JP2001097625A - Recording paper post-treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording paper post-treatment device convenient for miniaturizing, allowing the cost reduction, and easy to take out the recording paper sheets from an exhaust tray. SOLUTION: This post-treatment device is provided with a post-treatment tray 3 to align a recording paper bunch recorded with images thereon by an image forming device 2, and various sorts of post-treatment means 4, 5, and 6 provided near the post-treatment tray 3 in order to carry out various sorts of post-treatment in the same post-treatment tray. The device is composed to exhaust the recording paper bunch post-treated in the various sorts of post- treating means 4, 5, and 6, to the same exhaust tray 1A.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used in conjunction with an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a facsimile, a printer, or a multifunction peripheral thereof.
The present invention relates to a recording paper post-processing device that performs various post-processing such as a punching process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of recording paper post-processing apparatus, a plurality of recording papers on which images have been recorded by an image forming apparatus are post-processed by various post-processing means provided on dedicated conveyance paths. After being processed, it is known that the sheets are stacked on different paper discharge trays through different transport paths.

[0003]

In other words, in such a recording paper post-processing apparatus, a dedicated conveyance path is required for each post-processing means, which is an obstacle to miniaturization of the apparatus. And increase the production cost.

Further, in the recording paper post-processing apparatus having such a configuration, since a dedicated discharge tray is provided for each post-processing means, these discharge trays have a height in the main body of the recording paper post-processing apparatus. Often installed in different places. Therefore, one of the discharge trays can be set at a height at which the bundle of recording sheets can be easily taken out, while the other may be set at a height at which it is difficult to take out.

[0005] In this case, when taking out the bundle of recording sheets stacked on the lower discharge tray, the user may be forced to take an unreasonable posture such as bending down.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a recording paper post-processing apparatus which is convenient for miniaturization, can reduce costs, and can easily take out recording paper from a discharge tray. As an issue.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a post-processing tray for aligning a recording paper bundle on which an image has been recorded by an image forming apparatus, and various post-processing operations using the same post-processing tray. And various post-processing means provided in the vicinity of the post-processing tray in order to perform the above-mentioned processing on the recording paper bundle, and the recording paper bundle post-processed by these post-processing means is discharged to the same discharge tray. Things.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the various post-processing means includes at least a bookbinding processing means and an edge binding processing means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a bundle of recording papers post-processed by various post-processing means is placed at a position close to the main body of the recording paper post-processing apparatus. There are formed at least two discharge ports for discharging to a discharge tray.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the discharge tray is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the discharge port for discharging a bundle of recording paper to a discharge tray is provided with a shutter that opens and closes when discharging the bundle of recording paper. It is a thing.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a discharge confirmation detecting means for detecting that the shutter is in a closed state.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram of a recording paper post-processing apparatus of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

The recording paper post-processing apparatus 1 of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment is used in conjunction with the image forming apparatus.
As post-processing means, edge binding processing means 4, saddle stitching processing means 5 and bookbinding processing means 6 constituting bookbinding processing means
And On the other hand, all these post-processing means
The post-processing tray 3 is installed so as to be shared.
The image forming apparatus of this embodiment uses the copying machine 2, but other than this, for example, facsimile,
Printers and other suitable equipment can be used. In addition, as this recording paper post-processing device, near the post-processing tray 3,
Punch processing means may be provided together with these post-processing means.

Further, these recording paper post-processing devices 1 are to be discharged to the paper discharge tray 1A regardless of the post-processing by any post-processing means. Discharge ports 1B and 1C are formed, and a tray device 8 shown in FIG. 4 is provided.

An entrance guide plate 11 is provided between the recording paper post-processing apparatus 1 and the copying machine 2. Recording paper on which an image is recorded by the copying machine 2 is guided by the entrance guide plate 11. The recording paper is sent into the post-processing apparatus 1.

In the recording paper post-processing apparatus 1, conveyance rollers 12A and 12B are provided near the entrance guide plate 11, and separation claw 13 which is operated by a solenoid (not shown) to sort the conveyance direction is provided near the entrance guide plate 11. Is provided. The separation claw 13 divides the paper in two transport directions depending on whether post-processing is performed on the recording paper transported via the transport rollers 12A and 12B.

