The
paper feed roller 22, the conveyance roller pairs 23 and 24 and the
discharge roller pair 25 are so arranged that the conveyance path
for the paper sheet S is bent in the form of a curved surface (in
the form of a curve) and has a folded shape (see arrowed two-dot
chain lines in FIG. 4) in the interior (the portion on the left
side in FIG. 4) of the scanner portion 200. The reading portion 21
is arranged on an outer side with respect to the conveyance
direction for the paper sheet S.
[0049] The conveyance roller pairs 23 and 24 and the discharge
roller pair 25 include driving rollers 23a, 24a and 25a
rotating/driving with motors (not shown) serving as power sources
and driven rollers 23b, 24b and 25b respectively rotating following
rotation of the driving rollers 23a, 24a and 25a respectively. The
conveyance roller pair 23 is configured to hold the paper sheet S
conveyed from an upstream side (the side of the paper feed roller
22) and to convey the same to a downstream side (the side of the
conveyance roller pair 24). The conveyance roller pair 24 is
configured to hold the paper sheet S conveyed from an upstream side
(the side of the conveyance roller pair 23) and to convey the same
to a downstream side (the side of the discharge roller pair 25).
The discharge roller pair 25 is configured to hold the paper sheet
S conveyed from an upstream side (the side of the conveyance roller
pair 24) and to discharge the same. In other words, the conveyance
roller pair 23 is an example of the "upstream-side roller pair" in
the present invention through the relation to the conveyance roller
pair 24, while the conveyance roller pair 24 is an example of the
"downstream-side roller pair" in the present invention through the
relation to the conveyance roller pair 23. The conveyance roller
pair 24 is an example of the "upstream-side roller pair" in the
present invention through the relation to the discharge roller pair
25, while the discharge roller pair 25 is an example of the
"downstream-side roller pair" in the present invention through the
relation to the conveyance roller pair 24.
[0050] In the vicinity of the conveyance roller pairs 23 and 24,
guide members 26 and 27 for guiding the paper sheet S along the
conveyance direction (see the arrowed two-dot chain lines in FIG.
4) are arranged respectively. Also in the vicinity of the upstream
side of the discharge roller pair 25, a guide member 28 for guiding
the paper sheet S along the conveyance direction (the discharge
direction) is arranged. These guide members 26, 27 and 28 are
arranged to separate from each other along the conveyance direction
for the paper sheet S. The reading portion 21 is arranged on a
downstream side of the conveyance roller pair 24 and the guide
member 27 and on an upstream side of the discharge roller pair 25
and the guide member 28. The guide member 26 is an example of the
"upstream-side guide member" in the present invention through the
relation to the guide member 27, while the guide member 27 is an
example of the "downstream-side guide member" in the present
invention through the relation to the guide member 26. Further, the
guide member 27 is an example of the "upstream-side guide member"
in the present invention through the relation to the guide member
28, while the guide member 28 is an example of the "downstream-side
guide member" in the present invention through the relation to the
guide member 27.
[0051] The guide members 26 and 27 are both arranged to be opposed
to an intermediate member 29 (a member provided with the driving
rollers 23a, 24a and 25a) arranged in the vicinity of a central
portion of the scanner portion 200 in the vertical direction (the Z
direction) and on an inner side of the conveyance direction for the
paper sheet S. The intermediate member 29 is provided with a curved
surface portion 29a extending from a vicinity of the paper feed
roller 22 up to a vicinity of the discharge roller pair 25 through
a space between the conveyance roller pair 23 and through a space
between the conveyance roller pair 24 and bent in the form of a
curved surface (in the form of a curve). In other words, the curved
surface portion 29a is formed at least between the conveyance
roller pair 23 and the conveyance roller pair 24, while the
conveyance roller pairs 23 and 24 are arranged on positions
corresponding to the curved surface portion 29a. The paper sheet S
is so conveyed along this curved surface portion 29a that the
conveyance path for the paper sheet S is configured to be bent in
the form of a curved surface (in the form of a curve) in the
interior (the portion on the left side in FIG. 4) of the scanner
portion 200 and has a folded shape (see the arrowed two-dot chain
lines in FIG. 4).
