JP2001171901A - Post-processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a post-processing device to be installed together in such a way as capable of being opened and closed with respect to its surface where an image forming device is installed, whereby the opening/closing operation can be made easier in relation to opening/closing covers provided on the mentioned surface. SOLUTION: The post-processing device 2 is arranged so as to be opened and closed to take two positions, the close position confronting that surface 11 of an image forming device 1 where the post-processing device 2 is installed and the open position to release the surface 11, wherein the opening direction of the post-processing device 2 is made identical to the opening direction of opening/closing covers 61 and 62 provided in an appropriate number so that it is possible to open and close with respect to the surface 11 on the side in the closing direction of the post-processing device 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a post-processing apparatus which is used in conjunction with an image forming apparatus and takes in sheets output from the image forming apparatus and performs post-processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a post-processing device of an image forming apparatus, a sorter, a stapler, a stamper, a paper folding device and the like are known. Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 05-229727 discloses a post-processing apparatus provided with a paper folding section and a sorter. JP 0
JP-A-7-285727 discloses a post-processing apparatus having a jogging step and a stapling step. JP-A-10-
Japanese Patent Publication No. 250931 discloses a post-processing apparatus having a paper folding unit and a staple processing unit. Each of the post-processing apparatuses has a sheet receiving portion on a side surface, and is installed and connected beside an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-208108 discloses a sorter which is disposed on an image forming apparatus and supported by the image forming apparatus. This sorter has a conveyance path extending straight upward from a receiving port on the lower surface, and receives a sheet discharged from a post-processing discharge path branched upward before a discharge port to a discharge tray of an image forming apparatus. While being transported upward, the paper is sorted into a number of vertically arranged bins and discharged.

[0004] These post-processing devices are used in opposition to a surface provided with the post-processing device of the image forming apparatus, and this side surface has an opening / closing cover for maintenance of the image forming device. There are many. Conventionally, the post-processing device is supported on one side of the attached surface so as to be rotatable around an axis so as not to hinder opening and closing and maintenance of such a cover. The opening and closing of the attached surface is done by.

[0005]

However, the conventional post-processing apparatus only allows the opening and closing of the opening and closing cover of the image forming apparatus, and does not have any other special design. For this reason, the opening direction of the opening / closing cover of the image forming apparatus is different from the opening direction of the post-processing apparatus, and they cannot be opened / closed by the same operation, and the operation is troublesome. Also, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
The post-processing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Publication No. -2081082 rotates about a vertical axis and rotates sideways from the side surface of the image forming apparatus to retreat, so that an occupied area for retreat is required.

In the case where the opening direction and the retracting direction of the post-processing device are different from the opening direction of the opening / closing cover of the image forming apparatus,
In the case where the post-processing device is closed by forgetting to close the opening / closing cover, the opening / closing cover may be stuck, and the opening / closing cover may be damaged or the post-processing device may be damaged. Further, in a configuration in which the post-processing apparatus enters the inside of the image forming apparatus from the side of the image forming apparatus, the post-processing apparatus is opened to one side of the side of the side of the image forming apparatus to a position substantially perpendicular to the side. In the above, the entrance portion still interferes with the opening / closing cover, and in order to open to a position where interference does not occur, the post-processing device requires a large space around the overhang from the attached surface, and in a narrow place, the post-processing device needs to be widely opened. Unless the image forming apparatus is moved away from the obstacle, the work cannot be performed frequently, which often causes inconvenience.

A main object of the present invention is to install and use the image forming apparatus in such a manner that it can be opened and closed with respect to an attached surface of the image forming apparatus.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a post-processing device which can be easily opened and closed in relation to an opening and closing cover provided on the attached surface.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the post-processing apparatus of the present invention is used independently and in parallel with an image forming apparatus, and takes in a sheet output from the image forming apparatus. In the post-processing, the post-processing device is installed so as to be able to open and close between a closed position facing the surface provided with the post-processing device of the image forming apparatus and an open position for opening the provided surface, The main feature is that the opening direction of the post-processing device is the same as the opening direction of an appropriate number of openable / closable covers so that the post-processing device can be opened and closed on the attached surface on the closing direction side.

In such a configuration, since the opening direction of the post-processing apparatus is the same as the opening direction of the opening / closing cover on the side surface of the image forming apparatus, the opening and closing can be easily performed by the same operation. In addition, since the opening direction is the same, no space is required for retreating so that the opening / closing cover can be opened / closed by the opening / closing operation of the post-processing device.

Further, after the post-processing device is opened to open the side surface of the image forming apparatus, an appropriate number of opening and closing covers are opened and maintenance work is performed, and the post-processing device is opened without closing these opening and closing covers. Even if something closes,
Since the post-processing device has the same opening direction and the same closing direction as the appropriate number of opening / closing covers on the closing side, the opening / closing cover in the open state escapes in the same closing direction for the closing operation of the post-processing device. It is possible to prevent mutual damage or breakage due to the interference during the initial closing operation, which tends to be strong and powerful in the post-processing device. With the closing action first,
Alternatively, the opening / closing cover can be easily closed without any damage or failure by linking the opening / closing cover without difficulty by pushing the opening / closing cover by the subsequent gentle closing operation without closing the opening / closing cover. Become.

In this case, when the post-processing device and the appropriate number of opening / closing covers are arranged so that the opening position of the front one in the opening direction does not exceed the opening position of the rear one, the appropriate number of opening / closing covers are opened. The post-processing device may be closed in the state of being closed, and even if the post-processing device interferes with the opening / closing cover in front of the post-processing device and is pushed, the opening / closing cover immediately in front of the post-processing device may be closed. Even if the opening / closing cover immediately before this post-processing device interferes with the other opening / closing cover immediately before this and is pushed and pushed, it is easy to open and close the other. Since the cover can be easily closed together with the rear openable cover without straining, the post-processing device and an appropriate number of openable cover can be closed safely without any problem.

[0012] Further, the post-processing device and the appropriate number of opening / closing covers can be opened even if the opening angle of the front one in the opening direction does not exceed the opening angle of the rear one. The post-processing device may be closed in the state of being closed, and even if the post-processing device interferes with the opening / closing cover in front of the post-processing device and is pushed, the opening / closing cover immediately in front of the post-processing device may be closed. Even if the opening / closing cover immediately before this post-processing device interferes with the other opening / closing cover immediately before this and is pushed and pushed, it is easy to open and close the other. Since the cover can be easily closed together with the rear openable cover without straining, the post-processing device and an appropriate number of openable cover can be closed safely without any problem.

When the opening / closing fulcrum of the post-processing apparatus is located off the above-described side of the image forming apparatus, the image is held in a posture substantially perpendicular to the side of the image forming apparatus when the post-processing apparatus is opened. As the post-processing apparatus moves outside the image forming apparatus, even if the post-processing apparatus has a part that enters the image forming apparatus side on the side surface of the image forming apparatus, the post-processing apparatus largely extends the entrance part outside the image forming apparatus. It is possible to open and close the open / close cover as if it was provided over the width of the attached surface without removing it from the attached surface, and the post-processing device could be opened to the required position unless the image forming device was moved from the installed state It is easy to avoid such inconvenience.

When the post-processing device is used by being provided on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus, the post-processing device is easy to use on the image forming device, and the image forming device is suitably mounted on the upper surface. It is possible and effective to easily maintain the inside of the image forming apparatus from above by opening and closing the number of opening / closing covers.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings. Each feature of the present invention can be applied alone or in combination in various combinations as far as possible.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a post-processing apparatus according to one representative embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15 to provide an understanding of the present invention.

This embodiment is an example of a paper folding device 2 provided in parallel with a printer 1 as shown in FIG. 1 and used for folding a sheet output from the printer 1.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various types of post-processing such as sorting processing, stapling processing, and stamp processing are performed on paper discharged from various image forming apparatuses including a copier and a microfilm reader printer. The present invention is effective for post-processing devices in general and belongs to the category of the present invention.

The printer 1 includes an image forming section 3 and one or more sheet feeding sections 4 which are provided below the image forming section 3 or are additionally connected as an option. An image is formed as set by the power supply 6 and the drive source 7 in accordance with an operation on the operation panel 5 provided and a signal from a host device. The paper discharge unit 9 formed on the image forming unit 3 with the paper discharge roller 9 provided at the upper part of the image forming unit 3 so as to form a depression on the attached surface 11 of the paper folding device 2 which is the upper surface of the image forming unit 3. 12, the sheet is discharged in a horizontal direction, for example, in a substantially horizontal direction in a so-called face-down state in which the image forming surface faces downward, and is stacked there. The paper discharge unit 12 receives the paper 8 discharged in the horizontal direction in the middle of the bottom surface 12a inclined downward toward the paper discharge roller 9 and guides the leading end of the paper 8 to the upper part of the bottom surface 12a. When the paper has been discharged to the paper discharge unit 12, the rear end side is dropped into the paper discharge unit 12, and
Is repeated, and when a plurality of sheets 8 are discharged, they are aligned so that they are aligned at the rear end.
An image forming unit cover 61 for maintaining an image forming unit for forming an image on the sheet 8 in the image forming unit 3 and a fixing unit cover for maintaining a fixing unit for fixing the sheet 8 after image formation are provided on the additional surface 11. Reference numeral 62 is provided so that it can be opened and closed by a shaft (not shown) as shown in FIGS.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5, the paper folding apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment is used independently of the printer 1, and is used to take in the paper 8 output from the printer 1. Paper folding is performed as processing. This paper folding device 2 has a device main body 2a having a closed position shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 which is opposed to a surface 11 provided with the paper folding device 2 of the printer 1, and FIG. An opening / closing point supported by a shaft 143 or the like is installed so as to open and close to an opening position indicated by a virtual line in FIG. 7, and the opening direction of the apparatus main body 2a is the same as the closing direction side of the paper folding apparatus 2. The opening direction of the image forming unit cover 61 and the fixing unit cover 62 as opening / closing covers as shown in FIGS.

Since the opening direction of the apparatus main body 2a and the opening direction of the opening / closing covers 61 and 62 on the side surface 11 of the printer 1 are the same when using the combination of the printer 1 and the paper folding device 2, the opening and closing can be easily performed by the same operation. can do. Further, since the opening direction is the same, the apparatus main body 2a
An occupied space is not required to retract so that the opening / closing covers 61 and 62 can be opened / closed by the opening / closing operation.

After the apparatus main body 2a is opened as shown in FIG. 4 to open the attached surface 11 of the printer 1, an appropriate number of image forming unit covers 61 and fixing unit covers 62 there are opened and maintenance work is performed. The image forming unit cover 61 and the fixing unit cover 62 may not be closed and the apparatus main body 2a may be closed in the open state shown in FIG. In this embodiment, even if such a situation occurs, the apparatus main body 2a is opened in the same direction as the image forming unit cover 61 and the fixing unit cover 62 on the closing side, and the opening direction is the same. The image forming unit cover 61 and the fixing unit cover 62 escape in the same closing direction with respect to the closing operation of the apparatus main body 2a.
It is possible to prevent mutual damage or breakage due to the interference during the initial closing operation, which is likely to be sudden and strong, and recognize that the image forming unit cover 61 and the fixing unit cover 62 are open due to the interference. The image forming unit cover 61, the fixing unit cover 62, etc., are closed first, or the image forming unit cover 6
1. The apparatus main body 2 without first closing the fixing unit cover 62 and the like
By causing the image forming unit cover 61, the fixing unit cover 62, and the like to cooperate with each other by a pushing operation of a subsequent gentle closing operation, the image forming unit cover 61, the fixing unit cover 62, and the apparatus main body 2a have problems. It becomes easy to be closed without.

The apparatus body 2a and the image forming unit cover 6
1. As shown in FIG. 4, the fixing unit cover 62 and the like are arranged such that the opening position of the front one in the opening direction does not exceed the opening position of the rear one. Accordingly, when the image forming unit cover 61, the fixing unit cover 62 and the like are opened as shown in FIG. 4, the apparatus main body 2a may be closed, and the apparatus main body 2a is viewed in the opening direction. Even if the fixing unit cover 62 immediately in front of the apparatus is pushed by interfering with the fixing unit cover 62, the fixing unit cover 62 immediately in front of the fixing unit cover 62 can be easily closed together with the apparatus main body 2a without tension. Similarly, the fixing unit cover 6 immediately in front of the apparatus main body 2a.
Even if the image forming unit 2 interferes with and pushes the image forming unit cover 61 which is another opening / closing cover immediately before this, the image forming unit cover 61 which is another opening / closing cover is a fixing unit which is the rear opening / closing cover. The post-processing device and an appropriate number of openable and closable covers can be safely and safely closed without any tension between the cover 62 and the cover 62.

The apparatus body 2a and the image forming unit cover 6
1. As shown in FIG. 4, the fixing unit cover 62 and the like are arranged so that the opening angle of the front one in the opening direction does not exceed the opening angle of the rear one, so that the opening position relationship is also established. The same effect as described above can be achieved, and by satisfying both of them as in the present embodiment, the apparatus main body 2a and the image forming unit cover 61,
The fixing unit cover 62 can be made more secure.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a shaft 143 serving as an opening / closing fulcrum of the apparatus main body 2a is connected to the side surface 1 of the printer 1.
1, the printer main body 2a moves to the outside of the printer 1 in an attitude indicated by a virtual line substantially perpendicular to the attached surface 11 of the printer 1 when the printer main body 2a is in the open position. Even if there is a receiving portion 21 for the paper 8 which is a portion that enters the printer 1 side on the side 11 of the printer 1, the receiving portion 2
The image forming unit cover 61, the fixing unit cover 62, and the like are the same size as the image forming unit cover 61, the fixing unit cover 62, etc. In such a case, the image forming unit cover 61 and the fixing unit cover 62 can be opened and closed, so that the apparatus main body 2a cannot be opened to the required position unless the printer 1 is moved from the installation state. Easy to avoid inconvenience.

The post-processing device such as the paper folding device 2 may be used as an additional surface as long as it is opened when the image forming device such as the printer 1 is installed. It works without deteriorating such features. As shown in the figure, the apparatus main body 2a of the present embodiment is installed and used on the printer 1 with the upper surface of the printer 1 as the additional surface 11 as shown in the figure. The printer 1 is easy to use, and the printer 1 can easily maintain the inside of the printer 1 from above by opening and closing an appropriate number of image forming unit covers 61 and fixing unit covers 62 provided on the upper surface 11 as an additional surface. .

The paper folding device 2 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6.
As shown in the figure, in a usable installation state over the printer 1, the paper 8 output from the printer 1 to the paper output unit 12 is provided in the receiving unit 21 provided in the apparatus main body 2 a.
To be processed after loading. However, the receiving unit 21 can substantially share the paper discharge unit 12 of the printer 1 and is not essential, and the paper folding device 2 can take in the paper 8 with the paper discharge unit 12. . In particular, the paper folding device 2 of the present embodiment is provided with a space 81 that exposes the paper discharge section 12 of the printer 1 in the usable installation state as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5.

As described above, the paper folding apparatus 2 takes in the paper 8 output to the paper output unit 12 of the printer 1 and performs the post-processing. The paper output unit 12 is provided with the receiving unit 21 directly or in place of the paper output unit. Due to the space 81 to be exposed, the paper 8 output as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
Can be taken out as usual. Further, the paper folding device 2 can share the paper discharge unit 12 of the printer 1 or the receiving unit 21 in place of the paper discharge unit 12 as a manual feed unit, take in the paper 8 irrespective of the operation of the printer 1, and use it alone for post-processing. Since the installation height is not increased or the height is not increased, the structure is simple and small, so that the cost is reduced.
It becomes easy to use including the use as 2. Further, since the printer 1 and the paper folding device 2 do not depend on each other as described above, a special configuration or control is not required for the printer 1 and does not cause an increase in cost.

As shown in FIG. 3, the paper folding device 2 of the present embodiment has a printer
1, 2, 5, and 6 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6.
The paper discharge unit 12 or the receiving unit 21 is exposed on the upper surface of the paper folding device 2 above the printer 1, which is convenient for taking in and out the paper 8. There is an advantage that the folding device 2 does not protrude to the side of the printer 1.

The paper folding apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment is also arranged above the printer 1 from the closed position where it can be used as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6, and the upper surface in the present embodiment. The mechanism 2b shown in FIG. 4 to open the opening 11 and the opening and closing as shown by the phantom line in FIG.
1 forms a supporting mechanism that constitutes the paper folding apparatus 2 integrally with the apparatus main body 2a having the printer 1; the apparatus main body 2a of the paper folding apparatus 2 is provided independently of the printer 1; Is a seat plate 2b1 on which the printer 1 can be removably mounted, and 1 extends upward from the seat plate 2b1.
It is composed of one or a plurality of columns 2b2. However, the installation structure independent of the printer 1 of the apparatus main body 2a can be made in any manner.

Regardless of how it is installed, the apparatus main body 2
By installing a on the printer 1 without depending on the printer 1, the paper folding device 2 can be used in combination and alone without making the printer 1 a special configuration. Also, the use does not cause an increase in the cost of the printer 1. Even when the above-mentioned mechanism 2b is used for installing the apparatus main body 2a, the mechanism 2b takes up a small occupied area around the printer 1 as shown in FIGS. It does not spoil in particular. In particular, a seat plate 2 on which the printer 1 can be placed
b1 is located directly below the apparatus main body 2a with a width corresponding to the apparatus main body 2a and can be stably supported via the support 2b2. When combined with the printer 1, the printer 1 and the paper folding apparatus 2 The printer 1 may be detached from the seat plate 2b1 or placed on the surface of the device main body 2a because the device 1 can be moved and the like. For example, the user can attach or detach the sheet to or from the paper folding device 2 at any time.

Such a printer 1 and the apparatus main body 2a
As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus main body 2a has a size and a shape that do not cover the operation panel 5 of the printer 1. Accordingly, the printer 1 can be operated and used alone without being restricted by the folding apparatus main body 2a which is installed on itself, and there is no inconvenience due to the presence of the folding apparatus 2.

The mechanism 2b supports the apparatus main body 2a with respect to the support 2b2 by the shaft 143 described above, and is positioned right above the printer 1 to perform paper folding. The closed position shown by a solid line in FIG. 7, which can be opened and closed between an open position retracted from the upper surface 11 of the printer 1 by being raised rearward as indicated by a virtual line in FIG. It is also weight balanced so that it can stand still. The pivoting of the apparatus main body 2a is performed particularly at a position where the lower end of the rear end of the apparatus main body 2a is displaced rearward from the printer 1 on the support 2b2, and when the apparatus main body 2a is in the open position, the rear end position in the closed position. And the amount of displacement from the printer 1 to the rear, that is, the amount of retreat is increased.

The apparatus main body 2a of the present embodiment takes in the paper 8 and folds and discharges the paper 8. However, as shown in FIGS.
1, a transport path 25a for transporting the paper 8 taken in from the receiving section 21 in a direction perpendicular to the receiving direction and a plane, and a paper folding section 23 for folding and sending out the paper transported from the transport path 25a. And With such a configuration, the sheet 8 is taken from the receiving section 21 into the transport path 25a, and is transported in a direction perpendicular to the receiving direction when viewed from a plane, and is folded.
As compared with the case where all the transport paths 25 from to the paper folding are arranged in series, the transport distance is shorter than one place. As a result, the area occupied by the folding device 2 is reduced, and the printer 1
It is easy to set up and use the space occupied by being almost the same as or smaller than the occupied area. In addition, the processing speed is improved as the length of the entire transport path 25 is reduced. In particular, the paper 8 is received in the width direction as shown in the figure, is transported in the longitudinal direction by the transport path 25a, and the paper folding section 23 folds the paper 8 in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the configuration becomes simple, and the size and speed of the device can be further reduced.

The paper 8 conveyed from the conveyance path 25a is conveyed to the paper folding unit 23 while being turned upside down by the reversing conveyance unit 22, where the paper 8 is folded and sent out by the paper folding unit 23. The folded paper 8 is the paper fold 2
The sheet 3 is discharged to a sheet discharge section 24 provided above and stacked. As a result, the sheet 8 received in the transport path 25a is handled so as to be turned upside down by the reverse transport section 22, so that the transport path 25a before the reverse transport section 22 and the transport path 25b after the reverse transport section 22 are shown in FIGS. 13, while keeping the height of the entire transport path 25 low by overlapping vertically, as shown in FIG. 13, the entire transport path 25, which is long enough to receive the paper 8 and fold the paper, is reduced in half by the plane space. In addition, the paper folding section 23 folds the paper folded in the transport path 25b, which is above the entire transport path 25, in the paper discharge section 2
4 so that the paper occupying area becomes smaller and the overall volume is smaller, and the paper 8 stacked on the paper ejection portion 24 is removed by the paper ejection portion 24 on the lower bulk. It becomes convenient. Therefore, it is easier to install and use.

The transport path 25a is provided with the paper 8 to be taken.
Has an aligning portion 181 that aligns the sheet 8 with a predetermined position and posture, and transports the aligned sheet 8 in the right-angled direction. In this way, the paper 8 is changed in the direction perpendicular to the take-in direction and is conveyed and handled in a direction perpendicular to the plane. Therefore, the sheet is easily folded properly. In addition, since the alignment is performed by using the space and the operation of taking the sheet 8 from the receiving section 21, the operation and the structure are not particularly complicated.

The transport path 25a is provided for alignment with the transport.
As shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 10, and FIG. 12, in addition to the feed roller 51 for transporting the received sheet 8 to the reversing transport unit 22, an alignment roller 52 for alignment is provided to constitute the alignment unit 181. As shown in FIG. 8, the alignment roller 52 is provided so as to be transported obliquely toward the outer corner portion 53 in FIG. 12 where the transport direction in the receiving section 21 is bent at a right angle to the transport direction of the transport path 25a. The roller must have a weak conveyance force, such as a roller type that is operated by a weak pressing force or a paddle type that operates with an appropriate clearance, and a predetermined time from when the take-in roller 36 rotates until the sheet 8 reaches. By driving and pressing at a point in time and releasing the driving and pressing after a predetermined time, the two guides 54 and 55 along the outer corner portion 53 are surely pressed and aligned with a slightly excessive feed amount, and The feed amount is absorbed by causing a slip with the sheet 8 due to the weak conveyance force.

The feed roller 51 is driven and pressed after the completion of the alignment when the aligning roller 52 is stopped, so that the aligned paper 8 is fed to the reversing conveyance section 22 in an appropriate posture and position without disturbing the alignment. I can send it. The driving and the pressing may be started and ended at the same time. However, the driving may be performed continuously, and only the pressing may be performed when necessary, and the pressing may be released when unnecessary.

The aligning section 181 of the transport path 25a is positioned lower than the receiving section 21 with a step 56 as shown in FIGS. Even if the sheet 8 is fed and taken in, it does not interfere because it overlaps on the previous sheet 8, and feeds the previous sheet 8 to the reversing conveyance section 22 and the receiving section 21 for the next sheet 8. Can be performed without trouble. Thereby, the feed interval of the sheet 8 can be reduced by the amount corresponding to the allowable amount of the overlap.

The overlap between the preceding sheet 8 and the next sheet 8 is determined, for example, by the fact that the preceding sheet 8 and the next sheet 8
, The aligning roller 52 acts on the next upper sheet 8 with a weak transport force and does not hinder the transport of the lower sheet 8 by the feed roller 51. After the start of the conveyance, the next sheet 8 may reach the alignment roller 52, and this is the limit condition for the overlap.

The paper folding device 2 receives the paper 8 conveyed to the main body 2a of the paper folding device 2 as described above.
1 and a transport path 25a for transporting the paper 8 taken in from the receiving section 21 by bending the paper 8 at a right angle when the transport direction is viewed from a plane.
And a reversing transport unit 22 that transports the conveyed paper 8 while reversing it upward, and a paper folding unit 23 that folds the paper 8 that has been reversed and conveyed by the reversal transport unit 22 and sends it upward.
And a paper discharge unit 24 provided above the paper folding unit 23 for discharging and stacking the folded paper 8 that is sent, and as shown in FIG. Independently, the paper folding operation is performed under the control of the control device 27 such as a substrate type as shown in FIG.

The receiving section 21 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet 8 enters the sheet discharge section 12 of the printer 1 and receives the sheet 8 discharged there after forming an image. In this case, the paper 8 is exchanged between the printers 1 without providing a special transport path.
The printer 1 can be used in combination or alone without a special configuration, does not cause an increase in the cost of the printer 1, and the apparatus main body 2a can be installed at a lower bulk. Further, the angle at which the discharged paper 8 is received by the paper discharge unit 12 of the printer 1 is set to be the same as or close to the inclination of the receiving unit 21 and the following conveyance path 25a, and
Since the paper 8 can be exchanged without specially taking up and down spaces, the bulk can be further reduced. In addition, the transport path 25 is simplified, and transport troubles such as jams are less likely to occur. Further, even when the paper 8 is transported in the longitudinal direction and the paper 8 is folded in the longitudinal direction, the transport distance is reduced. And the processing time is shortened accordingly.

When the sheet folding section 23 folds the sheet 8 and sends it out, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 13, and stacks the sheet 8 on the sheet ejection section 24, the sheet ejection section 24 divides the sheet 8 which is ejected into the sheet 2. The stacking is performed so that the folding part 8a faces upward. Thus, while the folded paper 8 is divided into individual pieces at the folded portion 8a, one or the required number of sheets 8 are taken out while holding one or the required number of the folded portions 8a. It is easy to handle the folded sheet 8 without confusion. At the same time, it is possible to fold the folded portion so as to face upward from the transport path 25b in the horizontal state and send it out, discharge it to the paper discharge portion 24 as it is, and stack the paper, and arrange the paper discharge roller 129. Also paper folding section 2
3 is a vertical conveying path for discharging the paper 8 from the paper discharge section 3 to the paper discharge section 24.
1 can be very short, and the bulk of the apparatus main body 2a can be further reduced.

As shown in FIG. 6, the paper discharge section 24 feeds the discharged folded paper 8 to the conveyor 32 so that the folded section 8a faces forward, and the paper 8 fed by the conveyor 32 to the top. And a guide surface 33 for scooping up from the two-folded portion 8a and guiding the two-folded portion 8a so as to face upward, and the subsequent paper 8 is sequentially overlapped and aligned with the first arrived paper 8. For this reason, the conveyor 32 is a belt conveyor that exerts an appropriate frictional conveyance force with the paper 8, and is backed up by a guide plate 34.

In this connection, the conveyance path 31 and the paper discharge roller 129 discharge the two-folded paper 8 to be discharged to the paper discharge part 24 so that the two-folded part 8a faces the conveying direction of the conveyor 32. In order to achieve this by the short conveyance path 31, the sheet 8 is discharged to the sheet discharge section 24 in a state where the folding section 8a is inclined in the conveyance direction, and the discharged sheet 8 is folded in two by its own gravity. The part 8a is configured to fall on the conveyor 32 so as to face the transport direction.

Further, the sheet 8 is folded in two so that the image forming surface of the sheet 8 is turned up in the sheet folding section 23 and sent out. As a result, a form is obtained in which the size of the sheet 8 is reduced by half and the sheet 8 is ejected for easy handling, and the image forming contents can be visually recognized without opening the sheet. In particular, in response to the printer 1 discharging the paper 8 after image formation in a face-down state as described above, the reverse transport unit 22 receives the paper 8 discharged face-down and faces it up. And the sheet is fed to the folding section 23. Therefore, as described above, the paper folding section 23 transports the paper 8 to the transport path 25 in the horizontal state.
By simply folding the sheet in the upward direction at b and discharging the sheet to the paper output unit 24, a two-fold state in which the image forming surface becomes a front surface can be obtained.

The power supply device 125 of the apparatus main body 2a, the driving source 2
6 independently of the printer 1 as described above, the paper folding apparatus 2 does not depend on the printer 1 in power supply and operation, and is used in combination without making the printer 1 a special configuration. In addition, it can be used alone, and the use of the paper folding device 2 does not cause an increase in the cost of the printer 1. The paper folding device 2 can be used alone by manually feeding the paper 8. The power supply device 125 is the device main body 2
It is provided in the lower stay 2b4 of the stays 2b3 and 2b4 as shown in FIG.

When the power supply 125 is turned on, the apparatus main body 2a starts operating in response to a detection signal from the paper folding apparatus 2 such as the sensor 35 when the sheet 8 is received in the receiving section 21. Thus, there is an advantage that when the sheet 8 on which an image is formed by the printer 1 is folded, the operation can be performed only by receiving the sheet 8 and a special operation or synchronous control in accordance with the image forming operation is not required. Since the operation can be started independently of the printer 1, the printer 1 can be used in combination or independently without having a special configuration, and does not cause an increase in the cost of the printer 1.

To achieve this, the receiving part 21
Each time the sensor 35 detects the reception of the sheet 8 in addition to the sensor 35, the sensor 35 is moved from the upwardly retracted position shown in FIG.
A take-up roller 36 is provided which feeds the received paper 8 to the reversing conveyance section 22 by moving down to the paper feeding position shown by the dashed line through the intermediate position shown by the solid line at 0. For this movement, the take-in roller 36 is supported so as to be able to rotate by a shaft 37 in an arc. Paper 8 fed by intake roller 36
After the paper 8 is removed from the take-in roller 36 while taking in the conveyance path 25a, the aligning roller 52 works to perform alignment, and then the feed roller 51 works to perform the alignment. 38, and the pair of paper folding rollers 2 at the end position of the reverse conveying path 22
While being conveyed by 9, the sheet is turned over and folded, and sent out to the conveyance path 31.

The pair of paper folding rollers 29 is a pair of feed rollers 2 that makes the paper 8 protrude from the transport path end 25c for folding the paper and forms a bulging portion 8b on the folding side at the folded portion.
The roller group 9a and a pair of folding rollers 29b that bite the bulging portion 8b to fold the sheet 8 into two and feed the sheet 8 to the conveyance path 31 are configured by three roller groups.
However, these transport mechanisms and paper folding mechanisms may be variously configured.

The retracting position of the take-up roller 36 becomes the home position, and the retracting position is maintained even when the power of the folding device 2 is turned off. Even if the printer 1 is used, the sheet 8 after image formation is stored in the receiving section 21 and is not fed forward as shown in FIG. 7, so that the sheet 8 may be taken out as needed. No problem.

Using this configuration, when the paper 8 is jammed in the apparatus main body 2a, control is performed to move the take-in roller 36 to the retracted position. Accordingly, even if the paper 8 is jammed by the apparatus main body 2a and cannot be folded while the paper 8 after image formation is being sequentially discharged,
The paper 8 after image formation discharged thereafter is merely stacked on the receiving unit 21, and there is no problem as described above. If the sheet 8 in the receiving section 21 on which an image is formed and discharged after the jam processing is to be folded, the power of the sheet folding apparatus 2 is turned on again so that the sheet 8 remains in the receiving section 21. Since the take-in roller 36 operates to feed the sheets 8 in order from the upper layer, the sheet folding process can be performed and completed regardless of whether the printer 1 has completed image formation.
In this case, in order to prevent troubles and jams caused by double feeding, it is preferable to adopt a known separating mechanism or control of sheet feeding timing with a longer sheet feeding interval.

In particular, in the apparatus main body 2a of the present embodiment, the arrangement of the receiving section 21 and the entire transport path 25 as described above allows each of the entire transport path 25 and the paper discharge section 24 related thereto to have the receiving section 21. From FIG. 2, FIG. 5, FIG. 10, FIG.
1, as shown in FIG.
This is convenient for opening the sheet discharge unit 12 upward.

In order to display such an operation state to the user, an operation lamp 41, a jam lamp 42, and a reset key 43 are provided on the front of the apparatus main body 2a as shown in FIGS. By operating the reset key 43 after the jam clearance, the paper folding device 2 returns to the power-on state, and performs the paper folding operation on the paper 8 in the receiving unit 21. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, a power switch 45 is provided on the same side of the apparatus main body 2a in correspondence with the power switch 44 of the printer 1 being provided on the side of the image forming section 3. Thereby, the user can easily recognize the position of the power switch 45 of the paper folding device 2 from the positional relationship with the power switch 44 of the printer 1 and can use it without confusion. If the power switches 44 and 45 are provided in the same direction, they have the same effect even if they are provided on the side surfaces or on the rear surfaces.

For the above operation control, the control device 27 includes a jam determining section 46 as shown in FIG. 14 as an internal function of the control device 27 and the like.
Is detected when the discharge sensor 47 does not detect the discharge of the sheet 8 even after a predetermined time has passed since the detection of the paper folding device 2, the driving of the paper folding device 2 is stopped, and the operating lamp 41
Is turned off and the jam lamp 42 is turned on. When the reset key 43 is operated after the jam processing, the jam signal is released and the power-on normal state automatically returns.

The flow of such control processing will be described with reference to FIG. 15. Control is started when the power is turned on, this state continues if jam is being displayed even when the paper 8 is detected, and if jam is not being displayed, the jam is not displayed. Driving is started, and the take-in roller 36 is pressed down by downward movement to feed the sheet 8 of the receiving section 21 and execute sheet folding. Thereafter, if the paper 8 is discharged within a predetermined time, the same processing is repeated thereafter. If the paper 8 is not discharged during the predetermined time, the driving is stopped and the jam display is performed.

[0056]

According to the present invention, as is apparent from the above description, the opening direction of the post-processing device is the same as the opening direction of the opening / closing cover on the side surface of the image forming apparatus. Can be opened and closed. In addition, since the opening direction is the same, no space is required for retreating so that the opening / closing cover can be opened / closed by the opening / closing operation of the post-processing device.

After the post-processing device is opened to open the side surface of the image forming apparatus, an appropriate number of opening / closing covers are opened, maintenance work is performed, and the post-processing device is opened without closing these opening / closing covers. Even if something closes,
Both the opening / closing cover and the post-processing device can be easily closed without any problem of damage or failure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a paper folding device and a printer according to a typical embodiment of the present invention are installed together.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a portion of the paper folding device of FIG. 1 where a printer discharge unit is exposed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the paper folding device of FIG. 1 is slightly opened upward.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the paper folding device of FIG. 1 is retracted upward, and an image forming unit cover and a developing unit cover on the upper surface of the printer are opened.

FIG. 5 is an internal structural diagram showing a combined state of the paper folding device and the printer in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view showing the internal structure of the paper folding device in FIG. 1 in relation to a printer.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the paper folding device and the printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the paper folding device and the printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a rear view of the paper folding device and the printer of FIG. 1;

10 is an internal structural diagram showing a paper discharge unit of the printer of FIG. 1 and a relational structure between a receiving unit of the paper folding device and a transport path.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a sheet receiving state of the paper folding apparatus of FIG. 1 in a power-off or jam state.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the receiving unit, the transport path, and a part of the reverse transport unit of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state of handling paper in the paper folding device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a control device of the paper folding device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of main operation control by the control device of FIG. 11;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 printer 2 paper folding device 2 a apparatus main body 2 b mechanism 3 image forming unit 8 paper 11 side surface (upper surface) 12 paper discharge unit 21 receiving unit 61 image forming unit cover 62 fixing unit cover 143 axis

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Toru Fujiwara 2-13-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka F-term in Osaka Kokusai Building Minolta Co., Ltd. 2H071 AA31 AA42 AA59 3F048 AA02 AA05 AB01 BB08 CB02 3F108 AA01 AB01 AC02 AC03 BA03 CC02 GA02 GA04 GB01 GB04 HA02 HA32

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus which is used independently and side by side.
A post-processing device for taking in a sheet output from an image forming apparatus and performing post-processing, wherein the post-processing device is opened at a closed position facing a surface provided with the post-processing device of the image forming device. The post-processing device is installed so that it can be opened and closed at the open position, and the opening direction of this post-processing device is the same as the opening direction of an appropriate number of opening and closing covers so that the post-processing device can be opened and closed on the attached surface on the closed side. A post-processing device, characterized in that: 2. The post-processing device and an appropriate number of opening / closing covers, wherein an opening position of a front object viewed in their opening direction does not exceed an opening position of a rear object. Post-processing equipment. 3. The post-processing device and an appropriate number of opening / closing covers are arranged such that an opening angle of a front object in an opening direction thereof does not exceed an opening angle of a rear object. The post-processing device according to any one of the above. 4. The post-processing device according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing fulcrum of the post-processing device is located off the attached surface of the image forming apparatus. 5. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing apparatus is used by being provided on an upper surface of the image forming apparatus.