JP2000219408A - Sheet processing device and image forming device provided therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a sheet from obliquely moving by smoothly pressing out a bundle of sheets. SOLUTION: When an image formed sheet S is loaded on a after processing tray, and assorted to different positions in a width direction of a carrying direction, or discharged after matching and binding process, the center C of gravity of each sheet bundle is located within a range sandwiched between a bundle pressing members separated each other in the width direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printing machine and a laser beam printer, and more particularly to a sheet processing apparatus for performing processing such as alignment and binding of sheets discharged after image formation. And an image forming apparatus having the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image forming apparatus, a sheet is conveyed through each device for image formation, and after image formation, conveyed onto a processing tray of a sheet processing apparatus. The sheet processing apparatus performs a binding operation on the sheets stacked on the processing tray as needed. In this case, it is necessary to align the sheets stacked on the processing tray, and for that purpose, the sheets discharged one by one from the image forming apparatus by the discharge rollers are pulled in until they come into contact with the rear end stopper of the sheet processing apparatus. In order to align the sheets, the processing trays are arranged obliquely, and the width direction of the sheets is aligned by an alignment member that moves in the width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction.

Further, the sheet processing apparatus is provided with a conveying means for discharging a sheet bundle stacked and aligned on a processing tray onto a stack tray. A bundle pushing member that pushes the rear end of the sheet bundle protrudes from the transport unit.

[0004]

However, in the above-described sheet processing apparatus, the size of a sheet on which an image is formed in the image forming apparatus is large or small, and the sheet is arranged vertically in the conveying direction or horizontally long. When the stacking sheet is sorted and stacked on the intermediate processing tray and the aligned sheet bundle is discharged onto the stack tray by the arm protruding from the bundle pushing belt, the arm Since the center in the width direction with respect to the transport direction of the bundle cannot be pushed, the sheet bundle may be skewed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a sheet processing apparatus capable of smoothly pushing out a sheet bundle to prevent skew of sheets and an image forming apparatus having the same. The purpose is to do.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a sheet processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a stacking unit for stacking an image-formed sheet, and a sheet on the stacking unit. An alignment member that sorts and processes the sheet bundle at different positions in the width direction with respect to the conveyance direction, wherein the stacking unit pushes out the sheet bundle aligned at each position or one position in the width direction by the alignment member. For carrying out the sorting process in the region sandwiched between the bundle pushing members that are separated in the width direction. Is provided so that the center of gravity of the sheet bundle exists.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the conveying means is a pair of wrapping belts each having a bundle pushing member, and the center of gravity of each sheet bundle to be aligned for the sorting process is the same as the above. It exists in a region sandwiched between a pair of wrapping bands.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, wherein an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet, and the sheet conveyed from the image forming means are stacked to perform a sorting process, an alignment process, and the like. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet processing apparatus, comprising: loading means for loading an image-formed sheet; and sorting the sheets on the loading means into different positions in the width direction with respect to the conveying direction. An alignment member that aligns in one of the width directions for binding the sheet, wherein the stacking unit is aligned to each position or one position in the width direction by the alignment member. A transport unit provided with a bundle pushing member for pushing out a bundle of sheets separated in the width direction, wherein the carrying unit performs the sorting process or the binding process in an area sandwiched between the bundle pushing members spaced in the width direction. Is provided so that the center of gravity of each sheet bundle to be aligned for the position is present.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the conveying means is a pair of wrapping belts each having a bundle pushing member, and the center of gravity of each sheet bundle to be aligned for sorting or binding. Exists in a region sandwiched between the pair of wrapping bands.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, wherein an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet and the sheet conveyed from the image forming means are stacked to perform a sorting process, an alignment process, and the like. A sheet processing apparatus according to a fourth or fifth aspect of the present invention.

