Paper sheet conveyance device for conveying paper sheet to image forming section and image forming apparatus having paper sheet conveyance device for conveying paper sheet to image forming section

Abstract

A paper sheet conveyance device for conveying a paper sheet to an image forming apparatus includes a corrugation roller for imparting corrugation onto both the left and right sides of a paper sheet, onto which an image has not been formed, with respect to a conveyance direction, by forming a curved portion along the conveyance direction.

1 . A paper sheet conveyance device for conveying a paper sheet to an image forming apparatus comprising:
 a corrugation roller for imparting corrugation onto both left and right sides of a paper sheet, onto which an image has not been formed, with respect to a conveyance direction, by forming a curved portion along the conveyance direction.   
     
     
         2 . The paper sheet conveyance device described in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a conveyance roller disposed opposite to said corrugation roller;   a supporting mechanism for supporting said corrugation roller in a direction in which said corrugation roller separates from said conveyance roller;   an information setting section in which paper sheet type information for a paper sheet is set; and   a control section configured to control said supporting mechanism to retract said corrugation roller from said conveyance roller in accordance with a basis weight of paper sheet based on paper sheet type information having been set in said information setting section.   
     
     
         3 . The paper sheet conveyance device described in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a conveyance roller disposed opposite to said corrugation roller;   a pressing supporting mechanism for supporting said corrugation roller in a direction in which said corrugation roller separates from said conveyance roller, and for pressing said corrugation roller into contact with said conveyance roller;   an information setting section in which paper sheet type information for a paper sheet is set; and   a control section configured to control said pressing supporting mechanism to vary a force that presses said corrugation roller into contact with said conveyance roller in accordance with a basis weight of paper sheet based on paper sheet type information having been set in said information setting section.   
     
     
         4 . The paper sheet conveyance device described in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a conveyance roller disposed opposite to said corrugation roller,   wherein said corrugation roller comprises a nipping section, facing said conveyance roller, for nipping a paper sheet, and a corrugation imparting section protruding beyond said nipping section on a lateral side of said facing conveyance roller,   wherein said corrugation roller is supported to be movable along an axis direction of said corrugation roller while said corrugation imparting section is biased via a biasing member in a direction in which said corrugation imparting section approaches said conveyance roller.   
     
     
         5 . The paper sheet conveyance device described in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a supporting mechanism for supporting said corrugation roller to be movable in an axial direction of said corrugation roller,   an information setting section in which paper sheet type information for a paper sheet is set;   a control section configured to control said supporting mechanism to vary a corrugation imparting position in the axis direction of said corrugation roller in accordance with a width of paper sheet based on paper sheet type information having been set in said information setting section.   
     
     
         6 . The paper sheet conveyance device described in  claim 1 , wherein a distance between said corrugation roller and said image forming section is configured to be a shorter distance than a minimum length of paper sheet that can be passed. 
     
     
         7 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an image forming apparatus for forming an image; and   a paper sheet conveyance device, for conveying a paper sheet to said image forming apparatus, comprises a corrugation roller for imparting corrugation onto both left and right sides of a paper sheet, onto which an image has not been formed, with respect to a conveyance direction, by forming a curved portion along the conveyance direction.   
     
     
         8 . The image forming apparatus described in  claim 7 , wherein said paper sheet conveyance device further comprises:
 a conveyance roller disposed opposite to said corrugation roller;   a supporting mechanism for supporting said corrugation roller in a direction in which said corrugation roller separates from said conveyance roller;   an information setting section in which paper sheet type information for a paper sheet is set; and   a control section configured to control said supporting mechanism to retract said corrugation roller from said conveyance roller in accordance with a basis weight of paper sheet based on paper sheet type information having been set in said information setting section.   
     
     
         9 . The image forming apparatus described in  claim 7 , wherein said paper sheet conveyance device further comprises:
 a conveyance roller disposed opposite to said corrugation roller;   a pressing supporting mechanism for supporting said corrugation roller in a direction in which said corrugation roller separates from said conveyance roller, and for pressing said corrugation roller into contact with said conveyance roller;   an information setting section in which paper sheet type information for a paper sheet is set; and   a control section configured to control said pressing supporting mechanism to vary a force that presses said corrugation roller into contact with said conveyance roller in accordance with a basis weight of paper sheet based on paper sheet type information, having been set in said information setting section.   
     
     
         10 . The image forming apparatus described in  claim 7 , wherein said paper sheet conveyance device further comprises:
 a conveyance roller disposed opposite to said corrugation roller,   wherein said corrugation roller comprises a nipping section, facing said conveyance roller, for nipping a paper sheet, and a corrugation imparting section protruding from said nipping section on a lateral side of said facing conveyance roller,   wherein said corrugation roller is supported to be movable along an axis direction of said corrugation roller while said corrugation imparting section is biased via a biasing member in a direction in which said corrugation imparting section approaches said conveyance roller.   
     
     
         11 . The image forming apparatus described in  claim 7 , wherein said paper sheet conveyance device further comprises:
 a supporting mechanism for supporting said corrugation roller to be movable in an axial direction of said corrugation roller;   an information setting section in which paper sheet type information for a paper sheet is set; and   a control section configured to control said supporting mechanism to vary a corrugation imparting position in the axis direction of said corrugation roller in accordance with a width of paper sheet based on paper sheet type information having been set in said information setting section.   
     
     
         12 . The image forming apparatus described in  claim 7 , wherein a distance between said corrugation roller and said image forming section is configured to be a shorter distance than a minimum length of paper sheet that can be conveyed.