In the recording paper post-processing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, when the recording paper on which the image is recorded is conveyed to the left in the horizontal direction in FIG. 1, the mode shifts to the non-post-processing mode in which post-processing is not performed. I do. The recording paper shifted to the non-post-processing mode is directly conveyed along a non-post-processing conveyance path α which is set to be conveyed in a substantially horizontal direction by conveyance rollers 12C, and then is discharged by a discharge roller 12D. The recording sheet is discharged to the outside of the recording sheet post-processing apparatus 1 so as to be slightly obliquely upward toward the outside of the processing apparatus. When the recording paper is conveyed downward, the process shifts to the post-processing mode β.

That is, in the recording paper post-processing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, in the post-processing mode, the recording paper is fed via the conveying rollers 12E to 12G, the post-processing discharge roller 12H, and a guide plate (not shown). , A substantially U-shaped post-processing conveyance path β
And then discharged to the post-processing tray 3. A brush roller (not shown) is provided integrally with the post-processing discharge roller 12H, and a beating roller 12I is provided near the post-processing discharge roller 12H and downstream in the recording paper conveyance direction. Is provided.

In the post-processing tray 3, as shown in FIG.
A rear end reference fence 31 provided in parallel with the horizontal direction X and a jogger fence 32 provided in the Y direction orthogonal to the rear end reference fence 31 are provided. This post-processing tray 3
Prior to performing post-processing on the recording paper bundle P, the rear end reference fence 31 aligns the lower end portion of the recording paper bundle P, and the jogger fence 32 operated by the jogger fence drive motor 32A. The left and right ends are aligned.

As shown in FIG. 3, a recess 33 is formed in the post-treatment toilet 3 near an intermediate portion in the vertical direction. Further, the post-processing tray 3 of this embodiment is
The lower part of the horizontal direction is 75
°, the upper side of this is also inclined at 65 °,
The overall shape is almost rectangular (the central part protrudes in a convex shape)
Is presented. Note that these inclination angles are not particularly limited to those in this embodiment, and various suitable inclination angles may be used.

Further, the post-treatment toilet 3 of the present invention includes:
As shown in FIG. 3, in the bent surface 32 </ b> B which is formed by bending the edge side by 90 degrees over the entire side surface of the jogger fence 32, a part is provided at an intermediate portion (a position avoiding the saddle stitch position). A notch 32C is provided in the notch, and a thin plate-shaped pressing member 34 is attached thereto.

Similarly, the bent surface 3 of the jogger fence 32
A thin plate-shaped pressing member 35 is also attached to the slope 32D inclined at the lower end of 2B. Note that these pressing members 34 and 35 are provided so as to avoid the inner side surfaces of the jogger fence 32 where the both ends of the recording paper bundle are aligned, thereby impairing the function of aligning the left and right side edges of the recording paper bundle P. Not to be.

The holding members 34 and 35 are made of an appropriate material having a spring property, such as a film, and are inclined toward the downstream side of the post-processing tray 3 in the recording paper conveying direction. The spring force is applied to the surface of the post-processing tray 3.

Further, the post-processing tray 3 has an endless belt 36 shown in FIG. 1 and a discharge claw 36 attached to the endless belt and moving vertically along the post-processing tray 3.
A is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the edge binding means 4 carries out edge binding with a stapler near the lower end of the bundle of recording paper conveyed to the post-processing tray 3 and aligned on the post-processing tray 3. A stapler (not shown) is provided at the lower end of the post-processing tray 3 near the rear end reference fence 31.

The saddle stitching means 5, as shown in FIG.
The center portion of the recording paper conveyed to the post-processing tray 3 and aligned here is subjected to saddle stitching processing by a pair of right and left staplers. The saddle stitching processing means 5 of this embodiment includes:
A stapler 51, a support member 52, and an eccentric cam 53 are provided.

The stapler 51 of this embodiment has a predetermined interval (120 mm in this embodiment) near the recess 33 near the center of the post-processing tray 3, and the stapler 51 has the rear end reference fence 31. Are provided in parallel to

The stapler 51 includes a stapler body 5.
1A and a pusher 51 that presses and pushes the binding staples into the recording paper by pressing and pushing the recording paper bundle P with appropriate means (not shown) when binding the recording paper bundle P.
B and a clincher 51C provided opposite to the pusher 51B to hold the recording paper bundle from the opposite side when the staples are pierced into the recording paper bundle.

The stapler body 51A is provided with the post-processing tray 3
Above the portion where the concave portion 33 is formed, and is fixed to the back side of the post-processing tray 3.

The pusher 51B is attached to the stapler body 51A so as to be rotatable in the installation direction of the clincher 51C. The pusher 51B of this embodiment has a recess 3
3 and is movable to a position protruding from the surface of the concave portion 33 of the tape tray 3 during a stapling operation. Thereby, the pusher 51B
Is capable of performing a saddle stitching process by firmly pressing the recording paper bundle P with the clincher 51C.

On the other hand, the clincher 51C is fixed to the distal end side of a support member 52 that rotates toward the post-processing tray 3, and is separate from the stapler body 51A and the pusher 51B.

As shown in FIG. 2, the support member 52 includes a support shaft 5 provided on a side wall surface 3A standing on both sides of the post-processing tray 3.
It is attached to 2A so as to be freely rotatable. Further, the support member 52 is urged by a spring (not shown) in the direction away from the post-processing tray 3 (counterclockwise in FIG. 3) to resilient force.

On the other hand, when the supporting member 52 is rotated, the tip of the supporting member 52 is on the circumference of a predetermined radius drawn by the post-processing tray 3.
An eccentric cam 53 is provided at a position separated by a predetermined distance from.

The eccentric cam 53 has a perfect circular shape, and a rotating shaft 53A is fixed to a portion near the peripheral edge shifted from the center. The rotation shaft 53A is rotatably attached to the side wall surface 3A in a state parallel to the support shaft 52A.
, The eccentric cam 53 is rotated about a position deviated from the center.

The center-folding processing unit 6 performs bookbinding by performing center-folding processing on the center-stitched central portion of the recording sheet bundle subjected to center-stitching processing by the center-stitching processing unit 5. is there. As shown in FIG. 3, the center folding processing means 6 of this embodiment comprises a pair of center folding rollers 6 which abut against each other by the elastic force of a spring (not shown) and rotate by a drive motor (not shown).
1 and a center folding roller 61 by another drive motor (not shown).
The middle fold plate 63 moves slightly diagonally downward toward the nip portion between them, that is, in FIG. 2.

The tray device 8 raises and lowers the discharge tray 1A in accordance with the presence or absence of the binding process and the method of the binding process. As shown in FIG.
It has a shutter mechanism 8B and an open / close detector 8C.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lifting / lowering mechanism 8A does not perform the binding process or performs the edge binding process (in the first mode), or as shown in FIG.
The discharge tray 1A is raised and lowered in order to make the discharge tray 1A stand by at two types of upper and lower standby positions in two modes, that is, the case where the processing is performed (the case of the second mode).

As shown in FIG. 7, the lifting mechanism 8A of this embodiment includes a pinion 82 driven by a motor 81 provided on the discharge tray 1A side, and a recording paper post-processing apparatus main body 10 engaged with the pinion 82. The motor 81 is appropriately operated in accordance with the setting mode to move to any one of the standby positions.
As this elevating mechanism, in addition to this embodiment, for example, an endless belt may be used, and a discharge tray may be fixed to a part of the endless belt, and the endless belt may be moved up and down by rotating operation.

Further, in the elevating mechanism 8A, the discharge tray 1A waiting at any one of the standby positions is gradually lowered according to the number of sheets of recording paper to be discharged. A large number of recording papers can be successively loaded thereon without being disturbed by the recording paper loaded on 1A.

The shutter mechanism 8B is provided with a shutter 84 that can be opened and closed at a second discharge port 1C provided in the recording paper post-processing apparatus main body 10 immediately below the center folding roller 61. The shutter 84 is pushed open to be discharged from the second discharge port 1C to the outside of the recording paper post-processing apparatus main body 10. A closing force is applied to the shutter 84 in the closing direction by a spring (not shown). When the recording paper bundle is completely discharged from the shutter 84, the shutter 84 returns to the original position by the force of the spring and enters the closed state. Become.

The open / close detector 8C detects the open / close state of the shutter 84. In this embodiment, the open / close detector 8C
An open / close sensor 85 including a light receiving unit that receives light from the light emitting unit is provided. When the shutter 84 is completely closed, a shielding plate 84A provided on the shutter 84 moves between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. The shutter 84 is confirmed to be completely closed by moving to the position and blocking the light from the light emitting unit. The open / close detection unit 8C also functions as a discharge confirmation detecting unit for discharging the center-folded bundle of recording sheets to the discharge tray 1A. 84 and the portion of the discharge port 1C,
When stopped, this can be detected.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. (1) When the post-processing is not performed on the recording sheet discharged from the copying machine 2 after the image is transferred by the copying machine 2, the non-post-processing mode is selected and set. Then, Figure 1
In, the elevating mechanism 8A operates to raise the discharge tray 1A to a predetermined standby position. Thereafter, the recording paper is conveyed as it is along the non-post-processing conveyance path α by the sorting / separating operation of the separation claw 13, and is discharged to the outside from the discharge port 1B of the recording paper post-processing device 1 by the discharge roller 12D. The sheet is discharged onto the discharge tray 1A.

(2) On the other hand, when performing post-processing on a recording sheet, for example, selecting and setting the edge binding processing mode is as follows.
An unillustrated solenoid operates to rotate the separation claw 13, and each recording sheet is sequentially conveyed toward the post-processing conveyance path β. As a result, a predetermined number of recording papers (for example, about 50 at the maximum) are stacked on the post-processing tray 3, and the recording paper alignment operation is performed prior to the edge binding operation on the post-processing tray 3.

The bundle of recording sheets P stacked and aligned on the post-processing tray 3 is subjected to end binding processing at the end position by a stapler (not shown) provided in the end binding processing means 4. At the time of the edge binding processing operation in the post-processing tray 3, the pressing members 34 and 35 correct the occurrence of collapse of the posture such as bending or curling of the recording paper bundle by the pressing force.

Thereafter, the sheet is lifted upward by the discharge claw 36A, and is discharged onto the discharge tray 1A from the first discharge port 1B by the discharge roller 12D (see FIG. 1). In this case, as in the non-post-processing mode,
Since the recording paper bundle is discharged from the first discharge port 1B, there is no need to move the discharge tray 1A, and the recording paper bundle is waiting as it is discharged.

When the recording paper is conveyed to the post-processing tray 3 and the recording paper bundle is discharged from the post-processing tray 3,
The clincher 53C for saddle stitching is retracted to a position farthest from the recess 33 of the post-processing tray 3 and stands by in order to prevent a paper jam of the passing recording paper or a curled recording paper from being locked. .

(3) On the other hand, when the bookbinding (saddle stitching and folding) processing mode is selected and set, the elevating mechanism 8A operates, and the discharge tray 1A descends to a predetermined standby position. Further, similarly to the case of the edge processing mode, the clincher 53C is stacked on the post-processing tray 3 while the desired plurality of recording paper bundles are aligned with the clincher 53C retracted to the position farthest from the stapler body 53A. You.

As a result, if a series of alignment / alignment operations are performed on a plurality of recording sheets discharged from the copying machine 2,
Then, the process proceeds to the saddle stitching operation.

During the saddle stitching operation, the pressing member 3
4 and 35 press the recording paper bundle P aligned with the post-processing tray 3 from above before and after the saddle stitching position. Therefore, for example, even if the recording paper has a weak stiffness, it can be prevented from bending and buckling due to its own weight, and even if the recording paper is curled and bent, the curl can be suppressed.

When the saddle stitching operation by the saddle stitching processing means 5 is completed, the eccentric cam 52 rotates, so that the clincher 53C retreats again to its original position, that is, the home position furthest away from the recess 33. Wait until the next saddle stitching operation.

The saddle stitched recording paper bundle P
Is further lifted above the post-processing tray 5 by the release claw 36A, and the central portion of the recording paper bundle P subjected to the saddle stitching process has risen to a position where it coincides with the traveling direction of the center folding plate 63. , The ascent operation stops.

Next, the center folding plate 6 is used for the center folding processing operation.
3 advances toward the nip portion between the center folding rollers 61,
The center-bound central portion of the recording paper bundle P is pushed in. As a result, the saddle-stitched recording paper bundle P is folded from the center thereof to the center folding roller 61, folded into two, and bound. The recording paper bundle P sandwiched between the center folding rollers 61 is discharged from the second discharge port 1C as it is onto the discharge tray 1A outside the recording paper post-processing device 1.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, according to the present invention, a post-processing tray for aligning a recording sheet bundle on which an image has been recorded by an image forming apparatus, and post-processing of the recording sheet bundle by the post-processing tray. Various post-processing means are provided, and the recording paper bundle post-processed by these post-processing means is configured to be discharged to the same discharge tray. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a dedicated discharge tray for each post-processing. Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and it is convenient to reduce the size.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, a discharge port for discharging a bundle of recording paper post-processed by various post-processing means to a discharge tray is provided at a position close to each other in the main body of the recording paper post-processing device. , Since at least two places are formed,
When the bundle of recording paper discharged from the discharge port remote from the discharge tray is stacked on the discharge tray, the recording paper bundle at the time of falling is reduced by the short distance of the recording paper bundle from the discharge port to the discharge tray. Can be suppressed, and the work of discharging the recording paper bundle becomes easy.

Further, according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the discharge tray can be moved up and down in accordance with the discharge port to be discharged, so that the falling distance of the recording paper bundle from the discharge port to the discharge tray is set optimally. Therefore, the reliability of the recording sheet bundle discharging operation is further improved.

Further, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the discharge opening for discharging the bundle of recording paper to the discharge tray is provided with the shutter which opens and closes when discharging the bundle of recording paper, the discharge tray can be a separate discharge tray. When the sheet descends to the exit, it is possible to prevent a trouble that the already stacked recording sheet bundle slides down from the discharge tray and is returned from the discharge port to the inside of the recording sheet post-processing apparatus.

Further, according to the present invention, since the discharge confirmation detecting means for detecting that the shutter is in the closed state is provided, for example, the recording paper may be pinched between the discharge port and the shutter. When the operation is stopped, this discharge abnormality can be automatically detected by the discharge confirmation detecting means, and the discharge abnormality can be quickly noticed and restored. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which this is overlooked as it is, and the subsequent recording paper bundle accumulates inside the recording paper post-processing apparatus, causing a paper jam or causing failure of various internal devices.

[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 an internal mechanism such as a processing tray.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a recording paper post-processing operation in a subsequent processing tray.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a direction in which a bundle of recording sheets after processing is discharged to a discharge tray.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a recording sheet bundle is discharged from a first discharge port to a discharge tray.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a recording sheet bundle is discharged from a second discharge port to a discharge tray.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a lifting means provided on the discharge tray.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 recording paper post-processing device 12D paper discharge roller 1A discharge tray 1B first discharge port 1C second discharge port 2 copying machine (image forming apparatus) 3 post-processing tray 4 edge binding processing means 5 saddle binding processing means 6 medium Folding processing means 61 Center folding roller 8 Tray device 8A Elevating mechanism 8B Shutter mechanism 8C Ejection confirmation detecting means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3F053 EA02 EA04 EA05 EC02 ED17 LA02 LA05 LA07 LA13 LA14 LB03 3F054 AA01 AB01 AC02 AC03 AC05 BF03 BJ04 CA01 DA01 3F108 AA01 AB01 AC02 AC03 GA02 GA03 GA04 HA02 HA22 HA32

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A post-processing tray for aligning a recording paper bundle on which an image has been recorded by an image forming apparatus, and a post-processing tray provided near the post-processing tray for performing various post-processing on the recording paper bundle with the same post-processing tray. And a post-processing unit configured to discharge a bundle of recording sheets post-processed by these post-processing units to the same discharge tray. 2. The recording paper post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the various post-processing means includes at least a bookbinding processing means and an edge binding processing means. 3. A recording paper post-processing apparatus body, wherein at least two discharge ports for discharging a bundle of recording paper post-processed by various post-processing means to a discharge tray are formed at positions close to each other. The recording paper post-processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an elevating mechanism for elevating and lowering the discharge tray.
A recording paper post-processing device according to item 9. 5. The discharge port for discharging a bundle of recording paper to a discharge tray, the shutter comprising a shutter that opens and closes when discharging the bundle of recording paper. Recording paper post-processing equipment. 6. The recording sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a discharge confirmation detecting means for detecting that the shutter is in a closed state.