JP2001089007A - Recording paper carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording paper carrying device eliminating the need of a complicated system and easily reducing the size thereof, at a low cost. SOLUTION: This recording paper carrying device is provided with a press- contacting system having a supporting member 408 rotatably supporting a follower roller 407 and rotatably provided, and an elastic body 410 adding elastic force so as to press-contact the follower roller 407 toward a carrying roller 406. The recording paper carrying device is also provided with a releasing system wherein a chucking system partially abuts on the supporting member 408 side to release the press-contacting action of the follower roller 407 while displacing the follower roller 407 when the chucking system leads a recording paper batch to a nip portion. After the tip end portion of the recording paper batch enters the nip α portion, releasing action owing to the releasing is stopped, and then the follower roller 407 is return to the press-contacting state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording paper post-processing apparatus provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a facsimile, a printer, or a multifunction peripheral thereof. Also, the present invention relates to a recording paper transport device used for various devices such as a mailbox device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A plurality of recording sheets on which images have been recorded by an image forming apparatus are bundled and aligned on an alignment tray, and the aligned recording sheet bundle is subjected to post-processing such as binding with a stapler. Various recording paper post-processing devices have been proposed and developed.

[0003] This recording paper post-processing apparatus is, for example, as described in JP-A-9-255220, and selectively conveys recording paper to a sorter or a mailbox device to sort a recording paper bundle. A configuration in which a recording paper transporting device is installed has been proposed and developed.

This recording paper transporting device includes a chuck mechanism for gripping and releasing a side portion of the recording paper bundle, and a transport roller including upper and lower ones. Among these, in particular, the upper conveying roller is provided so as to be able to contact and separate from the lower conveying roller by a solenoid.

Accordingly, when the bundle of recording papers held by the chuck mechanism is carried in between the pair of upper and lower transport rollers, the upper transport roller is separated from the lower transport roller, and these open transport rollers are opened. The recording paper bundle is received between the conveying rollers. Thereafter, the upper transport roller is moved toward the lower transport roller by a solenoid, and the recording paper bundle is nipped between the two transport rollers and transported to a desired location.

[0006]

Incidentally, in this recording paper transport apparatus, a solenoid is used to separate the upper transport roller from the lower transport roller. Circuit and other various mechanical mechanisms are required, resulting in an increase in cost and a complicated structure.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive recording paper transport apparatus that does not require a complicated mechanism and that can be easily miniaturized.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transport roller for transporting a bundle of aligned recording sheets, a driven roller pressed against the transport roller, and a recording sheet bundle sandwiched therebetween. A recording paper transport device having a chuck mechanism for transporting and delivering the paper to a nip portion between the transport roller and the driven roller, wherein the driven roller is rotatably mounted and rotates about a rotation fulcrum. A pressure contact mechanism having a support member and an elastic body for providing an elastic force for causing the driven roller to press against the conveyance roller, and the chuck mechanism transfers the recording paper bundle to the nip portion when the chuck mechanism delivers the recording paper bundle to the nip portion. A part of the mechanism is provided with a release mechanism for temporarily releasing the pressed state of the driven roller or reducing the pressing force while displacing the driven roller while abutting on the support member side, and the leading end of the recording paper bundle is provided with the nip. Min driven roller after entering and the conveyance roller is that configured to return to the original pressure contact state.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, at least one of the chuck mechanisms is moved relative to the other by a rotation operation about the rotation axis, and the chuck mechanism is opened. A chuck arm pair for releasing the nipped recording paper bundle is provided, and a release mechanism is provided on one of the chuck arm pairs to contact a part of the support member side during the rotation operation to release the support member. When the recording paper bundle is delivered to the nip portion,
The engaging operation between the engaging portion on the chuck arm side and the support member side is released, the elastic force acts on the driven roller, and the recording paper bundle is gripped between the transport roller and the driven roller,
The holding portion of the chuck arm pair is opened to release the recording paper bundle.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the chuck arm pair on the fixed side which does not move in the longitudinal direction thereof and the movable side which is movable in the longitudinal direction thereof. A chuck arm, wherein the release mechanism is provided with a convex portion forming an engaging portion provided on the fixed-side chuck arm, a rotatable rotating member provided on the support member, and a rotation of the rotating member. A stopper member for restricting a movement range and an elastic body for bringing the rotating member into contact with the stopper member. When the convex portion comes into contact with the rotating member, the rotating member is pressed and driven. When the rollers are displaced, the pressure contact state of the nip portion is temporarily released or the pressure contact force is reduced, and the convex portion is separated from the rotating member. Grasped and this URN in which the gripping portion of the chuck arm pairs is configured to release the recording sheet bundle is opened simultaneously.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, a part of the chuck mechanism that abuts on the abutting portion on the supporting member side is gripped by the chuck mechanism. The driven roller is displaced in accordance with the number of recording paper bundles to be moved, and the contact portion of the support member that comes into contact with the recording paper bundle is also changed so that the driven roller is displaced in proportion to the number of recording paper bundles.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, after the leading end of the recording paper bundle enters the nip portion, the convex portion of the pair of chuck arms and the support member side are connected to each other. When the elastic force acts on the driven roller away from the support member, the elastic force gradually acts on the contact portion on the support member side.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an overall schematic configuration of a recording paper post-processing apparatus according to the present invention. The symbol 1 in the figure is
It is an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a facsimile, a printer, and a multifunction peripheral thereof. A recording paper post-processing device 2 according to the present invention is installed adjacent to a side portion of the image forming device 1.

