Patent Publication Number: US-2005127236-A1

Title: Transporting device and image recording apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a transporting device and image recording apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a transporting device for transporting a recording sheet and being capable of readily resolving problems of jamming of the recording sheet, and image recording apparatus having the transporting device.  
      2. Description Related to the Prior Art  
      A photographic printer as image recording apparatus is used in a photo laboratory for producing photographic prints. Long photographic paper as photosensitive material is unwound from a roll in a paper magazine, and cut to obtain a photographic paper sheet having a regular printing size. The photographic paper sheet is transported toward an exposure unit. It is likely in the printer that jamming occurs when an end or edge of the photographic paper incidentally abuts on an edge of transporting rollers transporting the photographic paper.  
      JP-A 2001-261189 discloses a known structure of a transporting device as a unit in the photographic printer. A plurality of sets of transporting rollers are incorporated in the transporting device, which is contained in the printer with a slide rail and the like, which keep the transporting device movable in a direction perpendicular to the transport of the photographic paper. If a jammed state of the photographic paper occurs, the transporting device is pulled away. So the residual part of the photographic paper is eliminated from a transporting path in the printer.  
      However, in the known transporting device, failure is likely to occur due to blocking of the photographic paper typically when the residual sheets extend between two adjacent transporting devices. Small broken pieces of the photographic paper will remain in the transporting path, because of the breakage in the course of pulling the photographic paper. Furthermore, the support of photosensitive material may be crystal paper, or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film having very high strength and resistance to breakage. Mechanical elements of the transporting device may be damaged upon jamming of the photographic paper with this strength.  
      Even after removing the photographic paper having caused the jammed state, remaining sheets of the photographic paper being unused in the upstream position and succeeding to the jammed sheet must be totally eliminated before the jammed state will be treated. An operator must draw away or disassemble all of the transporting devices from the photographic printer.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In view of the foregoing problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a transporting device for transporting a recording sheet and being capable of readily resolving problems of jamming of the recording sheet, and image recording apparatus having the transporting device.  
      In order to achieve the above and other objects and advantages of this invention, a transporting device for transporting and delivering a recording sheet along a transporting path is provided. There is a transporting device body being stationary. A lid is secured to the transporting device body, movable between first and second positions, wherein the lid, when in the first position, closes an upstream side of the transporting path, and when in the second position, opens the upstream side of the transporting path, the lid allowing transport of the recording sheet when in the first position.  
      Furthermore, a rotational support mechanism secures a downstream edge of the lid to the transporting device body in a rotatable manner. The lid is openable upon a pivotal movement of an upstream edge thereof.  
      Furthermore, a plurality of transporting roller sets nip and transport the recording sheet between the transporting device body and the lid along the transporting path.  
      Each of the plural transporting roller sets includes a first roller secured to the lid. A nip roller is secured to the transporting device body.  
      Furthermore, a delay mechanism decreases a moving speed of the lid toward the second position for delay.  
      The delay mechanism is secured between the lid and the transporting device body, and biases the lid toward the first position.  
      The rotational support mechanism includes first and second lid arms for protruding from ends of the downstream edge of the lid. First and second support arms protrude from ends of a downstream edge of the transporting device body, the first and second support arms being secured to the first and second lid arms in a rotatable manner.  
      The plural transporting roller sets are arranged in plural rows in a direction of the transporting path, and in plural rows in a crosswise direction crosswise to the transporting path.  
      The delay mechanism includes a tension biasing element, extensible resiliently in response to application of tension, having first and second biasing ends, the first biasing end being retained on the lid. A line-shaped connector has first and second connecting ends, the first connecting end being retained on the transporting device body, the second connecting end being connected with the second biasing end, for suspending the lid coming down to the second position.  
      The delay mechanism is disposed along the upstream edge of the lid, and the tension biasing element extends in a crosswise direction crosswise to the transporting path.  
      The lid is disposed lower than the transporting device body, and the second position is lower than the first position.  
      The transporting path has an upstream portion extending substantially horizontally, and a downstream portion succeeding to the upstream portion and extending downwards in a tilted or curved manner.  
