Sheet conveyor device and image forming system

A sheet conveyor device is to be attachably and detachably mounted to an external apparatus which forms an image on a sheet. The sheet conveyor device includes a judgement section, a speed determining section, and a conveyance controller. The judgement section determines which of a plurality of model groups the external apparatus belongs to based on specification information indicating specifications of the external apparatus. The speed determining section determines a conveyance speed at which the sheet is to be conveyed based on the determined model group. The conveyance controller directs conveyance of the sheet at the determined conveyance speed.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-111831, filed on Jun. 12, 2018. The contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a sheet conveyor device and an image forming system.

A technique has been studied by which sheets are conveyed at different speeds according to an image forming process in order to attempt to shorten a first copy time or a first print time of an image forming apparatus.

Some image forming apparatuses are adapted to attachment thereto of an optional post-processing device. The post-processing device performs post-processing such as punching or stapling of a sheet on which an image has been formed. A sheet conveyor device (relay unit) which relays conveyance of the sheet between axe image forming apparatus and the post-processing device is also produced.

SUMMARY

A sheet conveyor device according to an aspect of the present disclosure is to be attachably and detachably mounted to an external apparatus which forms an image on a sheet. The sheet conveyor device includes a judgement section and a speed determining section. The judgement section determines which of a plurality of model groups the external apparatus belongs to based on specification information indicating specifications of the external apparatus. The speed determining section determines a conveyance speed at which the sheet is to be conveyed based on the determined model group.

An image forming system according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes an image forming apparatus and a sheet conveyor device. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming section and a paper ejection section. The image forming section forms an image on a sheet. The paper ejection section includes an empty space in which the sheet with the image formed thereon is housable. The empty space is open towards an outside of the image forming apparatus. The sheet conveyor device is mounted to the paper ejection section. The sheet conveyor device includes a judgement section and a speed determining section. The judgement section determines which of a plurality of model groups the image forming apparatus belongs to based on specification information indicating specifications of the image forming apparatus. The speed determining section determines a conveyance speed at which the sheet is to be conveyed based on the determined model group.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following describes an embodiment of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings (FIGS. 1 to 5). Elements that are the same or equivalent are labelled with the same reference signs in the drawings and description thereof is not repeated.

FIG. 1is a front view of an outer appearance of an example of an image forming system1according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. The image forming system1includes an image forming apparatus10, a sheet conveyor device20, and a post-processing device30.

The image forming apparatus10forms an image on a sheet (recording medium), and is a multifunction peripheral (MFP) for example. The image forming apparatus10includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped main body housing11, a document feeding device12, an additional feeding unit13, an operation section14, and an in-body discharge section15. The document feeding device12is located above the main body housing11. The additional feeding unit13is mounted beneath the main body housing11. The operation section14is located on an upper portion of the main body housing11. The in-body discharge section15is located inside the upper portion of the main body housing11. The sheet conveyor device20is attachably and detachably mounted to the in-body discharge section15. The image forming apparatus10is an example of an external apparatus.

The main body housing11is a casing, and houses various equipment for forming an image on a sheet.

The document feeding device12automatically conveys a document to be copied by way of an image reading position. The image reading position is set above the main body housing11.

The additional feeding unit13is added to automatically feed a large number of same-sized sheets in a situation in which various sheets of different sizes are automatically fed.

The operation section14notifies a user of various information and receives user instructions related to control of the image forming system1. The operation section14is for example a liquid-crystal display with a touch panel.

The image forming apparatus10includes the in-body discharge section15. The in-body discharge section15ejects a sheet with an image formed thereon. The in-body discharge section15has an in-body space capable of housing the sheet after image forming process has been performed. Specifically, the in-body discharge section15has an opening that is open towards the outside of the image forming apparatus10on front and left sides of the image forming apparatus10. The user can reach into the opening to remove the sheet from the in-body discharge section15after the image has been formed in a state in which the sheet conveyor device20is not mounted to the image forming apparatus10. The sheet conveyor device20is attachably and detachably mounted in the in-body discharge section15. The in-body discharge section15is an example of a paper ejection section. The in-body space is an example of an empty space.