[0052] The guide member 26 is formed to have a portion 26a
extending in a direction (a direction from the upper right toward
the lower left in FIG. 4) along the conveyance direction (see the
arrowed two-dot chain lines in FIG. 4) for the paper sheet S, to be
opposed to an outer surface of the intermediate member 29 in the
vicinity of the driving roller 23a. Further, the guide member 27 is
formed to have a portion 27a extending in a direction (a direction
from the lower right toward the upper left in FIG. 4) along the
conveyance direction for the paper sheet S, to be opposed to an
outer surface of the intermediate member 29 in the vicinity of the
driving roller 24a. The guide member 28 is arranged to be opposed
to a base member 30 (a member arranged under the discharge portion
252) provided with the driven roller 25b. Further, the guide member
28 is formed to extend in a direction (a direction from the lower
left toward the upper right in FIG. 4) along the conveyance
direction for the paper sheet S on an outer surface of the
intermediate member 29 in the vicinity of the driving roller
25a.
[0053] According to this embodiment, the guide member 26 is formed
to extend over both of the upstream side and the downstream side
with respect to the conveyance roller pair 23, and so arranged that
the downstream side with respect to the conveyance roller pair 23
traverses a tangent 16 (see a thick dotted line in FIG. 4) to the
conveyance roller pair 23 extending along the conveyance direction
(see the arrowed two-dot chain lines in FIG. 4) for the paper sheet
S. The guide member 27 is formed to extend over both of the
upstream side and the downstream side with respect to the
conveyance roller pair 24, and so arranged that the upstream side
with respect to the conveyance roller pair 24 traverses a tangent
(see a thick dotted line in FIG. 4) to the conveyance roller pair
24 extending along the conveyance direction for the paper sheet S.
The guide member 28 is arranged to traverse a tangent 18 (see a
thick dotted line in FIG. 4) to the discharge roller pair 25
extending along the conveyance direction for the paper sheet S.
[0054] According to this embodiment, the guide members 26 and 27
are both arranged on an outer side with respect to the conveyance
direction (see the arrowed two-dot chain lines in FIG. 4) for the
paper sheet S. A vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 27a of
the guide member 27 is arranged on an outer side beyond a vicinity
of the downstream-side end portion 26a of the guide member 26 with
respect to the conveyance direction for the paper sheet S. The
guide member 28 is arranged on an inner side with respect to the
conveyance direction for the paper sheet S. In other words, the
guide member 28 is arranged on a side opposite to the reading
portion 21 arranged on an outer side with respect to the conveyance
direction for the paper sheet S.
[0055] According to this embodiment, the vicinity of the
downstream-side end portion 26a of the guide member 26 and the
vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 27a of the guide member
27 are arranged not to overlap with each other. In other words, a
straight line 19 of a thin dotted line extending in the horizontal
direction (the X direction) through the vicinity of the
downstream-side end portion 26a of the guide member 26 and a
straight line 110 of a thin dotted line extending in the X
direction through the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 27a
of the guide member 27 are configured to separate from each other
at a prescribed interval D3 in the vertical direction (the Z
direction), as shown in FIG. 4. The vicinity of the downstream-side
end portion 26a of the guide member 26 and the vicinity of the
upstream-side end portion 27a of the guide member 27 are arranged
to separate from each other on positions close to each other. The
vicinity of the downstream-side end portion 26a of the guide member
26 is so formed that the thickness lessens toward the conveyance
direction for the paper sheet S.
[0056] The driving rollers 23a, 24a and 25a are provided on an
inner side with respect to the conveyance direction for the paper
sheet S together, while the driven rollers 23b, 24b and 25b are
provided on an outer side with respect to the conveyance direction
for the paper sheet S together.
