Sheet member transporting device and method of controlling the same

Abstract

The sheet member transporting device moves sheet members of a predetermined length in a distributing direction perpendicular to a transporting direction to change from transportation in a single row to that in plural rows or vise versa. The device includes a transporting roller pair for nipping and transporting a sheet member, a moving member on which the roller pair is provided and which is movable in the distributing direction, a rotation movement mechanism for transmitting rotation to the roller pair and allowing the moving member to move in the distributing direction, a driving unit for driving the mechanism and a nip canceling unit for controlling nipping and releasing by the roller pair. The driving unit is provided as a component separate from the moving member.

1 . A sheet member transporting device which is adapted to perform one or both of: 
 moving sheet members of a predetermined length, which are being transported in a single row, in a distributing direction perpendicular to a transporting direction to transport said sheet members in plural rows; and    moving said sheet members of said predetermined length, which are transported in plural rows, in the distributing direction to transport said sheet members in a single row, said sheet member transporting device comprising:    a transporting roller pair for nipping and transporting one sheet member in said sheet members;    a moving member on which said transporting roller pair is provided and which is movable in said distributing direction;    a rotation movement mechanism for allowing said transporting roller pair to rotate by transmitting rotation force to said transporting roller pair to transport said one sheet member and allowing said moving member to move in said distributing direction;    a driving means connected to said rotation movement mechanism, for driving said rotation movement mechanism to move said moving member in said distributing direction; and    a nip canceling means for controlling nipping of said one sheet member and releasing of said nipping thereof by said transporting roller pair,    wherein said driving means is provided as a component separate from said moving member.    
     
     
         2 . The sheet member transporting device according to  claim 1 , wherein said rotation movement mechanism comprises: a cylindrical sleeve having rotation transmitting means for transmitting said rotation force to said transporting roller pair, which is created on an outer peripheral surface of said cylindrical sleeve, and an elongated hole which extends in an axial direction of said cylindrical sleeve and is formed in said outer peripheral surface; 
 at least a pair of bearings for rotatably supporting said cylindrical sleeve on said moving member;    at least a pair of slide bearings provided in an inner peripheral surface at both ends of said cylindrical sleeve;    a rotation shaft inserted into each of said pair of slide bearings so as to be movable in said axial direction; and    a rotation transmitting member provided on an outer peripheral surface of said rotation shaft, said rotation transmitting member regulating movement of said rotation shaft in said axial direction and being adapted to abut said elongated hole at a time of rotation of said rotation shaft to transmit rotation of said rotation shaft to said cylindrical sleeve, and    wherein, said cylindrical sleeve rotates by rotating said rotation shaft to transmit said rotation force to said transporting roller pair.    
     
     
         3 . The sheet member transporting device according to  claim 1 , wherein said rotation movement mechanism is provided on a frame body and comprises a spline shaft fixed to said frame body and equipped with a rotation transmitting means for transmitting said rotation force to said transporting roller pair, and 
 wherein said rotation transmitting means follows relative movement of said moving member in said distributing direction and transmits said rotation force to said transporting roller pair while moving in an axial direction of said spline shaft.    
     
     
         4 . The sheet member transporting device according to  claim 3 , wherein said rotation movement mechanism further comprises a guide shaft inserted into at least each of a pair of slide bearings provided on said moving member and fixed to said frame body, for guiding movement of said moving member in said distributing direction.  
     
     
         5 . The sheet member transporting device according to  claim 1 , wherein, when said moving member is moved beyond a predetermined position in said distributing direction by said driving means, said nip canceling means releases said nipping by said transporting roller pair.  
     
     
         6 . The sheet member transporting device according to  claim 5 , wherein said nip canceling means releases said nipping by said transporting roller pair by using a translation cam mechanism based on a moving position of said moving member in said distributing direction.  
     
     
         7 . The sheet member transporting device according to  claim 5 , wherein said transporting roller pair comprises: 
 a transporting roller; and    a nip roller capable of being brought into and out of contact with said transporting roller,    wherein said nip canceling means comprises:    a guide member which is a plate member extending in a direction parallel to a moving direction of said moving member and which has a slope at a position to be matched with said predetermined position;    a support member fixed to said moving member, said support member rotatably supporting said nip roller as well as pivotally supporting said nip roller so as to allow said nip roller to come into and out of contact with said transporting roller; and    a driven member provided on said support member and adapted to come into contact with said guide member, and    wherein, when said driven member passes said slope as said moving member moves, said support member pivots said nip roller to separate said nip roller from said transporting roller or to touch said nip roller to said transporting roller.    
     