[Operation] Based on the above configuration, the sheets on which images have been formed are stacked on the stacking means, and are sorted by an alignment member at different positions in the width direction with respect to the conveying direction, or after the alignment processing, the sheet is discharged. In such a case, the center of gravity of each of the sheet bundles is located in a region sandwiched between bundle pushing members separated in the width direction.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a mechanism for moving an alignment member provided on a post-processing tray of the sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a return roller and a bundle discharge belt in the sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment. 5 (a) to 5 (d) are operation explanatory views showing a return roller and a bundle discharge belt extracted from the sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a mechanism for moving a stack tray in the sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment. Figure,
7 is a view from the direction of arrow B in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the standby position of the alignment member in the non-sort mode and the sort mode in the sheet processing apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a first alignment position of the alignment member in the non-sort mode and the sort mode in the apparatus. FIG. 10 is a second alignment position of the alignment member in the non-sort mode and the sort mode in the sheet processing apparatus. FIG. 11 is a view for explaining the operation of the aligning member in the staple sort mode in the sheet processing apparatus of the above, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state where the slide unit of the sheet processing apparatus of the same is disassembled. 13 (a)
FIG. 14B is a view for explaining a state in which the slide unit is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a joint surface of the same sheet processing apparatus with the image forming apparatus main body, and FIG. FIG. 16 is an enlarged view showing a needle supply port provided on the joining surface side of FIG. 16, FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a position detection mechanism provided in the sheet processing apparatus, and FIG. 17 is a plan view showing the same position detection mechanism. FIG. 18 is a control block diagram for holding the bundle pushing member of the sheet processing apparatus at the home position.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an image forming apparatus 3 on which a recirculating document feeder (RDF) 305 is mounted.
This is a finisher as a sheet processing apparatus detachably mounted on the sheet processing apparatus 00.

In the image forming apparatus 300, as shown in FIG. 2, a document is automatically sent by a recirculating document feeder 305 and an image is read by an image reading unit 306. Then, a signal is sent to the laser oscillator in accordance with the image information read by the controller (not shown), and a laser beam is emitted.

Next, the laser light is reflected by the rotating polygon mirror 309, and is again turned back by the reflection mirror 310 to form an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 312 serving as image forming means whose surface is uniformly charged. Irradiation forms an electrostatic latent image. After the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 312 is developed by the developing device 311, it is transferred as a toner image onto a sheet S composed of paper, an OHP sheet, or the like.

The sheet S is fed to a sheet cassette 351, 3 by a pickup roller 313 constituting a sheet feeding means.
52, is selectively fed out as appropriate, separated by separation means 307 and fed one by one.
6, 317, the skew is corrected by the pair of registration rollers 314, 315, and the photoconductor drum 312 and the transfer device opposed thereto are synchronized with the rotation of the photoconductor drum 312. Conveyed between. At this time, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 312 is transferred to the sheet S by the operation of the transfer device.

Thereafter, the sheet S is transferred to the fixing roller pair 301,
The toner image transferred to the sheet S by being heated and pressed by the fixing roller pair 301 and 302 is permanently fixed. The fixing roller pair 301 and 302 are in contact with the fixing upper separating claw 303 and the fixing lower separating claw 304, respectively.
2 separated.

The separated sheet S is supplied to a discharge roller pair 399.
Is transported to the outside of the image forming apparatus 300, and is guided to the finisher 1 connected to the image forming apparatus 300.

As shown in FIG. 1, the finisher 1 and the image forming apparatus 300 are connected to the image forming apparatus 30 by a lock arm 2 which is rotatably supported on the upper portion of the finisher 1.
The positioning member 3 is positioned and coupled to the holding member 3 provided at the first position.
Further, the image forming apparatus 3 is located below the main body of the finisher 1.
A slide unit 4 as a supporting member as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 which is connected to and supported by the main body 100 is attached, and the finisher 1 is moved in the sheet conveying direction (Y in FIG.
Direction).

