JP2000159406A - Sheet sorting device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To permit a cutback in the number of components, saving space, and a reduction in a manufacturing cost by eliminating a complex gear transmission mechanism of a shaft driving part in a sheet sorting device sorting sheets discharged from an image forming device, to smoothly drive a pair of shift rollers, and to prevent the generation of noises. SOLUTION: This sorting device is provided with a shift means 70 reciprocatingly moved in a direction nearly orthogonal to a sheet carrying direction by a driving means in order to clip and shift a sheet S; a pair of shift rollers 24 composed of a driving roller 24A and a follower roller 24B which are rotatably supported by the shift means 70, and clip the sheet S in the direction nearly orthogonal to the sheet carrying direction and reciprocatingly move in a rotating shaft direction to shift-carry the sheet S; a slide pulley member 251 slidably supported in the rotating shaft direction at an end portion of a rotating shaft 241 of the driving roller 24A, and engaging and integrally rotating with the driving roller 24A to connect to the driving means; and a pulley supporting member 253 rotatably holding the slide pulley member 251 on a fixed side wall of the sheet sorting device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention sorts recording paper on which images have been recorded by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a multifunction peripheral thereof, and stacks the recording paper on a discharge tray in accordance with a set number of sheets. The present invention relates to a sheet sorting apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the sheet sorting apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a case where a plurality of sets of sheets on which images are recorded by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer are continuously discharged (sort mode), the same original In a case where a plurality of sets of originals composed of a plurality of sheets are to be continuously copied by a plurality of sheets (group mode) or the like, there is a sheet sorting apparatus that automatically sorts recording paper for every preset number of sheets to be ejected. It is convenient because it does not require human labor for sorting.

A sheet post-processing device called a finisher is used as a device for collating and stapling a plurality of image-recorded sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus by the number of copies and stapling them. This finisher is connected to the image forming apparatus main body and functions.
It is driven in accordance with the sequence operation of the copy process. Some finishers include sheet sorting means (shift means) in addition to stapling means. Sheets that do not require stapling are shifted by the shift means in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction for each sheet bundle and are discharged onto a sheet discharge tray.

As a sheet sorting apparatus for this purpose, a sheet discharge tray can be moved to the left and right in the sheet discharge direction, and the discharge tray is moved every time a predetermined number of sheets of one set have been discharged. There is known a sorting apparatus in which sheets are alternately stacked for each set of a set number of sheets (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-217664). In this case, an eccentric cam or the like is used to move the paper discharge tray.

There is also known a sheet sorting apparatus in which a sheet discharge tray is rotated by a predetermined angle in the plane of the sheet discharge tray so that a set of sheet bundles is stacked with a predetermined angle of deviation. I have.

In addition, a sorter in which a plurality of paper discharge trays (bins) are provided to switch the paper discharge tray facing the discharge port for each set number of sheets is also used.

In each of the above apparatuses, it is necessary to move the discharge tray in a state where sheets are stacked on the discharge tray.
There are drawbacks such as a complicated and large-sized device and increased power consumption. In particular, a large output drive motor is required to shift a sheet discharge tray capable of stacking about 2,000 sheets. Also, by shifting the output tray loaded with sheets to the left or right, the sheets loaded on the output tray are distorted and become irregular, making sorting impossible.
There is a problem that the sheet falls from the discharge tray.

Further, the sheet discharged from the discharge roller pair of the image forming apparatus onto the discharge tray is reciprocated a predetermined amount in the axial direction of the discharge roller pair for pressing and holding the sheet. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a sheet sorting apparatus that sorts sheets by stacking them on a table with their positions shifted by a set number of sheets (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-33459). In this sheet sorting apparatus, there is a problem in that the drive transmission mechanism is complicated because the discharge roller pair that holds the discharged sheet and presses against each other to rotate the drive roller is driven in the axial direction.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A printed sheet received from a paper discharge section of an image forming apparatus is received, and the sheet is conveyed along a sheet conveying path. In a sheet sorting apparatus that shifts in the orthogonal direction and discharges the sheet onto a sheet discharge tray, the shift means for shifting the sheet holds the sheet by a pair of grip means and a pair of shift rollers, and substantially shifts the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction. A reciprocating operation is performed in a direction orthogonal to the first position at the start of the shift, which is the sheet conveying path, to the second position at the end of the shift.

In a conventional sheet sorting apparatus, a drive system for driving and rotating the shift roller pair and moving the shift roller pair in the rotation axis direction is performed from a drive source via a timing belt, a gear train, and the like.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a driving system for a conventional shift roller pair.

The timing belt TB rotated by the driving source rotates a gear g10 integrated with the timing pulley TP. The gear g10 rotates a gear g12 fixed to the shaft end of the rotating shaft 100 of the drive roller of the shift roller pair via the intermediate gear g11.

