JP2002265117A - Sheet processing device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet processing device capable of accurately delivering any kind of sheets to an intermediate loading means, and to provide an image forming device provided with the same. SOLUTION: This sheet processing device has a processing tray 400 to be temporarily loaded with the sheets to be delivered, a pair of delivery rollers 404 for delivering the sheets onto the processing tray 400, a rear end stopper 401 provided in one end of the processing tray 400 in the sheet carrying direction, a draw paddle 405 for drawing the sheet to the stopper part, and a rear end fall guide member 408 for guiding the sheet to be drawn to the rear end stopper 401. Sheet delivery speed by the pair of delivery rollers 404 is changed in response to the kind of the sheets.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a non-rotating member having excellent durability, a sheet processing apparatus using the same, and an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a sheet processing apparatus that performs various processes such as alignment, stapling, and punching on a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus main body such as a copying machine or a printer or a sheet bundle stacked on a plurality of sheets. Proposed. In such an apparatus, sheets are ejected onto an intermediate stacking means by an ejecting means, temporarily stacked, subjected to processing such as alignment, stapling, etc., and then ejected out of the apparatus.

[0003]

In the above-described sheet processing apparatus, a sheet is once discharged to an intermediate stacking unit and sequentially aligned in order to perform staple processing or the like. At this time, if the sheet is vigorously discharged to the intermediate stacking means, the sheet is already discharged and the alignment state of the sheet is disturbed.

Further, the sheet discharged to the intermediate stacking means is aligned by abutting against a predetermined stopper, but if the sheet jumps out vigorously onto the intermediate stacking means, it may not be possible to move to hit the stopper. There is.

[0005] The present invention is to solve the above problems,
An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus capable of accurately discharging sheets to an intermediate stacking unit regardless of the type of sheets, and an image forming apparatus having the same.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a typical configuration according to the present invention comprises an intermediate stacking means for temporarily stacking sheets to be discharged, and a sheet discharging apparatus for discharging sheets onto the intermediate stacking means. Discharging means, a stopper provided at one end of the intermediate stacking means in the sheet conveying direction, a paddle means arranged downstream of the discharging means in the sheet conveying direction, and pulling a sheet into the stopper, and the stopper And a guide member for guiding a sheet drawn into the sheet processing apparatus, wherein a sheet discharge speed of the discharge unit is changed according to a type of the sheet.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus having the same according to the present invention will be illustratively described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, and components of the components described in the following embodiments
The shape, their relative arrangement, and the like should be appropriately changed depending on the configuration and various conditions of the apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and unless otherwise specified, the scope of the present invention is limited to them only. It is not intended.

In the following description, first, the schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus main body and then the schematic configuration of the sheet processing apparatus will be briefly described, and then, the configuration and operation of each unit constituting the sheet processing apparatus will be sequentially detailed. explain. Also,
In the following description, the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction is simply referred to as “upstream side”, the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction is simply referred to as “downstream side”, and the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction is referred to as “width direction”.

{Schematic Configuration of Entire Image Forming Apparatus} FIG.
FIG. 2 is a schematic front sectional view illustrating an internal structure of an image forming apparatus including the sheet processing apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes:
The image forming apparatus includes a main body 101 of the image forming apparatus, and a sheet processing apparatus 102 having a processing unit to be described later appropriately combined. The image forming apparatus main body 101 includes a document feeding unit 110 for automatically feeding a document D, an image reader unit 120 for reading an image on the document D, an image forming unit 140 for forming an image on a sheet P, and the like. ing. On the side of the image forming apparatus main body 101, an image-formed sheet P discharged from the apparatus main body is placed.
Is provided with a sheet processing apparatus 102 for processing and stacking. The sheet processing apparatus 102 includes a three-fold processing unit (hereinafter, also referred to as a Z-fold processing unit) that bends a sheet into a Z-shape.
200, a folding processing unit 800 that folds a sheet into two, and a finisher 900 that selectively performs various processes such as punching, alignment, and stapling on the sheet.

In this embodiment, as the sheet processing apparatus, a combination of the three-fold processing unit 200, the two-fold processing unit 800, and the finisher 900 is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Tri-fold processing unit 200
, A combination of the folding processing unit 800 and the finisher 900, or a combination of the finisher 900 and the finisher 900 alone.

The sheet includes plain paper, a thin resin sheet which is a substitute for plain paper, a postcard, cardboard,
There are sealed letters and plastic thin plates.

(Control System of Image Forming Apparatus) The configuration of a control system of the entire image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to a control block diagram of FIG.

A CPU circuit unit 701 has a CPU (not shown), and according to a control program stored in a ROM 702 and settings of an operation unit 711, a document feed control unit 712, an image reader control unit 713, and an image signal control unit. 714, an image forming unit controller 715, a three-fold controller 716, a two-fold controller 717, a finisher controller 718, and the like.

The document feed control unit 712 is connected to the document feed unit 1
10 and the image reader control unit 713 is the image reader unit 120
The image forming unit control unit 715 controls the image forming unit 140
The three-fold control unit 716 controls the three-fold processing unit 200, the two-fold control unit 717 controls the two-fold processing unit 800, and the finisher control unit 718 controls the finisher 900.

An operation unit 711 has a plurality of keys for setting various functions related to image formation, a display unit for displaying the setting state, and the like, and outputs a key signal corresponding to each key operation by a user to the CPU circuit unit 701. In addition, based on a signal from the CPU circuit unit 701, corresponding information is displayed on the display unit.

The RAM 703 is used as an area for temporarily storing control data and as a work area for operations involved in control. An external I / F 704 is an interface between the image forming apparatus 100 and an external computer 705.
Is developed into a bitmap image and output to the image signal control unit 714 as image data.

The image reader controller 713 outputs an image of the document read by the image sensor 127 to the image signal controller 714.

The image forming unit control section 715 outputs the image data from the image signal control section 714 to the exposure control section 130.

(Document Feeding Section, Image Reader Section) Referring to FIG. 1, face-up state (state in which an image is formed faces upward) on document placing tray 111 of document feeding section 110. The set document D is conveyed one sheet at a time from the top page to the left (the direction of arrow A in the figure) by the document feeding unit 110. Then, the document is conveyed from left to right on platen glass 112 via a curved path, and then discharged onto document discharge tray 113.

At this time, the scanner unit 121 of the image reader unit 120 is held at a predetermined position, and when the document passes through the scanner unit 121 from left to right, the reading process of the document is started. Is performed. This reading method is referred to as “flowing original reading”.

When a document passes over the platen glass 112, the document is illuminated by a lamp 122 of a scanner unit 121 and reflected light from the document is reflected by mirrors 123, 124, 12
5. The light is guided to the image sensor 127 via the lens 126.

It is also possible to perform a document reading process by temporarily stopping the document conveyed by the document feeding unit 110 on the platen glass 112 and moving the scanner unit 121 from left to right in this state. This reading method is referred to as original fixed reading.

To read a document without using the document feeder 110, the user lifts the document feeder 110 and sets the document on the platen glass 112. In this case, the fixed original reading described above is performed.

(Image Forming Unit) Image Sensor 127
Is subjected to predetermined image processing and sent to the exposure control unit 130. Exposure control unit 130
Outputs a laser beam corresponding to the image signal. The laser beam is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 141 while being scanned by the polygon mirror 131. The photosensitive drum 141 is charged in advance by the primary charging unit 142, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the scanned laser light is formed on the photosensitive drum 141 by the irradiation of the laser light (image light). You. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 141 is developed by the developing unit 143, and is visualized as a toner image.

On the other hand, the sheet is transferred from one of the cassettes 144 and 145, the manual feed section 155, and the double-sided conveying path 154 to the transfer section 146.
Transported to Then, the visualized toner image is transferred to the transfer section.
At 146, it is transferred to a sheet. The sheet after transfer is
The sheet is conveyed to the fixing unit 148 by the conveying unit 147, and the fixing unit 148
Is subjected to a fixing process.

Then, the sheet passing through the fixing unit 148 is rotated by the plunger 153 to rotate the flapper 151 once to the path 152. After the trailing edge of the sheet has passed through the flapper 151, the sheet is switched back and discharged by the flapper 151. It is transported to the roller pair 149. Then, the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged toward the sheet processing apparatus 102 by the discharge roller pair 149 of the image forming apparatus main body 101.

Thus, the toner image can be discharged from the image forming unit 140 with the surface on which the toner image has been formed facing downward (face down). This is referred to as reverse paper discharge.

As described above, when the sheet is discharged face-down to the outside of the apparatus, the image forming process is performed sequentially from the first page, for example, when the image forming process is performed using the document feeding unit 110, When performing image forming processing on image data from a computer, the page order can be aligned.

The OH transported from the manual feed section 155
When performing image forming processing on a hard sheet such as a P sheet, the image forming process is performed by the discharge roller pair 149 with the surface on which the toner image is formed facing upward (face up) without guiding the sheet to the path 152. Discharged from unit 140.

When image forming processing is performed on both sides of the sheet, the sheet is fed straight from the fixing unit 148 to the discharge roller pair 1.
49, the sheet is switched back immediately after the trailing edge of the sheet exits the flapper 151, and is guided to the two-sided conveyance path 154 by the flapper 151, and the transfer unit 1 is again moved as described above.
Transport to 46.

The sheet P on which an image has been formed in this manner is discharged toward the sheet processing apparatus 102 by the discharge roller pair 149 of the image forming apparatus main body 101.

{Schematic Configuration of Sheet Processing Apparatus} Next, a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

The sheet processing apparatus 102 is disposed beside the image forming apparatus main body 101 as shown in FIG. 1, and folds the sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 101 into two or three. , Punching, alignment, stapling, etc., and can be discharged and stacked on a plurality of vertically movable trays.

In brief, the sheet processing apparatus 102 according to the present embodiment includes an entrance roller of a three-fold processing unit 200 at a position facing the discharge roller pair 149 of the image forming apparatus main body 101 as shown in FIG. A pair 201 is provided, and a discharge roller pair 266 is provided via a path or a roller for performing the tri-fold processing of the tri-fold processing unit 200. This tri-fold processing unit 2
The folding processing unit 8 is located at a position facing the discharge roller pair 266 of FIG.
A pair of entrance rollers 801 are provided, and a path or a roller for performing a folding process through a flapper 802 is provided. Further, an entrance roller pair 301 of the finisher 900 is provided via a flapper 802 of the folding processing unit 800, and subsequently, a conveyance roller pair 302 and a sheet end detection sensor 311 (see FIG. 7) are integrally provided so as to be movable. Punch unit 308 that punches a hole at the rear end of the sheet, large conveying roller 390, large sheet conveying roller
A plurality of pressing rollers 391 that press against 390 are provided.

The switching flapper 392 along the large conveying roller 390
Is provided, and the non-sort path 393 and the sort path 394
And have switched. The switching flapper 395 includes a sort path 394 and a buffer path 396 for temporarily storing sheets.
Is switched. A discharge roller pair 397 is provided in the non-sort path 393, and discharges sheets to the sample tray 601.

From the sort path 394, a pair of conveying rollers 398, a processing tray 400 for temporarily stacking and aligning sheets,
A pair of discharge rollers 404 for discharging sheets to the processing tray 400, a staple unit 500 for stapling the sheets on the processing tray 400, a swing guide 403 (see FIG. 40), a pair of bundle discharge rollers 406 serving as a sheet bundle discharging unit, and the like. Is provided. The bundle discharge roller pair 406 includes a roller 406a disposed on the processing tray 400 and a roller 406b supported by the swing guide 403.
When the swing guide 403 is closed, the sheet bundle on the processing tray 400 is cooperated and conveyed, and is discharged onto the stack tray 600 as a sheet stacking means.

Hereinafter, a folding step of folding the sheet in three, a punching step of punching a predetermined position at the end of the sheet,
An alignment process for aligning sheets in the sheet conveyance direction and a width direction orthogonal thereto, a stapling process for performing binding processing such as one-position binding and two-position binding on the aligned sheet bundle, and these processes are selectively performed. The stacking process for discharging and stacking the stacked sheets (or sheet bundle) will be described in detail, and the configuration and operation of the parts related to the process will be sequentially described in detail.

{Z-Folding Step} Next, the Z-folding step for folding a sheet and the configuration and operation of parts involved in this step will be described in detail.

In the Z-folding process, the sheet is folded into three by the Z-folding processing unit 200 according to the procedure shown in FIG.
That is, as shown in FIG. 3A, the sheet discharged from the image forming unit 140 by the discharge roller pair 149 is sent to the Z-folding conveyance path 250 of the Z-folding processing unit 200. Z-fold processing unit
In FIG. 200, one end of the sheet is abutted against the sheet leading end stopper 254 by the conveying roller pair 253, and is used as a reference (FIG.
(b)), the sheet is folded once by the first and second folding rollers 255 and 256 with a 端 position in the conveying length direction from the sheet end as a fold (FIG. 3 (c)), and the fold is received at the sheet folded end The stopper 261 is used as a reference (FIG. 3 (d)), and a 位置 position in the transport length direction from the fold is set as a fold, and the second and third folding rollers 256 and 264 are used to set a fold opposite to the first time. Fold back in the direction (Fig. 3 (e)). In this way, in the Z-folding, the first and second times are each 1 / from the leading edge of the sheet.
Assuming that the position of No. 4 is a fold, the folded sheet is just half the size of the original sheet material,
The three-fold processing is performed so as to fold the character.

A3 or B4 size sheet and Z
When the folding process is designated by the operation unit 711, the Z-folding process is performed on the sheet P carried in from the pair of entrance rollers 201.

As shown in FIG. 4, the conventional Z-folding processing unit 20
0 indicates that the guide member 271 has a flat shape, and after the first folding step, the sheet P
When the sheet P hits 1, the sheet P near the sheet folding end receiving stopper 261 may be exposed, the folding position of the sheet P is not stable, and the folding accuracy is unstable.

As shown in FIG. 5, after the first folding step, the sheet P held by the guide member 271 is moved to the second position.
The third nip rollers 256 and 264 may be straight or curved in a direction away from the nip portion, and the loop shape of the sheet P may not be constant, and the second and third fold rollers 256 and 264 may be curved. And the folding position was not stable, and the folding accuracy was unstable.

Accordingly, the Z-folding processing unit 200 according to the present invention
Is the sheet to be Z-folded by the flapper 251.
It is guided to the receiving conveyance path 252 shown in FIG.
The sheet is conveyed to the first folding path 269 by 3 and received by the sheet leading end stopper 254 provided in the first folding path 269.

At this time, in order to prevent the conveyed sheet P from jumping on the sheet leading end stopper 254, when the leading end of the sheet P reaches a little upstream from the sheet leading end stopper 254, the sheet leading end detecting sensor 257
To detect this, and the Z-folding control unit 716 (see FIG. 2)
Are the transport motors M and Z rotating the transport roller 253.
The folding unit 200 is stopped for the first time, and after a lapse of a predetermined time, is started (first start), and the leading end of the sheet P is brought into contact with the sheet leading end stopper 254.

As a result, the sheet P does not jump on the sheet leading end receiving stopper 254, and the first folding pass 2
In 69, the sheet gently lands on the sheet leading end stopper 254.

Thereafter, the conveying roller pair 253 continues to convey the sheet P while keeping the leading end of the sheet P in contact with the sheet leading end stopper 254 by the conveying motor M200 rotating at the original rotation speed. The sheet P is placed in the opening 2 of the guide wall 258.
The first and second folding rollers that protrude from 59 and are buckled
It approaches the nip X200 formed by 255 and 256.

When the sheet P approaches the nip portion X200, the Z-fold control unit 716 (see FIG. 2)
Is stopped for the second time, and after the vibration of the loop-shaped portion of the sheet P stops, the second start is performed. For this reason,
The loop-shaped portion of the sheet P is fed into the nip portion X200 in a stable state.

The timing of the second stop of the transport motor M200 is detected by the sheet leading edge detection sensor 257 before the leading edge of the sheet P comes into contact with the sheet leading edge stopper 254, and thereafter, the transport motor M200 is turned off for the first time. It is measured based on the number of revolutions since the start.

The sheet P is fed to the sheet leading end stopper 254.
And immediately before being fed into the nip portion X200 of the first and second folding rollers 255 and 256, since they are decelerated or temporarily stopped, they are exactly folded into two.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6B, the first and second folding rollers 255 and 256 fold the sheet P into two and convey it to the second folding path 270.

(Bending by mylar, vertical waist by projection)
The second folding path 270 includes a guide member 271 for guiding the sheet folded first by the first and second folding rollers 255 and 256.
A sheet folding end receiving stopper 261 (261a, 261b) as an abutting member for abutting a fold of the sheet P guided by the guide member 271 by the first folding;
Mylar, a biasing member that biases the sheet P at the tip of 71
263 (263a, 263b).

Note that the stopper 261a is a fixed type stopper which abuts the A3 sheet. . Stopper 261b
The position in the second folding path 270 is changed by the solenoid 202, so that sheets such as A4 and B4 can be abutted.

As shown in FIG. 7, the guide member 271 has a projection 271a near the sheet folding end receiving stopper 261. The projection 271a bends the sheet P so as to have a vertical stiffness.

As shown in FIG. 8, the Mylar 263 (263a,
263b) is formed by an elastic member so that the sheet P is curved so as to be convex toward the nip portion side of the second and third folding rollers 256 and 264. That is, the nip portion Y20
Mylar 263a provided at the tip of the 0-side guide member 271
Urges the folded end side of the sheet P in a direction away from the nip portion Y200, and the mylar 263b provided at the distal end of the guide member 271 on the nip portion X200 side
The nip portion Y200 side from the biased position by the nip portion Y200
Bias in the direction approaching. In this way, by urging the two points of the sheet P in the opposite directions, the sheet P faces in the direction in which the sheet P is conveyed to the nip portion Y200, and is further nipped by the conveying force of the first and second folding rollers 255 and 256. It is curved so as to have a convex shape on the part Y200 side.

In the second folding path 270, the folded edge of the conveyed sheet P is detected by the sheet folded edge detection sensor 262 immediately before the folded edge of the sheet P comes into contact with the sheet folded edge receiving stopper 261 provided in the second folded path 270. Then, the Z-folding control unit causes the folding drive motor M201 driving the second folding roller 256 to stop for the third time.

As a result, the folded end of the sheet P is gently brought into contact with the sheet folded end receiving stopper 261 by the inertial rotation of the folding rollers 256 and 264, and the folded end of the sheet P leans or jumps with respect to the sheet folded end receiving stopper 261. There is no such thing as.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the sheet P comes into contact with the sheet folding end stopper 261, the projection 271 a
Thus, the center in the sheet width direction near the fold due to the first fold is urged. Accordingly, the sheet P is curved with the center of the sheet protruding toward the guide member 271 facing the guide member 271 provided with the protrusion 271a.

The folding drive motor M201 rotates three folding rollers 255, 256 and 264. FIG.
As shown in (a), after the folded end of the sheet P comes into contact with the sheet folded end receiving stopper 261, the Z-folding control unit 716 causes the folding drive motor M201 to start for the third time. The third start is performed after a lapse of a predetermined time from the detection of the folding end of the sheet P by the sheet folding end detection sensor 262 described above.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG.
When the transport by 5, 256 is started, the portion of the sheet P facing the lower end of the mylar 263 starts to buckle due to the urging of the mylar 263, and the portion is bent by the second and third folding rollers 256, 2
It becomes a loop shape curved so as to be convex toward the nip portion side of 64, and together with the already folded portion, the second,
It approaches the nip portion Y200 of the third folding rollers 256 and 264.

The Z-fold processing unit 200 of this embodiment employs a configuration in which a pair of first folding rollers 255 and a pair of third folding rollers 264 use a common second folding roller 256. . That is, the first folding roller 255 and the second folding roller 256 form a roller pair, and the third folding roller 264 and the second folding roller 256 form a roller pair.

When the looped portion of the sheet P approaches the nip portion Y200 of the second and third folding rollers 256 and 264 to some extent, the Z-folding controller 716 controls the folding drive motor M201.
Cause a fourth stop. Thereby, the vibration of the looped portion is eliminated.

The fourth stop of the rotation of the folding drive motor M201 is performed after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of the third driving of the folding drive motor M201.

After a predetermined time elapses after the folding drive motor M201 has stopped rotating for the fourth time for a predetermined time, the folding drive motor M201 starts the fourth time to move the loop-shaped portion of the sheet P to the second, It is made to enter the third folding rollers 256 and 264.
FIG. 9C shows this state.

As a result, the sheet P is accurately folded into three without wrinkles, and the second and third folding rollers 25 are folded.
Emitted from 6,264.

Thereafter, the sheet P is sent to the two-fold processing section 800 by the discharge roller pair 266 shown in FIG. 1 via the sending-out path 265 shown in FIG.

As described above, the guide member 271 is provided with the projection 271a near the sheet folding end receiving stopper 261.
By bending the sheet P so that the sheet P has a vertical stiffness, the sheet P can be folded and conveyed at a predetermined folding position, and the folding accuracy can be improved.

In this embodiment, the protrusion 271a is located near the sheet folding end receiving stopper 261 where the sheet P is largely bent.
Is provided, but may be provided on the entire guide member 271.

Further, a mylar 263 is attached to the tip of the guide member 271.
And the sheet P is urged to urge the second and third folding rollers 25
6, 264 can be reliably folded and conveyed at a fixed folding position by being curved so as to have a convex shape toward the nip side.

The urging member is not limited to Mylar, and the same effect can be obtained if it is a flexible member.

[Punching Step] Next, the punching step of punching a sheet and the configuration and operation of the parts involved in this step will be described in detail.

(Detection of Perforation Position) Image Forming Apparatus Main Body 101
Alternatively, the sheet P discharged from the Z-folding processing unit 200 is received by the entrance roller pair 301,
Enter the punch unit 308.

As shown in FIG. 10, the punch unit 308
The puncher 318 is a punching means, a sheet edge detection sensor 311 for detecting an edge in the sheet width direction to detect a sheet size and a position in the sheet width direction, and a sheet edge detection sensor 311 for the puncher 318. A first drive motor M300, which is a first drive means for driving the puncher 318 in the sheet width direction, and a second drive motor M301, which is a second drive means for driving the puncher 318 together with the sheet end detection sensor 311 in the sheet width direction.
It is composed of

In punching a sheet by the punch unit 308, the user previously detects the end of the sheet in the sheet width direction while conveying the sheet and determines a punching position. Select the high-precision punch mode that determines the punching position by detecting the sheet edge on the punching line.

(High-Speed Punch Mode) When the high-speed punch mode is selected, first, the first drive motor M300 adjusts the sheet edge detection sensor 311 according to the difference in the sheet width due to the difference in sheet size, sheet orientation, and the like. Only move to the predetermined position.

Next, while the sheet is being conveyed, the puncher 318 and the sheet end detection sensor 31 are driven by the second drive motor M301.
1 is moved integrally, and as shown in FIG. 11, the sheet edge upstream of the line L for punching holes is detected.

The sheet is conveyed as it is, and the sheet is stopped at the position where the punching position of the punch 316 and the punching position of the sheet are aligned, and punching is performed by the puncher 318 described later. As described above, according to the high-speed punch mode, the sheet only needs to be stopped once when the sheet is punched, so that the time loss due to the sheet stop can be reduced and the punching process can be performed at a high speed.

However, as shown in FIG.
If the sheet is conveyed without skew, the detected sheet edge O2 and the sheet edge O1 of the line L in which a punch hole is formed are in the same position in the sheet width direction. Does not shift.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11 (b), when the sheet is skewed, the position in the sheet width direction between the detected sheet end O2 and the sheet end O1 of the line L for punching is L1.
The puncher 318 drills a hole at L1
Shift.

(High-precision punch mode) When the high-precision punch mode is selected, first, the first drive motor M300 detects the sheet edge according to the difference in the sheet width due to the difference in the sheet size, the sheet orientation, and the like. Only the sensor moves to the predetermined position.

The sheet is stopped at a position where the line L for punching faces the sheet edge detection sensor 311.

With the sheet stopped, the second drive motor M
The puncher 318 and the sheet edge detection sensor 311 are moved integrally by 301, and the sheet edge detection sensor 311 detects the sheet edge O1 of the line L where a punch hole is made.

At this position or at a position where the sheet is further conveyed and the punching position of the punch 316 and the punching position of the sheet are aligned, punching is performed by the puncher 318 described later.

As described above, when the sheet is stopped at a position where the line L for punching faces the sheet edge detection sensor 311, the sheet end O of the line L for punching is formed.
Detect 1 As a result, as shown in FIG. 11A, not only is the sheet P conveyed without skew,
As shown in (b), even when the sheet is skewed, since the sheet end O1 of the line L is detected, the position of the line L in the sheet width direction can be accurately detected.
8 can suppress the displacement of the position where the holes are made, and can make the holes with high precision.

(Puncher) As shown in FIG. 12, the puncher 318 is formed by a first frame 309, a second frame 310, and the like. A die 319 is formed in the first frame 309, and a die hole 320 is formed in the die 319.

As shown in FIG. 13, the second frame 310
Is attached to the first frame 309 with the spacer 310a interposed therebetween. A gap is formed between the first and second frames 309 and 310 due to the thickness of the spacer 310a, and the gap serves as a guide 321 for guiding the sheet. First frame 309,
The second frame 310 has guide portions 309c and 310b for introducing a sheet into the guide 321.

As shown in FIG. 14, the second frame 310
Includes a punch 316 and a slide cam 312 as a cam member slidably. The punch 316 is provided at a position corresponding to the die hole 320. The punch 316 reciprocates in the sheet width direction (arrow H direction), so that the die hole 320 and the punch 316 are moved.
Thus, a hole can be formed in the sheet.

The slide cams 312 include racks 312a and 312a.
c, a groove-shaped cam 322, and sensor flags 312d and 312e are formed. A plurality of cams 322 are arranged in the moving direction of the slide cam 312, and a plurality of die holes 320 are arranged corresponding to the cams 322. The cam 322 is formed in a groove shape. Each punch 316 has a connecting pin 323 projecting from the cam 322 having a groove.

As shown in FIG. 15, a groove-shaped cam 322 has a mountain-shaped drilling operation groove for allowing the punch 316 to enter the die hole 320.
322a and a pair of standby groove portions 322b, 322c formed at both ends of the drilling operation groove portion 322a so as to be continuously separated from each other to hold the punch 316 at a standby position separated from the die hole 320.
And formed.

Next, the punch operation will be described.

The puncher 318 stops at a predetermined position determined by the high-speed punch mode or the high-precision punch mode and waits. Then, the line L for punching holes is conveyed to a position facing the punch 316, and immediately after the sheet stops, the slide cam 312 moves in the sheet width direction.

During this time, the engagement position of the cam 322 with respect to the connecting pin 323 engaged with the grooved cam 322 is changed to the standby groove portion 32.
2b (322c), drilling operation groove 322a, standby groove 322c
(322b). As a result, the punch 316 has a die hole.
Go in and out of 320 and make holes in the sheet.

Thereafter, the perforated sheet is discharged and conveyed, and the slide cam 322 moves backward to perforate the next sheet. Therefore, the slide cam 322 can make holes in two sheets during one reciprocation, and can cope with high-speed punching.

(Punch Unit of Other Embodiments)
The slide puncher 318 has been described as the punching means, but a rotary puncher in which the punch and the die rotate only in one direction may be used. Also in this case, a hole can be formed in the sheet with high precision, similarly to the punch unit described above. Further, although the conveyance of the sheet is stopped at the time of perforation, the perforation can be performed while being conveyed by using a rotary perforation unit, and the perforation processing can be performed at higher speed.

(Processing of Punch Debris) As shown in FIG. 16, the punch debris generated when the sheet is punched by the punch 316 and the die 319 drop to the lower part in the casing 351 and
From the lower part of the casing 351, it is stored in a half pipe 360, which is a transport path for punch waste. 17, half pipe 3
The punch waste G stored in 60 is removed by a screw drive motor 37.
It is conveyed to the punch waste discharge port 372 of the half pipe 360 by a screw shaft 370 which is a conveying means rotated by 1. The punch 316, the screw shaft 370 and the half pipe 360 are arranged in parallel with each other.

(Eaves Formed on Half Pipe) As shown in FIG. 18, the half pipe 360 is located
An eaves portion 362 is provided on the downstream side in the rotation direction of, to prevent falling of punch dust. The eaves portion 362 is formed of an elastic member such as mylar to prevent damage or the like when a punch or the like hits the eaves portion 362.

The conventional half-pipe has no eaves, and punch debris accumulated at the bottom of the half-pipe lifts the half-pipe in the rotation direction of the screw shaft due to the rotation of the screw shaft.
There was a case that it fell from the half pipe and scattered.

The half pipe 360 in this embodiment is provided with an eave portion 362 for preventing punch chips from falling above the half pipe 360 and on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the screw shaft 370. Since it falls on the portion 362, the punch waste can be prevented from falling and scattering from the half pipe 360.

(Whole wall near the punch waste discharge port of the half pipe and on the downstream side in the screw shaft rotation direction) As shown in FIG. 19, near the punch waste discharge port 372 of the half pipe 360 and the downstream wall in the screw shaft 370 rotation direction. The side wall 360a was constituted by a plane extending vertically downward from the punch waste transport area (the lower part of the half pipe 360).

The wall near the punch waste discharge port of the conventional half pipe and on the downstream side in the direction of rotation of the screw shaft has an outwardly open shape. Therefore, when the punch waste is electrostatically attracted to the open portion, the next punch waste is removed. However, it did not fall down, but became a lump. In the worst case, the lump triggered a half-pipe to fall and scatter from the half-pipe.

The half pipe 360 in the present embodiment is configured such that the wall 360a on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the screw shaft 370 is formed as a plane extending vertically downward from the punch chip transport area (the lower part of the half pipe 360). In addition, it is possible to prevent stagnation of punch chips and prevent falling and scattering of punch chips from the half pipe 360.

The punch waste G conveyed by the screw shaft 370 is discharged from the punch waste outlet 372 of the half pipe 360, is disposed below the punch waste outlet 372, and can be removed from the rear of the main body of the copying machine. And is collected in a punch waste box 344 which is a waste storage container for storing punch waste generated when a punch hole is formed in a sheet.

When the punch waste box 344 is removed from the image forming apparatus 100 in order to dispose of the punch waste G accumulated in the punch waste box 344, the punch waste G remaining in the casing becomes:
Almost no drop from the punch waste outlet 372 is received by the screw shaft 370.

The punch dust G may be charged with the static electricity and solidified in the punch dust discharge port 372 to block the punch dust discharge port 372. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 17, four blades 374 are provided radially at the end of the screw shaft 370 located at the punch chip discharge port 372 to forcibly discharge and drop the punch chips G.

(Punch Waste Box) As shown in FIG. 1, the punch waste box 344 is detachably provided on the rear surface of the finisher 900 by a magnet (not shown).

Also, as shown in FIG.
Inside, there is provided an inclined inverted V-shaped dispersion plate 376 for dispersing the punch dust G falling from the punch waste receiving port 373. The punch chips falling from the punch chip receiving port 373 are dispersed in the left and right direction by the dispersion plate 376 and accumulate in the punch chip box 344.

When the dispersing plate 376 is provided, the punch dust G is dispersed in the punch dust box 344 and accumulates on average.
The space inside the punch waste box 344 is fully utilized and stored.

Further, a punch dust detection sensor 34 for detecting the amount (height, position) of the punch dust stored in the punch dust box 344.
5 detects that the punch waste box 344 is full of punch waste, and the user removes the punch waste box 344 from the rear surface of the finisher 900 and discards the punch waste G in order to discard the punch waste G.

The punch waste box 344 is provided with a punch waste detection sensor 345.
Has a hole 346 for detecting punch dust, and a rib 347 and a cylinder 348 are formed around the hole 346 as uneven surfaces in the vertical direction.

[0110] The conventional punch dust box is formed flat without any holes around the hole where the punch dust detection sensor detects the punch dust. For this reason, the punch dust is electrostatically attracted to the wall around the hole, and the punch dust is used as a trigger to accumulate the punch waste and block the hole for detecting the punch waste, and the amount of the punch waste is erroneously detected. There was a thing.

The punch waste box 344 in this embodiment has a hole 346 for the punch waste detection sensor 345 to detect waste, and a rib 347 and a cylinder 348 are formed at least around the hole 346. Thus, even if punch dust adheres around the hole 346, a considerable amount of punch dust must adhere to the hole 346 in order to get over the rib 347 and the cylinder 348 in order to close the hole 346. Can be prevented from being blocked, and punch dust can be accurately detected.

In the present embodiment, the rib 347 and the cylinder 348 are formed around the hole 346. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and a configuration in which only one of them is provided may be used. The shape of the hole 346 may be such that the hole 346 is not blocked by punch dust, such as the height of the periphery of the hole 346 is higher than the other surface.

{Alignment Step} As shown in FIG. 1, a large conveying roller 390 and a pressing roller 391 that presses and rotates the sheet around the large roller 390 are disposed downstream of the punch unit 308. The sheet is conveyed by the driving rotation of the conveying large roller 390. A switching flapper 392 is provided along the large conveying roller 390, and switches between a non-sort pass 393 and a sort pass 394. The switching flapper 395 switches between a sort path 394 and a buffer path 396 for temporarily storing sheets. The non-sort path 393 is provided with a discharge roller 397 for discharging the conveyed sheet to the sample tray 601.

On the other hand, the sheet conveyed to the sort path 394 is discharged after a plurality of sheets are aligned in a aligning step and subjected to staple processing or the like.

Next, an alignment process for aligning the sheets conveyed to the sort path 394, and the configuration and operation of parts related to this process will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 21, in the vicinity of the processing tray 400 serving as the intermediate stacking means, a rear end stopper 401 disposed at the rear end of the processing tray 400, for aligning the sheets on the processing tray 400 in the width direction. Alignment means 402, a swing guide 403 as swing guide means swinging above the processing tray 400, a draw-in paddle 405 serving as a paddle means for returning the sheet discharged from the discharge roller pair 404 to the rear end stopper 401, a bundle Discharge roller pair 4
06, a knurl belt 407, and a rear end dropping member 408 as a sheet pressing member.

The processing tray 400 is located on the downstream side (the left side in FIG. 21).
Is an upward tray, and an upstream tray (right side in FIG. 21) is downward. A rear end dropping member 408, a knurl belt 407, and a rear end stopper 401 are disposed at a lower end portion on the upstream side of the processing tray 400, and an alignment unit 402 is provided at an intermediate portion.
A retractable paddle 405 is arranged. The sheet discharged from the discharge roller pair 404 is guided by the rear end dropping member 408 and the sheet guide 413 at the rear end thereof by the action of its own weight and the retracting paddle 405 and, in some cases, by the action of the knurled belt 407. Slides on the processing tray 400 until it comes into contact with the support surface 401a as the butting stopper. When the stapling is performed by the stapler, the rear end stopper 401 rotates and retracts below the processing tray 400, as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG.

(Discharge Roller Pair and Knurled Belt) The discharge roller pair 404 is composed of a lower discharge roller 404a and a discharge roller 404b.
A knurled belt 407, which is a sheet conveying rotating body constituted by an endless belt member, is wound around the lower discharge roller 404a at several positions in the axial direction between the discharge roller 404b and each knurled belt 407. A plurality of sheet guides 413 are arranged at appropriate places therebetween. The knurl belt 407 is a flexible ring having a knurl as a non-slip rough surface on the entire outer periphery, and is deformable in the rotation direction. This knurl belt 407 is normally separated from the processing tray 400, but the lower discharge roller 4
When rotated by 04a, it rotates while deforming and abuts on the upper surface of the stacked sheets to assist the drawing operation.

(Rear Dropping Member) The rear dropping member 408 forcibly drops the trailing edge of the sheet discharged by the discharge roller pair 404 into the processing tray 400, and abuts the sheet against the trailing edge stopper 401. It is a guide.

[0120] Rear edge dropping member 408 and knurl belt 407
As shown in FIG. 22, a plurality of are provided in an axial direction intersecting the sheet conveying direction. In the present embodiment, a rear end dropping member 408 is attached with the knurled belt 407 at both ends.

As shown in FIG. 23, the trailing edge dropping member 408 is provided on the swing center shaft 408a so as to be able to swing up and down. Waiting at the position (down position). A cam surface is formed on one end of the rear dropping member 408 so as to engage with the link 414.
408b is formed, and the cam surface is formed by the operation of the link 414.
408b is pushed down (the state shown by the dashed line in FIG. 23), and as a result, the rear end dropping member 408 swings clockwise in FIG.

The link 414 is supported at the center of rotation, a part of which is engaged with the cam surface 408b, and is also connected to a solenoid 415 as a rotation drive mechanism. By the ON / OFF operation of the solenoid 415, as shown in FIG. 23, the rear end dropping member 408 rotates to the positions indicated by the solid line and the one-dot chain line. Incidentally, the solenoid 415 is connected to the sort path 394 as shown in FIG.
After the sheet detection sensor 420 provided at the predetermined position detects the leading edge of the sheet, it turns on after a lapse of a predetermined time, and turns off after the lapse of a predetermined time after detecting the rear end of the sheet.

At the other end of the trailing edge dropping member 408, as shown in FIG. 23, a sheet guide surface 408c and a pressing surface 408d for pushing the trailing edge of the discharged and floating sheet downward are formed. Since these also rotate together, in a state where the solenoid 415 is turned on (that is, a state in which the solenoid 415 is retracted out of the sheet passage locus), as shown in FIG.
No contact with 408d.

In a state where the solenoid 415 is turned off while the sheet is being discharged to the processing tray 400 (that is, a state where the sheet is located within the sheet passage locus), the rear end dropping member 408 is connected to the link 414 as shown in FIG. The upper surface of the sheet is pressed downward by the pressing surface 408d by its own weight without being restrained.

When the sheet is ejected and moves to the trailing end stopper 401 by its own weight and the conveying force of the pull-in paddle 405, the sheet trailing edge rises above the center of the knurled belt 407. It functions as a guide member that guides the user not to face (see FIG. 26).

When the sheet rear end is discharged from the discharge roller 404, the pressing surface 408d presses the discharged sheet rear end downward from the center of the knurled belt 407 within a predetermined time.

(Retracting Paddle) The retracting paddle 405 is discharged by the discharge roller pair 404 and is processed by the rear end dropping member 408 by the processing tray.
In order to abut the rear end of the sheet dropped into 400 against the rear end stopper 401, the sheet is rotated by a predetermined timing after the sheet is discharged by the discharge roller pair 404, and the sheet is moved to the rear end stopper.
401, and as described above, the discharge roller 4
The drive shaft is located downstream of 04 and above the middle part of the processing tray 400 (see FIG. 21), and is installed corresponding to the sheet width.
It is fixed in the same phase to a plurality of positions on 416. The pull-in paddle 405 is driven to rotate at an appropriate timing by a paddle motor M416. The length of each paddle is set slightly longer than the distance from the drive shaft 416 to the surface of the processing tray 400, and at any position during alignment, the paddle is always on both sides of the center of gravity of the sheet P. In order to be able to work from a plurality of positions, they are set and arranged in at least two or more places. The retraction paddle 405 is located at the home position shown in FIG. 21 when the sheet is being discharged from the discharge roller pair 404 in a normal standby state, and is configured not to interfere with the sheet discharged from the discharge roller pair 404. .

The pull-in paddle 405 moves the sheet P to the processing tray 400.
When the sheet P is discharged, the sheet P is rotated for a predetermined time, and operates to draw the sheet P toward the butting support surface 401a of the rear end stopper 401. Here, by arranging the plurality of retraction paddles 405 as described above, the retraction action on both sides including the center of gravity always acts on the sheet P during alignment.
Does not tilt during the alignment movement, and a good alignment operation can always be performed.

The pull-in time (rotation driving time) of the pull-in paddle 405 is determined so as not to hinder the discharge operation of the next sheet, and stops at the home position.

(Aligning Means) The aligning means 402 aligns the sheet in the width direction with respect to the sheet whose rear end abuts against the rear end stopper 401 as described above. As shown in FIG. 27, the alignment means 402 includes a pair of alignment members 409 and 410.
The upper and lower portions (corresponding to both side edges of the sheet P) in FIG. Each alignment member 409, 410 has an alignment surface 409a, 410a on the upper surface side of the processing tray 400.
Are arranged opposite to each other, and on the lower surface side of the processing tray 400, one parallel to the sheet width direction perforated on the surface of the processing tray 400.
Rack gear parts 409b, 410b through a pair of guide grooves 400a
Are mounted so as to be movable in the alignment direction.

The rack gear portions 409b and 410b are meshed with pinion gears 411 and 412 driven to rotate forward and reverse by aligning motors M409 and M410.
9, 410 can be moved in the alignment direction. Here, a position sensor (not shown) for detecting the home position of each of the alignment members 409 and 410 is arranged. In a normal case, the alignment member 409 is positioned at one end in the sheet width direction (see FIG. 27). The alignment member 410 is on standby at each home position set at the other end (the lower end shown in FIG. 27).

(Swinging Guide) The swinging guide 403 is supported by a swinging fulcrum shaft 417 on the upstream side (right side in FIG. 21), and is swung by the action of a rotary cam 418 connected to a swinging motor M403. I do. When the sheet is discharged to the processing tray 400, the swing guide 403 is in an open state (a state in which the bundle discharge roller pair 406 is separated as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 21), which hinders sheet discharge and alignment. It does not become. When the bundle of sheets is discharged from the processing tray 400, the bundle is rotated to a closed state (a state in which the pair of bundle discharge rollers 406 abuts as shown by the solid line in FIG. 21), and the downstream side (the left side in FIG. 21).
Roller 406b provided in the processing tray 400 and the roller 40 provided in the processing tray 400.
6a sandwiches the sheet bundle. The rollers 406a and 406b of the bundle discharge roller pair 406 are rotatable in forward and reverse directions when driven by the motor M406, and pinch and convey the sheet bundle to discharge the bundle to the stack tray 600.

(Alignment Operation) The alignment operation on the processing tray 400 will be described. The sheet sent to the sort path 394 is discharged onto the processing tray 400 by the discharge roller pair 404. In synchronization with this discharging operation, the rear end dropping member 40
8 swings to drop the rear end of the sheet into the processing tray 400.
Further, when the first sheet is discharged, as shown in FIG. 21, the retreat tray 419 provided below the processing tray 400 protrudes in the direction of the arrow X, and the leading end of the stacked sheets hangs down to cause a return failure. And the processing tray 40
The alignment of the sheet above 0 is improved.

When the sheet P is discharged onto the processing tray 400 by the knurl belt 407 wound around the lower discharge roller 404a of the pair of discharge rollers 404, the sheet P starts to return to the rear end stopper 401 by its own weight. In addition, the return action is promoted as the retractable paddle 405 stopped at the home position rotates. When the rear end of the sheet P is hit by the rear end stopper 401 and stopped,
The alignment members 409, 410 are moved in the sheet width direction so as to align in the sheet width direction, and are aligned in the sheet width direction by abutment of the alignment surfaces 409a, 410a. The retraction paddle 405 returns to the home position again and stops before the next sheet is discharged.

(Paddle Operation When Discharging the First Sheet to the Processing Tray) In the above-described alignment operation, when the sheet is discharged to the processing tray 400 as described above, the swing guide 403 is used.
Is in the open state. Therefore, sheet P is placed in processing tray 400
Each time the sheet is discharged, the pull-in paddle 405 is rotated to assist in returning the sheet toward the rear end stopper 401 together with the rotation of the knurl belt 407.

However, when the first sheet is discharged to the processing tray 400, the swing guide 403 is in the closed state. Therefore, the first sheet is discharged by the discharge roller pair 404 and the bundle discharge roller pair 406, and the rear end dropping member 408 is discharged.
After the trailing edge of the sheet falls on the processing tray 400 by the above operation, the bundle trailing roller pair 406 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction by a predetermined amount so that the trailing edge of the sheet abuts against the trailing edge stopper 401. At this time, the draw-in paddle 405 does not operate, and the sheet P
Then, the processing tray is pulled back toward the rear end stopper 401 by the knurl belt 407.

Thereafter, the swing guide 403 is opened, alignment is performed in the sheet width direction by the aligning means 402, and the swing guide 403 is maintained in the open state until the bundle is discharged. For this reason, when the second and subsequent sheets are discharged to the processing tray 400, the retracting paddle 405 is operated together with the operation of the trailing edge dropping member 408.

As described above, the pull-in paddle 405 operates from the ejection of the second and subsequent sheets, and does not operate at the time of ejection of the first sheet. Therefore, the number of operations can be suppressed to the minimum necessary. Therefore, wear of the pull-in paddle 405 is suppressed. Also, when the second sheet is ejected, the retractable paddle 405 is at the home position, so that the position of the retractable paddle 405 is not considered.
The discharge operation of the second sheet can be performed, and the discharge productivity is improved.

In this embodiment, the processing tray 400 is
As described in the example of discharging each sheet, the buffer path 396
To the processing tray 400 at the same time.
In the case of discharging to the processing tray 400, the draw-in paddle 405 is not operated when the plurality of sheet groups stored in the buffer path 396 are first discharged to the processing tray 400.

(Structure for preventing the home position detecting member of the paddle from rotating) The draw-in paddle 405 transfers the sheet to the processing tray 4.
After rotating to pull in to 00, the sheet stops at the home position, which is a position that does not become an obstacle when the next sheet is discharged. For this purpose, a home position detecting means for detecting the home position of the retractable paddle 405 is provided.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 28 (a), the retractable paddle 405 is mounted on a drive shaft 416 supported by a bearing 421, and operates when the drive shaft 416 is rotated by a paddle motor M416. A detection member 422 serving as a detent member is attached to the end of the drive shaft 416 so as to rotate integrally with the drive shaft 416. The detection member 422 has a cylindrical flange 422a, and a cutout 422b is formed in a part of the flange 422a. A home position sensor 423 is provided so as to straddle the flange 422a.

The home position sensor 423 is constituted by a transmission type photo sensor, and is provided at a position facing the notch 422b when the retractable paddle 405 is at the home position. That is, it is determined whether the home position sensor 423 detects the notch 422b or not.
It is determined whether or not 405 is at the home position, and drive control of the pull-in paddle 405 is performed according to the detection result.

As described above, the detection member 422 rotates integrally with the drive shaft 416. Here, a structure for preventing the rotation of the detection member 422 with respect to the drive shaft 416 will be described.

The detection member 422 is made of a synthetic resin, and has a round shaft hole 422d formed in a convex portion 422c formed in the center of rotation as shown in FIGS. 28 (a) and 28 (b). Further, the shaft hole 422d is formed so as to cover a part of the shaft hole 422d.
Is formed, and a linear pin 422f as a pin member is embedded in this groove.

By attaching the linear metal pin 422f so as to cover a part of the round hole as described above, the shaft hole 422d has a “D” shape having an arc portion and a straight portion. Then, the drive shaft is fitted so as to fit in this "D" shape.
The end of 416 is formed, and by joining the two, the detection member 4
22 is so-called "D-cut coupled" to the drive shaft. Therefore, the drive shaft 416 and the detection member 422 rotate integrally without different phases.

In the detent structure by the "D-cut coupling" as described above, when the drive shaft 416 rotates and stops rotating, the D-cut linear portion of the detecting member 422 (hereinafter referred to as "D-hole linear portion"). )). For this reason, if a “D” -shaped shaft hole is simply formed in the detection member made of a synthetic resin, there is a possibility that the end of the D-hole linear portion may be chipped during long-term use. .

On the other hand, the shaft hole of this embodiment has a high strength because the straight portion of the D hole is formed of the metal pin 422f as described above. Chipping does not occur at both ends 422g of the straight portion. In this embodiment, the length of the pin 422f is
, The load received from the drive shaft 416 is distributed over the entire length of the pin 422f, and the load applied to both ends of the straight portion of the D hole becomes smaller.

However, even if the length of the pin 422f is not increased as described above, for example, even if the pin has the same length as the straight portion of the D hole, it is sufficient for the load applied to both ends 422g of the straight portion of the D hole. It has strength and can prevent chipping.

In the present embodiment, the pins 422f are made of metal, but this is because of the high mechanical strength.
The member is not necessarily limited to metal as long as the member has higher rigidity than the detection member 422.

Further, the rotation preventing structure is provided with a retractable paddle 405.
Although the description has been given of the case where the present invention is applied to the home position detecting member, it is needless to say that the present invention can also be used as a detent structure for other rotating members.

(Sheet Discharge Speed to Processing Tray) As described above, the draw-in paddle 405 is rotated to transfer sheets to the processing tray 400.
The sheet has to be properly discharged onto the processing tray 400 in order to ensure that the drawing operation is performed.

However, the sheets sent to the aligning step have various sizes and thicknesses. Regardless of the type of these sheets, if the discharge roller pair 404 is set to a constant speed and is discharged to the processing tray 400, the thickness and size of A4 size plain paper and the like are smaller than those of normal sheets. The sheet tends to easily jump out of the discharge roller pair 404.

Accordingly, the sheet discharged by the discharge roller pair 404 is pushed downward by the trailing edge dropping member 408 to be
In the case of a sheet which is dropped on the sheet, but easily jumps out of the discharge roller pair 404 as described above, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 29, the sheet rear end may jump downstream from the area of the rear end dropping member 408. There is. When the retracting paddle 405 is operated in this state and the sheet is pulled back to the rear end stopper 401 side, the sheet rides on the sheet guide surface 408c of the rear end stopper 401 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
The rear end stopper 401 may not be able to be abutted.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, control is performed so that the rotation speed of the discharge roller pair 404 is changed according to the type of sheet. That is, a normal sheet such as A4 plain paper, a sheet of a size larger than this, a sheet folded in three,
Alternatively, if the rotation speed of the discharge roller pair 404 when discharging a sheet that is difficult to protrude from the discharge roller pair 404 such as a thin sheet is set as a reference value, the rotation speed of the discharge roller pair 404 such as a small-size sheet or a thick sheet is compared with this. When a sheet that is easy to be discharged is controlled, the rotation speed of the discharge roller pair 404 is controlled to be lower than the reference value.

As a result, even if the sheet is a small size sheet or a thick sheet, the sheet does not protrude more than necessary from the discharge roller pair 404, and the trailing edge of the sheet dropped into the processing tray 400 by the trailing edge dropping member 408 is removed. As shown in FIG. 26, the retractable paddle 405 is located on the rear end stopper side of the sheet guide surface 408c of the rear end dropping member 408.
Is operated, the rear end of the sheet is guided by the sheet guide surface 408c, and is also pulled by the rotation of the knurled belt 407 so as to hit the rear end stopper 401.

In this embodiment, the speed of the pair of discharge rollers 404 is changed according to the type of sheet. However, the speed of the pair of discharge rollers 404 is kept constant, and small-sized sheets and thick sheets are easily popped out. In the case of a sheet, the retracting paddle 4 is applied to the sheet protruding from the discharge roller pair 404.
The same effect can be obtained even if the timing for operating 05 is set earlier than for other sheets. That is, the trailing edge of the protruding sheet is the trailing edge dropping member 40.
By operating the pull-in paddle 405 at the timing before exiting the sheet 8, even if the sheet is easily protruded from the pair of discharge rollers 404, the rear end of the sheet does not pass through the sheet guide surface 408 c of the rear end dropping member 408.

As described above, not only the speed of the discharge roller pair 404 or the operation timing of the pull-in paddle 405 may be changed according to the type of sheet, but also both may be controlled so as to change simultaneously.

(Advancing / Retreating Speed of the Retreating Tray) When the sheet is discharged to the processing tray 400 as described above, the tip of the sheet having the size longer than the processing tray 400 hangs down. Therefore, in order to prevent this, in the present embodiment, the retreat tray 419 is projected below the processing tray 400 as described above.

Here, a brief description will be given of the structure of the moving means for moving the haunting tray 419. FIG. 30 (a) is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the haunting tray 419, and FIG. 30 (b) is a schematic plan explanatory view of the haunting tray. Haunting tray 419 is processing tray 4
At the bottom of 00, it is movably mounted along the processing tray 400. The base of this haunting tray 419 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), an elongated hole 419a is formed long in the sheet width direction, and an engaging pin 424a is engaged with the elongated hole 419a.
The engaging pin 424a is provided at the tip of an arm 424b integral with the pulley 424, and the pull-out 424 is rotated by a motor (not shown) so that the retractable tray 419 is moved as shown in FIG.
Move in the direction of arrow X, and emerge from the apparatus main body. The state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 30 (a) is the state of protruding from the apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as “projected state”), and the state shown by the solid line is the retracted state (hereinafter “retreat state”)
It is). In this retracted state, the haunting tray
419 sinks into the device to the tip.

When projecting the haunting tray 419,
It is necessary to avoid interfering with the sheet bundle already discharged on the stack tray 600. Therefore, when the sheet surface detection sensor detects that the upper surface of the sheet on the stack tray 600 is equal to or higher than the predetermined height, the stack tray 60
0 is lowered so that the upper surface of the sheet is lower than a predetermined position, and then the retreat tray 419 is configured to protrude. Therefore, before the sheet is protruded from the haunting tray 419, the sheet is
May be discharged to 00.

When the retreat tray 419 is made to protrude after the sheet is discharged to the processing tray 400 as described above, if the protruding speed is too high, the processing tray 400 that comes into contact with the retreat tray 419 is used.
There is a possibility that the uppermost lowermost sheet is pushed out along with the protrusion tray 419 and the alignment state is disturbed. Therefore,
In the present embodiment, when the emergence tray 419 is made to protrude, the protruding speed is set so as to protrude at a low speed of about 90 mm / s so as not to push out the sheet discharged to the processing tray 400.

On the other hand, after the alignment of the sheets,
When retracting the sheet 9, it is desirable that the retracting time be short in order to shorten the sheet discharging time to the stack tray 600 and increase the alignment support time. Thus, in the present embodiment, when retracting the haunting tray 419, the retreat speed is set to about 150 mm / s, which is faster than the protruding speed.

As described above, the projecting and retracting tray 419 is performed at a low speed, and when the retracting tray 419 is retracted, it is performed at a high speed, so that the sheet discharged to the processing tray 400 is not disturbed, and after the sheet alignment, Stack tray 600
To be discharged quickly.

(Arrangement of Rear End Stopper) The sheet discharged to the processing tray 400 is pulled in until it hits the rear end stopper 401 by the operation of the pull-in paddle 405 and the knurl belt 407 as described above.
Are arranged in the sheet width direction, and in this embodiment, four are arranged, and the sheet rear end is aligned by abutting the sheet against the sheet rear end.

Here, as shown in FIG. 31, four rear end stoppers 401 (401A, 401B, 401C, 40C) according to the present embodiment are provided.
1D) is arranged substantially linearly in the sheet width direction,
The rear end stoppers 401A and 401D on both outer sides in the sheet width direction are greater than the inner rear end stoppers 401B and 401C in the sheet discharging direction (FIG.
It is arranged so as to be slightly protruded to the side of arrow 31 (in the direction of arrow P). This protrusion amount is a small amount that does not affect the alignment, and is about 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm.

In the above configuration, a plurality of rear end stoppers 40
When 1 is arranged linearly without shifting in the sheet width direction, the abutment support surface 401a may be accurately arranged on a straight line, but the respective positions may be shifted in the sheet discharging direction due to an assembling error of the rear end stopper 401 and the like. May be slightly shifted. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 32, if the rear end stoppers 401B and 401C on the inner side in the sheet width direction are shifted so as to protrude in the sheet discharging direction, the rear end of the sheet becomes the protruding rear end stopper 401B, It will be matched by hitting 401C. However, the abutting area at this time is the distance Lbc between the rear end stoppers 401B and 401C, and the abutting area becomes short, so that the alignment of the rear end of the sheet becomes unstable.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, FIG.
As shown in FIG.
A, 401D protrudes in the sheet discharging direction, so that the trailing end of the sheet pulled back on the processing tray is located at the trailing end stopper 40.
It is aligned by hitting 1A and 401D. The abutting area at this time is the distance Lad between the rear end stoppers 401A and 401D on both outer sides, and the abutting area is maximized. For this reason, the butting alignment of the sheet is performed stably.

Even if the rear end stoppers 401B and 401C in the sheet width direction are slightly shifted in the sheet discharging direction due to an error in assembling the rear end stoppers, the rear end stoppers 401A and 401D on both outer sides. Since there is very little possibility that the sheet will protrude in the sheet discharging direction, no misalignment will occur.

In the case where the rear end stoppers are arranged as described above, the sheet is normally placed on both outer rear end stoppers 401A, 401A.
It comes into contact only with D. Therefore, if the surface roughness and slidability of the outer rear end stoppers 401A and 401D are higher than those of the inner rear end stoppers 401B and 401C, the sheet abutted against the rear end stoppers is aligned in the width direction. This is preferable because the resistance to the sheet is reduced.

Further, if the durability of the rear end stoppers 401A and 401D that always abut on the rear end of the sheet against scratches and the like is higher than that of the inner rear end stoppers 401B and 401C,
Even if the paper-passing durability is advanced, there is no possibility that the sheet is caught by the sheet and the alignment is not poor.

(Protrusion of Alignment Member) After aligning the sheet against the rear end stopper 401 as described above, the first
The alignment member 409 and the second alignment member 410 are operated to perform alignment in the sheet width direction.
A convex portion is formed on a part of the facing surface of 9,410. That is,
As shown in FIG. 33, the projections 409 are formed on the alignment surfaces 409a and 410a.
c, 410c are integrally formed. These projections 409c, 410
The protrusion amount of c is about 0.5 mm, and is formed by the length between the opposing first rack gear portion 409b and second rack gear portion 410b so as to overlap in the sheet discharging direction position.

The aligning members 409 and 410 transfer the sheets to the processing tray 40.
When the sheet is pulled back to 0, it is at the home position with an interval larger than the sheet width, but the rear end of the sheet is
When the one alignment member 409 is at the alignment reference position, the other alignment member 409, 410
Only) moves in the direction of the arrow and presses the sheet side edge to perform alignment in the width direction. The movement at this time is the pinion gears 411, 4
The drive of 12 is performed via the rack gear units 409b and 410b.

When the aligning pressure is applied by pressing the sheet side edge, the rack gear portion 409 is in contact with the aligning surfaces 409a and 410a.
Rotational moment is generated about b and 410b. To facilitate understanding of this moment, a case where the sheet is skewed will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 34, assuming that the alignment surfaces 409a and 410a are flat, the sheet P
The pressing point is the leading end of the alignment surfaces 409a, 410a, and the moment has a magnitude proportional to the distance L2 'between the pressing point and the rack gear portions 409b, 410b. This moment is generated by the rack gear portions 409b and 410b as in the present embodiment.
When the connection is made at a position deviated from the center of 9a, 410a, it tends to increase. It is desirable that the moment be small in order to act in a direction in which the alignment surfaces 409a and 410a bend around the rack gear portions 409b and 410b.

At this time, as shown in FIG.
If the convex portions 409c and 410c as described above are formed on a part of the convex portions 409c and 410c, the sheet P is pressed by the convex portions 409c and 410c.
c, 410c. For this reason, the moment acting on the alignment members 409 and 410 has a magnitude proportional to the distance L2 (L2 <L2 ') between the pressing point and the rack gear parts 409b and 410b, and the case where the convex parts 409c and 410c are not provided. Smaller than.

When the sheet is greatly skewed, the leading ends of the alignment surfaces 409a and 410a come into contact with the sheet even if the projections 409c and 410c are provided.
The load on the alignment surface is small at the beginning of the movement of the 9,410, and the load on the alignment surface is large when the final alignment is performed in accordance with the sheet width. In the present embodiment, in the final stage of the alignment, the sheet comes into contact only with the convex portions 409c and 410c, so that the load due to the alignment pressure is concentrated on the central portion of the alignment surface. The reduced moment is reduced. Therefore, even if the alignment operation is repeated,
409a and 410a do not bend.

In the present embodiment, the convex portions 409c and 410c
Is formed integrally with the alignment members 409 and 410,
The alignment members 409 and 410 and another member may be attached to the alignment surfaces 409a and 410a.

(Retraction of the knurl belt) As described above, the sheets discharged to the processing tray 400 are aligned with the alignment members 409 and 41.
0, the sheet is aligned in the width direction. At this time, depending on the size of the sheet, as shown in FIG. 35, the knurled belt 407 is positioned between the aligning member 409 on the side to be abutted and aligned and the sheet side end P ′. There are times when you do. In this case, when the sheet is aligned by moving the alignment member 410, FIG.
As shown by the dashed line 5, the seat side edge is the knurled belt 4
There is a possibility that the knurl belt 407 is displaced and the alignment of the sheet is disturbed by hitting the stomach 07. For this reason, in the present embodiment, a retracting unit for retracting the knurl belt 407 is provided, and the knurl belt 407 is retracted from the sheet according to the sheet size or the like.

Here, the structure of the evacuation means will be described. As shown in FIG. 36, the knurl belt 407 is wound around several lower discharge rollers 404a, and is rotated by the rotation of the lower discharge rollers 404a. A floating roller 425 can be engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the knurl belt 407, and the floating roller 425 is rotatably attached to the distal end of the retreating member 426. On the other hand, evacuation member
A rack gear 426a is formed at the base of the 426, and the rack gear 426a meshes with a pinion gear 427 driven by a knurl belt motor M407. The position of the retracting member 426 is detected by the home position sensor 428, and the state of the knurled belt 407 is controlled by controlling the knurled belt motor M407 according to the detection result.

That is, when the retracting member 426 is at the home position, as shown in FIG. 37, the floating roller 425 is at a position where it does not interfere with the knurl belt 407, and at this time, the knurl belt 407 hits a sheet on the processing tray. In contact with each other (this state is referred to as "free state"). When the knurled belt motor M407 rotates forward by a predetermined amount from this state, as shown in FIG. 38, the retreating member 426 moves in the direction of arrow Q, and the knurled belt 407 is pulled by the floating roller 425, and the processing tray is more advanced than the sheet guide 413. The sheet 400 is attracted toward the sheet retraction direction and separated from the sheet on the processing tray (this state is referred to as a “retreat state”).

In the above configuration, the knurled belt 407
Is performed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S401, it is determined whether the apparatus is in a standby mode (standby mode) such as when a paper jam (paper jam) or when there is no sheet. If the apparatus is in the standby mode, the process proceeds to step S405 to move the evacuation member 426 in the evacuation direction. The knurled belt 407 to the retracted state. This causes a jam in the portion of the processing tray 400, and when the knurled belt 407 is in a free state in processing this, the belt 407
Is not fixed, and may easily come off when touched by hand. Therefore, at the time of jam clearance or the like, the knurled belt 407 is set in a retracted state to make it difficult to touch with the hand, and the belt 407 is restrained by the floating roller 425 so that it is hard to come off even if touched by hand. It is in order to make a state. This makes it possible to easily carry out a jam processing or the like in the processing tray 400.

If it is determined in step S401 that the apparatus is not in the standby mode, the flow advances to step S402 to determine whether the size of the sheet to be processed is small. Here, the criterion for determining whether or not the sheet is a narrow sheet is such that the knurled belt 407 is located between the alignment member 409 on the side that abuts and aligns when the sheet is discharged to the processing tray 400 and the sheet side end as described above. If the size is small, it corresponds to a narrow sheet. In the case of such a narrow sheet, as shown in FIG. 35, if the sheet is pushed out by the aligning member 410 as it is, the sheet hits the knurled belt 407,
Proceeding to step S406, the evacuation member 426 is moved to the evacuation position, and the knurl belt 407 is set in the evacuation state in advance.
Accordingly, since the knurl belt 407 is separated from the sheet on the processing tray, even the narrow sheet is aligned in the width direction without hitting the knurl belt 407.

If it is determined in step S402 that the sheet is not a narrow sheet, the flow advances to step S403 to determine whether the mode is a mode in which a large-size sheet or a folded sheet is discharged to the processing tray 400. Here, as shown in FIG. 40, when the sheet is discharged to the processing tray 400 by the discharge roller pair 404, the rear end of the discharged sheet is in a free state, as shown in FIG. The discharge mode is determined based on whether or not the sheet 407 contacts the sheet 407, and depending on the sheet size, the type of the sheet, and whether or not to discharge the folded sheet.

That is, as described above, a small-size sheet or a thick sheet is likely to jump out when being discharged by the discharge roller pair 404, and therefore, the rear end of the sheet is
Never touch 7 However, large size sheets and 3
For heavy sheets such as folded sheets,
The sheet does not jump out of the 404 and falls as the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the discharge roller pair 404. At this time, if the knurl belt 407 is in a free state, the trailing end of the falling sheet may hit the knurl belt 407 as shown in FIG. Since the knurl belt 407 has elasticity, the hit sheet is discharged onto the processing tray in a resilient manner. At this time, there is a possibility that the sheet P already ejected onto the processing tray and aligned by the knurl belt 407 will be disturbed by the repelled sheet P.

Therefore, if it is determined in step S402 in FIG. 39 that the sheet is a large-size sheet, the flow advances to step S406 to retract the knurl belt 407 in advance. Accordingly, even if the sheet that has passed through the discharge roller pair 404 falls onto the processing tray as it is, the rear end of the sheet does not hit the knurl belt 407, and is discharged onto the processing tray without disturbing the aligned sheet. .

On the other hand, if the sheet is a small size sheet or the like in step S402, the flow advances to step S404 to set the retracting member 426 to the home position and leave the knurled belt 407 in a free state. Even in this state, the sheet jumped out of the discharge roller pair 404 does not hit the knurl belt 407 as described above. Then, the knurl belt 407 contacts the sheet discharged and aligned on the processing tray 400, and acts to press the sheet. Therefore, the sheets that have already been discharged and aligned are not disturbed by the sheets that fall on the processing tray 400.

As described above, the knurled belt 407 is set in the retracted state in the case of a narrow sheet or a large size sheet, and is set in the free state in the case of other sheets.
The sheet is discharged and the sheet processing such as alignment is performed in step S407, whereby accurate alignment is performed regardless of the type of sheet.

{Stapling Step} Next, the stapling step of performing the binding processing on the aligned sheet bundle, and the configuration and operation of the parts related to this step will be described in detail.

(Detailed Description of Staple Unit) The staple unit (binding means) 500 will be described in particular with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to (a side view corresponding to the main cross section), FIG. 42 (a plan view in the direction of the arrow a in FIG. 41), and FIG. 43 (a rear view in the direction of the arrow b in FIG. 41).

[0189] The stapler 501 is fixed on the movable base 503 via the holder 502. The moving table 503 is provided for the processing tray 40.
0 has a set of stud shafts 504 and 505 fixed in parallel to the trailing edge of the sheets stacked on
The rolling rollers 506 and 507 are respectively rotatably assembled to the rolling rollers 4 and 505, and the rolling rollers 506 and 507 are fixed to a fixed base.
It is movably engaged in a series of hole-shaped guide rails 508a, 508b, 508c drilled parallel to 508.

Each of the rolling rollers 506, 507 has a flange 506a, 507a having a diameter larger than the hole width of the series of hole-shaped guide rails 508a, 508b, 508c, while the moving table 503 holding the stapler 501 is provided. On the lower surface side, support rollers 509 are provided at three places, and the movable table 503 moves on the fixed table 508 along a series of hole-shaped guide rails 508a, 508b, 508c.

Here, the series of hole-shaped guide rails 508
As shown in FIG. 42, a, 508b, and 508c are branched from the main guide rail hole portion 508a, the left end guide rail hole portion 508b that is branched from the left end side of the hole portion, and the right end side. Right parallel guide rail hole 508c
It consists of Therefore, due to such a rail shape, when the stapler 501 is located on the left end side, the rolling roller 506 is located in the left end of the rail hole portion 508b, and the rolling roller 507 is located in the left end of the rail hole portion 508a. Respectively, and is maintained in a right-tilted posture in a state of being inclined to the right side by a predetermined angle, and when located at an intermediate portion, each of the rolling rollers 506 and 507 are both within the rail hole portion 508a. When it is maintained in the non-inclined parallel posture, and is located on the right end side, the rolling roller 507 has the rail hole portion 508c.
The rolling rollers 506 are moved into the right ends of the rail hole portions 508a, respectively, and are maintained in a left-tilted posture in which the rollers are inclined leftward by a predetermined angle. In addition,
These operations for changing the posture are performed by an operation cam (not shown). Further, the stapling unit 500 is provided with a position sensor (not shown) for detecting the home position of the stapler 501.
1 is waiting at the home position on the left end side.

(Playback Removing Means of Staple Unit) Next, the play removal configuration at the alignment position (standby position) of the stapler will be described in detail.

As described above, together with the rear end stopper 401 attached to the processing tray 400, the sheet stopper 51 for regulating the rear end position of the sheet discharged onto the processing tray 400.
The stapler 501 having 3 is configured to be movable along guide rails 508a, 508b, 508c formed on the movable base 503. However, the stapler 501 (rolling roller 5
06, 507) has some looseness in the guide rails due to component tolerances and the like or for the purpose of smoothly moving the guide rails. When the stapler 501 is waiting at the alignment position (a predetermined position that regulates the rear end of the sheet together with the rear end stopper 401 of the processing tray 400), the above-described looseness (approximately 0.3 mm) occurs due to the fitting play. Therefore, there is a possibility that the accuracy of alignment of the sheet rear end position may be reduced.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, there is provided a play removing means for preventing play of the stapler 501 at the alignment position (standby position). Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG.
A reference guide 521 is provided on the staple unit 500 side, and a leaf spring 522 with a roller for biasing the reference guide 521 in the direction of arrow B in the drawing is provided at a stapler standby position (alignment position) on the apparatus main body side. Therefore, staple unit 5
When 00 is moved to the alignment position, the leaf spring 522 with the roller rides on the reference guide 521 and urges the reference guide 521 in the direction of arrow B in the drawing, so that the stapler 501 is guided at the alignment position. It is urged against one side edge of the rail 508a.

As a result, it is possible to prevent rattling at the alignment position (standby position) of the stapler 501, and the processing tray 400
The position of the sheet stopper 513 of the stapler 501 that regulates the sheet rear end position is held together with the rear end stopper 401, so that the alignment of the sheet rear end on the processing tray 400 is improved.

In the above arrangement, the backlash removing means is
Although the configuration in which the reference guide is provided on the staple unit side and the leaf spring with the rollers is provided on the apparatus main body side is exemplified, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration in which a leaf spring with rollers is provided on the staple unit side and a reference guide is provided on the apparatus main body side may be employed. Alternatively, the same effect can be expected even if one side edge of a part of the guide rail forming the movement path of the stapler (the portion corresponding to the alignment position) is movable relative to the other side edge.

(Spare Cartridge Storage Box) The staple unit 500 includes a cartridge 5 having a binding staple.
30 (hereinafter referred to as a needle cartridge) is configured to be detachable. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 45, needles having different lengths are loaded into the cartridge frame, and a needle cartridge 530a that can accept up to 100 sheets,
The needle cartridge 530b, which can accept up to 50 sheets, is configured to be exchangeable according to the number of sheets.

In this embodiment, the needle lengths of the needle cartridges are set as follows in order to correspond to the maximum allowable number of bundles as shown in FIG.

That is, the needle cartridge 530a that can accept up to 100 sheets has a crown length (13 mm) + (a bundle thickness (10 mm) corresponding to 100 sheets + a folded length (3 mm)) × 2 = 39 mm
And a needle cartridge 530b that can accept up to 50 sheets
Is the crown length (13mm) + (bundle thickness equivalent to 60 sheets (5m
m) + return length (3 mm)) × 2 = 31 mm.

[0200] As described above, in the staple unit 500 in which a plurality of types of staple cartridges having different maximum allowable number of stitches can be exchanged, when the staple cartridge is replaced with a staple cartridge other than the staple cartridge which is actually attached and used, the user needs to change the staple cartridge. However, there is a problem in that the user has to go to a needle cartridge storage location different from the apparatus main body to pick up the needle cartridge, and the operability of the user is poor.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, in the staple unit 500 in which a plurality of types of staple cartridges 530a and 530b having different maximum allowable number of sheets can be exchanged, a staple cartridge other than the staple cartridge attached to the staple unit 500 is used. The cartridge housing means for housing the cartridge is provided integrally with the apparatus main body. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 47, a cartridge storage section 531 for storing the needle cartridge 530b not attached to the staple unit 500 is opened and closed in the apparatus main body (the sheet processing apparatus 102 or the finisher 900). It is configured to be integrally provided inside the openable / closable cover 103 that is provided.

With this configuration, when replacing the staple cartridge when the binding staple has run out, or when replacing the staple cartridge when the maximum number of sheets to be bound is different, the user can use a different staple from the apparatus main body. This eliminates the need to go to the cartridge storage location to pick up a desired needle cartridge, thereby improving user operability.

Further, by providing the cartridge storage portion 531 inside the opening / closing cover 25, the cartridge storage portion 531 is concealed inside the apparatus by closing the opening / closing cover 25, so that the external appearance of the apparatus is not spoiled. , Looks good.

Incidentally, the number and types of the needle cartridges that can be exchanged (maximum allowable number of stitches, etc.) are not limited to those described above, and may be appropriately set as necessary.

[0205] Also, as an example, the cartridge accommodating means for accommodating the needle cartridge is provided integrally with the opening / closing cover. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the opening / closing cover is opened. A housing inner / outer cover (having an opening required for exchanging a stapler needle cartridge) that covers the inside of the device body exposed to the outside, and a storage means capable of fitting and storing the needle cartridge in the housing inner / outer cover. A similar effect can be expected.

(Manual Moving Means of Staple Unit) The staple unit is configured to be moved to a staple cartridge replacement position (home position) at the time of, for example, the staple cartridge replacement described above.

However, if the user inadvertently pushes the staple unit that has been moved to the replacement position into the apparatus, it has conventionally been difficult to return the staple unit to the replacement position.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, a manual moving means is provided which allows the user to move the staple unit 500 to an arbitrary position. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 48, when the open / close cover 103 (see FIG. 47) provided on the apparatus main body is opened, a stapler moving dial 532 is provided near the home position of the staple unit 500. By rotating the dial 532 by the user, the staple unit 500 can be easily moved to the home position (or any position in a movable direction).

[0209] The staple unit 500 is the same as that shown in FIG.
Are reciprocated along the sheet bundle edge by a moving mechanism as a moving means shown in FIG. The staple unit 500 is partially engaged with a belt 533, and the belt 533 is stretched around pulleys 534 and 535.
One of the pulleys 535 is connected to a gear pulley 537 of the stapler moving motor M500 via a belt 536. Therefore, the staple unit 500 is reciprocated along the guide rail by the forward and reverse rotation of the motor M500. Dial 532 as the manual driving means
Is provided so as to mesh with the gear pulley 537, and furthermore, is arranged so that a part thereof is exposed from a casing inner / outer cover (not shown). And this dial 532
Is configured to be usable when the driving of the moving mechanism is stopped.

With the above-described configuration, as described above, for example, even if the user inadvertently pushes the staple unit 500 that has been moved to the exchange position into the apparatus, the staple unit 500 can be used by the user. Can be easily returned to the replacement position, and user operability is improved.

(Stapling Operation) In the stapling operation performed by the staple unit 500, a specified number of sheets are stacked and aligned on the processing tray 400 as described above, and the staple operation is performed on the aligned sheet bundle. Stapling is performed at the stapling position according to the mode and sheet size, and a sample tray that can be moved
This is an operation of discharging the document onto the stack tray 601 or the stack tray 600.

(Binding Pitch Change) First, the binding control in the initial state and the binding control at the time of changing the binding pitch in the case where the stapler 501 performs two-position binding will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

Note that the binding pitch in the default setting (initial state) in this embodiment is about 120 mm, while the changeable range when changing the binding pitch described later is about 70 mm.
Each binding position is symmetrical with respect to the center in the sheet width direction.

In step S510 in FIG. 49, it is determined whether or not the binding pitch has been changed. If the binding pitch has not been changed, the process proceeds to the initial binding control after step S521, and if the binding pitch has been changed, the process proceeds to the binding control at the time of changing the binding pitch from step S531. Will be

(Initial state control: initial mode) In the initial state binding control, first, the staple unit 5 having the sheet stopper 513 for regulating the sheet rear end is used.
Before the sheet is discharged onto the processing tray 400, the 00 is moved from the home position to an alignment position (a position that regulates the rear end of the sheet together with the rear end stopper of the processing tray) and waits (step S521). Thereafter, the sheets are stacked and aligned on the processing tray 400, and a first binding process is performed on the sheet bundle at the alignment position (step S52).
2). Thereafter, the roller 40 in the open state with respect to the roller 406a
With 6b closed, the sheet bundle is nipped by rollers 406a and 406b (step S523). Thereafter, the staple unit 500 is moved from the standby position to the second binding position (step S524), and the second binding process is performed (step S525).

(Control at Binding Pitch Change: Binding Pitch Change Mode) Next, the binding control at the time of binding pitch change will be described. The binding control according to the present embodiment will be described in comparison with the conventional binding control. .

Conventionally, in response to the change in the binding pitch, the staple unit is first moved from the home position to the first binding position corresponding to the binding pitch change different from the alignment position before the sheet is discharged onto the processing tray. Move to standby. Thereafter, the sheets are stacked and aligned on the processing tray, and a first binding process is performed on the sheet bundle at the first binding position. After that, the roller 406b, which is in an open state with respect to the roller 406a, is closed and the roller 406a is closed.
a and 406b sandwich the sheet bundle. afterwards,
Moving the staple unit from the first binding position to a second binding position (a position corresponding to a binding pitch change);
The second binding process is performed.

However, in the case where the control for changing the binding pitch is performed as described above, for example, when the binding pitch is set to be narrower (for example, 70 mm) than the default setting, when the rear end of the sheet is aligned on the processing tray, The staple unit having the sheet stopper that regulates the sheet trailing edge together with the trailing edge stopper provided on the processing tray waits at a position corresponding to the binding pitch change. The standby position at the time of the rear end alignment) is different, and furthermore, the sheet rear end abutting area at the time of default setting (the sheet stopper 513 and the rear end stopper 4).
Since the abutting area at the time of changing the binding pitch may be narrower than that of the sheet rear end abutting area formed by “01”, sheet inconsistency may occur.

Therefore, in the binding control at the time of changing the binding pitch according to the present embodiment, first, the staple unit 500 having the sheet stopper 513 for regulating the trailing edge of the sheet is set in the processing tray.
Before the sheet is ejected onto the sheet 400, the sheet is moved from the home position to the matching position and made to stand by (step S531).
Thereafter, the sheets are sequentially stacked and aligned on the processing tray 400. When the aligned sheet bundle is formed on the processing tray 400, the roller 406b, which is open with respect to the roller 406a, is closed, and the sheet bundle is nipped by the rollers 406a, 406b (step S532). After that, the staple unit 500 is moved to the first binding position according to the binding pitch change (step S533), and the first binding process is performed (step S534). Thereafter, the staple unit 500 is moved from the first binding position to a second binding position (a position corresponding to a change in the binding pitch) (step S53).
5) The second binding process is performed (step S53).
6).

[0220] By adopting such a configuration for performing control,
The staple unit 500 having the sheet stopper 513 is
Always the same position (alignment position) regardless of the change in the binding pitch
Since the area regulated by hitting the rear end of the sheet is the same area regardless of the change in the binding pitch, the position of the sheet stopper 513 that moves together with the staple unit 500 changes with the binding pitch. It is possible to prevent sheet misalignment due to the difference.

Further, by adopting a configuration having the above two binding control modes, the user can appropriately select a binding pitch as needed, and when the binding pitch is to be changed, the sheet mismatch can be eliminated by using the binding pitch change mode. If the binding pitch does not need to be changed, the initial mode can be used to perform processing faster than in the binding pitch change mode.

(Adjustment of Position of Sheet Stopper of Staple Unit) The sheet stopper 513 of the staple unit 500 is configured to be attachable to the staple unit 500 as shown in FIGS. 41 and 50. Butt support surface 513a of sheet stopper 513
However, the configuration is such that the surface can be adjusted with the abutting support surface 401a of the rear end stopper 401 provided on the processing tray 400. Less than,
A detailed description will be given in comparison with the conventional configuration.

Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 50 (b), a sheet stopper 513 attached to the staple unit 500 is screwed by a screw 544 into a long hole 543 drilled in the staple unit side in substantially the same direction as the sheet conveying direction. It is configured to be stopped, and at the time of this attachment, the movement can be adjusted in substantially the same direction as the sheet conveying direction.

Therefore, for example, due to component tolerances, the butting support surface 513a of the sheet stopper 513 of the staple unit 500 is inclined with respect to the butting support surface 401a of the rear end stopper 401 of the processing tray 400. If this occurs, the butting support surface 40 of the rear end stopper 401 of the processing tray 400
1a for the sheet stopper 51 of the staple unit 500
The abutting support surface 513a of the rear end stopper 401 of the processing tray 400 and the abutting support surface 513a of the sheet stopper 513 of the staple unit 500 can be adjusted only at the point. On the other hand, they cannot form the same plane,
There is a possibility that the regulation of the trailing edge of the sheet will be non-uniform in the direction intersecting the transport direction.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the sheet stopper 513 attached to the staple unit 500 is configured to be swingable not only in the same direction as the above-described sheet conveyance direction but also in the tilt direction with respect to the sheet conveyance direction. ing. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 50 (a), an elongated round hole 545 is provided on the staple unit 500 side in addition to the elongated hole 543, and the sheet stopper 513 is moved along the elongated hole 543 by an arrow C in the figure. In addition to being configured to be movable in the direction, the inside of the elongated hole 545 is also configured to be movable in the tilting direction (the direction of arrow D in the figure).

With this configuration, the processing tray 40
0, butting support surface 401a of rear end stopper 401, and butting support surface 513 of sheet stopper 513 of staple unit 500.
a and the same plane as the rear end of the sheet can be formed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the regulation of the rear end of the sheet from becoming uneven, and it is possible to more accurately align the rear end of the sheet.

{Loading Step} Next, a loading step of discharging and loading sheets (or a sheet bundle) on which each of the above-described processes has been selectively performed, and a configuration and an operation of a portion related to this step will be described in detail.

(Detailed Description of Stack Tray and Sample Tray) The stack tray 600 and the sample tray 601 will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 51 and 52.

Stack tray 600 and sample tray 601
The stack tray 600 disposed below is selected when receiving a sheet bundle for copy output, printer output, etc., and the sample tray 601 disposed above is used as the sample tray 601. This is selected when receiving sheets such as output, interrupt output, output when stack tray overflows, function output, and output when jobs are mixed.

The stack tray 600 and the sample tray 601 are held by tray base plates 602 and 603, respectively, and the base plates 60
By using stepping motors M600 and M601 fixed to the mounting frame plates 604 and 605 via the mounting frame plates 604 and 605, they can be independently driven in the vertical direction.

Next, the arrangement of each sensor for controlling the vertical position of the stack tray 600 and the sample tray 601 will be described.

The sensor S602 is a sensor for detecting the loading area of the sample tray 601.
It detects that it is located in a range that belongs to the area from the upper limit position detection sensor S603a to the sheet surface detection sensor S605 of the processing tray 400. The sensor S603b is a sensor for detecting that the number of sheets P discharged from the discharge roller pair 397 onto the sample tray 601 has reached a predetermined number, and here, a non-sorted sheet surface detection sensor S604.
Is placed at a position equivalent to 1000 sheets.

The sensor S603c is a sensor for detecting that the number of sheets P discharged from the processing tray 400 onto the sample tray 601 has reached a predetermined number. It is arranged at a position corresponding to the number of sheets. The sensor S603d is a stack tray 600
Is a sensor for limiting the height of the stacking amount when receiving the sheets P from the processing tray 400, and is disposed at a position corresponding to 2000 sheets from the sheet surface detection sensor S605. The sensor S603e is a sensor for setting the lower limit position of the stack tray 600. Also, stack tray 600
The sheet presence detection sensors S606a and S606b are arranged on the sample tray 601 and the sample tray 601, respectively.

[0234] Of these sensors, only the sheet surface detection sensors S604 and S605 are as shown in FIG.
The sheet P is set to a light transmission type that detects the presence or absence of the sheet P by light transmission from one side edge to the other side edge. Here, as a sheet surface detection method, each of the sheet surface detection sensors S604 and S605 is used. When the trays 600 and 601 are lowered to the position where they appear, the initial state is set, and the lowering is repeated until the sensor optical axis appears after the sheets are stacked.

(Pre-Detection of Sheet Loading Height) As described above, the trays 600 and 601 for discharging and stacking a sheet bundle or the like subjected to a predetermined process (binding, etc.) are disposed below the discharge port. Sheet surface detection sensors S604 and S605,
The uppermost sheet on the trays 600 and 601 is detected, and the uppermost sheet is always kept at the same position.
The movements of 600 and 601 are controlled.

The maximum number of stackable sheets (for example, 1000 sheets) is set for each of the trays 600 and 601. For example, in the case of the sample tray 601, the area is between the discharge port for discharging sheets to the tray 601 and the alignment area (between the bundle discharge rollers 406a and 406b) on the processing tray 400. The position at which the sheet 400 does not enter the alignment area is the maximum height at which sheets can be stacked.

When a stack of sheets is discharged and loaded from the discharge port of the processing tray 400 using the sample tray 601, for example, when the maximum height at which the sheets can be loaded is detected, 1
If there is a sheet that is being processed to form a set of sheet bundles, the sheet bundle will be discharged onto the sample tray 601. Then, after the sheet bundle is discharged onto the sample tray 601, the sample tray 6
When the sample tray 601 is moved upward, the sample tray 601 is stopped at a position where the uppermost sheet does not block the upper discharge port (the position of the sheet surface detection sensor S604). The operation is stopped in the alignment area of the tray 400. Thus sample tray 601
Is stopped in the alignment area of the processing tray 400, sheet processing on the processing tray 400 and discharge stacking on the stack tray 600 cannot be performed.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the detection of the sheet stacking height before reaching the maximum height that can be stacked on the tray (hereinafter, referred to as the sheet stacking height).
Pre-detection). Hereinafter, a specific description will be given.

For example, in the sample tray 601, as described above, the movement control is performed so that the uppermost sheet surface of the loaded sheets is always kept at the same position. Motor M601 as drive source
, The current position of the sample tray 601, that is, the sheet stacking height on the sample tray 601 can be known. In this embodiment, the pre-detection position (the predetermined rotation amount of the motor M601) before reaching the maximum sheet stackable height is set using this. Furthermore, the pre-detection position is configured to be divided according to the number of sheet bundles set by the user.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 54, when the maximum height of the sample tray 601 capable of stacking sheets is H, and the number of sheets set by the user is n, the pre-detection position Ph is The sample tray 601 is set at a position (Ph = H−n) where the sample tray 601 can move downward by the number n of sheet bundles from the maximum stacking height H.

In this way, after the pre-detection, there is a sheet being processed to form one sheet bundle, and after discharging and stacking the sheet bundle on the sample tray 601, Even if you move
As described above, it is possible to prevent the sample tray 601 from entering the alignment area of the processing tray 400, improve the accuracy of the number of stacked sheets on the tray, and stoplessly transfer the sheets to the stack tray 600. Loading becomes possible.

If the sample tray has entered the matching area of the processing tray, the user may be notified that the already loaded sheets are to be removed.

Here, the height position of the sample tray 601 is determined by the sheet surface detection sensors S604 and S605 and the position sensors S603a, S603b, S603c, S603d,
Although control was performed in step S603e, three area flags F602 and three area sensors S602 are used (the area can have (2 ³ =) 8 areas) so that areas between the sensors can be confirmed as areas. The same control as the above-described position sensor may be performed at the change of the area.

At this time, the pre-detection area, which is the sheet position detection position before reaching the maximum sheet stacking height, is determined by the thickness of the sheet bundle at the maximum number of sheets to be stapled by the stapler 501 as the binding means (here, the thickness of 100 sheets is (About 14.7mm) (here, about 17mm).

Also, by changing the number of times the bundle is discharged after the tray enters the pre-detection area according to the number of sheets set by the user, the predetermined number of sheets can be reliably stacked. When the number of bundles discharged is 5 or less, the pre-detection area is not used.
The stack is discharged by stacking two bundles for 26 to 50 sheets and one bundle for 51 to 100 sheets).

Although the configuration for performing the pre-detection of the sheet stacking height on the sample tray 601 has been described here, the present invention is not limited to this.
The pre-detection of the sheet stacking height above zero may be configured. According to this configuration, the two-fold processing unit 800
A discharge port to a discharge tray 104 (see FIG. 1) for discharging and stacking folded sheets or sheet bundles is provided in the stack tray 6.
00 can be prevented from being blocked.

(Raising position of stack tray depending on presence / absence of stacked sheets) In the sample tray 601 and the stack tray 600 movable in the vertical direction, after the sheets are discharged and stacked on the lower stack tray 600, the upper sample tray is moved. When discharging and stacking the sheets on the 601, the sample tray 601 is lowered below the matching area of the processing tray after the stack tray 600 is lowered to a predetermined position (lower limit position: sensor S603e position). Then, after the discharging and stacking on the sample tray 601 is completed and the sample tray 601 is moved upward, the stack tray 600 is returned to the original position.

However, at the time of the returning operation of the stack tray 600, for example, if folded sheets are stacked on the stack tray 600, the folded sheets enter the space between the stack tray 600 and the stacking wall. There is a risk. Also, the fold sheet has a bag-shaped fold,
When the folded portion overlaps, the sheet is inclined to the sheet end located on the side opposite to the folded portion, the sheet end buckles, and when detecting the position of the uppermost surface on the stack tray 600, the sheet surface There is a possibility that a detection failure may occur.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the stack tray
The configuration is such that the ascending position after lowering the 600 to a predetermined position (lower limit position) is changed depending on the presence or absence of sheets on the stack tray 600.

More specifically, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 55, the stack tray 600 is moved to the first position T1, which is the sheet discharge position, and the second position T2, which is lower than the first position T1. , It is configured to be movable to a third position T3, which is a lower limit position below the second position T2, and when returning from the third position T3, if there is no sheet on the stack tray 600, the first At the position T1, and if there is a sheet on the stack tray 600, it is returned to the second position T2.

When the number of stacked sheets on the stack tray 600 is a predetermined number (21) or more when the number of stacked sheets on the stack tray 600 is a folded sheet, a position where the folded sheet can be easily taken out (the second position). It moves to the position T2) and informs the user to remove the sheet. In this embodiment, the maximum number of folded sheets stacked on the stack tray 600 when the folded sheets are continuously discharged onto the stack tray 600 by the bundle discharge roller pair 406 is 30 sheets.

With this configuration, when the stack tray returns from the lower limit position, the stacking failure in the sheet stacking state (such as the folded sheet slipping into the space between the tray and the stacking wall or the rear end seat of the folded sheet). Paper surface detection failure due to bending, etc.)
Can be prevented.

Further, even when there is a sheet on the stack tray, the third position (lower limit position) T3 to the second position T2
The sheet can be discharged to the discharge tray 104 without blocking the discharge port to the discharge tray 104 below the stack tray 600.

In the above description, the stack tray 600
When returning from the third position (lower limit position) T3, if there is a sheet on the stack tray 600, the stack is moved to the second position T2 where the discharge port to the discharge tray 104 is not blocked. However, when there is no discharge port to the discharge tray 104 (for example, a sheet processing apparatus having no folding processing unit 800), the third position T3 may not be moved. .

(Shutter rising timing)
As shown in FIG. 7, when the sample tray 601 is moved up and down through the alignment area (or the discharge port with the rollers 406a and 406b closed) in the processing tray 400, the sheets already loaded on the sample tray 601 are removed from the alignment area (or the discharge area). A shutter 611 capable of closing the alignment region (or the outlet) so as not to enter the outlet is provided. The shutter 611 forms a part of a stacking wall that functions as a sheet rear end stopper on the tray.

Thus, when a stack of sheets is discharged and stacked on the sample tray 601, the stack tray 600 positioned below the alignment area (or the discharge port) is moved downward, and then the stacking area 600 (or the discharge port) is moved. ), The sample tray 601 located above is moved downward near the alignment region (or the discharge port). At this time, by closing the shutter 611, the loaded sheets on the sample tray 601 can be prevented from entering the alignment area (or the discharge port).

At the timing (up timing) for closing the discharge port shutter 611, there are already loaded sheets (or sheet bundles) on the stack tray 600, and the loaded sheets are If the outlet shutter 611 is raised while in the contact state,
The sheet on the stack tray 600 may move along with the upward movement of the shutter 611, and the stacking of sheets may be disturbed.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the stack tray 600 is lowered by a predetermined amount (when the loaded sheets are
After that, the shutter 611 is closed.

With this configuration, when the discharge port shutter 611 is raised, the stack tray 600 is moved upward by the shutter 611.
It is possible to prevent the upper loaded sheet (or sheet bundle) from moving along, and to prevent the stacked sheets from being disturbed.

[0260]

According to the present invention, the discharge speed to the intermediate stacking means or the operation timing of the paddle means is changed according to the type of the sheet, so that the sheets can be accurately discharged to the intermediate stacking means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front sectional view illustrating an internal structure of an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the entire image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a Z (three) folding process.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional Z (three) folding processing unit.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic front sectional views for explaining the operation of a Z (three) folding processing unit, wherein FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a state immediately before folding a sheet into two, and FIG. FIG.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic front cross-sectional views for explaining the operation of the Z (three) folding processing unit, where FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a state immediately before the sheet is Z (three) folded, and FIG. FIG. 5C shows a state when the Z (three) folding of the sheet is started, and FIG.
It is a figure showing the state where it is folded and discharged.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a projection.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a biasing member.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a punch unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating detection of a sheet edge.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a drilling means.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a hole making means.

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the punch unit.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view around a cam of the punch unit.

FIG. 15 is a partially cutaway view of the vicinity of a punch dust discharge port of the drilling unit.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the drilling unit.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a conveyance unit and a conveyance path.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a conveyance unit and a conveyance path near a punch dust discharge port.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a finisher.

FIG. 20 is a configuration diagram of a waste storage container.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory sectional view showing an alignment configuration.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a rear end dropping member.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a rear end dropping member.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the rear end dropping member.

FIG. 25 is an operation explanatory view of the rear end dropping member.

FIG. 26 is an operation explanatory view of a rear end dropping member.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram of a drive configuration of an alignment member.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram of a home position detection configuration of a retractable paddle.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating the state of a sheet that has excessively jumped out to the processing tray.

FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a haunting tray.

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of a rear end stopper.

FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram of abutting a sheet when a rear end stopper arranged linearly is shifted due to an attachment error.

FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram of an alignment state by an alignment member having a projection formed on an alignment surface.

FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram of an alignment state by an alignment member having a flat alignment surface.

FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a narrow sheet hits the knurl belt.

FIG. 36 is an explanatory view of a retracting structure of a knurl belt.

FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram when the knurl belt is in a free state.

FIG. 38 is an explanatory diagram when the knurl belt is in a retracted state.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing knurl belt retraction control.

FIG. 40 is an explanatory diagram of a state where the discharged sheet hits a knurl belt in a free state.

FIG. 41 is a side view corresponding to the main section of the staple unit.

FIG. 42 is a plan view in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 41;

FIG. 43 is a rear view in the direction of arrow b in FIG. 41;

FIG. 44 is an explanatory diagram showing a play urging member of the staple unit.

FIG. 45 is an explanatory perspective view of a staple unit.

FIG. 46 is an explanatory diagram of a needle length according to the number of sheet bundles.

FIG. 47 is an explanatory diagram of a needle cartridge storage section.

FIG. 48 is an explanatory diagram of a manual movement dial of the staple unit.

FIG. 49 is a flowchart showing the flow of a binding process in an initial mode and a binding pitch change mode.

FIG. 50 is a schematic explanatory view illustrating adjustment of a sheet stopper position of the staple unit.

FIG. 51 is a plan view of a tray moving mechanism.

FIG. 52 is a sensor arrangement diagram around a tray.

FIG. 53 is an explanatory diagram of a light transmission type sheet surface detection sensor.

FIG. 54 is an explanatory diagram of pre-detection of a sheet stacking height.

FIG. 55 is an explanatory diagram showing a rising position of a stack tray depending on the presence or absence of a stacked sheet.

FIG. 56 is an explanatory view of a shutter that can be opened and closed to close a discharge port.

[Explanation of symbols]

 D: Original document G: Punch waste H: Maximum loading height M200: Transport motor M201: Fold drive motor M300: First drive motor M301: Second drive motor M403: Swing motor M407: Knurled belt motor M409, M410: Alignment motor M416: paddle motor M500: stapler moving motor M600, M601: stepping motors O1, O2: sheet end P: sheet Ph: pre-detection position F602: area flag S602: area sensor S603a: upper limit position detection sensor S603b, S603c, S603d, S603e ... Sensors S604, S605 ... Sheet surface detection sensors S606a, S606b ... Sheet presence / absence detection sensors T1, T2, T3 ... Position X200, Y200 ... Nip section 100 ... Image forming apparatus 101 ... Image forming apparatus main body 102 ... Sheet processing apparatus 103 ... Opening and closing Cover 110: Document feeder 111: Document tray 112: Platen glass 113: Original Discharge tray 120 Image reader unit 121 Scanner unit 122 Lamps 123, 124, 125 Mirror 126 Lens 127 Image sensor 130 Exposure controller 131 Polygon mirror 140 Image forming unit 141 Photosensitive drum 142 Primary Charging unit 143 Developing units 144, 145 Cassette 146 Transfer unit 147 Conveying unit 148 Fixing unit 149 Discharge roller pair 151 Flapper 152 Path 153 Plunger 154 Double-sided conveying path 155 Manual feed unit 200 Z-fold processing section 201… Inlet roller pair 202… Solenoid 250… Convey path 251… Flapper 252… Receiving conveyance path 253… Convey roller pair 254… Sheet leading end stopper 255… First folding roller 256… Second folding roller 257… Sheet Tip detection sensor 258… Guide wall 259… Opening 261… Sheet fold end stopper 261a… Stopper 261b… Stopper 262… Sheet fold end detection sensor 263… Mylar 263a… Mylar 263b… Mylar 264… Third folding roller 265… Conveying path 266… Discharge roller pair 269… First folding path 270… Second folding path 271… Guide member 271a… Protrusion 301… Inlet roller pair 302 … Conveyance roller 303… sheet detection sensor 304… main body 308… punch unit 309… first frame 309a… mounting tap 309b… mounting tap 309c… guide 310… second frame 310a… spacer 310b… guide 311… sheet end detection sensor 312… Slide cam 312c… Rack 312d… Sensor flag 312e… Sensor flag 316… Punch 317… Stopper 318… Puncher 319… Die 320… Die hole 321… Guide 322… Cam 322a… Working groove 322b… Standing groove 322c… Standing groove 323… Connecting pin 344… Punch waste box 345… Punch waste detection sensor 346… Hole 347… Rib 348… Cylinder 351… Case 360 ... half pipe 360a ... wall 362 ... eaves 370 ... screw shaft 371 ... screw drive motor 372 ... punch waste discharge port 373 ... punch waste receiving port 374 ... blades 375 ... ridge 376 ... dispersion plate 390 ... large conveying roller 391 ... Pressing roller 392… Switching flapper 393… Non-sort path 394… Sort path 395… Switching flapper 396… Buffer path 397… Discharge roller pair 398… Transport roller pair 400… Processing tray 400a… Guide groove 401… Rear end stopper 401a… Abutment support Surface 402 alignment means 403 swing guide 404 discharge roller pair 404a lower discharge roller 404b discharge roller 405 draw-in paddle 406 bundle discharge roller pair 406a, 406b rollers 407 knurl belt 408 rear dropping member 408a ... Swing center axis 408b ... Cam surface 408c ... Sheet guide surface 408d ... Pressing surface 409,410 ... Alignment member 409a, 410a ... Alignment surface 409b, 410b ... Part 409c, 410c… convex part 411, 412… pinion gear 413… seat guide 414… link 415… solenoid 416… drive shaft 417… swinging fulcrum shaft 418… rotating cam 419… extension tray 419a… slot 420… sheet detection sensor 421… Bearing 422… Detecting member 422a… Flange 422b… Notch 422c… Protrusion 422d… Shaft hole 422e… Groove 422f… Pin 422g… Both ends of the hole linear part 423… Home position sensor 424… Pulley 424a… Engagement pin 424b… Arm 425: Floating roller 426: Evacuation member 426a: Rack gear 427: Pinion gear 428: Home position sensor 500: Staple unit 501: Stapler 502: Holder 503: Moving table 504, 505: Stud shaft 506, 507: Rolling roller 506a , 507a ... flange 508 ... fixed base 508a, 508b, 508c ... guide rail 509 ... support roller 513 ... sheet stopper 513a ... butting support surface 521 ... reference gas Id 522 ... leaf spring with roller 530 ... cartridge 530a, 530b ... needle cartridge 531 ... cartridge storage section 532 ... dial 533 ... belt 534, 535 ... pulley 536 ... belt 537 ... gear pulley 543 ... long hole 544 ... screw 545 ... long round hole 600: Stack tray 601: Sample tray 602, 603: Base plate 604, 605: Mounting frame plate 611: Shutter 701: CPU circuit 702: ROM 703: RAM 704: External I / F 705: Computer 711: Operation unit 712: Original Feed control unit 713… Image reader control unit 714… Image signal control unit 715… Image forming unit control unit 716… 3 fold control unit 717… 2 fold control unit 718… Finisher control unit 800… 2 fold processing unit 801… Entry roller 802… Flapper 900… Finisher

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Filing date] 2001 May 14 (2001.5.1
4)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0006

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0006]

A typical configuration according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a discharge means for discharging sheets onto an intermediate stacking means, and a discharge direction for discharging the discharged sheets.
An intermediate stacking unit that pulls in the opposite direction and stacks, and is provided downstream of the intermediate stacking unit in the sheet drawing direction,
In a sheet processing apparatus having a stopper portion for supporting a trailing end of a sheet and a guide member for guiding a sheet drawn into the stopper portion, the trailing end of the sheet discharged at a sheet discharge speed by the discharging means is the guide. Element
Is controlled so as not to deviate from the guide area .

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0260

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0260]

According to the present invention, the sheet discharged to the intermediate loading means is provided.
The rear end of the
Since the discharge speed to the intermediate loading means or the operation timing of the paddle means is changed, the sheet is accurately discharged to the intermediate loading means.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3F049 AA10 DA12 EA10 EA27 LA01 LA14 LB03 3F054 AA01 AC01 BA01 BB03 BG11 CA04 DA01

Claims (7)

[Claims] An intermediate stacking unit for temporarily stacking the discharged sheet; a discharging unit for discharging the sheet onto the intermediate stacking unit; a stopper provided at one end of the intermediate stacking unit in a sheet conveying direction; , Disposed downstream of the discharge means in the sheet conveying direction,
In a sheet processing apparatus having: a paddle unit that draws a sheet into the stopper unit; and a guide member that guides a sheet that is drawn into the stopper unit, wherein a sheet discharge speed by the discharge unit is changed according to a type of the sheet. Characteristic sheet processing device. 2. A sheet discharge speed by the discharge means,
2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting is made later for a small-sized sheet than for a large-sized sheet. 3. The sheet discharging speed of the discharging means is as follows:
2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting is made later when the sheet is thicker than the thin sheet. 4. An intermediate stacking unit for temporarily stacking sheets to be discharged, a discharging unit for discharging sheets onto the intermediate stacking unit, and a stopper provided at one end of the intermediate stacking unit in a sheet conveying direction. , Disposed downstream of the discharge means in the sheet conveying direction,
A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a paddle unit that rotates at a predetermined timing after the sheet is discharged by the discharge unit and draws the sheet into the stopper unit; and a guide member that guides the sheet drawn into the stopper unit. A sheet processing apparatus for changing the operation timing of a sheet according to a type of a sheet. 5. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the operation timing of the paddle means is set so as to operate earlier for a small-size sheet than for a large-size sheet. 6. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the operation timing of the paddle means is set to operate earlier in the case of a thick sheet than in a thin sheet. 7. An image forming means for forming an image on a sheet, and the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, which processes the sheet on which the image is formed. Characteristic image forming apparatus.