JP2001079796A - Paper processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to select the number of punch holes on a paper sheet by providing punch sections arranged in a plurality of lines in the direction perpendicular to the paper conveying direction on a punching means, and changing the number of punches of the punch sections in each line. SOLUTION: A punch unit 4 is arranged with two rotaries 23, 24 as rotors at the prescribed interval in the vertical direction, punches 25, 26 are integrally fitted to the upper rotary 23 in a plurality of (e.g. two) lines, and dies 27, 28 are provided on the lower rotary 24 in a plurality of (e.g. two) lines. Two punch holes are formed in a line in the paper width direction perpendicular to the paper conveying direction at the prescribed position of the rear end section of a paper sheet by the punch 25 and the die 27 on one side. Three punch holes are formed in a line in the paper width direction perpendicular to the paper conveying direction at the prescribed position of the rear end section of the paper sheet by the punch 26 and the die 28 on the other side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus having a punching means for punching a sheet on which an image has been formed, and including an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and / or a post-processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a rotary punch unit for punching an image-formed sheet has the same number of sheet punches.
Equipped with only two types, manufactured according to each destination, for example, for Europe with two holes perforation, for North America with three holes perforation, We manufacture one for Europe with 4 holes, and one for Northern Europe with 4 holes.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-7308 discloses that the number of perforated sheets is automatically selected according to the sheet size in order to eliminate the complexity of selecting a punch operation mode and prevent a selection error. Is described. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-136762 discloses a paper punching apparatus having two punching mechanisms and selectively operating the two punching mechanisms according to an instruction from a control panel. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-33996 describes a punch unit having three sets of punches and dies. Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 10-270441 discloses an image forming apparatus in which a user sets a staple function and a punching function in combination.

[0004]

The rotary punch unit described above is equipped with only one type and is manufactured according to each destination. Therefore, different types of punch units require different types of rotary punch units. And negatively impact costs. In addition, when changing the number of holes (hereinafter referred to as the number of perforated sheets) arranged on a single sheet in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction, the user must replace the rotary punch unit, which is not user-friendly. I was forced to be free.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus capable of reducing the number of types of perforating means, reducing cost, and allowing a user to select the number of perforated sheets. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet processing apparatus capable of reducing the number of types of perforating means, reducing cost, and further improving the convenience by enabling a user to select the number of sheet perforations. With the goal.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the number of types of perforating means can be reduced, the cost can be reduced, and the user can select the number of perforated sheets, thereby improving the convenience and further reducing the cost. It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper processing apparatus which can be used in a computer. The invention according to claims 4 to 6 is the invention according to claims 1 to 3.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a paper processing apparatus which can obtain the effects of the invention according to the above.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet processing apparatus having perforating means for perforating a sheet on which an image has been formed while conveying the sheet. A plurality of rows of perforations provided in a direction perpendicular to the direction are provided, and the number of punches in each row of perforations is changed. The invention according to claim 2 is
2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit for selecting a punching unit, and selecting the punching unit based on information from the input unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the sheet processing apparatus according to the second aspect, a single detection unit detects a standby position of a perforation unit selected from information from the input unit among the plurality of rows of perforation units. Means. Claim 4
The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 comprises a post-processing apparatus for processing an image-formed sheet from the image forming apparatus.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the paper processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects comprises an image forming apparatus. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects includes an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus.

[0010]

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention.
This embodiment is an embodiment of the invention according to claims 1 to 4, and is an example of a sheet processing apparatus including a post-processing apparatus for processing an image-formed sheet from an image forming apparatus. An image-formed sheet discharged from the copier 1 as an image forming apparatus and conveyed to the post-processing apparatus 2 of the present embodiment is conveyed by an inlet roller pair 3 and is required by a punch unit 4 as a punching means. The sheet is pierced accordingly, and is transported by the transport roller pair 5. An entrance sensor 31 for detecting a sheet is provided in front of the entrance roller pair 3.

The paper from the transport roller pair 5 is processed according to the processing mode. In the proof mode, the branch pawl 6 serving as a transport path switching unit is switched, and the sheet from the transport roller pair 5 is sent to the transport roller pair 7 side by the branch pawl 6 and is transported by the transport roller pair 7 to be discharged. 8 discharges to the proof tray 9.

In the shift mode, the branch pawls 6 and 10 as the transport path switching means are not switched, and the transport roller pair 5 is not switched.
Is passed through the branch claws 6 and 10 as it is, is transported by the transport roller pair 11, is discharged to the paper discharge tray 13 by the paper discharge roller pair 12, and is stacked. The paper discharge sensor 14 is installed near the front of the paper discharge roller pair 12 and detects paper discharged by the paper discharge roller pair 12.

In the staple mode, only the branch pawl 10 is switched, and the sheet from the transport roller pair 5 is transported by the transport roller pair 15 via the branch pawls 6 and 10, and the staple unit is delivered by the paper discharge roller 16. The sheet is fed into the sheet feeder 17 and is aligned in the vertical direction (conveying direction) by the hitting roller 18 for each sheet, and is aligned in the horizontal direction (width direction) by the jogger fence 19 to cut the job (the last sheet of the sheet bundle). (Between the first sheet bundle and the next sheet bundle) by the stapler 20 by the stapling signal to form a sheet bundle.

