Sheet separation/conveyance device and image forming apparatus incorporating same

摘要

A sheet separation/conveyance device that is included in an image forming apparatus includes an attraction/separation unit including an endless belt on which a region of attraction and a region of no attraction that divides the region of attraction are aligned in a sheet conveying direction, the endless belt configured to hold an uppermost sheet placed on top of a sheet stack contained in an image forming apparatus by using electrostatic attraction, a charger configured to charge a surface of the endless belt, the charger including an electrode configured to contact the surface of the endless belt due to a supply of a voltage and a detector configured to detect a charged condition on the surface of the endless belt based on a detection result obtained when the electrode contacts the endless belt, and a sheet conveying unit configured to convey the uppermost sheet held by the electrostatic attraction.

主权项

1. A sheet separation/conveyance device comprising:
an attraction/separation unit including an endless belt on which a region of attraction and a region of no attraction that divides the region of attraction are aligned in a sheet conveying direction, the endless belt configured to hold an uppermost sheet placed on top of a sheet stack contained in an image forming apparatus by using electrostatic attraction; a charger configured to charge a surface of the endless belt, the charger comprising:
a direct current power supply;an electrode configured to contact the surface of the endless belt due to a supply of a voltage from the direct current power supply, thereby creating the electrostatic attraction; anda detector configured to detect a charged condition on the surface of the endless belt based on a detection result obtained when the electrode contacts the endless belt; and a sheet conveying unit configured to convey the uppermost sheet held by the electrostatic attraction; wherein the detection result is one of a group consisting of a positive charge and a negative charge; a controller configured to control the sheet conveying unit, wherein, based on a detection result obtained by the detector of a change of a charged condition of the surface of the endless belt when the at least one electrode contacts the endless belt, the controller controls the sheet conveying unit so that the region of no attraction of the endless belt does not face the sheet while the uppermost sheet is being attracted to the endless belt.