[0057] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
guide members 8 and 9 of the printer portion 100 are arranged to
traverse the tangent 11 to the conveyance roller pair 3 of the
printer portion 100 and the tangent 12 (see the thick dotted line
in FIG. 2) to the conveyance roller pair 4 respectively. Further,
the guide members 26, 27 and 28 of the scanner portion 200 are
arranged to traverse the tangent 16 to the conveyance roller pair
23 of the scanner portion 200, the tangent 17 to the conveyance
roller pair 24 and the tangent 18 (see the thick dotted line in
FIG. 4) to the discharge roller pair 25 respectively. Thus, the
conveyance path (see the arrowed one-dot chain lines in FIG. 2) for
the paper sheet S in the printer portion 100 and the conveyance
path (see the arrowed two-dotted chain lines in FIG. 4) for the
paper sheet S in the scanner portion 200 can be more easily bent in
the form of curved surfaces (in the form of curves) through the
guide members 8, 9, 27, 28 and 29 arranged to traverse the
aforementioned tangents 11, 12, 16, 17 and 18 respectively.
Consequently, downsizing of the ink jet composite machine 1000
including the printer portion 100 and the scanner portion 200 can
be attained by folding back the conveyance path for the paper sheet
S while smoothly conveying the paper sheet S along the conveyance
path in the form of curved surfaces, dissimilarly to a case where
conveyance paths for the paper sheet S are constituted of a
plurality of linearly extending conveyance paths.
[0058] Further, the guide members 8 and 9 of the printer portion
100 (the guide members 26 and 27 of the scanner portion 200) are so
arranged to separate from each other that the downstream-side end
portion 8a (26a) of the guide member 8 (26) and the upstream-side
end portion 9a (27a) of the guide member 9 (27) may not be
elongated up to positions coming into contact with the guide member
9 (27) and the guide member 8 (26) respectively dissimilarly to a
case where the vicinity of the downstream-side end portion 8a (26a)
of the guide member 8 (26) and the vicinity of the upstream-side
end portion 9a (27a) of the guide member 9 (27) are in contact with
each other, whereby the respective lengths of the guide member 8
(26) and the guide member 9 (27) can be shortened, and downsizing
of the ink jet composite machine 1000 including the printer portion
100 and the scanner portion 200 can be attained also according to
this.
[0059] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
guide member 8 is arranged to traverse the tangent 11 to the
conveyance roller pair 3 extending along the conveyance direction
for the paper sheet S while the guide member 8 is arranged to
extend in the direction intersecting with the conveyance direction
for the paper sheet S in the vicinity of the conveyance roller pair
3. Thus, the conveyance path for the paper sheet S can be easily
and reliably bent in the form of a curved surface through the guide
member 8, whereby downsizing of the ink jet composite machine 1000
can be easily and reliably attained while smoothly conveying the
paper sheet S.
[0060] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 9a of the guide member 9
of the printer portion 100 (the vicinity of the upstream-side end
portion 27a of the guide member 27 of the scanner portion 200) is
arranged on an outer side beyond the vicinity of the
downstream-side end portion 8a of the guide member 8 (the vicinity
of the downstream-side end portion 26a of the guide member 26).
Thus, the paper sheet S can be inhibited from advancing in a
direction deviating from the original conveyance direction due to
such a situation that the forward end portion of the paper sheet S
conveyed from the guide member 8 (26) toward the downstream side
comes into contact with the vicinity of the upstream-side end
portion 9a (27a) of the guide member 9 (27), dissimilarly to a case
where the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 9a (27a) of the
guide member 9 (27) is arranged on an inner side beyond the
vicinity of the downstream-side end portion 8a (26a) of the guide
member 8 (26). Consequently, paper jamming can be inhibited from
occurring also in the case of bending the conveyance path for the
paper sheet S in the form of a curved surface.
[0061] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
vicinity of the downstream-side end portion 8a of the guide member
8 of the printer portion 100 (the vicinity of the downstream-side
end portion 26a of the guide member 26 of the scanner portion 200)
and the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 9a of the guide
member 9 (the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 27a of the
guide member 27) are arranged not to overlap with each other. Thus,
the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 9a (27a) of the guide
member 9 (27) can be reliably arranged on the outer side beyond the
vicinity of the downstream-side end portion 8a (26a) of the guide
member 8 (26), whereby paper jamming can be reliably inhibited from
occurring due to such a situation that the forward end portion of
the paper sheet S conveyed from the guide member 8 (26) toward the
downstream side comes into contact with the vicinity of the
upstream-side end portion 9a (27a) of the guide member 9 (27), also
in the case of bending the conveyance path for the paper sheet S in
the form of a curved surface.
[0062] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
vicinity of the downstream-side end portion 8a of the guide member
8 of the printer portion 100 (the vicinity of the downstream-side
end portion 26a of the guide member 26 of the scanner portion 200)
and the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 9a of the guide
member 9 (the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 27a of the
guide portion 27) are arranged to separate from each other on the
positions close to each other, not to overlap with each other.
Thus, formation of a large clearance between the vicinity of the
downstream-side end portion 8a (26a) of the guide member 8 (26) and
the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 9a (27a) of the guide
member 9 (27) can be suppressed, dissimilarly to a case where the
vicinity of the downstream-side end portion 8a (26a) of the guide
member 8 (26) and the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 9a
(27a) of the guide member 9 (27) are arranged to extremely separate
from each other. Consequently, paper jamming can be easily
inhibited from occurring due to such a situation that the forward
end portion of the paper sheet S conveyed from the guide member 8
(26) toward the downstream side enters a clearance between the
vicinity of the downstream-side end portion 8a (26a) of the guide
member 8 (26) and the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 9a
(27a) of the guide member 9 (27).
[0063] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
inclined surface 8b inclined to separate from the vicinity of the
upstream-side end portion 9a of the guide member 9 is formed on the
surface of the vicinity of the downstream-side end portion 8a of
the guide member 8 on the side of the guide member 9, while the
inclined surface 9b inclined to separate from the vicinity of the
downstream-side end portion 8a of the guide member 8 is formed on
the surface of the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 9a of
the guide member 9 on the side of the guide member 8. Thus, the
vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 9a of the guide member 9
can be more reliably arranged on the outer side beyond the vicinity
of the downstream-side end portion 8a of the guide member 8 by
forming the inclined surfaces 8b and 9b on the guide members 8 and
9 respectively. Consequently, paper jamming can be more reliably
inhibited from occurring due to such a situation that the forward
end portion of the paper sheet S conveyed from the guide member 8
toward the downstream side comes into contact with the vicinity of
the upstream-side end portion 9a of the guide member 9, also in the
case of bending the conveyance path for the paper sheet in the form
of a curved surface.
[0064] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
guide member 26 is so formed to extend over both of the upstream
side and the downstream side with respect to the conveyance roller
pair 23 that the same can guide the paper sheet S on both of the
upstream side and the downstream side with respect to the
conveyance roller pair 23, whereby the paper sheet S can be
reliably conveyed.
[0065] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
guide member 26 is so arranged that the downstream side with
respect to the conveyance roller pair 23 traverses the tangent 16
to the conveyance roller pair 23 extending along the conveyance
direction for the paper sheet S so that the conveyance path for the
paper sheet S can be bent in the form of a curved surface (in the
form of a curve) on the downstream side with respect to the
conveyance roller pair 23, whereby the paper sheet S can be
inhibited from advancing in a direction deviating from the original
conveyance direction between the conveyance roller pair 23 and the
conveyance roller pair 24. Thus, paper jamming can be inhibited
from occurring also in the case of bending the conveyance path for
the paper sheet S in the form of a curved surface.
[0066] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
guide member 27 is formed to extend over both of the upstream side
and the downstream side with respect to the conveyance roller pair
24 so that the same can guide the paper sheet S on both of the
upstream side and the downstream side with respect to the
conveyance roller pair 24, whereby the paper sheet S can be
reliably conveyed.