     
         8 . The sheet member transporting device according to  claim 7 , wherein said support member further comprises: 
 a fixing member fixed to said moving member; and    a canceling member pivotally supported by said fixing member, and rotatably supporting said nip roller as well as allowing said nip roller to come into and out of contact with said transporting roller,    wherein said driven member is provided on said, canceling member of said support member, and    wherein, when said driven member passes said slope as said moving member moves, said canceling member pivots against said fixing member and said nip roller is separated from or touched to said transporting roller.    
     
     
         9 . The sheet member transporting device according to  claim 1 , wherein said nip canceling means releases said nipping by said transporting roller pair by using a translation cam mechanism based on a moving position of said moving member in said distributing direction.  
     
     
         10 . The sheet member transporting device according to  claim 1 , wherein said transporting roller pair comprises: 
 a transporting roller; and    a nip roller capable of being brought into and out of contact with said transporting roller,    wherein said nip canceling means comprises:    a guide member which is a plate member extending in a direction parallel to a moving direction of said moving member and which has a slope at a predetermined position;    a support member fixed to said moving member, said support member rotatably supporting said nip roller as well as pivotally supporting said nip roller so as to allow said nip roller to come into and out of contact with said transporting roller; and    a driven member provided on said support member and adapted to come into contact with said guide member, and    wherein, when said driven member passes said slope as said moving member moves, said support member pivots said nip roller to separate said nip roller from said transporting roller or to touch said nip roller to said transporting roller.    
     
     
         11 . The sheet member transporting device according to  claim 10 , wherein said support member further comprises: 
 a fixing member fixed to said moving member; and    a canceling member pivotally supported by said fixing member, and rotatably supporting said nip roller as well as allowing said nip roller to come into and out of contact with said transporting roller,    wherein said driven member is provided on said canceling member of said support member, and    wherein, when said driven member passes said slope as said moving member moves, said canceling member pivots against said fixing member and said nip roller is separated from or touched to said transporting roller.    
     
     
         12 . A sheet member transporting device for transporting sheet members in one of a single row and plural rows according to widths of said sheet members, comprising: 
 plural transporting units adapted to be able to transport said sheet members independently of each other and arranged parallel to each other; and    a control unit for adjusting a transporting speed of each transporting unit,    wherein, when sheet members having a width extending over two or more transporting units in said plural transporting units are to be transported in said single row, said control unit adjusts an orientation of a sheet member by one of increasing and decreasing said transporting speed of said sheet member in at least one of said plural transporting units.    
     
     
         13 . The sheet member transporting device according to  claim 12 , wherein said plural transporting units are connected to an inlet of another apparatus, each comprising an adjustment transporting unit provided in a vicinity of an outlet for said sheet members of said plural transporting units, said adjustment transporting unit adjusting said transporting speed of said sheet member, and 
 wherein said adjustment transporting unit is controlled by said control unit.    
     
     
         14 . The sheet member transporting device according to  claim 12 , wherein each of said plural transporting units is equipped with a nipping and transporting roller pair and a transporting roller pair provided on a downstream side of said nipping and transporting roller pair with respect to a transporting direction, 
 wherein nipping of said sheet member and releasing of said nipping thereof by said nipping and transporting roller pair are controlled by said control unit, and transportation of said sheet member by said transporting roller pair is controlled by said control unit, and    wherein, when said orientation of said sheet member is to be adjusted by said transporting roller pair, said control unit releases said nipping of said sheet member by said nipping and transporting roller pairs.    
     
     
         15 . A method of controlling a sheet member transporting device having plural transporting units adapted to transport sheet members independently of each other, said plural transporting units being arranged parallel to each other and allowing adjustment of their respective transporting speeds, with said sheet members being transported in one of a single row and plural rows according to widths of said sheet members, comprising the steps of: 
 detecting a width of a sheet member;    detecting an orientation of said sheet member with respect to a perpendicular direction perpendicular to a transporting direction of said sheet member; and    adjusting, when a result of detection of said width of said sheet members indicates that said sheet member is to be transported in the single row over said plural transporting units, said orientation of said sheet member by one of increasing and decreasing said transporting speed of said sheet member in at least one of said plural transporting units based on said result of said detection of said width of said sheet member and of said orientation of said sheet member with respect to said perpendicular direction.