The sheet bundle on which the binding process has been performed is immediately sent to the discharge roller pair 12 by the discharge belt 21 having the discharge claw 21a, and is discharged by the discharge roller pair 12 by the discharge roller pair 12.
It is discharged to 3. The striking roller 18 rotates about the fulcrum 18 a and acts intermittently on the sheet fed into the jogger fence 19 to hit the sheet against the rear end fence 22. Thus, in any of the proof mode, the shift mode, and the staple mode, the punching operation can be performed by the punch unit 4.

At present, commercially available punch units employ a rotary punch system. Specifically, a punch and a die are incorporated in both rollers, and when both rollers rotate with each other, Align the punch with the die and make a hole in the paper at a predetermined position. The perforation timing is after a predetermined pulse (after a predetermined time) after the trailing edge of the sheet is detected by a sensor provided at the entrance of the post-processing device.

FIG. 1 shows a punch unit 4 according to this embodiment. In the punch unit 4, two rotary bodies 23, 24 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction, and the upper rotary 23 is integrally formed with a plurality of rows, for example, punches 25, 26 in two rows on the outer periphery. The lower rotary 24 has a plurality of dies 27 in two rows, for example, two rows.
28 are provided. The rotaries 23 and 24 are rotationally driven in the directions opposite to each other as shown by arrows in the drawing by a punch moch as a driving source to be described later. When the rotaries 23 and 24 rotate, the punch 25 and the die 27 are aligned at a predetermined timing, and And the die 28 are adjusted at a predetermined timing.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the home position of the punch unit 4 is stopped. A home position sensor 29 as a detecting means is installed on the upper part of the punch unit 4, and an encoder 30 is connected to the rotary 23 so that the encoder 30 rotates together with the rotary 23. The encoder 30 has a large-diameter portion and a small-diameter portion, and the large-diameter portion passes through the optical path of the home position sensor 29 to turn on / off the home position sensor 29.

In FIG. 3, the encoder 30 is rotated in the direction of the arrow to block the light path of the home position sensor 29 at the large diameter portion, thereby blocking the light from the optical path of the home position sensor 29 at the large diameter portion. It stops when it is switched to a state where it is no longer blocking light and not blocking light. This state is a state in which the punch 25 and the die 27 are in a standby state for punching. After a sheet is conveyed from the image forming apparatus 1 and the rear end of the sheet passes through the entrance sensor 31, a CPU (described later)
After a predetermined pulse (after a predetermined time), the rotary 2
When the rotation speed of the sheet 25 and the rotation speed of the punch 25 and the rotation speed of the die 27 become the same, the punch 2 starts rotating.
The punch 5 and the die 27 pierce the sheet, and two punch holes 33 are formed in a row at a predetermined position at the rear end of the sheet 32 in the sheet width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction as shown in FIG.

The punch 25 and the die 27 shown in FIG.
When the rotary 23 and 24 are rotated 180 degrees in the direction of the arrow from the drilling standby state, the optical path of the home position sensor 29 is not blocked by the large diameter portion of the encoder 30 and the home position sensor 29 is rotated by the large diameter portion of the encoder 30. Is stopped when the optical path is switched to the state where the optical path is cut off, the punch 26 and the die 28 enter a standby state for punching.

Therefore, in this state, after the paper is conveyed from the image forming apparatus 1 and the trailing end passes through the entrance sensor 31, the rotaries 23 and 24 are rotated after a predetermined pulse (after a predetermined time) by the CPU 35 described later. When the linear velocity of the paper and the rotational speeds of the punch 26 and the die 28 become equal to each other, the punch 26 and the die 28 pierce the paper, and as shown in FIG. Three punch holes 34 are formed in a line in the sheet width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction.

As described above, in this embodiment, the punch 2
By providing one home position sensor 29 for detecting the home positions 5 and 26, a two-hole punch 25 (a combination of the punch 25 and the die 27) and a three-hole punch 26 (a combination of the punch 26 and the die 28) are provided. In a standby state for punching. When punching two or three holes in a sheet, the sheet is punched at a predetermined position at the rear end of the sheet.
When one of the hole punch 25 (the combination of the punch 25 and the die 27) and the three-hole punch 26 (the combination of the punch 26 and the die 28) completes the punching of the sheet, the leading edge of the next sheet is conveyed to the punch unit 4. 2 hole punch 25 (combination of punch 25 and die 27) before coming
It is necessary to prepare for the punching of the next sheet by performing punching of the sheet by the other of the punch and the punch for three holes 26 (the combination of the punch 26 and the die 28).

That is, in the present embodiment, when two holes are punched in a sheet by the punch unit 4, for example, two holes are punched at a predetermined position at the rear end of the sheet, and then three holes are punched, and the next step is performed again. An operation such as punching two holes at a predetermined position at the rear end of the sheet is repeated. In addition, if the specified punch can pierce between sheets of paper, it becomes possible to pierce the paper with, for example, a combination of two holes, three holes, and four holes.