[0067] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
guide member 27 is so arranged that the upstream side with respect
to the conveyance roller pair 24 traverses the tangent 17 to the
conveyance roller pair 24 extending along the conveyance direction
for the paper sheet S so that the conveyance path for the paper
sheet S can be bent in the form of a curved surface (in the form of
a curve) on the upstream side with respect to the conveyance roller
pair 24, whereby the paper sheet S can be inhibited from advancing
in a direction deviating from the original conveyance direction
between the conveyance roller pair 23 and the conveyance roller
pair 24. Thus, paper jamming can be inhibited from occurring also
in the case of bending the conveyance path for the paper sheet S in
the form of a curved surface.
[0068] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
vicinity of the downstream-side end portion 8a of the guide member
8 and the vicinity of the downstream-side end portion 26a of the
guide member 26 are formed to taper so that the thicknesses lessen
toward the conveyance direction for the paper sheet S. Thus, the
thicknesses of the guide members 8 and 26 can be inhibited from
enlarging in the vicinity of the end portion 8a of the guide member
8 and the end portion 26a of the guide member 26, whereby
downsizing of the ink jet composite machine 1000 can be further
attained.
[0069] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
driven roller 5b of the discharge roller pair 5 arranged to come
into contact with the surface S2 (see FIG. 2) of the paper sheet S
on the side printed with the images is configured to include the
thin disc members 50b (see FIG. 3) having the outer peripheral
portions of the irregular shapes whose forward ends are pointed.
Thus, contact areas between the driven roller 5b and the surface S2
of the paper sheet S on the side printed with the images can be
reduced dissimilarly to a case of constituting the driven roller 5b
of disc members with large thicknesses having no irregularities on
the outer peripheral portions, whereby such a situation can be
suppressed that the driven roller 5b rubs against the surface S2 of
the paper sheet S on the side printed with the images to lower the
qualities of the images.
[0070] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
guide portion 10 formed in the vicinity of the upstream side of the
discharge roller pair 5 (the driving roller 5a and the driven
roller 5b) is arranged on the side (the inner side) opposite to the
printing portion 1 arranged on the outer side with respect to the
conveyance direction for the paper sheet S. Thus, the paper sheet S
can be guided toward the driving roller 5a while inhibiting the
surface of the paper sheet S on the side printed with the images
from coming into contact with the guide portion 10.
[0071] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
guide portion 10 formed in the vicinity of the discharge roller
pair 5 (the driving roller 5a and the driven roller 5b) is
integrally formed on the intermediate member 11 to protrusively
extend in the direction along the conveyance direction for the
paper sheet S from the corner portion 11a in the vicinity of the
driving roller 5a of the discharge roller pair 5 in the
intermediate member 11 having the curved surface portion 11b. Thus,
the conveyance path for the paper sheet S can be more reliably bent
in the form of a curved surface (in the form of a curve) through
the curved surface portion 11b of the intermediate member 11.
Further, the guide portion 10 arranged in the vicinity of the
driving roller 5a and the driven roller 5b may not be provided
independently of the intermediate member 11, whereby downsizing of
the ink jet composite machine 1000 can be effectively attained.
[0072] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
guide member 28 formed in the vicinity of the upstream side of the
discharge roller pair 25 (the driving roller 25a and the driven
roller 25b) is arranged on the side (the inner side) opposite to
the reading portion 21 arranged on the outer side with respect to
the conveyance direction for the paper sheet S, and arranged to
traverse the tangent 18 to the discharge roller pair 25 extending
along the conveyance direction for the paper sheet S. Thus, the
conveyance direction for the paper sheet S can be easily bent in
the form of a curved surface (in the form of a curve) while
inhibiting the surface of the paper sheet S on the side to be read
from coming into contact with the guide member 28.
[0073] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
intermediate member 11 having the curved surface portion 11b is
arranged on the inner side of the conveyance direction for the
paper sheet S, while the guide members 8 and 9 are both arranged on
the outer side with respect to the conveyance direction for the
paper sheet S. Thus, the conveyance path for the paper sheet S can
be more reliably bent in the form of a curved surface (in the form
of a curve) through the curved surface portion 11b of the
intermediate member 11, whereby downsizing of the ink jet composite
machine 1000 can be attained by folding back the conveyance path
for the paper sheet S while more smoothly conveying the paper sheet
S along the conveyance path in the form of a curved surface.
