IP Library Granted Patent US 12662341
Granted Patent B2
US 12662341 · App. 18/807,420 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Recording medium conveyance device and image forming system

Inventor: Katsuo Mikashima (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
B65H7/06B41J11/002B41J11/42B65H2553/80
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12662341
App. No.
18/807,420
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A recording medium conveyance device includes a recording medium conveyance unit, a detecting member, a voltage application unit, and a control unit. The recording medium conveyance unit conveys a recording medium. The detecting member is disposed to face the recording medium conveyance unit with a predetermined interval therebetween. The voltage application unit applies a detection voltage between the recording medium conveyance unit and the detecting member. The control unit controls the recording medium conveyance unit and the voltage application unit. When the recording medium conveyance unit conveys the recording medium, the control unit controls the voltage application unit to apply the detection voltage, detects contact between the recording medium and the detecting member, on the basis of a change in the detection voltage with respect to a predetermined threshold value, and determines conveyance abnormality of the recording medium.

Claims (25)

1 . A recording medium conveyance device comprising:

a recording medium conveyance unit configured to convey at least one recording medium;

a detecting member disposed to face the recording medium conveyance unit with a predetermined interval therebetween;

a voltage application unit configured to apply a detection voltage between the recording medium conveyance unit and the detecting member; and

a control unit configured to control the recording medium conveyance unit and the voltage application unit, wherein

when the recording medium conveyance unit conveys the at least one recording medium, the control unit controls the voltage application unit to apply the detection voltage, detects contact between the at least one recording medium and the detecting member on the basis of a change in the detection voltage with respect to a predetermined threshold value, and determines conveyance abnormality of the at least one recording medium.

2 . The recording medium conveyance device according to claim 1 , further comprising a heating unit disposed to face the recording medium conveyance unit on a downstream side of the detecting member in a conveying direction of the at least one recording medium, so as to heat and dry the at least one recording medium.

3 . The recording medium conveyance device according to claim 2 , wherein when detecting contact between the at least one recording medium and the detecting member, the control unit stops heating the at least one recording medium by the heating unit.

4 . The recording medium conveyance device according to claim 2 , further comprising a moving mechanism configured to allow the heating unit to approach or separate from the recording medium conveyance unit, wherein

when detecting contact between the at least one recording medium and the detecting member, the control unit controls the moving mechanism to separate the heating unit from the recording medium conveyance unit.

5 . The recording medium conveyance device according to claim 1 , wherein when detecting contact between the at least one recording medium and the detecting member, the control unit stops conveyance of the at least one recording medium by the recording medium conveyance unit.

6 . The recording medium conveyance device according to claim 1 , further comprising an input unit configured to receive record information including a type of the at least one recording medium to be used for recording an image and information about the image to be recorded on the at least one recording medium, wherein

the control unit changes the detection voltage and the threshold value on the basis of the record information.

7 . The recording medium conveyance device according to claim 6 ,

wherein the at least one recording medium comprises a plurality of successive recording media, and

the control unit changes the detection voltage and the threshold value, on the basis of the record information, during continuous recording on the plurality of successive recording media.

8 . An image forming system comprising:

an image forming apparatus configured to record an image on at least one recording medium; and

the recording medium conveyance device according to claim 1 , connected to a downstream side of the image forming apparatus in a conveying direction of the at least one recording medium.

9 . The image forming system according to claim 8 , further comprising a recording medium detection unit configured to detect passing of the at least one recording medium conveyed from the image forming apparatus to the recording medium conveyance device, wherein

the control unit determines whether or not the at least one recording medium faces the detecting member, on the basis of conveying speed of the at least one recording medium, detection timing of the recording medium detection unit, and distance from the recording medium detection unit to the detecting member.

10 . The image forming system according to claim 9 , wherein

the at least one recording medium comprises a plurality of successive recording media,

when the image forming apparatus continuously records the image on each of the plurality of successive recording media, the control unit determines whether one of the plurality of successive recording media faces the detecting member or an interval between the plurality of successive recording media faces the detecting member, on the basis of conveying speed of the plurality of successive recording media, detection timing of the recording medium detection unit, and distance from the recording medium detection unit to the detecting member, and

if the interval between the plurality of successive recording media faces the detecting member, the control unit changes the detection voltage and the threshold value, on the basis of a type of, of the plurality of successive recording media, one to be conveyed next and information of the image to be recorded on the one of the plurality of successive recording media.