Image generating device

• US 5,694,638 A
• Filed: 07/12/1996
• Issued: 12/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Hayashi, Shoji, Maruyama, Yuichi, Ishikawa, Sakae, Nakai, Junji, Gotoh, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Brase, Sandra L.
• Application Number:
  US08/678,883
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 399/45, 399/68, 399/381, 399/383, 399/384, 399/388, 399/400, 399/405, 399/389, 399/397, 399/322, 399/361, 271/278, 271/188
• US Class Current: 399/45
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00734 of sheet size

Abstract

An image generating device is provided with a control mechanism which controls an exit paper delivery speed after an image has been fixed to a form. The exit paper delivery speed is changed depending on information detected about the process of generating the image to prevent the form from being delivered with wrinkles. The information detected includes size of paper intervals between forms, length of forms, and whether the image generating process is a repeat copying or continuous form feeding process.

Claims

1. A method for generating and delivering an image on a form wrinkle-free, comprising the steps of:

feeding a form downstream in a paper delivery direction from a first location to a second location;

generating an image on the form at the second location;

fixing the image to the form;

delivering the form further downstream in the paper delivery direction from the second location to a third location;

detecting information about the step of generating the image;

controlling an initial speed of the delivery step to be higher than an entry paper delivery speed to the second location at a start of the step of generating the image; and

controlling an exit paper delivery speed using the information which was detected.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the step of detecting comprises detecting whether the step of generating the image is a repeat process; and

the step of controlling the exit paper delivery speed comprises controlling the exit paper delivery speed depending on whether the step of generating the image is said repeat process.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein:

the step of controlling the exit paper delivery speed comprises controlling the exit paper delivery speed to slowdown after an elapsed time has passed from a start of the repeat process of generating an image.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the step of detecting comprises detecting whether the step of generating the image is a continuous form feeding process; and

the step of controlling the exit paper delivery speed comprises controlling the exit paper delivery speed depending on whether the step of generating the image is said continuous form feeding process.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein:

the step of controlling the exit paper delivery speed comprises controlling the exit paper delivery speed to slowdown when the step of generating the image is said continuous form feeding process.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein:

the step of controlling the exit paper delivery speed comprises controlling the exit paper delivery speed to maintain a regular speed when the step of generating the image is other than said continuous form feeding process.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the step of detecting comprises detecting a paper interval between a trailing edge of a preceding form and a front edge of a following form; and

the step of controlling the exit paper delivery speed comprises controlling the exit paper delivery speed depending on the paper interval detected.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein:

the step of controlling the exit paper delivery speed comprises controlling the exit paper delivery speed to return to said initial speed when the detected paper interval is greater than a predetermined paper interval.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein:

the step of controlling the exit paper delivery speed comprises controlling the exit paper delivery speed to slowdown when the detected paper interval is less than the predetermined paper interval.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the step of detecting comprises detecting whether there is a subsequent form; and

the step of controlling the exit paper delivery speed comprises controlling the exit paper delivery speed depending on whether said subsequent form is detected.

11. A device for generating and delivering an image on a form wrinkle-free, comprising:

means for feeding a form downstream in a paper delivery direction from a first location to a second location;

means for generating an image on the form at the second location;

means for fixing the image to the form;

means for delivering the form further downstream in the paper delivery direction from the second location to a third location;

means for setting a number of forms on which the image is generated;

means for detecting information about a step of generating the image;

means for controlling an initial speed of the delivery step to be higher than an entry paper delivery speed to the second location at a start of the step of generating the image; and

means for controlling an exit paper delivery speed using the information which was detected.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein:

the means for detecting detects whether the step of generating the image is a repeat process; and

the means for controlling the exit paper delivery speed controls the exit paper delivery speed depending on whether the step of generating the image is said repeat process.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein:

the means for controlling the exit paper delivery speed controls the exit paper delivery speed to slowdown after an elapsed time has passed from a start of the repeat process of generating an image.

14. A device according to claim 11, wherein:

the means for detecting detects whether the step of generating the image is a continuous form feeding process; and

the means for controlling the exit paper delivery speed controls the exit paper delivery speed depending on whether the step of generating the image is said continuous form feeding process.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein:

the means for controlling the exit paper delivery speed controls the exit paper delivery speed to slowdown when the step of generating the image is said continuous form feeding process.

16. A device according to claim 14, wherein:

the means for controlling the exit paper delivery speed controls the exit paper delivery speed to maintain a regular speed when the step of generating the image is other than said continuous form feeding process.

17. A device according to claim 11, wherein:

the means for detecting detects a paper interval between a trailing edge of a preceding form and a front edge of a following form; and

the means for controlling the exit paper delivery speed controls the exit paper delivery speed depending on the paper interval detected.

18. A device according to claim 17, wherein:

the means for controlling the exit paper delivery speed controls the exit paper delivery speed to return to said initial speed when the detected paper interval is greater than a predetermined paper interval.

19. A device according to claim 18, wherein:

the means for controlling the exit paper delivery speed controls the exit paper delivery speed to slowdown when the detected paper interval is less than the predetermined paper interval.

20. A device according to claim 11, wherein:

the means for detecting detects whether there is a subsequent form; and

the means for controlling the exit paper delivery speed controls the exit paper delivery speed depending on whether said subsequent form is detected.

21. An image generating device which delivers a form wrinkle-free, comprising:

a feeding section which feeds a form downstream in a paper delivery direction from a first location to a second location;

a generating device which generates an image on the form at the second location;

a fixing device which fixes the image to the form;

a delivering section which delivers the form further downstream in the paper delivery direction from the second location to a third location;

a detecting device which detects information about a step of generating the image; and

a controlling device which controls an exit paper delivery speed from the second location using the information which was detected, in which said exit paper delivery speed is initialized to be higher than an entry paper delivery speed to the second location at a start of the step of generating the image.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein:

the detecting device detects whether the step of generating the image is a repeat process; and

the controlling device controls the exit paper delivery speed depending on whether the step of generating the image is said repeat process.

23. A device according to claim 22, wherein:

the controlling device controls the exit paper delivery speed to slowdown after an elapsed time has passed from a start of the repeat process of generating an image.

24. A device according to claim 21, wherein:

the detecting device detects whether the step of generating the image is a continuous form feeding process; and

the controlling device controls the exit paper delivery speed depending on whether the step of generating the image is said continuous form feeding process.

25. A device according to claim 24, wherein:

the controlling device controls the exit paper delivery speed to slowdown when the step of generating the image is said continuous form feeding process.

26. A device according to claim 24, wherein:

the controlling device controls the exit paper delivery speed to maintain a regular speed when the step of generating the image is other than said continuous form feeding process.

27. A device according to claim 21, wherein:

the detecting device detects a paper interval between a trailing edge of a preceding form and a front edge of a following form; and

the controlling device controls the exit paper delivery speed depending on the paper interval detected.

28. A device according to claim 27, wherein:

the controlling device controls the exit paper delivery speed to return to said initial speed when the detected paper interval is greater than a predetermined paper interval.

29. A device according to claim 28, wherein:

the controlling device the exit paper delivery speed to slowdown when the detected paper interval is less than the predetermined paper interval.

30. A device according to claim 21, wherein:

the detecting device detects whether there is a subsequent form; and

the controlling device controls the exit paper delivery speed depending on whether said subsequent form is detected.