Further, the paper sheet S can be guided from the inner side with
respect to the conveyance direction through the curved surface
portion 11b of the intermediate member 11 and the paper sheet S can
be guided from the outer side with respect to the conveyance
direction through the guide members 8 and 9, whereby the paper
sheet S can be reliably conveyed by guiding the paper sheet S from
both sides.
[0074] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
intermediate member 29 having the curved surface portion 29a is
arranged on the inner side of the conveyance direction for the
paper sheet S, while the guide members 26 and 27 are both arranged
on the outer side with respect to the conveyance direction for the
paper sheet S. Thus, the conveyance path for the paper sheet S can
be more reliably bent in the form of a curved surface (in the form
of a curve) through the curved surface portion 29a of the
intermediate member 29, whereby downsizing of the ink jet composite
machine 1000 can be attained by folding back the conveyance path
for the paper sheet S while more smoothly conveying the paper sheet
S along the conveyance path in the form of a curved surface.
Further, the paper sheet S can be guided from the inner side with
respect to the conveyance direction through the curved surface
portion 29a of the intermediate member 29 and the paper sheet S can
be guided from the outer side with respect to the conveyance
direction through the guide members 26 and 27, whereby the paper
sheet S can be reliably conveyed by guiding the paper sheet S from
both sides.
[0075] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
curved surface portion 11b is formed at least between the
conveyance roller pair 3 and the conveyance roller pair 4, while
the curved surface portion 29a is formed at least between the
conveyance roller pair 23 and the conveyance roller pair 24. Thus,
the conveyance path for the paper sheet S can be more reliably bent
in the form of a curved surface (in the form of a curve) between
the conveyance roller pair 3 and the conveyance roller pair 4 and
between the conveyance roller pair 23 and the conveyance roller
pair 24.
[0076] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
conveyance roller pair 3 is arranged on the position corresponding
to the curved surface portion 11b, while the conveyance roller
pairs 23 and 24 are arranged on the positions corresponding to the
curved surface portion 29a. Thus, the paper sheet S can be reliably
conveyed through the conveyance roller pairs 3, 23 and 24 arranged
on the positions corresponding to the curved surface portions 11b
and 29a, also in the state where the conveyance path for the paper
sheet S is bent in the form of curved surfaces (in the form of
curves) through the curved surface portions 11b and 29a.
[0077] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
driving rollers 3a, 4a and 5a are provided on the inner side with
respect to the conveyance direction for the paper sheet S together,
while the driven rollers 3b, 4b and 5a are provided on the outer
side with respect to the conveyance direction for the paper sheet S
together. When structuring the ink jet composite machine 1000 in
this manner, the driving rollers 3a, 4a and 5a and driving
mechanisms or the like for driving the driving rollers 3a, 4a and
5a may not be provided on the outer side with respect to the
conveyance direction for the paper sheet S by arranging the driving
rollers 3a, 4a and 5a on the inner side provided with the
intermediate member 11, whereby the ink jet composite machine 1000
can be inhibited from size increase.
[0078] According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the
driving rollers 23a, 24a and 25a are provided on the inner side
with respect to the conveyance direction for the paper sheet S
together, while the driven rollers 23b, 24b and 25b are provided on
the outer side with respect to the conveyance direction for the
paper sheet S together. When structuring the ink jet composite
machine 1000 in this manner, the driving rollers 23a, 24a and 25a
and driving mechanisms or the like for driving the driving rollers
23a, 24a and 25a may not be provided on the outer side with respect
to the conveyance direction for the paper sheet S by arranging the
driving rollers 23a, 24a and 25a on the inner side provided with
the intermediate member 29, whereby the ink jet composite machine
1000 can be inhibited from size increase.
[0079] The embodiment disclosed this time must be considered as
illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The range of the
present invention is shown not by the above description of the
embodiment but by the scope of claims for patent, and all
modifications within the meaning and range equivalent to the scope
of claims for patent are included.
[0080] For example, while the printer portion and the scanner
portion included in the ink jet composite machine have been shown
as examples of the paper sheet conveyance device according to the
present invention in the aforementioned embodiment, the present
invention is not restricted to this. The present invention is also
applicable to a general paper sheet conveyance device such as a
scanner device or a printer device operating as a single substance
not included in a composite machine.
[0081] While the printer portion 100 in which the guide members 8
and 9 are arranged to traverse the tangent 11 to the conveyance
roller pair 3 and the tangent 12 (see the thick dotted line in FIG.
2) to the conveyance roller pair 4 respectively and the guide
portion 10 is arranged not to intersect with the tangent 13 (see
the thick dotted line in FIG. 2) to the discharge roller pair 5 has
been shown in the aforementioned embodiment, the present invention
is not restricted to this. According to the present invention, all
of the guide members 8 and 9 and the guide portion 10 may be
arranged to traverse the tangents 11, 12 and 13 respectively.
According to the present invention, further, only the guide member
8 may be arranged to traverse the tangent 11, while the guide
member 9 and the guide portion 10 may be arranged not to intersect
with the tangents 12 and 13 respectively.
[0082] Similarly, while the scanner portion 200 in which the guide
members 26, 27 and 28 are arranged to traverse the tangent 16 to
the conveyance roller pair 23, the tangent 17 to the conveyance
roller pair 24 and the tangent 18 (see the thick dotted line in
FIG. 4) to the discharge roller pair 25 has been shown in the
aforementioned embodiment, the present invention is not restricted
to this. According to the present invention, only the guide member
26 may be arranged to traverse the tangent 16, while the guide
members 27 and 28 may be arranged not to intersect with the
tangents 17 and 18 respectively.
[0083] While the printer portion 100 in which the vicinity of the
upstream-side end portion 9a of the guide member 9 is arranged on
the outer side beyond the vicinity of the downstream-side end
portion 8a of the guide member 8 with respect to the conveyance
direction (see the arrowed one-dot chain lines in FIG. 2) for the
paper sheet S has been shown in the aforementioned embodiment, the
present invention is not restricted to this. According to the
present invention, the vicinity of the downstream-side end portion
8a of the guide member 8 and the vicinity of the upstream-side end
portion 9a of the guide member 9 may be arranged on the same
position with respect to the conveyance direction for the paper
sheet S.
[0084] Similarly, while the scanner portion 200 in which the
vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 27a of the guide member
27 is arranged on the outer side beyond the vicinity of the
downstream-side end portion 26a of the guide member 26 with respect
to the conveyance direction (see the arrowed two-dot chain lines in
FIG. 4) for the paper sheet S has been shown in the aforementioned
embodiment, the present invention is not restricted to this.
According to the present invention, the vicinity of the
downstream-side end portion 26a of the guide member 26 and the
vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 27a of the guide member
27 may be arranged on the same position with respect to the
conveyance direction for the paper sheet S.
[0085] While the printer portion 100 in which the vicinity of the
downstream-side end portion 8a of the guide member 8 and the
vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 9a of the guide member 9
are arranged not to overlap with each other has been shown in the
aforementioned embodiment, the present invention is not restricted
to this. According to the present invention, the vicinity of the
downstream-side end portion 8a of the guide member 8 and the
vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 9a of the guide member 9
may be arranged to overlap with each other.
[0086] Similarly, while the scanner portion 200 in which the
vicinity of the downstream-side end portion 26a of the guide member
26 and the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 27a of the
guide member 27 are arranged not to overlap with each other has
been shown in the aforementioned embodiment, the present invention
is not restricted to this. According to the present invention, the
vicinity of the downstream-side end portion 26a of the guide member
26 and the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion 27a of the
guide member 27 may be arranged to overlap with each other.
* * * * *