JP2001354350A - After-treatment device for recording paper - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To guide a paper sheet discharged from a recording processing part of an electronic photocopier, etc., to a discharging part by way of a device for applying a curving process. SOLUTION: A curl correcting device 30 for imparting the curving process to a paper sheet is disposed at the down stream part of the recording part of the electronic copier, so that the paper sheet is stored in a tray of a sorter, etc., after the curl is corrected. A switching gate 15 is disposed on a carrying passage 14 for discharging paper sheets toward the sorter 10 between the carrying passage 14 and an upper carrying passage 13. Paper sheets are discharged by way of a discharging roller device 17 in the after-treatment mode such as sorting/discharging, or discharged from the upper carrying passage 13 through the gate 15 in the non-after-treatment mode.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a post-processing apparatus for recording paper used in connection with an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as an electronic copying machine or a printer, a sorter is connected to a recording paper discharge section of the apparatus in addition to discharging recording paper to a discharge tray provided in the main body of the apparatus. And means for sorting and storing recording paper in a sorter tray. As the sorter,
For example, as shown in JP-A-56-143455, a sorter tray is provided at a fixed position, and a recording sheet is provided by a conveying means. The one configured to be transported and sorted is used. In the device of the conventional example,
While the recording paper is being conveyed by the conveying means, the recording paper is branched and stored in a designated tray by using a branching means.

On the other hand, in a sorter connected to a relatively small-sized image forming apparatus, as shown in JP-A-64-34855 or the like, a sheet discharge section of the sorter is provided at a fixed position of the apparatus. In some cases, a tray that can be moved up and down may be used. In the sorter shown in the conventional example, the tray is moved to the paper discharge section to perform a sorting operation, and the uppermost one of the trays is configured as a non-sort tray, and the sorting is performed. The recording paper which does not need to be performed is discharged toward the uppermost tray.

In addition to the above conventional example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
In the sorter disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 88372, the paper path of the main body of the sorter is divided into two paths via a branching means provided in a recording paper introduction section. In the conventional example, one of the paper paths is configured as a path for discharging the recording paper that is not sorted toward the non-sort tray, and the other paper path is used to convey the recording paper corresponding to the sorting tray. Are located. The control unit provided in the sorter is provided with a recording paper introduction unit depending on whether a sorting mode (post-processing mode) is selected or a mode in which sorting is not performed (non-post-processing mode). The paper path is selected by using the switching member arranged in the first position, and the operation for storing the recording paper is performed.

Conventionally used sorters generally have a configuration as shown in FIG. 4, and a toner image is formed by an image forming apparatus 1 such as an electrophotographic copying machine. The image is transferred to paper and fixed through the fixing device 2,
The sheet is discharged toward the sorter 10 via the discharge roller device 3. In the housing 11 of the sorter 10, a conveying roller device 12 is disposed at a portion where recording paper is introduced, and, following the roller device 12, an upper conveying path 1 for guiding the recording paper.
3 and a transport path 14 arranged substantially linearly. A switching gate 1 is provided at a branch portion of the upper and lower transport paths.
5, the recording paper is sorted through the gate 15 in accordance with the sorting mode for the recording paper.
Discharge rollers 16 and 17 are disposed at discharge portions of the upper and lower transport paths 13 and 14, respectively, to constitute a mechanism for sending recording paper toward a tray. In the sorter,
A sensor S1 for detecting passage of the recording paper in the transport path 14,
A sensor S for detecting the recording paper accommodated in the tray is disposed. When the recording paper is present in the other trays 21 and 22 except the non-sort tray 20, the sensor S Is configured to be shut off.

[0006]

When the conventional sorter as described above is connected to a color electrophotographic copying machine and used, the amount of charge on the sheet is large, and the tray is charged by the static electricity charged on the sheet. There is a problem that a failure due to static electricity is apt to occur when sorting the objects. In the color electrophotographic copying machine, when a polyester-based toner is used, the toner is likely to be negatively charged, and is transferred to paper as compared with a case where a copy is made using only black toner. 5 to 10
And a very high image density. Therefore, in full-color copying, the amount of negative charge is large, and when sheets are stored in the sorter tray, the operator cannot use the sheets due to poor sheet storage capacity or static electricity from a large number of sheets stored in the tray. Problems such as being shocked occur.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem,
It is also conceivable to remove static electricity by arranging a neutralizing member such as a neutralizing brush at a predetermined position of the paper transport path and transporting the paper while contacting the brush. However, the static elimination method using the static elimination brush has relatively poor static elimination efficiency, and has a feature that static electricity charged on the paper cannot be completely removed. Further, for example, after arranging a static elimination brush for a copy discharge unit of an electrophotographic copying machine, and performing static elimination on a sheet, when passing through a transport path of a sorter, a guide member of the transport path may be used. There is also a problem that the paper is charged again by sliding.
Further, in the case of full-color copying, a large amount of toner carried on a sheet has a characteristic that it is easily charged, so that the charged static electricity greatly affects the toner.

In addition to the above-described problem, when a curl correcting device is arranged between a sorter and an image forming apparatus, and a mechanism for feeding a sheet toward a tray while correcting curl generated on a sheet is used. Also, there is a problem that the amount of static electricity applied to the sheet increases due to friction between the belt and the pressing roller in the curl correction device. However, in the conventional paper transport device, a brush-like static elimination member is disposed only in the discharge portion of the sorter to solve the problem of static electricity, and thus the problem that the static electricity of the paper cannot be removed satisfactorily remains. Was. In addition to the problem of the static electricity, when a curl correction device is provided, performing curl correction on any of the sheets when performing post-processing or not performing post-processing is performed by discharging the paper. It is considered necessary to maintain good properties. However, there remains a problem that such a problem cannot be sufficiently addressed in the conventional apparatus.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem of the conventional paper conveyance, and to provide a discharged paper with a bending action corresponding to the paper, and to cope with a processing mode. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus capable of switching and discharging a transport path.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a post-processing apparatus for receiving a recording-processed sheet from an information recording apparatus. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus which is provided on a conveyance path of a shared sheet in a post-processing mode or a non-post-processing mode for recording paper and applies a bending action to the sheet, and a bending action by the apparatus. Path switching means for guiding the sheet to which the sheet is added to the first transport path in the post-processing mode or the second transport path in the non-post-processing mode. It is characterized in that the paper subjected to the bending action is carried out. Claim 2
According to the invention, in the apparatus for applying the bending action, the amount of bending is optimized according to the thickness of the sheet to be processed.

As described above, in the mode for post-processing the recorded paper or the non-post-processing mode, a device for applying a curving action to the paper is provided on the common paper conveyance path. In addition, a bending action can be exerted on the sheet. Further, in the apparatus for applying a curving action to the discharged paper, the discharging action can be performed satisfactorily by optimizing the amount of curving based on information such as the thickness of the paper.

[0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a recording paper post-processing apparatus according to the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the sorter as shown in FIG. 4 is connected to an electronic copying machine, and the copies made by the electronic copying machine are sorted into trays T1, T2,. It is configured to be. In the sorter 10, in addition to the sorting tray shown, a tray that does not require an upper sorting and a fixed tray that is connected via the upper discharge path 13 can be arranged. It can be configured as a mechanism similar to.

A curl correction device 30 for correcting the curl of the paper discharged from the electrophotographic copying machine is arranged at the paper introduction portion of the sorter 10, and the curl such as a color copy is curled. It is possible to discharge a sheet which is likely to be generated in a state where the curl is corrected. As the curl correction device, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 60-314
No. 64, for example, can be used. The curl correction device 30 is provided in such a state that the endless belt 31 is wound around a driving pulley 32 and a driven pulley 33, and a pressing roller 35 is pressed against a lower portion of the belt. Then, when the paper is passed between the belt 31 and the pressing roller 35, the curl generated on the paper is corrected by applying a function of sharply curving the paper in a direction opposite to the direction of the curl generated on the paper. Will be able to.

A link 36 for supporting the pressing roller 35 has a cam follower 37 at the other end so that the link 36 follows a cam member 38 driven by a driving shaft 39 to direct the pressing roller 35 toward the belt 31. The pressing force is controlled. A driving mechanism (not shown) rotates the driving shaft 39 supporting the cam member 38 by an angle corresponding to the amount of curl generated on the paper, and the pressing amount of the pressing roller 35 against the belt can be adjusted. Like that. The information on the amount of curl of the paper in the curl correction device 30 is based on the information on the image thickness and the humidity of the paper in addition to the information on the paper thickness of the paper. Predict the state of
An optimal curl correction function can be applied to a sheet discharged through a fixing device.

In the sorter 10 configured as described above, a straight transport path 14 as a first transport path is disposed following the curl correction device 30, and a discharge path provided at an end of the transport path 14 is provided. Tray T1, T via roller 17
2 to discharge the paper. OHP
For a copy of a type that does not particularly require sorting, such as a sheet, the tray 21 in FIG. 4 is positioned at a discharge unit and discharged toward the tray.
The paper discharged in the sorting mode (processing mode) is discharged to a plurality of trays in a state where the pages of the paper are aligned. As shown in the figure, a transport system (discharge path in the non-processing mode) that branches off to the upper transport path 13 as a second transport path via the switching gate 15 with respect to the transport path 14 of the sorter 10 as illustrated. Provided. The tray connected to the upper transport path 13 is provided as a so-called non-sort tray, and erroneous copies and the like can be discharged to the tray. Also, in the upper transport path 13,
The transport roller device 12a is arranged to perform an operation of transporting the sheet branched via the switching gate 15 toward the discharge unit.

As shown in FIG. 1, the paper transport path 1
If the sheet 4 is not configured in a straight line and a switching gate or the like is provided in the paper transport path and the paper is guided in a state of sliding on a guide plate or a switching gate, the paper is guided in the transport path. Paper tends to be charged by sliding.
Further, when the curl correction device is arranged at the inlet of the sorter, the paper slides on the belt or the pressing roller, so that the friction tends to cause charging. Further, in the case of full-color copying, the amount of toner transferred to the sheet is very large, so that the sheet is easily charged.

In view of the above, the sorter is configured so that the static electricity charged on the sheet can be neutralized by the sliding member constituting the sheet conveying path. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the switching gate 15 that branches the transport path 14 and the upper transport path 13 is formed of a conductive material, and when the paper slides, static electricity is discharged through the switching gate 15. It is configured so that it can be released. When the paper is a full-color copy and the toner uses a polyester-based toner, the switching gate 15 can be configured using polyvinylidene fluoride, which is a fluororesin. The fluororesin has a property of being easily negatively charged as compared with a polyester-based toner.By sliding a negatively charged paper to a switching gate to positively charge the static electricity of the paper, The sheet can be sent out to the tray in a state where the sheet is neutralized and the charge of the sheet is eliminated.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the guide plate 18 at the branch between the transport path 14 and the upper transport path 13 where the sheet is strongly slid is connected to the fluororesin similarly to the case of the switching gate. It is composed of a plate member using. When the paper branched toward the upper conveyance path 13 is strongly slid on the branch guide plate 18, the negatively charged paper is positively charged to neutralize the static electricity of the paper. Then, the operation of the subsequent sheet processing can be performed in a favorable state. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, when the guide plate constituting the paper transport path is made of a material having a charging characteristic larger than that of the toner, the static electricity charged on the paper is neutralized. Will be able to do that. In the examples shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper transport path 13 disposed with respect to the transport path 14 and the members such as the transport roller device are shown in a simplified manner. Can be configured by a curl correction device, but when the curl correction device is not used,
A transport roller device can be used.

The mechanism of the embodiment shown in FIGS.
Each can be used alone, but in addition,
The switching gate and the guide plate are made of fluororesin, and a mechanism for neutralizing the static electricity of the paper by a plurality of members can be formed. As described above, in addition to integrally forming the switching gate and the guide plate using a material having a strong negative charge tendency, in the present invention, each member is coated with a material having such properties. It can also be configured. In other words, if it is difficult to integrally mold the component using a resin material, or if the component is made of only a resin material, and the cost of manufacturing the component is high, the component may be coated with such a material. The same effect can be obtained, and the manufacture of parts can be easily performed.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the fluororesin used as the coating material is, for example, PTF
E (polytetrafluoroethylene), FEP (tetrafluoroethylene-6-fluoropropylene copolymer), PFA (tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkylvinylether copolymer), ETFE (ethylene / tetrafluoroethylene copolymer) A resin material such as a polymer) and PvdF (polyvinylidene fluoride) can be used. The fluororesin can cover a switching gate or a guide plate made of a metal material with a predetermined thickness on the surface of the switching gate or the guide plate. Utilizing the fact that the toner is more easily charged negatively than the toner of the system, it is possible to neutralize the static electricity of the paper and eliminate the negatively charged state of the paper.

In the sorter, as shown in the embodiment, in addition to forming the switching gates and some of the guide plates with fluororesin or the like, other than the guide plates forming the sheet transport path, The member can also be formed by coating a material having a charging characteristic larger than that of the toner. Then, even in a copy such as a full-color copy, in which the property of being negatively charged appears very conspicuously, it is slid on a member that comes in contact in the middle of the conveyance, and is positively charged to neutralize static electricity, so that the influence of static electricity is eliminated. And can be transported. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the toner has a property of being easily negatively charged is described as an example.However, when the property of the toner transferred to the paper is a property of easily being positively charged, It is possible to use a material having a positive charge characteristic and a large charge amount for the members constituting the switching gate and the guide plate.

[0022]

The apparatus of the present invention is constructed as described above, and applies a curving action to a sheet on a common sheet transport path in a post-processing mode or a non-post-processing mode of a recording sheet. Since the apparatus is provided, the curving action can be performed on the sheet in any of the modes. Further, in the apparatus for applying a curving action to the discharged paper, the discharging action can be performed satisfactorily by optimizing the amount of curving based on information such as the thickness of the paper.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an example in which a curl correction device is arranged at an entrance of a sorter.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram in a case where a switching gate disposed on a transport path is formed of a conductive member.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram in a case where a guide plate of a paper transport path is formed of a conductive member.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a general sorter.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 electronic copier, 10 sorters, 13.14
Conveyance path, 15 switching gate, 18 branch guide plate, 21 OHP tray, 22 sorting tray.

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3F053 EA02 EC02 ED17 HA03 HB01 HB09 HB22 LA02 LB03 LB08 3F054 AA01 AB01 AC02 BA02 BD02 BF03 BF09 BF22 DA16 3F101 FA02 FB11 FD02 LA02 LB03

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A post-processing device for receiving a recording-processed sheet from a device for recording information, wherein the post-processing device is provided on a conveyance path of a sheet to be shared in a mode for post-processing a sheet after recording or a non-post-processing mode. An apparatus for applying a curving action to a sheet, and a path switching unit for guiding the sheet subjected to the curving action by the apparatus to a first transport path in a post-processing mode or a second transport path in a non-post-processing mode. A post-processing device for recording paper, wherein the recording paper is discharged to the first or second transport path. 2. The recording paper post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the amount of curving is optimized according to the thickness of the sheet to be processed in the apparatus for applying the curving action.