The punch type (two or three holes) of the punch unit 4 can be selected by inputting from an input means on the image forming apparatus side.

FIG. 6 shows a part of the electrical system of this embodiment. Signals from various sensors 36 such as an entrance sensor 31 and a home position sensor 29 (punch HP sensor) are input to the CPU 35 as control means, and the input means on the image forming apparatus side is operated by a user to perform punching. Input information such as information for selecting a punch type (two or three holes) of the unit 4 is transferred to the CPU 35. The motor driver 37 drives various motors 38 such as a punch motor,
It is controlled by the PU 35. The rotaries 23 and 24 are driven to rotate by a punch motor.

FIG. 7 shows a part of the processing flow of the CPU 35. The CPU 35 determines whether or not the punching operation of the punching unit 4 has been selected based on the input information from the input means, and does not operate the punching unit 4 if the punching operation of the punching unit 4 has not been selected.
When the punching operation of the punch unit 4 is selected, the CPU 35 punches two holes in the sheet by combining the punch 25 and the die 27 or punches two holes in the sheet by combining the punch 26 and the die 28. Is determined according to the input information from the input means, and the punch motor is controlled via the motor driver 37 based on the signals from the entrance sensor 31 and the home position sensor 29, and the input information from the input means is determined. According to the above, two holes are perforated in the paper, or three holes are perforated in the paper.

According to this embodiment, in a sheet processing apparatus having a punch unit 4 as a punching means for punching an image-formed sheet while transporting the sheet, the punching means 4
Has a plurality of rows of punches 25 and 26 and dies 27 and 28 as perforations provided in a direction perpendicular to the paper conveyance direction, and has changed the number of punches in each row. The cost can be reduced by increasing the number of production lots. In addition, a single post-processing device can perform punching with different numbers of sheet punches, and a user can perform a plurality of types of punching with one post-processing device.

Further, according to this embodiment, an input means for selecting a perforated portion is provided, and the perforated portion is selected based on information from the input means. The number can be selected, and convenience can be improved.

Further, according to this embodiment, a home position sensor 29 is provided as a single detecting means for detecting a standby position of a perforated portion selected from information from the input means among the plurality of rows of perforated portions. Therefore, the standby position of all the perforated portions can be detected by this detecting means, which is advantageous in cost and can provide the customer with a low-cost post-processing device. Further, according to this embodiment, since the post-processing apparatus is configured to process the sheet on which the image has been formed from the image forming apparatus, the above-described effects can be obtained in the post-processing apparatus.

Another embodiment of the present invention is an embodiment of the invention according to claim 5, wherein the post-processing apparatus of the above embodiment is provided inside a well-known image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet. Things. According to this embodiment, the effects of the above embodiment can be obtained in an image forming apparatus.

Another embodiment of the present invention is an embodiment of the invention according to claim 6, wherein the post-processing apparatus of the above embodiment is combined with a well-known image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet. It is a processing device. According to this embodiment,
The effect of the above embodiment can be obtained in a paper processing apparatus in which a post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus are combined.

[0031]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the type of perforating means can be reduced, the cost can be reduced, and the user can select the number of perforated sheets. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the number of types of perforating means can be reduced, the cost can be reduced, and the user can select the number of perforated sheets, thereby improving the convenience.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the number of types of perforating means can be reduced, the cost can be reduced, and the user can select the number of paper perforations, thereby improving the convenience. Can be low price. According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the effects of the first to third aspects of the invention can be obtained in a sheet processing apparatus including a post-processing apparatus.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the effects of the first to third aspects of the invention can be obtained in a sheet processing apparatus including an image forming apparatus. According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the effects of the first to third aspects of the invention can be obtained in a sheet processing apparatus including an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a punch unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a punch and a die of the punch unit in the embodiment are on standby for punching;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where one punch and a die of the punch unit in the embodiment are fitted, and a plan view showing the two-hole perforated paper.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the other punch and the die of the punch unit in the embodiment are fitted, and a plan view showing the three-hole perforated paper.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a part of the electrical system of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a part of a processing flow of a CPU in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Punch unit 25, 26 Punch 27, 28 Dice 35 CPU

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H072 GA02 3C060 AA01 BA01 BC01 BC06 BD03 BF02 BG13 3F108 GA02 GB07

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A sheet processing apparatus having a punching means for punching an image-formed sheet while transporting the sheet, wherein the punching means includes a plurality of rows of punching sections provided in a direction orthogonal to a sheet transport direction. A sheet processing apparatus characterized in that the number of punches in a row of perforated portions is changed. 2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit for selecting a punching unit, wherein the selection of the punching unit is performed based on information from the input unit. 3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a single detecting means for detecting a standby position of the perforated portion selected from the input means among the plurality of rows of perforated portions. Characteristic paper processing device. 4. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sheet processing apparatus comprises a post-processing apparatus for processing an image-formed sheet from the image forming apparatus. 5. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sheet processing apparatus comprises an image forming apparatus. 6. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sheet processing apparatus includes an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus.