JP2000143072A - Sheet processing device and picture image forming device provided with it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To discharge a bundle of curled sheets loaded on a processing tray of a sheet processing device without causing improper discharge for a bundle of sheets already loaded on a stack tray. SOLUTION: A curl condition of a bundle of sheets on a processing tray 130 is detected by a curl detection sensor S210, and a discharge speed onto a stack tray 200 is controlled by a control means based on the curl condition (direction of curl). Consequently, a bundle of sheets having lower curl and upper curl can be discharged without causing improper discharge and bundle return for already loaded bundle of sheets.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus, and more specifically, aligns or staples an image-formed sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer on a processing tray. The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus in which a curled sheet bundle discharged from a processing tray can be properly stacked on a stack tray.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, or a sheet bundle superposed on a plurality of sheets, is temporarily processed by a first stacking means into a processing tray (first
A sheet post-processing apparatus has been proposed in which a sheet is discharged onto a stacking means), aligned, or stapled, and then discharged onto a stack tray (second stacking means) by a bundle discharge roller pair (bundle discharge means).

Further, a sheet post-processing apparatus provided with a paper surface position detection sensor has been proposed in order to keep the height of the stack tray from the processing tray even when the sheet bundle is stacked.

[0004]

However, in the above-described sheet processing apparatus, when a large number of sheets (for example, 3000 sheets) are to be stacked on the stack tray, the curl of the sheet bundle to be discharged, for example, the lower curl For example, the stacking tray has a lower curl, so the frictional resistance between the paper bundles is greater than the force of the discharged sheet bundle to slide down the already loaded sheet bundle. Was likely to occur.

If the bundle of discharged sheets is curled upward, the loaded stack on the stack tray is also curled upward, so that the discharged bundle is discharged along the loaded bundle. The bundle must be climbed, and there is a possibility that a bundle discharge failure may occur.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus in which a curled sheet bundle discharged from a first stacking means can be properly stacked on the stacking means without being affected by the curl state of the sheet bundle. It is intended for.

[0007]

The invention according to claim 1 is
Sheet discharging means for discharging sheets, first loading means for loading sheets discharged from the sheet discharging means, bundle discharging means for discharging a bundle of sheets on the first loading means, and bundle discharge Control means for controlling the sheet bundle discharge speed of the means, a second stacking means capable of stacking a sheet bundle discharged by the bundle discharge means and capable of moving up and down along the apparatus main body; And a curl detecting unit for detecting a curl state of the sheet bundle on the stacking unit. The curl detecting unit detects the curl state of the sheet bundle and controls the bundle discharging speed of the bundle discharging unit by the control unit. It is characterized by the following.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the curl state of the sheet bundle detected by the curl detecting means is lower curl, the bundle discharging speed of the bundle discharging means is reduced, and Is characterized in that a bundle discharging speed of the bundle discharging means is increased.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the curl detecting means is disposed near and below the first stacking means, and is capable of guiding a sheet bundle being discharged, and is retracted into the apparatus main body. The movable retracting tray is provided between the retracted position and the retracted position.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the curl detecting means is disposed near and above the first stacking means, and a sheet stacking position when a sheet is stacked on the first stacking means; A swing guide is provided which is rotatable between a sheet bundle discharged to discharge the sheet bundle stacked on the first stacking means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the curl detecting means is disposed near and below the first stacking means, and is capable of guiding a sheet bundle being discharged, and is retracted into the apparatus main body. A retractable tray that is movable between the retracted position and a retractable tray, and a sheet loading position that is disposed near and above the first loading means when a sheet is loaded on the first loading means; And a swing guide that is rotatable between a sheet bundle discharge that discharges a sheet bundle stacked on the stacking means.

[Operation] Based on the above configuration, when the sheet bundle stacked on the first stacking unit is transferred to the second stacking unit by the bundle discharging unit, the curl of the sheet bundle on the first stacking unit is adjusted. By detecting the direction (curl state) by the curl detecting unit, the sheet bundle discharging speed of the bundle discharging unit is controlled, and if it is detected that the sheet bundle is the lower curl, the bundle discharging speed is reduced. When the upper curl is detected, the stack discharging speed is increased, thereby preventing the stacking failure of the discharged stack on the second stacking unit.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention and an image forming apparatus having the same will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention,
Here, an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus will be described.

Referring to FIG. 21, the configuration of an image forming apparatus including a document conveying device and a sheet processing device will be described.

The ADF 2 serving as a document conveying device (sheet material conveying device) has a document tray 4 above, and a wide belt wound around a drive roller 36 and the other turn roller 37 is disposed below the document tray 4. ing. The document (sheet material) P on the document tray 4 is sequentially separated and fed from the uppermost sheet by a separating unit, and is conveyed to a platen glass (platen) 3 which is a reading position (image reading unit) of the copying machine main body. .

The wide belt is in contact with the platen 3 so as to be rotatable in the normal and reverse directions. The wide belt places the sheet material document P conveyed from the document tray 4 at a predetermined position on the platen 3, The upper sheet material document P is carried out onto the discharge tray 10. The document P is one page (2
Pages), 3 pages (4 pages),...

A copying machine body as an image forming apparatus body includes:
It comprises an image input unit 200 '(hereinafter referred to as a reader unit) and an image output unit 300 (hereinafter referred to as a printer unit).

The reader section 200 'optically reads image information recorded on the document P, photoelectrically converts the image information, and inputs the image data as image data.
2. Scanner unit 204 having mirror 203
And mirrors 205 and 206, a lens 207, an image sensor 208, and the like. The printer unit 300 is an image forming unit using well-known electrostatic latent image formation.

Next, a printer unit 30 as an image output unit
0 will be explained.

Reference numeral 800 denotes an upper cassette. Sheet materials in the cassette are separated and fed one by one by the action of a separation claw and a feeding roller 801, and are guided to registration rollers 806.
Reference numeral 802 denotes a lower cassette. Sheet materials in the cassette are separated and fed one by one by the action of a separation claw and a feeding roller 803, and are guided to registration rollers 806. Reference numeral 804 denotes a manual feed guide for guiding sheet materials one by one to a registration roller 806 via a roller 805. Reference numeral 808 denotes a sheet material stacking device (deck type), which includes a middle plate 808a that moves up and down by a motor or the like. It is guided to the roller 810.

Reference numeral 812 denotes a photosensitive drum, 813 denotes a reading optical system, 814 denotes a developing device, 815 denotes a transfer charger, and 816 denotes a separation charger, and constitutes an image forming unit.

Reference numeral 817 denotes a conveyance belt for conveying the sheet material on which an image has been formed, 818 denotes a fixing device, 819 denotes a conveyance roller, and 820 denotes a flapper. The sheet material on which the image has been formed is guided to the main body discharge roller (main body discharge unit) 821 by the flapper 820, and is discharged to the downstream sheet processing apparatus.

An image is formed on the photosensitive drum according to the set number of copies for one document placed on the platen, and the sheet material for the number of copies is stored in the cassette 80.
0, 802, or the deck 808, the image is fed each time an image is formed on the photosensitive drum. The registration between the image on the photosensitive drum and the sheet material is performed by a registration roller 806.

When the required number of copies are formed, the original is discharged from the platen, and the next original is positioned on the platen. Hereinafter, the same applies.

Reference numeral 900 denotes an intermediate tray which, when forming an image on both sides of a sheet material or forming an image on one side of the sheet material (multiple), once forms an image on the sheet material. Stock it. 901 is a conveying roller, 9
02 is a transport belt, 903 is a flapper, 904 is a transport belt, and 905 is a transport roller. In the case of double-sided copying, the sheet material is guided to the intermediate tray 900 through the path 906.

The sheet material has the image surface facing upward. In the case of multiple copying, the sheet material is guided to the intermediate tray 900 through the path 907. The sheet material has the image side facing down.

The sheet material stacked on the intermediate tray 900 includes auxiliary rollers 909 and 910, a forward / reverse separation roller pair 9
The sheets are separated one by one from below by the action of 11 and re-fed. The re-fed sheet material is transported by rollers 913 and 9
14, 815, roller 810, registration roller 806
Through to the image forming unit. After image formation, the paper is discharged in the same manner as described above.

A single-sided copy is first made according to the number of copies set for one document placed on the platen, and these are stacked on the intermediate tray 900. After that, the original is reversed on the platen and guided again on the platen, and this image is read by the number of copies. The read image is formed on a sheet material re-fed from the intermediate tray 900 every time the image is read. On the other hand, there is also a method in which only one copy is created each time a document is rotated by the automatic document feeder. According to this method, even when a plurality of copies are made, a copy group with the same page order can be obtained in order, so that a necessary number of copies can be obtained separately without a sorter. When performing double-sided copying with this method, 1
Read both sides of one sheet of paper continuously, copy and print on both sides of the sheet material, discharge it, and then repeat the same process for both sides of the next document. A group is obtained.

An image-formed sheet discharged from the copying machine main body is discharged to a sheet processing apparatus (also referred to as a finisher) 1 by a main body discharging roller (main body discharging means) 302.

In the case of the non-sort mode, the sheet conveyed from the copying machine body passes through the buffer roller 5, the flapper 11, and the non-sort mode path 21 to the discharge roller 9
Is discharged to the sample tray 201. In the sort mode, the buffer roller 5, the flapper 10,
The sheet is temporarily loaded on the processing tray 130 as an intermediate tray by the discharge roller 7 via the sort mode path 22. The sheet bundle on the processing tray 130 is aligned on both sides in the direction intersecting the sheet conveyance direction by an alignment member (not shown), and the stapler 100 (101) binds the rear end of the sheet as necessary. After that, the sheet is discharged onto the stack tray 200 by the bundle discharge roller pair 180.

Next, a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

<Overview of Overall Sheet Processing Apparatus> First, the main components of the sheet processing apparatus will be described.

FIG. 1 is an overall sectional view schematically showing a schematic configuration of a sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In the configuration of the sheet processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as "finisher") 1 shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a main body discharge roller pair (main body discharge means) of the reader unit 200 '.
An inlet roller pair 3 for receiving the sheet P discharged from 821 is a first conveying roller pair for conveying the received sheet P, and 31 is a sheet detection sensor on the inlet side for detecting passage of the sheet P. . A punch unit 50 punches a hole near the rear end of the conveyed sheet P. Reference numeral 5 denotes a relatively large-diameter transport large roller 5 (hereinafter, referred to as a "buffer roller") disposed in the course of transport
And the pressing rollers 12, 13, 1 arranged around the outside.
At 4, the sheet P is pressed against the roll surface and conveyed.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a first switching flapper,
The non-sort path 21 and the sort path 22 are selectively switched. Reference numeral 10 denotes a second switching flapper, which switches between a sort path 22 and a buffer path 23 for temporarily storing sheets P. A sensor 33 detects the sheet P in the non-sort path 21, and a sensor 32 detects the sheet P in the buffer path 23.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a second conveying roller pair of the sort path 22, and 129 temporarily accumulates the sheets P, aligns the accumulated sheets P, and sets the staple unit 10.
A processing tray unit 129 including an intermediate tray (hereinafter, referred to as “processing tray”) 130 provided for performing stapling processing by the stapler 101 of No. 0;
On the discharge end side of the processing tray (first stacking tray) 130, one of the discharge rollers constituting a bundle discharge roller pair (transfer means), here, the lower bundle discharge roller 18 as a fixed side,
0a is arranged. Reference numeral 7 denotes a first discharge roller pair that is disposed on the sort path 22 and discharges the sheet P onto the processing tray (first stacking tray) 130. Reference numeral 9 denotes a first discharge roller pair that is disposed on the non-sort path 21 and transfers the sheet P to the sample tray. A second discharge roller pair for discharging the image onto the sheet 201.

180b is supported by the swing guide 150, and when the swing guide 150 comes to the closed position,
An upper discharge roller for discharging the sheet P on the processing tray 130 (first stacking means) onto the stack tray (second stacking tray) 200 while being pressed against the lower bundle discharge roller 180a. It is. 40 is the stack tray 20
The bundle stacking guide supports the trailing edge (rear end in the bundle discharge direction) of the sheet bundle stacked on the sample tray 201 and the sheet tray 201.

<Detailed Description of Staple Unit>
In particular, FIG. 2 (a side view corresponding to the main cross section) and FIG. 3 (a plan view in the direction of the arrow a in FIG. 2) regarding the staple unit 100.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4 and a rear view in the direction of the arrow b in FIG.

The stapler (binding means) 101 is fixed on a movable table 103 via a holder 102. The moving table 103 has a set of stud shafts 10 fixed parallel to the trailing edge of the sheets stacked on the processing tray 130.
4 and 105, and each stud shaft 104 and 105 has
Rolling rollers 106 and 107 are rotatably mounted on each of the rolling rollers 106 and 107. Each of the rolling rollers 106 and 107 is a series of hole-shaped guide rails formed in the same manner as the fixing table 108 in a parallel state. It is movably engaged within 108a, 108b, 108c.

Each of the rolling rollers 106, 107 has a flange 106a, 107a having a diameter larger than the hole width of a series of hole-shaped guide rails 108a, 108b, 108c, while the moving table 103 holding the stapler 101. The support table 109 is provided at three places on the lower surface side of the moving table 103. The moving table 103 is provided with a series of hole-shaped guide rails 108a, 108a.
It is movable on the fixed base 108 along b and 108c.

Here, the series of hole-shaped guide rails 10
As can be seen from FIG. 3, 8a, 108b and 108c are formed from the main guide rail hole portion (108a), the left end guide rail hole portion (108b) which is branched from the left end side and parallel to the left end side. It is formed in a shape comprising a right end guide rail hole portion (108c) which is branched and parallel. Therefore, when the stapler 101 is located on the left end side due to the rail shape of each part, the rolling roller 106 is located in the left end of the rail hole portion 108b, and the rolling roller 107 is located in the left end of the rail hole portion 108a. Respectively, is maintained in a right-tilted posture in a state of being inclined to the right side by a predetermined angle, and when located in the middle portion,
Each rolling roller 106, 107 is a rail hole portion 108a.
And is maintained in a non-tilted parallel posture,
When located at the right end, the rolling roller 107 is moved into the right end of the rail hole portion 108c, and the rolling roller 106 is moved into the right end of the rail hole portion 108a, and is inclined by a predetermined angle to the left. In this state, the posture is maintained to the left and the posture is changed by an operation cam (not shown).

The stapling unit 100 is provided with a position sensor (not shown) for detecting the home position of the stapler 101. In a normal case, the stapler 101 is at the home position on the left side, which is the front portion. I'm waiting.

<Detailed description of stapler moving mechanism>
The moving mechanism of the stapler 101 will be described in detail.

One rolling roller 106 of the moving table 103
The pinion gear 106b below the flange 106a
Are formed integrally, and a belt pulley 106c is integrally provided above. The pinion gear 106b is
It is connected via a drive belt stretched between the output pulley of the drive motor M100 on the base surface and the belt pulley 106c, and is fixed along the rail hole.
The movable table 103 is movable in the sheet width direction together with the stapler 101 in accordance with the forward / reverse rotation of the drive motor M100.

The stud shaft 111 extending downward from the lower surface of the movable table 103 is provided with a stopper knocking roller 112. The stopper knocking roller 112 has the following details. In order to avoid abutment between the rear end stopper 131 and the stapler 101, the rear end stopper 131 plays a role of rotating the rear end stopper 131.

<Detailed Description of Rear End Stopper> Next, the rear end stopper 131 that abuts and supports the rear edge of the sheet P on the processing tray 130 will be described in detail.

The rear end stopper 131 is connected to the processing tray 130.
The sheet P is formed by being raised vertically to the loading surface of the sheet P.
Abutting support surface 131a for abutting and supporting the rear edge of the processing tray 13a.
On the lower surface side of "0", it is swingable downward around the pivot pin 131b as shown by an arrow. Further, a main link 132 having a cam surface 132a against which the stopper falling roller 112 is pressed to be pressed is abutted against an abutment plate 136, and a shaft 1 fixed to a frame (not shown) or the like.
34 is pivotable about the tension spring 135 against the tension spring 135, and the other end of the connection link 133 whose one end is pivotally supported on the rear end stopper 131 by the pin 131c with respect to the upper end pin 132b. It is slidably connected to the elongated hole.

Therefore, in this case, with the movement of the moving table 103, with respect to the rear end stopper 131 which is in an interference relationship with the stapler 101, the stopper falling roller 112 of the moving table 103 presses the cam surface 132 a of the main link 132. By doing so, it is pivoted to the non-interference position indicated by the two-dot chain line in the figure, thereby avoiding collision with the stapler 101. Then, after the stapling process described later is completed, the movable table 103 returns to the home position,
The rear end stopper 131 also returns to the original state. Here, for the stopper falling roller 112, the stapler 1
In order to keep the trailing end stopper 131 at the avoidance position during the operation of the moving table 01, a plurality (three in this case) are provided in the moving direction of the moving table 103.

On both sides of the holder 102 holding the stapler 101, a staple stopper (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2) 113 having a support surface having the same shape as the butting support surface 131a of the rear end stopper 131 is provided. Is provided so that the trailing edge of the sheet can be supported even when the trailing end stopper 131 is at the avoidance position.

<Overview of Processing Tray Unit>
Processing tray unit 129 including the processing tray 130
This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The processing tray unit 129 includes a processing tray 130, a rear end stopper 131, an alignment means 140,
The swing guide 150, the pull-in paddle 160, the retreat tray 170, and a bundle discharge roller pair 180 are provided.

In this case, with respect to the processing tray 130, the downstream side (upper left side in FIG. 5) is positioned upward and the upstream side (lower right side in FIG. 5) is positioned lower than the sheet bundle discharging direction. The rear end stopper 131 is disposed at the lower end on the upstream side.
A retractable paddle 160, which will be described later occupying the left and right positions, and an aligning means 140 are arranged in the intermediate portion. An upper end portion, which is a downstream side, specifically, an upper region portion substantially in a unit configuration is described later. A swing guide 150 including a retractable paddle 160 and a bundle discharge roller pair 180 is disposed,
Further, the upper end portion on the downstream side, more specifically, substantially the lower region portion of the unit configuration, and the stack tray 20
Between 0, a haunting tray 170 described later is arranged.

The sheet P discharged from the first discharge roller pair 7 has its rear end edge abutting against the rear end stopper 131 due to its own weight and the action of a retraction paddle 160 described later. It slides on the processing tray 130 until it is hit against 131a.

Further, at the upper end of the processing tray 130, one lower bundle discharge roller 180a constituting the bundle discharge roller pair 180 is disposed as described above, and the lower surface of the swing guide 150 is disposed. At the front end portion, the other upper bundle discharge roller 180b that is in contact with the lower bundle discharge roller 180a so as to be able to freely contact and detach is arranged. These discharge roller pairs 180a and 180b are driven in reverse by a drive motor M180. It is rotatable.

<Detailed Description of Alignment Means> Next, the alignment means 140 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 5C (rear view).
This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

A pair of alignment members 141 and 142 constituting the alignment means 140 are arranged on the processing tray 130 in FIG.
In the lower part (back side part) and the upper part (front side part),
The first alignment member (front alignment member) 141 at one front side and the second alignment at the other front side are arranged independently facing each other corresponding to both side edges of the sheet P. The members (rear alignment members) 142 are alignment surfaces 141a and 142a perpendicular to the surface of the processing tray 130 for pressing and supporting the sheet side end surfaces, respectively, and a rack gear portion 141b for supporting the sheet back surface. , 142b, and each of the rack gear portions 141b, 142b is provided with a lower surface through a pair of guide grooves 130a, 130b opened in the vertical direction (corresponding to the width direction of the sheet P) formed in the surface of the processing tray 130. Located on the side.

That is, in summary, the respective alignment surfaces 141a, 141a are disposed on the upper surface side of the processing tray 130.
The rack gears 141b and 142b are mounted on the lower surface of the rack gear 2a so as to be movable in the alignment direction.

The rack gears 141b, 142
b, each drive motor M141, M1
The respective pinion gears 143 and 144 driven to rotate forward and reverse by the gear 42 are meshed with each other, whereby the first and second alignment members 141 and 142 can be moved in the alignment direction. Here, a position sensor (not shown) for detecting the home position of each of the first and second alignment members 141 and 142 is disposed. , The second alignment member 142 is on standby at the respective home position positions set at the lower end (rear side).

<Detailed Description of Swing Guide> Next, the swing guide 150 will be described in detail.

The swing guide 150 is located at the front end of the lower surface corresponding to the downstream side (left side in FIG. 5) as described above, and the upper bundle abutting on the lower bundle discharge roller 180a of the bundle discharge roller pair 180. While the discharge roller 180b is pivotally mounted,
Support shaft 1 at the rear end of the lower surface corresponding to the upstream side (right side in FIG. 6)
51, it is pivotally supported by a drive motor M150, and is rotatable by the control driving of the rotary cam 152 by a drive motor M150.
The home position is a closed state in which the upper bundle discharge roller 180b is brought into contact with the upper bundle discharge roller 180b, and this is detected by a position sensor (not shown).

In a normal case, when each of the sheets P is discharged onto the processing tray 130, the sheet P is opened (the lower bundle discharge roller 180a is positioned relative to the upper bundle discharge roller 180b).
Is moved to the upper side of the swing guide 150) so that the operations of discharging and aligning the sheet P and the pulling-in paddle operation described below can be performed without any trouble. When discharging the sheet bundle after the processing on 130 onto the stack tray 200,
The state shifts to a closed state (the upper bundle discharge roller 180b abuts against the lower bundle discharge roller 180a, and the swing guide 150 swings downward).

<Detailed Description of Retraction Paddle> Next, the retraction paddle 160 will be described in detail.

The pull-in paddle 160 is fixed to a plurality of positions on the drive shaft 161 above the processing tray 130 (FIG. 5), and is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 5 at an appropriate timing by a drive motor M160. The length of each pull-in paddle 160 is set to be slightly longer than the interval to the surface of the processing tray 130, and the home position is set on the processing tray 130 from the first discharge roller pair 7. 5 is set at a position that does not hinder the discharge of the sheet P (the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 5).

When the sheet P is discharged onto the processing tray 130 in this state, the pull-in paddle 160
Is rotated counterclockwise, so that the processing tray 1
The sheet P discharged onto the sheet 30 and the trailing edge of the sheet P are retracted until the sheet P is abutted against the abutting support surface 131a of the trailing end stopper 131. Thereafter, the retracting paddle waits for a predetermined time. It stops at the home position detected by a position sensor (not shown) with good timing.

<Detailed Description of Retreat Tray> Next, the retreat tray 170 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, which is a view taken in the direction of arrow d in FIG.

The retreat tray 170 is provided with a bundle discharge roller pair 18.
0, it is located below the lower bundle discharge roller 180a, and moves forward and backward in the sheet bundle discharge direction (X direction in FIGS. It is supposed to.

That is, at the protruding position of the retreat tray 170, the front end protrudes toward the upper side of the stack tray 200 (the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5). It retracts while being drawn inward from the roller 180a (the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 5). In the protruding state of the retreat tray 170, the center of gravity of the sheet P discharged onto the processing tray 130 does not exceed the position, in other words, the leading end of the sheet P does not hang downward at the protruding position. In addition, the position of the haunting tray 170 is set.

[0086] The retractable tray 170 is provided with a pair of guide rails 172 and 172 fixed to a support frame 171.
Since the rotating cam roller 173 slidably supported on the rotating shaft 174 and rotating about the rotating shaft 174 is engaged in the lower surface groove 175 of the retractable tray 170,
The retracting operation is performed as described above in accordance with the rotation operation of the rotary cam roller 173 by the drive motor M170, and normally stands by at the home position position detected by a position sensor (not shown).

Further, a curl detection sensor S210 (FIGS. 5 and 7) which can detect when the sheet bundle on the processing tray 130 has a lower curl is provided at the end of the retreat tray 170.

<Detailed Description of Stack Tray and Sample Tray> Next, the stack tray 200 and the sample tray 201 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

The stack tray 200 and the sample tray 201 can be used separately according to the situation. The stack tray 200 disposed below is selected when receiving a sheet bundle for copy output, printer output, and the like. The sample tray 201 arranged above is selected when receiving sheets for sample output, interrupt output, output when the stack tray overflows, function output, output when jobs are mixed, and the like.

The stack tray 200 and the sample tray 201 are held by tray base plates 202 and 203, respectively, and are mounted on the base plates 202 and 203, respectively.
5, stepping motors M200, M2 fixed via
In this case, since each of them is independently movable in the up-and-down elevating direction. In this case, since both are configured in substantially the same manner, here, mainly the stack tray 200 side Is described only.

At both ends of the sheet processing apparatus 1, a pair of frames 250, 250 are provided in the vertical direction, and rack gears which also function as vertical guide rails for the frames 250, 250 respectively. Member 25
1,251 are attached. A rear end extending from one of the tray base plates 202 (corresponding to the left end side with respect to the sheet width direction) and a rear end extending from the mounting frame plate 204 opposed thereto (also corresponding to the right end side). And a pair of guide rollers 206 and 207 provided rotatably on the respective parts.
The stacking tray 200 is held so as to be able to move up and down by fitting the 207 into each corresponding guide rail portion, and the regulating member 208 is engaged with the folded edge of one frame 250, The rattling in the sheet width direction is restricted and restricted.

On the other hand, the rotation output of the stepping motor M 200 is transmitted to the drive shaft 213 via the timing belt 211.
To the pulley 212. The drive shaft 213 is provided with a ratchet wheel 215 urged by a spring 216 and capable of sliding only in the axial direction. The ratchet wheel 215 is driven in one direction by a drive gear 214 on the shaft. It is engaged as much as possible. The driving gear 214
, One of idler gears 218, 218 disposed at both ends on the driven shaft 217 is meshed with each other, and each of the idler gears 218, 218 is respectively connected to a lifting gear 219,
219 via the rack gear members 251 and 251. That is, the stack tray 200
It is vertically movable up and down via a drive system composed of these gear trains.

The driving gear 21 on the driving shaft 213
Ratchet wheel 215 which is unidirectionally biasedly engaged with the wheel 4
Is provided when the stack tray 200 is lowered so that, for example, the drive system is not broken by foreign matter or the like. Here, a required urging force is applied to the spring 216. The stack tray 2
Only at the time of the rise of 00, protection is performed by idling against the urging force of the spring 216 in response to a preset condition, and if this idling condition, that is, an abnormality occurs, stepping is immediately performed. Motor M2
In order to stop the driving of the driving gear 00, a clock slit or the like formed in the flange portion of the driving gear 214 is detected by the sensor S201. The sensor S2
01 is also used for step-out detection during normal operation.

Next, the arrangement of each sensor for controlling the vertical position of the stack tray 200 and the sample tray 201 will be described.

The sensor S202 is connected to the sample tray 201.
And detects that the sample tray 201 is located in a range that belongs to an area from the upper limit position detection sensor S203a to the processing tray sheet surface detection sensor S205.

The sensor S203b is a sensor for detecting that the number of sheets P discharged onto the sample tray 201 from the second discharge roller pair 9 reaches a predetermined number. In this example, a non-sort sheet surface detection sensor is used. From S204, it is arranged at a position equivalent to 1000 sheets.

The sensor S203c is a sensor for detecting that the number of sheets P discharged from the processing tray 130 onto the sample tray 201 has reached a predetermined number.
It is arranged at a position corresponding to 000 sheets.

The sensor S203d is connected to the stack tray 20
Numeral 0 denotes a sensor for limiting the height of the stacking amount when the sheets P are received from the processing tray 130, and is disposed at a position corresponding to the number of stacked sheets 2000 from the sheet surface detection sensor S205.

The sensor S203e is connected to the stack tray 20
It is a sensor that sets the lower limit position of 0.

The stack tray 200 and the sample tray 201 have a sheet presence / absence detection sensor 2 respectively.
06a and 206b are arranged.

Of these sensors, only the sheet surface detection sensors S204 and S205 are of a light transmission type that detects the presence or absence of light by transmitting light from one side edge to the other side edge of the sheet P. Here, each sheet surface detection sensor S20 is used as the sheet surface detection method.
4, the initial state is a state in which the trays 200 and 201 are lifted from the lower part of S205 to a position covering the trays.
After the sheet is stacked, the sensor is lowered until the sensor optical axis appears, and then is repeatedly raised until the sensor optical axis is covered again.

<Detailed Explanation of Flow of Sheet P> When the user wants to designate the non-sort mode on the operation unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus main body, as shown in FIG.
The entrance roller pair 2, the transport roller 3, and the large transport roller 5 as a buffer roller rotate, and the main body 300 of the image forming apparatus 300 rotates.
The sheet P conveyed from is transported. Flapper 11
Rotates by the action of a solenoid (not shown) to the position shown in the figure, and conveys the sheet P to the non-sort path 21. When the sensor 33 detects the rear end of the sheet P, the roller 9
The sheet P rotates at a speed suitable for stacking, and discharges the sheet P to the sample tray 200.

Next, the operation when the user specifies the staple sort mode will be described.

As shown in FIG. 11, the entrance roller pair 2,
The conveying roller 3 and the large conveying roller 5 rotate, and convey the sheet P conveyed from the image forming apparatus main body 300.
The flappers 10 and 11 are stopped at the positions shown in the figure. The sheet P is discharged to the processing tray 130 by the first discharge roller pair 7 along the sort path 22. At this time, since the retreat tray 170 is at the protruding position, it is possible to prevent the leading end of the sheet P from being drooped and returning poorly before the sheet P is discharged by the discharge roller 7 and to improve the alignment of the sheets on the processing tray. I have.

The discharged sheet P starts to move to the rear end stopper 131 by its own weight. In addition, the paddle 160, which has stopped at the home position, is rotated counterclockwise by the drive of the motor M160, and Encourage movement. When the rear end of the sheet P surely comes into contact with the stopper 131 and stops, the rotation of the paddle 160 is also stopped, and the alignment member aligns the discharged sheet.

When all the sheets of the first copy are discharged onto the processing tray 130 and aligned, the swing guide 150 descends as shown in FIG. 12, and the upper bundle discharge roller 180b rides on the sheet bundle. The stapler 101 staples a sheet bundle.

Meanwhile, the image forming apparatus main body 300
As shown in FIG. 12, the sheet P ₁ is wound around the large conveying roller 5 by the rotation of the flapper 10, and stops when a predetermined distance has passed from the sensor 32. When you reach the next predetermined distance from the sheet P ₂ paper detecting sensor 31, as shown in FIG. 13, the large conveying roller 5 is rotated, the first sheet towards the sheet P ₁ from the second sheet P ₂ is given As shown in FIG. 14, the sheets are superimposed one on the other, wound around the large conveying roller 5, and stopped at a predetermined distance. On the other hand, the sheet bundle on the processing tray 130 is shown in FIGS.
The bundle is discharged onto the stack tray 200 by the bundle discharge roller pair 180 as shown in FIG.

However, at this time, the retracting tray 170 moves to the home position before the sheet bundle passes through the bundle discharge roller in order to drop the sheet bundle onto the stack tray 200. As shown in FIG. 15, when the third sheet P ₃ reaches the predetermined position, the large conveying roller 5 is rotated, superposed sheets P ₃ are shifted by a predetermined distance, the flapper 10 of the three pivots The sheet P is transported to the sort path 22.

As shown in FIG. 16, while the swing guide 150 is lowered, three sheets P are received by the bundle discharge rollers 180a and 180b, and as shown in FIG. When the pair passes through 7, the bundle discharge roller 180
a and 180b are reversed, and before the rear end abuts on the rear end stopper 131, the swinging guide rises as shown in FIG.
The roller 8 moves away from the sheet surface. The fourth and subsequent sheets P are discharged onto the processing tray through a sort path similarly to the operation of the first copy. After the third copy, the same operation as that of the second copy is performed, and the sheet bundle for the set number is stacked on the stack tray 200, and the process is completed.

In the above-described multi-sheet conveyance,
Each sheet P is offset in the transport direction, the sheet P ₂ is offset downstream with respect to the sheet P ₁ , and the sheet P
₃ is offset downstream with respect to the sheet P _2.

The offset amount of the sheet P and the rising timing of the swing guide are related to the settling time of the sheet by the return speed of the bundle discharge roller, that is, determined by the processing capability of the image forming apparatus main body 300. Is the sheet conveyance speed of 750 mm / s and the offset amount (b = 2
0 mm) position, the bundle delivery roller returning speed 500 mm / s, the separation position of bundle discharge rollers, the sheet P ₁ is set to a timing when reaching the prior position below 40mm abutting the stopper (value of a).

<Detailed Description of Sort Mode> The user sets a document on the RDF 400, specifies a sort mode on an operation unit (not shown), and turns on a start key (not shown).
I do. The entrance roller 2 and the transport roller 3 rotate as shown in FIG. 19 similarly to the staple sort mode, and stacks the sheet P on the processing tray 130. The aligning means 140 stacks a small number of sheets on the processing tray 130 while aligning the sheets P on the processing tray 130, and then the swing guide 150 descends as shown in FIG. Are conveyed in a bundle.

Next, the fed sheet P passes over the flapper 10, is wound around the large conveying roller 5 in the same manner as the operation described in the staple sort mode, and is discharged to the processing tray 130 after the bundle discharge is completed. Is done. The number of the minority bundles to be discharged is desirably 20 or less by experiments. The number of sheets is set so as to satisfy the number of original sheets ≧ the number of sheets to be discharged ≦ 20 sheets. Therefore, when the number of sheets to be discharged in a bundle is set to five when a program is set, when the number of documents is four, the sheets are discharged in bundles of four sheets at a time. If the number of originals is 5 or more, for example, 14 sheets, they are divided into 5 + 5 + 4, aligned, and discharged in a bundle.

The second copy is aligned at the offset position, and a small number of sheets are discharged in a bundle like the first copy. When the second copy is completed, the front alignment member 141 and the rear alignment member 142
Returns to the position where the first copy is aligned, and aligns the third copy.

<Detailed Description of Movement of Stack Tray 200 and Sample Tray 201> In FIGS. 8 and 9, each of the sample trays 201 and the stack tray 200 usually has its paper surface detection sensor position (normal stacking position) before the operation starts. S2
04, waiting in S205.

In the above description, it is the stack tray 200 that normally stacks the copy or the printer output, and may receive the bundle processed by the above stapler 101 or the like, or the bundle that is unbound and discharged by a small number of sheets. Can,
A maximum of 2,000 sheets can be loaded, and this is detected by the sensor 203d.

At this time, if the output of the copy printer is still continued, the stack tray 200 is lowered by a position corresponding to 1000 sheets from the sensor S203d (the position of S203d '). Subsequently, the sample tray 201 is lowered to the sheet tray detection S205 for the sample tray, and the receiving of the sheet is started again. At this time, the sample tray 201
Can load up to a maximum of 1000 sheets.
3c detects it.

Next, after the job of less than or equal to 2000 sheets is completed, when the next job is started without interrupting the sheet on the stack tray 200 or when interrupting during the current job, the processing operation cannot be performed. However, using the sample tray 201, it is possible to load the paper from the non-sort discharge path 21.

In the normal state, the non-sort discharge path 21
The mode for outputting to the sample tray 201 by using is a time when a sample output is performed without processing only one copy or a time when the sample tray output is set by function sorting.

Next, the main part of the sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 22, 23 and 24.

As shown in FIG. 22A, the processing tray 1
When the sheet bundle is stacked on the sheet 30, the curl detection sensor S2
When the sheet 10 is not pressed by the curl detection sensor flag, the controller 4 recognizes that the sheet is not pressed, and controls the bundle discharge motor M180 so that the sheet is discharged at a bundle discharge speed as shown in FIG. The bundle is being discharged.

At this time, the initial speed of discharging the sheet bundle is 750 mm / s in the present embodiment, and it is controlled that a predetermined amount (for example, about 130 mm in the present embodiment) of the sheet bundle is discharged. When detected by the apparatus 4, the bundle is controlled so as to be 450 mm / s, which is the trailing edge ejection speed, so that stacking can be performed without stack discharge failure when stacking multiple upper curls.

As shown in FIG. 22 (b), when a sheet bundle is stacked on the processing tray 130 and the curl detection sensor S210 is pressed by the curl detection sensor flag, it is controlled by the control device. 4 recognizes and controls the bundle discharge motor M180 to lower the bundle discharge speed as shown in FIG. 24B (300 mm / s in the present embodiment). As a result, stacking can be performed without a return failure in stacking many lower curls.

<Embodiment 2> In the first embodiment, the curl detection sensor S210 is provided on the retreat tray 170 below the processing tray 130 to detect a lower curl. FIG. 25), a sheet stacking position where the sheet bundle being discharged is stacked on the processing tray 130 and a sheet bundle discharging position where the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray 130 is discharged. Between the swing guide 150 that can be rotated,
By providing the curl detection sensor S210 and detecting the upper curl (FIG. 25A), the ejection speed of the bundle discharge speed is higher than when the bundle discharge is not detected (FIG. 25B). It is characterized by doing.

<Third Embodiment> In the third embodiment (see FIG. 26), curl detection sensors S210a and S210b are provided on swing guide 150 and retreat tray 170 arranged above and below processing tray 130, respectively. Thus, the ejection speed of the bundle discharge speed is set at three levels, and the curl detection speed is lower than when both of the curl detection sensors S210a and S210b are not pressed (when the curl-free sheet bundle is used). If only the sensor S210b is pressed (FIG. 25A), the bundle discharge speed is high, and if only the curl detection sensor S210a is pressed (FIG. 25B), the bundle discharge speed is reduced. The control means 4 controls so as to be lower.

The curl detection sensors S210a, S2
When both of the curl detection sensors S210a and S210b are not pressed (when there is no curl), control is performed by the control means so that both of the curl detection sensors S210a and S210b are discharged at a bundle discharge speed when both of them are pressed. I have.

[0110]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When a sheet bundle stacked on the first stacking unit is discharged to the second stacking unit by the bundle discharging unit, the bundle discharging unit detects the curl state (curl direction) of the discharged bundle detected by the curl detecting unit. When a large number of sheet bundles are stacked on the second stacking means, a stacking failure due to the curl state of the already-stacked bundle, for example, a sheet bundle discharge failure due to an upper curl bundle, a lower curl The return failure of the sheet bundle due to the bundle can be prevented, and the stacking can be stably stacked on the second stacking unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the overall configuration of a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a stapler and a processing tray unit.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the stapler moving mechanism in the same view as FIG. 2A;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the stapler in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional side view of a swing guide and a processing tray.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the processing tray and the alignment wall moving mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the haunting tray.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the stack tray moving mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a sensor arrangement diagram around the stack tray.

FIG. 10 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the non-sort mode.

FIG. 11 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the staple sort mode.

FIG. 12 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the staple sort mode.

FIG. 13 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the staple sort mode.

FIG. 14 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the staple sort mode.

FIG. 15 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the staple sort mode.

FIG. 16 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the staple sort mode.

FIG. 17 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the staple sort mode.

FIG. 18 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the staple sort mode.

FIG. 19 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the sort mode.

FIG. 20 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the sort mode.

FIG. 21 is a vertical sectional front view of an image forming apparatus to which the sheet processing apparatus according to the invention can be applied.

FIG. 22 is a side view showing a curl detection sensor according to the present invention and a sheet bundle stacked on a processing tray;
(A) shows a state where the curl detection sensor by the upper curl bundle is not pressed against the sheet bundle, and (b) shows a state where the curl detection sensor by the lower curl bundle is pressed against the sheet bundle.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram relating to control of the sheet processing apparatus of the present invention.

24A and 24B are diagrams illustrating a change in a sheet bundle discharge speed with time according to the present invention, in which FIG. 24A illustrates a state in which a curl detection sensor is not pressed by an upper curl sheet bundle, and FIG. This shows a state in which the detection sensor presses against the lower curl sheet bundle.

FIG. 25 is a side view showing a curl detection sensor according to the second embodiment of the present invention and a sheet bundle stacked on a processing tray; FIG. FIG. 4B shows a state where the curl detection sensor is not pressed by the lower curl bundle.

26A and 26B are side views illustrating a curl detection sensor according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention and a sheet bundle stacked on a processing tray, and FIG. A state in which a curl bundle is detected, (b) shows a state in which the curl detection sensor of the retreat tray detects the lower curl bundle, and (c) a state in which the curl detection sensors of the retreat tray and the swing guide detect the sheet bundle. Indicates a state in which no curl is detected.

[Description of Signs] S210 Curl detection sensor (curl detection means) 7 Discharge roller pair (sheet discharge means) 4 Control device (control means) 130 Processing tray (first stacking means) 150 Swing guide 170 Retreat tray 180 Bundle discharge Roller pair (bundle discharge unit) 200 Stack tray (second stacking unit) 200 'Reader unit (image input unit) 300 Printer unit (image output unit) 200', 300 Copy machine body (image forming apparatus body) 400 Sheet processing Apparatus main body 601 Photosensitive drum (image forming means) 821 Discharge roller pair (main body discharge means)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A sheet discharging means for discharging a sheet, and a first sheet stacking the sheet discharged from the sheet discharging means.
Stacking means, a bundle discharging means for discharging a bundle of sheets on the first loading means, a control means for controlling a sheet bundle discharging speed of the bundle discharging means, and sheets discharged by the bundle discharging means A second stacking unit capable of stacking a stack and capable of moving up and down along the apparatus main body; and a curl detecting unit configured to detect a curl state of the sheet bundle on the first stacking unit. A sheet processing apparatus, wherein the control means controls the bundle discharge speed of the bundle discharge means by detecting the curl state of the sheet bundle by the detection means. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the curl state of the sheet bundle detected by the curl detection means is lower curl, the bundle discharge speed of the bundle discharge means is reduced. 2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bundle discharge speed of the means is increased. 3. The curl detecting means is disposed near the lower part of the first stacking means and between a guide position capable of guiding a sheet bundle being discharged and a retracted position retracted into the apparatus main body. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is provided on a movable haunting tray. 4. The curl detecting means is disposed in the vicinity of and above the first stacking means, and a sheet stacking position when a sheet is stacked on the first stacking means, and a curl detecting means provided in the first stacking means. 3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a swinging guide that is rotatable between a stacked sheet bundle and a discharged sheet bundle. 5. The curl detecting means is disposed near and below the first stacking means, and is between a guide position at which a sheet bundle being discharged can be guided and a retracted position retracted into the apparatus main body. A movable tray, and a sheet loading position which is arranged near the upper portion of the first loading means and loads a sheet on the first loading means;
2. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a swinging guide rotatable between a sheet bundle discharge for discharging the sheet bundle stacked on the first stacking means. . 6. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image forming unit configured to form an image on the sheet; a discharging unit configured to discharge the sheet formed by the image forming unit to the sheet processing apparatus; An image forming apparatus comprising: