JP2002068571A - Postprocessor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a postprocessor increasing no cost and machine size, excellent in operability for removing a jam and capable of realizing high productivity to the paper sheets of various sizes. SOLUTION: A first carrying means positioned on the upstream side and a second carrying means positioned on the downstream side are arranged at a distance shorter than the carrying directional length of sheets of the smallest size on a carrying passage for receiving and carrying the sheets discharge from an image forming device on the upstream side of a postprocessing devise, and a sheet staying tray capable of housing the plural sheets in a superposed state and a sheet registering means for registering the rear ends of the sheets housed in the sheet staying tray are arranged under the carrying passage between the first carrying means and the second carrying means so that the purpose is attained.

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 used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a laser printer, or a facsimile, and more particularly, to a high-productivity post-processing with a large number of post-processing sheets per unit time. It concerns the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a laser printer, or a facsimile machine, there is a remarkable enrichment of a post-processing apparatus for performing a punching process, a stapling process, and the like. The added value is improved by the functionalized post-processing device. Among them, in the stapling process, a post-processing device that processes one-point binding or two-point binding online along the vertical direction or the horizontal direction of a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus has become commonplace. .

However, in such a post-processing apparatus, in order to perform a variety of stapling processes such as one-point binding and two-point binding on a sheet on which an image is formed due to an increase in productivity, a stapling means is required. Since it takes time to move the image forming apparatus to a predetermined position, conventionally, a method of delaying the sheet feeding timing of the image forming apparatus by the time required for the stapling process has been adopted, but the productivity is deteriorated accordingly. .

Accordingly, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-250914, when setting processing of staples or the like requires time, a conveying path for bypassing the first few sheets discharged during the setting processing is required. Means for improving productivity by superposing sheets on the bypass conveyance path by providing the sheet have already been proposed.

The paper post-processing apparatus according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-250914 discloses a paper receiving section for receiving paper sequentially sent from an image forming apparatus, and receives paper from the paper receiving section and performs staple processing and the like. A post-processing unit, a paper discharge unit from which the paper subjected to the post-processing by the post-processing unit is discharged, and a post-processing conveyance for guiding the paper from the paper receiving unit to the paper discharging unit via the post-processing unit. In a sheet post-processing apparatus having a path and a plurality of conveyance units disposed on the post-processing conveyance path to convey a sheet, the post-processing conveyance path upstream of the post-processing unit includes a plurality of sheets. Superimposing means for superimposing, the superimposing means diverging the post-processing conveyance path into a plurality, and re-merging, a plurality of superimposition conveyance paths, and a first conveyance respectively arranged in the superimposition conveyance path means A second transport means disposed on the most upstream side of the post-processing transport path downstream from the junction where the first transport means and the superimposed transport path merge at the most downstream side of the overlay transport path. It is configured to have a stopper means for blocking or opening the transport path therebetween.

[0006]

However, the prior art described above has the following problems. That is, in the case of the paper post-processing apparatus according to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-250914, the paper post-processing apparatus is configured to improve the productivity by overlapping the sheets using the post-processing transport path and the overlay transport path. However, there is a problem that the effect of improving the productivity cannot be sufficiently obtained because usually only two sheets can be overlapped. In the case of the above-described paper post-processing apparatus, the post-processing conveyance path and the superimposition conveyance path are used as the paper conveyance path.
Since two transport paths are required, the number of parts increases, the cost increases, the machine size increases, and the operability of removing jams deteriorates.

Further, in the case of the paper post-processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-250914, a post-processing transport path upstream of the post-processing section is provided instead of providing a post-processing transport path and a superimposed transport path. A stacking means for stacking a plurality of sheets, a stacking means for stopping and canceling the conveyance of the sheet to the post-processing conveyance path, and a sheet for stopping the sheet stopped by the stopper means. A plurality of sheets are stacked by pressing the rear end of the sheet stopped by the stopper means with a holding claw, and the plurality of sheets are stacked by opening the stopper means. A configuration in which the sheet is transported has also been proposed.

However, in such a configuration, a stopper means and a pressing claw are provided in the post-processing conveyance path, and the stopper means and the pressing claw are operated at a predetermined timing to convey a plurality of sheets in a stacked manner. With such a configuration, since the control of the stopper means and the pressing claw is complicated, the transportability of the sheet per unit time is affected by the operation speed of the stopper means and the like, and it is possible to maintain a sufficiently high productivity. There is a problem that it cannot be done.
Further, in the case of the paper post-processing apparatus according to the above proposal, since the interval between the stopper means and the pressing claw needs to be set according to the size of the paper, when the paper size changes, the stopper means and the pressing claw are changed. In addition, there is a problem that it is difficult to cope with various sizes because it is necessary to change the interval between the two.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to reduce the operability of jam removal without increasing the cost and the machine size. Another object of the present invention is to provide a post-processing apparatus capable of realizing high productivity for various sizes of paper.

[0010]

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a post-processing apparatus having a post-processing means for performing a predetermined post-processing on a sheet on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus. A first transport unit located upstream and a second transport located downstream, on a transport path for receiving and transporting a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus, which is upstream of the post-processing unit. Means are disposed at a distance shorter than the length of the minimum size sheet in the conveying direction, and a plurality of sheets are provided below the conveying path between the first conveying means and the second conveying means. A sheet holding tray that can be stored in an overlapped state and a sheet aligning unit that aligns the rear ends of the sheets stored in the sheet holding tray are provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the post-processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the second transporting means switches a transport direction of the sheet from the first transporting means to a reverse direction. By switching the conveyance direction of the second conveyance means in the reverse direction, a plurality of sheets are stored in a sheet stacking tray in a state of being stacked.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the post-processing apparatus according to the first aspect, a rotating member for scraping off a rear end of the sheet is disposed coaxially with the first transporting means. The outer peripheral end of the rotating member is formed of a plurality of plate-like elastic bodies larger than the outer diameter of the first transporting means.

[0013] Still further, the invention described in claim 4 is as follows.
4. The post-processing device according to claim 1, wherein the second transport unit elapses a predetermined time set for each size of the sheet to be transported during the forward rotation of transporting the sheet. 5. In such a case, the sheet is stopped so as to pinch the vicinity of the leading end of the sheet, and is controlled to start normal rotation after the time when the next sheet to be conveyed reaches the second conveying means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the post-processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the second transporting means is configured to be capable of reverse rotation with respect to forward rotation of transporting the sheet. The second transporting means is controlled so as to reversely rotate by a predetermined amount after the rotation is stopped and before the normal rotation is started again.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the post-processing apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the sheet stay tray includes a reference wall member capable of abutting and aligning a rear end of the sheet. The rotating member for scraping off the rear end of the sheet disposed coaxially with the first conveying means also has an alignment function of aligning the rear end of the sheet by the reference wall member.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 7, in the post-processing apparatus according to claim 6, the reference wall member is
The sheet also has a function as a sheet pushing member for pushing the aligned sheets again to the second conveying means, and is configured to be able to advance and retreat along the sheet retention tray.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the post-processing apparatus according to the seventh aspect, before the leading edge of the sheet superimposed on the upper portion of the sheet stay tray reaches the second conveying means. Further, the advancing / retreating operation of the reference wall member is controlled such that the leading edge of the sheet aligned with the reference wall member reaches the second transport unit.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the post-processing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the second transport means is configured to be able to release a nip of the sheet at a predetermined timing. At the timing when the rear end of the sheet is aligned with the reference wall member by the rotating member, the sheet is controlled to be nipped again.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the post-processing apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, a perforating means for perforating a sheet downstream of the sheet stay tray. And the second conveying means also functions as a skew correction means for correcting the skew of the sheet.

[0020] According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the post-processing apparatus according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, the second transporting means comprises a pair of rolls which are driven to rotate on both upper and lower sides. It is configured as follows.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 2 shows an image forming apparatus to which a post-processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention can be applied.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an ADF (Auto Document Feed) for an image of a document (not shown).
r) or an image input unit to which a series of image information is input from a host computer or the like. The image input unit 1 outputs image information to the laser scanning unit 2. The laser scanning unit 2 irradiates a laser beam on the photosensitive drum 3 uniformly charged in advance by the primary charger 4 based on image information at one or two exposure positions according to an image forming mode. Thus, an electrostatic latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 3 is developed by a developing device 5 and / or a developing device 6 with toners of different colors as necessary. Further, the toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 3 is supplied from a paper storage unit 9 of a paper supply unit 10 and transferred onto a recording paper S fed at a predetermined timing by a registration roll 11 onto a transfer roll 7. Is transcribed. The recording paper S to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 13 by the conveying belt 12 and the fixing device 1
3, the toner image is fixed on the recording paper S by heat and pressure. The recording paper S on which the toner image has been fixed passes through the discharge passage 16 according to the image forming mode, and is discharged from the discharge roll 1.
5 or the sheet is reversed by the sheet reversing mechanism 14 through the feed path 17 or the feed path 18 in a state where the transport direction and the front and back are reversed as necessary.
The sheet is discharged from the discharge roll 15 to the outside of the apparatus, or is again conveyed to the image forming portion of the photosensitive drum 3 via the double-sided / multiple-recording path 26, and double-sided or multiple-recording is performed.

The cleaning device 8 removes residual toner and the like from the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 after the completion of the image forming step, so that the surface is ready for the next image forming step.

FIG. 3 shows a sheet reversing mechanism of the image forming apparatus.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 14 denotes a sheet reversing mechanism provided at a discharge section of the image forming apparatus, and a sheet reversing mechanism is provided between the transport roll 13a and the discharge roll 15 of the fixing device 13 of the image forming apparatus. A discharge passage 16 is formed in a straight line obliquely upward, and below the discharge passage 16, a feed passage 17 extending obliquely downward from an upstream side of the discharge passage 16 in the conveyance direction of the recording sheet S. And a delivery passage 18 extending obliquely downward from the downstream side of the discharge passage 16 in the conveyance direction of the recording sheet S, are arranged so as to form a substantially triangular shape. A switching member 27 for switching the recording sheet S discharged from the fixing unit 13 between the discharge passage 16 and the feed passage 17 is provided at the entrance of the discharge passage 16 and the feed passage 17.
Are arranged so as to be tiltable.

The feed path 1 of the sheet reversing device 14
A tri-roll 19, which constitutes a part of the sheet reversing device 14, is disposed between the sheet 7 and the delivery path 18. The tri-roll 19 is such that the nip between the first driven roll 19A and the driving roll 19B is located in the feed passage 17 and the nip between the driving roll 19B and the driven roll 19C is located in the delivery passage 18. The driven roll 19A, the driving roll 19B, and the driven roll 19C are arranged in a state where they are pressed against each other.

Further, the inflow passage 17 and the outflow passage 18
As shown in FIG. 3, a reversing passage 25 is connected to the lower end of the merging portion located at the lower end of the reversing passage 25 in an inclined state. 25A and a double-sided / multiple-recording path 26 are formed so as to be branched. A switching member 20 for switching the transport direction of the recording paper S is disposed at a branch between the drawing-in portion 25A and the duplex / multi-recording passage 26, and a lower end of the switching member 20 has a mylar sheet or the like. A shield plate 31 made of a synthetic resin film is provided to project downward. The switching member 20 is arranged so that the shield plate 31 comes to a position shown in the drawing in a normal state. A forward / reverse rotation roll 21 and a pinch roll 22 for transporting the recording paper S are disposed at the upper end of the draw-in section 25A so as to be able to press against each other. This pinch roll 22
The pressure contact state with the forward / reverse rotation roll 21 can be released by the solenoid 24 via the link 23.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 23A indicates a fulcrum of the link 23, reference numeral 24A indicates an operating rod of the solenoid 24, and reference numeral 29 indicates a detection unit of the recording paper detection sensor 28.

In the sheet reversing mechanism 14 configured as described above, a sheet reversing operation is performed as follows.

In the single-sided copy normal discharge mode of the image forming apparatus, the drive motor for driving the drive roll 19B of the tri-roll 19 of the sheet reversing mechanism 14 is stopped, and as shown in FIG. In a state where the switching member 27 disposed in the section is lowered, the fixing device 1
The recording paper S, which has been subjected to the fixing process in Step 3, passes above the switching member 27 via the discharge path 16 and is directly discharged to the discharge roll 15.
From the device.

In the single-sided copy reversal discharge mode of the image forming apparatus, the triroll 1 of the paper reversing mechanism 14 is used.
9 is driven, and the driven roll 19A of the tri-roll 19 and the driving roll 1B are driven.
9B and the driven roll 19C are driven to rotate. The switching member 27 disposed in the discharge passage 16 is, as shown in FIG.
It is pulled up by a solenoid (not shown), and is switched from the discharge passage 16 to the inlet passage 17. The transport direction of the recording paper S subjected to the fixing process by the fixing device 13 is switched by the switching member 27, and
7 and is guided to a nip portion composed of a driven roll 19A and a driving roll 19B located in the feed passage 17 and is driven in a normal rotation state via a reversing passage 25 by a driving force of the driving roll 19B. It is guided to the forward / reverse rotation roll 22.
As a result, the recording sheet S is once guided into the reversing passage 25, but the upper end of the recording sheet S is located above the lower end of the shield plate 31 of the switching member 20.

The recording paper S once guided into the reversing passage 25 by the forward / reverse roll 22 has its upper end located above the lower end of the shield plate 31 of the switching member 20, so that the recording paper S is reversed. The roll is conveyed again to the reversing passage 25 by the forward / reverse rotation roll 22, and is guided to a nip portion composed of a driving roll 19 </ b> B and a driven roll 19 </ b> C arranged in the delivery passage 18 via the reversing passage 25, and the driving roll 19 Is conveyed to the discharge roll 15 by the conveyance force of.

Further, in the duplex mode in the image forming apparatus, a driving motor for driving the driving roll 19B of the tri-roll 19 of the sheet reversing mechanism 14 is driven, and the driven roll 19A and the driving roll 19B of the tri-roll 19 are driven. The switching member 27 disposed in the discharge passage 16 is lifted upward by a solenoid (not shown) as shown in FIG. 3, and is switched from the discharge passage 16 to the inlet passage 17. The operation until the roll is guided to the forward / reverse roll 22 in the forward rotation state is the same as that in the single-sided copy reverse discharge mode. When the reversal timing of the recording paper S is delayed from the one-sided copy reversal discharge mode, the upper end of the recording paper S is at the lower end of the switching member 20 disposed at the branch between the reversing path 25 and the duplex / multiplex recording path 26. The switching member 20 is switched to the double-sided / multiplex recording path 26 by its own weight.
Therefore, the recording sheet S conveyed again by the forward / reverse roll 22 in the reverse rotation state is conveyed via the switching member 20 to the double-sided / multiple recording path 26 with the surface on which the toner image is formed facing up. . The recording sheet S is conveyed again to the image forming section with the surface on which the toner image is formed down, via a double-sided / multiple recording path 26 formed so as to be bent and folded. On the back surface of S, a toner image is formed. Subsequent operations are the same as those in the single-sided copy normal discharge mode.
After passing through the fixing device 13, the paper is discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the discharge roll 15 via the discharge passage 16.

Incidentally, if necessary, in the case of the single-sided multiple recording mode, the recording paper S on which the toner image is formed on one side is used.
However, the surface on which the toner image is formed is transferred to the photosensitive drum 3 via the reversing passage 25 and the duplex / multiplex recording passage 26 without being conveyed to the retracting portion 25A of the reversing passage 25 by switching of the switching member 20. Is conveyed again to the image forming section so that the toner image is transferred on the surface of the recording paper S in a multiplex manner, and is discharged in the same manner as in the single-sided copy normal discharge mode.

Incidentally, the post-processing apparatus according to this embodiment is provided with a first conveyance device located upstream on a conveyance path for receiving and conveying a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus, which is upstream of the post-processing means. Means and a second transport means located downstream are disposed at a distance shorter than the length of the sheet having the smallest size in the transport direction, and the second transport means is disposed between the first transport means and the second transport means. A sheet holding tray capable of storing a plurality of sheets in a stacked state and a sheet aligning unit for aligning a rear end of the sheets stored in the sheet holding tray are provided below the conveyance path. I have.

In this embodiment, the second transport means can switch the transport direction of the first transport means and the sheet in the opposite direction, and the transport direction of the second transport means can be changed. Is switched in the opposite direction, so that a plurality of sheets are stored in a sheet holding tray in a superposed state.