      In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an image recording apparatus includes a transporting device body being stationary. A transporting mechanism transports a recording sheet along a transporting path disposed with the transporting device body. A lid is secured to the transporting device body, movable between first and second positions, and when in the first position, defining the transporting path in cooperation with the transporting device body, and when in the second position, being away from the transporting device body to form a space upstream along the transporting path.  
      Furthermore, a residual sheet receiving unit is actuated upon occurrence of jamming of the recording sheet, for collectively receiving remaining recording sheets from the transporting path. A position detector detects in which of the first and second positions the lid is set. A controller is responsive to an output of the position detector, for driving the residual sheet receiving unit if the lid is set in the second position.  
      The residual sheet receiving unit includes a cover, openable relative to an outer surface of the lid, for being open away from the lid when the lid is in the second position, for collective receiving, and for being closed when the lid is in the first position, to cover the outer surface of the lid.  
      Specifically, at least one transporting unit is disposed upstream from the transporting device body, having a transporting roller, for transporting the recording sheet. A controller causes the transporting roller in the transporting unit to rotate after removal of a jammed recording sheet with the lid set in the second position, wherein the transporting roller transports the recording sheet remaining in the transporting unit, to exit the recording sheet through a space between the transporting device body and the lid. A residual sheet receiving unit receives the recording sheet exited through the space.  
      Furthermore, a position detector detects in which of the first and second positions the lid is set, to output a position signal, the position signal being transmitted to the controller.  
      Furthermore, a cover rotational support mechanism supports a downstream edge of the cover in a rotatable manner. The cover is openable upon a pivotal movement of an upstream edge thereof.  
      The recording sheet is photosensitive. Furthermore, there is an exposure unit for image printing by exposure of the photosensitive sheet. A leader receiving unit is disposed downstream from the exposure unit, having the transporting device body incorporated therein, for guiding a leading end of the photosensitive sheet being exposed.  
      The recording sheet is photosensitive. There is an exposure unit for image printing by exposure of the photosensitive sheet. A processor is disposed downstream from the exposure unit, for photographically processing the photosensitive sheet. The transporting device body is positioned between the exposure unit and the processor. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is an explanatory view illustrating a printer-processor composite machine;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a leader receiving unit and its relevant elements;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a state of the leader receiving unit in which a cover is open;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a transporting device;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a state of the transporting device in which a lid is open;  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view, partially cutaway, illustrating a delay mechanism. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
      In  FIG. 1 , a printer-processor composite machine  2  is constituted by a photographic printer  10  and a paper processor  11 . The printer  10  includes a paper delivery unit  12 , a back imprinting unit  13 , a registering unit  14 , an image forming exposure unit  15 , a leader receiving unit  16  for a sub-scan direction, a residual sheet receptacle  17 , a sheet distributor  18 , and a sheet dispenser  19 . Any of those elements is controlled by a controller  20  or system controller in the printer-processor composite machine  2 .  
      Two paper magazines  22   a  and  22   b  are loaded in the paper delivery unit  12 . A roll of long photographic paper  21  to form a paper sheet as a recording sheet is contained in each of the paper magazines  22   a  and  22   b . The photographic paper  21  is different between the paper magazines  22   a  and  22   b  in the condition of various items which are the paper web width, surface type, and other specifics. Note that the photographic paper  21  may be the same between the paper magazines  22   a  and  22   b.    
      A set of two advancing rollers  24   a  and  24   b  are disposed on the paper magazines  22   a  and  22   b , and transport the photographic paper  21  along a transporting path  23  indicated by the phantom line. The advancing rollers  24   a  and  24   b  unwind and advance the photographic paper  21  from the paper magazines  22   a  and  22   b  at a predetermined amount according to a printing size. In the unwound state, the advancing rollers  24   a  and  24   b  stop the advance in a provisionary manner.  
      The back imprinting unit  13  includes a paper cutter  25  and an imprinting head  26 . The paper cutter  25  cuts the photographic paper  21  according to a printing size after unwinding from the paper magazines  22   a  and  22   b  by operation of the advancing rollers  24   a  and  24   b . A photographic paper sheet  21   a  is obtained. The imprinting head  26  imprints information to a back surface of the photographic paper sheet  21   a , the information including a frame number, correction data, and the like.  
      The registering unit  14  deskews the position of the photographic paper sheet  21   a , adjusts the position of the photographic paper sheet  21   a  in the path width direction, and operates for other adjustment. In the image forming exposure unit  15 , a photo film scanner (not shown) reads image from photo film to obtain image data. Instead of this, image data may be read from a storage medium such as a memory card (not shown). Printing light is modulated for the intensity according to the image data, so as to print an image on the photographic paper sheet  21   a  by exposing its photosensitive surface.  
      The leader receiving unit  16  has a number of transporting roller sets, each of which includes a first roller  40  and a nip roller  41 . The first roller  40  is positioned lower, and supports a leader of the photographic paper sheet  21   a  protruding from the image forming exposure unit  15  in the course of printing. See  FIG. 5 . The nip roller  41  is positioned higher, and is shiftable between first and second positions, and when in the first position, nips the photographic paper sheet  21   a  with the first roller  40 , and when in the second position, comes away from the first roller  40  to release nipping of the photographic paper sheet  21   a . The sets of the first roller  40  and the nip roller  41  in the leader receiving unit  16  are incorporated in a transporting device  30 , as depicted in  FIGS. 2-5 .  
      The residual sheet receptacle  17  is used upon occurrence of jamming of the photographic paper sheet  21   a  in a section upstream from the image forming exposure unit  15 , and collects and stacks the remainder of the photographic paper sheet  21   a  from the transporting path  23  in the upstream section. A number of passage detecting sensors (not shown) are disposed in the transporting path  23  for detecting the passage of the photographic paper sheet  21   a . It is determined in the printer-processor composite machine  2  that jamming has occurred if no defecting signal is generated from each detecting sensor within a predetermined period of time. Upon occurrence of the jammed state, the photographic paper sheet  21   a  stops being transported. An alarm signal is generated to warn an operator.  
      The sheet distributor  18  handles the photographic paper sheet  21   a  having been transported in one line past the upstream elements including the leader receiving unit  16 , and distributes the photographic paper sheet  21   a  in a two-row form in the path width direction. The sheet dispenser  19  dispenses the photographic paper sheet  21   a  distributed by the sheet distributor  18 , and supplies the paper processor  11  with the photographic paper sheet  21   a . The sheet distributor  18  has a structure for example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,144,441 (corresponding to JP-A 11-038584).  
      The paper processor  11  is supplied by the sheet dispenser  19  with the photographic paper sheet  21   a , subjects the photographic paper sheet  21   a  to the color development, bleach/fixing, water washing and drying, and sorts and dispenses the photographic paper sheet  21   a  per customer orders for printing.  
      In  FIGS. 2-5 , the transporting device  30  constitutes the leader receiving unit  16  and is a unit including the sets of the first roller  40  and the nip roller  41 . The transporting device  30  includes a transporting device body  30   a  and a lower lid  30   b . The transporting device body  30   a  is stationary on the photographic printer  10 , and has the nip roller  41 . The transporting device body  30   a  has the first roller  40 , and is rotationally shiftable between closed and open positions, and when in the closed position of  FIG. 4 , allows the photographic paper sheet  21   a  to move along the transporting path  23 , and when in the open position of  FIG. 5 , opens an upstream space along the transporting path  23 .  
      There is a lower cover  31  for covering the downside of the leader receiving unit  16 , the sheet distributor  18  and a portion of the sheet dispenser  19 , the lower cover  31  being included in the residual sheet receptacle  17 . The lower cover  31  is shiftable between closed and open positions, and when in the closed position, covers the downside of the leader receiving unit  16  in  FIG. 2 , and when in the open position, uncovers the downside of the leader receiving unit  16  in  FIG. 3 . A cover grip  32  protrudes from the lower cover  31 , and manually handled for opening and closing the lower cover  31 . A retention wire  33  is connected for retaining the lower cover  31  in the open position.  
      In  FIG. 4 , a rotational support mechanism includes two support arms  42   a , which are formed to project from a downstream end of the transporting device body  30   a . Two lid arms  42   b  are formed to project from a downstream end of the lower lid  30   b . A through hole is formed in any of the support arms  42   a  and the lid arms  42   b . A support shaft  43  is inserted in the through holes. In  FIG. 5 , there is a lid grip  44  on the lower lid  30   b . When the lower lid  30   b  is pulled down by holding the lid grip  44  rotationally about the support shaft  43 , then the transporting path  23  appears externally. An upstream portion of the transporting path  23  nearer to the image forming exposure unit  15  is uncovered.  
      In  FIG. 5 , retention hooks  45  protrude from lateral faces of the lower lid  30   b . Retention holes  46  are formed in the transporting device body  30   a  on one side of the transporting path  23 . The retention hooks  45  are fitted in the retention holes  46 , to retain the lower lid  30   b  in the closed position. When the lower lid  30   b  is pulled down by grasping the lid grip  44 , the retention hooks  45  are disengaged from the retention holes  46 .  
      A position detecting sensor or limit switch  47  as a position detector is incorporated in the portion of one of the retention holes  46 , and detects in which of the closed and open positions the lower lid  30   b  is set. The position detecting limit switch  47  turns on when the lower lid  30   b  is closed to enter the retention hooks  45  in the retention holes  46 , and turns off when the lower lid  30   b  is open to disengage the retention hooks  45  from the retention holes  46 . A detection signal generated by the limit switch  47  is transmitted to the controller  20 .  
      The controller  20  receives a detection signal from the position detecting limit switch  47 , and judges requirement of the stacking operation of the remainder of the photographic paper sheets  21   a . If the lower lid  30   b  is open, upstream ones of the transport rollers disposed upstream from the point of jamming are actuated, to collect and stack the photographic paper sheet  21   a  from the upstream section of the transporting path  23  into the residual sheet receptacle  17 . If the lower lid  30   b  is closed, no transport rollers are actuated. No stacking of the remainder is made.  
      In  FIG. 6 , a delay mechanism  50  is incorporated in the transporting device  30 , for braking of the lower lid  30   b , namely reducing a speed of the lower lid  30   b  in movement toward the open position being lower. The delay mechanism  50  includes a connector of wire  51  as a line-shaped connector, a tension coil spring  52   a  as a tension biasing element, and a tension coil spring  52   b  as a tension biasing element with a biasing and connecting end. The connector of wire  51  connects the lower lid  30   b  to the transporting device body  30   a . The tension coil springs  52   a  and  52   b  in cooperation bias the lower lid  30   b  in a direction toward the closed position being upper, and can extend elastically in response to the movement of the lower lid  30   b.    
      An end retention hook  53  protrudes for retaining one biasing end of the tension coil spring  52   a  of the lower lid  30   b . A second biasing end of the tension coil spring  52   a  is firmly connected with the connector of wire  51 . A pulley  54  is disposed, and has the periphery which the connector of wire  51  is extended to contact. One end of the tension coil spring  52   b  is connected with the connector of wire  51 .  
      A connector of wire  61  as a line-shaped connector is connected with a second end of the tension coil spring  52   b . There are through holes  55   a  and  55   b  formed respectively in the transporting device body  30   a  and the lower lid  30   b . The connector of wire  61  is inserted through the through holes  55   a  and  55   b . An end retention hook  56  protrudes from the transporting device body  30   a , and is connected with a connecting end of the connector of wire  61 .  
      The operation of the printer-processor composite machine  2  is hereinafter described. At first, a command signal of command for printing is generated. In response, the photographic paper  21  is advanced from one of the paper magazines  22   a  and  22   b  in the paper delivery unit  12  by the advancing roller  24   a  or  24   b . The paper cutter  25  in the back imprinting unit  13  cuts the photographic paper  21  to obtain the photographic paper sheet  21   a.    
      The photographic paper sheet  21   a  obtained by cutting for the printing size moves to the imprinting head  26 , which imprints the information to the photographic paper sheet  21   a  for the frame number, correction data, and the like. The registering unit  14  adjusts orientation of the photographic paper sheet  21   a  for deskewing and correcting the position in the path width direction. Then the photographic paper sheet  21   a  is transported toward the image forming exposure unit  15 .  
      The image forming exposure unit  15  prints an image according to the image data on a photosensitive surface of the photographic paper sheet  21   a . The photographic paper sheet  21   a  being exposed is transported through the leader receiving unit  16  to the sheet distributor  18 .  
      The sheet distributor  18  is supplied with the photographic paper sheet  21   a  transported in the leader receiving unit  16  in one row, and distributes the photographic paper sheet  21   a  into two rows according to the path width direction. The photographic paper sheet  21   a  distributed by the sheet distributor  18  is transported to the paper processor  11  by the sheet dispenser  19 . The photographic paper sheet  21   a  being exposed is subjected in the paper processor  11  to the color development, bleach/fixing, water washing and drying, and are sorted per customer orders for printing, and dispensed collectively.  
      If jamming of the photographic paper sheet  21   a  is created in a section upstream from the image forming exposure unit  15 , then the lower cover  31  is opened by manually pulling the cover grip  32 . The lower lid  30   b  is opened by pulling the lid grip  44 . The remaining ones of the photographic paper sheet  21   a  are removed from the upstream section in the transporting path  23  upstream from the point of the jammed state.  
      If the position detecting limit switch  47  detects an open state of the lower lid  30   b , then the controller  20  rotates at least one of the transporting rollers upstream from a point where jamming has occurred except for the advancing rollers  24   a  and  24   b . The remainder of the photographic paper sheet  21   a  existing upstream from the jammed point in the transporting path  23  is collectively stacked in the residual sheet receptacle  17 . In contrast, if the limit switch  47  detects a closed state of the lower lid  30   b , the transporting rollers are turned off without rotation. The collecting and stacking operation is not made.  
      In the known structure in which the transporting device is in a drawer type, failure is likely to occur in drawing the transporting device due to blocking of photosensitive material typically when the residual sheets extend between two adjacent transporting devices. In the invention, however, no small broken pieces of the photographic paper will remain in the transporting path, because breakage can be prevented in the course of pulling the photographic paper. Furthermore, the support of the photosensitive material may be crystal paper, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, or other film or sheet material having very high strength and resistance to breakage. Unlike the prior art in which mechanical elements may be damaged upon jamming of the photosensitive material with this strength, it is possible to keep the transporting device safe and free from damage in the use of the photosensitive material with the strength. When the lower lid  30   b  becomes open, the speed of the lower lid  30   b  in movement to the open position is reduced by braking of the delay mechanism  50 . Thus, the lower lid  30   b  is prevented from abruptly falling, and prevented from injure an operator physically. Also, the lower lid  30   b  can be kept coupled with the transporting device body  30   a  without disengagement.  
      There may be some skilled operator who, if jamming occurs, can readily remove the photographic paper sheet  21   a  remaining wastefully in the transporting path  23 . He or she does not need to open the lower lid  30   b . However, the feature of the invention enables even unskilled users to handle the photographic paper sheet  21   a  without difficulty, for the purpose of solving the problem of the jammed sheet. Consequently, the necessary or unnecessary condition of setting the stacking/collecting state can be determined according to intentions or conditions of the operator.  
      In the above embodiment, the delay mechanism  50  is constituted by the connectors of wire  51  and  61  and the tension coil springs  52   a  and  52   b . However, other structures may be used as a delay mechanism, such as a damper to apply pressure in a direction to open the lower lid  30   b.    
      In the above embodiment, the transporting device of the invention is applied in the leader receiving unit  16 . However, other elements or units in an image recording apparatus can have a transporting device according to the invention. In the embodiment, the printer-processor composite machine  2  is a combination of the photographic printer  10  and the paper processor  11 . However, an image recording apparatus according to the invention may be the printer  10  in a separate structure without the paper processor  11 .  
      In the above embodiment, the printer-processor composite machine  2  operates for recording an image. However, an image recording apparatus of the invention can be any of known types, such as inkjet printer, thermal printer, thermal transfer printer, apparatus of an electrophotographic structure or a laser printer, and other various image forming apparatuses.  
      Although the present invention has been fully described by way of the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those having skill in this field. Therefore, unless otherwise these changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as included therein.