The recording paper post-processing apparatus 2 mainly includes a punch unit 3 for performing a punching process on a recording paper on which an image has been recorded discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 and a facsimile paper or an interruption paper separately from the recording paper. Proof tray 4 to be stacked
An alignment tray 5 for temporarily stacking recording paper, a stapler 6 as a post-processing means for recording paper, a large amount tray 7 for stacking recording paper, and a plurality of multi-stages for sorting and stacking recording paper. It comprises a mailbox tray 8 and a recording paper transporting device 9 for transferring a bundle of recording paper from the stapler 6 to the mailbox tray 8.

An image-recorded recording sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 is conveyed in the horizontal direction by an inlet roller 10 and sent to a punch unit 3. This punch unit 3
Is a rotary punch synchronized with the conveyance of the recording paper,
The recording paper is not perforated or not depending on the selection made on an operation panel (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus 1, but the recording paper does not stop in any case.

The recording paper having passed through the punch unit 3 is conveyed by conveying rollers and reaches a branch path where the branch claws 11 are located. The branching claw 11 is operated by a solenoid (not shown) according to the mode condition of the recording paper processing, so that the transport path is moved between A and B.
To two directions.

In the transport path B, for example, the recording paper is not stapled in the printer mode, and the recording paper is immediately led to a transport path F described later without passing through the alignment tray 5 and distributed to the multi-stage mailbox tray 8. Use when discharging.
The transport path A is used for discharging the recording paper to the proof tray 4, discharging the recording paper to the large-volume discharge tray 7, and performing staple processing on the recording paper.

The recording paper that has advanced to the transport path A reaches a branch path where the branch claws 12 are located, and the branch claws 12 use the transport path C toward the proof tray 4 and the transport paths C toward the alignment tray 5 and the mass tray 7. D can be switched in two directions.

The recording paper passing through the transport path C is transported by transport rollers 13
Is stacked on the proof tray 4. Transport path D
The recording paper passing through is different in transporting method between the staple mode and the non-staple mode.

In the non-staple mode, as shown in FIG. 6, the guide plate 14 is in a standby state with the guide plate 14 lowered around the fulcrum position 14a. 15 and the driven roller 16 make a large number of trays 7
Is discharged to

In the case of the staple mode, the guide plate 14
Is waiting in a state in which the recording paper is raised upward around the fulcrum 14a (the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1).
4 is temporarily stacked on the alignment tray 5.

In order to reduce the length of the alignment tray 5, a telescopic tray 17 is provided as shown in FIG. The extendable tray 17 is provided at the center of the alignment tray 5 in the depth direction.
This is to prevent interference with the jogger fence 36 for aligning the recording paper bundle in the width direction.

The extendable tray 17 is provided with a sensor 31 shown in FIG.
Completes the elongation operation in a predetermined time after detecting the leading edge of the recording paper,
Wait for the recording paper to be stacked. At this time, the extension length of the extendable tray 17 is adjusted according to the length of the recording paper being conveyed. For example, if the A4 vertical size is passed, the end position of the extendable tray 17 extends to the A4 vertical end position. If the A3 vertical size is passed, the leading end position of the extendable tray 17 extends to the A3 vertical leading end position to be stacked.

The extendable tray 17 is configured to extend in two stages to reduce the length. As shown in FIG. 3, the guide rod 18 of the spring 20 is extended from the alignment tray 5, and a guide 19 a for the spring 20 is provided inside the first-stage telescopic tray 19. FIG. 4 shows a state in which a spring 20 is set on the guide rod 18 and a first-stage telescopic tray 19 is set on the alignment tray 5.

As a result, the spring 20 is compressed by the base of the guide rod 18 and the inner wall of the guide 19a, and the first-stage telescopic tray 19 is always applied with the force of being ejected from the alignment tray 5. The first elastic tray 19 can be extended from the alignment tray 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, the second-stage expansion / contraction tray 21 is also constructed in the same manner as the first-stage expansion / contraction tray 19, and always exerts a force to jump out of the first-stage expansion / contraction tray 19.
With this force, the second-stage telescopic tray 21 can be extended from the first-stage telescopic tray 19.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, a string-shaped member 22 is locked to the base of the second-stage telescopic tray 21, and the angle is changed via a pulley 23 supported by the alignment tray 5.
It is wound on a take-up pulley 24. Winding pulley 2
A wheel gear 25 is provided coaxially with the gear 4, and a worm gear 26 of a drive motor 27 is engaged with the wheel gear 25. Further, a detection filler 28 is provided on the second-stage telescopic tray 21, and a sensor 29 for detecting the same is provided on the matching tray 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, rollers 30 are provided on both the first and second extendable trays 19 and 21 to smoothen the extendable operation. Thereby, the expansion / contraction tray 19.2
Drive motor 27 from the retracted state (home position)
Is rotated forward, the take-up pulley 24
2 is extended, and the extendable trays 19 and 21 are extended. At this time, the telescopic trays 19 and 21 are stopped at predetermined positions by pulse control of the drive motor 27.