The sheet conveyor device20receives the sheet ejected from the image forming apparatus10and conveys the sheet to the post-processing device30. The sheet conveyor device20is attachably and detachably mounted in the in-body discharge section15of the image forming apparatus10. The sheet conveyor device20determines the conveyance speed when conveying the sheet according to specification information indicating the specifications of the image forming apparatus10.

The post-processing device30receives the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyor device20and performs prescribed post-processing on the sheet. The prescribed post-processing is punching and stapling, for example. The post-processing device30has a reception port31on a right side thereof. The reception port31receives the sheet from the sheet conveyor device20.

In the following, a side on which the additional feeding unit13is located is referred to as a lower side of the image forming apparatus10, and a side on which the document feeding device12is located is referred to as an upper side of the image forming apparatus10. A side on which the operation section14is located is referred to as a front side of the image forming apparatus10, and a side opposite to the front side is referred to as a back side of the image forming apparatus10. A right side as viewed from the front of the image forming apparatus10is referred to as a right side of the image forming apparatus10, and a side opposite to the right side is referred to as a left side of the image forming apparatus10. The surface of the front side of the image forming apparatus10is referred to as a from surface, and the surface of the back side of the image forming apparatus10is referred to as a back surface.

The following describes an outer appearance of the sheet conveyor device20with reference toFIG. 2.FIG. 2is a perspective view of the outer appearance of an example of the sheet conveyor device20.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the sheet conveyor device20is a housing that has a rectangular shape elongated in a general left-right direction when viewed from above, and maintains a prescribed thickness in an up-and-down direction. In detail, the sheet conveyor device20includes a main body portion21and an introduction portion22. The main body portion21has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The introduction portion22is located to the right of the main body portion21, and is inclined in a lower right direction.

The sheet conveyor device20further includes an upstream end20A, a downstream end20B, a front cover20F, and a reception tray20T. The upstream end20A receives the sheet from the image forming apparatus10. At the downstream end20B, the sheet is ejected out (to the post-processing device30, for example) from the sheet conveyor device20.

The front cover20F doubles as a cosmetic plate, and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape elongated in the left-right direction. The front cover20F extends along an entire length of the sheet conveyor device20in the left-right direction. The reception tray20T receives a sheet ejected from a second exit port114. A height of an upper surface of the front cover20F is higher than a height of the reception tray20T above the main body portion21. Accordingly, the reception tray20T is covered by the front cover20F and is not seen when viewed from the front.

The sheet conveyor device20further includes a connector24. A connector joined with the connector24is included in a rear surface plate of the image forming apparatus10. An electric line is electrically connected to a power supply or a controller of the image forming apparatus10through the connector24. The electric line is for supplying power to or communicating with a plurality of drive motors which drives a plurality of feed roller pairs of the sheet conveyor device20.

The following describes operation related to the sheet conveyor device20and a configuration of the sheet conveyor device20with reference toFIG. 3.FIG. 3is a diagram for describing operation related to the sheet conveyor device20and the configuration of the sheet conveyor device20. First, operation of the image forming apparatus10which premises the operation of the sheet conveyor device20is described. The image forming apparatus10conveys the sheet with an image formed thereon to the position of the sheet conveyor device20.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the image forming apparatus10further includes an image forming section111, a fixing section112, a first exit port113, the second exit port114, a sheet sensor115, and a controller116. The image forming section111, the fixing section112, the first exit port113, the second exit port114, the sheet sensor115, and the controller116are housed inside the main body housing11. The in-body discharge section15is also included inside the main body housing11.