The rotating shaft 100 is rotated by the driving source and is reciprocated in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 100 by another driving source. The gear g12 is moved to the position shown by the broken line by the shift movement of the rotating shaft 100.

The axial length of the teeth of the intermediate gear g11 which always meshes with the shiftable gear g12 is the gear g12.
Requires an extra length corresponding to the shift movement amount. For example, assuming that the shift amount of the gear g12 is 30 to 40 mm, the axial length of the tooth portion of the intermediate gear g11 is equal to the gear g.
The shift movement amount of 30 to 30 is set to the axial length of the 12 tooth portions.
It becomes the length which added 40 mm.

The shaft member that rotatably supports the intermediate gear g11 having the long tooth portion on the side plate has a disadvantage that it is difficult to maintain accuracy and the support structure is complicated. Further, there is a problem that the meshing between the intermediate gear g11 and the gear g12 that shifts is not smooth.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of a conventional sheet sorting apparatus for sorting recording sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus, and provides an accurate and simple drive system for a drive roller of a shift roller pair. An object of the present invention is to provide a shift sorting device having a structure.

[0017]

A sheet sorting apparatus according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems receives a recorded sheet carried out from a paper discharge section of an image forming apparatus, and conveys the sheet along a sheet conveying path. A sheet sorting apparatus that shifts the sheet by a predetermined number of sheets in a direction substantially orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction and discharges the sheet onto a sheet discharge tray, wherein the sheet is reciprocated by driving means in a direction substantially orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction. Shift means for pinching and shifting, and the sheet is rotatably supported by the shift means, and the sheet is pinched in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction and reciprocated in the rotation axis direction to shift and convey the sheet. A shift roller pair including a driving roller and a driven roller, and a driving roller that is slidably supported in the direction of the rotating shaft at an end of the rotating shaft of the driving roller; A slide pulley member that engages with the roller and integrally rotates to be connected to the driving unit; and a pulley support member that rotatably holds the slide pulley member on a fixing machine frame of the sheet sorting apparatus. (Claim 1).

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including the sheet sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Item 4).

[0019]

Next, a sheet post-processing apparatus provided with a sheet sorting apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a sheet post-processing apparatus (finisher).
Image forming apparatus A including FS and automatic document feeder DF
FIG.

The illustrated image forming apparatus A includes an image reading unit 1, an image processing unit 2, an image writing unit 3, an image forming unit 4,
A cassette paper feed unit 5, a large capacity paper feed unit (LCT) 6, a fixing device 7, a paper discharge unit 8, and an automatic duplex copy paper feed unit (ADU) 9 are provided. An automatic document feeder DF is mounted above the image forming apparatus A. A sheet post-processing device (finisher) FS is connected to the left side of the image forming apparatus A in FIG.

The document d placed on the document table of the automatic document feeder DF is conveyed in the direction of the arrow, and an image on one side or both sides of the document is read by the optical system of the image reading unit 1.
It is read by the CD image sensor 1A.

The analog signal photoelectrically converted by the CCD image sensor 1A is subjected to analog processing, A / D conversion, shading correction, image compression processing and the like in the image processing section 2 and then sent to the image writing section 3. .

In the image writing section 3, output light from the semiconductor laser is irradiated on the photosensitive drum of the image forming section 4 to form a latent image. In the image forming section 4, charging,
Processing such as exposure, development, transfer, separation, and cleaning is performed, and an image is transferred to the recording paper S transported from the cassette paper supply unit 5 or the large-capacity paper supply unit 6. The recording paper S carrying the image is fixed by the fixing device 7 and sent from the paper discharge unit 8 to the sheet post-processing device FS. Alternatively, the single-sided image-processed recording sheet S sent to the automatic double-sided copy sheet feeding section 9 by the conveyance path switching plate 8A is again subjected to the double-sided image processing in the image forming section 4 and then from the sheet discharging section 8 to the sheet post-processing device F.
It is sent to S.

In the sheet post-processing apparatus FS, a fixed sheet discharge tray 81, a cover sheet feeding means 40, a shift processing conveyance section (large-capacity discharge conveyance section) 20, a first sheet stacking section (stacking means) ) 30, stapling means 50, folding means 60
Are arranged in tandem in a substantially vertical direction.

At the upper right of the sheet post-processing apparatus FS in the figure, an entrance conveying section 10 is disposed. On the left side in the figure of the sheet post-processing apparatus FS, an elevating sheet discharge tray 82 for stacking sheets that have undergone edge binding and shift processing, and a fixed sheet discharge tray 83 for stacking sheets that have undergone saddle stitching and folding processing are provided. Are located.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a sheet conveying path of a sheet post-processing apparatus FS provided with a sheet sorting apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an upper mechanism of the sheet post-processing apparatus FS.

The sheet post-processing apparatus FS is installed with its position and height adjusted so that the receiving section 11 of the recording sheet S carried out from the image forming apparatus A matches the sheet discharge section 8 of the image forming apparatus A. .

The transport path of the recording paper S connected downstream of the sheet transport of the pair of rollers 12 at the entrance of the receiving section 11 is composed of an upper first transport path, an intermediate second transport path, and a lower third transport path. And the switching gate G1,
Depending on the selection of the angle occupied by G2, the recording paper S is fed to one of the transport paths.

(1) First conveyance path (non-staple, non-sort mode, paper discharge to fixed paper discharge tray 81 at the top of the apparatus) Image-formed recording paper S discharged from image forming apparatus A
Is introduced into the receiving portion 11, is conveyed by the entrance roller pair 12, passes through the right passage 13 of the upper first switching gate G1, and passes through the upper conveyance roller pair 14 (the driving roller 14A, The sheet is nipped and conveyed by the pair of rollers 14B) and the conveying roller 15 to be conveyed, further nipped by the pair of discharge rollers 16 to be discharged onto a fixed sheet discharge tray 81 at the upper outside of the apparatus, and sequentially stacked.

In this sheet conveying process, the switching gate G1 is swung by the driving of the solenoid SD1, and the switching gate G1 is moved.
7 is closed and the passage 13 is opened so that the recording paper S can pass through the fixed paper discharge tray 81.

The fixed sheet discharge tray 81 can accommodate a maximum of about 200 sheets of recording paper S, and can be easily taken out from the upper portion of the sheet post-processing apparatus FS.

(2) Second conveyance path (shift processing mode or non-sort mode, discharge to the elevating discharge tray 82) When this conveyance mode is set, the switching gate G1 is turned on when the solenoid SD1 is off. 13 closed,
The passage 17 is kept open to allow the recording paper S to pass through the passage 17.

The image-formed recording paper S discharged from the image forming apparatus A is supplied to the receiving section 11 and the entrance roller pair 12.
, Passes through a passage 17 formed in an open state below the switching gate G1, and is sandwiched by a pair of conveying rollers 18, and is disposed obliquely below a second switching gate G2, which is a second conveying path. After passing through the passage 21,
2, via the passage 23, between the shift means 70 and the shift roller pair 24, passing through the guide member 260, and passing through the discharge roller pair 26 (the upper roller 26 </ b> A and the lower roller 26).
By B), the sheet is discharged and placed on the elevating sheet discharge tray 82 outside the apparatus. Reference numeral 27 denotes a swinging unit that swings the upper roller 26A so as to be able to press against and separate from the lower roller 26B.

The elevating sheet discharge tray 82 can accommodate up to about 3,000 (A4, B5) recording sheets S.

(3) Third transport path (edge binding processing mode,
The recording paper S, which has been subjected to the image forming process in the image forming apparatus A and sent to the receiving section 11 of the sheet post-processing apparatus FS, receives the image-formed recording paper S in the entrance roller pair 12, 1 through the passage 17 below the switching gate G1, and
8 and transported to the third transport path.

When a recording sheet S having a size larger than A4 and B5 is conveyed in the third conveying path, the solenoid SD2 is driven, and the recording sheet S passes through the passage 31A below the switching gate G2. Downstream transport roller pair 32
And conveyed. The recording paper S is transported further downstream by a pair of conveying rollers 34 (a driving roller 34A and a driven roller 34B).
, And is discharged to the space above the inclined intermediate stacker 35, contacts the upper surface of the intermediate stacker 35 or the recording paper S stacked on the intermediate stacker 35, slides up, and then slides up the transport roller pair. After the trailing end portion of the recording sheet S in the traveling direction is discharged from the recording sheet S, the recording sheet S starts to descend due to its own weight, slides down on the inclined surface of the intermediate stacker 35, and ends near the stapling means (binding means) 50. Binding movable stopper member (hereinafter, referred to as an edge binding stopper) 5
The leading end of the recording sheet S in the traveling direction comes into contact with the first sheet abutting surface and stops.

In the third conveyance path, the switching gate G1 is used to efficiently and continuously convey small-sized recording paper S of A4, B5 size or the like to improve copy productivity.
A passage 31B parallel to the passage 31A below and a switching gate G3 are provided.

Solenoid SD for switching gate G2
When both the solenoid SD3 for the switching gate G3 and the switching gate G3 are driven, the leading ends of the switching gates G2 and G3 both swing counterclockwise in the drawing to close the passages 21 and 31A and open the passage 31B.

The leading end of the first sheet of recording paper S sent from the pair of conveying rollers 18 passes through the passage 31B and abuts against the peripheral surface of the pair of conveying rollers 34 in a rotation stopped state to stop.

Next, the energization of the solenoid SD3 is turned off, and the tip of the switching gate G3 swings clockwise,
The passage 31B is closed, and the passage 31A is opened. The leading end of the second recording sheet S sent out from the pair of conveying rollers 18 passes through the passage 31A, abuts against the peripheral surface of the pair of conveying rollers 34 in the rotation stopped state, and stops.

At a predetermined timing, the conveying roller pair 34 is driven to rotate, and the two recording sheets S are nipped and conveyed simultaneously, and are discharged onto the intermediate stacker 35. The third and subsequent sheets are discharged one by one.

Reference numeral 36 denotes a pair of upstream width matching means (width matching members) movably provided on both side surfaces of the intermediate stacker 35. The width aligning member 36 is movable in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, and when receiving the sheet where the recording paper S is discharged onto the intermediate stacker 35, it is opened wider than the sheet width and conveyed on the intermediate stacker 35, When the sheet S is stopped by contacting the edge binding stopper 51, the side edge of the recording sheet S in the width direction is lightly hit to align the width of the sheet bundle (width alignment). At this stop position, when a predetermined number of recording papers S are stacked and aligned on the intermediate stacker 35, a stapling process is performed by the stapling unit 50, and the sheet bundle is stapled.

A cut-out portion is formed in a part of the sheet stacking surface of the intermediate stacker 35, and the drive pulley 37A
And a plurality of discharge belts 38 wound around the driven pulley 37B
Are rotatably driven. In part of the discharge belt 38,
The discharge claw 38a is formed integrally, and its tip is
An elliptical locus is drawn as shown by a dashed line in the figure. The stapled sheet bundle is placed on the discharge belt 38 with the trailing end of the recording sheet S held by the discharge claws 38a of the discharge belt 38, and slid on the mounting surface of the intermediate stacker 35 to move diagonally upward. To the nip position of the discharge roller pair 26. The sheet bundle nipped by the rotating discharge roller pair 26 is discharged and stacked on the elevating discharge tray 82.

(4) Fourth Conveying Path (Cover Sheet Feeding Mode) The cover sheet feeding means 40 includes a cover sheet placing portion including a sheet feeding tray 41, a movable bottom plate 42, and a push-up lever 43, a pickup roller 44, and a feed roller. 45, and a cover feeding means including a separating roller 46 and the like.

One cover sheet (cover sheet) K fed from the cover sheet feeding means 40 passes through the passage 47 and passes through the nip position between the drive roller 14A of the transport roller pair 14 and the driven roller 14C. , The passage 19, and the conveying roller pair 18, the conveying roller pair 32 of the third conveying path, the passage 3
3. After reaching the intermediate stacker 35 via the transport roller pair 34. Alternatively, the cover K can be sent to the second transport path.

The transport roller pair 14 is located at the center of the driving roller 1.
4A and two driven rollers 14B and 14C which are in pressure contact with the driving roller 14A. When the driving roller 14A is driven to rotate counterclockwise as shown, the driven roller 14B rotates clockwise to convey the recording paper S conveyed from the passage 13 upward. At the same time, the driven roller 14C also rotates clockwise, and conveys the cover sheet K conveyed from the passage 47 to the lower passage 19. Therefore, the first rotation of the driving roller 14A causes the first rotation.
It is possible to simultaneously transport the recording paper S on the transport path and the cover K on the fourth transport path in the reverse direction.

(5) Fifth Transport Path (Saddle Stitching Mode) The stapling means 50 includes an upper mechanism 50A and a lower mechanism 50.
B, and a passage 52 through which the sheet S can pass.

The stapling means 50 are arranged in two sets in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, and can be moved in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction by driving means (not shown).
The staples 50 are stapled by the staple means 50 at two places in the center in the sheet width direction.

When the saddle stitching mode is set, the end stapling stopper 5 near the stapling position of the stapling means 50 is set.
1 is retracted from the transport path, and almost at the same time, a saddle stitching stopper member (hereinafter referred to as a saddle stitching stopper) 53 downstream thereof.
Is activated to shut off the passage 52.

When the size (length in the transport direction) of the cover sheet K and the recording sheet S is set or detected, the saddle stitching stopper 53 moves to a predetermined position and stops.

After the cover K is placed at a predetermined position on the intermediate stacker 35, the recording paper S carried out from the image forming apparatus A
Are passed through the third transport path from the entrance transport section 10 of the sheet post-processing apparatus FS, are sequentially stacked on the upper surface of the cover K placed on the intermediate stacker 35, and the end of the recording paper S is It is positioned in contact with 53. Reference numeral 56 denotes a downstream width aligning means for regulating the width direction of the recording paper S at the time of the saddle stitching process. Like the upstream width aligning means 36, the width of the recording paper S is changed every time one recording paper S is carried in. Width alignment is performed by tapping the side edge of the direction.

