# US 2014/0151491 A1 · Rolled recording medium conveyance device, image forming apparatus, rolled recording medium conveyance method, and computer program product

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- Number: US 2014/0151491 A1
- Document ID: US20140151491A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/094,596
- Filed: 2013-12-02
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-04
- Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
- Inventors: Tomohiro Mizutani; Suguru Yokozawa; Takashi Hatano
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151491A1

## CPC

- B65H 26/063: {responsive to detection of the trailing edge}
- B41J 29/38: Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism
- B41J 29/48: responsive to breakage or exhaustion of paper or approach of bottom of paper
- B65H 23/005: {Sensing web roll diameter (warning or safety devices responsive to a predetermined diameter B65H26/08)}
- B65H 26/08: responsive to a predetermined diameter
- B65H 2403/942: Bidirectional powered handling device
- B65H 2404/143: driving roller and idler roller arrangement
- B65H 2511/51: Presence
- B65H 2801/36: Plotting
- B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

In an image forming apparatus that the present invention is concerning to, rolled paper is conveyed in a forward conveyance direction for a predetermined period of time, when it is detected that an amount of the rolled paper rolled around a core pipe equals a predetermined amount or less. On the basis of the detection result, a CPU determines the rolled state of the rolled paper with respect to the core pipe and conveys the rolled paper in the forward conveyance direction or a reverse conveyance direction according to the rolled state.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A rolled recording medium conveyance device comprising:
a conveyance unit configured to convey a recording medium pulled out from the recording medium in a rolled state, with a forward conveyance direction corresponding to a direction in which the recording medium is pulled out;
a first recording medium detection unit configured to output a predetermined signal, when an edge portion of the recording medium on an upstream side of the forward conveyance direction is not detached from a core portion of the rolled recording medium and an amount of the rolled recording medium equals a predetermined amount or less;
a second recording medium detection unit configured to detect presence of the recording medium on a downstream side of the first recording medium detection unit in the forward conveyance direction;
a control unit configured to convey the recording medium being pulled out by the conveyance unit for a predetermined period of time in the forward conveyance direction, when the first recording medium detection unit has output the predetermined signal, and cause the conveyance unit to convey the recording medium in the forward conveyance direction or a reverse conveyance direction opposite from the forward conveyance direction on the basis of a detection result by at least either the first recording medium detection unit or the second recording medium detection unit while or after the recording medium is conveyed for the predetermined period of time.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The rolled recording medium conveyance device according to claim 1, wherein
when the first recording medium detection unit detects a state where the recording medium is not detached from the core portion after the recording medium has been conveyed for the predetermined period of time by the control unit, the control unit causes the conveyance unit to convey the recording medium in the reverse conveyance direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The rolled recording medium conveyance device according to claim 1, wherein
when the second recording medium detection unit is in a state not detecting the recording medium before the predetermined period of time elapses since the control unit starts conveying the recording medium, the control unit causes the conveyance unit to convey the recording medium in the forward conveyance direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The rolled recording medium conveyance device according to claim 1, wherein
when the second recording medium detection unit is in a state not detecting the recording medium regardless of a detection result by the first recording medium detection unit, the control unit causes the conveyance unit to convey the recording medium in the forward conveyance direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The rolled recording medium conveyance device according to claim 1, wherein
the control unit causes the conveyance unit to convey the recording medium with driving power weaker by a predetermined amount than normal conveyance driving power.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

An image forming apparatus that conveys a rolled recording paper to an image forming unit by a rolled recording medium conveyance unit and forms an image on the rolled recording paper, wherein
the rolled recording medium conveyance device according to claim 1 is mounted, as the rolled recording medium conveyance unit, to the image forming apparatus.

### Claim 7

A rolled recording medium conveyance method comprising:
a conveyance process step in which a recording medium pulled out from the recording medium in a rolled state is conveyed with a forward conveyance direction corresponding to a direction in which the recording medium is pulled out;
a first recording medium detection process step in which when an edge portion of the recording medium on an upstream side of the forward conveyance direction is not detached from a core portion of the rolled recording medium and an amount of the rolled recording medium equals a predetermined amount or less, a predetermined signal is output;
a second recording medium detection process step in which it is determined whether or not the recording medium is presented on a downstream side of the first recording medium detection process step in the forward conveyance direction;
a conveyance control process step in which when the predetermined signal is output in the first recording medium detection process step, the recording medium being pulled out in the conveyance process step is conveyed for a predetermined period of time in the forward conveyance direction, and
a control process step in which the recording medium is conveyed in the forward conveyance direction or a reverse conveyance direction opposite from the forward conveyance direction in the conveyance process step, on the basis of a detection result by at least either the first recording medium detection process step or the second recording medium detection process step while or after the recording medium is conveyed for the predetermined period of time in the conveyance control process step.

### Claim 8

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having a rolled recording medium conveyance program which causes a computer to execute a process comprising:
a conveyance process step in which a recording medium pulled out from the recording medium in a rolled state is conveyed with a forward conveyance direction corresponding to a direction in which the recording medium is pulled out;
a first recording medium detection process step in which when an edge portion of the recording medium on an upstream side of the forward conveyance direction is not detached from a core portion of the rolled recording medium and an amount of the rolled recording medium equals a predetermined amount or less, a predetermined signal is output;
a second recording medium detection process step in which it is determined whether or not the recording medium is presented on a downstream side of the first recording medium detection process step in the forward conveyance direction;
a conveyance control process step in which when the predetermined signal is output in the first recording medium detection process step, the recording medium being pulled out in the conveyance process step is conveyed for a predetermined period of time in the forward conveyance direction, and
a control process step in which the recording medium is conveyed in the forward conveyance direction or a reverse conveyance direction opposite from the forward conveyance direction in the conveyance process step, on the basis of a detection result by at least either the first recording medium detection process step or the second recording medium detection process step while or after the recording medium is conveyed for the predetermined period of time in the conveyance control process step.