The image forming section111forms an image on the sheet based on a user instruction received through the operation section14or print data received from a device such as a terminal device capable of using the image forming apparatus10. Specifically, the image forming section111transfers a toner image from a photosensitive drum to the sheet. The sheet to which the image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing section112.

The fixing section112performs a fixing process on the sheet to which the image has been transferred. Specifically, the fixing section112performs a fixing process on the sheet by applying heat and pressure to the sheet to which the toner image has been transferred. The sheet on which the fixing process has been performed is ejected to the in-body discharge section15from the first exit port113or the second exit port114.

The sheet sensor115detects whether or not the sheet has passed through the fixing section112. The sheet sensor115notifies the controller116of a signal indicating detection of the sheet for example during a period starting when a leading edge of the sheet is detected and ending when a trailing end of the sheet exits. The sheet sensor115may also notify the controller116only of a signal indicating detection of the leading edge of the sheet and detection of the trailing edge of the sheet. The sheet sensor115is located downstream of the fixing section112in a conveyance direction of the sheet.

The controller116controls overall operation of the image forming apparatus10. The controller116includes a processor and memory, for example. The processor includes a central processing unit (CPU), for example. The memory stores data and a computer program therein. The memory for example includes semiconductor memory, and may further include a hard disk drive (HDD).

The controller116stores the specification information of the image forming apparatus10. The specification information includes at least one of identification information, linear speed information, and performance information. The specification information may for example be extracted from backup data acquired regularly or irregularly. The backup data includes at least one of the identification information, the linear speed information, and the performance information.

The identification information is information for identifying the image forming apparatus10. The identification information is for example machine code of the image forming apparatus10.

The performance information indicates a number of sheets that are printable by the image forming apparatus10per unit time. The performance information indicates 60 [sheets/minute], for example.

The linear speed information indicates linear speed when an image is formed in the image forming apparatus10. The linear speed information indicates 300 [mm/s], for example. The linear speed information may be stored in association with the performance information. For example, the linear speed information may be stored so as to indicate 300 [mm/s] when the performance information indicates 60 [sheets/minute].

The controller116transmits the specification information to the sheet conveyor device20according to a request from the sheet conveyor device20. Specifically, the controller116transmits the specification information to the sheet conveyor device20through the connector24of the sheet conveyor device20connected to the connector of the image forming apparatus10.

The controller116transmits information related to the sheet to the sheet conveyor device20based on the data notified of from the sheet sensor115. Specifically, the controller116notifies the sheet conveyor device20of information indicating detection of the leading edge of the sheet and detection of the trailing edge of the sheet.

The following describes the operation of the sheet conveyor device20with reference toFIG. 3. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the sheet conveyor device20includes a conveyance section20P, the connector24, and a controller25. The conveyance section20P includes at least two pairs of conveyance rollers and at least two drive motors. Specifically, the conveyance section20P has a first roller pair231, a second roller pair232, a third roller pair233, a first motor241, a second motor242, and a third motor243.

The conveyance section20P conveys a sheet received through the first exit port113(in a path indicated by an arrow S1) of the image forming apparatus10such that the sheet passes through the inside of the sheet conveyor device20.

Each drive motor drives only one pair of conveyance rollers among the conveyance rollers. For example, the first roller pair231has a conveyance roller and a driven roller. The conveyance roller of the first roller pair231is driven by the first motor241. Similarly, the second roller pair232and the third roller pair233each include a conveyance roller and a driven roller. The conveyance roller of the second roller pair232is driven by the second motor242. The conveyance roller of the third roller pair233is driven by the third motor243.

Each conveyance roller is provided with a limiting mechanism which allows rotation only in a rotational direction by which the sheet is conveyed in the prescribed conveyance direction. For example, each conveyance roller may include a one-way clutch.

The first motor241drives the conveyance roller of the first roller pair231according to an instruction of the controller25. The second motor242drives the conveyance roller of the second roller pair232according to an instruction of the controller25. The third motor243drives the conveyance roller of the third roller pair233according to an instruction of the controller25. The first motor241, the second motor242, and the third motor243are stepper motors, for example.

The connector24electrically connects the power supply or the controller116of the image forming apparatus10to a power supply or the controller25of the sheet conveyor device20through the connector of the image forming apparatus10.

The controller25controls operation of each section of the sheet conveyor device20. The controller25includes a processor and memory, for example. The processor includes a CPU, for example. The memory stores data and a computer program therein. The memory for example includes semiconductor memory, and may further include a solid-state drive (SSD). The controller25receives a start signal indicating a start of a copy job or a print job from the image forming apparatus10through the connector24. When receiving the start signal, the controller25may control the conveyance section20P such that the conveyance speed of the sheet conveyor device20is the same speed as a linear speed (V0) of the image forming apparatus10. The controller25is an example of a judgement section, a speed determining section, or a conveyance controller. The connector24and the controller25are an example of an information acquiring section.

The controller25determines which of a plurality of image forming apparatus model groups the image forming apparatus10belongs to based on the specification information indicating the specifications of the image forming apparatus10. The controller25also determines the conveyance speed at which the sheet is to be conveyed inside the conveyance section20P based on the determined model group.

The controller25also controls the first motor241, the second motor242, and the third motor243so as to convey the sheet at the determined conveyance speed.

The controller25acquires the specification information of the image forming apparatus10from the image forming apparatus10through the connector24.

The controller25then determines the model group to which the image forming apparatus10belongs based on the identification information, the linear speed information, or the performance information. The controller25also determines the conveyance speed of the sheet conveyor device20based on the determined model group.

Specifically, the controller25determines whether the image forming apparatus10belongs to a high-end model group or a low-end model group based on the identification information, the linear speed information, or the performance information. The controller25then determines the conveyance speed of the sheet conveyor device20to be a first speed in a case where the image forming apparatus10belongs to the high-end model group. The controller25determines the conveyance speed of the sheet conveyor device20to be a second speed in a case where the image forming apparatus10belongs to the low-end model group.

The controller25may determine the conveyance speed at a specific timing. The controller25may determine the conveyance speed at a timing at which pass-through data is received from the image forming apparatus10. The pass-through data indicates that the sheet has passed through the fixing section112of the image forming apparatus10.

The controller25can receive classification data indicating a classification of the sheet from the image forming apparatus10through the connector24. The controller25may then determine the conveyance speed based on the received classification data of the sheet. When the size of the sheet is long in the conveyance direction for example, a case may occur in which the leading edge of the sheet has mostly passed through the sheet conveyor device20when the trailing edge of the sheet exits the fixing section112of the image forming apparatus10. In this case, the controller25can determine not to change a conveyance speed.

The following describes specification information stored in the controller25of the sheet conveyor device20with reference toFIG. 4.FIG. 4is a diagram illustrating an example of the specification information stored in the controller25of the sheet conveyor device20.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, a specification information table400exhibits each type of specification information in association with image forming apparatuses forming a model group. The specification information table400has a model group column401, a sheet size column402, a printing capability column403, a linear speed column404, and a conveyance speed column405.

Information indicating the model group is included in the model group column401. Information indicating the model group indicates a “high-end model” or a “low-end model”, for example.

Information indicating the shape of the sheet is included in the sheet size column402. The information indicating the size of the sheet indicates A3, B4, A4, B5, and postcard, for example.

Information indicating a printing capability of the image forming apparatuses is included in the printing capability column403. The information indicating the printing capability indicates 40 to 60 [sheets/minute] for the high-end model and 25 to 32 [sheets/minute] for the low-end model, for example.

Information indicating the linear speed of the image forming apparatuses is included in the linear speed column404, The information indicating the linear speed indicates 200 to 300 [mm/s] for the high-end model and 125 to 160 [mm/s] for the low-end model, for example.

Information indicating the conveyance speed corresponding to each model group is included in the conveyance speed column405. The information indicating the conveyance speed corresponding to each model group indicates that a conveyance speed (V1) of the high-end model is 600 [mm/s] and a conveyance speed (V2) of the low-end model is 300 [mm/s], for example.

The controller25compares the specification information acquired from the image forming apparatus10to the specification information in the specification information table400stored in the controller25to determine whether the image forming apparatus10belongs to the high-end model group or the low-end model group.

The following describes a conveyance control process with reference toFIGS. 1 to 5.FIG. 5is a flowchart depicting an example of the conveyance control process of the sheet conveyor device20. Herein, the “conveyance control process” is a process by which the controller25of the sheet conveyor device20determines the conveyance speed. Specifically, the controller25determines the conveyance speed based on the specification information acquired from the image forming apparatus10. The conveyance control process is performed according to Steps S2to S20.

Step S2: The controller25receives the start signal indicating a start of a copy job or a print job from the image forming apparatus10through the connector24. The process advances to Step S4.

Step S4: The controller25acquires the linear speed information including the linear speed (V0) for the image forming apparatus10to perform the copy job or the print job. The process advances to Step S6.

Step S6: The controller25sets the conveyance speed of the sheet conveyor device20to the same speed as the linear speed (V0). The process advances to Step S8.

Step S8: The controller25acquires the specification information from the image forming apparatus10. The process advances to Step S10.

Step S10: The controller25determines whether or not the size of the sheet with an image formed thereon through the copy job or the print job is a specific size. When the controller25determines that the size of the sheet is not the specific size (No in Step S10), the process advances to Step S12. When the controller25determines that the size of the sheet is the specific size (Yes in Step S10), the controller25ends the conveyance control process.

Step S12: The controller25determines whether or not the pass-through data indicating that the sheet has passed through the fixing section112has been received from the image forming apparatus10. When the controller25determines that the pass-through data has been received (Yes in Step S12), the process advances to Step S14. When the controller25determines that the pass-through data has not been received (No in Step S10), the controller25enters standby until the pass-through data is received.

Step S14: The controller25determines the model group of the image forming apparatus10based on the acquired specification information. The process advances to Step S16.

Step S16: When the controller25determines the model group of the image forming apparatus10to be the high-end model group (high-end in Step S16), the process advances to Step S18. When the controller25determines the model group of the image forming apparatus10to be the low-end model group (low-end in Step S16), the process advances to Step S20.

Step S18: The controller25changes the conveyance speed of the sheet conveyor device20to V1(V1>V0). The controller25ends the conveyance control process.

Step S20: The controller25changes the conveyance speed of the sheet conveyor device20to V2>V0). The controller25ends the conveyance control process.

As described above with reference toFIGS. 1 to 5, the sheet conveyor device mounted to the image forming apparatus determines the conveyance speed at which the sheet is to be conveyed based on the specification information of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the sheet conveyor device can shorten a first copy time or a first print time while finely addressing the printing conditions of the image forming apparatus. A first copy time is for example a period starting when a starting instruction of a copy job is given and ending when a first sheet is ejected. A first print time is for example a period starting when a starting instruction of a print job is given and ending when a first sheet is ejected.

The embodiment of the present disclosure is described so far with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment and may be implemented in various manners within a scope not departing from the gist thereof. Furthermore, various disclosures may be created by appropriately combining the elements of configuration disclosed in the above embodiment. For example, some of the elements of configuration in the embodiment may be omitted. Additionally, elements of configuration in different embodiments may be appropriately combined. The drawings illustrate main elements of configuration schematically to facilitate understanding thereof. Aspects of the elements of configuration in the drawings, such as thickness, length, number, and interval thereof, may differ in practice for the sake of convenience for drawing preparation. Furthermore, aspects of the elements of configuration described in the above embodiment such as material, shape, and dimension thereof are merely examples and not particular limitations. The elements of configuration may be variously altered within a scope not substantially departing from the effects of the present disclosure.