That is, the slide unit 4 attached to the bottom of the finisher 1 has an outer rail 4a, an inner rail 4b slidable with respect to the outer rail 4a, and a tip of the inner rail 4b. The image forming apparatus includes a support leg 4c and a hook 4d provided on one side of the upper end of the support leg 4c. The hook 4d is engaged with a square hole 300a formed in the main body of the image forming apparatus 300. It was done. The relationship between the size of the hook 4d and the size of the square hole 300a is as follows.
A gap is created in the width direction when engaging with 00a. Therefore, when the finisher 1 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 300, the rails can be set to the large square holes 300a via the hooks 4d, so that the setting is easy. Also,
Since the rail supports the weight of the finisher 1 in the set state, there is no problem even if the hand is released. Further, after that, since only the positioning plate 11 for positioning the thrust is inserted, the insertion of the positioning plate 11 is a very easy operation requiring little force, and the workability can be improved. That is, in a state where the hook 4d is engaged with the square hole 300a, one end of the positioning plate 11 is connected to the hook 4d.
May be fitted into the gaps of the square holes 300a engaged with each other, and the other end may be simply fastened to the support legs 4c with screws or the like. Thus, the finisher 1 main body is slidably connected to and supported by the image forming apparatus 300 main body.

In this embodiment, the hook 4d is provided on one side of the upper end of the support leg 4c. However, the hook 4d is provided on both sides in the width direction of the upper end of the support leg 4c, and the positioning plate is provided. Positioning is performed by fitting between hook portions engaged with the square hole portion 300a, or a hook portion is provided substantially at the center in the width direction of the support leg 4c, and positioning plates are provided on the square hole portions on both sides of the hook portion. It may be fitted and positioned.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a staple unit provided in the main body of the finisher 1. The staple unit 10 performs a binding process (stapling process) on a sheet bundle on a post-processing tray 30 as a stacking unit described later. Further, the staple unit 10 has a needle supply port 13 of the staple cartridge 12 provided on a joint surface 1a of the staple unit 10 with the main body of the image forming apparatus 300 at the back side. When the sheet bundle stacked on the post-processing tray 30 is stapled, the sheet S conveyed from the main body of the image forming apparatus 300 to the main body of the finisher 1 by the pair of discharge rollers 399 when the trailing edge of the sheet S exits from the pair of conveying rollers 9. ,
The sheet bundle on the post-processing tray 30 is stacked face-down on the post-processing tray 30 in order to drop onto the post-processing tray 30, switch back, and slide down on the post-processing tray 30 to the rear end stopper 31. Will be.

When the finisher 1 is separated from the main body of the image forming apparatus 300 by sliding the outer rail 4a with respect to the inner rail portion 4b, the staple unit 10 as shown in FIG. 13 is configured to be exposed. In the description of the present embodiment, the description of the configuration of the staple unit 10 is omitted, but it is almost the same as the configuration of an electric or motor-driven automatic stapling apparatus that is usually commercially available. To bind the sheet bundle.

In addition, when a sheet S that has stayed in any one of the main units due to a sheet conveyance failure in the image forming apparatus 300 or the finisher 1 occurs, the lock arm 2 is rotated in the X direction. The main body of the finisher 1 is made movable on the slide unit 4 in the direction of arrow Y to separate the main body of the finisher 1 from the main body of the image forming apparatus 300.

The sheet S discharged from the discharge roller pair 399 is sent further downstream by a sheet path 7 formed by the upper guide 5 and the lower guide 6 in the finisher 1. Reference numeral 8 denotes a sheet detection sensor that detects a passing sheet and a staying sheet. Reference numeral 9 denotes a transport roller pair, which includes a discharge roller 9a and a discharge roller 9b pressed against the discharge roller 9a.

The post-processing tray 30 is configured as an intermediate tray for temporarily accumulating the sheets S and performing alignment, sorting, stapling, and the like.

Reference numeral 60 denotes a pair of left and right bundle discharge belts (wrapping belts) as transport means for transporting the sheets S on the post-processing tray 30 in a bundle and discharging the bundle onto the stack tray 80. As shown in FIG. 4, bundle pushing members 60a, 60a that push the rear end of the sheet bundle when the sheet S bundle is conveyed to the stack tray 80 as shown in FIG. In the area sandwiched between the bundle discharge belts 60, 60, sorting processing (offset processing) is performed by the alignment members 41, 42 at different positions in the width direction on the post-processing tray 30.
The bundle discharge belts 60, 60 are spaced apart in the width direction so that the center of gravity C of the sheet S to be stapled and the center of gravity C of the sheet bundle to be stapled exist, and the center of gravity C and the staple of the sheet S to be offset processed. Bundle pushing members 60a, 60a are provided at different positions where the center of gravity of the sheet S bundle to be processed is separated in the width direction.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a post-processing tray unit, which is disposed between a conveyance unit that conveys the sheet S from the image forming apparatus 300 and a stack tray 80 that receives and stores the sheet S bundle post-processed by the post-processing tray 30. Will be arranged.

The post-processing tray unit 20 includes a post-processing tray 30, an aligning means 40, and return rollers 50a and 50a.
0b and a bundle discharge belt 60.

The post-processing tray 30, as shown in FIG.
The downstream side (left side in FIG. 1) in the sheet conveying direction is inclined upward, and the upstream side (right side in FIG. 1) in the sheet conveying direction is inclined downward, and a rear end stopper 31 is provided at a lower end. Have been.

The sheet S discharged by the conveying roller pair 9
The sheet S slides on the post-processing tray 30 by its own weight and the action of return rollers 50a and 50b described later until the rear end of the sheet S abuts on the rear end stopper 31.

The bundle discharge belts 60, 60 receive a driving force from the motor 70 and move a bundle pushing member 60 a, which will be described later, in the sheet conveying direction, so that the bundle of sheets S stacked on the post-processing tray 30. Is discharged onto the stack tray 80. In the present embodiment, two bundle pushing members 60a are attached to one bundle discharge belt 60 at equal intervals.
After the sheet bundle S is conveyed to the stack tray 80 by one of the bundle pushing members 60a, the bundle pushing member 60a is configured to stand by at a home position behind the rear end stopper 31.

Next, the function and operation of the bundle discharge belt 60 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The bundle discharge belt 60 is stretched between a driving pulley 61 provided with a fall prevention collar 61a for preventing the bundle pushing member 60a from falling and a driven pulley 62.
The driving pulley 61 includes a gear 63 and a one-way gear 6.
4. The one-way gear 64 is connected to the motor 70 via the timing belt 59, and transmits the driving force to the gear 63 only when the motor 70 rotates clockwise.

As shown in FIG. 4, the bundle discharge belts 60, 60 are separated from the bundle pushing members 60a, 60a by a predetermined distance in the turning direction rearward, and the loading auxiliary plate 6 as an assist member.
0b and 60b are protruded. This loading auxiliary plate 60
b and 60b prevent the sheet S having a longer length in the transport direction than the post-processing tray 30 from dropping. When one of the bundle pushing members 60a and 60a is located at the home position, One loading auxiliary plate 6 corresponding to this
0b and 60b protrude downstream in the sheet conveyance direction (toward the driven pulley 62 in FIG. 4) and receive the sheet S conveyed from the conveyance roller pair 9 so as not to drop onto the stack tray 80. The loading auxiliary plate 60b is covered with a fluororesin as a low friction member.

As shown in FIG. 4, the protruding portion 60 into which the root portion 60c of the loading auxiliary plate 60b fits is attached to the bundle discharge belt 60.
d and the sheet S on the stack tray 80 are rolled up one by the elevating and lowering of the stack tray 80, etc., and the entry prevention protrusion 60e for preventing the sheet S from entering between the root 60c and the bundle discharge belt 60 due to the elasticity of the sheet S is integrally formed. It is protruding.

A position detecting mechanism for causing the bundle pushing member 60a to wait at the home position is provided near the driving pulley 61 as shown in FIGS.

That is, on one side of the driving pulley 61 of one bundle discharge belt 60, a rotating lever 71 as a rotating member whose one end is exposed in the turning path of the bundle pushing member 60a.
Is provided. A sensor member 72 such as a photo sensor is provided on the other end side of the rotating lever 71, and the sensor member 72 transmits a detection signal by rotating the rotating lever 71. When the bundle discharge belts 60 and 60 turn via the driving pulley 61 by the rotational force transmitted from the motor 70, the bundle pushing belt 6
The sensor member 72 transmits a detection signal by the rotation lever 71 when the rotation lever 71 a comes into contact with the rotation lever 71. This detection signal is transmitted to a finisher controller circuit 73 as control means shown in FIG. The finisher controller circuit 73 controls the motor 70 to temporarily stop the bundle pushing member 60a at the home position where the contact between the bundle pushing member 60a and the rotating lever 71 is released, and is positioned forward of the bundle pushing member 60a. The sheet S conveyed from the conveying roller pair 9 to the post-processing tray 30 is received by the rear end stopper 31 that is in operation. When a predetermined number of sheets S are stacked on the post-processing tray 30, the bundle pushing members 60 a, 60 a located at the home position behind the rear end stopper 31 rotate with the bundle discharge belts 60, 60. The rear end of the sheet bundle is pushed, and the sheet bundle is discharged onto the stack tray 80. The rotation lever 7
1 and the sensor member 72 constitute a position detecting means.

Next, the configuration of the matching means 40 will be described with reference to FIG.

The aligning means 40 includes the aligning members 4 on the near side and the far side.
The alignment members 41 and 42 are independently movable to perform alignment processing and offset processing in a direction (width direction) orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction.
Are alignment surfaces 41a, 42a that abut on both side edges of the sheet S while standing on the post-processing tray 30, and rack gears 41b, 42b extending in the width direction of the post-processing tray 30.
And

The alignment members 41 and 42 are aligned with the alignment surfaces 41a and 42.
a are rack gears 41 b and 42 on the upper part of the post-processing tray 30.
b is disposed below the post-processing tray 30.

The respective rack gears 41b, 4
Separate pinion gears 43, 44 mesh with 2b, and these pinion gears 43, 44 are connected to motors 45, 46 via gears (not shown), respectively.

As a result, the pinion gears 43 and 44 rotate by the forward and reverse rotation of the motors 45 and 46, and the pinion gears 4 and 4 rotate.
The rack gears 41b and 42b respectively meshing with the gears 3 and 44 move, and the alignment members 41 and 42 move in the width direction of the sheet S.

The alignment members 41 and 42 are provided with sensors 47 and 48 for detecting the home position, and the alignment members 41 and 42 are usually waiting at the home position. In the present embodiment, the matching members 41,
The home position of the aligning member 4 as shown in FIG.
1 is set to the front side, and the alignment member 42 is set to the back side.

Next, the functions of the return rollers 50a and 50b
The operation will be described with reference to FIGS.

The return rollers 50a and 50b have a fan shape smaller than a semicircle as shown in FIG.
1 is swingably fixed with respect to 1. The spring 52 adjusts the contact force of the return rollers 50a and 50b to the sheet S so that the sheet S is drawn toward the rear end stopper 31 with the same drawing force according to the amount of the sheet S stacked on the post-processing tray 30. Is what you do.

The return rollers 50a and 50b are attached to the return roller shaft 51 at predetermined intervals in the sheet width direction as shown in FIG. 3, and the outer peripheral surface of the arc shape is made of a friction member such as silicon rubber. 53 is mounted. The friction member 5 depends on the mounting position of the return roller shaft 51.
3 and a return roller 50b to which the friction member 53 is not mounted.

The return roller shaft 51 is supported by bearings 54 and 55 so as to be rotatable with respect to the front and rear side plates and to be movable in the thickness direction of the sheets S stacked on the post-processing tray 30. Press springs 56 and 57 are mounted. As a result, the return roller shaft 51 moves in the thickness direction of the sheet S according to the stacked amount of the sheet S. That is,
The pressing springs 56 and 57 are provided so that the return rollers 50a and 50b press the sheets S with substantially the same pressing force corresponding to the stacked amount of the sheets S stacked on the post-processing tray 30.

The return roller shaft 51 includes pulleys 58a and 58b.
And a timing belt 59 so as to transmit the rotational force of the motor 70. When driven by the motor 70, the return rollers 50a and 50b are integrally formed with the return roller shaft 51. It rotates counterclockwise in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the home positions of the return rollers 50a and 50b are set at positions where the sheet S discharged onto the post-processing tray 30 by the transport roller pair 9 does not come into contact.

