Patent ID: 6715872
Filing Date: 2004-04-06
Classification: B41J,B65H

Abstract:
A sheet conveying device used for conveying a sheet, comprising:an endless conveyor belt which includes a first group of electrodes and a second group of electrodes for retaining the sheet with an electric force and which rotates while retaining the sheet so as to convey the sheet along a sheet-conveying path; a first electricity-supplying unit which applies voltages to the first group of electrodes and the second group of electrodes to generate a voltage difference between the first group of electrodes and the second group of electrodes, while the first group of electrodes and the second group of electrodes pass through a predetermined area due to the rotation of the conveyor belt; a second electricity-supplying unit which is disposed at a predetermined position which is upstream of the predetermined area and downstream of a position where the conveyor belt receives the sheet along the sheet-conveying path, and which applies voltages to the first group of electrodes and the second group of electrodes to generate a voltage difference between the first group of electrodes and the second group of electrodes, while the first group of electrodes and the second group of electrodes pass by the predetermined position; a detecting unit which detects a current or a voltage of the second electricity-supplying unit when the second electricity-supplying unit supplies electricity to the first group of electrodes and the second group of electrodes; and a determining unit which determines the state of the surface of the conveyor belt on the basis of the detected current or voltage.