When the telescopic trays 19 and 21 are contracted, the drive motor 27 is rotated in the reverse direction to wind up the cord-like member 22. The stop position at that time is set so that the sensor 29 detects the detection filler 28 to stop at a predetermined position.

As shown in FIG. 1, the recording paper temporarily stacked on the aligning tray 5 is stopped by a brush roller 33 disposed coaxially with a discharge roller 32 and a tapping roller 34 to stop the recording paper. The jogger fence 36 performs a horizontal alignment operation, and the stapler 6 performs a stapling operation.
In that case, the stapler 6 can be slid by the driving unit 361 and stippled to the designated position.

In the case of the copy mode, the extendable tray 17 is then stored in the matching tray 5 by the above-described mechanism. Thereafter, the guide plate 14 is lowered and the guide plate 14
The driven roller 16 attached to the pressurizes the recording paper,
The sheet is conveyed to the mass tray 7 by the rotation of the driving roller 15.

A predetermined number of recording papers are successively discharged onto the large-volume tray 7, and the upper surface thereof is detected by the sensor 40 as shown in FIG. It is loaded so that it becomes. When the transfer paper is full on the large-volume tray 7, it is detected by the lower limit sensor 41.

As shown in FIG. 13, the large-volume tray 7 is suspended by a vertical lift belt 42. The upper and lower lift belts 42 are driven by an elevating motor 43 via a gear train and a timing belt, and are moved up and down by forward or reverse rotation of the elevating motor 43. Further, if necessary, the large-volume tray 7 performs a shift operation in a direction orthogonal to the recording paper discharge direction to sort the recording paper.

The transport path F is composed of a fixed guide plate 60 on the drive roller 50 side and a movable guide member movable on the driven roller 51 side. The driven roller 51 side of the transport path F is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), a movable guide member that guides the recording paper and is movable at a position is configured by a wire 61. The distal end of the wire 61 is engaged with a pulley 65 attached to the shaft 62 so as to run idle, and a plurality of arms 64 are provided in parallel at intervals in the vertical direction.
Is stretched by a pulley 63 attached to the tip end of the cable. The base end of the wire 61 is locked to the pulley 63 of the lowermost arm 64, and is hooked at a position that does not interfere with the conveyance via a spring (not shown).

The driven rollers 51 are provided alongside the pulleys 63 at the ends of the arms 64, and are arranged in the vertical direction by the number of the mailbox trays 8 together with the arms 64. At this time, the driven roller 51 protrudes from the wire 61 by 1 to 2 mm toward the drive roller 50.

The ejection claw 53 for conveying the bundle of recording sheets to the mailbox tray 8 is fixed to a belt 76 wrapped around a pulley 66 and a pulley 67, and is rotated together with the belt 76 by being rotated by a drive motor 68. Let it.

The arm 64 is rotatably supported on a side plate (not shown) of the recording paper post-processing apparatus 2 by a fulcrum 64a, and is connected to a lever 69 at a rear end 64b. The lever 69 is pulled downward by a tension spring 70, whereby the driven roller 51, the pulley 6
3. The wire 61 is urged toward the drive roller 50, and is rockably stationary at a position where it hits the driven roller 51 following the drive roller 50. In the swinging operation, since the lever 69 is connected to each arm 64, the upstream side and the downstream side of the wire 61 operate simultaneously and in parallel with the transport path F. In this embodiment, the lever 69 has only one side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the drive roller side of the transport path F includes a drive roller 50, a branch claw 52, and the aforementioned fixed guide plate 60. The driving roller 50 protrudes from the fixed guide plate 60 and the branch claw 52 by 1 to 2 mm.
Therefore, the distance between the longitudinal roller 51 and the drive roller 50 in the transport path F is usually about 2 to 4 mm.

The transport path F is thinner than the width of the transport path (2-4
mm) when the bundle of recording paper enters, the wire 61
The recording paper bundle is conveyed without being displaced. When a bundle of recording paper that is thicker than the width of the transport path F (2 to 4 mm or more) enters, the bundle of recording paper pushes the wire 61 and the bundle of recording paper is transported. If a recording paper jam occurs, the recording paper can be removed from between the wires 61 by releasing the pressure of the driven roller 51.

As shown in FIGS. 14B and 14C, a movable guide member (wire 61) on the driven roller 51 side of the transport path F.
The arm may be displaced by swinging the arm 64 by a motor 81 as a drive source and an eccentric cam 82 to which the rotational drive is transmitted. The magnitude of the displacement can be changed according to the thickness (number of sheets) of the recording paper bundle. The number of recording paper bundles can be counted by a signal or a sensor from the image forming apparatus, and the magnitude of the displacement can be controlled by the rotation angle of the motor 81.

The recording paper bundle that has advanced to the transport path F is transported downward by the driving roller 50 and the driven roller 51 shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the conveyance of the bundle of recording paper stops when the leading end side (upper side) thereof is slightly below the branching claw 52 of the mailbox tray 8 to be discharged. At this time, if the recording paper is a large-sized recording paper or the mailbox tray 8 to be discharged is at the lower side, the recording paper bundle is turned by the turn unit 56 and conveyed upward.