Further, in this embodiment, a rotary member for scraping off the rear end of the sheet is disposed coaxially with the first transport means, and the outer peripheral end of the rotary member is provided with the first transport means. It is configured to be formed of a plurality of plate-like elastic bodies larger than the outer diameter.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a post-processing apparatus used in combination with the above-mentioned image forming apparatus.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 40 denotes a main body of the post-processing apparatus. The post-processing apparatus main body 40 is disposed so as to face a sheet discharge section of the image forming apparatus. At the upper end of the side surface of the post-processing apparatus main body 40, a sheet introduction port 41 into which a sheet S such as a recording sheet discharged from a discharge section of the image forming apparatus is introduced is opened. This sheet inlet 41
Are provided inside the guide members 42 and 4 for guiding the sheet S.
3 are provided with a relatively short length. Further, a pair of upstream transport rolls 100 and a pair of downstream transport rolls 101 are disposed behind the guide members 42 and 43 with a distance slightly shorter than the minimum transportable size. Have been. At this time, the downstream transport roll pair 101
Are disposed slightly obliquely above the transport roll pair 100 on the upstream side. Furthermore, the upstream transport roll pair 1
A rotary paddle 102 as a sheet aligning means for aligning the rear end of the sheet S with a reference wall described later is provided on the same drive shaft on the roll 100a below 00. Also,
A paper detection sensor 103 that detects the sheet S conveyed via the guide members 42 and 43 is disposed upstream of the upstream conveyance roll pair 100. Note that, as shown in FIG. 1, the rotating paddle 102 has a plurality of blades arranged in a tangential direction.
As shown in FIG. 14, any one having a plurality of blades arranged in the radial direction may be used.

Further, the upstream transport roll pair 100
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, a plurality of sheets S
Space 1 that can be temporarily accommodated in a state where
04 and a paper retention tray 105 are provided. Further, in the space 104 in which the sheets S can be temporarily accommodated in an overlapped state, a reference wall 106 for aligning the rear ends of the sheets S is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat along the directions of arrows X1-X2. . In FIG. 4, 107 and 108 are the sheets 41.
Are shown, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 19, the transport roll pair 101 on the downstream side as the second transport means is configured so that both upper and lower rolls are rotationally driven by a forward / reverse drive motor 120 as shown in FIG. ing. Drive motor 1
20 is transmitted to the first gear 124 via the pulleys 121 and 122 and the belt 123, and the rotational driving force transmitted to the first gear 124 is
The second transport roll pair 1 is meshed with the gear 124 of the second transport roll.
01 second gear 12 fixed to lower roll 101a
5 to the lower roll 101a of the second transport roll pair 101. Further, the first gear 124
Is transmitted to the fourth gear 1 fixed to the upper roll 101b of the second transport roll pair 101 via the third gear 126 meshing with the first gear 124.
27, and the upper roll 101b of the second transport roll pair 101 also has an arrow a in the same manner as the lower roll 101a.
It is driven to rotate in the direction.

The stop position and the stop position 18 shown in FIG.
Cam 12 controlled to stop at a position rotated by 0 degrees
The cam 128 has a spring link 129 having a rotation center coaxially with the third gear 126.
Are connected. When the cam 128 rotates in the direction of arrow b and stops every 180 degrees, the spring link 129 can reciprocate in the direction of arrow d around the center of rotation of the third gear 126. , Second
The upper roll 101b of the pair of transport rolls 101 can perform nip and nip release with respect to the lower roll 101a at a predetermined timing.

A gate 109 for switching the transport direction of the sheet S transported by the downstream transport roll pair 101 is provided near the downstream transport roll pair 101.
The sheet S that is not subjected to the post-processing is switched its conveyance direction to the sheet conveyance path 110 side, and the conveyance rolls 111 and 112 arranged in the sheet conveyance path 110 are provided.
Thus, the sheet is discharged onto the stack tray 113 as it is.

On the other hand, a puncher 115 for punching a sheet S is provided in front of the downstream conveying roll pair 101 along a sheet conveying path 114 switched by a gate 109. In front of the puncher 115, the sheet S is stapled by the stapler 7.
A transport roll 116 and a transport roll 46 for transporting the transport rolls 1 and 2 are provided.

The sheet mounting member 45 on which the sheet S conveyed by the conveying roll 46 is mounted, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, is attached to the inside of the post-processing apparatus main body 40 in an inclined state. As shown in FIG. 6, a reference fence 47 for aligning one edge of the sheet S is rotatably attached to the tip of the sheet placing member 45. The sheet S conveyed by the conveyance rolls 46 is placed on a sheet placement member 45 attached in an inclined state, and the Y direction is changed by a tamper 95 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the paddle 96 having a plurality of blades as a paper aligning means moves according to the inclination of the sheet placing member 45, and is aligned with the edge of the sheet 41 abutting the reference fence 47. It has become so. As a result, the sheets 41 sequentially conveyed by the conveying rolls 46 are sequentially stacked on the sheet placing member 45 with one end edges thereof being aligned by the reference fence 47. The tip 47 of the reference fence 47 is folded forward to reliably prevent the sheets 41 stacked on the sheet placing member 45 from falling off.

Further, the reference fence 47 can be retracted by rotating downward. The reference fence 47 includes a rotating shaft 48 as shown in FIG.
The rotary shaft 48 is mounted on a support plate 49 erected on the sheet placing member 45 by bearings 5.
It is rotatably supported via a zero. An L-shaped plate 52 having a shaft portion 51 is screwed to one end of the rotating shaft 48 to rotate the reference fence 47. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the shaft portion 51 of the L-shaped plate 52 is provided with a U-shaped groove portion 5 provided on the rotating member 53.
4, and the rotating member 53 includes a gear portion 57 that meshes with a gear 56 that is rotationally driven by a drive motor 55. And the reference fence 47
Rotates the rotating member 53 by rotating the drive motor 55, and for example, moves downward by 10 degrees through the shaft portion 51 loosely inserted into the U-shaped groove portion 54 of the rotating member 53.
It is rotatable over an angle of 0 degrees.

Further, the sheet mounting member 45 is provided with an injector roll 58 (not shown) for discharging a set of a plurality of sheets 41 stapled and mounted on the sheet mounting member 45. Two are arranged along the width direction so as to be rotatable by the driving means.

Further, above the eject roll 58, the sheet 41 laminated together with the eject roll 58 is held in a sandwiched state, and after the stapling process is completed, the sheet 41 is placed on the post-processing apparatus main body 40.
A pinch roll 60 that conveys the sheet to a discharge tray 59 provided outside the printer is provided. This pinch roll 60
Is rotatably attached to the distal end of a mounting plate 61 made of a leaf spring, as shown in FIG.
Is mounted so as to be rotatable about a rotating shaft 62. As shown in FIG. 8, an arm member 63 for rotating the mounting plate 61 is attached to one end of the rotating shaft 62. The arm member 63 is driven to rotate by a drive motor 64. And the drive motor 6
An eccentric roller 66 attached to a position eccentric with respect to the rotary shaft 65 of No. 4 abuts. Further, a slit plate 68 provided with a slit 67 at a predetermined angle is attached to the rotation shaft 65 of the drive motor 64, and the slit 67 of the slit plate 68 is disposed at a position facing 180 degrees. The detected two sensors 69 and 70 are used for detection. When the mounting plate 61 rotates the drive motor 64, the eccentric roller 66, which is rotationally driven by the drive motor 64, pushes down the arm member 63 and rotates the rotary shaft 62 to which the arm member 63 is attached. Thus, the pinch roll 60 sandwiches the sheet 41 together with the injection roll 58. At this time, the movement amount and movement timing of the pinch roll 60 are controlled by the slit plate 68 and the sensors 69 and 70.

A stapler 71 is attached to the inside of the post-processing apparatus main body 40. The stapler 71 is mounted on the sheet mounting member 45 and binds a plurality of sheets 41 whose edges are aligned by the reference fence 47. The stapler section 72 is arranged so as to be movable in parallel along the edge of the sheet 41 by the movement function 73.

The moving mechanism 73 of the stapler 72 is
As shown in FIG. 9, a guide rail 74 for guiding the stapler section 72 in parallel along the edge of the sheet 41 is provided.
And a linear portion 74a corresponding to the length in the longitudinal direction.
And inclined portions 74b and 74c continuously provided at both ends of the linear portion 74a so as to be inclined at 45 degrees. The guide rail 74 includes two guide rollers 7 provided at the upper end of the stapler 72 along the moving direction.
5, 76 run in the fitted state. Therefore, the locus of the movement of the stapler 72 is defined by the shape of the guide rail 74. Also,
The guide rail 74 is, as shown in FIGS.
The screw is screwed in a state of being fitted into a recess 78 provided in the guide plate 77. As shown in FIGS. 72 on one side in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of 72
On the other hand, one guide roller 79, 79, 80 rotatably mounted on the opposite side runs. As a result, the position of the stapler section 72 in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction is regulated by the two guide rollers 75 and 76 running on the guide rail 74, and the position in the vertical direction moves on the guide plate 77. Three running guide rollers 7
The stapler unit 72 is configured to move in a state where the stapler unit 72 moves in a state where the stapler unit 72 is regulated by the sheets 41, 79, and 80.
To form the same plane as.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the guide plate 77 on which the guide rail 74 is mounted is mounted on the post-processing apparatus main body 40 by a mounting substrate 81 which is fixed and inclined as shown in FIG. , Screws 83 are fixed at a plurality of places so as to maintain a constant interval via a bush 82. Further, five driven pulleys 85 that rotatably support a drive belt 84 for moving the stapler section 72 are rotatively mounted on the mounting substrate 81. The drive belt 84 is wound around five driven pulleys 85 as shown in FIG. 9, and a part 84 a of the drive belt 84 is fixedly connected to the stapler 72. Of the five driven pulleys 85, a central driven pulley 85a is supported movably in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the stapler 72, and always applies a constant tension to the drive belt 84 by a spring (not shown). It is energized to grant.

Further, among the five driven pulleys 85,
As shown in FIG. 11, the driven pulley 85b at one end has
Driving pulley 87 rotated and driven by driving motor 86
A belt 88 for transmitting the driving force is stretched around. The drive belt 84 can reciprocate by an arbitrary amount in an arbitrary direction by rotating a drive motor 86, and moves the stapler 72 connected to the drive belt 84. is there. The driven pulley 85 and the driving pulley 84 are disposed between the guide plate 77 and the mounting board 81.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, the stapler 72 driven by the drive belt 84 is provided with a position detecting member 89 attached to the stapler 72.
Reference position sensor 90 provided on post-processing device main body 40 side
, The reference position is detected, and by controlling the rotation amount of the drive motor 86 that drives the drive belt 84 thereafter, the movement position is controlled.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the stapler 71 is rotated around a fulcrum so as to abut on the fixing portion 91 fixed to the stapler portion 72 so as to abut on the fixing portion 91. The stapler moves the stapler and stapling the stapler by projecting the stapler needles therein, penetrating the plurality of stacked sheets 41, and folding back the tips of the needles by the die of the fixing portion 91 so as to face each other. And a movable section 92. This stapler 71
Of the fixed part 9 around a fulcrum through a plurality of gears 94 that are rotationally driven by a drive motor 93.
1 so that it can rotate. Further, the stapler 71 moves such that the fixed portion 91 and the movable portion 92 face each other via the edge of the sheet 41 after the reference fence 47 is retracted. At this time, the stapler 71 is attached to the guide rail 74 and the guide plate 77 so that the fixing portion 91 of the stapler 71 and the surface of the sheet 41 are parallel to each other, as shown in FIG.

In the above-described configuration, the post-processing apparatus according to the present embodiment has good operability for removing jams without increasing the cost and the machine size, and has various sizes of paper. In contrast, high productivity can be realized.

That is, in an image forming apparatus in which the above-mentioned post-processing apparatus is combined, as shown in FIG.
When a series of image information is read using a document feeder or input from a host computer or the like, a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 3 based on the image information output from the image input unit 1. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 3 is supplied to the sheet feeding unit 1
The recording paper S is fed by the transfer roll 7 onto the recording paper S that is fed from the zero paper storage unit 9 and conveyed at a predetermined timing by the registration roll 11. The fixing device 13 fixes the toner image on the recording paper S to which the toner image has been transferred by heat and pressure. Then, the sheet 41 made of the recording sheet S or the like on which the toner image has been transferred and fixed is discharged from the image forming apparatus by the sheet reversing mechanism 14 shown in FIG. The sheet is sent to a post-processing device disposed so as to be continuous with the sheet discharge unit of the image forming apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet S sent to the above-mentioned post-processing device is introduced into the inside from a sheet inlet 41 opened at the upper end of the post-processing device main body 40, and Punching processing and stapling processing are performed by the puncher 115 and the stapler 71 provided inside the main body 40.

At this time, in the image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG. 2, recording paper S is fed at a predetermined interval, and an image is formed on the front surface or both sides of the recording paper S. As shown in FIG. 12, a sheet S such as a recording sheet on which an image is formed on the front surface or both surfaces is discharged at a predetermined interval.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13, a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing on a sheet S such as recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus performs a stapling process using a stapler 71 as shown in FIG. In addition, it is necessary to move the stapler 71 to a predetermined position by a moving mechanism 73 as shown in FIG. Becomes Therefore, as shown in FIG.
When the next set of sheets S is discharged from the image forming apparatus following the first set of sheets S, the stapling process cannot be performed in time, and a jam occurs as it is.

Therefore, in this embodiment, FIG.
As shown in (a), when the first sheet S of the next set is sent into the post-processing apparatus main body 40 from the image forming apparatus, the first sheet S of the next set becomes the sheet detection sensor. After a predetermined time set for each size of the sheet to be conveyed has passed after the detection by the sensor 103, the downstream side of the conveyance roll pair 101 will be described next.
Stops. Until then, the first sheet S of the next set is conveyed forward on the sheet retention tray 105 by the upstream conveying roll pair 100, and the leading end thereof is nipped by the downstream conveying roll pair 101. Then, the upstream transport roll pair 1 is moved by the downstream transport roll pair 101.
It is transported and stopped until the nip by 00 is released. At this time, the rear end of the first sheet S is scraped off by the rotating paddle 102 and the sheet stay tray 105
It will be placed on the top. In this state, next, the transport roll pair 101 on the downstream side, as shown in FIG.
The first sheet S is driven to rotate in the reverse direction by a predetermined amount.
While being scraped off by the rotating paddle 102, the rear end thereof is stopped by the pair of transport rollers 101 on the downstream side in a state where the rear end thereof is in contact with the reference wall 106 and aligned with the reference wall 106. The first sheet S is aligned.

Next, when the second sheet S of the next set is sent into the post-processing apparatus main body 40 from the image forming apparatus,
As shown in FIGS. 14B and 14C, the second sheet S of the next set is, similarly to the first sheet S, transported by the pair of transport rollers 100 on the upstream side to the sheet holding tray 10.
5 and forwardly nipped by the downstream transport roll pair 101 and transported by the downstream transport roll pair 101 until the nip by the upstream transport roll pair 100 is released. And stop. that time,
The trailing end of the second sheet S is scraped off by the rotating paddle 102 and is placed on the sheet holding tray 105. In this state, the transport roll pair 101 on the downstream side is then driven to rotate in the reverse direction by a predetermined amount as shown in FIG. 14D, and the second sheet S is scraped off by the rotary paddle 102. While the rear end is the reference wall 1
In the state where the sheet is aligned by contact with the sheet No. 06, the driving in the reverse direction by the downstream conveying roll pair 101 is stopped, and the sheet is aligned on the first sheet S of the sheet holding tray 105.

As described above, a predetermined number of sheets S are accumulated on the sheet accumulation tray 105 in an aligned state.
In the meantime, the stapling process is performed on the first set of sheet bundles by the stapler 71 in the post-processing apparatus main body 40.

Thereafter, a predetermined number of sheets S of the second set aligned on the sheet holding tray 105 are shown in FIG.
As shown in (d), the reference wall 106 moves along the direction of the arrow X1 to move on the sheet retention tray 105,
The leading end thereof is nipped by a downstream transport roll pair 101 that is driven to rotate in the forward direction, and is transported by the downstream transport roll pair 101 to the sheet transport path 114 in an overlapping state.

As described above, since a predetermined number of sheets S can be retained on the sheet retaining tray 105 in an aligned state, the sheets S discharged from the image forming apparatus at predetermined intervals are A predetermined post-process such as a stapling process can be performed without temporarily stopping the discharge of the sheet S from the image forming apparatus.

Further, the post-processing apparatus main body 40 has a pair of downstream transport rolls 100 and a pair of downstream transport rolls 1.
01, the paper retention tray 105 can be provided with a simple configuration, so that the cost and the machine size are not increased, the operability of removing jams is good, and high-quality paper of various sizes can be used. It is possible to realize productivity.

Second Embodiment FIG. 15 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and described. Before the leading edge of the sheet superimposed on the upper portion of the sheet holding tray reaches the second transporting means, the reference sheet is aligned such that the leading edge of the sheet aligned with the reference wall member reaches the second transporting means. It is configured to control the reciprocating operation of the wall member.

That is, in Embodiment 2, FIG.
As shown in (2), after the sheet detection sensor 103 detects the leading edge of the sheet S that has been carried into the post-processing device main body 40 and has a predetermined time set for each size of the sheet S to be conveyed in advance. After the elapse, the downstream transport roll pair 101 stops. At this time, the leading end of the sheet S is in a state of being sandwiched by the pair of transport rollers 101 on the downstream side, and the trailing end of the sheet S is
05 is scraped off. Next, the downstream transport roll pair 101 starts reverse rotation at a fixed time after the stop, is discharged in the reverse direction toward the reference wall 106 into the space 104, and then rotates forward again. Then, the sheet S discharged to the space 104 is aligned with the reference wall 106 which is configured to be able to advance and retreat in the direction of the arrow by the rotary paddle 102, and the leading end of the sheet S to be conveyed next is set on the downstream conveying roll pair. 10
1 and the reference wall 106 so that the leading end of the first sheet S reaches the transport roll pair 101 on the downstream side.
Moves along the direction of the arrow X1, and pushes out the sheet S.
As a result, the first sheet S and the second sheet S are conveyed in a state of being overlapped by the downstream post-processing means after their leading ends are aligned by the downstream conveying roll pair 101. At the moment when the second sheet S reaches the downstream transport roll pair 101, the speed at which the reference wall 106 pushes out the first sheet S is equal to or higher than the transport speed of the downstream transport roll pair 101. It is set as follows.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the reference wall 106 pushes out the first sheet S at the moment when the second sheet S reaches the transport roll pair 101 on the downstream side. Therefore, the residence time until a plurality of sheets are sent to the downstream side can be shorter than that in the first embodiment.

Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore, the description thereof will be omitted.

Third Embodiment FIG. 16 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and will be described. , The second transport means,
The nip of the sheet is configured to be released at a predetermined timing, and the control is performed such that the sheet is nipped again after the rear end of the sheet is aligned with the reference wall member by the rotating member.

That is, in the third embodiment, FIG.
As shown in (2), after the sheet detection sensor 103 detects the leading edge of the sheet S that has been carried into the post-processing device main body 40 and has a predetermined time set for each size of the sheet S to be conveyed in advance. After the elapse, the downstream transport roll pair 101 stops. At this time, the leading end of the sheet S is in a state of being sandwiched by the pair of transport rolls 101 on the downstream side, and the trailing end of the sheet S is
05 is scraped off. Downstream transport roll pair 101
Starts reverse rotation at a fixed time after the stop, and releases the nip before the rear end of the sheet S reaches the reference wall 106. The sheet S discharged to the space 104 is the rotating paddle 1
02 is aligned with the reference wall 106 configured to be able to advance and retreat in the directions of the arrows X1-X2. The leading edge of the next conveyed sheet S passes through between the nip-released downstream conveying roll pair 101, and the trailing edge is scraped off by the rotating paddle 102 to the sheet holding tray 105 and aligned by the reference wall 106. Then, the sheet S is overlapped and aligned on the already conveyed sheet S. From this state, the downstream transport roll pair 101 stops reverse rotation and again enters the nip state, the downstream transport roll pair 101 starts forward rotation, and the sheet S overlaps the downstream post-processing means. It is transported in a state.

In this embodiment, since the downstream transport roll pair 101 is configured to be able to release the nip, the downstream transport roll pair 101 is rotated in the reverse direction and the sheet S is placed on the sheet retention tray 105. The time can be reduced as compared with the case of matching. Further, in this embodiment, the transport roll pair 101 on the downstream side is configured to be able to release the nip, so that it is possible to sufficiently cope with a large-sized sheet S.

In the embodiment described above, it is of course possible to stack three or more sheets. In this case, the n sheets are discharged in a stacked state.

In the second embodiment, when n sheets are overlapped, the second to n-1th sheets are used in the second embodiment.
The same control as that of the first sheet described in the above is performed, and the control of the n-th sheet is the same as that of the second sheet described in the second embodiment.

Further, in the third embodiment, 1
The control of the second sheet is the same as in the third embodiment.

From the second sheet to the n-th sheet, the control is the same as that of the second sheet described in the third embodiment.

Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore, description thereof will be omitted.

Fourth Embodiment FIG. 17 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and described. A punching unit for punching a sheet downstream of the sheet stay tray, wherein the second transporting unit is configured to also function as a skew correction unit for correcting a skew of the sheet.

That is, in the fourth embodiment, FIG.
As shown in (1), the skew of the sheet S is corrected by the transport roll pair 100 on the upstream side and the transport roll pair 101 on the downstream side.

In this skew correction, as shown in FIG. 17, the leading edge of the sheet S is detected by the sheet detection sensor 103, and the transport roller pair 101 on the downstream side is temporarily stopped.
With the leading end of the sheet S transported by the upstream transport roll pair 100 abutting on the stopped downstream transport roll pair 101, the upstream transport roll pair 100 is stopped.
Is stopped, so that the skew of the sheet S is corrected so that the leading end of the sheet S is parallel to the transport roller pair 101 on the downstream side. This behavior is
When the rotation of the downstream transport roll pair 101 is started a predetermined time after the sheet detection sensor 103 detects the leading end of the sheet S, the skew of the sheet S transported by the downstream transport roll pair 101 is corrected. can do. Therefore, the sheet S whose skew has been corrected as described above
Can be transported in a stacked state to downstream post-processing means.

As described above, the puncher 1 that performs the punching process on the sheet S is provided downstream of the sheet storage tray 105.
15, the transport roll pair 101 on the downstream side
Therefore, the skew of the sheet S can be corrected, so that even when the sheet S has a skew, it is possible to accurately perform the punching process at a predetermined position of the sheet S.

The other configuration and operation are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

In the above embodiment, the case where the upstream transport roll pair 100 and the downstream transport roll pair 101 are linearly arranged has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 18, a pair of upstream transport rolls 100 and a pair of downstream transport rolls 101 are provided.
May be arranged in a curved shape.

[0085]

As described above, according to the present invention, the operability of jam removal is good without increasing the cost and the machine size, and high productivity can be achieved for various sizes of paper. A post-processing device that can be realized can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a post-processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an image forming apparatus to which the post-processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a sheet reversing mechanism of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a main part of the post-processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a stapler.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a reference fence.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a drive mechanism of a reference fence.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a driving mechanism of a paper pressing roller.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a stapler moving mechanism.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are configuration diagrams respectively showing a stapler moving mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing a driving source of a stapler moving mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing an operation of the post-processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of the stapler.

FIGS. 14A to 14D are explanatory views showing the operation of the post-processing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, respectively.

FIGS. 15A to 15C are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of the post-processing device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 16A to 16E are explanatory views showing the operation of the post-processing device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are configuration diagrams respectively showing a post-processing apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a configuration diagram showing a main part of a post-processing device according to a modification of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram illustrating a driving mechanism of a transport roll pair.

[Explanation of symbols]

S: sheet, 100: upstream roll pair, 101: downstream roll pair, 102: rotary paddle (sheet aligning unit), 105: sheet stay tray, 106: reference wall (sheet aligning unit).

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Nakazato 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture F-Xerox Co., Ltd.F-term (reference) GB01 GB07 HA02 HA36 HA39 HA44

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A post-processing device comprising a post-processing device for performing a predetermined post-processing on a sheet on which an image is formed by an image forming device, wherein the image forming device is upstream of the post-processing device. The first transport unit located on the upstream side and the second transport unit located on the downstream side on the transport path for receiving and transporting the sheet discharged from the printer are shorter than the length of the minimum size sheet in the transport direction. A sheet storage tray that is disposed at a distance and that can store a plurality of sheets in a stacked state below a conveyance path between the first conveyance unit and the second conveyance unit; A post-processing device, comprising: sheet aligning means for aligning the trailing edge of sheets stored in a tray. 2. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The second transporting means can switch the transport direction of the first transporting means and the sheet in a reverse direction, and can switch a plurality of sheets by switching the transporting direction of the second transporting means in the reverse direction. A post-processing apparatus characterized in that sheets are stacked and stored in a sheet holding tray in a stacked state. 3. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
A rotary member that scrapes the rear end of the sheet is disposed coaxially with the first transport unit, and the outer peripheral end of the rotary member is a plurality of plate-like elastic bodies larger than the outer diameter of the first transport unit. A post-processing device characterized by being formed. 4. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second conveying unit is set in advance for each size of the sheet to be conveyed during the normal rotation for conveying the sheet. When a predetermined time has elapsed, the sheet is stopped while holding the vicinity of the leading end of the sheet, and is controlled to start normal rotation after the time when the next conveyed sheet reaches the second conveying means. Post-processing device characterized by the above-mentioned. 5. The post-processing device according to claim 4, wherein
The second transporting means is configured to be capable of rotating in the reverse direction with respect to the forward rotation for transporting the sheet, and the second transporting means is configured to stop rotating and then start rotating forward again. A post-processing device controlled to rotate in reverse by a predetermined amount. 6. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
The sheet retention tray includes a reference wall member capable of abutting and aligning the rear end of the sheet, and the rotating member that scrapes off the rear end of the sheet disposed coaxially with the first transport unit includes the rotating member, A post-processing device having a function of aligning a rear end of a sheet by a reference wall member. 7. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein
The reference wall member also has a function as a sheet pushing member for pushing the aligned sheet again to the second conveying means, and is configured to be able to advance and retreat along the sheet retention tray. Processing equipment. 8. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein
Before the leading edge of the sheet superimposed on the upper part of the sheet stay tray reaches the second transporting means, the leading edge of the sheet aligned with the reference wall member reaches the second transporting means. A post-processing device for controlling an advance / retreat operation of a reference wall member. 9. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein
The second conveying means is configured to be able to release the nip of the sheet at a predetermined timing, and to nip the sheet again at a timing when the rear end alignment of the sheet to the reference wall member by the rotating member is completed. A post-processing device being controlled. 10. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a punching unit configured to perform a punching process on a sheet downstream of the sheet stay tray.
The post-processing device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying means also functions as a skew correcting means for correcting the skew of the sheet. 11. A post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second transport means comprises a pair of rolls which are driven to rotate on both upper and lower sides.