JP2000272816A - Sheet processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet processing device capable of releasing a bundle of sheets held by a chuck unit when there happen failures while a sheet is being processed such as stapling and the like at the time of opening a cover and so on. SOLUTION: In a sheet processing device equipped with a clamping mechanism capable of holding a bundle of sheets carried in for processing, and moving them to a position for stapling them, clamping mechanism is provided with means M1, 20, 19, 22, 23 and 14 for releasing the hold of the sheets in a bundle when there happen failures while the sheets are processed by a sheet processing device or when a cover provided for the device is opened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bin, which is mounted on a discharge section of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer and is discharged from the image forming apparatus, is arranged in a multistage and moves up and down. The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus that distributes and performs processing such as paper alignment and paper binding.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a sheet processing apparatus including a chuck unit for holding a sheet sequentially discharged from an image forming apparatus and moving the sheet to a predetermined position where stapling is possible.

FIG. 5 shows an example of such an apparatus. In the staple mode, the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus such as a copying machine is switched to a sort side by a switching claw (not shown), conveyed by a conveying roller, and discharged onto a bin 101. You. When the sheets are stored, the bin 101 moves up and down to distribute and store the sheets and collate them. The sheet bundle discharged to the bin 101 is moved to a reference front side plate by a jogger bar 102.
When all the sheets are distributed and stored, the bin 101 storing the sheet bundle is moved to the staple position which has been moved to the staple position, and the sheet bundle is moved to the two clamp levers 131, 132,
Staple unit 1 grasped by 131 'and 132'
The sheet bundle is moved to 04 and stapled. After stapling, the chuck unit 103 returns to the original position while holding the sheet bundle, and returns the sheet bundle to the bin 101.
Here, the chuck portion of the chuck unit 103 is positioned deeper than the sheet alignment surface of the front side plate so as not to hinder the vertical movement of the bin 101 and the shifted sheet when the gripping operation is not performed. I have. When grasping a sheet, the chuck portion is protruded from the sheet alignment surface of the front side plate to grasp the sheet bundle on the bin 101.

[0004]

Incidentally, such a conventional sheet processing apparatus is used for stopping the sheet processing apparatus due to staple clogging or the like in the staple unit 104 during staple processing, or for checking. When the cover or the like of the sheet processing apparatus is opened, the chuck unit 103 sandwiches the sheet bundle so that the sheet bundle does not fall into the apparatus. Even if the user tries to remove the sheet bundle by opening the cover in such a state, the chuck unit 103 sandwiches the sheet bundle, so that it is difficult to remove the sheet bundle.

[0005] In view of the above problems, a first object of the present invention is to provide a method for fixing a sheet from a chuck unit when a problem occurs during sheet processing such as stapling or when a cover provided in the apparatus is opened. An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus capable of opening and closing a bundle.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus which achieves the first object in a clamping mechanism using a stepping motor as a driving source for holding a sheet bundle.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus which achieves the first object in a clamp mechanism using an electromagnetic solenoid as a driving source for holding a sheet bundle.

[0008]

A first object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus having a clamp mechanism for holding a sheet bundle that has been carried in and processed and moving the sheet bundle to a staple-possible position in order to perform stapling. The first mechanism includes means for releasing the nipping of the nipped sheet bundle when a failure occurs during sheet processing of the sheet processing apparatus or when a cover provided in the sheet processing apparatus is opened. Achieved.

[0009] The second object of the present invention is the first means, wherein:
The clamping mechanism is achieved by a second means using a stepping motor as a driving source for holding the sheet bundle.

[0010] The third object of the present invention is the first means, wherein:
The clamping mechanism is achieved by a third means using an electromagnetic solenoid as a driving source for holding the sheet bundle.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the chuck unit of the sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a side view of the chuck unit viewed from the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the fixing unit shown in FIG. It is. First, the configuration of the front and rear moving unit 1 and the lateral moving unit 2 of the chuck unit will be described.

The unit 1 for moving back and forth is a unit for moving horizontally.
And is mounted so as to be movable in the front-rear direction (left-right direction in FIG. 2). Mounted for A roller 6 is attached to a lower portion of the shaft 4 in order to smooth the movement during the lateral movement (in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2). A front-rear drive lever 8 rotatably mounted on a shaft 7 is mounted on the fixed unit 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the front / rear drive lever 8 has a surface 8a corresponding to the roller 6 attached to the front / rear unit 1, and a front / rear drive lever roller 9 is attached to the other end 8b. In addition, a motor M1 for driving back and forth movement is attached to the fixed unit 5, and as shown in FIG.
The cam 12 for driving the front-rear moving lever is rotated by the motor M1 via the timing belt 11. The front-rear drive lever roller 9 and the cam 12 for driving the front-rear movement lever are in contact with each other. The corresponding surface 8a is rotated to a position that is substantially parallel to the moving direction of the horizontal moving unit 2. Here, when the front-rear drive lever 8 rotates, the roller 6 attached to the front-rear movement unit driving shaft 4 is pushed, and the front-rear movement unit 1 is advanced rightward in FIG. Forward and backward moving unit 1
In the operation to be described later, after the sheet bundle on the bin is grasped, the sheet is moved in the horizontal direction by the horizontal moving unit 2, but the surface 8 a corresponding to the roller 6 of the front-rear drive lever 8 moves the horizontal moving unit 2. Since it is positioned substantially parallel to the direction, the position of the front-rear movement unit 1 in the front-rear direction can be moved without change even if the lateral movement is performed. Further, since the rollers 6 are provided, the load during movement can be minimized. After the forward and backward moving unit 1 moves forward, 2
The clamp operation of the pair of upper and lower clamp levers 13, 14, 13 ', 14' is started. M2 is a motor for driving the lateral movement.

Next, the clamp levers 13, 14, 1
The 3 ′, 14 ′ pinching operation will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a pressure lever 15 is attached to the fixed unit 5 by parallel links 16 and 17 substantially parallel to the moving direction of the lateral moving unit 2. As shown in FIG. 1, an arm 18 is mounted coaxially with the cam 12 for driving the front-rear movement lever, and as shown in FIG. Cam 12
The arm 18 pushes the parallel link 17 attached to the pressure lever 15 by rotating the pressure lever 15, and the pressure lever 15 is lifted up. As the pressure lever 15 is lifted, as shown in FIG.
The link 19 is rotatably mounted by the shaft 21 mounted thereon, so that one end 19a of the link 19 is pushed up. Here, a roller 20 is inserted into one end 19 a of the link 19. When one end 19a of the link 19 is pushed up, the other end 19b is pushed down. The other end 19
One end of each of two clamp lever pressurizing springs 22 and 23 is attached to the distal end of b.
At the other end of each of the upper and lower clamp levers 1 and 2,
3, 13 '. By the rotation of the link 19, the respective clamp levers 13, 14 and 13 ', 1
4 'is closed to hold the sheet bundle.

Next, the clamp lever 1 when a malfunction occurs
The holding and opening operation of 3, 14, 13 ', 14' will be described.

In a state where the sheet processing apparatus is holding the sheet bundle, when the sheet processing apparatus is stopped due to clogging of the staple unit or when the cover of the sheet processing apparatus is opened, when the sheet processing apparatus is opened, The processor detects such a state and sends a signal to the motor M1 to release the clamp levers 13, 14, 13 ', 14'. As shown in FIG. 2, when a release signal is input to the motor M1, the timing belt 11 is driven by the motor M1.
The arm 18 releases the pressing by the parallel link 17 attached to the pressing lever 15 through the rotation of the cam 12 for driving the forward and backward moving lever, and the pressing lever 15 is lowered. One end 19a is pushed down. When one end 19a of the link 19 is pushed down, the other end 19b is pushed up. As a result, each of the clamp levers 1 is
3, 14 and the clamp levers 13 ', 14' are opened to release the nipping of the sheet bundle.

The clamp levers 13, 14, 1
Even if 3 'and 14' release the sheet bundle, the sheet does not fall into the apparatus because it comes into contact with a front side plate, a stapler, and a jogger (not shown).

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the chuck unit of the sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 2, a front-rear solenoid 3 for moving the chuck unit 30 back and forth as indicated by the arrow.
2 is provided, and two fulcrum shafts 34 a, 34 are provided in the front-rear moving part 33 moved by the front-rear solenoid 32.
Two sets of upper and lower clamp levers 35 and 36 are provided with b as a fulcrum. The other upper clamp lever 35 ′ (not shown) is connected by a connecting shaft 37, and two upper clamp levers are connected by the connecting shaft 37. The levers 35, 35 'operate simultaneously. The upper and lower clamp levers 35 and 36 are in contact with the respective slide rollers 38a and 38b provided on the upper and lower clamp levers 35 and 36, respectively. When the upper clamp lever 35 moves downward about the fulcrum shaft 34a, the upper clamp lever 35 and 36 Slide roller 38a of clamp lever 35
Pushes down the slide roller 38b of the lower clamp lever 36, and the lower clamp lever 36 is moved upward about the fulcrum shaft 34b. That is, the upper and lower clamp levers 35, 3
Reference numeral 6 performs an opening or closing operation in conjunction with the slide rollers 38a and 38b. Further, a tension spring (not shown) is provided on the lower clamp lever 36. One end of the tension spring is attached to the lower clamp lever 36, and the other end is attached to a protrusion provided on the front-rear moving unit 33. ing. The lower clamp lever 36 receives a clockwise rotating force by the tensile force of the tension spring, and thereby the upper and lower clamp levers 3 are rotated.
5, 36 are urged in the opening direction and are kept open.

Next, the operation of the chuck unit 30 will be described.

When the front and rear solenoids 32 are operated, they advance in the direction of the arrow from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the dashed line. Next, the upper clamp lever 35 operates clockwise by the operation of the clamp lever solenoid 39, and in conjunction therewith, the lower clamp lever 36 is rotated counterclockwise against the tension spring,
The upper and lower clamp levers 35 and 36 operate in the closing direction, and the end faces of the sheet bundle are
Two portions are sandwiched between 5 'and 36'. Further, a timing belt (not shown) is driven by the drive of the drive motor 31, and the main body of the chuck unit 30 connected to the timing belt is moved in the horizontal direction (perpendicular to the paper surface). The main unit 30 is moved to a stapler (not shown) to perform a binding process.

Next, the operation of clamping and releasing the upper and lower clamp levers 35, 36, 35 ', 36' when a problem occurs will be described.

Upper and lower clamp lever 3 of sheet processing apparatus
In a state where the sheet bundle is held between the sheet processing units 5, 36, 35 ', and 36', when the stapler is clogged with a staple or the like and the sheet processing apparatus is stopped, The sheet processing apparatus detects such a state, and inputs a signal to the clamp lever solenoid 39 to release the holding of the upper and lower clamp levers 35, 36, 35 ', 36'. Clamp lever solenoid 39
When a signal for releasing the clamping is input, the lower clamp levers 36, 36 'receive a clockwise rotational force by the tension springs by the operation of the clamp lever solenoid 39, whereby the upper and lower clamp levers 35, 36, 3
5 'and 36' are urged to open and release the sheet bundle. At this time, even if the upper and lower clamp levers 35, 36, 35 ', 36' are released, the sheet bundle does not fall into the machine because it comes into contact with the front side plate, the stapler, and the jogger.

[0026]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the clamping mechanism is provided with means for releasing the nipping of the nipped sheet bundle. When the covers provided on the sheet bundle are opened, the sheet bundle held by the clamp mechanism can be opened, and the sheet bundle can be easily taken out.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the stepping motor is used as a driving source for holding the sheet bundle of the clamp mechanism, a signal for canceling the holding is transmitted to the stepping motor, so that the clamp mechanism is used. The sandwiched sheet bundle can be easily taken out.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the electromagnetic solenoid is used as a drive source for holding the sheet bundle of the clamp mechanism, a signal for releasing the hold is transmitted to the electromagnetic solenoid, whereby the sheet is held by the clamp mechanism. Sheet bundle can be easily taken out.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a chuck unit of a sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a chuck unit of the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a fixing unit of the chuck unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a chuck unit of a sheet processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a sheet processing apparatus on which the present invention is based.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Front-back movement unit 2 Lateral movement unit 3, 4, 7, 21 axis 5 Fixed side unit 6, 20 Roller 8 Front-back drive lever 9 Front-back drive lever roller 11 Timing belt 12 Front-back drive cam 13 Upper clamp lever 14 Lower clamp lever 13 ' Upper clamp lever 14 'Lower clamp lever 15 Pressure lever 16, 17 Parallel link 18 Arm 19 Link 22, 23 Clamp lever pressurizing spring 30 Chuck unit 31 Drive motor 32 Front and rear solenoid 39 Clamp lever solenoid 35 Upper clamp lever 36 Lower clamp lever 35 'upper clamp lever 36' lower clamp lever

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A sheet processing apparatus having a clamp mechanism for holding a sheet bundle carried in and processed and for moving the sheet bundle to a staple-possible position for stapling, wherein the clamp mechanism is provided in the sheet processing apparatus. A sheet processing apparatus comprising: means for canceling the nipping of a nipped sheet bundle when a failure occurs during sheet processing or when a cover provided in the sheet processing apparatus is opened. 2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the clamp mechanism uses a stepping motor as a driving source for holding the sheet bundle. 3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the clamp mechanism uses an electromagnetic solenoid as a driving source for holding the sheet bundle.