When the bundle of recording paper stops, the pressure of the driving roller 50 and the driven roller 51 is released by operating the lever 57 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The recording paper bundle is shown in FIG.
As shown in (5), the recording paper bundle is conveyed in the opposite direction (switchback) so that the recording paper bundle is pushed out by the ejection claw 53. The reason for switching back the recording paper bundle is that when the post-processed recording paper bundle is directly conveyed from the chuck arm 37 to the mailbox 8 via the conveyance path F, the curve becomes tight and the recording paper bundle becomes the previous recording. This is because there is a possibility that the staple of the paper bundle may be caught.

When the branch claw 52 of the mail box tray 8 for discharging the bundle of recording sheets is switched, the discharge claw 53 stops just before the branch claw 52 and is conveyed by the discharge roller 77 and the drive roller 78 thereafter. Then, the recording paper bundle is discharged to the mailbox tray 8.

As shown in FIG. 10, the recording paper heading toward the transport path B is discharged from the leading end side of the recording paper by switching the branching claw 52 of the mailbox tray 8 which is discharged after entering the transport path F. You. In this case, the switchback operation is not performed unlike the case of the stapled recording paper bundle described above.

The branching claw 52 must deflect the recording paper or the bundle of recording papers conveyed from the upper and lower two directions to the mailbox tray 8, so as shown in FIGS. Is divided into two. The two are meshed with each other by the gear portion 52a, and if one of them is deflected, the other can also be deflected. In the state of FIG. 11, the tips of the two claws intersect, but the two claws are comb-shaped to avoid interference.

When the recording paper is discharged to the mailbox tray 8, the presence or absence of mail is notified to the user on the personal computer by the paper detection sensor 54 shown in FIG. If the allowable amount exceeds 8, the fullness detection sensor 55 notifies the printout user and the image forming apparatus 1 of the fact.

The recording paper transporting device 9 transports the recording paper bundle bound by the stapler 6 to the mailbox tray 8 for sorting the recording paper bundle, and includes a chuck arm pair 37 and a cam 38 which constitute a chuck mechanism. , A piece 39, a conveying roller 406, and a driven roller 407 provided with a pressure contact mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 15, the chuck arm pair 37 has a rotating shaft 370 (which is a rotation fulcrum 37 shown in FIG. 1).
a), and an upper chuck arm 371 constituting a fixed chuck arm and a lower chuck arm 372 constituting a movable chuck arm.
The upper part of each is formed with a gripper for gripping the recording paper bundle vertically.

The upper chuck arm 371 is provided with guide grooves 371a and 371b along the length direction. Guide grooves 371a, 3 of upper chuck arm 371
Protrusions 372a and 372b provided on the lower chuck arm 372 are fitted to the respective 71b, so that the lower chuck arm 372 can be slidably moved.

The lower chuck arm 372 has a projection 37
A convex portion 37b is formed immediately above 2a, and engages with a protrusion 409a of a support member 408 described later. Note that a force is applied to the lower chuck arm 372 such that the gripper is always closed by a spring 373 spanned between the lower chuck arm 372 and the upper chuck arm 371.

As shown in FIG. 15, the chuck arm pair 37 has a cam 38 fixed to the recording paper post-processing apparatus 2 near the rotating shaft 370. The cam 38 has a cam surface 38a formed into a unique curved surface shape. The convex portion 372b of the lower chuck arm 372 is pressed against the cam surface 38a by the elastic force of the spring 373 described above.
Is engaged. Further, a part of the cam surface 38a includes
An opening / closing surface 38b that functions to gradually push and expand the grip portion of the lower chuck arm 372 in accordance with the rotation operation of the chuck arm pair 37 is formed.

A stopper 38c, which can contact the left side surface of the lower chuck arm 372, protrudes from the left end of the cam 38, and the stopper 38 keeps the gripping position of the gripping portion constant. I have. Further, this cam 38 has
One end is rotatably fixed at a position coaxial with the cam 38,
A piece 39 that is forcibly rotated by a driving means (not shown) and rotates the chuck arm pair 37 is attached.

This piece 39 has a lower chuck arm 37
2 has a guide groove 39a for moving in the longitudinal direction, and a lock surface 39b for locking the grip portion of the lower chuck arm 372 so as not to close is formed in a part of the guide groove 39a. are doing.

The driven roller 407 is provided in a pressure-contact state at a position opposed to the transport roller 406 for transporting the aligned bundle of recording sheets, and is rotatably mounted on a support member 408 as shown in FIG. I have.

The support member 408 is provided with the projection 37 described above.
and a release mechanism for reducing or releasing the pressure contact force of the driven roller 407 together with the rotating roller 407. It is installed movably. Further, in order to bring the driven roller 407 into pressure contact with the support member 408 toward the transport roller 406,
A counterclockwise spring force is always applied by a spring 410 which is an elastic body.
08 constitutes a pressure contact mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 16, a protrusion 409 is formed on the support member 408 along the right edge.
The protrusion 409 is provided on the protrusion 37 of the lower chuck arm 372.
b comes into contact with each other to cancel the pressing operation of the support member 408 and the driven roller 07 with the transport roller 406.

The projection 409 constitutes a releasing means together with the support member 408 and the convex portion 37b of the lower chuck arm 372. The protrusion 409 of this embodiment is formed in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording paper bundle (projects in front of the paper surface in FIG. 16), and the wall surface on the right side of the protrusion 409 is the lower chuck arm. It constitutes a contact surface 409a for moving the convex portion 37b of the 372 while contacting it.
Further, the lower right wall surface of the projection 409 forms a tapered surface 409e, and as the convex portion 37b moves downward along the tapered surface 409e, the pressing force of the driven roller 407 against the transport roller 406. Is gradually decreasing.

That is, the pressing force is strong when the number of recording paper bundles is large, and weak when the number of recording paper bundles is small. The nip pressure is automatically adjusted according to the number of sheets.

When the chuck arm pair 37 is holding two sheets of recording paper, the lower chuck arm 372
In FIG. 16, the locus drawn by the convex portion 37b is larger than when 50 sheets are gripped, and the contact surface 40
A circular orbit passing through the vertex 409c of 9a, that is, a curve indicated by a chain line in FIG. On the other hand, when the chuck arm pair 37 is gripping a bundle of 50 recording sheets, the locus drawn by the convex portion 37b is a circular orbit having a smaller radius than that when gripping two recording sheets.

The shapes of the contact surface 409a and the tapered surface 409e of the projection 409 are determined by the number of recording paper bundles (in this embodiment, a configuration in which two to fifty recording papers are stacked and bundled). ), The lower chuck arm 3
72 are formed so that the convex portions 37b can come into contact with each other.

Next, the relationship between the lower chuck arm 372, the cam 38, and the bridge 39 will be described. When the chuck arm pair 37 rotates counterclockwise, the protrusion 372b of the lower chuck arm 372 moves together with the lock surface 39b of the block 39 until it comes into contact with the stopper 38c. Therefore, the gripping portion of the lower chuck arm 372 moves to a position where the alignment tray 5 exists while the gap between the gripping portion of the lower chuck arm 372 and the gripping portion of the upper chuck arm 371 is open.

The lower chuck arm 372 comes into contact with the stopper 38 c of the cam 38 so that the lock surface 3
The convex portion 372b comes off from 9b, and the locked state is released. When this locked state is released, the spring 373 is released.
Is moved from the lock surface 39b of the piece 39 to the cam surface 38a of the cam 38 by the elastic force of. That is, the lower chuck arm 372
Slides with respect to the upper chuck arm 371, and the gripping portions of the chuck arm pair 37 close.

The protrusion 372b of the lower chuck arm 372
Is locked to the cam surface 38a, and then the chuck arm pair 37
Is rotated clockwise, the lower chuck arm 3
The 72 convex portions 372b move along the cam surface 38a.
At this time, the grip portion of the lower chuck arm 372 rotates while the gap between the lower chuck arm 372 and the grip portion of the upper chuck arm 271 is closed.

After the sheet bundle of recording paper is engaged in the nip between the transport roller 406 and the driven roller 407, the lower chuck arm 372 pushes the convex portion 372 b to the opening / closing surface 38 b of the cam 38. Therefore, the gripping portions of the chuck arm pair are gradually opened.

Next, the operation of the entire recording paper transport device will be described. (1) When the stapled recording paper is discharged to the mailbox tray 8 in the printer mode, as shown in FIG. 1, the chuck arm pair 37 rotates counterclockwise about the pivot point 37a. Then, the recording paper bundle on the staple tray 5 is sandwiched. Thereafter, the stop member 35 and the stapler 6 are slid away from the side of the recording paper bundle closer to the near side or the back side, and retracted. At this time, the stop member 35 moves by engaging with a part of the stapler 6 and following the sliding operation.

(2) Next, the chuck arm pair 37 sandwiching the bundle of recording paper shown in FIG. 15 rotates clockwise about the rotation fulcrum 37a, and the projection 37b provided on the chuck arm pair 37 In FIG. 16, the driven roller 407 is displaced by contacting the projection 409a of the support member 409 supporting the driven roller 407, and the recording paper bundle is delivered to the nip portion α with the transport roller 406.

(3) The chuck arm pair 37 is
The position indicated by the chain line (that is, the convex portion 3 of the lower chuck arm 372)
When 72b reaches the opening / closing surface 38b) of the cam 38, the cam 3
The gripping portion is opened by the operation of 8, and the recording paper bundle is discharged to the mop portion α between the transport roller 406 and the driven roller 407.
Thereafter, the chuck arm pair 37 is moved so that the gripper does not interfere with the transport roller 406 and the driven roller 407.
Accelerates the rotation and moves downward. Note that the stapler 6 slides to staple at the designated position, so that a transport guide that communicates from the staple tray 5 to the transport path F cannot be provided. Therefore, the chuck arm pair 37 is provided. .

Next, the operation of the chuck arm pair 37 will be described. (1) The recording sheets aligned by the alignment tray 5 are bound by the stapler 6. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, the chuck arm pair 37 is retracted to a position where it does not hinder the movement of the stapler 6. This position is a home position (hereinafter abbreviated as HP). At this time, in the HP shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 15, the convex portion 372b of the lower chuck arm 372 is
, The gripping portion of the lower chuck arm 372 is in an open state.

(2) After the movement of the stapler 6 is completed, the chuck arm pair 37 rotates counterclockwise toward a grip standby position (hereinafter abbreviated as GP) indicated by a solid line in FIG. At this time, the convex portion 372b of the lower chuck arm 372 moves together with the lock surface 39b of the bridge 39, so that the grip portion of the lower chuck arm 372 is held open and moved to the standby position. In this embodiment,
While the chuck arm pair 37 is moving from HP to GP,
The stapling operation of the stapler 6 is performed to shorten the operation time.

(3) The chuck arm pair 37 is moved from HP to G
Upon reaching P, the projection 372b of the lower chuck arm 372 abuts against the stopper 38c, which is a part of the cam 38, and stops. At this time, since the piece 39 is still rotating around the rotation shaft 370, the convex portion 372b of the lower chuck arm 372 is disengaged from the lock surface 39b of the piece 39,
While moving in the guide groove 39a, the cam surface 38 of the cam 38
reaches a. At that time, the lower chuck arm 372
Closes the grip by the elastic force of the spring 373,
The stapled bundle of recording paper is gripped. Thereafter, the stapler 6 and the stop member 35 move to outside the recording paper width.

(4) Next, the chuck arm pair 37 is
It rotates clockwise from the GP toward the nip portion α, which is the delivery position of the recording paper bundle. At this time, the lower chuck arm 372 has a protrusion 372b on the cam surface 38a of the cam 38.
Therefore, the lower chuck arm 372 gradually changes from a closed state to an open state in which the grip portion is closed. At this recording paper delivery position, the recording paper bundle is gripped between the transport roller 406 and the driven roller 07, and the recording paper bundle is delivered from the gripping portion of the chuck arm pair 37 to the transport roller 406 side.

(5) Thereafter, the chuck arm pair 37 is
Rotate clockwise to the home position so as not to obstruct the conveyance of the recording paper bundle.

Next, the interaction between the convex portion 37b provided on the lower chuck arm 372 and the driven roller 407, that is, the transfer operation of the recording paper bundle by the operation of changing the driven roller pressure will be described.

(1) As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 or FIG. 15, when the chuck arm pair 37 is waiting at the HP first, the gripping portions of the chuck arm pair 37 are open.

(2) Next, when the chuck arm pair 37 rotates counterclockwise to the GP shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 or FIG.
16 turns counterclockwise on a small circular orbit indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. At this time, the projection 37b of the lower chuck arm 372 moves without contacting the projection 409 of the support member 408 that supports the driven roller 407.

(3) The chuck arm pair 37 is GP
When the recording paper bundle is gripped in step, the convex portion 37b of the lower chuck arm 372 moves from GP to a start position (hereinafter abbreviated as SP) in FIG. Thereafter, the chuck arm pair 37 holding the recording paper bundle rotates clockwise toward the nip portion α, which is the delivery position of the recording paper bundle. The rotation locus at this time is a great circle orbit indicated by a chain line in FIG.

(4) Next, the convex portion 37 b of the lower chuck arm 372 is connected to the contact surface 4 of the projection 409 of the support member 408.
When the contact is made, the protrusion 409 is pushed out to the convex portion 37b of the lower chuck arm 372, and the grip portion of the pair of chuck arms 37 is pushed out. Here, when the convex portion 37b of the lower chuck arm 372 comes into contact with the contact surface 409a of the projection 409, the lower chuck arm 372
Is located before the leading end of the recording paper bundle with respect to the nip portion α, the leading end of the recording paper bundle has not yet reached the nip portion α.

(5) As shown in FIG. 17, the contact surface 409
When the convex portion 37b abuts on the vertex 409c of a and the nip portion α is opened with the maximum opening amount, the leading end portion of the recording paper bundle enters the nip portion α.

(6) Then, the convex portion 37b becomes the vertex 40
After 9c, the driven roller 407 that has been opened to the maximum
Gradually narrows the interval with the transport roller 406, and the protrusion 37 b separates from and separates from the projection 409.

(7) In this way, when the convex portion 37b separates from the projection 409, the driven roller 407 simultaneously moves the recording paper bundle at the nip portion α between it and the transport roller 406 by the elastic force of the spring 410. Hold. After delivering this recording paper bundle to the nip portion α, the chuck arm pair 37
H is released and does not hinder the conveyance of the recording paper bundle.
Rotate clockwise to P.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment, the protrusion 37b provided on the lower chuck arm 372 in the configuration of the first embodiment is provided on the upper chuck arm 371, and the stopper 411 is provided on the support member 408. The projection 409 is attached to the support member 408 so as to be rotatable, and is used as a rotation member. A spring 413 for pressing the projection 409 against the stopper 411 is added.

Incidentally, also in this embodiment, the lower chuck arm 372 moves in the length direction, and the upper chuck arm 371 does not move in the length direction. This upper chuck arm 37
The convex portion 37b provided in 1 is installed at a position that does not hinder the rotation of the protrusion 37b.

The projection 409 of this embodiment has a vertex 409c
Is provided near the rotary shaft 409d.
It is rotatable around 9d as a pivot point. The projection 409 has a contact surface 409b on the left wall surface opposite to the contact surface 409a of the projection 409.

The stopper 411 has a rotatable projection 409.
This is for restricting the range in which can rotate. The spring 413 uses a torsion spring, one end of which is fixed to the support member 408, and the other end of which is in contact with the projection 409. The stopper 411 is formed so as not to contact the convex portion 37b of the upper chuck arm 371.

Next, in this embodiment, the interaction between the convex portion 37b provided on the upper chuck arm 371 and the driven roller 407, that is, the transfer operation of the recording paper bundle by the operation of changing the driven roller pressure will be described.

(1) As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 or FIG.
18, the projection 37b provided on the upper chuck arm 371 is waiting at a position indicated by HP in FIG.

(2) The chuck arm pair 37 rotates to
When moving to P, the upper chuck arm 371
In FIG. 18, the robot rotates (forwards) in a counterclockwise direction on a circular orbit indicated by a chain line. At this time, the convex portion 37b of the upper chuck arm 371 is in contact with the contact surface 4 of the projection 409.
As shown in FIG. 19, only the projection 409 is rotated by itself around the rotation shaft 409d as a rotation fulcrum. As a result, the projection 409 allows the projection 37b to pass therethrough so as to escape the projection 37b.

(3) In this manner, the convex portion 37b of the upper chuck arm 371 passes along the one-dot chain line shown in FIG. Moving. When the convex portion 37b of the upper chuck arm 371 separates from the contact surface 409b, the rotatable projection 409 is pressed against the stopper 411 by the elastic force of the spring 413, and returns to the state shown in FIG.

(4) The convex portion 3 of the upper chuck arm 371
When 7b reaches the GP, the recording paper bundle is gripped, and FIG.
As shown by the one-dot chain line, the recording paper rotates (returns) clockwise toward the nip portion α, which is the delivery position of the recording paper, along the same circular path as the forward movement.

(5) In the return operation of the upper chuck arm 371, the contact surface 409 opposite to the contact surface 409b of the rotatable projection 409 while the convex portion 37b moves along the one-dot chain line.
a. Due to the abutting operation of the convex portion 37b, the projection 409 is integrated with the support member 408, and the rotation fulcrum 408
Then, the driven roller 07 is released from the pressing operation with the transport roller 406 and is spread. Since the projection 409 is pressed against the stopper 411, the projection 409 does not independently rotate around the rotation shaft 409d.

(6) The convex portion 3 of the upper chuck arm 371
When the contact 7b comes into contact with the contact surface 409a of the rotatable projection 409, the convex portion 37b of the upper chuck arm 371 is located earlier than the leading end portion of the recording paper bundle with respect to the nip portion α. , The tip of the recording paper bundle is still at the nip part α
Has not entered.

(7) As in the case shown in FIG. 17, when the convex portion 37b is in contact with the vertex 409c of the contact surface 409, the driven roller 407 can be pushed to the maximum. The leading end of the recording paper bundle enters the nip portion α. After the recording paper bundle enters the nip portion α, when the convex portion 37b of the upper chuck arm 371 passes the vertex 409c of the contact surface 409a and reaches the tapered surface 409e, the driven roller 407 that has been expanded to the maximum gradually moves. The distance between the transport roller 406 and the upper chuck arm 3 is reduced.
The contact surface 40 of the projection 409 which is rotatable is formed by the projection 37 b of 71.
Depart from 9a.

(8) Similarly to the detaching operation, the driven roller 4
In 07, the recording paper bundle is gripped by the elastic force of the spring 410, but after the recording paper bundle is delivered to the nip portion α, the gripping portion of the lower chuck arm 372 is opened, which does not hinder the conveyance of the recording paper bundle. As described above, the robot rotates clockwise to the home position HP.

[0094]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the rotating operation of the chuck mechanism is used to reduce and release the driven roller pressure, the driving of the solenoid or the like is performed. A part which is inexpensive and suitable for miniaturization can be provided without requiring any parts.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the operation of reducing and releasing the driven roller pressure can be realized by using the chuck mechanism having a simple structure. Things can be provided.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the chuck arm pair is constituted by a fixed-side chuck arm that does not move in its length direction and a movable-side chuck arm that can move in its length direction. , A release mechanism, a convex portion forming an engaging portion provided on the fixed-side chuck arm,
Since it is composed of a rotatable rotating member provided on the supporting member, a stopper member for limiting a rotating range of the rotating member, and an elastic body for bringing the rotating member into contact with the stopper member, a chuck mechanism and As the release mechanism, a simpler configuration can be realized, and a mechanism suitable for further downsizing and at a low cost can be provided.

Further, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a part of the chuck mechanism abutting on the abutting portion on the supporting member side is provided.
The chuck mechanism is configured to be displaced in accordance with the number of recording paper bundles to be gripped, the contact portion of the support member contacting the fluctuating portion is also fluctuated, and the driven roller is displaced in proportion to the number of recording paper bundles. Therefore, even when the number of recording sheets constituting the recording sheet bundle is small, the driven roller pressure can be reduced and released without causing damage to the recording sheet surface of the recording sheet,
High quality products can be provided.

Further, according to the fifth aspect of the invention, after the leading end of the recording paper bundle enters the nip portion, when the convex portion of the pair of chuck arms and the support member side are separated from each other and an elastic force acts on the driven roller. However, since the elastic force is gradually applied to the contact portion on the support member side, when the recording paper bundle is delivered to the nip portion, there is no possibility that the paper surface of the recording paper is significantly damaged. Quality products can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a recording paper post-processing device of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the matching tray together with a telescopic tray.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first-stage telescopic tray.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view after the assembly.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of first and second-stage telescopic trays.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an alignment tray.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a recording sheet is guided to a conveyance path.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the recording paper has been sent to a turn portion.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the recording paper is switched back and discharged to a designated mailbox tray.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus is immediately guided to a mailbox tray without passing through an alignment tray.

FIG. 11 is a mechanism diagram showing a branch claw for guiding recording paper to the mailbox tray.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a state of a branch claw when the recording paper is switched to a mailbox tray by switching a conveyance direction of the recording paper.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a partial schematic configuration of the recording paper post-processing apparatus.

14A is a perspective view showing a configuration of a recording paper conveyance path on a side of a conveyance driven roller, and FIGS. 14B and 14C are explanatory diagrams showing a displacement state of a wire thereof. FIG.

FIG. 15 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a recording paper transport device.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the projection provided on the lower chuck arm of the device at the time of the return operation.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the driven roller is released from the pressure contact at the time of the convex part return operation.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing an operation of a projection provided on an upper chuck arm according to another embodiment of the device.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing a rotation state of the projection during the forward movement of the projection.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Recording paper post-processing apparatus 3 Punch unit 37 Chuck arm pair 37a Rotating fulcrum 37b Convex part 371 Upper chuck arm 371a Guide groove 371b Guide groove 372 Lower chuck arm 372a Convex part 372b Convex part 38 Cam 38a Cam surface 38b Open / close surface 38c Stopper 39 Frame 39a Guide groove 39b Lock surface 4 Proof tray 406 Conveyance roller 407 Follower roller 408 Support member 409 Projection 409a Contact surface 409b Contact surface 409c Apex 409d Rotating shaft 410 Tension spring 411 Stopper 5 Plastic tray High-volume tray 8 Mailbox tray 9 Recording paper transport device GP Gripping standby position HP Home position SP Start position α Nip

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Yoshihiko Nakayama 2-13-13 Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture Inside Ricoh Elemex Co., Ltd. (72) Shinichi Ueno 2-2-2 Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture No. 13 Ricoh Elemex Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuji Ueno 2-2-1 Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture Ricoh Elemex Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Minoru Hattori Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture Inside Ricoh Elemex Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Terumitsu Higashi 2-2-1, Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Prefecture Inside Ricoh Elemex Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takahiro Sasaki Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi (2) Nishiki 2-chome, Ricoh Elemex Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tomo Nomura 2-chome, Nishiki-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi No. 13 Ricoh Elemex Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3F054 AA01 BJ12 3F101 CA10 CB02 CC17 LA02 LA05 LA07 LB03

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A transport roller for transporting an aligned bundle of recording paper, a driven roller pressed against the transport roller, and a nip portion between the transport roller and the driven roller for transporting the bundle of recording paper therebetween. A recording paper transport device including a chuck mechanism for delivering and receiving, wherein the driven roller is rotatably mounted, and a supporting member that rotates about a rotation fulcrum, and the driven roller is pressed against a transport roller. A pressure contact mechanism having an elastic body for applying an elastic force, and when the chuck mechanism delivers the recording paper bundle to the nip portion, a part of the chuck mechanism abuts on the support member side to move the driven roller. A release mechanism that temporarily releases the pressure-contact state of the driven roller while displacing it or reduces the pressure contact force is provided.After the leading end of the recording paper bundle enters the nip portion, the driven roller and the transport roller are in the original pressure-contact state A recording paper transport device characterized in that it is configured to return to its original state. 2. A chuck mechanism comprising: a pair of chuck arms for releasing at least one of the recording paper bundles held by an open grip by moving at least one relative to the other by a rotating operation about a rotation axis; A release mechanism provided on one of the chuck arm pairs, wherein the engagement portion contacts a part of the support member at the time of the rotation operation and rotates the support member; When it is delivered to the portion, the engagement operation between the engaging portion on the chuck arm side and the support member side is released, the elastic force acts on the driven roller, and the recording paper bundle is moved between the transport roller and the driven roller. 2. A configuration in which the gripping portion of the pair of chuck arms is opened to release the recording paper bundle while being gripped.
2. The recording paper transport device according to claim 1. 3. A chuck arm pair comprising a fixed-side chuck arm that does not move in its length direction and a movable-side chuck arm that can move in its length direction. A convex portion forming an engaging portion provided on the supporting member, a rotatable rotating member provided on the supporting member, a stopper member for limiting a rotating range of the rotating member, and a rotating member as the stopper member. When the convex portion comes into contact with the rotating member, the rotating member is pushed and the driven roller is displaced, and the pressure-contact state of the nip portion is temporarily released or pressed. The force is reduced, and the convex portion is separated from the rotating member, so that the driven roller is pressed against the conveying roller and the recording paper bundle is gripped between them, and at the same time, the gripping portion of the chuck arm pair is opened. Paper Recording paper conveying apparatus according to claim 2, characterized by being configured to release. 4. A part of a chuck mechanism that contacts a contact part on a support member side is displaced in accordance with the number of recording paper bundles gripped by the chuck mechanism, and a contact part on a support member side that contacts the part. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driven roller is displaced in proportion to the number of recording paper bundles.
4. The recording paper transport device according to any one of claims 3 to 3. 5. After the leading end of the recording paper bundle enters the nip portion, when the convex portion of the chuck arm pair separates from the support member and an elastic force acts on the driven roller, the contact portion on the support member side is contacted. 4. The recording paper transporting device according to claim 1, wherein an elastic force is gradually applied.