Sheet reversing mechanism and image forming apparatus having sheet reversing mechanism
AssigneeRiso Kagaku Corporation
InventorsYasuhiro Katada, Atsushi Suzuki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sheet reversing mechanism for an image forming apparatus including a switchback reverse path for reversing print sheets, including a transfer roller, a drive motor, and a driving force transmission mechanism. The transfer roller transfers a print sheet along the switchback reverse path. The drive motor rotates in a forward direction and in a reverse direction. The driving force transmission mechanism transmits driving force generated by rotation of the drive motor to the transfer roller. The driving force transmission mechanism includes a clutch configured to connect or disconnect transmission of the driving force to the transfer roller.
Claims6
A sheet reversing mechanism for an image forming apparatus including a switchback reverse path for reversing print sheets, the sheet reversing mechanism comprising:
- a transfer roller configured to transfer a print sheet along the switchback reverse path;
- a drive motor configured to rotate in a forward direction and in a reverse direction;
- and
- a driving force transmission mechanism configured to transmit driving force generated by rotation of the drive motor to the transfer roller,
- wherein the driving force transmission mechanism includes a clutch configured to connect or disconnect transmission of the driving force to the transfer roller, and
- a controller configured to control rotation of the drive motor, wherein
- the controller is configured to
- drive the drive motor to rotate in the reverse direction to transfer a preceding print sheet in a direction of discharging a print sheet from the switchback reverse path in a state where the controller drives the clutch to connect transmission of the driving force, and then drive the clutch to disconnect transmission of the driving force,
- drive the drive motor to start to rotate in the forward direction in the state where the controller drives the clutch to disconnect transmission of the driving force, and
- drive the clutch to connect transmission of the driving force to transfer a next print sheet in a direction of guiding a print sheet into the switchback reverse path after a predetermined time has passed since the controller drives the drive motor to start to rotate in the forward direction.
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a switchback reverse path for reversing print sheets;
- and
- a sheet reversing mechanism including
- a transfer roller configured to transfer a print sheet along the switchback reverse path,
- a drive motor configured to rotate in a forward direction and in a reverse direction, and
- a driving force transmission mechanism configured to transmit driving force generated by rotation of the drive motor to the transfer roller,
- wherein the driving force transmission mechanism includes a clutch configured to connect or disconnect transmission of the driving force to the transfer roller, and
- wherein the sheet reversing mechanism further includes a controller configured to control rotation of the drive motor, and
- the controller is configured to
- drive the drive motor to rotate in the reverse direction to transfer a preceding print sheet in a direction of discharging a print sheet from the switchback reverse path in a state where the controller drives the clutch to connect transmission of the driving force, and then drive the clutch to disconnect transmission of the driving force,
- drive the drive motor to start to rotate in the forward direction in the state where the controller drives the clutch to disconnect transmission of the driving force, and
- drive the clutch to connect transmission of the driving force to transfer a next print sheet in a direction of guiding a print sheet into the switchback reverse path after a predetermined time has passed since the controller drives the drive motor to start to rotate in the forward direction.
A method for reversing print sheets on a switchback reverse path in an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:
- transferring a print sheet along the switchback reverse path by a transfer roller;
- driving a drive motor to rotate in a forward direction and in a reverse direction;
- connecting or disconnecting transmission of driving force generated by rotation of the drive motor to the transfer roller;
- driving the drive motor to rotate in the reverse direction to transfer a preceding print sheet in a direction of discharging a print sheet from the switchback reverse path in a state where transmission of the driving force is connected, and then disconnecting transmission of the driving force;
- driving the drive motor to start to rotate in the forward direction in a state where transmission of the driving force is disconnected;
- and
- connecting transmission of the driving force to transfer a next print sheet in a direction of guiding a print sheet into the switchback reverse path after a predetermined time has passed since the start of rotation of the drive motor in the forward direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.