In the saddle stitching process, the intermediate stacker 35
First, the upstream side width aligning means 36 performs width alignment on the recording paper S which is conveyed above and advances on the upstream side of the stapling means 50 to align the sheets, and then passes through the stapling means 50 to perform saddle stitching. The downstream side width aligning means 56 performs width alignment on the recording paper S that advances toward the stopper 53 to align the sheets. Thus, the intermediate stacker 35
The recording paper S and the cover K, which advance on the upper side and are stacked so as to extend from the staple means 50 to the upstream side and the downstream side.
The width of the recording paper S is precisely aligned over the entire length of the recording paper S by the upstream width matching means 36 and the downstream width matching means 56.

After the final recording sheet S is positioned and placed on the intermediate stacker 35, the sheet bundle composed of the cover sheet K and all the pages of the recording sheet S is subjected to saddle stitching by the stapling means 50. By this saddle stitching process, the staples SP are driven into the center of the cover K and the recording paper S in the transport direction. The staple SP is driven from a lower mechanism 50B having a staple driving mechanism to an upper mechanism 50A having a staple clinch side.

(6) Sixth conveyance path (folding mode) (see FIG. 2) After the saddle stitching process, the saddle stitching stopper 53 swings to
2. Open the downstream passage. The sheet bundle composed of the cover sheet K and the recording sheet S subjected to the saddle stitching process passes through the curved path and the intermediate conveying roller pair 61, is guided on the conveying belt 62 obliquely below by the guide plate 63, and is conveyed. The sheet bundle is conveyed on the second sheet stacking unit (stack base) 64, and the leading end of the sheet bundle in the conveying direction abuts on the folding unit stopper 650 of the folding unit movable stopper unit 65, and stops at a predetermined position. The folding section stopper 650 can be moved to a predetermined position by setting or detecting the sheet size and driving means.

A central portion of the stopped sheet bundle in the conveying direction,
That is, the sheet protruding means 6 is provided diagonally below the saddle stitching position.
6 are installed. A folding roller pair 67 and a two-fold sheet conveying means 68 are provided diagonally above the saddle stitching position.

The folding means 60 includes the sheet ejecting means 6
6, folding roller pair part 67, two-fold sheet conveying means 68
And so on.

In response to the two-folding start signal, the protruding plate 661 of the sheet protruding means 66 moves straight obliquely upward, and the leading end of the protruding plate 661 pushes up the center of the sheet bundle composed of the cover sheet K and the recording sheet S. The nip portion of the folding roller pair 67 is pushed and spread through the bundle to swing and separate.

After the leading end of the protruding plate 661 has passed through the nip portion, the protruding plate 661 retreats, and the central portion of the sheet bundle is pressed by the folding roller pair 67 to form a fold. This fold substantially coincides with the position where the staples are driven into the sheet bundle by the saddle stitching process.

A pair of first rotating pair of folding roller pair 67
The central portion of the sheet bundle having a fold formed by being pressed by the pressing roller (folding roller) 671 is conveyed while being pinched by a pair of conveying belts, and is formed by a pair of second pressing rollers (pressure rollers) 676. The sheet is fed to the nip position, where the fold is further firmly attached, and is sent to the two-fold sheet conveying means 68.

The sheet bundle sent to the two-fold sheet conveying means 68 is divided into a lower conveying belt 681 and an upper conveying belt 682.
And is conveyed by being pinched between the paper tray and discharged onto a fixed paper discharge tray 83 outside the machine.

FIG. 4 shows the entrance conveying section 1 of the sheet post-processing apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a drive system of a shift processing transport unit 20, a stacking unit 30, and a lifting and lowering tray driving unit 80.

The motor M1 is connected to the timing belts B1, B
Drive roller (lower roller) of the transport roller pair 18 via the second roller 2
18A, a drive roller (upper transport roller) 24A of the shift roller pair 24, a drive roller (left roller) 32A of the transport roller pair 32 in the third transport path, and a drive roller of the transport roller pair 22 in the second transport path via a gear train. (Lower roller) 22A is rotated. Further, the drive roller (right roller) 12A of the entrance roller pair 12 is rotated via the timing belt B3, and the drive roller (lower roller) 16A of the discharge roller pair 16 is further rotated via the timing belt B4.

