# US 10,120,320 B2 · Sheet transport device and image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,120,320 B2 - Document ID: US10120320B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/208,207 - Filed: 2016-07-12 - Published: 2017-01-19 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-14 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Daisuke Yamabe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10120320B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/6567: {for deskewing or aligning} - B65H 5/062: {between rollers or balls} - B65H 5/26: Duplicate, alternate, selective, or coacting feeds - B65H 7/14: by photoelectric feelers or detectors - G03G 15/6511: {Feeding devices for picking up or separation of copy sheets} - G03G 15/6529: {Transporting (G03G15/6555 takes precedence)} - G03G 15/6552: {Means for discharging uncollated sheet copy material, e.g. discharging rollers, exit trays} - G03G 15/6573: {Feeding path after the fixing point and up to the discharge tray or the finisher, e.g. special treatment of copy material to compensate for effects from the fixing} - B65H 2403/20: Belt drives - B65H 2553/61: Mechanical means, e.g. contact arms - G03G 2215/00409: Transfer device - G03G 2215/0132: vertical medium transport path at the secondary transfer - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract A sheet transport device includes a transport unit that transports a sheet, an endless belt that transmits a driving force from a motor to the transport unit, a rotary member that rotates by being pressed by the sheet transported by the transport unit, and a sensor that generates a signal in accordance with rotation of the rotary member. The rotary member is arranged in such a manner that a portion of the rotary member faces an inner peripheral portion of the endless belt. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sheet transport device comprising: a transport rotary unit that transports a sheet in a transporting direction by rotating; a rotary member that rotates by being pressed by the sheet transported by the transport rotary unit; a photo-interrupter that generates a signal in accordance with rotation of the rotary member; and an endless belt that transmits a driving force from a motor to the transport rotary unit, wherein the rotary member includes a shaft extending in an axial direction of the rotary member, a contact portion that projects from the shaft and that is brought into contact with the sheet transported, and a light-blocking portion that blocks an optical path of the photo-interrupter, wherein the contact portion and the light-blocking portion are arranged in such a manner that the endless belt is interposed between the contact portion and the light-blocking portion in the axial direction of the rotary member, and wherein the rotary member is arranged in such a manner that part of the shaft of the rotary member is surrounded by the endless belt. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sheet transport device according to claim 1, wherein both the photo-interrupter and the motor are arranged in such a manner as to oppose a transport region in which the sheet is transported with respect to the endless belt in the width direction of sheet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sheet transport device according to claim 1, wherein the photo-interrupter is arranged outside of the transporting region in the width direction of sheet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sheet transport device according to claim 1, wherein the endless-belt is arranged outside of a transport region in the axial direction, and the transport rotary unit transports the sheet in the transport region. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sheet transport device according to claim 1, wherein the endless-belt is not contacted to the sheet transported by the transport rotary unit. ### Claim 6 A sheet transport device comprising: a transporting roller that includes a roller shaft, and a receiving portion configured to receive a rotating force from a motor and provided at an end portion of the roller shaft in an axial direction of the transporting roller, wherein the transporting roller transports a sheet in a transporting direction perpendicular to the axial direction by the rotating force received by the receiving portion; a transmission unit that transmits the rotating force from the motor to the receiving portion; a rotary member that rotates by being pressed by the sheet transported; and a photo-interrupter that generates a signal, wherein the rotary member includes a contact portion that is brought into contact with the sheet transported, a light-blocking portion that blocks an optical path of the photo-interrupter, and a shaft that connects the contact portion and the light-blocking portion, wherein the transmission unit includes a pulley, and a ring-shaped belt supported by the pulley, wherein the contact portion and the light-blocking portion are arranged in such a manner that the ring-shaped belt is interposed between the contact portion and the light-blocking portion in the axial direction, wherein the ring-shaped belt is arranged outside of a transport region in the axial direction, and the transporting roller transports the sheet in the transport region, and wherein the shaft of the rotary member is disposed inside a ring formed of the ring-shaped belt. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The sheet transport device according to claim 6, wherein the shaft of the rotary member is disposed inside the ring formed of the ring-shaped belt. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The sheet transport device according to claim 6, wherein both the photo-interrupter and the motor are arranged in such a manner as to oppose the transport across the ring-shaped belt in the axial direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The sheet transport device according to claim 6, wherein the photo-interrupter is arranged outside of the transporting region in the axial direction. ### Claim 10 An image forming apparatus comprising: a transport rotary unit that transports a sheet in a transporting direction by rotating; an image forming unit that forms an image on the sheet, which is transported by the transport rotary unit; a rotary member that rotates by being pressed by the sheet, which is transported by the transport unit; a photo-interrupter that generates a signal in accordance with rotation of the rotary member; and an endless belt that transmits a driving force from a motor to the transport rotary unit, wherein the rotary member includes a shaft extending in an axial direction of the rotary member, a contact portion that projects from the shaft and that is brought into contact with the sheet transported, and a light-blocking portion that blocks an optical path of the photo-interrupter, wherein the contact portion and the light-blocking portion are arranged in such a manner that the endless belt is interposed between the contact portion and the light-blocking portion in the axial direction of the rotary member, and wherein the rotary member is arranged in such a manner that part of the shaft of the rotary member is surrounded by the endless belt. ### Claim 11 A sheet transport device comprising: a transport rotary unit that transports a sheet in a transporting direction by rotating; a rotary member that rotates by being pressed by the sheet transported by the transport rotary unit; a photo-interrupter that generates a signal in accordance with rotation of the rotary member; and a ring-shaped belt that transmits a driving force from a motor to the transport rotary unit, wherein the rotary member includes a shaft extending in an axial direction of the rotary member, a contact portion that projects from the shaft and that is brought into contact with the sheet transported, and a light-blocking portion that blocks an optical path of the photointerrupter, wherein the contact portion and the light-blocking portion are arranged in such a manner that the ring-shaped belt is interposed between the contact portion and the light-blocking portion in the axial direction of the rotary member, and wherein the shaft of the rotary member is disposed inside a ring formed of the ring-shaped belt. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sheet transport device according to claim 11, wherein the ring-shaped belt is arranged outside of a transport region in which the transport rotary unit transports the sheet.