When the sheet S is discharged from the pair of conveying rollers 9 onto the post-processing tray 30, the return rollers 50a and 50b are driven by the motor 70 and centered on the return roller shaft 51 as shown in FIG. Then, the sheet S is rotated once in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 5 and the sheet S is pulled in until the sheet S comes into contact with the rear end stopper 31.

If the discharged sheet S leans against the lower guide 6, the ends of the return rollers 50a and 50b are caught on the rear end of the sheet S, and the return roller shaft is scraped off while the rear end of the sheet S is scraped off. One rotation in the counterclockwise direction of FIG.
Is securely landed, and is pulled in until it comes into contact with the rear end stopper 31. Thereafter, the return rollers 50a and 50b stop at the home position, and then prepare for discharging the sheet S.

The return rollers 50a and 50b are used for the final sheet S
5 is pulled until it comes into contact with the rear end stopper 31, the bundle discharge belt 60 is rotated by the drive of the motor 70, and follows the arrow A in FIG.
The sheet bundle is moved in the direction (sheet transport direction), and the aligned and stapled sheet bundle is discharged onto the stack tray 80 on the post-processing tray 30.

Next, the configuration of the stack tray 8 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The stack tray 80 has a built-in sub-tray 79. By pulling out the sub-tray 79 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
It is also possible to stack sheets S of such a large size.

As shown in FIG. 6, both sides of the stack tray 80 are supported by tray support plates 81 and 82, and the timing belts 83 and 8 are provided on the tray support plates 81 and 82, respectively.
4 are attached at both ends.

The timing belt 83 includes pulleys 85 and 86
In addition, the timing belt 84 is wound around pulleys 87 and 88, and the pulleys 86 and 88 are fixed to a drive shaft 90 to which a drive gear 89 is fixed.
It is connected to.

Each of the tray support plates 81 and 82 has a roller 93,
94 is rotatably attached to roller guides 95 and 96, and when driven by a drive motor 92,
It moves up and down (Z direction in FIG. 6) along the roller guides 95 and 96.

Reference numeral 97 denotes a sheet surface height detection sensor.
The height of the stacked sheet bundle is detected, and the post-processing tray 30 is detected.
Is adjusted to a predetermined amount with respect to the stack tray 80 loading surface.

Reference numeral 98 denotes a sheet rear end pressing member, which comes out of the guide surface 99 in conjunction with the elevating operation of the stack tray 80, presses the rear end of the sheet S bundle stacked on the stack tray 80, and This prevents deviation in the sheet discharging direction after the bundle is discharged.

Next, the flow of the sheet S such as the alignment processing and the sorting processing in the finisher 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIGS.

First, the operation when the user designates the non-sort mode with the operation unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 300 will be described.

An image is formed on the sheet S in the image forming apparatus 300 by setting an original on the circulating original transport device 305 and turning on a start key (not shown). Then, the rotation of the conveyance roller pair 9 of the finisher 1 causes the discharge roller pair 39 of the image forming apparatus 300 to rotate.
The sheet S output from 9 is guided to the finisher 1.

When there is no sheet S on the post-processing tray 30, that is, when the first sheet S is discharged onto the post-processing tray 30, the front and rear sides waiting at the home position are set. The alignment members 41 and 42 are moved in advance to positions slightly relieved with respect to the width of the sheet S as shown in FIG.

The sheet S conveyed by the conveying roller pair 9 moves to the rear end stopper 31 by its own weight, and in addition, the return rollers 50a, 50b stopped at the home position.
1 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 in response to the driving force from the motor 70, and assists the movement of the sheet S in the direction of the rear end stopper 31.

When the rear end of the sheet S is securely brought into contact with the rear end stopper 31 and stopped, as shown in FIG. 9, the rear alignment member 42 stops at the position PS21 and serves as an alignment reference plane. Then, the alignment member 41 on the near side moves to the position PS
12, the sheet S is aligned with the first alignment position.

The sheet bundle of the first set after the alignment is completed is discharged and transferred to the stack tray 80. in this case,
Since the center of gravity C of the sheet S bundle exists in the area of the bundle pushing members 60a, 60a, the sheet S bundle is smoothly discharged to the stack tray 80, and the sheet S bundle does not skew.

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

An image is formed on the sheet S in the image forming apparatus 300 by setting a document on the circulating document feeder 305, specifying a sort mode on an operation unit (not shown), and turning on a start key (not shown). . Then, as the transport roller pair 9 of the finisher 1 rotates, the sheet S output from the discharge roller pair 399 is guided to the finisher 1, and is stacked on the post-processing tray 30 by the transport roller pair 9.

When there is no sheet S on the post-processing tray 30, that is, when the first sheet S is discharged onto the post-processing tray 30, the front and rear sides waiting at the home position are not used. The aligning members 41 and 42 are moved in advance to a position slightly relieved with respect to the width of the sheet S.

The sheet S conveyed by the conveying roller pair 9 moves to the rear end stopper 31 by its own weight, and the return roller 50 stopped at the home position is driven by the motor 7.
In response to the driving of the sheet S, the sheet S rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 and assists the movement of the sheet S toward the rear end stopper 31.

When the rear end of the sheet S is securely brought into contact with the rear end stopper 31 and stopped, as shown in FIG. 9, the rear alignment member 42 stops, the front alignment member 41 moves, and the sheet S moves. S is moved to the first alignment position to perform alignment.

Thereafter, the aligning member 41 on the front side moves to the position PS11 and waits for the next sheet S to be discharged, and when the discharge of the sheet S is completed, moves to the position PS12 again to remove the sheet S. Align at one alignment position. At this time, the rear alignment member 42 stops at the position PS21,
Serves as a matching reference plane. The above operation is continued until the last sheet S of the sheet bundle.

The sheet bundle of the first set after the alignment is completed is discharged as described above and is transferred to the stack tray 80. In this case, the center of gravity of the sheet S bundle is
Since the sheet S is present in the areas a and 60a, the sheet S bundle is smoothly discharged to the stack tray 80, and the sheet S bundle does not skew.

Subsequently, the second bundle of sheets S is discharged onto the post-processing tray 30. At this time, the alignment members 41 and 42 are moved to the positions PS11 and PS2 shown in FIG.
1, but the alignment position PS22 is the second position shown in FIG.
Move to alignment position. The second alignment position is located on the near side by a predetermined amount Lc with respect to the first alignment position.

Thereafter, the stacking of the sheets S is performed on the stack tray 80 while alternately changing the alignment position for each sheet S, and the sorting and stacking of the offset amount Lc becomes possible.

The sheet bundle of the second copy after the alignment is completed is discharged as described above and transferred to the stack tray 80. In this case, the center of gravity C of the sheet S bundle is
Since the sheet S is present in the areas a and 60b, the sheet S bundle is smoothly discharged to the stack tray 80, and the sheet S bundle does not skew.

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

An image is formed on the sheet S in the image forming apparatus 300 by setting an original on the circulating original transport device 305 and turning on a start key (not shown).
Then, the sheet S output from the discharge roller pair 399 is output by the rotation of the conveyance roller pair 9 of the finisher 1.
Is guided to the finisher 1, and is stacked on the post-processing tray 30 by the conveying roller pair 9.

The sheet S conveyed by the conveying roller pair 9 moves to the rear end stopper 31 by its own weight, and in addition, the return rollers 50a, 50b stopped at the home position.
1 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 in response to the drive of the motor 70, and assists the movement of the sheet S in the direction of the rear end stopper 31.

When the rear end of the sheet S is securely brought into contact with the rear end stopper 31 and stopped, the alignment member 41 stops at the home position, and the alignment member 42 moves the sheet S discharged onto the rear end stopper 31 to the staple position. (Figure 1)
1).

When all the sheets S of the first set of the sheet S bundle are discharged onto the post-processing tray 30 and aligned,
The staple unit 10 staples the sheet S bundle. The bundle of sheets S on the post-processing tray 30 is discharged onto the stack tray 80 by the bundle discharge belt 60.
Also in this case, the center of gravity of the sheet S bundle is the bundle pushing member 60a, 6b.
0a, and therefore the sheet S
The bundle is smoothly discharged to the stack tray 80, and the sheet S
The bundle does not skew.

When the stapling process is performed on the sheet bundle by the staple unit 10, if the staple cartridge 12 has run out of staples or the staple cartridge 12 gets stuck, the lock arm 2 is rotated. To release the engagement with the holding member 3, and the outer rail portion 4 to which the finisher 1 body is attached.
a is slid with respect to the inner rail portion 4b to separate the joining between the main body of the image forming apparatus 300 and the main body of the finisher 1. As a result, the joining surface of the finisher 1 main body is exposed and the needle supply port 13 appears, so that the needle can be supplied and the needle caught on the needle cartridge 13 can be easily removed.

[0086]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the sheets on which images have been formed are stacked on a stacking unit and sorted by alignment members at different positions in the width direction with respect to the transport direction or aligned and bound, and then discharged, the center of gravity of each sheet bundle is Are positioned in a region sandwiched between the bundle pushing members separated in the width direction, so that the sheet bundle can be pushed out smoothly,
Therefore, skewing of the sheet discharged from the stacking means can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a mechanism for moving an alignment member provided on a post-processing tray of the sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram extracting and showing a return roller and a bundle push in the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIGS. 5A to 5D are explanatory diagrams illustrating operations of the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment, in which a return roller and a bundle pushing belt are extracted and illustrated.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a mechanism for moving a stack tray in the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a view as seen from the direction of arrow B in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a standby position of an alignment member in a non-sort mode and a sort mode in the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a first alignment position of the alignment member in the non-sort mode and the sort mode in the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a second alignment position of the alignment member in the non-sort mode and the sort mode in the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the alignment member in the staple sort mode in the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state where a slide unit of the sheet processing apparatus is disassembled.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a state in which the slide unit is attached to the image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a joint surface of the sheet processing apparatus with an image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view showing a needle supply port provided on the joining surface side of the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a position detection mechanism provided in the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing the position detection mechanism.

FIG. 18 is a control block diagram for holding the bundle pushing member of the sheet processing apparatus at a home position.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 30 Loading means (post-processing tray) 41 Alignment member 42 Alignment member 60 Conveying means (bundle discharge belt) 60a Bundle pushing member C Center of gravity S Sheet

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A sheet processing apparatus comprising: loading means for loading an image-formed sheet; and an alignment member for sorting and processing the sheets on the loading means at different positions in a width direction with respect to a conveying direction. Has a conveying means provided with a bundle pushing member for pushing out a sheet bundle aligned at each position or one position in the width direction by the alignment member, the conveying means being provided in the width direction. The sheet processing apparatus is provided so that the center of gravity of each sheet bundle aligned for the sorting process exists in a region sandwiched between the bundle pushing members separated from each other. 2. The conveyance means is a pair of wrapping bands each having a bundle pushing member, and the center of gravity of each sheet bundle to be subjected to alignment processing for sorting or binding processing is the pair of wrapping bands. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing apparatus exists in a region sandwiched between the sheet processing apparatuses. 3. An image forming means for forming an image on a sheet,
An image forming apparatus, comprising: the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveyed from the image forming unit is stacked to perform a sorting process, an alignment process, and the like. 4. A stacking means for stacking sheets on which images have been formed, and a sheet on the stacking means for sorting the sheets at different positions in the width direction with respect to the conveying direction, and for binding the sheets in either of the width directions. And a stacking unit that adjusts the width of the bundle pushing member for pushing out a sheet bundle aligned at each position or one position in the width direction by the aligning member. Transport means provided apart from each other in the direction, and the transport means is provided for each of the sheet bundles aligned for the sorting process or the binding process in an area sandwiched between the bundle pushing members spaced in the width direction. A sheet processing apparatus provided so as to have a center of gravity. 5. The conveying means is a pair of wrapping bands each having a bundle pushing member, and the center of gravity of each sheet bundle to be subjected to alignment processing for sorting or binding processing is the pair of wrapping bands. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sheet processing apparatus exists in a region sandwiched between the sheet processing apparatuses. 6. An image forming means for forming an image on a sheet,
An image forming apparatus, comprising: the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sheet conveyed from the image forming unit is stacked to perform sorting processing, alignment processing, and the like.