The motor M2 includes timing belts B5 and B
6 and the upper drive roller (hereinafter referred to as upper roller) 26A of the discharge roller pair 26 via the intermediate pulley 28A, and the lower drive roller of the discharge roller pair 26 via the timing belts B7, B8 and the intermediate pulley 28B. (Hereinafter referred to as lower roller) 26B is rotated. Motor M2
Further, the drive pulley 37A is rotated via the intermediate pulley 28B and the timing belt B9, and the discharge belt 38 is rotated.

The motor M3 rotates the transport roller pair 34 including the drive roller 34A and the driven rollers 34B and 34C at the entrance of the intermediate stacker, and further rotates the transport auxiliary rotation member 34D via the belt.

The motor M4 drives and rotates the driving pulley 84A via the illustrated gear train, and rotates a wire 85 that winds the driving pulley 84A and the upper driven pulley 84B. The base of the elevating sheet discharge tray 82 is fixed to a part of the wire 85 by a locking member 86.

The elevating sheet discharge tray 82 is moved along the rail member 88 by the rollers 87A and 87B rotatably supported at the base thereof sliding on the rail member 88 and the wire 85 being rotated by the motor M4. It is possible to go up and down.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the shift means 70 and the paper discharge means of the second transport path.

The discharge roller pair 26 of the paper discharge means is connected to a motor M2 shown in FIG. 4 and is driven by an upper drive roller (upper roller) 26A and a lower drive roller (lower roller).
26B and a sponge roller 26C. The lower roller 26B is driven and rotated at a fixed position. The upper roller 26 </ b> A is supported by an arm member 271 of the swinging unit 27 and is swingable about a support shaft 272. With the paper discharge path opened by the upward swing of the upper roller 26A, the large-size recording paper is transported from the transport roller pair 34 onto the intermediate stacker 35, and is aligned and stacked.

The rotation shaft 261 of the lower roller 26B is rotatably supported on both side walls of the sheet post-processing apparatus main body, and is connected to a motor M2 as a driving source. A plurality of lower rollers 26B having a rubber layer on the peripheral surface and a plurality of sponge rollers 26C having a flexible elastic material layer on the peripheral surface are fixed to the rotating shaft 261.

One discharge guide plate 262 is supported between the lower rollers 26B and the sponge rollers 26C so as to be swingable about a support shaft 263. The paper discharge guide plate 262 is lifted up by a spring 264 and abuts on a stopper 266 via a cushioning material 265.
At the time of this contact, the upper surface of the paper ejection guide plate 262 protrudes above the outer peripheral surface of the sponge roller 26C.

The rotating shaft 267 of the upper roller 26A is rotatably supported on both side walls of the swinging means 27, and is connected to a motor M2 as a driving source. A plurality of rollers are fixed to the rotating shaft 267.

The arm member 271 of the swinging means 27 supporting the upper roller 26A is swingable about a support shaft 272, and the upper portion 274A of the cover 274 comes into contact with the stopper 275 of the sheet post-processing apparatus main body. Stop rocking.

An arm member 271 for rotatably supporting both ends of a rotation shaft 267 of the upper roller 26A is provided on the support shaft 272.
And a lever member 276 which is engaged with a pin SD4B implanted in a plunger SD4A of the solenoid SD4, is fixed and can swing integrally.

The solenoid SD4 drives the upper roller 26A to press against and release the lower roller 26B. Arm member 2
At the bottom of the recording paper passage area 71, a stopper member 27 is provided.
7 is provided. The distal end of the stopper member 277 is installed so that the upper roller 26A and each peripheral surface of the paper discharge guide plate 262 maintain a gap s. Between the upper roller 26A and the lower roller 26B, which are separated by keeping the gap s, the recording paper S sandwiched by the shift roller pair 24 is moved by the sponge roller 26.
It can pass smoothly without contacting C.

The shift means 70 includes a drive roller (upper transport roller) 24A connected to a drive source and the drive roller 24A.
A shift roller pair 24 composed of a driven roller (lower transport roller) 24B which is pressed against the peripheral surface of the recording paper S and is driven and rotated;
And shift levers (grippers) 77A and 77B for nipping and shifting in a direction perpendicular to the recording paper transport direction. Both ends of the rotation shaft 241 of the drive roller 24A are rotatably supported by a fixed machine frame 71 of the shift means 70, and are connected to a motor M1 of a drive source via belts B2 and B1.

The rotation shaft 242 of the driven roller 24B is rotatably supported by a swingable movable support plate 243.
The movable support plate 243 is swingable integrally with a lever member 244 which is swung by a pin implanted in a plunger of the solenoid SD5, and is urged by a spring 245.

When a voltage is applied to the solenoid SD5,
By the suction operation of the plunger, the lever member 244 and the movable support plate 243 are swung against the urging force of the spring 245, and the driven roller 2
4B separates from the drive roller 24A and forms a predetermined gap in the recording paper transport path. When the voltage application to the solenoid SD5 is released, the driven roller 24B is pressed against the driving roller 2A by the urging force of the spring 245.

FIG. 6A is a plan view of the shift means 70, and FIG. 6B is a side sectional view of the shift means 70.

The fixing device frame 71 of the shift means 70 is formed integrally with an upper guide plate 71A, a lower guide plate 71B, and a side plate 71C which form the passage 23 through which the recording paper S passes.
A movable frame 72 that movably supports the driving roller 24A, the driven roller 24B, and the shift levers 77A, 77B is supported by the fixed machine frame 71.

The movable frame 72 is slidably supported by guide rails 73 that are horizontally mounted on the fixed machine frame 71, and
When the roller member 721 supported on one end of the movable frame 72 rolls on the sliding surface of the fixed machine frame 71, it can reciprocate linearly in a direction orthogonal to the recording paper conveyance direction.

The shift drive motor M5 fixed to the upper surface of the fixed machine frame 71 rotates the eccentric disk 74 via the reduction gear trains g1 to g6. The eccentric circular motion of the pin 741 implanted in the eccentric disk 74 causes the crank arm 742 to swing, and moves the movable frame 72 together with the shaft 722 implanted in the movable frame 72 in a direction perpendicular to the recording paper conveyance direction. To reciprocate linearly. The shift home position sensor (sensor) PS2 fixed to the fixed machine frame 71 detects the cutout portion 74a formed in the eccentric disk 74 and sets the initial position of the movable frame 72.

FIG. 7A is a front view of a drive transmitting portion of the drive roller 24A of the shift roller pair 24, FIG. 7B is a side sectional view of the drive transmitting portion, and FIG. 7C is an exploded view of the drive transmitting portion. It is a perspective view.

The drive transmitting portion includes a rotating shaft 241 of the driving roller 24A, a slide pulley member (timing pulley) 251 mounted on the shaft end of the rotating shaft 241 and an oil-impregnated bearing pressed into a central through hole of the slide pulley member 251. Member 25
2. The pulley support member 253 rotatably supports the slide pulley member 251.

The parallel plane portion 24
1a is formed to have an oval cross section. The through hole at the center of the oil-impregnated bearing member 252 pressed into the center through hole of the slide pulley member 251 has an oval cross-sectional shape,
The shaft end of the rotating shaft 241 is fitted slidably in the axial direction.

The pulley supporting member 253 is
3a, flange portion 251a of slide pulley member 251
Three engagement protrusions (engagement portions) 253b and hollow cylindrical portions (bearing portions) 253c for rotatably positioning by engaging with the shaft.
Consists of

The flange portion 253a is fixed to the side plate 71C of the shift means 70. The engagement projections 253b are provided upright at three places on the flange 253a surface, and rotatably engage with the flange 251a of the slide pulley member 251 to perform axial positioning. The outer diameter portion of the hollow cylindrical portion 253c is rotatably fitted in the center hole of the slide pulley member 251. The tip of the outer diameter of the hollow cylindrical portion 253c is
The slide pulley member 251 contacts the bottom of the center hole.

The slide pulley member 251 is rotatably supported by the outer diameter portion of the hollow cylindrical portion 253c of the pulley support member 253, and is positioned in the axial direction by the distal end portion of the hollow cylindrical portion 253c and the engaging projection 253b. .

The slide pulley member 251 and the pulley support member 253 are formed of a resin material such as polyacetal (POM). The oil-impregnated bearing member 252 is made of a sintered alloy, for example, SB.
Molded with K2118.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the shift roller pair 24 supported by the movable frame 72 and reciprocating linearly in a direction perpendicular to the recording paper conveyance direction. FIG. 8A shows a state before the shift operation. FIG. 8B shows a state after the shift operation.

When the timing belt B2 is rotated by the drive of the motor M1, the slide pulley member (timing pulley) 251 is rotated, and the parallel flat portion of the oil-impregnated bearing member 252 press-fitted and fixed in the slide pulley member 251 is moved.
The rotation shaft 241 is rotated in a state where the rotation shaft 241 is engaged with the parallel plane portion of the rotation shaft 241 of the drive roller 24A.

When the crank arm 742 is driven by the motor M5 and drive transmission means shown in FIG. 6 and the movable frame 72 shifts in a direction orthogonal to the recording paper conveyance direction, the rotation shaft 241 of the shift roller pair 24 also shifts. The rotary shaft 241 moves integrally with the pair 24, and the tip of the rotating shaft 241 projects from the end surface of the slide pulley member 251 at the fixed position.
The maximum protrusion dimension a is, for example, the shift length of the recording paper S of 30 to 40 mm (see FIG. 8B).

When the movable frame 72 moves leftward in the figure,
The shift levers 77A, 77B move the recording paper S by a predetermined distance in the recording paper nipping posture to shift the recording paper S. Movable frame 72
When the gear reaches the maximum movement position by the crank arm 742, the shift lever 77A swings about the support shaft,
The upper transport roller 24A is retracted above the passage 23. At the same time, the movable frame 72 swings the shift lever 77B about the support shaft, and retracts the lower transport roller 24B below the passage 23.

After the shift process is completed, the voltage applied to the solenoid SD5 is switched off, and the driven roller (lower transport roller) 24B of the shift roller pair 24 is biased by a spring.
Presses the drive roller (upper transport roller) 24A (nip)
Then, the rear end of the recording sheet S between the pair of shift rollers 24 is nipped and the conveyance is started.

The sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention is not only applied to the above-described sheet post-processing apparatus, but also discharges recording paper from an image forming apparatus having no sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. The present invention is also applicable to a paper discharge member that discharges onto a plate. Further, the present invention is also applicable to a paper discharge unit that discharges recording paper from an image forming apparatus such as a printer shown in FIG.

[0096]

As described above, a complicated gear transmission mechanism is omitted by the sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.
This is effective for saving space and reducing manufacturing costs by reducing the number of components. Further, the rotation of the rotation shaft 241 of the driving roller 24A and the shift in the axial direction are smoothly performed, and no noise is generated.

Further, a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile,
Desired digital processing is performed by an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral, and the discharged recording paper is shifted in the page order by the sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention and is aligned and discharged on a discharge tray. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus including a sheet post-processing apparatus and an automatic document feeder.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sheet conveyance path of a sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an upper mechanism of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram illustrating a drive system of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a shift unit and a sheet discharging unit.

FIG. 6 is a plan view and a side sectional view of a shift unit.

FIG. 7 is a front view, a side sectional view, and an exploded perspective view of a drive transmission unit of a drive roller of a shift roller pair.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a shift roller pair supported by a movable frame and reciprocating linearly in a direction orthogonal to the recording paper conveyance direction.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of an electrophotographic copying machine provided with a sheet sorting device.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus such as a printer including a sheet sorting apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a driving system of a conventional shift roller pair.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Inlet conveyance part (conveyance means) 20 Shift processing conveyance part (large capacity paper discharge conveyance part) 24 Shift roller pair 24A Drive roller (upper conveyance roller) 24B Follower roller (lower conveyance roller) 241 Rotation shaft 251 Slide pulley member 252 Oil-containing Bearing member 253 Pulley support member 30 First sheet stacking section (stacking means) 40 Cover feeding means 50 Staple means 60 Folding means 70 Shift means 71 Fixed machine frame 71C Side plate 72 Movable frame 73 Guide rail 74 Eccentric disk 742 Crank arm 77A, 77B Shift lever (gripper, swinging member) 80 Elevating paper discharge tray drive 81 Fixed paper discharge tray 82 Elevating paper discharge tray 83 Fixed paper discharge tray A Image forming device FS Sheet post-processing device (finisher) M1 to M5 Motors PS1 to PS3 Sensor S Recording paper (sheet) SD1 to SD Solenoid

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H072 CA01 CB06 FA05 FB06 FC20 GA01 3F049 DA12 DB01 LA02 LA05 LA07 LB03 3F107 AA01 AB01 AC02 AC03 AC04 BA02 CB04

Claims (4)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus receives a recorded sheet discharged from a paper discharge unit, conveys the sheet along a sheet conveying path, and transfers the sheet every predetermined number of sheets in a direction substantially orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction. In a sheet sorting apparatus that shifts and discharges a sheet onto a sheet discharge tray, a shift unit that is reciprocated by a driving unit in a direction substantially orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction to pinch and shift the sheet, and that the shift unit is rotatable. A shift roller pair comprising a drive roller and a driven roller supported by the shift means for nipping the sheet in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction and reciprocating in the rotation axis direction to shift and convey the sheet; and the drive roller A slide pulley slidably supported at the end of the rotating shaft in the direction of the rotating shaft, engaged with the driving roller, and integrally rotated to be connected to the driving means. A sheet sorting device comprising: a re-member; and a pulley support member that rotatably holds the slide pulley member on a fixing machine frame of the sheet sorting device. 2. The shift roller pair is capable of nipping and shifting a sheet in a direction substantially perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction and capable of nipping and conveying the sheet in a sheet conveying direction. 4. The sheet sorting device according to 1. 3. The sheet sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an end of a rotation shaft of the drive roller projects from an end surface of the slide pulley member by a shift operation of the shift unit. . 4. An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet sorting apparatus according to claim 1. Description: